Dear Ursuline Community,
I have an important update to share!
We’ve worked over the last three years to more clearly identify the unique niche of Ursuline and communicate an updated branding message that speaks both to teens and their parents. This has been a thoughtful process, beginning with the Strategic Plan and including the input of students, parents, coworkers, Board members, and alumnae. You’ve seen the results of this initiative in electronic and print communications from Ursuline over the last year or so.
As we moved through the branding process, we also explored alternatives to the mission statement that has been in use for decades. While the current statement has served Ursuline historically, it is very similar to those of other schools and fails to capture the impact of an Ursuline education today. And maybe most importantly, it lacks reference to St. Angela, who is so central to daily life on campus.
With gratitude to the Mission Integration Committee, I’m happy to share the new Ursuline Academy mission statement that has now been approved by the Board of Trustees and the Ursuline Sisters of the Central Province:
Alive in the spirit of St. Angela and rooted in Catholic values, Ursuline Academy is a welcoming community that prepares young women for higher learning and cultivates in them the courage to use their minds and voices in service of a global society.
Ideally, our mission statement should be energizing and memorable so that everyone associated with the Academy can share it easily. I think we’ve accomplished that. Much of what was included in the previous statement reflected the Core Values of an Ursuline School, defined by the Ursuline Sisters and certainly at the heart of all that we do. These values will remain at our core and you’ll be seeing this list more frequently, often in combination with the new mission statement.
- Spiritual Formation and Faith Development
- Respect for the Uniqueness of the Individual
- Development of the Whole Person
- Development of a Nurturing Community Spirit
- Commitment to Peacemaking
- Serviam (I will serve)
- Academic Excellence
To me, this statement conveys that St. Angela guides us each day, that all kinds of girls belong here, and that Ursuline helps each of them find her own way to making a difference in our world. I find this incredibly energizing! I’m also thrilled at the opportunity to better communicate what makes Ursuline the truly unique place I know it to be.
Peggy Slater
President