Unison
ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER 2024
Ring Day 2024
Ursuline’s most exciting tradition has once again come to a close. This past October, the Class of 2025 celebrated the long-awaited Ring Day 2024! The whole school was eager to celebrate the seniors and be present as they experienced their next big step towards graduation. Whether they have been waiting since freshman year, sixth grade, or any year in between, the unity and excitement which was shared amongst the seniors was incredibly vibrant and felt school-wide. The Class of 2026 worked tirelessly to transform the school into a Barbie Dreamhouse, and they did a fantastic job! For the entirety of Ring Week, the Ursuline School was a vivid pink wonderland.
Seniors began the unforgettable day with the Ring Day Liturgy, a tradition that allowed them to combine fun and faith, connecting them to their Ursuline sisters from the past. The celebrant, Father Byrne, gave them an inspiring message about their ability to spread God’s grace and concluded the ceremony by blessing all of the rings to ensure that their faith supports them throughout adulthood. As is custom, the juniors made their way to the Senior Path and lined up to make a bright yellow pathway to cheer the seniors on. Excitement was high in the
gym as students from all grades awaited the speeches, songs, and most importantly, cheers, that were to come. Dr. Melnyk beautifully reflected on the positive message which Barbie spreads to young girls in her speech, relating it to Ursuline’s mission: that young women can accomplish anything they put their minds to. Barbie was the perfect ring day theme for the Class of 2025 because it aligns strongly with one of Ursuline’s mottos to educate, inspire, and empower young women. The Senior Class Presidents, Bridget Merges and Cate Anderson, got the koala community into the full Ring Day spirit as they thanked the students and faculty who spent countless hours ensuring that Ring Day would be a special surprise for the Class of 2025 The crowd went wild as the sophomores and juniors debuted their Ring Day songs. The sophomores sang the mellow song “Drops of Jupiter” by Train, which was shortly followed by the upbeat “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” selected by the juniors as the perfect song to prepare the seniors to pass through the ring.
It was truly exciting to be involved in any aspect of the event – whether you made decorations, walked through the ring, or simply cheered the seniors on, the buzz on Ring Day was contagious for all.
GEORGINA GAMBLE ‘25 AND THERESA MONTANA ‘25
Pope Photography
Fall Recipes
KATIE KELLY ‘28 & CLEMEMTINE SWEENEY ‘28
As the leaves turn a thousand colors, the wind picks up, and pumpkin pie finds its way into your oven, fall sneaks its way around the corner right when you least expect it. To help you prepare for this vibrant, spooky season, try these three tasty desserts! You can taste autumn in every bite of these scrumptious recipes - so, if you want a wholesome, delicious fall season, keep reading!
Pumpkin Pancake Muffins
Nothing tastes better than homemade pancakes on a Saturday morning, or a warm muffin to munch on with your coffee. How about smashing these two classic breakfasts together, and throwing in a smidge of fall spice? Here’s a recipe for the ultimate fall breakfast – so that you actually have a reason to get out of bed on a cozy autumn weekend.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
½ teaspoon kosher salt
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 ½ tablespoons oil
½ cup canned pumpkin
Recipe:
• Whisk flour, baking powder, sugar, pumpkin spice, and salt in a bowl.
• Mix the eggs, milk, vanilla, pumpkin puree, and oil. Whisk together with dry ingredients but don’t overmix.
• Fill the greased muffin tin with the batter.
• Lastly, bake the muffins at 375°F for 22-25 minutes or until golden. Check that they are done by inserting a toothpick into the center.
Time to eat these tasty muffins.
Pumpkin Snickerdoodles
These flavorful cookies are great for a cozy fall night. Give this unique, scrumptious autumn recipe a shot! We promise you won’t regret it!
Ingredients:
1 cup unsalted butter, browned 2/3 cup pumpkin puree, dried
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
2 egg yolk
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Recipe:
• Preheat the oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Combine all the ingredients for the cinnamon sugar mixture. Stir and set aside.
• Place your 2/3 cup pumpkin puree on a thick paper towel and thoroughly dry it out (Tip: wrap it all up and squeeze out all the excess moisture).
• In a large mixing bowl combine the melted butter, blotted pumpkin puree and sugars. Whisk to combine.
• Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract and mix well.
• Add the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, salt, and spices. Mix until a soft dough forms and no streaks of flour remain.
• Use a 1 ounce cookie scoop to scoop out balls of dough.
• First, drop them in the cinnamon sugar mixture to evenly coat on all sides, then place about 2" apart onto the prepared cookie sheet.
• Bake the cookies for 10 to 12 minutes or until they have puffed up and are set on the edges but still under-baked in the middle. Do not over bake.
Chocolate-dipped Pretzel Rods
If you’re not in the mood to tackle a complex recipe or use the oven, these chocolate dipped pretzel sticks are the perfect solution! They take simplicity to a whole new level and are perfect for a Halloween party or any autumn event. The best part is that they barely take twenty minutes of your time, yet you are left with a dessert that looks like they came from your local bakery!
