Virtual Exchange with Ursuline Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio

On Wednesday, December 16th our junior English class participated in a virtual exchange with our sister school in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The Ursuline Academy students in Wilmington co-presented projects on The Canterbury Tales with their "sisters" at Ursuline in Ohio.

UA Wilmington and UA Cincinnati collaborate over Skype

Led by Tammie Sylvia of UA Wilmington and Dr. Kathleen Stall of UA Cincinnati, each of the girls created a new pilgrim on the journey of the Canterbury Tales and shared their new character with the group at large.  Students from both campuses then had the opportunity to ask questions which ranged from rationale for decisions in the creative process to cultural variances between the mid-west and east coast that were evident in their poems.

UA Wilmington applauds a presentation in Cincinnati

Throughout the exchange, both schools also had the opportunity to learn about the other.  Girls at both campuses introduced their schools, discussing details like school size, grade levels, class sizes, daily schedule, and other demographic information.  The students also shared details about their campus traditions some of which were similar to the other school and some of which varied greatly.  We even got an impromptu Adele performance by a student in Cincinnati - WOW!

Learning about UA Cincinnati

Sarah Looney '17 remarked: "I loved having the opportunity to share my poem, as well as listen to my fellow classmates and the girls in Cincinnati read theirs. I also loved how we were able to ask one another questions, have a few laughs and pretty much get to know one another as a class. It was such an amazing experience, being able to Skype with another Ursuline school, and I hope that we are able to participate in something like this again."

Junior Brooke Schmeusser shared: "This was a great experience that brought together Ursuline Wilmington and Ursuline Cincinnati. I felt connected to them even though they live hundreds of miles away and I have never met them before. There are so many similarities because we are both Ursuline schools.  I think that every English class should (have) this experience."

We look forward to many more exchanges with our sister schools.  What an incredible opportunity to virtually travel the world and experience different cultures through the strength of our unique Ursuline network.  

New Rochelle visits Wilmington!

The past 24 hours have been chock full of sisterhood as the 7th graders from The Ursuline School in New Rochelle, NY exchanged with the 7th graders here at Ursuline Academy of Wilmington.  The exchange is happening in two parts; UA Wilmington is serving as the first host school and then The Ursuline School will welcome our 7th graders to New Rochelle in Spring 2016.

The exchange started with a fun activity where girls met their "families" for the next 24 hours and shared lunch in our cafeteria.  Following lunch, we officially opened our retreat with a prayer service in the UA chapel.  Students read and sang together in the spirit of St. Angela - combining voices into one unified sisterhood.

The afternoon continued with crafts, service projects, and team building activities all centered around the theme of confidence and compassion.  The goal of the exchange was to empower our girls to stretch beyond their comfort zones and to meet new friends through the Ursuline network.

It was so wonderful to watch our girls connect through the common bond of Serviam.  The families of girls completed several service projects including care packages for soldiers, school supply kits for our sister school Brescia House in South Africa, holiday placemats for the Emmanuel Dining Room, and Patient Playbooks for kids suffering from serious illnesses.

The evening continued with a delicious taco bar and then the girls had the opportunity to participate as a family in a lip sync battle complete with choreography.  How fun!

The evening closed with the girls all snug in their sleeping bags in our gym for freshly popped popcorn and a showing of "Inside Out".  Most of the girls were asleep soon after the end of the movie after a long day of activities together.

When the sun came up, our exchange continued with breakfast together and several team activities that deepened connections and our themes.  Girls enjoyed quiet time in their families and had a lot of fun posing for our roving camera!

We closed with a prayer service and lunch before sending our new sisters on their way back to New Rochelle.  During the prayer service, some of the girls shared during reflection time about their experiences during the exchange, saying that they had "fun learning about Wilmington from their sisters" and that they "loved that our schools have so many things in common because of the Ursuline network".  One student remarked that initially she didn't want to come on the exchange but her mother "forced her" but she was so pleased that she did "because (she) met so many new friends and also learned that she enjoys traveling and learning about new places".

The bonds of Ursuline never cease to amaze - within 24 hours the girls have connected with new friends and sisters brought together under the guidance and spirit of St. Angela & St. Ursula.

Application Submission Day!

