Unison
ISSUE 3
FEBRUARY 2022
Black History Month Assembly BY: MADELINE DONOVAN ’23 AND JANNETT MARTIENA ‘22 In celebration of Black History Month, on Thursday, February 3rd, The Ursuline School community invited several significant Black singers, musicians, and guests to share with students and faculty the importance of Black culture and accomplishments. The Honorable Judge Tanya R. Kennedy shared a presentation entitled “Young, Gifted and Black,” where she discussed snippets of the lives of 10 Black women who have made history in the United States. “Black history is American history,” she told the students. Following Judge Kennedy’s discussion, Ursuline’s Honors Choir had the opportunity to participate in the assembly by singing a Freedom Medley of songs that were traditionally referred to as “Negro Spirituals” by slaves during the time of the Civil War and abolition. They were also sung during the Civil Rights Movement to give strength to and “root” the protestors. They continue to hold important meaning in the culture of African-Americans, and they’re still sung in many Baptist churches across the country to celebrate their liberation. After the assembly’s conclusion, Madeline Donovan ’23 and Jannett
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Martiena ’22 were able to spend some time speaking with these guests on a myriad of topics, from music to law to college and many in between.
Judge Kennedy’s Q&A with Con Law
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We had the privilege to sit in on a brief Q&A session Judge Kennedy informally held with Ms. Jacqueline Geller’s Constitutional Law class, where a few students asked her some of the questions they had pondered in the classroom. One senior asked the “Why Law?” question, to which Judge Kennedy replied that she wanted to be a lawyer but never a judge. She had been waitlisted at New York University which prompted her to speed up her plans to go to law school. She had even been interested in the fashion and public relations industries before finally deciding that she wanted to help people, and therefore, law was the path for her. A junior in the Con Law class asked our guest what the hardest challenge she faced was and how she overcame it in law school. The Hon. Judge Kennedy told students that the transition from college to law school was very difficult because in law school, “you’re graded on a curve… it’s more competitive because my A may be a B or a B- now.” She also mentioned that the Socratic method is used during lectures, and that the homework is “very analytical” and involves “a different type of writing - a different type of reading, too.” Judge Kennedy went on to emphasize the importance of asking one’s professor, “What can I do better?” She explained how she regrets not doing this in law school, and she also regretted getting “too caught up in the city environment,” which she did not recommend. Additionally, she discussed how “money is freedom; money provides you with options.” However, “the love of money is a problem,” and she believes that that is where many students make mistakes. Judge Kennedy is “having a ball as an Appellate judge,” as she put it. “Every sit I’m learning.” She concluded her talk with Ms. Geller’s class by recommending to the girls that they keep their options open and remain flexible. “You have to show up and be in the room. That’s when opportunities happen.”
A Harlem Choir Meets an Ursuline Choir
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BY: MADELINE DONOVAN ’23 AND JANNETT MARTIENA ‘22 The members of Ursuline’s Honors Choir, taught by Ms. Wendy Bryn Harmer, were fortunate enough to work with four talented guests from the Abyssinian Baptist Church in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Director LaFrederick Coaxner, soloists Ahmaya Knoelle Higginson and Carl Arnes Ellis III, and piano accompanist Elder Damon Mack worked with the girls twice a week for a few weeks leading up to the assembly on February 3rd. The members of the choir learned about the rich history and deep emotion behind the pieces they sang while still getting in a lot of laughs, even at 7:15 on a few Monday mornings. Gathered in the Tully Family Gymnasium, the Ursuline community was stunned by Ms. Higginson’s solo in “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ‘Round” and was moved to tears by Mr. Ellis’s recitation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech during the singing of “His Truth Still Marches On,” just to highlight a few. “I’ll admit, I was a little nervous and antsy at the start of this,” Mr. Coaxner confessed to Jannett. “But the level of excitement to learn about the history and roots of these songs from the Honors Choir
enhanced my - and hopefully everyone else’s - experience.” Nothing says ‘Black culture’ more than comradery; treating people one has just met with the same love and respect as if they were his biological family. Our guests definitely embodied this important principle when they each embraced both of us after the assembly. They welcomed us to stop by their church at any time, and upon their departure, they shared their words of wisdom for the future. “You’re going to do great,” Mr. Mack encouraged. “You’re going to do great!”
