October 11, 2019 From the President and the Principal This past week, our school community was graced by the presence of Sr. Elisa Ryan, o.s.u., vocational director for the Ursuline province to which we belong. In her time with 7th-grade and 12th-grade theology classes, she beautifully encouraged our students to enter into conversation with Christ to discover what they are each called to do in life. Adapting her message to the age of her audiences, she highlighted their gifts, their goodness, their uniqueness, and offered a message of affirmation and reassurance.
This week, Ursuline launched a new marketing campaign called "Defy Expectations." This campaign, the result of over six months of work incorporating input from all corners of our community, is intended to convey that the Ursuline experience challenges students to explore the boundaries of what they can do, to go beyond what is expected, and to be both bold and compassionate. It also alludes to the fact that Ursuline itself challenges many people's perceptions of what an all-girls' Catholic school offers. You are most likely to see the advertising online, especially in your Facebook feed. When you do, please help our campaign reach more people like you by liking, commenting, or sharing it in your network. You are our best ambassadors, and your endorsement goes a long way towards attracting students who will be a good fit for Ursuline! Parent volunteers are needed for Open House on November 3. Sign up here.
Updates and Reminders Grandparent and Special Friends Day Wednesday, October 16 All students in grades 7 and 8 will participate in Grandparent and Special Friends Day on October 16 from 9-11 a.m. (dismissal at 11 a.m.) while the upper grades take the PSATs. The morning program will include a prayer service and continental breakfast. Grandparents should RSVP to this event by emailing specialevents@ursulineacademy.net. Parents interested in volunteering to help that morning are asked to email Janet Reynolds at jreynolds@ursulineacademy.net. PSATs for Grades 9, 10 and 11 this Wednesday, October 16 The PSAT will be administered to grades 9, 10, and 11 on Wednesday, October 16. Students should bring several #2 pencils with erasers and a calculator (plus a backup one) with extra batteries. A scientific or graphing calculator is recommended. No cell phones are permitted during testing and must be stored in the off position in the students' backpacks. Students will be given information during their guidance classes on the kinds of questions that will be asked. The students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will be dismissed at 11:45 after testing. A reminder that the Xaverian Brothers bus will not be available for afternoon pick-up on Wednesday, Oct. 16 due to PSAT testing. Please make alternate arrangements for your daughter to get home if she rides this bus. Junior Retreat on October 25-27 The Junior Retreat is scheduled for Friday, October 25 (6:30 p.m.) to Sunday, October 27 (12:30 p.m.) at St. Thecla's Retreat House in Billerica. Juniors are strongly encouraged to join with the other members of the Class of 2021 for a great weekend away to reflect, pray, and grow closer to God and one another. Register by Tuesday, October 15, to guarantee your spot! Please contact Jessica Morrison at jmorrison@ursulineacademy.net or Corinne Murphy at cmurphy@ursulineacademy.net in Campus Ministry with any questions or concerns. Bears Night Out at Aladdin! Bears Night Out is a program that encourages community and friendship outside of the school day. Join us for our first Bears Night Out event on Wednesday, November 6 to see Disney's Aladdin at the Providence Performing Arts Center! We will leave UA by bus at 5:00 p.m. and return at approximately 10:00 p.m. All students, faculty, staff, and families are invited. Please secure your ticket by bringing a check payable to Ursuline Academy for $45 to Ms. Mayo's office. International Trip in June 2021 Transportation Update for Boston Students The Mayor has announced that all Boston students in grades 7-12 are eligible for an M7 pass for free travel on the MBTA (bus, train, and commuter rail). Please visit this website for more information and instructions.