Ingredients:
Pretzel rods
Milk chocolate chips or melting disks
Candy sprinkles (optional)
Mini m&ms (optional)
Chopped peanuts (optional)
Recipe:
• Melt milk chocolate chips or melting disks in the microwave.
• Dip each pretzel rod about 3/4 of the way up in chocolate.
• Lay on wax paper lined baking sheets, lining up the rods but leave a little bit of space between them.
• Allow to settle a little, but not completely dry, otherwise the toppings won’t stay.
• Place your toppings (sprinkles, candy, etc.) on a paper plate and roll each pretzel rod in desired topping, or just sprinkle them on.
• Lay pretzels back on wax paper and wait for them to dry completely. You’re done! These look great displayed in a unique glass or mug.
Tomato Soup
There is nothing better than a rich, warm bowl of tomato soup on an autumn evening! Here is a delicious recipe that will easily become your fall comfort food - and would go great with a grilled cheese sandwich!
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, or 2 additional tablespoons olive oil
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
2 medium carrots, chopped
6 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 (28-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
3 cups water or vegetable broth
1½ cups full-fat coconut milk or heavy cream, plus more for drizzling
1 teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon sea salt, plus more to taste
Freshly ground black pepper
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Recipe:
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 8 minutes, or until softened.
• Stir in the vinegar, then add the tomatoes, water, coconut milk, thyme, red pepper flakes, salt, and several grinds of pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the carrots are tender.
• Scoop 4 cups of the soup out of the pot and set aside. Transfer the remaining soup to a blender. Puree until smooth. Return the pureed soup to the pot with the reserved 4 cups of chunky soup. Stir to combine and season to taste.
• Lastly, ladle into bowls and serve with a drizzle of coconut milk, a drizzle of olive oil, freshly ground black pepper, and fresh basil leaves for garnish. Enjoy!
Credits: https://www.loveandlemons.com/tomato-soup-recipe/
Cereal for a Cause: Ursuline Community Rallies for the Cereal Effect
As the early year celebrations come to a close, so too has the fourth annual Cereal Effect. The Cereal Effect is a yearly drive in which, as the name implies, students, faculty, and alumni donate cereal boxes to help combat local hunger. The highest-donating group gets a pizza party as a reward. These cereal boxes are donated to HOPE soup kitchen in New Rochelle where they are given to underprivileged families. The need for the Cereal Effect stems from the increased demand for breakfast food during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In the last four years alone, the costs for cereal have risen by 25 percent. According to the organization No Kid Hungry, an estimated 3 million children in America qualify for a daily school breakfast free of cost but do not
receive one. Luckily, Ursuline’s outreach network extends into different parishes. This year, 98 boxes donated to the drive were collected from the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a parish in Scarsdale.
This drive has had a significant impact on the community. Since being implemented in 2021, the school community has donated 8,707 cereal boxes to HOPE soup kitchen. This year was our best one yet as the Ursuline community crushed the quota of 2,500 boxes, donating 3,063 boxes total. This allowed HOPE to serve over 1,500 families and provide 1,200 children with approvimately three months worth of food. With enough support, we can be sure to donate even more next year.
CHLOE STELLA ‘28
Monsignor Keane’s Legacy
Since the Ursuline school’s founding, we have had a tradition of leading girls towards a better future through faith. An important part of this influence are the figures that have shaped the religious education here, but our celebrants at school masses, in particular, have had some of the greatest impacts. Monsignor Keane, former Chief Chaplin at the Ursuline School, has recently retired. However, the legacy he left will never be forgotten.
Keane’s dreams of being a spiritual leader have been prevalent since his childhood. He was inspired by his elementary school teacher, who was also a priest, and these ambitions solidified in high school. Keane taught for 15 years and eventually became a chaplain. In 1971, he finally became a priest and fully dedicated his life to God. He has ministered in churches such as Saint Gabriel and Annunciation and is currently a minister at the Church of the Holy Family.
He was invited by the famous Sister JB to say mass at the Ursuline School and has remained here for 45 years. Monsignor Keane describes the Ursuline community as warm, saying that the girls are kind and welcoming. He has helped many Ursuline students with their spiritual journeys over the years and has helped many people outside of the school community find their faith as well.
Keane describes his ministry as “following people through the important chapters of their lives.” Marrying people in happiness, comforting others in sadness, baptizing babies to help begin their religious journeys; Keane doesn’t fall short in being a beacon of support for the people around him. We are grateful for his many celebrations and liturgies at the Ursuline school, and we wish him well in the next stage of his life.