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e would like to say a very special thank you to Ms. Tamisha Chestnut for putting together this amazing event. We think we speak on behalf of the school when we say that you are greatly appreciated for the work that you did On February 3rd, and the work you continue to do every day. We are definitely looking forward to seeing what you do for our community next.
Advanced Orchestra CAMPBELL WEPPLER ‘25 AND ELIZABETH RICCIO ‘22 Advanced Orchestra is one of the most highly regarded classes at Ursuline. Ms. Gentry, who holds a B.A. from Albion College and a M.A. from NYU, is the fantastic teacher of this extra-curricular class. Elizabeth Riccio and Campbell Weppler had the pleasure of sitting down with Ms. Gentry to discuss this class. Ms. Gentry has always had an interest in music, her first instrument being the piano, and while her high school did not offer an orchestra program, she enrolled in band and all the music classes she could. She participated in jazz ensemble, marching band, and the concert band. Now, Ms. Gentry plays almost 15 instruments, including but not limited to the ukulele, saxophone, obo, viola, and a bit of guitar. Advanced Orchestra meets at 8 a.m. on Wednesday mornings, and while it meets outside of typical TUS class times, students receive grades, must enroll in the subject like a class, and attendance is mandated. Ms. Gentry enjoys the class very much, enjoying the opportunity to teach students from all backgrounds, exposing them to the wonders of the musical world. Since this is an advanced level course, students get to enjoy radical compositions with fast beats and rhythms and many instruments playing Pope at once. Ms. Gentry often finds herself getting lost in the music and getting way too excited with the Photography students, throwing many curve balls at them throughout the course of the school year. Ms. Gentry refers to remote learning as one of the hardest parts of her job, trying to wrangle so many different kinds of instruments and students at the same time. This has proven to be almost impossible because when everyone unmutes to play, chaos ensues. Ms. Gentry assures everyone that they are never too young or old to play an instrument and everyone is always welcome in her classes, so try it out, it might be fun, and you might find a passion in yourself that you never knew existed!
Course Spotlight: Intro to Psychology ANNA GAYER ‘23 Do you know the meaning behind or personal connection to your name off the top of your head? I definitely did not until we switched over into the second semester, and my A period class became “Introduction to Psychology.” I must say that I had some apprehension about the course. I did not know what we would be talking about or how much work the new class would require. However, I knew from the first few minutes of class that Psych was going to be an enriching and enjoyable part of my second semester. We spent a lot of time talking about names: our names, the legacy surrounding family names, the names celebrities seem to invent for their children, and the possible stereotypes surrounding notorious names like Karen or Chad. I had never stopped to consider how every name is associated with certain characteristics, yet diving into those hypotheses and comparing the findings to my own name was definitely intriguing. I am already excited for the frontiers we will explore in this class, learning more about ourselves and the world we live in. Intro to Psychology is taught by different teachers here at TUS every year, and my particular class is taught by the fabulously energetic Ms. Geller, with whom I met outside of class to discuss more about the course and what’s coming next. Each teacher structures their syllabus slightly differently; there are so many elements to psychology, even though the class is only one semester. Ms. Geller’s class is heavier on social psychology because she believes so much of it is applicable in our day to day lives. She explains that there is a unit on groups and stereotypes to help her students make sense of the way people interact with each other, especially with college on the horizon. These conversations can also translate to our society - whether a movie was made in the 1980s or the 2010s, the stereotypes with which they characterize students remain the same. How come that happens?
