We welcome new faces to our administrative team;
Dr. Judy Armstrong, our K-12 Principal; Athletic Director, Harry Mason; Director of Institutional Advancement, Rosalie Saladzius; Associate Director of Communications, Melissa Duplantier ’88;
Khoury Ieyoub, Special Events Coordinator, and Lauren Sistrunk, Executive Assistant. Also, we have two returning staff in new roles, Amanda Cabral is now the Director of Early Childhood, and Christy Zurcher '00, is the Director of Mission Integration. We have a wonderful team of individuals serving our Ursuline community.
Additionally, with the shift to a full K-12 academy model, there have been some shifts in roles; Sue Heidel, Dean of Students will work with girls from 4th-12th grade,
Andrea Estavan is Dean of Student Wellness and Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB) and will work with all grades for social-emotional learning needs, our DIB plan, and other student needs, our Dean of Curriculum and Instruction, Jennie Guidry will focus on the curriculum and classroom instructional delivery for all grade, K-12, and
Shannon Culotta, as Dean of Student Services, will work with parents and students in overseeing counseling, accommodations, and special instructional needs of the girls. These four Deans worked very diligently throughout the summer to prepare for the girls’ return, and we are very grateful for their continued dedication to Ursuline. Please know that ALL of the administrative team is here to serve our students and parents and is happy to assist you in meeting your daughter’s needs.
I am also happy to announce a new partnership with Ochsner Medical Center. As we focus on the whole child, spirit, mind, and body, we are happy to announce that we will have both a full-time athletic trainer and a daily pediatric registered nurse who will be on campus every day from 9 AM – 2 PM. Cyd Bertrand will be returning to our school community as a trainer, and we welcome Janea Dillon to our campus as a nurse. Throughout the year we will be partnering with Oschner for special wellness events and we are excited to form this partnership!
We are aware that everyone is anxiously awaiting guidelines on mask-wearing in schools. Currently, we are continuing to assess guidelines given by the CDC, state, city, and archdiocese regarding any masking requirements for students. The policy in place at the beginning of the year will potentially change during the year as dictated by the pandemic changes and our duty to ensure the health and safety of our students. As the guidelines are still changing, and we anticipate new announcements from the city and state, we will be waiting until closer to the start of school to release a full statement of guidelines. Also, please see attached letter from Dr. RaeNell B. Houston, Superintendent of Catholic Schools.
As faculty and staff, it is our responsibility to protect the students in our care. Therefore, all staff will wear masks in the school building and outdoors in close proximity to others. All visitors to campus must once again wear masks. Signs are posted at our entrances as a reminder. We do want to have as many normal activities as possible, mandates, and safety precautions allowing. So please assist us by adhering to the masking requirements for visitors, at all times. We also strongly advise parents to consider masking their children as an important precaution, although it may soon be mandated by the city or state.
With the necessary precautions in place, we hope to resume as many normal school events as possible. I greatly look forward to welcoming you all back to our beautiful campus and I am excited to begin working together as one to serve the girls of Ursuline!
Serviam,
