Unison Oct 21

Unison

ISSUE 1

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OCTOBER 2021

An Interview with Dr. Janet Taylor BY: LOLA MILAZZO ’22 On Wednesday September 22, Dr. Janet Taylor, a renowned psychiatrist, came to speak to the Ursuline community about the importance of mental health and mental well-being, especially considering the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. After her insightful presentation, Madeline Donovan and I sat down with Dr. Taylor to discuss and interview her about her presentation. Her responses to our questions are included below: 1. What initially led you to the field of adolescent emotional well-being and anxiety?

I find that adolescence is such an important time, not only concerning brain development, but in helping adolescents to know that it’s not always them or their “fault.” They are very hard on themselves and at many times don’t have the resources to properly understand their feelings.

2. How do you think the effects of COVID-19 have impacted the mental health of students?

COVID has been very detrimental to students because students need social interaction, structure, and certainty. Needless to say, it has had terrible effects on everyone but has also taken all of these important things away from students.

3. Is there anything you would recommend/not recommend when discussing sensitive topics such as mental health?

There is nothing that I would stray away from. We have to learn to be willing to talk about mental illnesses, a main facet

in mental health, in order to break the stigma around them.

Breaking down this stigma makes speaking about mental health much easier.

4. What would you suggest to teenagers who are tentative in regards to reaching out in order to seek mental help?

It is very important that teenagers who may be tentative know that they are not alone in their experiences and that there is no shame in talking to a trusted adult in order to get some perspective on what may be causing them trouble.

5. What do you hope that students take away from your visit today, even those who may not be experiencing issues with their mental health at the moment?

My hope is that students reflect and ask themselves how stress affects them personally. I also hope that they will begin to ponder how to take care of themselves best in a stressful environment.

Student Spotlight: Anusha Vaish BROOKLYN BENEDIKT ‘23 AND AGNES SHILLUE ‘24 Anusha Vaish, sixth grader and environmental activist, has accomplished quite a lot in the environmental world. She is educating others by discussing how insects are not something to be afraid of, and they are, in fact, extremely helpful and essential to our world. Anusha tries to make kids and adults interested in how fascinating insects are and that they should not be feared. Her goal is to use her voice to advocate and protect the vulnerable insect population and educate the public on the dangers they face. Anusha plans on joining the Environmental Awareness Club here at Ursuline to share her brilliant knowledge with everyone at our school.

Along with her work protecting insects, Anusha has more goals to promote zero plastic footprint zones and habitat conservation that will help wildlife around the globe. The preservation of habitats can help humans and remedy major environmental issues that harm our society.

In second grade, Anusha’s interest in protecting insects and helping the environment sparked when she was working on a school project.

At the age of seven, she began her research on how insects survive and how they help to support plant life which she learned can be very difficult due to the world we live in. She hopes to benefit the environment by sharing her research. Every insect plays a part in keeping our ecosystems healthy, and Anusha has dedicated herself to speaking for every one of them.

It is inspiring to see how much Anusha has accomplished for someone of such a young age. She has given several radio interviews, was featured in several news articles, and was recognized by the Audubon Society, one of the oldest non-profit environmental organizations in America. She has also won two prestigious awards, the Green Medallion Award and the People of Nature Award. Additionally, she has spoken at the United Nations summit, Westchester Board of Legislators, American Museum of Natural History, Youth Climate Action Summit, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden. On September 25th, she was invited to speak at a very reputable event called the Insectagendon which took place at the Highline in New York City. At the event, she spoke about the importance of insects, living organisms, and plants in our world. Her speech also shared ways to protect the livelihood of insects such as creating a “living greenway,” a half-rock, half-flower garden to support all kinds of insects. Many people use pesticides on their lawns and in their gardens, and although these chemicals are directed towards garden pests, spraying pesticides kill ⅛ of the very important insect population per year. Pesticides also travel through water, reaching insects that may not live in gardens. To save the insects in your own gardens, try to avoid using lawn mowers, leaf blowers, or pesticides and most importantly, please check out Anusha’s work.

