Serviam 75th Anniversary Edition

Our Mission

An independent Catholic school for young women in grades 7-12, Ursuline Academy fosters respect, compassion, intellectual curiosity, and a commitment to service.

Inspired by the legacy of St. Angela Merici, our students grow to be women of integrity who engage in their communities with purpose and presence. We live with faith, courage, and joy.

STAY IN TOUCH

Email alumnae@ursulineacademy.net www.ursulineacademy.net

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS

For any questions or comments on this issue of Serviam, please email: communications@ursulineacademy.net

ON THE COVER

The Ursuline Sisters break ground in Dedham in 1958.

INSIDE COVER, LEFT

12 Arlington Street in spring as seen from the Boston Public Garden.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are deeply grateful to all those who worked so hard on this special edition of Serviam. From our alumnae, faculty, parents, and staff, there was an outpouring of collaboration, so much so that it would be difficult to acknowledge all who contributed. Our thanks to each of you for proving, once again, that the Ursuline community is one truly committed to service and sisterhood.

Every effort has been made by our staff and contributors to research and validate the facts and timeline of this history of Ursuline Academy. Much of the information was gathered through oral history, and we are aware that memories are difficult to verify. We believe that the combined efforts of all our contributors have resulted in a valuable and comprehensive document that will stand the test of time. Any errors or omissions are unintentional.

Opening Remarks

from Kate Levesque, Head of School

02 03

12 Arlington Street

From the Ashes ...................................................................... 4

A Fresh Start: 12 Arlington Street................................ 5

Looking Towards Dedham ............................................. 8

Transition and Change ..................................................... 10

11

85 Lowder Street

A New Campus in Dedham 13

1960s: Growth in the Suburbs ................................... 16

1970s: Ch-ch-ch-changes ............................................ 20

1980s: A Decade of Big Hair and a Growing Athletic Program

1990s: Approaching the Millennium

2000s: A New Building Rises 32

2010s: A New Home for Sports and Technology ..............................................................................37

2020s: The Pandemic and Beyond

Ursuline Celebrates 75 Years

Opening Remarks

Dear Friends,

It is such a delight to share this commemorative issue of Serviam with you!

Over the last several months, I have had a front row seat and witnessed its development, from a kernel of an idea to a beautiful 50-page recounting of the history of our beloved Ursuline.

As you turn the pages to see the story unfold, you’ll see the challenge we faced; it was impossible to include all that has happened in the last 75 years. Our hope is that this will remind you of your Ursuline history….perhaps stir a few memories, bring a smile to your face, or prompt you to reach out to a classmate, a fellow parent, or colleague you’ve not spoken to in some time.

You’ll find in these pages a story marked by progress and change (the buildings, curriculum, uniforms – and the hair styles!). Yet two essential elements have never wavered. The first – our mission which has steadfastly guided this school through nearly eight decades. Rooted in the love and wisdom of St. Angela Merici, the mission has been our North Star and has stood the test of time.

The second constant – the true essence of the tapestry we call Ursuline –is the people, all of you. From the Ursuline Sisters, whose courageous and unselfish lives set a sterling example of the Serviam spirit, to every student and parent, faculty and staff, alumna, volunteer, donor, and friend. With a humble and grateful heart, I offer a most sincere message of gratitude, recognizing all who helped write the history of this remarkable institution.

I invite you to join us as we, together, help shape Ursuline’s future!

In peace and fellowship,

Kathleen Nolan Levesque ‘77

of School

Head

“…the true essence of the tapestry we call Ursuline –is the people, all of you.”

Foyer and Alcove: Second floor foyer and alcove at 12 Arlington Street, used for processions, pageants, and special occasions.

From the Ashes

Minali Venkatesh ’15

Although we often consider Ursuline Academy at 12 Arlington Street to be the beginning of our roots in the Boston area, the history of the Ursuline Sisters in Boston dates back over 200 years.

In 1819, four young Ursuline Sisters from the Ursuline Monastery in TroisRivières, Québec, were invited by Father Thayer to establish an apostolate in Boston. With the assistance of Bishop Cheverus, the first Bishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, the Ursuline convent was opened in the rectory of the Boston cathedral.

Within a year, three additional nuns had joined the Ursulines, and the Sisters opened a school with a strong enrollment that also allowed them to provide free education to the daughters of impoverished Irish families.

The Academy quickly drew the attention of more than just local Catholic families; many wealthy Protestant families in Boston were eager to send their daughters to be educated by the Ursulines. In 1826, the Sisters purchased a plot of land in what was then Charlestown (now East Somerville) to build their new convent and school. The Ursuline Convent and school on Mount Benedict opened in 1827, led by Mother St. George and Bishop Fenwick, Bishop Cheverus’ successor.

By 1834, anti-Catholic sentiments had strengthened in Boston, and the Ursuline Convent burned down during the riots that ensued. After the tragedy, the Sisters

Milestones

1820

Nuns from the Ursuline convent in Trois Rivières, Québec establish a convent in the rectory of the Boston cathedral and a school for girls opens.

1826

The Ursulines, led by Mother St. George, and Bishop Benedict Fenwick purchase land on Ploughed Hill, later called Convent Hill, in a section of Charlestown that is now Somerville.

1827

Mount Benedict Convent and School, Charlestown in the 1800s

tried to revive their school. However, still fearing for their safety and that of their students, the Ursulines of Boston reluctantly returned to Québec in 1835. More than a century later, the Archdiocese of Boston still felt that they needed more strong Catholic schools in the Boston area, and formally invited the Sisters to return in 1946, to 12 Arlington Street.

The Ursulines move into a newly built brick convent and boarding school for girls – Mount Benedict. Classes begin in 1828.

1834

The first Ursuline convent in Charlestown is destroyed by fire August 11, 1834.

The Ursuline Sisters leave the area.

A fresh start: 12 Arlington Street

Lilly Higgins ’16

The building at 12 Arlington Street in Boston has a long history and has served many purposes over the years, even up to current times.

12 Arlington Street came into Ursuline Academy history in 1946. Prior to becoming the Ursuline Convent, the building was owned by the Army and Navy Service Committee and, during World War II, housed an officers’ club, dining, lodging, and recreational facilities. The property was home to Ursuline Academy from 1946 to 1959. Then Archbishop Richard J. Cushing played an important role in the early days of the school, inviting the Ursulines to return to Boston more than one hundred years after the tragic burning of the convent on Mount Benedict. Cushing felt that a resurgence of Catholic schools was needed to keep the Catholic faith strong in the face of growing public schools. He was influential in establishing the school’s first graduating class and assisted in the school’s eventual move to Dedham.

The students of Ursuline’s Arlington Street location took classes in academic subjects, and were also taught to serve tea, set a table, and conduct themselves in a ladylike manner. The first graduating class consisted of just three students, who attended the school as postgraduate students before attending college. Blanche Foley Chateauneuf and Jeanette Twitchell Maher, members of the inaugural class of 1947, were invited to attend Ursuline Academy by the Archbishop himself. The two were more than happy to attend while they prepared for college, and they grew to love the nuns who taught and treated the girls with such great kindness.

During the 1950s, the Boston campus attracted students from surrounding suburban towns, with many commuting by train. The students enjoyed walking through the Public Garden across the

The Bell Tolls Again: The bell that was saved from the Mount Benedict Convent and School was placed in its new home at 12 Arlington Street more than 100 years later.

street from their campus, riding the swan boats in early spring, and observing visitors to the RitzCarlton nearby. One former student remembers encountering former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy:

“I attended Ursuline just at the edge of all the events of the 1960s and beyond…I did, by chance, cross paths with Jacqueline Kennedy one morning on my way down Arlington Street. Late again!! Rushing past the Ritz-Carlton, Jacqueline Kennedy was exiting through the revolving door onto Arlington Street. She was elegant and I was awestruck. And, of course, there I was, wearing my Ursuline uniform with knee socks and sneakers.”

– Jeanne Cronin ’59

Kindergarten

Sr. Martha Gleason ’54 OSU, described the uniform the students wore in her time there: it included an olive green bolero, a jumper, white blouse, saddle shoes, and stockings. Sr. Angela Krippendorf ’59 OSU, details the change in the uniform implemented during her junior and senior years at Ursuline. In the 1956–1957 school year, the uniform was still the bolero, white blouse, and green jumper, which was considered to be a classic look. The following year, the jumper changed to a skirt with a green blazer and white blouse. The uniform footwear was originally a loafer-like shoe with a medium heel, but it was later changed to a typical loafer. Sr. Angela mentioned that this first shoe was not very stylish and not very comfortable. Sr. Angela eventually came to be the Provincial and lived in the Carriage House at Ursuline Academy in Dedham. She firmly feels that Ursuline would not be what it is today if the campus had not moved to Dedham from Arlington Street. She is pleased to see how the school has changed with the times, but she recognizes that the key thing that has not changed is the feeling of community felt by all at the school. The teachers now, just like the nuns, care so deeply about the students and make the school feel like a second home.

PRINCIPAL: Mother Agnes Hoy is the first principal of Ursuline Academy, Boston.

UNIFORM: Green jumper and white short-sleeved blouse with a green hat.