Ms. Geller told me that her class focuses on “what makes you you, with an emphasis on personality.” In this post-pandemic time, a huge issue for teenagers is mental health. Learning about anxiety or depression and raising awareness for these serious issues is crucial. She also emphasizes that psychology is important because it is involved in every aspect of our lives - managing stress, the types of learners we are, the way we interact with others, and how we understand our own emotions. I would highly recommend this interesting and upbeat class!
Top 10 Trader Joe’s Valentine’s Day Treats! BY: MORGAN ADAMSON ‘25 AND NOELLE NEVIN ’23 Chocolate Passport - An adorably packaged box of eight single-origin dark chocolate bars, each with beans grown and produced in a different country. Decorated in brightly colored wrapping and interesting graphics indicating the chocolate’s origin, these are the perfect gift for any chocolate or travel lover! Belgian Chocolate Hearts - Perfect for chocolate lovers out there, this box of sweet chocolate hearts contains milk chocolate hearts filled with praline filling. This box is ideal for your gift to someone sweet or for yourself while watching some rom-coms! Gummy Xs and Os - The classic Valentine’s treats are back! These chewy, cherry treats will feed your sweet tooth and make the cutest gift for someone special. Like most Trader Joe’s products, the gummies are also kosher and gluten-free, perfect for everyone to enjoy this Valentine’s Day. Chocolate Heart Mousse Cake - This cake filled with dark, rich, and creamy chocolate mousse is delectable and just the right amount of chocolate and mousse for a Galentine’s day party. It’s so good though that you might need to buy two! Raspberry Rose White Chocolate Bar These rose-shaped chocolate bars are not only beautiful, but they are delicious too! With a hint of raspberry flavoring, they become the
perfect addition to a Valentine’s gift basket or to enjoy during a Galentine’s party with your friends! Raspberry Hearts - For the baked good lovers out there, or someone who just needs a break from all the Trader Joe’s candies they’ve been eating all Valentine’s Day, these Raspberry Shortbread Cookies are just the thing you’re looking for. With delicious raspberry jam put between two perfectly baked heart-shaped shortbread cookies, what could possibly be made better? This treat is perfect for your valentine, as a gift to bring to the friends and family your love, or to just save as a gift to give to the person you should love the most - yourself! Strawberry Yogurt Os - This delicious heart shaped yogurt cereal snack is the perfect breakfast snack to start your Valentine’s day morning off right. With low sodium strawberry cereal covered in strawberry yogurt, this is a perfect amount of sweet to start your day or candy-eating with. Jelly Bean Hearts - These Trader Joe’s Jelly Bean Hearts are made for the true candy lovers with the biggest sweet tooth. Tired of all the chocolate and baked goodies everywhere? Try these delicious black currant, cranberry, strawberry, and coconut heartshaped jelly beans. Made with high-quality flavoring, these jelly beans are great for any
Valentine’s basket and are to die for. Raspberry Mousse Cakes - Similar to the Chocolate Mousse Cakes above, these cakes with raspberry-flavored mousse are to die for. With a vanilla cake bottom, raspberry mousse center, and topped with raspberry melted candy, they are truly perfect for those who love baked goods that are on the sweeter side. Valentine’s Day Cards - For only 99 cents, you can brighten the Valentine’s day of your loved ones with a sweet, thoughtful card. Trader Joe’s has a year round selection of cards, but the holiday options are particularly adorable and have really pretty covers!
Galentine’s Day BY ALANNA GALLO ‘22 Whether or not you’re in a romantic relationship, on February 13, you can still celebrate the platonic love in your life by celebrating Galentine’s Day! On Galentine’s Day you can celebrate the friendships you have in a multitude of different ways and show your gals how much you love them. The term, “Galentine’s Day,” originated in a 2010 episode of television series Parks and Recreation. In the episode, main character Leslie Knope defines Galentine’s Day not only as “the best day of the year,” but as a day where “ladies celebrate ladies, minus the boyfriends.” Although, the hyperfixation of romantic relationships during the season of Valentine’s Day can be challenging to some, it is arguably one of the best holidays. This is because it allows for expression of love and creativity with boundless amounts of candy. However, Valentine’s Day can also be incredibly exclusive to those who are not in committed relationships. Therefore, Galentine’s Day is a perfect solution as it allows people a day to celebrate their loved ones and show appreciation for the platonic relationships in their lives. So, if you are looking to celebrate and treat your loved ones, Galentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity for you! Some suggestions for a memorable Galentine’s Day are going out to dinner with your friends, having a movie night, getting your nails done, or baking various heart-shaped treats. So, this year, don’t forget to celebrate your best friends and the long lasting bonds you have. There’s always room for a day just for your galentines, a day to cherish the relationships that run deeper than romance.
