April 24, 2020 From the President and Principal On Tuesday, Governor Baker announced that schools in Massachusetts are to remain physically closed through the end of the current school year and while not surprising, it's not what we wanted or hoped to hear. We miss one another! Our days on Lowder Street are rich with countless touches that fill our senses -- laughter, warm smiles, high fives and hugs. Rest assured, we will finish the year strong, with our students engaged in meaningful learning and well-prepared for next year at Ursuline. We recognize too that there is more disappointment for athletics, the arts, and other ceremonies and traditions that mark our spring. Stay tuned for virtual versions of some of these that offer proof of our community's spirit of creativity, optimism, and resilience.
In compliance with Governor Baker's order, Ursuline will continue to educate our students through remote learning through the remainder of the school year. We will communicate any additional plans as the coronavirus health situation evolves. Please visit our COVID-19 Community Resources page for more information.
Updates and Announcements Tentative Calendar for 2020-2021 School Year The administration has released a tentative calendar of important events for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Click here to view the calendar. Please note that dates are still subject to change. A full academic calendar will be posted later this summer. Reminder: Zoom Classes to Begin April 27 Parents and students were emailed last week about the addition of Zoom classes to Ursuline's remote learning platform. To help mitigate the loss of classroom identity and to facilitate strategic teaching practices such as peer collaboration and group sharing, Ursuline will add Zoom for Education to its array of remote classroom teaching tools. Beginning on Monday, April 27, Zoom classes will be held during the last period each day. Students will be required to have their videos on during the Zoom class, since teachers will implement lesson plans that involve visual activity, designed with it in mind. Click here for the complete email about this change.
Reminder: 7th and 8th Grade Specials to Resume on April 27 Starting the Monday after vacation, 7th and 8th grade students will again be able to enjoy their 4th term specials, the art, music, technology and wellness courses that occupy A or B period in our 7th and 8th grade students' schedules. We feel these pursuits are essential parts of a well-rounded middle school education. Each teacher has designed projects that will work well both for the remote learning environment and for the five weeks that remain in the fourth quarter. 7th and 8th grade parents can read the complete email about this decision here. UA Students Excel on National Latin Exam This year's National Latin Exam results are in, and as usual, Ursuline students excelled! Out of 47 students taking the test, four had perfect papers! Students who earned commendations have been contacted individually and will be announced at a later date. Congratulations to everyone who took the exam!
Faculty Spotlight English department faculty member Ms. Olivia Griffiths has been nurturing her fellow faculty members, as well as her students. Each week, she shares a meditative practice or source of inspiration with the Ursuline community. Last week, she posted the following to the teachers and staff and we thought the greater community would enjoy this as well.
"Here are several moments of peace and beauty to get you through today and any other day. It's a roundup of international orchestras and choirs playing and singing via zoom - it's quite breathtaking! I hope it brings you happiness!"
Looking Ahead NEW DATE for Golf Tournament We have announced Monday, August 24, 2020, as the new date for the 28th Annual Fore the Girls Golf Tournament. The event is still scheduled to be held at the Blue Hill Country Club in Canton. Click here to learn about sponsorship. If you would like more information about the event, please contact Chief Advancement Officer Joe Ziska at jziska@ursulineacademy.net. Ursuline Gala Planning Committee We are beginning to plan for An Evening for Ursuline, our annual gala scheduled for Saturday, November 21, and we need the creative assistance of the community! Parents are invited to join the committee to help us plan an event to remember. For more info, email Susan Hehir at shehir@ursulineacademy.net.
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