1946

In February, Archbishop Cushing takes title to the old Sears mansion on Arlington St. and Commonwealth Ave. for $83,000. The property is to be used by the Ursuline Sisters as a school and convent. Ursuline Academy opens in September with three students who attend UA as post-graduate students before attending college.

1947

In June, three students (Blanche Foley Chateauneuf, Jeanette Twitchell Maher, and Jean Ford Jolin) make up the first graduating class of Ursuline Academy.

Two years after the end of WWII, the Cold War begins.

An early spring treat: Ursuline girls ride on the Swan Boats in the Public Garden lagoon.

class September 1949 (l. to r.) Julie Fisher, John Good, Francis Carey, Frances Lucey, Margaret Higgins

4

5

1. Spring 1948. (Ursuline Academy, 12 Arlington St., Boston is visible in the background.)

2. The original Tea Room. (These chairs were last used in the art and history classroom on the hill in Dedham.)

3. The Gavotte. Soloist Maria Callichio is flanked by companions Sally Egan and Anne Nally.

4. Easter Tea and Dance in the Library at 12 Arlington Street.

5. Christmas Play, 1949. Photograph of the cast of 7th and 8th grade students in the Tea Room.

CLASSES: In addition to academics, students were also taught how to serve tea, set a table, and be a “lady.”

MUSIC: Rock and roll emerged in the early 50s.

1948

April: Ghandi is assassinated months after India achieves its independence from Great Britain.

1949

June: Ursuline announces registration for the opening of a Kindergarten for “boys and girls.”

September: Ursuline advertises classes for “Kindergarten and 5th Grade through High School.”

1950

The Korean War (1950-1953) begins.

Looking Towards Dedham: The Skinner Mansion

Elaine Fazekas P’18

Before it was sold to the Ursuline Sisters in 1957, the Ursuline Convent was the home of twenty-four year old Francis Skinner, Jr., a gentleman farmer. He was the son of two prominent families, and related to some of the most well-known families in Massachusetts history (the Gardners, Peabodys, and Lowells on his mother’s side). He was very close with his aunt Isabella Stewart Gardner, a Boston socialite most remembered for her Venetian palace and art collection in Boston’s Fenway district that eventually became the Gardner Museum.

Upon inheriting his family’s fortune in 1905, Skinner hired noted architect Guy Lowell, best known as the architect for Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, to design an English country manor-style home. Word of mouth holds that Skinner built the mansion as a wedding gift for his bride, Sarah E. Carr – albeit a belated gift, since they had been married for seven years by the time it was completed. The detail around the grand foyer’s ceiling even resembled a wedding cake.

The mansion was built at an estimated cost of $500,000 to $600,000, equivalent to over $13 million today. Skinner’s masterpiece for his bride held twenty

UNIFORM: In 1957, the Arlington Street uniform changed to a pleated plaid skirt, white shirt, green blazer and brown leather shoes.

1954

On May 17, the U.S. Supreme Court rules that segregation of public schools is a violation of the 14th ammendment in Brown v. Board of Education.

1955

The Vietnam War begins.

rooms and three stories. The first floor was the most impressive, consisting of a reception hall (with a vaulted ceiling, inlaid marble floor, and Tiffany wall sconces), a large living room, a paneled library, a garden room with Italian terracotta tiled floor, a formal dining room, a breakfast room, and an extensive servants’ wing complete with kitchens, storage, and an elaborate series of china closets and butlers’ pantries. Outside, Skinner surrounded the mansion with extensive landscaped gardens, greenhouses, terraces, orchards, and an indoor swimming pool. Many of the outdoor features were removed when the school was constructed in the late 1950s, but some of the trees and plantings remain to this day. In keeping with his lifestyle, Mr. Skinner used the finest materials and workmanship, including carved limestone, Italian marble, Dutch Delft tile, quartered oak, carved mahogany, and other tropical woods.

Francis Skinner died in 1914 and the property remained with Sarah Skinner until her death in 1956, after which it was sold to a member of the Endicott family. They owned the house and land for only nine months before selling it to the Archdiocese of Boston in 1957, who helped purchase it for the Ursuline Sisters in exchange for the deed to the Arlington Street building. This exchange enabled them to relocate Ursuline Academy from Boston to Dedham.

BLESSING: On November 1, 1957, the Convent house was blessed by Bishop Jeremiah F. Minahan of Norwood. He had tea at the Convent’s only table.

1957

The purchase of the Dedham property is finalized on September 27th. The Convent house is immediately staffed with Provincialate administrative and maintenance personnel from Boston. (It was planned that the Arlington St. campus would remain operational for at least another year.)

Celebration of the first Mass on a temporary alter in the new chapel takes place October 2nd. (Priests from Dedham’s Queen of Apostles Seminary serve as chaplains and help lay the temporary altar stone.)

Eventually, the mansion became known as “the convent,” serving as the Sisters’ home where they could live in community, relax, and pray after spending long days teaching. The mansion’s library was converted to their chapel where the Sisters would partake in worship and daily Mass, while the former garage/carriage house became the Provincialate, home to the Sister serving as the Ursuline Provincial.

BREAKING GROUND

On July 23, 1958, the Ursuline Sisters broke ground for their new school in Dedham. Under unseasonably cool and cloudy skies, with Reverend William J. Reed SJ officiating, and with the Sisters and guests surrounding her, Mother St. Mark scooped the first ceremonial shovelful of earth. Meanwhile, the kindergarten program was thriving in the adjacent Convent parlor. Enrollment had jumped to 30, with the children’s beloved teacher, Mother Carolyn (Sr. Ursula Binnette OSU), at the helm.

1957

October 7th: The first Dedham Kindergarten class is held in the Convent parlor. Nine children are enrolled.

ART AND ARCHITECTURE: Francis Skinner, Jr. was the nephew of Isabella Stewart Gardner. Guy Lowell, architect of the Boston MFA, designed the mansion.

Transition and Change: September 1957 – November 1959

Sally Seufert Holmes ’71

In just one decade, the Ursuline Sisters had so effectively grown the Academy’s student enrollment at 12 Arlington Street, Boston, that a larger campus became a necessity. With the encouragement of Archbishop Cushing, the Ursulines relocated to a 28-acre property on Lowder Street in Dedham. Sr. Angela Krippendorf, at the time a student at Arlington Street, recalls a questionnaire that the Sisters sent to parents to address the impending move.

Subsequently, on September 27, 1957, the Sisters finalized the real estate transaction. And, as with the questionnaire, applying that same signature attention to detail, the Sisters began an assiduously executed two-year transition plan that would prove to be the cornerstone of Ursuline Academy’s success.

Immediately following the purchase, a few Sisters from Arlington Street moved out to Dedham. On October 2, the first Mass was celebrated in the chapel, the former mahogany-paneled library now the consecrated heart of the Convent. That week, the Sisters opened a kindergarten in their parlor with nine children enrolled. That academic year, all other class levels would remain in Boston.

During this nascent period, the Mother Superior, Mother St. Mark (Sr. Anne Sullivan), took a small group of Arlington Street students, including Clare Krippendorf (Sr. Angela), out to Dedham to tour the grounds and convent.

1958

In Dedham, ground is broken for the new school on July 23, 1958. The Mother Superior, Mother Saint Mark, scoops the first shovelful.

September: Ninth-graders move from Boston to Dedham, attending classes in the Convent, for a class size of 50. Kindergarten continues with 30 students. The tenth-, eleventh-, and twelfth-graders remain for another year at Arlington Street.

Lowder Street

assiduously

28-acre

Dedham.…

two-year

Mother St. Mark drove the girls in a gray station wagon that she had acquired to shuttle the Ursulines between the two campuses. Sr. Angela pointed out the novelty of Mother St. Mark operating a car, as “nuns didn’t drive back then.”

Upon arrival, the Mother Superior laid out a picnic on the lawn in the vicinity of today’s Reynolds Center. The students’ view took in the rhododendron-lined gravel drive curving past the red brick convent. To their left, on the field below, was the Sisters’ vision of a new school building.

1959

September: Fifty ninth-graders move from Boston to Dedham, attending classes in the Convent. The existing kindergarten continues with 30 students.

June: The last class graduates from Arlington Street. Sister Angela Krippendorf, later the Ursuline Provincial for the Northeast Province, was one of the graduates.

“With the encouragement of Archbishop Cushing, the Ursulines relocated to a

property on

in

[and] began an

executed

transition plan that would prove to be the cornerstone of Ursuline Academy’s success.”

The Tea Room: The spirit of the original “Tea Room” and its use for lunch and gatherings was carried to 85 Lowder Street. Students gather for lunch in Dedham during the early years.

1959

September: The new school building opens with a student body of 258, including kindergarten and grades 7 through 12.

November: The Dedication ceremony held with 1,000 people in attendance. Cardinal Cushing presided over the dedication and blessed the building’s cornerstone.

1960

Ursuline Dedham, circa 1958

The Greensboro Sit-Ins take place.

John F. Kennedy is elected President.

DEDICATION: Billy Sullivan served as Master of Ceremonies for the Dedication.

A New Campus in Dedham

Katie McNally ’10

The academic year 1958–1959 saw two Ursuline Academies, as students began to transfer to the new property. In September, the 9th grade moved from Boston to Dedham, attending classes in the Convent as construction took place on the new school building.

