Ursuline Early Childhood & Lower School Viewbook 2024-25
URSULINE ACADEMY
Growth. Values. For Life.
Educating Trailblazers, Changemakers, & Global Leaders since 1893
EARLY CHILDHOOD & LOWER SCHOOL
OUR MISSION:
Ursuline Academy is an independent, Catholic school community that empowers students for leadership and service in our global society.
I’ve been going to the Lower School since I was 3 years old, and I love it here. Everyone from students to teachers are very welcoming and supportive. I personally love science and social studies, though every class is fun!
- Elka Rickner, 5th grade, Lower School Student Council President
Welcome to Ursuline Academy!
It is my privilege to welcome your family to Ursuline Academy. Early Childhood and the Lower School build the foundation for boys and girls to become life-long scholars and global citizens. The students are both nurtured and challenged as they discover, explore, and learn. Our teachers guide and inspire students through engaging and rigorous lessons planned to foster critical thinking and creative problem solving at all grade levels.
Ursuline’s Montessori Early Childhood Program and Lower School are committed to preparing students for the rapidly changing world we live in. We provide them with a robust experience including core mathematical, literacy, science, and social studies instruction complemented by fine arts, world language, and technology. Equally important to a strong academic education is a foundation for spiritual and leadership development, which students will cultivate through service projects, liturgies, prayer services, athletics, and other enrichment experiences.
Inspired by the spirit of St. Angela Merici, our motto is Serviam, meaning, “I will serve.” We are committed to helping students grow spiritually in a values, faith based-community. Students beginning in our earliest grades learn to look for ways to serve those in need to make our world a better place.
At Ursuline, we are a family. Our small size helps students form strong bonds with each other and their teachers. Likewise, our staff form strong partnerships with our families. This allows every student to feel safe and supported while being encouraged to take risks. From the beginning of your child’s day to the very end, they are well cared for by a network of educators focused on each child’s individual growth.
We are disciples. We are citizens. We are thinkers. We are pioneers. We are Ursuline!
Samantha Varano Lower School Principal
The Value of an Ursuline Education
Delaware’s only Catholic Montessori Program
3 seasons
of Athletics sponsored by CYM, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, cross country, and track & field
Angie’s Home, opened in Fall 2024, is a dedicated practical life and sensorial learning Montessori classroom space.
$2.3 million 63% of students.
ov
Our Extended Day Program offers over choices of clubs and enrichment activities after school, such as Yoga, Drama, Chess, Coding, Soccer, Tennis, Video Game Design, and more. 10
The new Dream Lab was opened in 2024 and is home to building, design, communications, digital arts, and computer science.
WE ARE
Our campus is nestled in the heart of Wilmington, Delaware and includes over 147,000 square feet of multi-functional space within the walls of our Lower School, Middle/Upper School, and Fusco Hall Student Life Center. In addition, we offer ample outdoor learning space, outdoor dining, a newly-renovated playground, and our campus green. Serviam Field on Route 141 next to Barley Mill Plaza includes two spacious athletic fields and the Lou Olivere track.
Early Childhood
Ages 2.5 – 5 Years
Our youngest students are nurtured and provided a safe place to grow and learn. Our teachers focus on social success.
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• Presents challenging concepts through teacher
• • student to serve as both learners and teachers.
• nurturing family environment our teachers create.
• Incorporates the core values of Maria Montessori.
• spaces, including our Discovery Studio and outside classroom.
• Delaware's only Catholic Montessori school.
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• • each student’s academic understanding across a variety of disciplines.
• school community.
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• science.
Early Childhood in Action
Angie’s Home
A very special component of Ursuline's Montessori Program is "Angie's Home." Angie's Home derives its name from Angela Merici, Ursuline's foundress, and Maria Montessori's belief that the "home" is a sacred space where children learn their first lessons. Angie's home is a classroom dedicated to practical life and sensorial learning where children practice skills like table setting, pouring, food preparation, and cleaning, all of which contribute to the four major categories of Montessori Teaching: Care of the Self, Care of the Environment, Grace and Courtesy, and Control of Movement.
Kindergarten Capstone Class
The Kindergarten year is often classified as the "final year of the Children's House — a three-year learning community for ages 2.5 to 6. Each year is purposeful and is often compared to building a house. In their first year, the two and three-year-olds lay a foundation. At age four, they start to build the walls. By age five, the child is ready to secure the roof.
During the Kindergarten year, our students build upon the foundation they have developed and cultivate their role as leaders, allowing them to serve as learners and teachers. Kindergarteners will exhibit their learning by leading and modeling younger classmates, helping them navigate key concepts. During the first half of their school day, they learn alongside their younger peers. During the second half of their day, Kindergarteners move to the primary floor of the Lower School to attend a daily "Pre-First Capstone" class, which introduces students to mainstream curricula that they will experience the following year in Ursuline's first grade.
Lower School Grades
1-5
Primary - Grades 1-3
• learn the importance of responsibility and service.
• • through evidence based practices.
• program.
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Expands our students knowledge of number sense, computation, and problem solving as they begin to solve more complex mathematical tasks and develop their own math strategy.
Intermediate - Grades 4-5
• community, and leading the Lower School in a variety
• •
group novel study and deep research of a variety of topics.
• as they live the core values of St. Angela.
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• • Nurtures intellectual curiosity through
Lower School Experience
Student Council
Portraying leadership before the council even existed, our 4th and 5th graders pitched the idea of bringing Student Council to the Lower School. Our council consists of an executive committee of 4th graders who are our president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer, as well as grade level reps for 1st-3rd grade. Not only do they help to lead our Family Friday monthly meetings, but they also have been identifying small changes to enhance the student experience.