Rom-Coms BRIGITTE RAPILLO ‘22
Hello Everyone! For this issue of the Unison, I’ll be presenting a few of my favorite rom coms, right on time forValentine’s Day. Here they are: Enchanted (2007): A whimsical fictional romance with a modern twist... If you are passionate about fictional fantasies and whimsical stories, Enchanted is the perfect film. This fairy tale takes place in Andalusia, where Giselle lives and becomes infatuated with the attractive Prince Edward. However, his evil stepmother loathes Giselle and decides to send her away to a place without a happily ever after, New York City. In the heart of New York, Giselle encounters Robert, a divorce lawyer, who comes to her rescue. This heartfelt romance is filled with many surprises and conveys how Giselle finds her true love. My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997): A love triangle and a mission… If you are looking for a rom com filled with drama and unexpected outcomes, My Best Friend’s Wedding is the perfect choice. The film conveys the story between two childhood friends known as Julianne Potter and Michael O’Neal. In their younger years, they made a pact to marry each other by twenty-eight if they were both single. Though, Michael surprisingly announces his engagement to his fiancée Kimberly just a few days before Julianne turns 28 years old. After hearing the news, Julianne realizes she is in love with her best friend and must find a way to stop the wedding. Despite all her efforts, her success is challenged through the movie as Kimberly chooses Julianne to be the maid of honor at the wedding. Watch to find out if Julianne ends up with Michael! Move Over Darling (1963): A classic old fashion love with a good laugh… If you enjoy classics and having a good laugh, Move Over Darling is a great selection. This film features the infamous James Garner and Doris Day. Nicholas Arden’s wife Ellen, has been absent and is challenged to move on. He accepts the fact that she must have died in a plane crash and moves on. Bianca Steele marries Nicholas a few years later, but suddenly, Ellen returns! She was saved from an island where she was stranded. Once she hears the news of her husband’s marriage, she tries to bring her life together again due to being lost at sea once the plane crashed. This movie is simply intriguing, humorous, and quite amazing!
Valentine’s Day Self-care BY ANNA BRODY ‘22 Whether you’re single, dating, or in the dreaded “situationship” this Valentine’s Day, it’s always important to take your mind off of the chocolate-covered strawberries and a dozen roses and enjoy some selfcare. So, here are a few self-care tips to enjoy this Valentine’s Day: Hang out with your Galentines - Who says you need a significant other to have a memorable Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to show the people around you just how much you value their presence in your life. If you’re an extrovert, like me, enjoy a Galentine’s Day dinner out on the town this Valentine’s Day and celebrate the amazing friends in your life. Another option is staying in and cooking your Galentines a Valentine’s Day themed meal. I suggest heart-shaped ravioli with sparkling apple cider for the perfect dish! Pamper yourself! - Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to indulge in a spa day. You can treat yourself to a relaxing facial or massage at spas in your area, or you can do it at home. Some of the best ways to destress and pamper yourself this Valentine’s Day are to draw yourself a bubble bath or do face masks and unwind with your favorite movie and a treat in hand. Buy yourself a box of chocolates, or two! - In other words, treat yourself! No one knows you better than you do. If you have been eyeing a new fuzzy blanket or even a comfy pair of sweatpants, Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat yourself. If you want
to distance yourself from the material items, Valentine’s Day is also a perfect opportunity to cook yourself your favorite meal or take yourself out on a “date” to your favorite restaurant. Unplug from social media - Valentine’s Day, for some, can be a day that brings incredible jealousy, or even sadness. People often use Instagram or Snapchat as a way to show off their relationships, which can be triggering for those who may not be in the same situation. So, if you do have a Valentine, be mindful of the incessant posts on your social media accounts. I am not saying you can’t show gratitude for your significant others through Instagram, but constant “story” posts can be damaging to people who may feel alone on Valentine’s Day. In fact, for both the single and the “taken,” unplugging from social media on Valentine’s Day will give you the opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones, whether or not you are romantically involved. During this holiday, the most important thing to remember is that you must love yourself before you can share that love with another person. Searching for validation in other people will not make you happier, but rather leave you constantly searching for love in the wrong places. As wonderful as a handwritten card and an oversized pink teddy bear may sound, I encourage you to be your own Valentine this year.
