Dear Ursuline,

There is something to be said about the power within single gender education. It is an impactful thing for a girl to experience a culture where she is supported, challenged and encouraged to pursue her interests, the world around her, and discover how she can make her mark. Girls’ schools create a culture of achievement in which academic progress is of great importance, however the discovery and development of an individual's potential is paramount. 

The National Coalition of Girls' Schools says it best in their research,“Girls’ schools are a place where girls take center stage. And we think that is where they belong. Simply put, they teach that there is enormous potential and power in being a girl. By subtracting boys, an all-girls’ education adds opportunities. A girl occupies every role: every part in the play and every position on every team. Not only does she have a wealth of avenues for self-exploration and development: she also has a wealth of peer role models.” 

In her presentation to Ursuline students, Maxine Clark, the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, spoke to the idea of the power that each of us has within ourselves; the power within our own imagination. As individuals, we cannot achieve greatness if we are pursuing someone else's idea fo r how our life should play out. We must develop ourselves and our imaginations to find what resonates with us. Once a girl has discovered that idea, that dream, within herself, she can be unstoppable in achieving her goals. It is vital to the mission of Ursuline Academy to continue to develop those ideas and the imaginations of each of our students; to teach and instill in them that they too, have the power within themselves to shape their lives however they choose.