Halloween Traditions GEORGINA GAMBLE ‘25 The air is getting cooler and the leaves are changing: October is here! The month of October is a time of many festivities and family gatherings for most, with many enjoying activities such as apple-picking and hayrides. But, the most exciting festivities take place on October 31st. So, I took to Quickmail to see how Halloween is celebrated by the students in our community!

Based on a survey conducted that received 100 responses, it was seen that there is an array of Halloween traditions amongst Ursuline students.

Trick-or-treating was the most popular response among the lower grades; it was almost unanimous with the exception of baking! As for the upperclassmen, trick or treating still seemed to be one of the most popular answers, followed by carving pumpkins and watching scary movies.

Whether we’re baking something seasonal, carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating, or watching a scary movie, there’s no arguing that Halloween is here!

An Inspirational Visit with Ms. Carla Harris

BY MADELINE DONOVAN ’23

On Monday October 4th, Ms. Carla A. Harris, Vice Chairman of Wealth Management, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley, virtually visited with The Ursuline School’s student body to speak on her experiences in the ever-progressing financial services industry. She also spoke about being one’s own authentic self, her Catholic faith, and even her music career as a Gospel singer and selling out concerts at Carnegie Hall and The Apollo Theater.

I, along with four other members of our school community (Anaya Balkcom ‘22, Lola Milazzo ‘22, Ariana Chiappini ‘23, and Madelyn LaScala ‘23), had the wonderful opportunity to serve as panelists to represent Ursuline in asking Ms. Harris a few questions.

When asked about how to overcome one’s fear of public speaking, Ms. Harris gave students the advice of speaking as much as possible and asking questions when they’re unsure of what to say since there will most likely always be other people in the room who are also tentative when it comes to speaking publicly.

In her own career, Ms. Harris shared that some of the setbacks she had experienced throughout her life taught her that sometimes, the universe puts us on different paths than we had originally anticipated.

She also advised that when we are faced with self doubt to keep trying because such setbacks are the “muscle of resilience.”

When Ms. Harris was asked to share her advice to young girls who hope to work in industries in which they are in the racial or gender minority, she explained her perspective that it is an advantage to be the only person in a room who looks like them. She emphasized how this difference automatically sets one apart which can be used to assist

us in delivering excellence in positions of strength and power.

Ms. Harris also discussed that she would recommend we set ourselves apart from our competitors by being our authentic selves and ensuring that our delivery is unique. Although we may sometimes share qualities or levels of ability with our contemporaries, she emphasized that authenticity is always extremely important.

At the end of her presentation, Ms. Harris shared that her most important piece of personal financial advice for young women is to know the difference between our wants and our needs. This delineation will help us learn when to spend and when to save our money. In addition, she also shared some basic details on learning about the topic of compound interest.

We thank Ms. Harris for visiting with us, and we are sure that everyone will benefit from the “pearls” she graciously shared with us!

Carla Harris, One of the Biggest Names in Christian Music KLARA SEVERANCE-SULIMMA ‘26

Carla Harris is widely known for her success on Wall Street, but she has also achieved great accomplishments in the music industry.

From the age of thirteen, Harris sang in choral music and gospel choirs, and her love of music only grew from there. While attending Harvard University, her music career flourished as she joined the distinguished Radcliffe Chorale Society. After graduating, Carla formed her own band called Rhythm Company which gave her a springboard to eventually launch a solo career. Her first album, Unceasing Praise, was released on February 28, 2011 and stands out among other Christian albums. The album has a personal touch which allows the listener to understand the deep connection between Harris and her faith. After a nine-year hiatus, Harris finally listened to her pleading fans and returned to the music world, this time with a Christmas album. The album, titled O This Is Christmas!, was released on August 20, 2020 and contains Christmas classics. Although it is a more traditional Catholic album, Harris exhibits her talent as she is still able to build a connection with the listener. Other artists have recorded Christmas albums, but none compare to that of Harris! Carla Harris has become an inspiration for many young girls because of her multifacetedness and success, not the least of which is her celebrated musical career.

