November 21, 2025

"Spread Peace"

There will be NO Ursuline Update on Friday, November 28. Click here to read past issues of The Ursuline Update!

There will be no school for T2-12th graders Monday, November 24 - Friday, November 28. Lily House will have a full day on Monday, November 24, and Tuesday, November 25 and be closed Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28. The Academy reopens and classes resume for Lily House - 12th grade on Monday, December 1. Have a blessed and safe Thanksgiving break!

High School students will take their semester exams December 15-18. Please find the schedule here. Semester exams count as 20% of students' semester grades, so they are encouraged to begin studying early and are expected to be on campus each day they have an exam.

Swim Team Competes in State



The 200 Medley Relay finished 14th, and the 200 Free Relay finished 11th—swum by Layla Faucetta, Nataleigh Cutrer, Everly Materne, and Cecilia Hunnicutt.

Nataleigh Cutrer did a fantastic job in her 200 free and 100 Breast. Cecilia Hunnicutt placed fifth in the 200 IM and third overall in the 100 Breast. The girls did a fantastic job with some of the fastest times of the season!

Cross Country Competes in State



Congratulations to Ursuline's Cross Country team for placing 10th out of 17 teams in the State Competition. Senior Meredith Becker placed in the top 30! Congratulations to every runner for their tireless effort and commitment this year. 

Soccer Lions Battle with Chapelle

The soccer team lost to Chapelle in the second match of the new season. The girls are continuing to work on their game

readiness and practicing orchestration of team play. There will be many opportunities to come over the season. We look forward to the next match on Monday, November 24, at De La Salle!

Ursuline is too special to remain the “best kept secret in town.” We need your help! You can assist us by:

• Submitting a referral here. Do you know a student who should be invited to visit Ursuline? Please complete the form here to be sure they receive information on upcoming events. For every referral you submit, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a $125 gift card to Haase’s Shoe Store. The winner will be selected on December 1, 2025. Every referral equals an entry into the drawing. 

• Share your Ursuline Academy pride by displaying a yard sign. Current families get a special discount, and unlike the open house yard signs, these can be displayed year-round! Use parent discount code UAYARD25.  

• Please share our content on social media. We’ll be promoting campus tours, and hope you encourage families you know to come experience Ursuline for themselves.

Experience the ultimate comfort with our uniform sweatpants. Made from a premium blend of cotton, these sweatpants provide a soft, cozy feel that's perfect for all-day wear. As the weather changes, remember that UA sweatpants can be worn with the school uniform beginning December 1, 2025. Pre-orders will close on December 19 at Noon.

This month, sophomores went to Touro Hospital to participate in the Sudden Impact program, where they learned about the impact of driving while distracted or impaired and strategies for avoiding risky situations. They also had a refresher lesson with Ms. Buccino about executive functioning skills, time management, and organization.

Juniors attended a presentation from ViaLink regarding mental health and suicide, how to recognize warning signs, and ways to get help for themselves or others if they notice any warning signs.

Seniors engaged in a conversation about healthy communication skills and how these skills can help them to strengthen relationships, reduce stress, build self-confidence, and reinforce appropriate personal boundaries.

During the last two Insiemes, the whole high school participated in #WIN at Social lessons focused on skills for navigating group chat drama and family holiday conversations.

Get a head start on your holiday treats and delights with Ursuline's "Poinsettias, Cookies & Cold Drinks" Christmas Fundraiser! Place your order by today, Friday, November 21, 2025, at 12 p.m. Stock up on festive goodies and decor just in time for holiday parties: purchase a beautiful Perino’s poinsettia plant for $12, buy a dozen delicious Christmas cookies for only $20, or add a case of refreshing Coca-Cola brand cold drinks starting at $15! Not only will you delight your guests, but you’ll also be helping the Parents’ Club raise funds for the Serviam Annual Fund.

All poinsettia, cookies, and cold drink orders can be picked up on Thursday, December 4, 2025, between 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. in the Wellness Center Gym during the Junior League of New Orleans Holly Jolly Market.

Please contact parentsclub@uanola.org should you have any questions.

Many hands make light work! Please scroll through the tabs on this link to sign up for these upcoming volunteer opportunities:

Thanksgiving is almost here! Join us for the Lily House & ECLC Thanksgiving Feast on Friday, November 21, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Courtyard. Each child should be with at least one parent/guardian or Grandfriend (up to four guests). Sign out by 10:50 a.m. and stay for the Feast. Older siblings cannot attend.

Please enter via the Lily House pedestrian gate on Nashville Avenue. Ursuline will provide the turkey and rolls—please bring a favorite family dish in a 9x12 disposable pan.

Let's kick off our Thanksgiving break with our second annual UA Turkey Trot! K-7th graders are invited to participate in a short "marathon" around the school, and run with the entire Academy cheering them on! Parents are invited to attend. Please park in the State Street Parking Lot and check in with Ms. Kimberly Wimberly in the front office.

Attire for the Turkey Trot: Mascot shirt, uniform skirt/jumper with PE shorts underneath, crazy socks, tennis shoes. Girls can add additional accessories (ex. tutu, cape) before the race. 

Ursuline Academy is hosting the Junior League of New Orleans Holly Jolly Market on Thursday, December 4, 2025. The market will be open exclusively to our students to shop during the day from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Each class will have a designated time to visit!

Barberito Photographers will be on campus to take package holiday photos of K-7th-grade students. Pre-paid package envelopes will go home with students today.

The market will be open to the public from 5-8 p.m. for an evening of festive finds, twinkling lights, and holiday cheer. View the list of vendors here. You are welcome to join the fun and hear the beautiful notes of Ursuline Academy's Choir performances!

🎶 6:15-6:45 p.m. - High School Choir

🎶 7-7:30 p.m. - La Voix du Lion

🎶 7:45-8 p.m. - Combined Choirs Finale

Ursuline Academy is proud and excited to once again host our annual Bach Contest on Saturday, March 21, 2026. The Ursuline Academy Bach Contest, founded in 1960 by Sr. Elizabeth Marie Landry, OSU, began with piano and now includes a strings division, and is open to all students in the greater New Orleans area.

Registration for the 2026 Bach Contest is now open and due by Saturday, February 28, 2026.

If you have any questions, please email bach@uanola.org.

Ursuline Academy is excited to host its first Ultimate Author Day on Wednesday, April 1, 2026! Ultimate Author Day is an event dedicated to celebrating our students' accomplishments in writing, while giving them an opportunity to learn why the written word is so important and how it is used in many different careers. 

We are looking for anyone who uses their own words or someone else's to do their job to join us as a volunteer presenter on Ultimate Author Day! So if you are a children's book author, illustrator, judge, singer/songwriter, puppeteer, published physician, choreographer, film producer, comedian, technical writer, calligrapher, chef, magazine editor, news reporter/anchor, social media influencer, or anyone in between, we thank you very much for considering spending your morning with us on State Street! Please complete the linked form to indicate your interest, and we will be in touch with you soon.

Each week, a designated student will take home an 11" resin statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor along with an intention card. Each intention card will be collected and remembered in prayer by our community. Students will be able to keep Our Lady in their home from Friday through Tuesday, returning her to school on Wednesday. 

Our Lady of Prompt Succor, patroness of our city and state, hasten to help us!

In the spirit of community, we would love to pray for the special intentions of our Ursuline family. Prayer intentions can be submitted through this form. Please note that during our Academy Masses, we mention the names of families who have lost loved ones.

If you have recently lost a loved one and would like your family name to be mentioned during Mass, please complete this form.