Dear Ursuline Community,

As we are going through a new strategic planning process, I find myself reflecting on the last time we undertook this journey nearly 10 years ago. At that time, I was serving as Dean of Students, and one of our major strategic imperatives was to prioritize student well-being. That commitment led to foundational changes that continue to shape your daughters’ experience today.

A dedicated committee was formed, and out of that work came significant growth. We developed our Seminar program and transformed Advisory from a one-year model into a four-year relationship-based experience. These changes ensured that every girl would be consistently known, supported, and guided by caring adults throughout her high school journey.

We are blessed with four full-time expert counselors. A decade ago, visiting a counselor carried unnecessary stigma; now our girls view it as a healthy, normal step in caring for themselves. Counselors lead small-group check-ins with freshmen, conduct student surveys to better understand individual needs, and partner closely with our faculty to support the whole student.

Our Seminar classes have flourished, offering essential lessons on mental health, healthy relationships, and digital well-being.

In athletics, we now administer surveys on psychological safety and team belonging, recognizing that our students’ well-being extends onto their fields, courts, and stages.

Physical wellness has also remained a priority. We continue to offer Zero-Hour fitness classes, acknowledging the benefits of beginning the day with movement. Our later daily start time, long before it became a national conversation, reflects our understanding of what best supports adolescent development.

Another meaningful advancement has been our Grade Dean model, adding yet another personalized layer of advocacy and support.

Along with Advisory, Seminar, counseling, retreats, athletics, and extracurricular programs, our girls are surrounded by adults committed to knowing them deeply and helping them grow.

And through all of this, we remain grounded in faith. Research continually shows that young people with a strong faith and personal relationship with Jesus are more resilient and more hopeful. What a gift it is, as a Catholic school, to nurture not only mind and body, but soul. Prayer, sacraments, and service are integral to how we support student well-being.

For as long as I can remember, this school has balanced two essential truths: our girls are capable of remarkable things, and they deserve unwavering care. We challenge them because we believe in their strength. We support them because we know their hearts. At the core of everything we do are relationships, because teenage girls thrive when they are known, loved, and believed in.

As we plan for the future, I could not be more proud of how far we have come, and more hopeful for all that is ahead.

Sincerely,

Kayla Brown

Principal