Dear Saint Ursula Community,

We had a wonderful Open House!  Nearly 300 prospective students and their families attended.  The interest in Saint Ursula Academy is strong!  Michelle Dellecave and Mandy Maddox, our admissions team, did an outstanding job making certain that all of our prospective students and families had a great experience.  Many thanks to our facilities team who had the campus looking spectacular and to all of the teachers, staff, parent volunteers, and student groups who came together to make this event happen.

Often I feel so grateful for the front row seat that I have to what makes SUA so special, and I hope in these newsletters to pass along some of those observations.  Sunday was full of them!  It was so fun to greet the prospective students at the front door with Lelia.  Many 7th and 8th graders brought their whole families, including multiple generations.  Some current students were showing around their younger sister.  The alumnae who now had daughters were so eager to tour campus and see familiar and new parts of the campus.  One family drove two hours each way as they were considering a move back to Cincinnati so that their daughters could attend SUA.  Each family was greeted by current SUA parents who shared a prayer card and assurances that they would be praying for them during their discernment process; our religion classes will also be praying for our prospective students at various stages of the admissions process.  I love that!

Equally as fun was seeing the tour guides return from their individual tours.  Many freshmen commented that they were so nervous, but we could see their pride that they now knew SUA well enough to give the tour.  Some girls shared stories of how they handled particularly challenging questions or situations.  A senior told Lelia and I about how she gave the entire tour in Spanish because a girl’s family did not speak English.  Other SUA students passed out friendship bracelets that they made for the visitors.  Students at the Bulldog Boost, our student-run fair trade coffee shop, poured cup after cup of coffee for guests.

My favorite moment, though, happened when hardly anyone was on campus yet.  As I walked to my post at the front door, I could glimpse into the chapel.  It was packed with students in their Mass uniform sweaters. It was impressive in terms of the sheer number of students who were willing to give up their Sunday afternoon to help their school.  But, my absolute favorite, was hearing the girls belt out the school song right before they opened the doors to chapel to start the event.  That felt like sisterhood to me. 

This is just a glimpse into our life here at SUA.  Thanks for sending such amazing young women to our school.

Go Bulldogs!

Kathy

PS:  If you have not already done so, please sign your daughter’s Faith in Action form.  The due date is Halloween!