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Love at First Bite BY: KAYLA ANN JOHNSON ‘22 Showing love to others is a selfless act. You could make a card for someone you love, and they would be happy because it’s the thought you put into it. It doesn’t matter how much it cost; greater cost doesn’t equal more love. Another thing people love is when you bake sweets for them. Valentine’s day is around the corner, and the best way to show love to someone without buying them expensive jewelry is baking something for them or even baking together. I did research on 4 Valentine’s recipes that are easy and quick to make:
Strawberry Chocolate Mousse Ingredients: q q q q q q
6 oz dark chocolate, 72% is best ½ cup low-fat milk 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 pinch salt 1 cup greek yogurt 8 strawberries
Preparation: 1. In a small saucepan, heat milk on medium-low heat until scalding around 180˚F (82˚C). Do not boil the milk. 2. Pour hot milk over chocolate. 3. Add vanilla and salt. Let it stand for 3 minutes to soften. 4. Whisk together until fully incorporated. Let cool. 5. Add yogurt. Whisk together until fully incorporated. 6. Layer chocolate in the bottom of 2 cups followed by strawberries. Repeat until the glasses are full. 7. Enjoy!
Instant Pot Creme Brulee Ingredients: q q q q q q q
7 large egg yolks 6 tablespoons granulated sugar, plus 6 teaspoons, divided 2 cups heavy cream 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 cup water fresh berry, for garnish
Preparation: 1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and 6 tablespoons of sugar until well combined. 2. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Warm to 165°F (75°C), whisking occasionally to prevent a film from forming on top. Remove the pot from the heat. 3. Temper the egg yolk mixture by pouring a small amount of the warmed cream mixture into the yolks and whisking to combine. Repeat with 3 more small additions, then mix in the remaining cream. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a large liquid measuring cup with a pour spout. 4. Pour cream mixture into 6 1oz. ramekins, filling each about ¾ of the way. Release air bubbles on the surface by gently tapping with a spoon. 5. Cover each ramekin tightly with aluminum foil. 6. Pour the water into the Instant Pot, then set the ramekins inside. Pressure cook on low pressure for 13 minutes. Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes, then release the remaining pressure. Carefully transfer the ramekins from the Instant Pot to a wire rack to cool slightly, about 20 minutes. 7. Chill the crème brûlées uncovered in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight. 8. When ready to serve, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar evenly on top of each crème brûlée. Using a kitchen torch, brûlée the tops for about 1 minute each, or until sugar begins to bubble and turn dark golden brown. Let crème brûlée sit for about 5 minutes before serving. 9. Garnish with berries of choice, then serve. 10. Enjoy!
