February 14, 2020 From the President and Principal This morning, we gathered as we do each Valentine's Day for our annual "Legacy of Love" breakfast, and to thank our alumnae for continuing the tradition of an Ursuline education in their families. It is joyful to see mothers and daughters, aunts, cousins, and even grandmothers, who share the formation of an Ursuline education. While our school has changed from one generation to the next, in so many ways we are the same -- guided by the sage words of St. Angela Merici and a path paved by the Ursuline sisters and educators before us.
"As for you, live and behave in such a way that your daughters may see in you a model... And what you want them to do, do it yourselves first. For it is right and fitting that the mothers be an example and a mirror for their daughters." -St. Angela Merici
Ursuline Academy will be closed from February 17-21 for winter break.
We extend our good wishes and prayers for safe, successful journeys to our students and staff who will be traveling this week to Camden, NJ, for a service trip to the Romero Center, and to Quebec City for the tenth grade trip to the Winter Carnival and the Ursuline Museum.
Announcements Fifteenth Anniversary Tribute to Ursuline's State Championship Basketball Team The Ursuline Athletic Department will be celebrating the 15th anniversary of UA's 2005 basketball state championship on Tuesday, February 18th, at the 6:30 p.m. varsity game vs. Watertown High School. All are invited to come to the Reynolds Center and join some of the original team members and coaches for a tribute to a remarkable moment in Ursuline history. Father/Daughter Dance Students in grades 7, 8, and 9 are invited to Ursuline Academy's Father/Daughter dance on Saturday, March 7, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in Angela Hall. Tickets are $10 per student; guest tickets are free of charge. For planning purposes, the deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, March 2. Students are welcome to bring their father, stepfather, grandfather, uncle, or anyone special to them. Light refreshments are provided as well as a DJ, photo booth, and games. Please note: a link to purchase tickets was emailed to all parents in grades 7, 8, and 9. Contact Dean Natalie Mayo with any questions at nmayo@ursulineacademy.net. Eighth-Grade Trip to Philadelphia Enrollment Open for Norway Trip Enrollment for the Norway tour on June 16-26, 2021 is open to current 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. This spectacular adventure includes a boat trip through the iconic fjords, mountain train journeys, cable cars, a hike in the troll forest, Viking Settlement, quaint villages, and vibrant modern Oslo - all under the midnight sun. Enroll now for $50 at Explorica.com for tour: Petti-351. Use voucher code 2021earlybird for $150 early bird discount. Contact Mrs. Petti if you have any questions.
Parent Reminders Re-enrollment Forms Senior Parent Reception Senior parents are invited to a Mardi Gras Reception on Tuesday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. in Angela Hall. Enjoy the chance to be together with fellow parents as we head into the final months of senior year for the Class of 2020. Information about end-of-year events and the senior parent gift project will be shared. RSVP to parentevents@ursulineacademy.net. AP Exam Fees for Spring 2020
SAT Prep Class The Summit Educational Group will be offering SAT prep classes at Ursuline this winter for the May 2, 2020 SAT exam. Learn more about the SAT class here. Classes will run from 3-6 p.m. on these dates: Tuesdays, Mar. 17, Mar. 24, Mar. 31, Apr. 7, Apr. 14, and Apr. 28.
New Items at the Spirit Store
Awards and Honors Senior National Merit Finalists Congratulations to seniors Caroline Crooks and Hamsa Shanmugam, who have advanced as Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program, and are eligible to be considered for a National Merit Scholarship award in the spring.
(Pictured left to right, Principal Mary-Kate Tracy, Hamsa Shanmugam, Caroline Crooks, and President Kate Levesque.) Dynamic Trio Qualifies to Compete in National Speech Tournament Congratulations to Speech Team members Allee O'Neil '21, Maggie Folwell '20, and Bella Coe '21 (pictured left to right) for their success at last weekend's NCFL Qualifier Speech Tournament at Shrewsbury H.S. They qualified to compete in this year's National Tournament in Chicago! February New England Math League Contest Results
Athletics Winter Sports Update
The Varsity Basketball team qualified for the state tournament last night with an exciting 45-38 victory over Dover-Sherborn High School. The team was down 7 points in the 4th quarter but came back to win behind the scoring of junior Meghan Hobb's 26 points. They are now 10-9 with their final regular season game on Tuesday here at Ursuline against Watertown High.
The Winter Track season is winding down. The last league meet was recently held and there were some noteworthy results: Siobhan O'Sullivan placed first in the shot put and set a new school record; Caroline Afonso placed 2nd and achieved a personal best; Anna Crowley placed 3rd overall; Lizzy Spalla came in 3rd overall in the 2 mile event while achieving a personal best; Mairead Stack won the 1000 meters; Kirsten Meyers placed 3rd in the 1000; Ava Lomberto placed in the top 8 in the 55m; Kelly Cheevers placed 3rd overall in the 300; and Mia Daoust and Rose Harnan placed 3rd and 4th in the 600.
The Varsity Ski team season ended with a canceled race Thursday due to the weather. Two members of the team, Sara and Michaela Reidell, have qualified for the state finals. There is one JV race left, which is tentatively scheduled for March 4 in the Berkshires.
The Varsity Ice Hockey team is 12-3-3 heading into Saturday night's home game against Leominster. The game will be at the Roche Rink at 7:40 p.m., and it is also senior night.
UA Ice Hockey in the News Boston Herald - Bears Commit to Excellence Boston Globe - Ursuline Academy Ties It All Together for Breakout Season
Spring Sports The starting date for spring sports is Monday, March 16. Students were informed of the required paperwork. The actual times and locations of practices/tryouts will be posted after school vacation week.
Fitness Center Schedule Click here for the Athletic Calendar.
MIAA Girls and Women in Sports Day
Life on Lowder Street Mrs. Ananian's geometry students combined their study of triangles with service to make some beautiful "stained glass" Valentine's cards for the residents of Ellis Nursing Home this week. They used the properties of triangles and triangle congruence to make their designs, and wrote messages inside for a personal touch. Students in Mrs. Graham's ninth-grade biology class studied the human dive response in lab this week. By holding their breath and placing just their face in cold water, a physiological response is triggered that results in reduced heart rate in order to conserve oxygen. Lab partners monitored the pulse while "diving" and were able to clearly witness this physiological response.
Community News Spark Science Event at MIT for Grades 7 and 8 Quick Links On the Calendar School Calendar Athletic Calendar Sunday - February 16, 2020 Reggie Lewis Track & Athletic Center |