Ursuline Upper School Viewbook 2024-25

URSULINE

ACADEMY

Growth. Values. For Life.

Educating Trailblazers, Changemakers, & Global Leaders since 1893

UPPER SCHOOL

OUR MISSION: Ursuline Academy is an independent, Catholic school community that empowers students for leadership and service in our global society.

I love the academics and the individualized attention from my teachers and counselors. Most importantly, I love the sisterhood. I always feel very connected, and my sisters are always the first people I turn to. They have never let me down and always have my back. The sisterhood at Ursuline is very special.

– Logann Roberts ’27

Welcome to Ursuline Academy!

I am delighted to introduce you to Ursuline Academy, a distinguished all-girls school rooted in the spirit of It is my privilege to welcome you and your family to Ursuline Academy! Founded in 1893, we are St. Angela Merici and guided by our motto, "Serviam" - I will serve. For generations, we have been dedicated to nurturing confident young women who are prepared to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Our commitment to excellence in education is matched only by our passion for empowering students to make a positive impact on the world.

At Ursuline Academy, we believe in providing a comprehensive and forward-thinking educational experience. Our innovative curriculum is designed to challenge and inspire, offering a perfect blend of rigorous academics and personal growth opportunities. We take pride in our cutting-edge programs in in a faith-based global education,community. entrepreneurship, STEM, and arts, which equip our students with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in an ever-evolving world. These programs, coupled with our strong athletics department, ensure that our young women develop not just intellectually, but physically and emotionally as well.

What truly sets Ursuline apart is our personalized approach to education. We recognize that each student is unique, with her own strengths, passions, and aspirations. Our dedicated faculty and staff work technology into global prominence. tirelessly to companies create an environment where every girl feels valued, supported, and empowered to reach her full potential. This individualized attention, combined with our facilities and resources, provides an unparalleled educational experience that prepares our students for success in college and beyond.

I invite you to explore all that Ursuline Academy has to offer. Come visit our campus, meet our exceptional faculty, and see firsthand how we are special. shaping the next generation of female leaders. Join us in our mission to cultivate young women who are intellectually curious, socially conscious, and ready to make their mark on the world. At Ursuline, we're not just supported by their sisters. educating students; we're inspiring a lifetime of learning, leadership, and service.

I invite you to join us at UA!

Dr. Jennifer Anthony

Upper Upper School School Principal Principal

The Value of an Ursuline Education The Class of 2024’s 60 graduates were awarded

$11,745,672

in academic scholarships and grants.

88%

of graduates are state colleges and

24

AP Courses

14

DIAA Sports offered at Varsity and JV Levels

Ursuline is part of a global education network with over 100 Ursuline schools worldwide.

Ursuline was the first Delaware school to create a dedicated Innovation Program and join the University of Delaware's ExtreX, which allows students to earn college credits.

95%

participating students earned AP Capstone Diploma or AP Seminar & Research Certificate

Over

$2M

Tuition Assistance & Scholarship Awarded Annually

Serviam or “I will serve” is at the core of Ursuline’s culture with students averaging 165 service hours, far exceeding the required 80 hours. Through their experience at Ursuline, Serviam becomes a part of our graduates lives with 56% of graduates

63%

of Families Receive Tuition Assistance

group giving at least 10 hours a month.

8:1

Average Student to Teacher Ratio

40% of Ursuline graduates enter college

100%

College Acceptance Rate

WE A RE Ursuline.

Trail Blazers.

Changemakers.

Global Leaders.

Academics and lessons to reach their highest goals.

At Ursuline we are committed to providing students with engaging and dynamic learning opportunities that stretch comfort zones, broaden perspectives, deepen leadership roles, and create connections to their future selves.

Freshmen Transition Series

We understand that the transition to high school is a process rather than just a day of activities, therefore we created a unique program to support freshmen as they seek to become their best selves. Leadership of this series is a collaboration between the Counseling Department and Dean of Academics throughout the first semester of freshman year. The students are guided through elements of social emotional development, relationship building, and cultivation of academic skills that strengthen success in all areas of study.

Serviam

AP Capstone

Serviam – meaning “I will serve” – is the core of Ursuline Academy’s mission and inspired by the spirit of St. Angela Merici. Students develop and sustain a natural relationship with service as they work towards 80 hours of non-profit work by the completion of their sophomore year. Integrated within Ursuline’s religious experience and social ministry curriculum, service projects teach students to recognize needs and ultimately become changemakers in the world. Each year, they support more than 50 nonprofit organizations, such as the Ronald McDonald House Charities and Special Olympics, through fundraising and charitable efforts.

