Dear Saint Ursula Community,

There is nothing like the end of Daylight Savings Time to signify that we are clearly heading into the end of fall. As much as I love to ease into the “coziness” of this time of year, driving home in the dark is not my favorite.  This is a good time to share some safety reminders for our girls who are also adjusting to these changes.

Your daughter’s safety is our top priority, and we take that responsibility very seriously.  Saint Ursula Academy is committed to helping young women develop the skills that they need to be successful in life, and one of those critical skills is keeping themselves safe while navigating their environment.  At our class meetings at the beginning of the year, we spent time explaining the necessity of situational awareness and reiterated that point in the first safety drill of the school year.  This week Lelia and I will send an email to the students reminding them of the importance of attending to their environment, particularly as the days get shorter.  I want to share these practical tips with you as well so that you can reinforce them at home.

First and foremost, we will remind students to put away their cell phones so that they can pay attention to what is happening in their environment.  This is good advice when walking around campus - or walking anywhere, for that matter.  It is also important for students to not sit in their cars and be engrossed in scrolling through their phones; we want students to be alert and aware in parking lots or on street parking.  We will remind them to lock their car doors and not leave valuables in the car.

We will also emphasize the importance of having at least one other student or adult accompany them when going from the Keller Center side of campus to the Academy side.  Most of the time, students are moving in large groups during class changes.  If there is an occasion when a student has to leave one of these buildings during class, she should have another student with her.  The girls will probably roll their eyes, but there is something to the “buddy system” that works even now and will continue to be important for safety on a college campus.  

Finally, we want young women to trust their natural instincts.  If they see or experience anything unusual, we want them to tell an adult in the building immediately.  Unfortunately, many people and families are struggling now with financial pressures and mental health challenges.  Should anyone from the neighborhood approach one of our students for money or another request, we remind them to not engage, get inside the closest building, and let an adult know what happened.  It is an essential part of our Catholic social teachings to inspire our students to care for those who need our assistance, and we provide many opportunities for service learning and social justice experiences.  It is a necessary reality that we prioritize our students’ safety on and around campus in this manner.

I realize that this may not be the most uplifting newsletter; however, we share these reminders knowing that safety is an important skill for all areas of life - here at SUA and in the future.  

Looking forward, Monday, November 13, is our first Faith in Action Day, a required day for all students to participate in the activities and reflection that help them to develop into the Academy Alum:  thinkers, leaders, nurturers, and prophets who are ready to make a positive impact on the world.  I know that you have received other information about these activities as they pertain to your daughter’s grade level, but this is a reminder that our first Faith in Action Day is almost here.  We will have Kairos #123 on retreat, so please keep those students in your prayers in a special way.

We are so excited for our fall performance of The Sound of Music that runs November 16-19.  You can purchase your tickets here for what is sure to be uplifting entertainment.

Finally, a huge shout out to our volleyball team who competed this past Saturday in the regional finals, the elite eight of the state division one championship.  The team played with grit and heart, and the game was close but not a win.  We are so proud of our volleyball team and all of the student athletes who participated in our fall sports season.  Lelia and I hope that they all take away great memories.

Thank you for all you do to partner with us.

Go Bulldogs,

Kathy