Excitement at the new space did not escape the young students when the school finally opened in 1959. Luisa Tosi Claeys ’63 recalls:

“In the 9th grade, [we] transferred to the new Dedham campus. There we joined our other 9th-grade classmates with a class that was now more than four times the size of our 8th-grade class in Boston. In addition to the much larger class size, we were on a brand new suburban campus with modern classrooms, a real gym, and grounds for team sports. It was a whole new and different experience!”

Now with a student body of 258, including the kindergarten, Ursuline Academy was completely settled into its new home at 85 Lowder Street. The school’s dedication ceremony, held on November 22, 1959, welcomed a thousand attendees. Archbishop Cushing, now a Cardinal, presided over the dedication and blessed the building’s cornerstone. The fall of 1959 was the beginning of a new Ursuline Academy, the school as we know it today. On the cusp of the 1960s, this spiritual and educational community looked forward to much transformation, adaptation, and growth.

Right: Students perform Little Women on the Convent staircase.

Settling Into a New Home in Dedham September 1959

1. Sisters and students unpack boxes in a Dedham classroom.

Ursuline students shelve books in the library.

An Ursuline sister gathers with students in the Convent.

Ursuline students study together in a new classroom.

Dedication of 85 Lowder Street

November 1959

1. Cardinal Cushing blesses the new Ursuline school building.

2. (l. to r.) Reverend Mother Philip, N.E. Provincial and Mother St. Mark, Mother Superior, look on as Cardinal Cushing blesses the new Dedham school.

3. Billy Sullivan, Master of Ceremonies at the Dedication.

4. Cardinal Cushing enters the lobby.

1960s Growth in the Suburbs

Minali Venkatesh ’15

The 1960s marked Ursuline Academy’s first full decade in Dedham. Despite initial concerns about the ability to sustain a robust student body after the move, enrollment grew through the 1960s, with the senior class graduating as many as 93 students in 1966.

Expansion

With a larger student body and more space on campus, the school was able to expand its offerings to include more clubs and athletics. Under the leadership of Mother Catherine Marie Jordan, the principal from 1961 to 1964, Ursuline created its first Drama Club. In 1962, the club performed Peter Pan in the drama festival, and in 1967, they performed a stage version of Pride and Prejudice, with the male roles played by students from local colleges. Mother Catherine Marie also created the inaugural Glee Club, expanding the arts offerings even further. In 1962, the physical education curriculum was expanded to include modern dance, and in 1969, basketball joined cheerleading and the Girls Athletic

Association (GAA) club. According to Francesca Testa Sterling ’65, “Basketball was the ‘premiere’ team.” The 1960s also led to the creation of the Ursuline chapter of the National Honor Society.

Ursuline students still donned the green plaid pleated skirt and green wool blazer, but in the warmer months could also wear pastel shirtwaist dresses for their summer uniform.

UNIFORM: Green wool box-pleated skirt and blazer (UA School seal on left breast pocket), white uniform blouse, uniform shoe. Skirt below the knees.

GYM: Gym uniform is a heavy yellow duck (cotton) with duck bloomers.

1960 1961

UA Parents Guild holds its first social with a dinner buffet in the Tea Room and dancing in the gym. Music provided by Ted Phillips Orchestra.

Mother Catherine Jordan serves as Principal from 1961-1964.

The first Homecoming, an outdoor festival, is held in June and features boat rides in the pond, donkey cart rides, and a ham and bean supper.

“[In] 7th grade a box arrived at our house. Inside was a green blazer with an Ursuline emblem, a green box pleated skirt to match, a green bonnet with a button on each side, a white shirt, white gloves, and brown shoes to be purchased at Marapotti Shoes in Dedham Square… In the early years of high school, we were allowed to purchase a selection of rainbow-colored, cotton shirtwaist dresses in the spring. Our “gym” clothes included a short, dark yellow dress complete with bloomers.”

– Francesca (Chi Chi) Testa Sterling ’65

The tradition of white graduation dresses continued with the new campus, though the styles changed year to year. However, the Class of 1966 was forced to improvise their graduation gowns, as the truck delivering all 91 gowns was hijacked just weeks before graduation.

New Traditions

The ’60s also saw the start of many beloved Ursuline traditions. In January 1960, Ursuline parents held their first social in the new school building: a buffet in the Tea Room with dancing in the gym. The Mission Bazaar, later known as Mission Day, was held for the first time in the earlier part of the decade; the campus was transformed into an indoor fair with booths, games, bakery goods, and prizes, all to raise money for Ursuline missionaries. Ursuline’s first Homecoming was also held, though different from Homecoming today: on June 2, 1961, an outdoor festival was held on campus, complete with boat rides in the pond, donkey cart rides, and a ham and bean supper.

MISSION DAY: The first “Mission Bazaar” is held in the early part of the decade to raise money for Ursuline missionaries.

1963 1962

Modern Dance Club is introduced into the physical education curriculum. In May, Peter Pan is performed at Drama Festival.

Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is published, the Second Vatican Council commences, and the Cuban Missile Crisis unfolds.

John F. Kennedy is assassinated, the Civil Rights March takes place, and the Equal Pay Act is passed. Nelson Mandela is sentenced to life imprisonment.

Photo credit: Arber-French & Co.

GOWNS: The tradition of wearing a white gown for graduation continues.

Former Communist Douglas Hyde presents a public lecture at Ursuline.

SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Ursuline Sisters have always looked to the teachings of St. Angela Merici to guide them through a changing world, and the wisdom of her teaching has proven to be timeless: “If according to times and needs, you should be obliged to make fresh rules and change current things, do it with prudence and good advice.” The ’60s was a decade of massive social and cultural changes, and the Sisters made sure Ursuline students were politically aware and informed. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an Interracial Council took place at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA, with Mother Mary Alfred OSU featured as a speaker.

“Summer reading lists were given each year. The only one I vividly recall was Black Like Me by John Griffin. The book was culturally earth-shattering and paved the way for our understanding of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.”

– Mary Pat Ryan Joy ’65

Changing Tides

The 1960s called for change, and the Ursuline Sisters stepped up within the community and in their curriculum to embrace new topics and engage their students in discussions of current events and history. In 1965, Ursuline sent its first team to compete in an Oratorical Competition, a speech contest centered on researching and discussing basic principles of government according to the U.S. Constitution.

Alongside the positive and exciting changes of the ’60s, the decade was also a time of deep national tragedy. Just four years into the decade, President John F. Kennedy, the United States’ first Catholic President, was assassinated. Mary Pat Ryan Joy ’65 remembers hearing about his death while in class,

“Just prior to the 1963 Thanksgiving break, President Kennedy was assassinated. When word reached our Principal [Mother Catherine Marie Jordan] at one o’clock that he was declared dead, she informed us over the intercom. She suspended all classes and we immediately processed into the gym for prayers. Everyone was crying and hugging one another. Carpool parents arrived, tears streaming.”

In the later half of the decade, especially after the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, Ursuline students became involved in larger conversations about race and racial justice that were occurring in Dedham.

“After the murder of Reverend Martin Luther King, the faculty and student leaders constructed a full program for the issues surrounding civil rights, the need for human dignity, and the ways in which the civil rights movement not only intersected with but was framed by social justice teachings within the Judeo-Christian ethic and, more specifically, Catholic Social Teaching.”

– Barbara Roche Rico ’73

1964

NHS:

Ursuline’s chapter of the National Honor Society is established in 1964.

The Civil Rights Act is passed. Xaverian holds an Interracial Council; Mother Mary Alfred OSU is the featured speaker.

The Beatles arrive on a Pan Am flight in NYC and Beatlemania officially sweeps through the country.

1965

Ursuline sends its first team to compete in an Oratorical Competition, a speech contest centered on the U.S. Constitution.

Malcolm X is assassinated. Space exploration marks an exciting chapter with the first space walks.

1. Students take part in an early Dedham drama production.

2. Gym class included basketball, one of the first sports to be offered.

3. Sr. Robert Chesnel oversees a frog dissection in the Biology lab.

The Case of the Missing Gowns: Ursuline grads’ gowns are stolen when the driver stops for coffee. Mother Superior Lorette is forced to improvise!

Thurgood Marshall becomes the first African American U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

1967

Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated in April. In June, Robert F. Kennedy is assassinated.

1968

ROCKETMAN: Apollo 8 circles the moon in 1968, and Apollo 11 lands there in 1969.

RACIAL JUSTICE: Ursuline participates in local racial justice initiatives in Dedham in 1968-1969.

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

Lisa A. Rubini ’79

In contrast to the ’60s, the ’70s seemed like a decade of normalcy. However, the decade brought its own set of changes.

Life at Lowder Street included a substantial dose of academics and hefty reading lists (including a very long novel by Charles Dickens on each summer’s list). Traditions such as school dances, Junior Ring Ceremony, the Father-Daughter Dance, the Holiday Bazaar, and Mission Day filled the calendar. Under the guidance of Mr. Jack DiLorenzo, fall plays and spring musicals played to sellout crowds. The school newspaper, SOS Club (Students Offering Service), cheerleading, athletics, and many more were mainstays. School life may have seemed unchanging, but the world around us did not stand still.

