Learn about the latest happenings at Ursuline Academy

 January 28, 2018
 Achievements in Our Classrooms
Lower School: National Geographic Geography Bee Winner

Our Lower School extends its warmest congratulations to 5 th  grader Olivia Valania for being a two-time National Geographic Geography Bee winner! Olivia earned this title last year and moved on to compete in a statewide competition amongst other 4 th  through 8 th  grade students. This year, she will need to take an exam before moving on to the State Bee in March. Olivia shared that she was nervous last year competing for the first time against older students, but this year, she's excited and feels more prepared because she knows what to expect. 

The Geography Bee is a nationwide contest amongst elementary and middle schools. Each state sends one representative to the National Bee held every year in Washington, D.C. From there, the winner receives scholarships and even meets with the President of the United States! We wish Olivia all the best as she advances to the next round of the Geography Bee, and we look forward to hearing the outcome!

Middle School: Congratulations to Ava Bradley '24
 
From our 6th grade class, Ava Bradley '24 entered into the Lion's Club Peace Poster contest. Each year the contest centers around a different theme of Peace, and this year's theme was "The Future of Peace".  It was recently announced that Ava was the runner-up for the contest this year! She will receive a prize for her work and will be recognized at a dinner honoring the winners.
 
Both Ava's poster and another poster designed by Lucy Madden '24 will be on display in the Middle School in the coming months to honor their participation in the contest!

Upper School: Scholastic Art and Writing Award Winners

Recently, a number of our students submitted their work to the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. We are excited to announce that over 40 awards and recognitions were given to students at Ursuline Academy for their writing, art and photography! Click  here  to see the full list of names.

Among the Ursuline winners, Upper School English Department is proud to announce that Dominique Kendus '18, is one of five students in the Delaware Writing Region chosen as an American Voice Nominee for the 2018 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for her poem  Light & Dark!
 
This is a remarkable achievement because her work was recognized by a panel of creative professionals as the most outstanding work submitted. Dominique's poem will be forwarded to the Scholastic Competition National Office for further review. 
 
The award ceremony for the Delaware Scholastic Art and Writing Awards will take place at Delaware State University on Saturday, February 10. There will be a reception for students, parents, friends, and educators from 9:00-10:30 am in the DESU Gallery where both writing and art will be on display. The award ceremony will begin at 11:00 am in the MLK Auditorium, where Dominique will be presented the American Voice Nominee Award.  Please come out and support Dominique for this outstanding achievement!

Our Next Big Celebration
Distinguished Alumnae Hall of Fame in March
The Ursuline Academy Distinguished Alumnae Hall of Fame honors Ursuline alums who have  brought distinction to our school through their talents as demonstrated in their career and/or throughout the community. They instill and continue the tradition of excellence rooted in Serviam and the Catholic faith that has been characteristic of Ursuline Academy.  Honorees encourage current students to model the many opportunities available through determination, dedication, and service to the community as exemplified by the nominee. It is our privilege to induct six new members into our Distinguished Alumnae Hall of Fame on Sunday, March 11, 2018!
 
Mary McDonough '71
Judicial Officer and Human Trafficking Court Program Founder
 
Megan Manlove McGlinchey '90
Riverfront Development Corporation of Delaware
 
Valerie Biden Owens '63
V ice Chair of the Biden Institute at University of Delaware
 
Kristie Robson '91
Director for Medical Services at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton
 
Robin Toner '72
First Female National Political Correspondent of The New York Times
 
Jessie Woolley-Wilson '81
President and CEO of DreamBox Learning®, Inc.

 
Tickets are $40/adult and $25/student. For more information or details, contact Joanna Schumacher Arat '99 in the Alumnae Relations Office at (302) 658-7158 x6257 or  jarat@ursuline.org.


An Ursuline Recap
8th Grade Alice in Wonderland Jr. Play
Our 8th graders' magical performance of Alice in Wonderland Jr. was a moment we couldn't forget! We are so proud of our young actresses. They worked hard in telling us a wonderful story, and gave the Ursuline community the performance of a lifetime. Bravo!


