Dear Saint Ursula Community,

I hope that you are having a good week so far!  As I have mentioned before, one of the great privileges of my role is that I get to witness firsthand some wonderful examples of sisterhood.  Today I thought I would pass along an experience that I had at last week’s Senior Night for the bowling team.  

One of the things that always surprises me initially about watching a bowling team is how relatively quiet the competition is compared to other sports.  There are encouraging comments to teammates, but there is a different feel when the team works in a single lane versus across a large field or court.  Our SUA Bulldogs were focused that night.  Off to the side was a good-sized group of GAA students and other friends in pajamas because the theme was “sleepover”; girls' schools love a good theme!  They provided fun, silliness, and spirit.  What struck me the most, though, was how this activity brought together girls from all different groups and grades.  They were there for each other and for the love of their sport.

At the senior celebration to follow, I had a chance to talk to the girls and their coaches.  Each person made some comment about how the teammates just “like each other so much,” or she had a story to tell about times that they get together outside of bowling.  Girls told me about the trip to the Cyclones game that they arranged.  Coaches showed me photos of the team at the Festival of Lights, an activity that the students organized before Christmas break.  The coaches talked about how the parents were able to socialize and enjoy time with each other as the girls walked around together.  Sure, bowling is great and teaches its own lessons, but that authentic sisterhood is what SUA is all about.  I left feeling so encouraged and hoping that all students have experiences where that feeling of sisterhood and connection is real and powerful to them.

On another note, we are in the months when Cincinnati tends to get its winter weather.  Altering the school day and families’ schedules is not something that Lelia and I take lightly.  By the time that students and families get a notification about a closing or delay, there has been a great deal of consideration about the safety of the students in the current weather and travel conditions. Student safety is always our number one priority.  In addition to temperature and travel conditions, we also consider the fact that our campus layout includes multiple buildings that students navigate throughout the day.  With snowy conditions, we need to consider that students come from over 19 zip codes with varying local snow removal and treatment results. On our SUA campus, we need to make certain that snow is removed from streets enough for parking and walking.  We appreciate the efforts that parents and caregivers make to alter schedules when we have a closing or delay and just want to reiterate that our decisions are always guided by our students’ safety.

Enjoy the rest of your week.  Go Bulldogs!

Kathy

Here is the updated two-week schedule.