Dear SUA Parents/Guardians,

Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year!  To our new families, Lelia and I are so glad that you are a part of our Saint Ursula Academy community.  We hope you feel just as welcomed, supported, and valued here as your daughter does.

No matter how many school years I have experienced, the excitement of a new one never fades. This summer, we have worked hard to ensure our campus is ready - enhancing facilities, upgrading technology, and, most importantly, expanding opportunities for our students. These efforts reflect our deep commitment to academic excellence, faith development, and the personal growth of every young woman at Saint Ursula.  We can’t wait to welcome our students back on Wednesday, August 13, with our traditional Faculty and Staff Welcome in the Front Circle.  We will be out there to greet our students and celebrate the start of another great year.

As the mom of two adult children, I still remember the milestone that each new year represents.  That is probably why we have so many “first day” photos.  We bring many hopes and dreams for our child’s growth to the year ahead, whether it is your daughter’s first year of high school, the momentous last year of high school, and anything in-between.  My overarching message to kick off this year is that “we are here.”  We are here as partners with you in your daughter’s growth and development to be the unique young woman that God intended her to be.   

On Monday you and your daughter should have received a back-to-school email focused on our new schedule, Experience Excellence:  Learning for the Real World.  I encourage you to take time to review the narrated slides that walk through key orientation information. We covered many details that may feel new or unfamiliar.  Please keep reminding your daughter to be patient with herself.  The schedule is new to all of us; we are here to help her navigate it, which she absolutely will.  While some things may feel different at first, all of the elements of the new schedule have been carefully designed with the students’ best interests in mind from instructional excellence to their overall well-being.

Finally, I know that you are juggling many schedules and details to keep up with the busy lives of high school students.  To stay informed, please prioritize reading all of the Parent Bulletin each week as it is the best source of information for all things SUA.  The two-week calendar, linked at the opening email, includes our daily schedule as well as information about faith-building activities, club/organization meetings, large group counseling, community times, and more.  Each week, I will also include a section in my letter highlighting the key information you need to best support your daughter in the days ahead.

This Week at SUA:  Reminders and tips to help your Bulldog in the week ahead

• Monday, August 11:
  • Picture Day for students in grades 9, 10, 11:  Here is the schedule.   Pictures can be ordered online using the link located in the Family Resource Section on our website. 
  • Class of 2025 Senior Canoe Trip:  Here are the details for their day.

• Tuesday, August 12:  Senior Application Marathon takes place in Keller, 12-4 pm.  Review this info to know what to bring!
• Wednesday, August 13:  First Day of school!  Students are in full uniform.  Here are the official uniform guidelines. The Front Circle Welcome is from 7:45-8:15 am.  The Class of 2029 will meet in Keller at 8 am to walk over to the building together for the first time as a class.
• Thursday, August 14:  Dawg Day!  The theme is the Greek Olympics, so we expect to see a lot of togas and have a ton of fun!
•  Friday, August 15:  Classes start at 8:45 am., All-School Mass:  We will honor the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary with an all-school Mass.  Parents/guardians are always welcome to attend.  Please check in at the Main Office to get a visitor’s badge.  All students should be in their Mass cardigans while following the Friday spiritwear guidelines.

Thank you for all you have done to prepare your daughter.  We are ready for an amazing year together!

Go Bulldogs!

Kathy