Faculty Spotlight
2nd Grade Teacher: Jo Mangano
When you ask Jo Mangano to describe her classroom, she beams and says, "My classroom is one of comfort.  My students are comfortable to take risks, to advocate for what they need, to grow, to learn, and most importantly, to explore."
 
Mrs. Mangano joined Ursuline Academy 18 years ago and has spent the majority of her years teaching 2nd grade. Having started her college career studying pharmacy, Jo was immediately drawn to education through her varied experiences in school. Mangano has served as a pioneer of our elementary programming, mentoring new teachers and collaborating on trailblazing initiatives to ensure that Ursuline remains a leader of independent, Catholic education. 
 
At the heart of learning in Mrs. Mangano's classroom is authenticity. Recently, the students read about Martin Luther King, Jr., which led to a discussion about prejudice.  Students were intrigued to learn that prejudice isn't limited to the color of one's skin, but to anything that separates one group of people from another. Mrs. Mangano led an interactive read aloud of Laurie B. Friedman's Angel Girl to demonstrate religious prejudices. The shared story helped students to grapple with real-world concepts through a 2nd grade lens. This is just one example of how students in her class learn with relevance.
 
Mrs. Mangano has established an environment that operates with respect. Students freely move to learning spaces that work best for them throughout the school day and maintain engagement consistently. Jo shares "I'm very consistent in my expectations for their work, behavior, and routine, and they thrive on it. They know what to expect, and there are no surprises. I hope that the children I teach learn to accept their strengths without bragging, and their weaknesses without feeling like a failure. I want to teach them to be kind and to always try their best." 

Ursuline in the House
Update on our Novas, Caps and Points
The launching of the House system in September has served its purpose in building community amongst our three schools. In the recent month, we've enjoyed watching our students bond through various House activities. Traditional holiday events such as the school Santa Shop were made even more special when Upper and Middle School students assisted their younger housemates with shopping and wrapping their gifts.
 
Our 1st Grade Points recently shared their Bear Week presentations with their fellow 4th grade bear buddies. In addition, our Lower School Caps (2nd and 5th graders) have joined together in Serviam to raise money for a Fusion Inclusion adaptive running chair.
 
Catholic Schools Week offers even more opportunities to share house pride. Our Nova students and faculty wore black ribbons to Friday's St. Angela Liturgy to honor their patron saint's Feast Day. All students will enjoy a House colors dress down day on Monday for a chance to earn more House points. So far, House points have been earned through various sporting events, service projects, and last weekend's 8th grade play.
 
Currently, the Novas are in the lead, closely followed by the Caps and the Points. Keep up the great work students!


Coming Next Month
Dad's Club Gathering at Stanley's Tavern
Calling all Ursuline dads! Don't forget to mark your calendar for our upcoming Dad's Club Gathering. It takes place  at Stanley's Tavern at 2038 Foulk Road, in Wilmington.  We'll enjoy appetizers and good cheer in Stanley's relaxed atmosphere. See below for specific times:

Thursday, February 8, 6:00-8:00 pm (grades 8-12)
Thursday, February 22, 6:00-8:00 pm (early childhood through grade 7)

Please RSVP to Sue Bolinski at  sbolinski@ursuline.org. Be sure to verify the date you are attending.

Important Reminder for Parents
Re-enrollment Period is Here!
It's hard to believe that we're already planning for the 2018-2019 school year! A part of that planning is re-enrollment. We provide our current families the opportunity to secure their place before acceptance letters go out to prospective parents beginning January 16th. 

Please complete your child's re-enrollment by clicking here. You should have received a separate email with your current login credentials when we returned from the holiday break.  Contracts along with a non-refundable deposit are due by Friday, February 16th. Your adherence to this deadline secures your child's place for the year ahead and additionally allows the Academy to accurately plan staffing and overall budget. Thank you for your support in this effort.

If you have any questions, or if you need assistance with your log-in credentials, please don't hesitate to contact the Admission Office at admissions@ursuline.org.
We appreciate your support!
Please consider making a donation to help us continue our work of nurturing a genuine commitment to academic excellence and service to others.
Ursuline Academy  | (302) 658-7158 | info@ursuline.org | http://www.ursuline.org
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