AP Capstone consists of two mandatory courses, AP Seminar and AP Research. Students learn to think critically and creatively to construct meaning and gain understanding, design and conduct a study or investigation, propose solutions to real-world problems, plan and produce communication in various forms, collaborate to solve a problem, and make cross-curricular connections.

Global Scholars Program Essential to being a leader is understanding and respecting other cultures. Through a network of over 100 Ursuline schools worldwide, students have the unique opportunity to meet and learn from a network of sister schools and global partnerships. Our rich international exchange program invites students to connect on virtual projects, communicate in various formats with Ursuline students from across the world, serve as a host family for visiting students, and represent Ursuline as a delegate on domestic or international trips.

Center for Success The Center offers an academic student support program focused on providing personalized and enhanced learning experiences to ensure academic success for every student. This initiative supports students who benefit from assistance with executive functioning, study, and test-taking skills. Our Center for Success coordinator collaborates with families, students, and teachers to provide strategies and individually tailored accommodations with formal evaluations.

Engineering Whether it be in the design, creation, or implementation phase of the Engineering process, Ursuline seeks to cultivate career-ready skills in students seeking STEM related fields. Course offerings begin with Design Thinking which challenges students to investigate problems, strategize solutions, and build prototypes.

Students can further their knowledge and project-based work with a study of CAD & 3D Printing that can incorporate reverse engineering, toy design, and architecture. Access to technology and power tools authenticate the student experience so as to replicate career practices.

Leadership All sophomores are immersed in the importance of soft skills through our robust Leadership curriculum.

Students are challenged to develop their own personal brand that syncs with their unique talents and values, as well as pursue and present their own leadership initiative. This program has produced many new ventures that the students continue to foster throughout their high school career. Additionally, students now have the opportunity to earn college credits in Leadership via the University of Delaware, under LeadX.

2024-25 Course Offerings Grade 9 Theology 4 years

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 12

Theology I Freshmen Retreat

Theology II Sophomore Retreat

Theology III Junior Retreat

Theology IV

English I: Global Literacy Honors English I: Global Literacy

Honors English II: Global Literacy II

Honors English III: American Literature AP English Language & Composition AP Capstone I - AP Seminar

Honors English IV: Women in Literature & Humanities (Honors) AP English Language & Composition AP English Literature & Composition AP Capstone II - AP Research

Algebra 1 Intermediate Algebra Honors Integrated Geometry Honors Algebra II

Integrated Geometry Algebra II Honors Trigonometry & PreCalculus Honors Algebra II AP Statistics

Algebra II Trigonometry & PreCalculus Honors Trigonometry & PreCalculus AP Statistics AP Calculus AB

Functions & Trigonometry Trigonometry & Pre-Calculus Honors Calculus & Statistics Foundations AP Statistics AP Calculus AB AP Calculus BC

Biology Honors Biology

Chemistry Honors Chemistry Engineering I - Design Thinking (½ credit)

Physics Honors Physics AP Chemistry/AP Physics I (will alternate years) Advanced Topics in Chemistry Environmental Science AP Biology AP Environmental Science AP Computer Science Principles Engineering I - Design Thinking (½ credit) Engineering II - CAD & 3D Printing (½ credit)

Honors Physics Environmental Science Human Anatomy & Physiology Advanced Topics in Chemistry AP Environmental Science AP Biology AP Chemistry* AP Physics 1* AP Computer Science Principles Engineering I - Design Thinking (½ credit) Engineering II - CAD & 3D Printing (½ credit)

Global Literacy: Honors World Regional History I AP Human Geography

Honors World Regional History II AP European History AP Art History

Honors US History AP US History AP Art History Economics American Court System

Spanish I Spanish II Honors Spanish II

Spanish II Honors Spanish II Spanish III Honors Spanish III French II Honors French II French III Honors French III Mandarin Chinese II Honors Mandarin Chinese II Mandarin Chinese III Honors Mandarin Chinese III

Spanish III Honors Spanish III Spanish IV Honors Spanish IV French III Honors French III French IV Honors French IV Mandarin Chinese III Honors Mandarin Chinese III Mandarin Chinese IV Honors Mandarin Chinese IV

Spanish IV Honors Spanish IV Honors Spanish V: Revolutionary Women AP Spanish Language & Culture

Leadership

Entrepreneurship Leadership

Entrepreneurship Financial Literacy

Global Perspectives Entrepreneurship Financial Literacy

Health & Wellness

UA Athletic Credit (one season 10th-12th)

UA Athletic Credit (one season 10th-12th)

