September 25, 2020 From the President and Principal With the beginning of our return to classes on campus just over a week away, there are many important pieces of information that will be shared with you over the course of the next week. Chief among them is news that we are delighted to share with regard to the Dean of Students position. Two of our current faculty members, Ms. Kellynd Graham and Ms. Jessica Morrison, have been selected to share the role of Dean of Students for the 2020-2021 academic year. Ms. Graham's area of oversight will encompass all areas of student life for Grades 10, 11, and 12, while Ms. Morrison will work exclusively with Grades 7, 8, and 9 for the year ahead.
Ms. Graham and Ms. Morrison bring a deep commitment to the support and well-being of our students at Ursuline. We had the privilege to witness their thoughtful and creative work displayed prominently over the summer during the planning of our Bear Cave Days, and we are confident that they will help Ursuline build on the success of our student programming. As long-term community members, they will add incredible value for the benefit of our students and families.
Additionally, we are pleased that Ms. Erin Cummins will assume the role of moderating the Student Council during this academic year. Ms. Cummins has been teaching her students about the Roman Senate as Ursuline Academy's Latin teacher and moderator of Ursuline's Junior Classical League for the past five years, and will certainly bring extensive knowledge and a good sense of humor to her work with our young leaders in our student government.
We warmly welcome Ms. Graham, Ms. Morrison, and Ms. Cummins in their new roles and invite students to reach out to them. You will be hearing about their ideas for creative and thoughtful programming and student events throughout the coming year.
Sincerely,
Health and Safety Reminders PAW PASS for Daily Wellness Check Parents and guardians are required to submit our Wellness Check form each morning. Please use the Ursuline Wellness Check (bit.ly/uawellcheck) before sending your daughter to school each day. When you submit the form, your daughter will receive a confirmation email including a "PAW PASS" that she can show upon arrival to confirm her status. More information on the wellness check is provided in the Ursuline Health Protocol Guide, along with helpful information on what to do if your daughter becomes ill. COVID-19 Prevention and Safety Covenant
Important COVID- 19 Policy Update Please be advised that if any member of the Ursuline community needs a COVID test (i.e for travel, exposure, symptoms, etc.) only a PCR test will be accepted by Ursuline Academy. Social Distancing Reminder Please remind your daughters that social distancing guidelines apply at all times when they are on campus. If students remain on campus between Bear Cave Days and athletic practices, they are encouraged to bring schoolwork or something to do so that they remain productively occupied and are not tempted to sit together closely looking at their phones. Aside from waiting for athletic practices, students should be picked up promptly.
Next Week at Ursuline Online Class Reminders
Bear Cave Days
Please note the following reminders:
Campus News Student/Parent Handbook The 2020-2021 Student-Parent Handbook is now available here. Students and parents are asked to read it, print and sign the statement of commitment on the last page, and return it by October 9 to each student's homeroom teacher. Thank you for your help with the timely return of these forms. Note that the information in the handbook co-exists with all COVID-19 information and protocols shared in the past weeks. Early drop-offs - Late pick-ups – Reservations Required Once we shift to hybrid learning on October 5, a reservation must be made if your daughter will be dropped off early in the morning before school (7:00 - 7:30 a.m.) or will remain late in the afternoon (3:00 - 5:00 p.m.), due to space and health protocols. We have a limited number of spaces available. Please email Regina MacLeod, rmacleod@ursulineacademy.net to make a reservation. We will have a designated area spaced to ensure safety. We are requesting that you make the reservation each quarter. Daily reservations will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis. If your daughter is part of an athletic program, they must be picked up promptly at the end of a practice and may not remain on campus without a prior reservation. Team Meetings for Athletes and Parents
Junior Ring Ordering The Herff Jones Company will be on campus during Activity Block on the following days, for juniors wishing to order class rings:
All juniors should have received their packets from Herff Jones. Reminder: A $60 deposit check is needed at the time of order. Virtual Theater Workshops Hosted by Xaverian Student Directory Our Student Directory for 2020-2021 has been posted to the parent portal. This may be useful for those families who are interested in carpooling. If anyone has any questions or updates for the directory, please contact Ms. Sharon Tolland at stolland@ursulineacademy.net.
Proof of MA Residency for Learner's Permits
School and College Counseling News PSATS and SATS on October 14 The PSAT will be administered from 8 - 11:30 a.m. on campus on Wednesday, October 14 to those 10th and 11th grade students who opt to take it. Please note that this test is not mandatory. A registration link will be sent before the testing date so that Ursuline can make arrangements for proper social distancing and contact tracing. Parents are encouraged to speak with their daughter's School Counselor if they have questions about the test. Seniors who have previously registered for the SAT will also be tested from 8 - 11 a.m. on October 14. Since this date is a Wednesday, other students will not be on campus that day. We will communicate details shortly for grades 7-9, who will not be participating in testing on that day. Beyond Booksmart Parent Session on Executive Function Skills On Wednesday, October 14, at 7 p.m., Michael Delman, CEO of Beyond Booksmart, will be presenting an event on Zoom for parents: "How to Build Executive Function Skills: Your Guide to Raising Confident and Competent Kids." Parents will learn tips and tools from a lifelong educator and expert in Executive Function intervention - and reassurance that their kids will be okay when equipped with the skills they need. Learn more here.
SAT Virtual Prep Classes Summit Educational Group is pleased to partner with Ursuline Academy to offer an Online SAT Prep Class starting September 29. In their online programs, teachers and students will meet together at a set time in a live virtual classroom using Zoom. Click here for SAT Prep Class details. Parent Event with Dr. Nadja Reilly on Parent Portal
Fore the Girls Golf Tournament Thank You to Golf Tournament Supporters Ursuline's 28th Annual Fore the Girls Golf Tournament was successfully played under sunny skies this Monday at Blue Hill Country Club in Canton. Thank you to all of the players and sponsors for their patience, as we scheduled and rescheduled this event several times.
Special thanks go out to our Presenting Sponsors: Gaman RE Group, LLC and The N&D Group; Beverage Cart Sponsor: F.L. Putnam Investment Management Company; Lunch Sponsors: Dedham Savings, Foley Palenscar Schortmann, the Hajjar family P'17, '22, King & Bishop P'20, '22, and People's United; Hole Sponsor: Morgan Brown & Joy; Tee Sponsors: Boston Private, Boston Sports & Shoulder Center, Devaney Energy, FACTS Management, and Veterinary Services of Westwood P'22; and Friends of UA Athletics: Carol and John Gately P'89,'91,'95 and Roche Bros.
We also thank Brendan King P'20 '22 for his work as chair of the event, and a warm congratulations goes out to Tim Hegarty P'95 '99, who was our 2020 Tournament Honoree.
Show Your Ursuline Pride Admissions Season is Open! Do you know someone who would make a great Ursuline student? After a busy summer, our admissions season for the 2021-2022 school year is now open! While we won't be able to have our traditional Open House this year, we have many virtual events and private in-person tours available for prospective families. Please email Director of Admissions Maura Polles at admissions@ursulineacademy.net if you know someone who might be interested. Spirit Wear and Ursuline Merchandise Sweatshirts and other items from our Spirit Store are available for purchase. Click here for item descriptions and prices. The navy blue crew neck URSULINE sweatshirt is the uniform-approved sweatshirt for the 2020-2021 school year. (Note: The blue fleece zip-up jacket is also still uniform approved.)
TO ORDER: Please contact Kate Gormley, bookstore manager, at uabookstore@ursulineacademy.net with questions or to place a credit card order.
We can arrange for pickup at the school on Bear Cave Days. Shipment also available. Quick Links |