Thoughts on Classes in the iHub BY: ALANNA GALLO ‘22 AND LAUREN BARTON ‘23 The Innovation Hub, more commonly known among students as the iHub, is the latest addition to the Ursuline School campus. This modern space provides students with the opportunity to explore their interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

The iHub features 3D printers, adaptive furniture and engineering tools, reaching the wide scope of students’ needs in all classes and grades. As an all-girls school, it is extremely important that a STEMfocused education is accessible to prompt our students to reverse gender stereotypes and strengthen STEM in a variety of different ways.

Whether it be through learning how to code in Python or utilizing the space for lessons on the physics of life, the iHub has allowed all of Ursuline’s educators the opportunity to engage with STEM-oriented learning methods in a unique way.

When we spoke to Ursuline faculty members about their perspective on Ursuline’s latest technological addition, Physics 11 and Earth Science Honors teacher Mr. Anton perfectly summed up the belief of all Ursuline students and teachers: “This space is a big step forward towards this progressive style of education that is needed, particularly in a world that is rapidly advancing in engineering and technology.”

Another notable component of the iHub is its adaptive nature, as it easily allows for problem solving among groups while encouraging creativity. With this new extension, we are even more hopeful for the

Fall Open House ANNA AUSANIO ’22 & CHRISTINAHUERTA-STYLIANOU ‘24 On October 23rd, The Ursuline School hosted our annual Fall Open House Event! Families were invited to come visit and immerse themselves in the essence of the Ursuline community.

Last year, due to limitations brought by the pandemic, a virtual Open House was held. But this year, we have the opportunity to, once again, give prospective students a glimpse of the high school or middle school experience here on The Ursuline School campus. There was plenty of opportunities for families to learn about academics as well as several aspects of student life that make Ursuline’s community unique, such as our commitment to Serviam and traditions like Freshman-Senior Sister Day and Ring Day! Future students were welcomed by administrators, teachers, and

future of Ursuline education, as the iHub will be able to accommodate more classes and departments. In all, the iHub is a wonderful addition to the Ursuline School. With its adaptability and state of the art features, it has quickly become a great resource to both students and faculty, signifying Ursuline’s many recent advancements in the field of modern technology.

students all throughout the campus. They were able to explore the beautiful school building and classrooms. Ursuline teachers had stations where parents and students could visit and converse regarding classroom values, academic requirements, curriculum, and more.

Families were also able to listen to the music of Ursuline’s student orchestra ensemble! The Performing Arts Department, an important part of academics here at Ursuline, organized a special program for this upcoming event! Our Performing Arts students enjoyed sharing their musical talents this year, especially after a long period of restricted performances.

The orchestral ensemble played an excerpt from the Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 by J. S. Bach, Andante Cantabile from the Pathetique Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven, and Rondeau by JeanJoseph Mouret.

Ms. Gentry, Ursuline’s orchestra conductor, shared her view about the performance: “I was thrilled to have these performance opportunities this year. We have such talented students in the Performing Arts Department, and each performance gives our students a chance to shine and share their skills. I am grateful that we have the chance to demonstrate Serviam through creating music for others.”

In addition to Performing Arts, sports and clubs are major aspects of student life at Ursuline. As we all know, clubs are flourishing this time of year with different club meetings taking place every week! Sports are also a unifying part of student life and bring a strong sense of community and school spirit. Go Koalas!

We were so excited to share Ursuline and its mission with all those interested in attending! Open House was a wonderful event that gave us a chance to showcase how special our school truly is.