UA Athletic Credit (one season 10th-12th)

2D Design 3D Design Explorations in Theater Concert Choir* Wind Ensemble*

3D Design Explorations in Theater Intro to Painting Studio Art I Pottery Throwing Graphic Design Digital Photography I Digital Photography II Concert Choir* Wind Ensemble* AP Art History

3D Design Explorations in Theater Intro to Painting Studio Art I Pottery Throwing Graphic Design Digital Photography I Digital Photography II Concert Choir* Wind Ensemble* AP Art History Pre-AP Studio Art

AP Studio Art: 2-D Design AP Studio Art: Drawing AP Art History 3D Design Explorations in Theater Intro to Painting Studio Art I Pottery Throwing Digital Photography I Digital Photography II Concert Choir* Wind Ensemble*

KAIROS (3-day retreat)

4 credits English 4 years 4 credits Mathematics 4 years 4 credits

Science and Technology 3 years 3 credits

Social Studies 3 years 3 credits

World Language 3 years 3 credits (Consecutive years in the same World Language)

Co-Curricular Studies Athletics

Visual/Performing Arts

Serviam

French I French II Honors French II Mandarin Chinese I Mandarin Chinese II Honors Mandarin Chinese II

AP US History AP European History AP US Government AP Art History Honors Intro to Psychology AP Psychology Economics Women in Literature & Humanities (Honors) American Court System

Honors French IV AP French Language Honors Mandarin Chinese IV AP Mandarin Chinese

Our Serviam Program requires 80 Hours of service to be completed by the end of Sophomore Year. * Offered through exchange program with Salesianum School

Arts

Ursuline Academy's Visual & Performing Arts Program offers an exceptional art curriculum that focuses on developing essential skills-building, designing, and learning through a process-based approach that utilizes technology, the study of visual and performing arts history, aesthetics, and the development of critical thinking.

Visual Arts

Music

In the Upper School, young adults consider what they can offer the world through their voices. Students are challenged to deliver a message to the world through their artwork. Taking risks and being deliberate and reflective are rewarded when the student departs the class with greater self-awareness and an appreciation for the artistic journey—mistakes and all. Class offerings include Drawing, Painting, Studio Art, Photography, Clay & Sculpture, Pottery, and Art History - with AP course offerings.

Band

Performing Arts Our Performing Arts Program allows our students to explore their acting and singing abilities while seeing the wide variety of components involved in generating a full-scale theatrical production, including set design, lighting, sound, and costume design. Students may perform in the Fall Musical, the Winter Musical at our neighboring “brother” academy-Salesianum School, or drama/Spring Musical.

The Upper School Band program offers two outstanding ensembles for students to explore.

725 Chamber Group Before the first period, this morning class provides a time for our students, the instrumentalists, to work on skills while having fun performing at school prayer services and masses.

Wind Ensemble Designed for select musicians at Salesianum, Padua, and Ursuline. This provides a performance group with many concert opportunities. Salesianum offers various instrumental possibilities, including Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, and Pit Orchestra.

Choir The Choir performs for school and community performances, including local concerts. Professional orchestras often accompany performances and have included performances of large choral works, including cantatas and masses.

Concert Choir In partnership with Salesianum School, this vocal performance class is devoted to singing traditional women’s (SSA) and occasional mixed (SATB) choral literature.

Leadership, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Our new 1893 IDEA Studio is home to collaborative ventures and includes a Fab Lab, Tech Hub, Financial Center and Angela’s Cafe. In partnership with Linda and Paul McConnell, Ursuline Academy is home to “The 1313 Innovation Center powered by Ursuline.” This initiative is focused on promoting innovation and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit for students of all ages.

Launching Ideas that Improve, Disrupt and Transform our World As one of the first to adopt the University of Delaware's EntreX program, UA has consistently delivered results, including finalists at the Diamond Challenge Global Summit a design patent, and an award for Equity in Design. Additionally, UA has inspired numerous students to pursue this course of study in college. EntreX, earns students 3 college credits as well as AP quality points as a rigorous college-level course of study.

Making Hospital Stays More Bearable Three enterprising students (Kaya Blair ‘24) (Emily Copeland ‘23) and Bella Caraballo ‘24) have created a program called Patch-It that helps both young patients and their healthcare team accomplish key procedural milestones such as an IV, stitches, X-ray and shots.

The team has just finished a trial at Christiana Care Urgent Care unit and has plans to expand to other medical units like Cardiac and Cancer. The bears offer a comforting encouragement to the child who will earn patches that show their progress and bravery through their treatment.