The History Behind All The Hearts SARAH BRANNIGAN ‘24 It has become second nature to see all of the Christmas decorations hauled away and replaced by an aisle full of chocolates and roses on December 26th. The smell of milk chocolate mixed with the scent of freshly cut roses would make anyone want to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but have you ever wondered where this commercialized holiday came from? The exact origin of this holiday is unclear, but there are many legends. Some historians believe that Valentine’s Day has its origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia. The festival, which was held in midFebruary, celebrated the coming of spring. There, men and women became couples when their names were picked from a lottery. Towards the end of the fifth century, Pope Gelasius I banned the celebration of Lupercalia and is often attributed to replacing it with Valentine’s Day. Other experts believe that Valentine’s Day originated from Saint Valentine, who refused to give up Christianity. Saint Valentine was martyred on February 14, 269 A.D. Legend has it that Saint Valentine sent his daughter a letter before he died that was signed, “From Your Valentine.” The uncertain origins of the holiday have clearly not halted any of the Valentine’s Day celebrations over the years. I hope your February 14th is warm and full of all things chocolate!
Lunar New Year GEORGINA GAMBLE ‘25 To most, February is only relevant to the countdown to Valentine’s Day. However, the first of the month began a fifteen-day long celebration of new beginnings and prosperity. This is known as Lunar New Year, which is an important occasion celebrated in East-Asian and Southeast-Asian cultures. This celebration is infamously known as the Lunar New Year from Chinese culture, and it is called Seollal in Korean or Têt in Vietnamese. This is known as the tradition of welcoming success and happiness into one’s life, and it is something that will never be forgotten. Lunar New Year takes place on the first moon at the end of January. This celebration lasts for fifteen days up until the next full moon arrives. The two weeks are spent by taking time to not only spend with family but also to honor ancestors who have passed, though individuals who celebrate this event even worship their heavenly deities as well. An important aspect of the Lunar New Year is the twelve zodiac animals. The Lunar calendar annually represents a different animal such as a rooster, ox, or even a dragon. Each animal represents a unique meaning for the new year and is associated with one of the five elements. This aspect helps strengthen the meaning and ideal goal each individual has for the year ahead of them. In 2022, the Lunar calendar represents the water tiger; this animal comes every sixty years! The water tiger clears evil to make way for bravery, though it also represents anything action-oriented and strong. The Lunar New Year in China is associated with cleanliness because it’s believed to remove unwanted spirits and make room for good luck. Fish is the symbol of prosperity and is a traditional food
prepared during the Lunar New Year. There are moon-shaped rice cakes and dumplings with coins which bring good fortune as well. This beautiful and annual tradition known as Lunar New Year is very exciting! We were able to enjoy the many Lunar New Year decorations in the cafeteria and common spaces. Thankfully, the Mandarin Club put these decorations together with a goal to welcome good luck and togetherness in our school community! Let’s aim to make this year a time of strength and success by representing the water tiger!
The Ursuline Varsity A Basketball Team AGNES SHILLUE ‘24
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The Varsity A basketball team here at Ursuline, coached by Beth Wooters and Coco Lefkowitz, has dominated the high school girls basketball field for quite a while with a winning streak of 44 games across three seasons. This winning streak was broken on January 15th with a tragic loss to Tappan Zee high school. Tappan Zee had been undefeated this season, with 18 straight wins until February 15th when Ursuline had a chance to play them again and made the most of it. The Ursuline team reclaimed the title of number one high school girls basketball team in Section 1 of the NY State Public High School Athletic Association. Megan Casey, a senior on the team, was named player of the game by Lohud Sports with 17 points. She will continue playing basketball in college at Binghamton University. Two other members of the team have committed to colleges: senior Ciara Croker and junior Sofia Santorelli, they will be playing for Marist College and Florida Southern College, respectively. Sophie Nascimento, who won Lohud player of the week recently, made 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 steals. She is one of three freshmen on varsity A, along with Olivia Allegratti and Catie Croker. All three ursuline basketball teams have been incredibly successful and will continue to play as hard as possible.
