Ursuline Academy Begins Work on New Strategic Plan — Blaze Brighter 2022-2027 Ursuline Academy marks a significant milestone with the launch of a new Strategic Plan, Blaze Brighter. The planning process, which occurred during the 2021-22 school year, included community-wide participation and input to produce a roadmap for our future. Thanks to support from students, parents, faculty, staff, alumnae and trustees, we have built our next strategic plan together. Each voice lent to a collective vision to successfully imagine what is next for Ursuline. The goals and initiatives outlined below will ensure that Ursuline is on the leading edge of innovation and maintaining the long-term sustainability of our school, all while creating a future that prepares our students to lead and succeed in an increasingly complex global environment. We look forward to keeping you updated on our progress.
Vision: Trailblazers in teaching and learning, shining as a beacon of faith and promise in the world.
PURPOSE
PEOPLE
PROGRAM
POTENTIAL
March 2023 Ursuline’s Innovation class launched a trial at ChristianaCare for their Patch-It Bear program. These unique bears feature patches that represent the milestones young patients typically reach during their hospital visit. The bears will comfort and motivate the young patients plus help drs/nurses. All the bears are made from fabric remnants making these bears sustainable and snuggly. The team consisted of Kaya Blair ’24, Isabella Caraballo ’24, and Emily Copeland ’23. Once the team receives valuable feedback from both the patients and the healthcare team, they will be able to revise their prototypes accordingly and refine their solution.
February 2023 The Angela Podcast, a student-led podcast featuring Ursuline students, faculty, and staff, is officially live. The podcast, named for Ursuline’s foundress St. Angela Merici, debuted on January 27th in honor of her feast day. Recordings thus far have included senior Audrey Pachuta talking about her experience of sisterhood at UA, sophomore Ellie Johnson sharing her experience on finding God through meditation, seniors Emily Copeland and Allee Taylor on finding friendships at UA, and Sr. Betty McAdams, OSU and junior Coco Svinland discussing exercise, eating well and health. You can find and listen to the podcast on Spotify: spoti.fi/3ZNwWyO
January 2023 Ursuline Academy’s Annual MLK Jr. Day of Service honored Dr. King’s legacy of action for justice rooted in the Christian faith. We began the morning with prayer, followed by completing community service projects for our broader community.
Projects included: – Bagged Lunch preparation for Emmanuel Dining Room – Grave Blanket Assembly for Veteran’s Grave Sites – Handmade Cards for Cancer Patients – Prepare Lasagna Dinner for Sojourner’s Place Residents – Cat Toys & Dog Treats for Faithful Friends Animal Society – The Power of Prayer – Baby Bag Assembly for Pregnancy Center – Park Clean-Up at Cool Spring Reservoir – Winter Coat Drive Thank you to our students, families, staff, and alumnae for your dedication to Serviam and for participating in our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service!
December 2022 Ursuline’s Medical Shadow Program is underway. Giselle Miranda ’24 had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Uberti from Concord Dental. Giselle observed dental cleanings, x-rays, and the types of recommendations on oral hygiene for the patient. In addition, juniors Brianna Smith and Sydney Mesa shadowed Dr. Mesa from Delaware Orthopedics. They observed a typical day in the office with patients and saw how physicians interacted with their patients after an injury or surgery. Ursuline’s Medical Shadow Program provides an opportunity for students interested in pursuing a career in STEM to gain hands-on experience. If you know a doctor interested in hosting our students, please reach out!
November 2022 Seven Upper School students, along with President Dr. Trisha Medeiros, attended the 32nd Annual Women’s Leadership Conference hosted by the NCC Chamber of Commerce! The workshops included sessions on networking, leadership advice, overcoming ageism, work/life balance, and learning from mistakes. Thank you to the Chamber for partnering with us to help make this day possible for our students and young women leaders! #UrsulineGirlsLead
November 2022 Throughout the end of October and early November, Lower School students learned about the traditional origins of Halloween and El dia de Los Muertos – The Day of the Day with different activities according to their grades. Dia de Los Muertos is a celebration that combines Aztec Rituals, indigenous elements, and Catholicism, recognizing death as a natural human experience. Ofrendas or altars (offerings) are an essential part of the celebrations, and they are set up to remember and honor the memory of the ancestors. Thank you to several of our Ursuline parents who visited with classes to teach students about Day of the Dead rituals and create and alter in the front lobby of the Lower School.