A Shift in Education

Fifty years after women gained the right to vote, with their career opportunities beginning to expand, our education adapted to meet those changes. With the second wave of the feminist movement under way, and many formerly all-male colleges going co-ed, Ursuline students had more opportunities ahead of them than ever before. Under the leadership of principals Sr. Rita Bourassa OSU, and Sr. Dorothy Doyle OSU, Ursuline’s whole-person educational offerings

MUSIC: Approximately 350,000 attend Woodstock in 1969.

1969

Basketball joins cheerleading and the “athletic association” for athletics offerings.

1970

Ursuline students attend Xaverian for Advanced Biology and Physics classes. In March, students perform “The Recluse” directed by Sister Claveria. Sister Rachel of UA Springfield directs “Genesis.”

expanded for its students. The principals’ messages in the yearbooks speak to the purpose of an Ursuline education in such an era:

“It has been said that your generation is the first in America to have grown up without optimism; yet, my message to you is one of hope, the kind of hope which is the virtue of the strong, and the courage of the unshakable. By keeping hope alive in yourselves, may you make the vision clearer for others, and speak to mankind of peace and reconciliation.

– Sr. Rita Bourassa, Principal 1968–1973;

1982–1986

1971

Ursuline’s nursery school is operated in conjunction with UA’s Child Psychology class.

MAIS OUI!: French Club is added in 1970.

“Your Ursuline motto ‘Serviam’ epitomizes women’s contribution as one of initiative, cooperation, courtesy, loyalty and intelligent loving service of God and others. If you are humble enough and courageous enough to live up to the Serviam motto, you will contribute mightily to the achievement of women’s rights and responsibilities. I wish you that humility and that courage.”

– Sr. Dorothy Doyle, Principal 1974–1982

The Ursulines continued to teach a classical education. We received a strong foundation in Latin and learned the proper way to set a table and drink tea from Sr. Ursula. However, we would not be confined to the role of teacher, nurse, and receptionist; we were prepared to become lawyers, doctors, and scientists.

Lay Faculty and Changing Habits

During the ’70s, there was also a shift from Ursuline educators to lay faculty. By the mid-’70s, nearly half of the faculty were lay teachers, teaching with the same vibrant spirit of Ursuline sisters such as Sr. Jacqueline Lacasse, Sr. Mercedes Videira, Sr. Judith Dozois, and Sr. Celia Sirois. Alumnae Pat Varrieur ’71, Francesca Testa Sterling ’65, Susan Katchpole ’70, and Maureen Coneely ’69 joined the ranks of the lay faculty. The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) led to major changes within religious orders in the ensuing years. The Ursulines adopted a new naming. Sisters changed their titles (i.e., Mother Reparatta became Sr. Dorothy Walsh), and veils and habits were set aside by many. Patty Foley Cummins ’77 recalls,

“All nuns wore veils and habits in the early years, but in 1973, Sr. Judith took off her veil. By 1974–1975 many Sisters did not wear veils. They dressed much more informally.”

TRAVEL: Trips to countries like Italy and Spain helped to expand knowledge of foreign cultures.

Academics

In 1970, Ursuline students attended Xaverian for Advanced Biology and Physics classes. By the end of the ’70s, those classes, along with AP English, were taught at Ursuline. In 1971, Ursuline’s nursery school and kindergarten, run by Sr. Angela ’59, operated in conjunction with the Child Psychology program.

The origins of the senior service project can be traced back to the 1970s to Senior Independent Study, a month-long off-campus internship that provided an opportunity for seniors to explore careers or personal interests through volunteer service. Internships included areas of law, medicine, early childhood, the arts, and more. Some of us continued our service after the internships were over.

National and Global Events

Changes continued to evolve from the Civil Rights Movement, Women’s Movement, and the anti-war sentiment. The Vietnam War, which began in 1955 and ended with the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, was a constant fixture on television. Ursuline students wore POW and MIA bracelets to draw attention to service members who were missing or captured during combat. In addition, the plight of California farmworkers in the early ’70s was on the minds and in the hearts of Ursuline students.

“We devoted what I recall as a full day or nearly so to the plight of California farmworkers – young people from the area came to talk to us about the work situation and the living conditions of their families. We ... had a concluding prayer service.”

OFF-CAMPUS: In the ’70s, seniors engaged in a four-week independent study in a field of their choice. This evolved into Student Service week.

1973

April: As part of a nationwide outreach, The Atomic Energy Commission provides a lecture and demonstration on nuclear power to the entire Ursuline student body.

October 1973 (through March 1974): First gas crisis in U.S. occurs following an oil embargo by OPEC.

– Barbara Roche Rico ’73

TITLE IX & SPORTS

The passage of Title IX in 1972 created more opportunities in sports for young women across the U.S., and offerings at Ursuline expanded as well. In 1973, the ski club was added. Also offered that year were the swim team, coached by Frannie Sullivan, and bowling. Tennis began in 1974, and was further solidified as an Ursuline sport when the tennis courts were installed and, with the entire school body present on the back lawn, blessed in 1978.

Volleyball (1976) and softball (1979) joined the lineup of offered sports, including an intramural softball program. Just two years after its inception, the Ursuline volleyball team won the league championship in 1978.

“The tennis court was installed in 1978 – and the entire school turned out on the back field to watch the blessing and dedication.”

– Patty Foley Cummins ’77

The environment also became a topic of concern. The first Earth Day, in which 20 million people took part in protests across the U.S., was held on April 20, 1970. The decade was also marked by gas shortages. From October, 1973 through March, 1974, we experienced our first gas shortage of the decade. Gas rationing was mandated, with long lines at the pump, and the maximum speed limit across the U.S. reduced to 55 mph. This led to an interest in renewable energy, nuclear power, and domestic fossil fuels. The second gas crisis occurred in 1979. The impact was mixed, but once again we experienced long lines at gas stations, and the marketing of downsized vehicles and a push for improved auto fuel economy.

June of 1972 brought us the Watergate break-in and President Nixon’s resignation on August 20, 1974. The United States Bicentennial was celebrated with great fervor in 1976. The UA Yearbook, OLIM, sported a blue cover and the Liberty Bell. Kathryn Shaughnessy Lawson ’77 recalls, “In 11th grade, everyone was Bicentennial crazy (even the yearbook…had the Liberty Bell on it).”

Rounding out the end of the decade, who can forget the Blizzard of 1978? Cars were stranded on Route 128, people walked for miles to get to safety, and tragically, nearly 100 people perished. We walked to local grocery stores through mounds of snow and carried our groceries back on sleds, and school was closed for weeks. At Ursuline, the SOS Club held a canned food drive for victims of the blizzard.

“1978 was my graduation year and the storm meant a lot of missed school for the snow… The next week was our February vacation and then our senior class started our [internships/service] ... We were away from the building for a total of six weeks.”

– Francie Kelley ’78

SPORTS: Teams added in the ’70s included Ski (Club), Swim, and Bowling in 1973, Tennis in 1974, Volleyball in 1976, and Softball in 1979.

1974

May: Ursuline students attend “Law Day” at the Norfolk Probate Court in Dedham.

President Richard Nixon resigns on August 20, 1974.

1975

The Vietnam War, which began in 1955, ends with the fall of Saigon in April.

1976

The country goes bicentennial crazy. Ursuline’s Olim yearbook reflects that with a blue cover and a silver Liberty Bell.

The musical “Hello Dolly” is performed May 6-8.

The Blizzard of ’78 results in three weeks out of school. SOS runs a can drive for victims of the blizzard. In its third year, Varsity Volleyball clinches the Catholic Suburban League championship. Tennis courts are donated and installed. The entire student body turns out to watch the blessing and dedication on the back field on October 13, 1978.

The Decade of Big Hair and a Growing Athletic Program

Meredith Lepper ’89

The 1980s: big hair, leg warmers, everything neon, Michael Jackson, and Bon Jovi. Thank goodness for the Ursuline uniform –it helped keep some of those questionable fashion trends at bay!

Like the rest of the decade, life on Lowder Street was far from quiet. Ursuline had three different principals during the ’80s – Sr. Dorothy Doyle, Sr. Rita Bourassa, and the lively Sr. Mercedes Videira – yet the adherence to Ursuline values and mission remained constant.

World Events

The ’80s were marked by significant world events: Pope John Paul II’s visits to the U.S.; the release of the Iran hostages in January 1981, commemorated by a Mass of Thanksgiving at Ursuline two days later; the Challenger space shuttle explosion that occurred shortly after launch (groups of students watched the launch and subsequent aftermath in school, some with science teacher Mrs. Crowley, who had applied to be the schoolteacher on the ill-fated mission); and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

TRAVEL: Class trips to Montréal and Québec began in the ’80s, connecting Dedham to its historical roots in Canada.

1980 1979

October: Pope John Paul II visits the U.S.

December 2: Four U.S. nuns and churchwomen, Ita Ford, Maura Clarke, Jean Donovan, and Dorothy Kazel (a young Ursuline sister), are murdered by a death squad in El Salvador.

Athletics

Athletics were on the rise during the ’80s. Soccer became a varsity sport in the fall of 1984, joining swimming, volleyball, basketball, softball, and tennis. Ursuline’s first junior high team (basketball) was added in winter 1988. The swim team was always a popular choice, and had significant success during this decade,

UNIFORM: Skirt changes from the wool kilt to the polyester with a green sweater or blazer.