Sustainability Initiative CAROLINE BRODY ‘22 AND MARY WROTNIAK ‘22
Our world is facing severe degradation of its precious ecosystems, largely due to overconsumption of natural resources and climate change. Maggie Gordon, a senior here at Ursuline, is taking important measures, both in her personal life and within the Ursuline community, to halt these harmful environmental practices through living sustainably. Even as a young child, Maggie was bubbling with curiosity. Because of this, she spent hours outdoors exploring the natural world around her, developing a strong love and appreciation for the environment. This love continued to grow as she did. However, growing up also came with a greater consciousness about how the world she loved so much was being battered by climate change. She understood that the unnatural weather events constantly occurring around her were caused by a changing climate. These agonizing
reminders of inevitable deterioration have done nothing but motivate Maggie to do her part in solving the climate crisis through integrating sustainable habits into her lifestyle and educating both herself and her community on climate change. This ultimately led Maggie to help in the creation of the Environmental Club at TUS. As president, she has led initiatives such as the Mascara Wand Project. This initiative saw the recycling of mascara wands to help care for and treat animals, which helped keep more plastic out of landfills. In order to combat this issue our planet faces, Maggie has some simple tips for how we can all live more sustainably. First, you know the awesome new salad bar? Make sure that when you finish a salad, the container is thrown into a recycling bin, not a garbage bin. This ensures that the plastic is reused and doesn’t rot in a landfill. Also, this doesn’t just apply for salad bowls; make sure that all plastic you use goes into a recycling bin. Second, bringing a reusable water bottle to school is one of the easiest ways to lessen plastic use. Plastic water bottles often end up in oceans, lakes, and other wildlife habitats, destroying natural ecosystems. When you drink from a reusable water bottle, you reduce waste and keep animals out of harm’s way. Finally, Maggie recommends decreasing your meat consumption. When you eat more vegetables and less meat, you reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Ultimately, Maggie wants everyone to remember that there is only one Earth, and she hopes that we are more considerate of how we treat it.
Senior Perspective: College Experience JULIETTE THOMAS ‘25 While most of the Ursuline community focuses on having a successful fresh start to the third quarter, the class of 2022 can only think about one thing: college. Throughout the last two school years, seniors have fished through hundreds of brochures and emails to find their perfect school. After making some nearly impossible decisions, they changed their focus to what they consider to be the most stressful part of the college process: meeting application deadlines. Now, most seniors are anxiously waiting to hear back from their dream schools and to see where the future takes them. While the college search is known to be an incredibly difficult process, the pandemic brought about many additional challenges. One major obstacle was that most colleges weren’t allowing visitors to tour their schools. For many students, a major factor in deciding what school they would like to
attend is whether or not they feel comfortable on the campus. With the exception of a few colleges, this was not an option. While the lack of tours this year will make decision-making all the more difficult, a recent poll showed that most Ursuline students knew what they wanted to major in. Many expressed that having a general idea of what they wanted to do was extremely helpful in narrowing down the long list of colleges that they wanted to apply to. Congratulations to all Ursuline seniors for showing their determination during this stressful time!