Parent News Student Workshops with MediaGirls UA/XBHS Speaker Program on Resiliency and Managing Distress The UA and XBHS Guidance Departments will again be co-hosting a Parent Speaker Series. Parents are invited to attend this year's first program on Wed., October 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the XBHS theater. James Blue PsyD will speak about helping parents and educators build resiliency and skills to manage distress in adolescence and beyond. James Blue is part of the Babson College counseling team with expertise in a variety of clinical experiences, including high school counseling, college counseling, and early intervention for psychosis in an outpatient setting. Prior to Babson College, James worked at Roger Williams University's counseling center. Please join us for this informative and helpful presentation. Feel free to bring a friend. RSVP to Mrs. Mary Ferrucci at mferrucci@ursulineacademy.net
SAT Info Program for Parents Summit Educational Group is offering a free presentation for parents, "The SAT, ACT, and other standardized tests for college admissions," on Tuesday evening, November 13, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. See details here.
An Evening for Ursuline Please consider supporting the Gala as we continue to plan for this important fundraiser. All proceeds directly benefit our students by supporting our need- and merit-based financial assistance program.
Click here for info on tickets, sponsorship, and our honorees for the evening.
Visit our wishlist for silent auction items here.
Gala Raffle Tickets
Support Ursuline with Amazon Smile! When you shop @AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Ursuline Academy. Click here to go directly to Ursuline's Amazon Smile account.
Life on Lowder Street Student Council Election Thank you to all the candidates who ran for student council! We are pleased to congratulate the following students who will represent their class this year on student council: These students will join the representatives from grades 10-12 who were elected last fall. "Chalk it Up!" Left to right in the group picture: Emma Stranberg, Catherine Sullivan, Erin Hernando, Sawyer Strouth, Caroline Coyle, Katie Coyle Support the UA Making Strides Team AP Music Theory - Listening Lunch From Leonin to Lauryn Hill, the students in AP Music Theory spent their Listening Lunch discussing how the techniques of sampling in modern Hip Hop have roots as far back as early choral polyphony, and the composers who were drawing on generations of monophonic Gregorian Chant to find a new sound.
Athletics Team Updates
CROSS COUNTRY: Cross Country's league meet with Fontbonne was postponed due to rain and is rescheduled for Oct. 23rd. Members of the team will participate in the Bay State Invitational on Saturday in Wrentham.
FIELD HOCKEY: Field Hockey lost a tough game to a strong Westwood team last Saturday 1-0. The team is preparing for Bridgewater-Raynham on Tuesday.
SOCCER: Varsity Soccer is 8-2-1. They play Boston Latin Academy today (Friday). Their game with Norwood has been postponed to Thursday, Oct. 17.The Junior Varsity and Junior High teams continue to improve. SWIMMING AND DIVING: Swimming and Diving is 5-1 and is preparing for league opponent Mt. Alvernia on Tuesday at Newton North High School. The swim meet vs. Boston Latin originally scheduled for October 10 has been rescheduled for Thursday, October 24 at 4 p.m.
VOLLEYBALL: The Varsity Volleyball team is 6-8 as they prepare for a tough Fontbonne team next Wednesday at Fontbonne. The Junior Varsity and Junior High continue to play well as they move through the season.
Winter Sports Update Winter tryouts begin on Dec. 2. During the past two weeks, informational meetings have been held for each of the winter sports detailing the paperwork needed to play. Students have been reminded that Impact Testing is required to play a winter sport and must be completed prior to tryouts. Students who need Impact Testing should set up a time with Ms. Kim Munsey, Assistant Athletic Director/Trainer at kmunsey@ursulineacademy.net. Please note, Impact Testing takes approx. 30 minutes to complete.
Photos of the Week
Hank Phillippi Ryan Visits UA This week we welcomed investigative journalist and mystery writer Hank Phillippi Ryan to Ursuline to discuss her new book, her path from being a journalist to being an author (she still does both!), and how she got her start in a male-dominated field. Among her insights to the audience: "You're never too old to start something new" and "Why do we stop being brave as we get older?" She also discussed writing a novel as a process of getting to know the characters and how they will act. Sr. Elisa Ryan, Ursuline's Vocation Director for the Central Province, visited our community this week from St. Louis. Sr. Elisa spoke to several theology classes and met with faculty members as well, sharing the history of St. Angela Merici and the Ursuline Order around the world.
Quick Links On the Calendar Saturday - October 12, 2019 Wrentham Development Center |