Strategic PLan

Angela's Ambassadors Program was launched at New Employee Orientation, pairing each new faculty and staff member with an experienced staff member. Following in St. Angela's motto, "build community wherever you go," the program was designed to further build community among our team at UA and across departments, while also supporting faculty and staff as they settle into new roles. Our ambassador teams meet regularly both individually and collectively as a group.

Ursuline was recognized at the International Coalition of Girls Schools National Conference hosted in Baltimore, MD, for our global collaboration with St Ursula's College Kingsgrove, Mother of Peace Primary School, and the Ursuline Sisters of the Asia Pacific. The project was awarded the Moulton Student Grant for Global Citizenship, through which we worked together to establish a community kitchen for the women at Mother of Peace in Battambang, Cambodia.

Their recipes, along with recipes from dozens of other Ursuline communities around the globe, were compiled into the Ursuline Global Cookbook. All proceeds from the cookbook sales go back into the kitchen to help expand programming and continue supporting the women.

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Character.org, a leading advocate for cultivating the importance of character throughout American society and worldwide, certified Ursuline Academy as a Promising Practice school! Schools of Character serve as an exemplary model for all schools across the United States and around the world. Only 199 schools and organizations across were selected from a strong pool of applicants. Ursuline was the only Delaware school selected to receive the honor.

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We are excited to announce the creation of “Angie’s Home,” an innovation and practical life space designed specifically with our youngest students in mind. For several months now, Early Childhood teachers have been planning upgrades to our practical life experiences. Staying aligned with Maria Montessori’s pedagogy and Angela Merici’s charism, we are creating a space that allows students to explore concrete “every day” (practical) skills that can easily be replicated in their own homes while strengthening fine and gross motor skills, cooperation, collaboration, and spirituality.

Our brand new 1893 I.D.E.A. Studio was featured on FOX 29! Our students and Director of Innovation, Mrs. McNichol were interviewed about all of the great things happening within our new learning space. Watch the segment: fox29.com/video/1447452

Ursuline Academy's brand-new website was launched! The new fully custom built website features all new and expanded content, images, videos, improved functionality, and security. This marketing tool is transformational in telling Ursuline's story.

Longtime Ursuline friend Anthony N. Fusco Sr. donated $5 Million, making this the largest donation in the school’s history. In recognition of this gift, Ursuline Academy will create the Anthony N. Fusco Sr. Fitness & Health Center.

The donation will provide the complete reconstruction of the Laffey McHugh Gymnasium, originally constructed in 1980, the creation of an expanded fitness center for students and faculty, improved accessibility for those with disabilities with a new elevator, new locker rooms and athletic offices, HVAC, and technological advancements that will support the overall Ursuline academic and athlete experience.  

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"Our Ursuline schools are alive with St. Angela’s spirit of joy and hope. The richness of our Ursuline tradition is found in the quality of exchanges between teachers and students, valued for each one’s unique personhood.  On a daily basis, in the classroom and in other moments, the teachers and staff members show respect and joyous love and encouragement for each one’s growth.” - Ursuline Education in the Spirit of Saint Angela.

This past week, our Lower School celebrated St. Angela and her legacy. From door decorating to prayer jars to collaborative art and more, it’s been a week of fun, leadership, service, and celebration!

Ursuline Academy was named to the 2023 AP School Honor Roll as a PLATINUM Member! We were awarded the highest combination of awards of ALL DELAWARE SCHOOLS - both the Platinum & Access Awards!  The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP Programs are delivering results and broadening access for students.

We are one of only four schools in Delaware to receive the Platinum Distinction and the only Delaware school to also receive the Platinum & AP Access Award, demonstrating a clear and effective commitment to equitable access to advanced coursework.

Bravo to 3 of our 5th graders, referred to as team "CDC" for executing one of the Lower School's first Innovation projects. With the guidance and support of Mr. Ellis, these students each pitched a brand new product for the Raider Closet to a panel of administrators - including our School President, Director of Finance, and our Raider Closet Managers. They came prepared with a business plan and branding ideas and will continue to collaborate with our administration to bring these items to our shelves. Stay tuned for updates and possible new items by Christmas!

For National Hispanic Heritage Month, one of our 4th graders visited our Montessori 5s wearing a traditional Venezuelan dress and read them a story. She also brought a Venezuelan flag and answered questions about her family.

EXCITING NEWS * This winter we will open two new spaces on campus, the 1893 I.D.E.A. Studio and Dream Lab! The 1893 I.D.E.A. Studio (pictured) will be a space dedicated to Innovation, Design-thinking, Entrepreneurship & Acceleration... Where world-changing ideas and leaders are born. This Upper and Middle School space will elevate our students' real-world experience across industries, including computer science, finance, engineering, entrepreneurship, and business. We like to think of it as our very own Ursuline incubator.