Wednesday, October 28^th was an exciting day for the Global Education Program.  At lunchtime, a long line of students came to the Global Education office to officially submit their applications to be considered for delegations for our upcoming exchange trips to New Orleans, New York, and Peru.  The school is buzzing with excitement about these incredible opportunities to connect with our Ursuline sisters around the world. 

There are still a few slots left for each of the trips so if you are still considering being a part of one of these unique & memorable experiences, please submit your completed application and deposit check as soon as possible.  Trip rosters will be finalized and announced on November 9, 2015.  Applications will not be processed after that date. 

Any questions? Please reach out to Amanda Neill – aneill@ursuline.org

Application Window for 15-16 Travel Opportunities is Open!

Ursuline Academy's Global Education Program is excited to officially open the application window for three travel opportunities for our students this year.  

PERU 2016

In June 2016, we will travel to our sister school Colegio Santa Ursula in Lima, Peru for a week-long exchange.  Throughout the week in Lima, students will have the opportunity to experience life in Peru as an Ursuline student by living with her Peruvian sister and family.  While in Lima, students will attend classes (which will give them a wonderful opportunity to practice their Spanish) and will also be treated to some amazing cultural experiences as hosted by Colegio Santa Ursula. 

After departing Lima, students will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour Machu Picchu by way of the VistaDome train.  Situated on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley, archaeologists believe that Machu Picchu was built as an estate for the Inca emperor Pachacuti (1438–1472).  Machu Picchu was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.  In 2007, Machu Picchu was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide Internet poll.

Following this 3-day excursion, the delegation will spend a week in Piura, Peru participating in a service project with Santisimo Sacramento Parish.  In 2011, a group of students from Ursuline Academy led by Mrs. Kane-Smith participated in the same program and were forever changed by their experience.  Students will truly have the opportunity to practice our Serviam motto by giving back to some of the poorest communities in South America. 

NEW ORLEANS 2016

In March 2016, a delegation of five students and two faculty from Ursuline Academy in Wilmington will travel to our sister school in New Orleans, Louisiana for a 6-day exchange.  Ursuline Academy of New Orleans, founded in 1727 by twelve Ursuline nuns from France, enjoys the distinction of being both the oldest, continuously-operating school for girls and the oldest Catholic school in the United States.  The opportunity to experience life as an Ursuline student in New Orleans provides our students a wonderful chance to become a part of the community of the first Ursuline school in the United States.  While in New Orleans, students will attend classes and activities with their “sisters” and will have the opportunity to participate in service projects and other cultural outings in unique New Orleans. 

UNITED NATIONS CSW60

Ursuline students will have the opportunity to participate in the United Nations 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which will take place at UN Headquarters in March.  The UN Commission on the Status of Women is the principal world wide body dedicated exclusively to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. It was established in 1946 by the Economic and Social Council, making the March 2016 session the 60^th time CSW has met.

Students will have the opportunity to hear from women around the world who are engaged in efforts to make life better for women and girls who suffer the effects of poverty, violence and a lack of education. Students who attend the conference will learn ways that they can be in solidarity with women and girls around the world in their search for a better life.  Ursuline Academy of Wilmington will be participating alongside 5 other Ursuline network schools - just another example of how the Ursuline bond grows through cultural exchange and travel.  

Farewell to Dallas

And just like that, it is time to bid our delegation from Dallas a fond "Farewell Y'All"!!

On Tuesday evening, we gathered for a Farewell Dinner with our guests from Dallas, their host sisters & families and several members of our faculty and staff.  It was a wonderful evening of prayer, student reflections on their experiences, and joy! 

Mrs. Shroyer & Mrs. Kenney served as excellent host mothers and were
thanked by UA faculty Lottie Johnson & Jackie Wanner as well as
UA President Cathie Field Lloyd

Erin O'Doherty, Julia Sparco, & Annie Colbourn of UA Wilmington along
with host mothers Mrs. Colbourn & Mrs. Sparco hug their Dallas sisters
Jennifer, Eva, & Adriana at our Farewell Dinner

Isabel from UA Dallas shares all about her experiences on the East Coast

Sisterhood is strong here at our Farewell to Dallas Dinner

On Wednesday September 30th, our Dallas sisters hugged their Wilmington sisters a tearful goodbye and headed out to Philadelphia for a few quick stops before traveling to the airport.  Philadelphia did an excellent job of regrouping after the World Meeting of Families and the group enjoyed taking in the sights in Old City, Philadelphia.  