“Stroll Around the World” Reception to Honor Mrs. Davidson JANNETT MARTIENA ‘22 AND EMILY MAYS ‘22

When you think of Eileen Davidson, you think of The Ursuline School in New Rochelle — and that’s no mistake. There is no question on whether Mrs. Davidson has had an impact on this school. Throughout her thirty-nine years of service, she’s been an unwavering advocate for young women to pursue their dreams in all outlets of careers. Through her willingness to adapt and listen, she made all aspects of the Ursuline community feel welcomed and safe.

“A Saturday Stroll Around the World” was the theme of her retirement party, highlighting all the places she had traveled with her students. Through generous donations from The Tap House, other sponsors, and several Ursuline alumni, the event had food sampling the globe, from the Caribbean Islands to Greece. Each guest was given a passport, and each food station had a stamp. Guests were encouraged to taste a bit of every culture represented. Students also got involved, ranging in duties from waitress to artist. Specifically, over forty Ursuline students volunteered for the event, and the stamps used at each table were created by Ursuline seniors Frances Cockburn and Jo Keenan.

The guest list was wide, encompassing people of all ages and connections to Ursuline. Along with the forty students helping to work the event and allow it to run smoothly, dozens of alumni, benefactors, staff, and friends of Mrs. Davidson came to the event.

The most touching part was the ceremony held in Mrs. Davidson’s honor, where the likes of Mr. Duffy, Mr. Murphy, and one of Mrs. Davidson’s former students, spoke to her character and how she impacted their

lives. Mr. Duffy spoke to Mrs. Davidson’s cachet, closing his remarks by naming the new administrative wing after her and creating a scholarship in her name, both duly earned tributes. Other alumni talked about how Mrs. Davidson always created deep, long lasting friendships and bonds with all the students she mentored and greeted. This included her memorable trip to Italy where she taught some students how to play poker! Afterwards, current seniors Frances Cockburn, Sophia Frank, Kayla-Ann Johnson, Jannett and Jennipher Martiena, and Lola Milazzo presented her with gifts from the school. Then, Mrs. Davison herself spoke, thanking everyone for their kindness and delivering a heartfelt speech about what this school meant to her.

I think what amazed us the most about that evening was the mixing of social spheres.

People from all walks of life, races, and ages, came together to celebrate Mrs. Davidson.

In turn, we met new people with experiences totally different to our own. There was a buzz about the event as people told stories about their time at Ursuline or their time at college and how influential people in their lives, like Mrs. Davidson, shaped those experiences and built their character.

Ursuline’s Study Habits ANNA GAYER ‘23 AND BRIANA ROISENVIT ‘23 Although we are all extremely happy to be getting back to a normal school year, it’s proven to be challenging as our testing schedule also goes back to normal. We’re so lucky to have such amazing and supportive teachers that want us to succeed, but we cannot grow as students without facing some difficulties. As we adjust to standard test-taking again, detached from Zoom and distance learning, it is important to develop study skills that will carry us through high school and beyond. Over 100 Ursuline students responded to a poll about studying methods that have been helping them, and the results are below to show you how your fellow Koalas like to study!

The first question we posed to the student body was if studying with a friend was preferable to studying alone. The results showed that about 45% of students only prefer studying with a friend when it’s appropriate. Those results are unsurprising because, although it can be nice to have a study buddy, getting distracted is also a big possibility! We also asked what subject is easiest to study for, and history won with 24% of the vote, while math had the second highest percentage of students (19.8%). These results display the variety of students that we have at Ursuline - math and history are equally important to our well-rounded community!

The last two questions we polled related to studying habits of our student body. Quizlet is an online flashcard tool that enables students to make personalized study sets for whatever assessment they have coming up. 64% of students agree that Quizlet is helpful, which was a little surprising, since we’ve never heard anyone give it a negative review or had a bad experience with it ourselves! Lastly, we gave everyone several options for common study tools, and the one with the greatest consensus was practice problems. Over 85% of students chose practicing as one of their methods of studying.

We hope you found these results as interesting as we did! Wishing everyone the best of luck as we all attack this new school year renewed by the energy of being together again!