Dream Lab
Our Dream Lab is a forward-thinking space in the Lower School where our students can explore the world of design-thinking, digital arts, communication, journalism, business, and innovation. Students now have a place to develop creative solutions to community problems, innovate new concepts, and develop smart financial strategies for their personal interests or business plans.
5th Grade Leaders
When students start 5th grade, they immediately take on the role of Lower School Leaders. From helping our little ones on the morning car line to leading pep rallies and initiating new clubs and activities, they are always ready to take on the responsibilities of leading our school and being role models to our younger students.
Band Program
In 3rd grade, our students will all learn to play the recorder. This oftentimes serves as a stepping stone to joining the school band in 4th grade or 5th grade. While our band program is optional, many of our 4th and 5th graders will begin their musical journey with our summer band camp and will go on to participate in various performances throughout the school year, such as the Christmas Concert, Grandparents Day, and our spring Day of the Arts.
House System
The House System provides an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to build community, promote unity, and create new traditions academy-wide. Our House System organizes our students, faculty, and staff into three houses: Points, Novas, and Caps. Each house is based on one of Ursuline’s founding patron saints: St. Angela Merici, St. Ursula, and St. Marie of the Incarnation. Each house incorporates colors and symbols related to their saint’s history, and house groupings will be determined by high school graduation year.
Early Childhood students ages 2.5-4 years are recognized as our Little Skippers - housemates in training. As Little Skippers, children are familiarized with the House System and included in many of our House activities before being formally inducted into their permanent houses in Kindergarten.
Favorite House traditions in the Lower School include House Wars, Field Day, cheers, service projects, monthly dress apparel days, and holiday activities.
Family Friday
While the House System creates a friendly competition yet spirited rivalry amongst grade levels, the Lower School celebrates their houses together every month during Family Friday. This recent tradition brings the entire Lower School community together during the first Friday of each month for morning prayer, announcements, awards, and House Cheers. This gives our students a chance to interact with their housemates in varying grades.
Wellness & Support
Mental Health & Well-being
We care about the well-being of the whole student and believe that mental well-being is the bedrock of success in all other areas of their experience at Ursuline. Our Lower School has a dedicated full-time counselor, Mrs. Scarpitti. She meets with students individually and in small group settings. She also meets in whole class settings to teach prosocial skills. Additionally, Mrs. Scarpitti collaborates closely with teachers, parents, and guardians to help maintain student well-being and academic success.
Seeking counselor support is a normalized experience at Ursuline. Students know they always have a resource to help support them through a bad day or an especially challenging time in their lives. Counselors also work closely with students and parents to find outside community resources when needed.
Lower School Learning Support
In addition to social and emotional support, the Lower School offers additional academic services to students with identified learning needs or with students that our faculty have identified as having learning gaps. Our learning specialist, Mrs. Alcarese, uses diagnostic testing and data informed practices to develop customized instruction that helps to close gaps in areas of reading, math, and executive functioning. Throughout the week, Mrs. Alcarese may work with students in small groups or one on one. Additionally, she provides resources and coaching to classroom teachers and maintains frequent progressive communication with teachers and parents to update them on progress.
Learning Support Specialist
A Note from Our School Pup, Winnie
Hello! My name is Winnie, and I’m the school dog at Ursuline Academy. I love being an ‘Ursuline girl,’ and one of my favorite things to do when I come to school is to greet new students and visitors. I spend my days ready and waiting to cheer up anyone having a ruff day. Some of my favorite upperclassmen wait for me each morning for a game of fetch with my tennis ball, which I love to chase up and down the hallway. I also love to be read to in the lower school library. I’m a great listener for young, new readers! When I’m in the Fusco Student Life Center, I can usually be found roaming along the 3rd floor, where I can take in a theology class or math lessons, all while getting treats and cuddles.
When I was asked to write you this letter, I jumped and wagged my tail at the opportunity! Why is Ursuline the best place to be, you ask? Because we have so much to offer students of all ages - from our award-winning academics and talented faculty, championship sports teams and highly regarded coaches, nationally-recognized arts program, and a global network of over 100 Ursuline schools worldwide! Our newly renovated facilities and innovative learning spaces provide state-of-the-art tools and resources for learning. And did I mention our amazing cafeteria? While I’m not allowed to play in the café, I have snuck some occasional nibbles, and I can assure you, it’s the best food around!
I hope you will visit me soon and see how wonderful Ursuline is!
Sincerely yours with fluffy hugs and wet kisses,
Winnie
Student Life
You can Lead at Ursuline
Opportunities for public speaking and to serve as role models for younger students.
You can Explore at Ursuline
Find your passion for learning in our art studio, outdoor classroom, library, science lab, and brand new Dream Lab.
Spanish Program
Prepares your child for dual language fluency and fosters an appreciation of another culture.
You can Serve at Ursuline
Serviam or “I will serve” is embedded in Ursuline’s culture. All students organize and participate in service projects to support local charities.
Physical Education
Incorporates lessons of sportsmanship and fairness into an environment of play and fitness, while mastering concepts of teamwork and personal goal setting.
Visual Arts
Classes provide an understanding of the elements of design and encourage your child to explore various avenues of creative expression.
Expect More
Disciples...
• money for animal shelters.
Citizens...
students into school with warm smiles and words of encouragement.