Senior class balloon send-off on Mission Day

winning the 200m medley relay at the South Sectional Swimming and Diving Championships in November 1980, with two members of that relay team being named to the Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic Swimming Team. Members of the swim team were named to the Boston Globe and Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic Swimming Teams each year from 1984 through 1987, and again in 1989. Ursuline swimmers were not the only athletes being recognized for their skills in the ’80s. Members of the volleyball team were selected for the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Team in 1982 and to the Patriot Ledger AllScholastic Team in 1988. In 1989, four athletes were named to the Boston Globe All-Scholastic Girls’ Soccer Team. Ursuline’s Bear mascot was introduced in the fall of 1988, replacing the myriad of nicknames that the athletic teams had created for themselves.

Academics and Activities

Of course, success was not confined to athletics. Ursuline junior high students competed in the Patriot Ledger Spelling Bee, winning or reaching the finals in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1989. That’s

not surprising, as the summer reading list for junior high usually consisted of six books bound to increase one’s vocabulary. Common titles were Little Women, Lord of the Flies, Jane Eyre, and Animal Farm, which are still taught at Ursuline today.

Academically speaking, Ursuline students were consistently challenged to earn their diplomas. Mrs. Pat Leitsinger taught senior English, introducing Macbeth, The Canterbury Tales, and Beowulf. Computer programming was offered as an elective, taught to seniors using “dumb terminals” to access the mainframe that was built in the former kindergarten building. Students who chose not to take programming took a touch typing course.

The school year was also filled with several fun events for students and families. Mission Day, held in the fall, was a way for students to have fun while raising money for a worthy cause. One of the most popular rooms was the bake sale held in one of the 7th grade classrooms.

Masses were held monthly, and Father Michael Steele was the most frequent celebrant.

TECH: Personal computers enter homes and businesses on a larger scale in the early ’80s.

BOOKS: Summer reading for junior high usually consisted of six books. Common titles: Little Women, Lord of the Flies, Jane Eyre, and Animal Farm.

1981

The Iran hostages are released in January, an event commemorated by a Mass of Thanksgiving two days later on the 22nd.

Ursuline is one of several private schools featured in a Globe article in October.

1983

Sr. Rita Bourassa OSU becomes Principal.

1984

Ursuline junior high students compete in the Patriot Ledger Spelling Bee. They win or place, reaching the finals in ’84, ’85, ’87, and ’89.

GLEE “FLYING FREE”

Mrs. Carol Tomase headed up the Glee Club and took it to new levels. The Glee Club membership grew so large that students couldn’t fit into her classroom for rehearsals! Mrs. Tomase created Ursuline’s traveling “Evergreens,” who brought their music to area nursing homes and businesses throughout the year. She introduced “Flying Free” into Ursuline’s musical repertoire during this time.

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY EGGATHA?

Mrs. Mary Ann Dillon, religion teacher, was responsible for the parenting unit, during which students decorated a store-bought chicken egg, named their egg-child, and brought him/her with them to classes. Rumors about the fate of Eggatha Christie Morrissey, who disappeared before her mother could take a photo of her, persist to this day.

Reconciliation services occurred twice a year in the Convent, and every class went on retreat. The Junior and Senior retreats were held off-campus on weekends. Sr. Mercedes and her team were responsible for cooking dinners on retreat weekends, and those dinners were delicious!

Around Christmas time, a holiday bazaar was held in the gym and Tea Room. One year, internationally-themed teddy bears, dressed in various types of green plaid (made by one of the Ursuline Sisters), were sold at the bazaar. The bazaar was complemented by the annual Spaghetti Supper, put on by the Ursuline parents. The parents would take over the Tea Room kitchen and decorate it, serving the most delicious homemade Italian food. That was a fun time for families to get to know each other and for the parents to meet other parents.

As is still the custom today, juniors ordered class rings and were presented with them in late winter. Junior/ senior skits were held in the spring, when members of the junior class would (lovingly) roast their soonto-be-graduating friends. The white graduation dresses were selected through a vote of the members of the senior class after an in-person viewing of the possible options. Graduation was always preceded by a Baccalaureate Mass the evening before the big day, and graduation was held outside on the lawn near the Tea Room, weather-permitting.

1985

Soccer is added to Ursuline’s sports offerings.

FAMINE RELIEF: “We are the World,” written and performed in 1985 to raise money for African famine relief, raises nearly $50 million in donations.

1986

Ursuline celebrates the 450th anniversary of the Ursuline Order.

January 28: Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster.

1987

Sr. Mercedes Videira OSU becomes Principal.

1. Sr. Jean Marie conducts a 7th grade class.

2. Varsity Volleyball Team

SONG: “Flying Free” becomes UA’s unofficial theme song towards the end of the ’80s.

3. Sr. Mercedes shares a laugh with alumnae from the class of 1977.

4. Principal Sr. Dorothy Doyle at her desk.

6. Commencement exercises in the late ’80s

1988

The Bear mascot is introduced in fall; it replaces some of the individual team nicknames. The first Jr. High athletic team (Basketball) is added in winter.

1989

The Exxon-Valdez oil spill in March is the focus of debates and talk. Overseas, the Berlin Wall falls and the Tiananmen Square Massacre takes place. The Humanities Club celebrates its 20th anniversary. The “Evergreens,” a traveling group for the Glee Club, makes its debut.

1990s Approaching the Millennium

Mary-Kate Tracy ’94 and Minali Venkatesh ’15

The 1990s were a period of rapid technological advancements and political change. Under the steady leadership of Sr. Mercedes Videira and Mrs. Cathy Trawinski, Ursuline spearheaded new offerings and met the challenges presented by the end of the millennium head-on.

Despite the tumultuous world outside 85 Lowder, the 1990s were a period of stability for the Ursuline community, with Sr. Mercedes as principal, leading a faculty with many teachers who had already become pillars of the institution. From Sr. Ursula to Sr. Connie, Mrs. Lynch to Mrs. Tomase, Mrs. Atkinson to Ms. Vacirca, and Mrs. Fidler to Ms. McGillicuddy, these teachers were dedicated to preserving the mission of the Ursulines through their strong and greatly diverse teaching styles.

Under the strong leadership of Sr. Mercedes, Ursuline clubs burgeoned in the 1990s. Classic clubs such as the Drama Club, Math League, Humanities Club, and Students Offer Service (SOS) were joined by the Arts and Crafts Club, Ambassadors Club, and Debate Team (which grew into our present-day, awardwinning Speech Team), increasing the variety of student-led clubs to reflect the

varied interests of Ursuline students. Ursuline also added active chapters of many social action groups, such as Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and World Awareness Club. SADD was sponsored by WCVB-TV news anchor Susan Wornick.

SWISH!: Elaine Pagliarulo ’93 becomes the first player in UA history to score 1,000 points in basketball.

TECH: Laptop computers are introduced in the early 90s.

1991 1989

The first school year of SADD (Students Against Drunk Driving). The club is sponsored by WCVB-TV news anchor Susan Wornick.

1990

The start of the Gulf War increased interest in politics at Ursuline.

The Hubble Space Telescope is placed in orbit. Official demolition of the Berlin Wall begins in June.

The Debate Team is added to the ever-growing list of new clubs. This team evolved into the Speech Team. The first pep rally takes place during the UA field dedication.

Fore the Girls

Due to an ever-greater demand for athletics, Ursuline sought to increase its funding to support the growing athletic program. In 1992, the first Fore the Girls golf tournament was held as a fundraiser for Ursuline athletics. With this added support, Ursuline was able to establish the ski team (1994), the golf team (1996), and spring track (1999) as new sports in our athletic program. In 1991, the field behind the school was dedicated to the Reynolds Family and Mr. and Mrs. Simeone; the first of many Ursuline pep rallies took place during the dedication ceremony.

Unique Learning

Much as in decades past and decades since, Ursuline encouraged students to become aware of the world around them, politically and socially. Many graduates of the early ’90s watched President Ronald Reagan’s speech on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster while in school. Students also discussed and debated the Gulf War, the first true war that many graduates of the ’90s lived through. The primary moderator of those debates was Government teacher Ms. Judith McGillicuddy, who is fondly remembered by so many alumnae.

“I had many [favorite teachers], but one that sticks out in my mind is Ms. Judith McGillicuddy, who taught Government. Looking back, she took great efforts to get us to think about the world outside of our little bubble. She brought us on a tour of Boston and into a courtroom where there was a trial going on. I think of that day so often and am so grateful to her for being such a great role model.”

– Bridget Keane ’91

SPORTS: Teams added to Ursuline’s athletic offerings are Ski (1994), Golf (1996), and Spring Track (1999).

1992

The first “Fore the Girls” tournament is held to provide extra funding for Ursuline sports.

1994

The Ski Team is added to sports including Volleyball, Soccer, Swim, Basketball, Tennis, and Softball.

Oklahoma City Bombing.

1995

“We had a lot of debates and talks on both the political and environmental impact of [the Valdez Oil Spill]. I believe the first green clubs started at Ursuline from this event.”