Dream Lab - "Young minds pioneering tomorrow" For our younger students, the "Dream Lab" is a forward-thinking space in the Lower School where they can explore the world of design-thinking, digital arts, communication, journalism, business, and innovation. Students will now have a place to develop creative solutions to community problems, innovate new concepts, and develop smart financial strategies for their personal interests or a business plan.

It is fitting that as we launch these amazing new spaces during Ursuline's 130th anniversary and St.Angela Merici's 550th birthday this school year. UA has always been an institution rooted in tradition with an eye toward the future and a legacy built upon trailblazing innovation. We look forward to celebrating the donors who made this possible during the grand openings this winter!

Ursuline's Director of Global Education Mrs. Erin Prada did an exploratory trip to a few of our Ursuline sister schools in Taiwan and Indonesia. She visited Stella Maris Ursuline High School in Hualien (Taiwan), Wenzao Ursuline University or Languages in Kaohsiung (Taiwan), and Santa Ursula School in Jakarta (Indonesia). This was the first time meeting in-person and also the first visit from anyone at our school to any Ursuline community on the continent of Asia. While there, Mrs. Prada was invited to present to Ursuline sisters, administrators, faculty members, and students about Wilmington's Global Education Program and had conversations about expanding our partnerships and determining what future collaboration could look like.

Ursuline Global is on the move again! In June, we sent our most recent delegation to Ecuador. The visit began by flying into the Andes, then heading to Camp Chilli Urku in the Amazon. Our group was welcomed by local community members for orientation, and they shared their cultural traditions. The next day was spent hiking, followed by spending the night at a satellite camp. With the help of local community members, they set up their hammocks and had dinner. The locals shared Kichwa legends around the campfire before heading back to fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle. The following morning they hiked back to base camp, with stops along the way to learn about medicinal plants and other natural resources the Amazon provides.

Another highlight from the trip was spending a day at the local school. Our group led activities with the students, repainted their bathrooms, and challenged them to a soccer game. The kids won the game and our hearts! While in Quito, our group learned more about this city. They visited the equator and straddled both hemispheres, visited a few churches, tasted Ecuadorian chocolate from various regions, and went shopping at small local shops. Another amazing adventure in the books with Ursuline's Global Education Program! Hasta pronto, Ecuador! 

Our Lower and Middle Schoolers have been busy collaborating! The 7th grade Innovation class created 'Toys that Teach', a fun way to get the Lower School engaged in math, Spanish, and literacy. The 5th grade class created products for their own Shark Tank pitch. Products included the Toothpaste Catcher, Sneaker Cleaner, Projector Glasses and more!

What a fabulous week that our UAPA teacher appreciation chars planned for our "SUPER" faculty & staff. This MARVEL-ous week included a soup & salad lunch, coffee & donuts, wellness Wednesday, snack attack goodie bags, and a Cinco de Mayo luncheon. Many thanks to all of our parents for your generous donations! It is without a doubt our teachers felt the love all week.

We welcome licensed clinical professional counselor, journalist, and author, Phyllis Fagell, to Ursuline! She Zoomed with our Middle School faculty and staff, and presented to our parents/guardians about how to build middle schoolers' social skills, resilience, and confidence.

To learn more, check out Phyllis Fagell's first book, 'Middle School Matters, and keep an eye out for her new book, 'Middle School Superpowers. Thank you again to everyone who joined us and to Phyllis for sharing your knowledge and expertise with our middle school community!

On Thursday, March 2nd, Ursuline Academy celebrated the first week of spring sports season by recognizing the generosity of its community with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly resurfaced Lou Olivere Track and expanded parking lot at Serviam Field. Generous supporters, student athletes, and members from all facets of the Ursuline community, including several past and present UA Cross Country and Track & Field coaches from 1980-present, were in attendance to mark the celebration.

Ursuline Academy is so grateful to the lead donors of this meaningful project: Crystal Trust Foundation, the Ripsom Family, the Stempel Family Foundation, and Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists.

ENTRE-X Innovation Class Is Taking ACTION And Gaining TRACTION! Kaya Blair, Bella Caraballo, and Emily Copeland practiced their social innovation pitch with a panel of experts. The room was filled with professionals who graciously shared their expertise.

A big thank you to Drs. Singh Patel and Megan Mickley, Mr. David Liss, Mrs. Donna Masley, Mrs. Andrea Roesser, Mrs. Donna Kinzel, Mr. Patrick Davey, Mrs. Joanna Arat, Mr. Jeffrey Danilak, and Dr. Trisha Medeiros. The insights gained were invaluable to the team. The next steps are to gear up for the trial on Feb. 14th.

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!

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.

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 an altar in the front lobby of the Lower School.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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!