October 2022 We said “Au Revoir” to Ursuline’s first exchange visitors in over two years. Fifteen students and two chaperones visited from Largenté, an Ursuline school in French Basque Country. Largenté, located in Bayonne, France, is a new partner for Ursuline. We first connected with this sister school through the Global Compact on Education and have been building a relationship with the school for the past year. We were excited to finally be able to welcome them to campus and complete the first leg of the exchange. The Largenté students were hosted by Ursuline families and engaged in several activities during their time in Delaware. They volunteered in classes across our campus, presented to our Upper School students, and went on various excursions to places such as Lancaster and Washington, D.C. It was a wonderful visit, and while saying goodbye was difficult, our students are now looking forward to seeing their Largenté sisters again in April when we visit Bayonne.
October 2022 The Stand Together Club celebrated Unity Day by resurrecting the Connection Pit, an innovation project from 2019. The goal of this project is to build positive connections between students who otherwise may not have the opportunity to interact. Students got in on the ball pit fun and built stronger, more connected, relationships with their peers. Faculty and students also celebrated by wearing their orange to unite for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to raise awareness to prevent bullying. #unityday
October 2022 Ursuline Academy is pleased to announce an incredibly generous $1.75 Million gift from Paul & Linda McConnell to create a tuition assistance program for Lower School children and bolster the existing Innovation Program, which they helped establish in 2016! The Ursuline community thanks Paul and Linda for their transformative commitment to our students, faculty, and school. Read the Press Release: https://bit.ly/3VoHMZZ
October 2022 Our faculty and staff kicked off the week with an In-Service Day centered around Serviam and Professional Development. The day began with service – a block clean up around UA and the Cool Spring Reservoir, making sandwiches for Emmanuel Dining Room, and making cat enrichment toys for the SPCA. In the afternoon, Ursuline parent Dr. Eunice Gwanmesia led an informative and interactive session on Inclusive Practices.
September 2022 Ursuline Academy was proud to sponsor the 2022 Radiothon benefiting Nemours Children’s Hospital. The Help Our Kids Radiothon raised a total of $332,648 this year for Children’s Life Programs! Several Middle and Upper School students, along with our President Dr. Trisha Medeiros and Middle School Principal Mrs. Phillips, volunteered answering the phones during the “Ursuline Power Hour.” The Philly Phanatic and Charlie Manuel stopped by while we were there!
September 2022 Juniors Audrey Frazier, Giselle Miranda, Kate Poole, and Coco Svindland traveled to Owensboro, Kentucky with Mrs. Merz, to join Ursuline students from schools from around the country for a three-day retreat on St. Angela Merici and her vision of love. Ursuline Education Network organized the program, which was underwritten by the Lilly Endowment.
August 2022 Introduced Winnie, a poodle mix, as Ursuline’s first school dog! She quickly won the hearts of students, faculty, and parents. Winnie enjoys catching up with students outside, hanging out in classrooms, and cheering on our Raiders! |
Our Strategic Plan Committee is composed of parents, board members, alumnae, faculty, and staff. We thank them for their dedication and support.
Erin Allsman ’95 Katie Orga Godfrey ’00 Sue Johnson Kevin Keegan Brittany Keller Brendan Kennealey Sister Marion Lynch, OSU Maureen Ripsom McAleenan ’99 Dr. Trisha Medeiros Corinne Cowen Pomeroy ’02 Maritza Poza-Grise Dinah Schlecht Erin Prada Samantha Varano Joe Viera
Goal Champions: Erin Barillare ’95 Christine Campbell Holly Colon ’04 Patricia Gaynor Samantha Hunsinger Aileen Maguire Kelly O’Doherty Jess Persoleo |
