Dear SUA Community,

As we start the season of Lent, we are reminded of the opportunity ahead in these 40 days to renew our hearts and spirits in preparation for the joyous celebration of Easter.  Today we gathered for an Ash Wednesday prayer service and the distribution of ashes.  There is always something very powerful about our school community coming together to pray as it reminds us of how united we are through our faith.  

The most important element of our sisterhood at Saint Ursula Academy is that we are called to love and serve one another as children of God.  The ashes that we wore throughout the day reminded us that we need God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness in our everyday lives.  The ashes also point us to the hope of spiritual renewal and growth that can occur during this sacred season.  Throughout Lent our campus ministry program will include opportunities for students to deepen their faith and personal relationship with God.  

Another highlight of this week is celebrating International Women’s Day as a community on Friday, March 7.  International Women’s Day has been around since 1911 as a day set aside to celebrate women’s achievement and raise awareness about biases and stereotypes that still persist.  Thanks to our Department of Service, Equity, and Global Education, our students will have the opportunity to attend various sessions that celebrate women’s progress and culture through the fine arts.  Students self-selected their session from many opportunities bringing in cultural organizations from throughout the city.  Here are a sampling of the sessions:  community jazz, learning about and participating in hip hop, conversation and a guided writing experience with a local writer, henna art, and creating mandalas.  Events like these help our students learn about other global cultures and how empowered they are to share their unique gifts. 

Finally, we are entering a very busy time of the year.  I know and can empathize with the challenge of juggling many schedules, sometimes across several schools along with family and work schedules.  The two-week calendar linked on the cover page of the Parent Bulletin is the best source for the details of our daily schedule. 

Thanks for all you do to support your daughter and our school.  Go Bulldogs!

Kathy