Service Projects at Ursuline ANNA AUSANIO ‘22 AND LILY BEECHINOR COLLINS ‘23 The Ursuline School and its extensive global network holds service as a core value and places an emphasis on this virtue within the education of young women across the world. Here at Ursuline, service projects are always underway, and there are plenty of opportunities for students to get involved in helping others in our communities! Clubs like Alex’s Lemonade Stand, Environmental Awareness Club, A Say for the Children, and Warm Hands Warm Hearts are just a few that focus on giving back and helping those in need. This year, Ursuline has held food drives on Serviam Saturdays where people come to drop off canned goods and other food items that are donated to local soup kitchens and charitable organizations. Dozens of Ursuline girls are here at school on weekends with Social Action Coordinator, Ms. McDermott helping load buses and vans with food and writing cards for the elderly who are living in nursing homes. Mary Cinguina ’23, Olivia Luyando ’24, Samantha Barca ’24, and Maeve Ryan ’24 are wonderful members of our student body that help organize these events, and we are so grateful for their commitment to helping those in need! Ursuline volunteers also serve at HOPE Food Pantry on Fridays after school, an effort led by Olivia Goncalves ’22 and Lena Gilardi ’24. At HOPE, the Ursuline community helps package food items for the soup kitchen to distribute to those who need it most. In addition to this, TUS held a school-wide cereal collection to donate to HOPE Soup Kitchen in October 2021. An amazing team of faculty and students coordinated The Cereal Effect to help combat hunger. On February 5th, boxes of cereal were also collected during the Serviam Food Drive. After hearing about the tragedy of a Bronx apartment building fire which
killed 19 people, we gathered together to support those who lost everything. Maeve Ryan ‘24 led the collection of household supplies and other basic necessities for these families, and we hope that these donations would make recovering from this devastation a lighter burden to carry. More recently, for Catholic Schools Week, Ursuline hosted a silly sock day, where students could wear silly socks and donate a pair too. This initiative was arranged by the lovely Mrs. Crowley and Ms. Smyth. Our Ursuline Koalas helped organize the socks to be donated to local shelters on Serviam Saturday. The junior class is currently working on their service project. Every year, they get together to gather supplies for Nicaragua. Bill Evans came to talk to the junior class and was very informative. He heads Connecticut Quest for Peace. This organization works with others in Nicaragua to provide humanitarian aid in a variety of education, health care, arts, and microfinance initiatives. They mainly work with families and women and children. Bill has made a difference in these families’ lives including sending one kid to medical school who couldn’t afford it. This is a great opportunity every year for Ursuline to help out people in the world who need us. Look out for more information to come on how you can contribute. Lastly, in the spirit of the “Soup”er Bowl, the Ursuline Student Council, led by students Olivia Oshiro ’22 and Olivia Zerafa ’22 and faculty Mrs. Tenore and Mr. Fedeli, has planned a canned soup drive during the week of February 7th! There is always an embodiment of Serviam taking place at Ursuline, and we are so blessed to have incredible students, faculty, staff, and administration that are devoted to the principle of Serviam.
Midterm Cancellation Poll EMAN SHAKAIB ‘24 Preparing for exams can be a tedious task, especially if they are midterms, not knowing or remembering what topics to study or being unable to arrange a study schedule in the time allotted. Nevertheless, they are a helpful accumulative way to see where you are in time for finals. Originally, midterms were scheduled to be administered from January 13th until January 21st. This was tricky timing since everyone was just returning from virtual class and facing the end of the second quarter. This meant teachers were scrambling to get grades in and students had to manage a tremendous workload. However, Ursuline’s president, Dr. Melnyk, and principal, Mrs. Beirne, announced that midterms were canceled. Upon this, the student body of Ursuline was asked to fill out an anonymous four-question poll addressing their personal thoughts on the cancellation of midterms. An overwhelming 97.2% of 220 students that
took this poll felt stressed, unprepared, anxious, and worried prior to the cancellation of midterms. One student stated, “I felt super stressed with the workload I had from my classes and trying to study at the same time” and another said, “...I was extremely stressed, especially considering that we had been virtual for our review period and had not been given a true chance to review.” After discovering that midterms were canceled, 91.6% of 220 students said that they were relieved, happy, and grateful. One student said, “When I got that email [the email notifying parents, guardians, and students that midterms were called off] I felt so relieved and grateful that Ursuline had taken our mental health as priority.” However, some students felt that their tireless studying had gone to waste. “I was spending a lot of time studying for them, so I felt that was a waste,” said one student.
The rest of the poll consisted of: On a scale of 1-5 how prepared did you think you were for midterms IF they were not called off?s
Do you wish that the midterms were either kept or postponed?
220 responses
219 responses (One indicating not at all and five indicating you could take them in your sleep.)
EDITORS Lola Milazzo ‘22 and Madeline Donovan ‘23 MODERATOR Ms. Tenore
Unison
LAYOUT Mrs. LaBella PRINTING Mrs. Alzate THE URSULINE SCHOOL 1354 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10804 www.ursulinenewrochelle.org