March 31, 2023
Living the Core Values through the Fusion of Academics and Experiences
As I speak to many of our alumnae/ni, I realize that each is appreciative of their strong academic experience at SHS; however, the greater gifts of their Ursuline education lie in the fusing of academics to experiences. Preparing students to be compassionate leaders requires opportunities outside a classroom setting. Our Ursuline education dictates that we teach the four core values of reverence, service, leadership, and community and give opportunities to live out the core values in real-life experiences.
Our March calendar was full of examples of experiences that broadened our students' perspectives of the world and allowed each to live out our core values. I was blessed to travel to Ireland with Sacred Heart Academy’s choirs this month. The trip will be a highlight for our students for the rest of their lives. SHA’s visual art concentration students also traveled to Chicago, touring art and architecture sites, and the lacrosse team spent three days competing together in Atlanta, Georgia. Sacred Heart Model School’s MYP program (Levels 6-8) broadened their horizons with unique experiences at Space Camp, Washington DC, and Disney World. Finally, students at both SHA and SHMS participated in KUNA and KYA – unique opportunities for leadership and growth.
In our classrooms, the IB model teaches our students from a young age to engage their minds through question, exploration, and problem-solving, which translates to the experiences our students had this month through travel. Each encounter outside the classroom gives our students opportunities to grow in independence and resilience, to problem-solve in real-world situations, and to create lasting memories.
Reflecting on our SHA choir trip to Ireland, I see a close correlation with our core values. Reverence is respecting someone or something; if reverence is present, the rest of our core values will naturally happen. International travel opens the door to understanding others’ perspectives, cultures, and customs and being reverent to differences and similarities in each situation. Traveling requires patience, getting along with others, and sometimes being outside your comfort zone - all of which can test your level of reverence!
The gift of serving brings us more joy than we could ever give another. St. Angela explained that “we have more need to serve others than they do of our service.” Our choir shared their talents in a sacred way by cantering mass for both the Benedictine Sisters and the parishioners of Galway Cathedral. This gift of service was beautiful. Our students performed from the heart, sending chills through all in attendance.
To lead, you must be able to care for your needs and those with you. Joining a class or group on a trip is a beautiful exercise in responsibility for oneself and the group. Positive leadership means fulfilling your responsibilities to the group and including all in the group. Each of our students worked to make the trip a success through her positive choices.
St. Angela tells us to “build community wherever you go.” We each choose to be a part of the united community or not. Traveling to a fellow Ursuline school, Cabinteely Community School in Dublin, was a highlight of the trip. Our Ursuline charism came alive through the gift of song and dance as Cabinteely and Sacred Heart joined together as one, a beautiful community moment for all. Watching the two schools perform for each other and together was heartwarming for me during the trip.
Our SHS Ursuline education is not just about academics but also encouraging and empowering students to put our core values into action. Choosing to be reverent to another, serving others, leading positively, and building community are our priorities. These choices represent “living out the gospel,” and living the gospel is the greatest lesson we could ever teach. Each experience outside the classroom provides real-life opportunities to put the gospel into action.
It was a blessing to join the choir on this trip and watch our students live out these values throughout our journey. Great thanks to our SHA choir director Jill Schurman for making this experience possible!
Together in heart,
