Dear SUA Community,
We hope that you are staying warm on these very cold days. We haven’t had a winter like this one in a long time.
One of the things that Saint Ursula Academy positively excels at is helping young women become the best version of themselves. This commitment starts in the classroom with our high academic expectations; the students learn academic content as well as essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, perspective-taking, and collaboration under the care of teachers who are invested in each student.
In addition, we give great attention to our non-academic programming because developing the whole person is integral to our mission and what it means to be an Ursuline school. Kathy Hammond, as our Vice Principal of Student Life, oversees all elements of this programming, ranging from campus ministry and Faith in Action Days to clubs and organizations. After Kathy was sharing with me the plans for how an upcoming Faith in Action day was implementing the Circle of Grace curriculum, I thought it might be nice for you to hear about these plans in her own words:
Each year, we provide programming for our students aimed at helping students identify safe environments and people as they progress through various stages of life. This curriculum, supported and mandated by the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, is called Circle of Grace. This programming is meant to supplement and be integrated into the excellent programs and curricula that we already provide at Saint Ursula Academy for the formation of our students as they grow and mature. Circle of Grace aims to equip our students by arming them with essential knowledge and skills grounded in the richness of our faith and helps them understand their own (and other’s) dignity in mind, body, and spirit.
In the Sophomore year, the Circle of Grace curriculum focuses on relationships, understanding that God intends our relationships in life to be experiences of divine love and that respectful, nurturing, loving relationships increase our own value and help us to love others. This material is integrated into the Faith in Action Day on February 10th and will be presented in conjunction with renowned psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour. Dr. Damour is a clinical psychologist, author, and podcaster who specializes in the development of teen girls. Dr. Damour spent the last four years as the lead consultant during the development of the teen character, Riley in Inside Out 2. If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s participation in this program, please contact Mrs. Amber Grayson by Wednesday, February 5th.
While sophomores will benefit from Dr. Lisa Damour this year, we are working on additional student and parent programs for '25-'26 with her. Dr. Damour is a big fan of SUA and long-time supporter of the work that we do.
We hope that your daughter has a great week ahead! Thanks for allowing us to partner with you to support her growth.
Go Bulldogs!
Kathy Restle and Kathy Hammond