National Constitution Center

Independence Hall

Dallas loves Philly

Mia & Anna at the Liberty Bell

Final Philly moments - running the "Rocky"
steps at the Philadelphia Art Museum

Presenting Dallas to the UA Community

What an amazing adventure we have had with our Dallas sisters!

On Monday, the Dallas delegation attended classes with their host sisters before presenting to the Upper School students at our Business Women's Lunch series.  During the presentation, we learned so many things about Dallas including what a mum is, about UA intramurals, the fact that 108 "Delawares" fit into Texas, and other interesting facts about Texas, Dallas, and UA in Dallas.

Dallas Delegation & chaperones

The girls did an excellent job representing their school and answering questions from our student body.  They even treated us to a freshman dance routine at the end - how fun!  I imagine that this may be a tradition that our UA Wilmington girls might be interested in starting for their underclasswomen.

Allie, Isabel, Eva & Jennifer treat us to their Freshman Dance

That afternoon, Cathie Field Lloyd and Susan Heiss took the group out on a driving tour of Wilmington where Cathie treated the girls to some fun and interesting facts about our special First State of Delaware.  They ended their afternoon with ice cream on the waterfront at Molly's - owned by a UA alumna of course!

Cathie Field Lloyd hosts a driving tour of Wilmington

On Tuesday morning, the delegation started their day in our Lower School with a presentation to the 5th graders.  The students loved learning all about Dallas and answering the questions about Delaware.  

Dallas presents for the Lower School 

In addition to presenting for the 4th & 5th grades, the Dallas students also had an opportunity to go into our four Early Childhood classrooms where they read to the students and participated in their activities including the ever-popular “Kiss Your Brain” sing along.  It was so wonderful to share our little explorers of the world with our Dallas sisters. 

Eva reads to our young students

Mia & Allie hang out in Mrs. Dooley's classroom

After spending the morning with the Lower School students, the Dallas students then presented to the Middle School students in the auditorium.  The Middle Schoolers loved hearing all about the differences between UA Dallas and UA Wilmington.  Many even got excited about the opportunity that when they come to UA as high school students that they would have the opportunity to travel to Dallas to learn more about life in Texas.

Dallas delegates & our Middle School student body

Papal Mass in Philadelphia

At 8:30am this morning, our combined group of students from Ursuline Academy in Wilmington, DE and Ursuline Academy in Dallas, Texas formed a prayer circle and prayed for a safe pilgrimage into Philadelphia to celebrate Mass with Pope Francis.  

Our entire journey was smooth sailing - from the bus ride into Philadelphia, to parking & getting to SEPTA, to an easy SEPTA journey and walk to security - everything was well orchestrated and the sense of community amongst the hundreds of thousands with whom we traveled was palpable.  We met people from all over the world and even some with connections to the Ursuline community. 

Before mass, Pope Francis made his final parade journey around Philadelphia and we were there to see it all - just steps away from our Holy Father.  What an amazing experience!  We are so inspired by  his teachings and are so blessed that we had the opportunity to be in such close proximity to him.  The excitement and emotion shone on our girls' faces - they were beaming with joy! 

Mass was a beautiful celebration of family in its many definitions.  Pope Francis led us in a simple and prayerful celebration that helped us to all feel connected in our faith.  Amazingly, everyone was able to partake in communion as the altar dispersed hundreds of priests into the crowds.  How wonderful!   

We are home safely in Delaware - forever changed by this experience and this man.  

Dallas gives back to the Food Bank

Our guests from Dallas had a very full first day in Wilmington!  After settling in at their new homes for the week, the students arrived bright-eyed in the morning and had the opportunity to introduce themselves to the Upper School student body & faculty.  Everyone did an excellent job introducing themselves and the Wilmington students welcomed them into our UA community!

Dallas students introduced themselves to the Upper School 

Ms. Smith & Mrs. Briones working hard at the Food Bank

Packing bananas

More bananas!

Dallas delegation

Going bananas!!

A special Rita's treat for an afternoon of hard work & service