Dear SUA Community,

I think it is fair to say that we are transitioning from fall to winter:  the days are shorter, and the holidays are right around the corner.  There are so many things to appreciate about this season, but I don’t think many of us love driving to and from school and work in the dark.  This is always a good time to share some safety reminders for our students 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 knowing how to keep themselves safe in all environments.  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 safety drill that we held on Monday.  In this week’s Sunday Message to students, Lelia and I reminded students 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 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; students need to be alert and aware in parking lots or on street parking.  We remind them to lock their car doors and not leave valuables in the car.  Many student drivers are walking on campus when it is dusk or dark, and we stress the importance of having at least one other person with them.  

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 students, we remind them to not engage and let an adult know what happened.  It is an essential part of our Catholic social teachings to inspire our students to care for others, 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.

Finally, it is a good idea for parents and guardians to have a discussion with their daughter about their family’s comfort level with her walking off campus and visiting nearby dining options when they are after school for a practice or school activity.  Our strong advice is to always go with a friend and to not get more than a block from campus.

As always, we share these reminders knowing that safety is an important skill for all areas of life - here at SUA and in the future.

On a much lighter note:  we announced to students at our pep assembly following the volleyball team’s State Championship that Monday, December 2, will be a day off of school as is tradition to celebrate a team’s State title.  As you can imagine, the students cheered loudly!  

Go Bulldogs!

Kathy