– Melissa Merchant Kirk ’90

New technology also changed the Ursuline landscape. Melissa Merchant Kirk ’90 remembers taking typing classes on word processors in the computer lab; around 1987, the school shifted to using Macs. Mrs. Mooney ran the computer lab, next to the locker room on the lower floor. Ursuline also offered typing classes, held by Mrs. McNamara, in the former kindergarten building (located where the Reynolds Center is now).

“Mrs. Mooney had a computer lab full of Macintosh computers that was next to the locker room on the bottom floor...This was way before email, so we learned the basics. I distinctly remember her teaching us the history of Apple, Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and having such enthusiasm for what this machine could do.”

– Bridget Keane ’91

50 Years of Ursuline Academy

In 1998, Ursuline Academy celebrated its 50th full graduating class; approximately 40 of those 50 years were spent on the Dedham campus. The steady and substantial growth allowed the school to expand the curriculum along with athletics, arts, and clubs to meet the diverse interests of the student body and the changing times. In the late ’90s, Ursuline began to outgrow its original space, which extended from the library and science lab on the left side of the building to the gym and Tea Room on the right. Even with art classes and typing classes being held in the Carriage House and former kindergarten building, there wasn’t enough room for the sheer number and range of classes.

When it became apparent that renovating the science labs would be a short-term solution for Ursuline’s growing academic programs, the school began planning to build a new science wing adjacent to the gym.

1996

Dolly the Sheep is cloned. President Clinton bans federal funding for human cloning in 1997.

1997

Art and history exhibition “Lifting the Veil” at the Somerville museum is created by artist Nancy Natale and English professor Nancy Schultz. It recalls the torching of the Ursuline convent in 1834.

FIRE AND ROSES: Nancy Natale and

Nancy

Schultz create “Lifting the Veil.” Schultz begins to write Fire and Roses.

“The school began planning to build a new science wing adjacent to the gym.”

Senior Art Class in the Art Room / Development Office building.

Sr. Mercedes and students at retreat, 1991.

1998

Sr. Ursula Binette OSU and Sr. Nesta Beaudoin OSU celebrate their 50th Jubilee.

Boston graduates gather together for tea at the Boston Harbor Hotel. In June, Ursuline celebrates its 50th graduating class.

1999

Varsity Track begins in Spring 1999.

50 YEARS: Ursuline Academy celebrates its 50th graduating class in 1998.

A New Building Rises

Lilly Higgins ’16

The dawn of the new century brought the start of new projects at Ursuline and much change around the world. During this decade, there were many events of global impact – from the tragedy of 9/11, to Hurricane Katrina, to the election of President Barack Obama. Around Ursuline, we celebrated our 60th year, introduced new sports teams and student clubs, won the 2005 basketball championship, and celebrated old and new community traditions.

With Sr. Mercedes Videira as leader, Ursuline began to grow in size, which resulted in a need for more classroom space. When considering renovations of the science classrooms, Sr. Mercedes came to the conclusion that it would make much more sense to add on a new science wing to the school. In the meantime, the school had a temporary fix for the lack of classroom space. As Nicole Sullivan Vanderlinde ’02 remembers,

“For my senior year, we had a classroom trailer permanently outside on campus to help with the overflow of students. I took calculus in that trailer. And that is where I was when we heard about the World Trade Center tragedy on September 11, 2001.”

The Science Wing opened in 2002, providing the school with new labs for science classes as well as new backstage space for drama performances. The science labs provided students with access to larger spaces, the ability to conduct new and more complex experiments and class projects, and opened the door to an expanded science curriculum for all future Ursuline students.

In a science class, Alexandra Powell Sheridan ’08 remembers that a student once asked the teacher, a nun named Sr. Mary, CSJ, why there was not a home economics class at Ursuline. Sr. Mary responded that they were not raising students to be housewives, rather they were raising students to be professional women.

SMILE!: Sales of digital cameras begin to surpass film cameras in 2003.

2000

After a year of concern and preparation for the digital turnover, the world celebrates the turn of the millennium.

Planning is under way for the construction of a new addition: the science wing. In May, Ursuline student Kara Hadge ’04 becomes the first person to win the Patriot Ledger Spelling Bee in consecutive years.

The drama department had some changes in this decade too. Most notably, with the addition of the Science Wing, the drama department now had a backstage area. A former student remembers this experience:

“The addition of the Science Wing changed the backstage area for the drama club. For the 2002 performance of Babes in Arms, we couldn’t leave the wings because the old doors were gone and the build outs for the new doors were incorporated into the set.”

– Stacie Manning ’04

By the mid-2000s,Ursuline Academy began to see changes in its administrative structure. During the 2004–2005 school year, the school Board of Trustees voted to adopt a president/principal model in acknowledgement of the increasing importance of financial management, enrollment and marketing, fundraising, and facilities management. The first president was Kate Nolan Levesque ’77 who was followed by Rosann Whiting as president in 2007.

In the 2004–2005 school year, Mr. Dean Calusdian came to work at Ursuline to run the theater program. Mr. Calusdian’s expertise brought Ursuline’s performances to the next level. He acquired costumes and created stage designs that helped to make the shows more polished and professional. Some highlights from his first few years at Ursuline include productions of Cinderella and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Ursuline’s sports teams began to see great success starting in this decade. New teams were formed for ice hockey, cross country, indoor track, and lacrosse. But there was one team from this decade that stood out from them all. On March 15, 2005, Whittier Tech of Haverhill should have been wary of the Ides of March as the underdog Ursuline Bears basketball team defeated them 53–40 at the TD Garden in Boston to win the MIAA Division 4 state championship. This was the first state championship for any sport in Ursuline history. When interviewed after the game, senior captain Meghan Lawrie ’05 said,

“I can barely put this into words. As a basketball player you always dream of finishing like this, but no one expected little ol’ Ursuline to be the team to come out and win. This is so exciting.”

The team included Betsy Brennan ’06, Caitlin Burchill ’08, Kathleen Porter Garro ’07, Molly Griffiths ’07, Jaclyn Hourihan ’06, Meghan Lawrie Jaegar ’05, Elizabeth Montgomery Jensen ’05, Margaret Keaveny ’05, Rebecca Aha Lay ’07, Juli McDonald ’06, Katherine Nickley ’05, Katie O’Malley ’07, Nicole Norton Vermillion ’05, head coach John

SLAPSHOT: The Ice Hockey team is founded in 2004. This scrappy team lacks experience, but is determined.

2001

Ursuline breaks ground for a new Science Wing in June. The architecture will bridge the styles of the school and convent. In late fall, students, faculty, and friends gather to watch as the signed final beam is lifted into place.

On 9/11, terrorists attack the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

SPORTS: Other teams added to Ursuline’s athletic offerings are Field Hockey, Winter Track, Lacrosse, and Cross Country.

2002

In September, the new Science Wing opens to students and to a new era of education. The building is dedicated on September 23.

Above:

Below: Formwork being set up for walls of the Science Wing.

2003

In February, the Space Shuttle Columbia explodes upon reentry, killing all seven astronauts.

The invasion of Iraq takes place on March 20th.

Kevin Hines P’91, Sr. Mercedes, Rock Eisenheim, and Kevin Keefe on the site of the future Science Wing.

DePasquale, assistant coach Lynne Smith, and assistant coach Mike Trotta. The whole team was recognized at the inaugural Ursuline Athletics Hall of Fame, and was inducted in April 2022. Coach John DePasquale recounts:

“Ursuline is known for its strong academics, and for good reason. But the school proved they could get excited about sports, too. Once we won the South Sectional title, it really became something the whole school got swept up in. Nearly the entire school is here…This is the type of thing that everyone involved in is going to remember for a lifetime.”

In the 2008–2009 school year, all four lab classrooms in the Science Wing were equipped with SmartBoards. This new technology began to shape the way in which students were taught at Ursuline. The computer lab in the Science Wing was commanded by Sr. Joanne Nee, SSND. She taught the girls keyboard skills and Excel spreadsheets. Ursuline students of this decade saw technological changes from AOL instant messaging to Facebook.

Alexandra Powell Sheridan attended UA from 2002 to 2008. Some of her favorite memories include the cookies she would get in the Tea Room at break, going into the convent for Mass, participating in the school plays, Mission Day, and her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lynne Petti. Alex also remembers the close friendships she made while at Ursuline, and how all of those connections still play a part in her life today, like bumping into classmates on Facebook groups for moms in her town. Reflecting on her time at UA, she remembers how hard she and her classmates worked. She appreciates now how much Ursuline instilled a good work ethic in all students.

Favorite traditions of this decade include Mission Day and the Junior Ring ceremony as well as the first Grandparents’ Day. The Junior Ring ceremony is an important tradition and many feel that it solidifies you as a student in the history of Ursuline Academy. Stacie Manning ’04 said that this was her favorite tradition, saying “I know we complained about all having essentially the same one at the time, but I met a girl from Ursuline Dallas in college who loved that we had the Serviam shield on our ring.”

2004

The Ursuline Board of Trustees votes to adopt a president/principal model.

2005

Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans, and Ursuline Dedham takes several students in from Ursuline Academy of New Orleans.

2006

A 60th anniversary celebration is held for Boston Alumnae in the convent followed by lunch in the Tea Room.