On a Roll with NASA Students participated in two NASA Design Sprints and placed first for their SMART applications for NASA Technology. Tooth Booth was presented as a portable X-ray for teeth serving underdeveloped countries, modeled after an old-school viewfinder. H2O Happy was created to target a new use in college dorms: purifying water for safer drinking and bathing—both present key opportunities for NASA Technology.

"Matcha" to Learn! Lessons from Angela's Student-Led Coffee Shop Our coffee shop teaches real-time small business operations. Student engagement in running the coffee shop teaches business and life skills while they have fun and learn the ropes. On the menu (besides fresh-brewed coffee) are lessons in leadership, financial literacy, planning and logistics, customer care, and community outreach.

Global Education

Ursuline educates global leaders through curricular and co-curricular programs locally, domestically, and internationally by engaging in active service and building partnerships with our worldwide network of over 100 Ursuline sister schools and beyond.

History:

women as powerful service inspired the

share her mission and teachings today.

“Ursuline’s Global Scholars Program has helped me learn about new cultures, provided an opportunity to see the world from a whole new

competence through its diverse curricular and

forever impacted my life.”

For students with an affinity for global studies, Ursuline offers the Global Scholars Distinction through the Ursuline Education Network.

Graduating students may earn the distinction by going above and beyond to demonstrate an interest in and dedication to global citizenship throughout their time at Ursuline. They must seek out and engage in activities and experiences, both in and beyond the classroom, that foster the development of global competency. The requirements for nomination in the program are significant: specific and intentional coursework, co-curricular activities, cultural literacy, globally-focused service, and a capstone project with written and oral components.

also have the opportunity to travel, host, and serve Most recently students visited New Orleans, Ecuador, France, and South Africa. Upcoming trips include Dallas, Cincinnati, Peru, and Taiwan.

Ursuline received the 23-24 ICGS Moulton Student Grant for Global Citizenship

Athletics Ursuline Academy was a trailblazer establishing one of the first athletic programs for young women in the early 1900s. Our athletic history is over 100 years in the making and is deeply rooted in tradition, with a passion for the Red and White!

Our nationally recognized Athletics Program centers on developing well-balanced student-athletes. By instilling teamwork, dedication, and enthusiasm in your daughter, we develop student leaders who excel academically and athletically, support their team and coaches, and serve as role models of sportsmanship among teammates and competitors. With Ursuline’s record of excellence, we have created the ideal environment for student-athletes to thrive in the classroom and competition.

As a Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association (DIAA) member, we offer 14 sports at the varsity and junior varsity levels, competing against private and public schools throughout Delaware. Our teams and individual athletes also participate in Northeast regional and national level competitions.

Many of our graduates go on to compete at the collegiate level, and our coaches and staff are experienced and knowledgeable in assisting them throughout navigating the recruiting process. Notably, a few of our UA Raider alums have competed professionally, both nationally and internationally, during their careers, including Val Whiting ’89 and Elena Delle Donne ’08.

Fall

Winter

Spring

• • • •

• • • •

• • • •

Cross Country Volleyball Flag Football

Dance

Crew Golf

• • •

State Championship Titles Sisters Tournament

• 65 State Championships ◦ 18 Basketball ◦ 14 Cross Country ◦ 12 Volleyball ◦ 12 Track & Field ◦ 9 Swimming

Serviam Field

Serviam Field and Lou Olivere Track

uaraiderssports.com

Lead available to each student through clubs, and teams.

Raiders in Action

Create

Play 14 sports teams that are

in our thriving arts program the performing and visual arts.

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

A small group of students football tournament to raise money for a charity.

approval and to help recipient of the event.

Expect More or

Serve

Explore

is

Recent travel opportunities for students include destinations such as Ecuador, Italy, France, Peru, South Africa, Taiwan, New Orleans, and Dallas.

Step 4

Step 5

RESULTS

on this event.

student councils, the event happens.

for a day of fun while

College and Beyond

100%

Acceptance Rate to a 4-year college

With a college counselor ratio of

1 to 25

students are provided individualized attention and unlimited support during every phase of the college selection, application, admission, and financial aid process.

Career Discovery Raider Block Internships The Raider Block Internship Program offers the opportunity for students to participate in various internships on campus during the school day. The students earn service hours for their work while gaining hands-on skills that relate to a potential future career. Interns partner with departments including Advancement, Marketing, Admissions, Athletics, Campus Safety, and Technology in addition to positions such as Science Lab Technicians and Classroom Aides across all divisions.

Medical Shadowing Program

College Acceptances*

URSULINE

ACADEMY

Growth. Values. For Life.

ursuline.org