Ursuline Academy (Delaware)

Ursuline Academy
Location
Wilmington, Delaware, (New Castle County) 19806 United States
Coordinates
Information
Type	Private, All-Girls
Motto	Serviam (I will serve)
Religious affiliation(s)	Roman Catholic Ursulines
Patron saint(s)	St. Angela Merici
Established	1893
Founder	St. Angela Merici
President	Cathie Field Lloyd '70
Chairperson	Thomas Tattersall
Grades	Montessori 3,4,5, PreK/ Kindergarten 3,4,5 - 12th grade
Average class size	14-1
Color(s)	Red and White
Song	Ursuline Academy Alma Mater
Athletics	13 Varsity Sports, athletics start in 3rd grade
Athletics conference	Catholic Conference
Mascot	Raider
Team name	Raiders
Accreditation	Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools
Newspaper	Ursuline Chronicle
Tuition	$4,304-$18,340
Alumni	4,800
Website	http://www.ursuline.org

Ursuline Academy is a private school in Wilmington, Delaware, which offers Early Childhood (Montessori and PreK/ Kindergarten) and elementary (grades 1-5) school for both girls and boys, Middle (Grades 6-8), and Upper (Grades 9-12) school classes for girls. Established in 1893 by the Ursulines, it is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.

History

Saint Angela Merici founded the Ursuline Order in 1535. Her mission was to educate girls and her goal became known throughout the world.

On July 31, 1893, the Ursuline Nuns arrived in Wilmington. They came from Bedford Park, New York to succeed the Visitation Nuns who, up to that time, had conducted a boarding and day school at another location. Thus Ursuline Academy in Wilmington was created. Students received a strict education along with training in the Fine Arts.

It was in 1926 that the cornerstone of the present Ursuline Academy was laid. By then, the student body had grown thoroughly.

In 1954, a new building was constructed to accommodate the Lower School classes. A major development program was begun in the summer of 1977. At that time, the Lower School Auditorium-gymnasium was converted into instructional areas. After a period of temporary use of the auditorium and gymnasium by all Ursuline students, a modern gymnasium complex was constructed for use by the Academy in 1979. In 1992, classroom additions were constructed adjoining the Upper School to accommodate Middle School students.

In the summer of 1994, the convent was renovated to accommodate the Fine Arts Center. The full name of this building is the Rollins Fine Arts Center.

In the fall of 1998, the Academy introduced technology to students, calling the program "Learning With Laptops". Starting in 7th grade, students receive a laptop. Much of the curriculum includes technology.

The entire second and third floors of the Upper School were renovated during the summer of 2002. In the fall of 2002, the second floor science labs and third floor instructional areas opened. In addition, the third floor is the home of the Chapel of St. Angela, where students go for reflection and prayer. Also in 2002, the Academy purchased the former Christian Scientist Church adjacent to the campus. The building is now Ursuline Academy's Performing Arts Center. Not to be confused with the Rollins Fine Arts Center, the Performing Arts Center (PAC) is the location of some school masses and performances.

Location

Ursuline Academy is located in the Cool Spring and Tilton Park section of the West Side of Wilmington.

Facilities

The urban campus includes Lower and Middle and Upper School buildings in addition to the Rollins Fine Arts Center, Performing Arts Center, and the Gerardine House. The Lower School contains a developmentally appropriate library in addition to a playground, a cafeteria, a computer lab, and an outdoor classroom. The Middle and Upper School houses its own library, computer lab, cafeteria, as well as a shared auditorium, fitness center, and school store. The Ursuline Academy Upper School is home to among the most advanced science laboratories in the state.

Serviam Field, located less than five miles away, hosts the school's track, field hockey, lacrosse, and soccer teams.

Academics

Montessori The hallmark of the Montessori Method is individualized instruction using concrete materials designed to be sequential and to relate to other materials in the classroom.

Pre-K/K A curriculum for pre-K/K children would include open-ended Language Arts, reading skills, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and an appreciation of the arts, technology, and activities that focus on fine and gross motor skills. Pre-reading and language skills are taught through thematic units, which focus on phonemic awareness and children’s literature.

Primary A curriculum for primary children includes Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and an appreciation of the fine and performing arts.

Intermediate A curriculum for intermediate girls includes Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and involves critical thinking, problem solving, higher order thinking skills, and creativity and exploration through various forms of the fine and performing arts. This is accomplished through teacher-directed activities and cooperative learning, reading, discussion, varied strategies, and continuous assessment.

Middle School

6th Grade	7th Grade	8th Grade
Religion (8 hours community service)	Religion (15 hours community service)
Language Arts (Writer's Workshop, Reading Workshop...)	Language Arts (...Literature, Vocabulary)
Foreign Language (Spanish I, French I, Chinese I)	Foreign Language (Spanish I, French I, Chinese I)
American History I	American History II
Pre-Algebra	Algebra I
Physical Science	Earth Science
Chorus, Studio Art, Drama, Dance, Music, Band	Chorus, Studio Art, Drama, Dance, Music, Band
Physical Education/Health	Physical Education/Health

Upper School

Freshman	Sophomore	Junior	Senior
Theology	Theology	Theology	Theology
English	English	English	English
Social Studies	Social Studies	Social Studies	Social Studies, Math, Science...
Mathematics	Mathematics	Mathematics	...and/or Foreign Language
Foreign Language	Foreign Language	Foreign Language	Physical Education
Lab Science	Lab Science	Lab Science	Elective
Physical Education	Physical Education	Physical Education	Elective
Health	Driver Education	Elective	Elective
Elective	Elective

Advanced Placement courses are offered in Art History, Human Geography, European History, United States History, United States Government, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, French, Spanish, Calculus, Statistics, English Language, English Literature, and Studio Art.

Academic accomplishments

In 2013 Ursuline Academy named 30 AP Scholars. Two students were named National AP Scholars. The school is first in the state for the rate of girls receiving the distinction. Students from Ursuline are accepted some of the top post-secondary institutions in the country, including St. John's College Annapolis, American University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, Wesleyan University, Swarthmore College, Vanderbilt University, Brandeis University, Duke University, College of William and Mary, Haverford College, Rice University, Yale, Harvard, the University of Delaware, Dartmouth College, and the United States Naval Academy.

Athletics

Beginning in 3rd grade, students may participate in sports. 3rd to 8th graders participate in CYM sports, while 9th to 12th graders participate in the Division II Diamond State Catholic Conference. Sports offered in the high school are cross country, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, swimming, dance, indoor track & field, golf, lacrosse, outdoor track & field, soccer, and softball. If a student in 8th grade excels in a certain sport, she may be able to participate on the high school team.

Notable alumni

• Erin Arvedlund, financial journalist
• Elena Delle Donne, WNBA player for the Chicago Sky; played collegiately at the University of Delaware
• Aubrey Plaza, actress
• Marjorie Rendell, federal judge and wife of former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell
• Val Whiting, former WNBA player; athletic hall of fame inductee at Stanford University

External links

• The Ursuline Academy website