HOOPS: The Basketball Team caps a winning season with a Division 4 State Championship win at TD Garden in 2005.

ALL TIME LEADING SCORER: Molly Griffiths ’07 graduates as UA’s all-time scoring leader in basketball with 1,500 points.

2008

In the 2008-2009 school year, all four lab classrooms in the Science Wing are equipped with SmartBoards. In June, the UA Golf squad goes from last to third in state tournament competion.

Barack Obama is elected first Black President.

2009

Sr. Mercedes steps down at the end of the 2008–2009 school year after serving 23 years as principal. Alumna Mary Jo Gorman Keaney ’82 becomes the first lay principal.

Abs Kahler ’13 plays violin at Mass.

Students attend classes in a trailer during construction of the Science Wing.

CLUBS: New clubs added or re-established include Book Club and the Green Team.

HI TECH: Apple debuts the iPhone in June 2007.

Science Wing Dedication: September 23, 2002

The building and subsequent dedication of the Science Wing began a new era of Ursuline Academy. With increased access to these state-of-the-art resources, Ursuline students were able to further explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as fields of study. The Science Wing began to pique students’ scientific interests and as a result, many more Ursuline students have gone on to study these fields in college. In the subsequent two decades since the wing opened, Ursuline has welcomed more STEM related classes like AP Computer Science, Web Design, and Forensic Science, and clubs such as Women in STEM, Girls Who Code, and the “Robots in Plaid” robotics team.

1. Sr. Mercedes Videira OSU is presented with a signed architectural plan of the Science Wing.

2. Father Clancy conducts the blessing of the new wing as the Ursulines, members of the Board, and other guests look on.

3. Sr. Angela Krippendorf ’59 OSU recognizes former principals Sr. Laurianne Michaud OSU, Sr. Dorothy Doyle OSU, and Sr. Rita Bourassa OSU and Principal Sr. Mercedes Videira OSU as they are honored.

4. Architects William Buckingham and Dennis Keefe of Keefe Associates, Beth McManus Howard ’76, Sr. Mercedes Videira OSU, and Kevin Hines P’93.

A New Home for Sports and Technology

Maggie Chipman ’17

The 2010s ushered in intensive and intentional change at Ursuline Academy at both the physical and institutional level. The academic year 2009–2010 was no exception. Under the leadership of President Rosann Whiting and with the appointment of Ursuline’s first lay principal, Mary Jo Gorman Keaney ’82, Ursuline Academy continued to evolve to meet the times.

With Transitions in Leadership, Core Values Remained Unchanged

Ms. Keaney’s experience as an Ursuline alumna helped inform her work for six years as Ursuline’s principal, maintaining the school’s mission while helping to prepare our students for the new century. Meanwhile, other significant transitions took place; most notably, the remaining Sisters residing in the convent transitioned to other Ursuline retirement communities in Maine in

HELLO?: The landline phone is removed from the foyer.

2010

2014. After 33 years, Campus Minister Marge Costa stepped down from her role, which was filled by Mary-Kate Tracy ’94, who later became Ursuline’s Director of Mission and DEI. Serviam in the 2010s blended traditions new and old, such as

TECH: The tech game-changer iPad debuts on April 3, 2010.

2011

MUSIC: In 2012, “Gangnam Style” is the first video in YouTube’s history to reach one billion views.

2012

In January, Haiti experiences a massive earthquake. Alumna Keziah Furth ’03 is there to help provide medical support. Model UN is established to provide an outlet for open debate and discussion around politics. The locker room is remodeled for upperclassmen to include a student space with couches and a television.

Robots in Plaid becomes a major club. This was preceded by the Robotics Club.

The 10-year manhunt for al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden ends in May when he is killed by a group of US Navy SEALs.

Marge Costa steps down as full-time campus minister after 33 years, replaced by Mary-Kate Tracy ’94.

Groundbreaking for the Reynolds Family Athletic & Convocation Center

hosting the annual Mission Day, participating in Boston’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk at the Hatch Shell, embarking on spring break service trips to Camden, New Jersey, and the ongoing efforts of the SOS club.

With mission in mind, Ursuline continued to adapt its administrative structure, academic offerings, and physical campus to offer the strongest educational experience for its students. Many positive programmatic changes can be attributed to beloved Vice Principal Dr. Catherine Muldoon (2012-2017) and President Rosann Whiting (2007-2018). Continuous improvement became a constant refrain for each administrator of the school, and continued with the return of current Head of School Kate Levesque ’77 in 2018.

Physical Upgrades

While the completion of the Science Wing provided much needed lab space, Ursuline was still outgrowing its original school building. In 2010, the student locker room was remodeled into a “Senior Lounge,” complete with a couch and television; lockers now lined the hallways. The year 2011 saw the Bear Cave (site of the former kindergarten) converted to a fitness space (and occasional Latin classroom!). The Tea Room also received an update during this decade, with new furniture and a fresh coat of white paint for its iconic beadboard columns.

In 2015, the carriage house of the former Convent was renovated to include classroom space, later transitioning into its current role as the Music Department and Admissions building. That same year saw the groundbreaking for the Reynolds Family Athletic & Convocation Center, Ursuline’s most ambitious capital project in recent years. This 40,000 square foot facility replaced the Bear Cave, and houses a gym, technology and innovation lab, three classrooms, fitness center, track, locker facilities, student lounge, and the Alumnae Room,

a meeting and event space. The Class of 2017 took a tour of the Center while under construction, where each student was invited to sign a beam of the building before it was completed. The Reynolds Center opened in September, 2017, and continues to positively impact the life of the school each day. Finally, at the end of the decade, the original gymnasium, with new flooring, sound system, acoustical panels, and projection system was transformed into Angela Hall, an arts and events space that has proven essential. As Ursuline’s programs in academics, arts, athletics, and faith formation have evolved with each decade, so too, have its physical spaces.

Art

The year 2011 ushered in multiple offerings for the fine and performing arts, including Chamber Ensemble, student-led worship band Psalm 98, Lowder News, and the very first Festival of the Arts, where student groups such as Liturgical Dance, Choral Group, and Glee Club performed, and student artwork was showcased. The next year saw the creation of the Bearitones, a student-run a cappella group, and the expansion of the theatrical season to include a fall play, a winter Shakespeare performance, and the spring musical. (One particular winter show, The Comedy of Errors, was an experimental production held in the Tea Room.)

In academic year 2014–2015, the Speech Team’s increasing success paid off as Ursuline claimed its first individual state championship and three team members competed at the grand national tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With such interest and success in artistic extracurriculars, the school saw the opportunity to expand its academic offerings. Visual Art and Design (I–II), Music Theory, and Musical Theater, Production and Performance

TECHNOLOGY: iPads replace books and by 2014 all classrooms are equipped with SmartBoards.

2013

Bearitones, a student-run a capella group is established.

Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and that country’s first black head of state, passes away in December.

2014

Dedication of the newly renovated carriage house, which provides more classroom space, takes place in fall 2014.

were introduced over the latter half of the decade. Fine Arts Department Chairperson Susan Glancy was instrumental in the transformation of the arts from extracurriculars to an important facet of Ursuline’s holistic education. Avery Ambrefe ’18, a former member of Liturgical Dance and Serviam Award recipient who now dances professionally, recently noted:

“Having time in the day to hone my craft at UA was such a gift and allowed me to actively pursue my passion. I’d also note how thankful I am for many of my teachers over the years who came to support me at dance competitions and recitals! That encouragement was so valuable and pushed me to make the move to NYC after graduation.”

Technology offerings grew at a similar speed, in big ways and small. This decade saw the landline telephone removed from the main foyer and SmartBoards placed in every classroom. In 2014, textbooks were supplemented by e-books, apps such as Notability competed with pen and paper, and an iPad was required for each student.The Robots in Plaid team competed in the First Tech Challenge, a mid-level robotics competition to help high school students discover the benefits of technology, science, and engineering, and soon after the club was offered to seventh- and eighth-graders. The team’s moderators offered a summer engineering camp in 2012, and in the spring of 2014, Ursuline hosted a FIRST Robotics Competition. As the decade reached its second half, computer science and other programming courses were introduced, and in 2017 the I.D.E.A. Hub, housed in the Reynolds Center, became a center for technology and innovation. The I.D.E.A. Hub introduces Ursuline students to new technologies such as 3D printing, virtual reality software, and laser cutters, and in turn, allows students to explore their own capabilities and interests in STEM fields.

The 2010s were a transitional decade at Ursuline Academy, a bridge from the new millennium to the Academy we know today. New technology, more course offerings, and a larger campus changed the face of an Ursuline education, but the heart and adherence to mission remained the same. This spirit could be seen in the annual Christmas talent show and Big Sister/Little Sister parade, one student’s friendly challenge to Dr. Muldoon that black Crocs fell within dress code, and gym class Reindeer Games. It lay in the single pink rose that the class of 2017 placed in their graduation bouquets in honor of Taylor Manning, a classmate who passed away during their 7th grade year. It was in the transition from white tights to black tights on Mass days, in the refrains of “Flying Free,” in the sisterhood found within those two hallways (and then a few more hallways, too). With more resources at her fingertips, an Ursuline student had the opportunity to become more – in the classroom, on the field, and in her emerging adulthood – while remaining rooted in the heart of this special community.