Creative Writing Elective –

A Conversation with Ms. Robertson EMAN SHAKAIB ‘24 Electives are some of the most interesting classes at Ursuline. They teach students skills and allow them to explore their interests, which may not always be possible in their core classes. Because of the great importance elective classes hold, I wanted to spotlight a particularly important one: Creative Writing. I had the opportunity to interview the current teacher of the course, Ms. Adrianna Robertson, to discuss its contents and some of the benefits of taking it!

1. What are some highlights about teaching the Creative Writing class?

First, I would like to say that I love teaching this course! I am a creative writer at heart—I have loved writing short stories, essays, poems (especially) since I was a little kid. Writing has always been a way to myself and I can see that the same is true for my students. For me, the best part of teaching this course is seeing the students express themselves through their writing and ultimately grow as people and writers. Additionally, I can see that they are learning to trust one another and to share themselves with one another. Writing implies a kind of vulnerability and I have loved witnessing the students’ willingness to show parts of their authentic selves in our classroom space.

2. How do you think this class is beneficial to the students that take it?

I think this is a course that benefits every student. Even those students who don’t necessarily see themselves as writers can benefit from the way the course helps to develop a sense of self and true expression. In any case, it is a course that allows students to further develop into the writers they want to be. The course encourages them to explore, push themselves in new creative directions and discover new techniques for making pieces of written art.

3. What are some of the key aspects that students focus on during this course?

The course is primarily organized around specific craft elements. We focus on a craft element and read various mentor texts so that we can get a sense of how other writers have

skillfully used that element in their work. Then students practice and work on developing it themselves. In addition, they find an artistic mentor (doesn’t necessarily have to be a writer) and articulate how this mentor is shaping their work as the semester progresses. Besides practicing their skills in shorter pieces, they will begin a draft that they will revise as the semester progresses and will formally workshop before semester end.

4. How can a student that takes this class organize and plan their work so that it doesn’t interfere with other commitments?

I am pretty conscious of the fact that students are almost always pulled in many directions so I like to think I’m fair when it comes to my expectations. However, I do encourage students to really try to work writing into their regular routines so it feels less like work and more a part of who they are.

5. What is one of your favorite pieces that’s been submitted in this class? Or a favorite project/ assignment that has been assigned?

I am excited to see how the draft/project they work on all semester to formally workshop will turn out! I imagine that it will be so gratifying for students to see how their work/writing progresses over time. This assignment also gives them the opportunity to reflect on their artistic mentor’s influence and how they have evolved as writers from the start to finish of the course. I think the workshop experience will also be beneficial to students as they will be able to ask the group for the kind of targeted feedback they desire. I really think it’s going to be a fulfilling way to end the semester.

Favorite Fall Music BRIGID BRIGID BYRNES ‘24 AND CAMPBELL WEPPLER ‘25 Fall is here and what better way to experience the season than listening to music that gets you in the fall spirit! We’ve asked a handful of students at TUS and compiled a list of your favorite genres and styles of music to listen to during the fall.

Indie and Alternative Music Alternative music always seems to be a favorite among students. Indie and alternative music covers a wide variety of artists and albums such as Lana Del Rey, Phoebe Bridgers, and Harry Styles, just to name a few. Albums such as Taylor Swift’s Evermore, Lorde’s Melodrama and Solar Power, and Adele’s 25 and 21 are all beloved examples of an alternative music style.

Christmas Carols Some students are so excited for Christmas that their holiday season starts on the first day of fall! Songs like “All I Want For Christmas Is You”

by Mariah Carey, “Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber, “It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas” by Micheal Buble, and “Underneath The Tree” by Kelly Clarkson are particularly popular.

Country Music Country music is another popular choice to listen to during the fall, likely because of its ties to farming and beautiful landscapes, with which fall is often associated. This makes it a very fitting choice for the season! Some favorites this fall include albums by some inspiring female country artists such as Kacey Musgraves’s Star-Crossed and Taylor Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version), as well as her album Red.