The signed beam prepared for installation in the Reynolds Center.

ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE: In 2014, $115 million was raised for ALS awareness and research.

2016

In May, Ursuline breaks ground for the 40,000-square-foot Reynolds Athletic and Convocation Center.

The world strikes a deal on climate change with the Paris Agreement.

2016–2017

Computer programming courses are added. Arts education program expands to include Visual Art 1 and 2, and Music Theory and Music Production.

2017

The Reynolds Center opens in the spot once occupied by the building that served as the Kindergarten, Development Office, Art Building, and Bear Cave.

Reynolds Center Dedication: September 23, 2017

1. Mass was held in the Convent garden to celebrate the dedication of the Reynolds Center.

2. President Rosann Whiting looks on as Pat Leary Dowling ’52, Meg Reynolds ’82 and Eileen Ahearn Connors ’62 cut the ribbon.

THE

1. Dedication of the carriage house following its conversion to classroom space in 2014.

2. Norm Fournier speaks at the tree topping ceremony and placement of the signed beam of The Reynolds Center.

3. It is rocket science, after all. Students take advantage of technical innovations.

4. Gathering in the Tea Room.

5. Class of 2011 at their Junior Retreat.

2018

Transition of President from Rosann Whiting to Kate Levesque ’77.

2019

The former gym becomes Angela Hall to showcase new performances.

2020

COVID-19 pandemic reaches the shores of the U.S. and by March we are in “lockdown.” Ursuline swiftly pivots to online classrooms.

LEAVING

SPACE STATION: Two American women, Jessica Meir and Christina Koch, complete the first all-female spacewalk in October of 2019.

The Pandemic and Beyond

On March 13, 2020, Ursuline Academy closed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, but immediately began remote learning on March 16 and continued through the remainder of the school year. In the fall of 2020, students returned to in-person learning in a hybrid mode that prioritized the health and safety of the community along with continuing academics. Despite the unforeseen challenges of the pandemic, Ursuline’s faculty and staff responded in creative and dynamic ways, such as Zoom science labs and fully-virtual concerts, that enabled our students to continue in meaningful learning throughout these unusual times.

1. Students rehearse Radio Play Disaster online.

2. Taking a mask break on the back field. 3. Students could participate in lab using Zoom. 4. The 2020 Soccer Team.

5. Students perform at the 2021 Christmas gathering.

URSULINE 75 YEARS Celebrates

Janet Reynolds

Beginning with a commemorative Mass in April, 2021, Ursuline Academy marked its 75th Anniversary with a series of events, gatherings, and speakers. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights:

Commemorative Mass at St. Cecilia Parish, Boston

April 17, 2021

To kick off the anniversary, a commemorative Mass was celebrated by Fr. John Unni, at the historic St. Cecilia Parish in Boston on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Even in the midst of the pandemic, our students led us in song, alumnae read from the lectern, and some of our most cherished community members, including

Retrospective Oral History: Tribute to 75 Years and Beyond

As Ursuline prepared to celebrate 75 years, we began a project to capture oral histories of some of our alumnae on video to preserve the memories and historical perspectives of Ursuline Academy’s earliest students. A short retrospective, “Tribute to 75 Years and Beyond” was produced, stretching back to Ursuline’s days on Arlington Street in Boston. A highlight of the production was the interview of two members of our very first graduating class in 1947, and their reflections on attending a brand-new Ursuline Academy. The video may be viewed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/user/UrsulineAcademyMA.

Speaker Series

April 2021 – February 2022

From the very beginning, our anniversary committee planned a speaker series over the course of the year to educate and engage the community. The series was a unique opportunity to share informative and inspirational topics with the entire community and to promote dialogue on important issues. During the course of the year, Ursuline Academy hosted eight virtual speaker events with a broad range of subjects, and engaged with alumnae and community members throughout the U.S. Most of these programs were recorded and are available to watch on our website.

April, 2021: Reverend James Martin. Fr. Martin, a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, and bestselling author, joined us to discuss his new book, Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone.

May, 2021: Panel Discussion – From Brescia to Dedham. Three panelists joined us for an interactive discussion on how the settings that formed Ursuline Academy’s heritage – the town of Brescia, Italy; the Charlestown neighborhood of

Boston; and Arlington Street and Dedham, MA – contributed to the rich history of the Ursulines, culminating in the Ursuline Academy of today.

June, 2021: Mark Shriver. Mark K. Shriver, Chief Strategy Officer at Save the Children, former member of the Maryland House of Delegates, author and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, shared stories from his inspirational memoir, A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver.

September, 2021: Federal Hill Farm – From Skinner Estate to Ursuline Academy. Sally Seufert Holmes ’71 led us through the history of the Skinner Estate and how it evolved into the convent and Ursuline Academy of today. Ursuline was pleased to join with the Dedham Historical Society to present this program.

October, 2021: Dr. Ellen Geminiani. Ursuline Academy alumna Dr. Ellen Geminiani, MD, ’79, a physician in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital, spoke about injury prevention relating to student-athletes.

December, 2021: Molly Burhans. Molly Burhans, executive director and founder of GoodLands, a social enterprise at the forefront of geospatial information policy, standards, and security related to the Catholic Church, spoke on the topic of faith-based, impact-driven property use and management.

January, 2022: Network Lobby Presentation and Discussion. Mary Novak, executive director of Network, and Sr. Erin Zobal OSU, chief of staff of Network, presented to our students, faculty, and staff in a virtual event to talk about Catholic social justice, activism, and how we can all follow in the footsteps of St. Angela.

February, 2022: Dr. Lisa Damour. Bestselling author, journalist, and clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour spoke on managing anxiety, stress, and the

challenges of parenting teenagers during COVID-19.

Birthday Celebration with Ursuline Students September 23, 2021

On September 23, 1946, Ursuline Academy opened its doors on Arlington Street, right across from the Boston Public Garden and the Swan Boats. To commemorate that occasion, birthday cake was served during lunch on September 23, 2021, 75 years to the day from that historic event. In return, greeting cards were signed by all of the students and later sent to all remaining Ursuline alumnae who attended school during those years in Boston (19461959), and to Ursuline Sisters in convents across the United States.

Art Installation on Campus: Intervisible March, 2022

In March, Ursuline proudly hosted an immersive art installation by Fine Arts faculty member Caroline Rufo in Angela Hall. Her installation, Intervisible, is a critique of historical redlining practices targeting African-American homeowners around Boston and explores the experience of white blindness to structural racism. Several presentations by the artist were attended by many members of the community and all students and faculty. Rufo, a member of Ursuline Academy’s Department of Fine Arts since 2012, earned her BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and her MFA from the Massachusetts College of Art.

Athletic Hall of Fame Celebration April 9, 2022

In the spring of 2021, a committee gathered to begin the work of establishing an Ursuline Academy Athletic Hall of Fame to recognize the exceptional

achievements, leadership skills, and values demonstrated by select individuals and teams at Ursuline Academy. After months of planning, preparation, and careful consideration, eight Ursuline Academy Athletic Hall of Fame members (including the championship basketball team of 2005) were inducted into the inaugural Class of 2022, on April 9, 2022, as part of Ursuline’s 75th anniversary celebration.

Year of Serviam: Ursuline Unites for Ukraine May 14, 2022

As part of our 75th Anniversary observance, we recommitted to the Ursuline value of Serviam throughout our extended community. Our goal was to serve 75 different organizations by May 14, 2022, International Serviam Day for Ursuline schools across the country. We are proud to report that we greatly exceeded this goal! In addition to our year-long service efforts, we focused our plans for International Serviam Day on raising funds for our Ursuline Sisters in Poland through a Yard Sale on campus. Over 80 student and parent volunteers and countless donors from the extended Ursuline community helped us raise over $3,000 for Ukraine. All funds raised were sent directly to the Ursulines in the Polish Province, who are sheltering and caring for refugees from Ukraine at this time. Many other charities were also helped by this effort, including the Blessing Barn in Mattapan, Philippine disaster relief programs, the Prison Book Program, and, of course, Planet Earth (reduce, reuse, recycle)!

Feast of Saint Ursula Mass with Cardinal Seán O’Malley October 21, 2022

With some delay due to the pandemic, we brought our 75th Anniversary to a close by celebrating the Feast of St. Ursula, with his Eminence Cardinal Seán O’Malley OFM. Our entire community embraced this joyful event. Students, staff, alumnae, benefactors, and friends attended the Mass and were able to speak with the Cardinal directly. We were blessed to have the Cardinal join us for the second time in recent years, the first being the Reynolds Center Dedication in 2017.

1. 75th birthday celebration with students and Principal Sue Petrone.

2. Enjoying the Intervisible art installation on campus.

3. The 2005 Basketball team at their induction into the Athletic Hall of Fame in April, 2022.

4. Yard sale for Ukraine.

5. Martha’s Bench, installed in October 2022 in honor of Sr. Martha Gleason ’54 OSU.

Cardinal Seán O’Malley celebrates the Feast of Saint Ursula Mass to bring UA’s 75th anniversary to a close.

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Then & Now

The class of 1948

The class of 2021, the 75th class of Ursuline Academy