Teacher Spotlight: Madeline Hurwitz
Ms. Hurwitz is one of the many new teachers at Ursuline for the 2024-2025 academic year! Born and raised in Massachusetts, she is an English teacher with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Manhattan College. She also received her master’s degree from Oregon State University. Her favorite thing about living in Oregon was the scenery of Willamette Valley. However, she missed New York City and was happy to move back once she completed her degree. Before coming to Ursuline, she worked in marketing, and was an adjunct professor at Manhattan College where she taught English Composition as well as Professional Writing. Some fun facts about her are that she loves to cook, read, and spend time in nature
in her free time. She even has a cat named Mila who is a calico-Siamese mix. Currently, she teaches eighth and tenth grade English, with both courses having a focus on English Literature. Her favorite books that she is teaching this year are Macbeth by William Shakespeare, which will be read by her 10th grade students, and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, which is next up for her 8th grade students.
She is also the current moderator of the club that publishes our school newspaper, Unison. We are very lucky and happy to have her on our editing team!
We wish Ms. Hurwitz a great first year at Ursuline, and can’t wait to get to know her even more!
CAMILA NAPOLEAN ‘26, BLAKE WILSON ‘26
AVA ADVANI, MACY MCELFRESH, NATALIA KAUTZ ‘29
Pope Photography
Fall Drama Workshop 2024
September has come and gone, and another school year at the Ursuline School leaps into motion, and, with it, come some very special changes to student life. The advent of the new seven day cyclical schedule has presented many challenges that have forced all students and staff, new or returning, to explore different approaches to how they look at education and experience. It is ironic, therefore, and perhaps even fitting, that the TUS Drama Club is undergoing its own transformation. In place of the beloved tradition of the fall play comes a new addition to the club, rushing into the year with little fanfare to its name. The Fall Drama workshop is a departure from its more well-known and well-established cousins, yet it provides no better parallel to the 2024-25 school year. What can the audience and the club itself expect from this workshop?
In contrast to its predecessor, the mechanics of the workshop actually bear more resemblance to the TUS Cabaret than they do to the fall play. The fall workshop consists of several ten-minute scenes, juxtaposed by improvisational bits that are created by the students. The keystone of this experience, like TUS Cabaret, is student agency over the final product, especially when compared to a traditional fall play. “The students are working collaboratively with each other to put on short scenes, which means that they have a lot of say over how the scenes come together as the primary force behind them,” Ms. Kelly Gentry, a teacher in the Performing Arts department and director responsible for running the TUS Drama Workshop, comments in an interview. While the structure of plays usually involve a combined effort from both the cast and the crew to achieve a full narrative, collaboration between the actors and tech members begins much closer to the show, about two weeks prior to the opening night. Up until this point, workshops are held separately for the cast and crew.
The result is that the cast is given dedicated time and attention toward experimentation with the structure of the upcoming performance, during which they can create their own scenes, receive feedback, and actively participate in designing the framework of the show, as opposed to being given a script and a set of costumes, props, lines, and scenes which they must adhere
to. The tech members, too, are afforded the opportunity for experimentation through the workshop. Students interested in the technical aspects of theater have the opportunity to learn about the light and soundboard systems, operate spotlights and microphones, and most importantly, design their own scenes from popular media sources. The lighting, backdrop, weight and distribution of props and set pieces, and sound mixing for each scene of a production are vital to its success, and TUS students are afforded the chance to manipulate, revise, and perfect each of these elements in a low pressure environment.
This freedom of expression gives the workshop its greatest advantages. “In the workshops, we interact with each other more than when we are part of a chain of command,” Hannah, a TUS student and member of the set design workshop, comments in an interview, “Our communication is better when we are all pitching in for the big picture.” Often beginning in their middle school years at TUS, new members must essentially “learn on the job,” swept into the busy tide of the creative process behind each production. There is very little room for personal experimentation, especially for young members who are interacting with a very unfamiliar and overwhelming environment. “I liked having the singular narrative of the fall play, but I find that the focus is spread more evenly between the tech and the cast with the workshops,” a cast member commented.
However, the loose structure of the workshop also lends to its greatest limitations. As the cast member pointed out in the interview, there are significant advantages to the aforementioned rigidity of traditional play productions. Though the fall play represents limitation, it also represents predictability. “People really like the set stories of fall plays, and prefer them. As fun as it is to explore this format, there are just more specificities with the play,” another cast member states in an interview, “However, I think it can still benefit us a lot to explore what people like, and see how people view the workshop moving forward.” The biggest reason for the uncertainty of the new TUS Drama workshops is the very fact that they are new. Every member of the club, from actors to lighting assistants to stage managers and directors, is exploring new avenues for the Drama Club, just as much as they are learning to operate spotlights or create dialogue. No one can truly attest to what the “big picture” will really become when the dust settles. The most important resource for the success of the workshop, and the determination of its place in the Drama Club, is time.
The new Fall Drama workshop production will come to the Ursuline stage on Thursday, November 21st at 4:30 PM, and Friday, November 22nd at 6:30 PM. The TUS Drama Club encourages the entire Ursuline community to support the club, and find out just what their children, students, friends, and classmates are capable of when they put their minds together!
OLIVIA STELLA ‘26
Koala-fied Victories!
On the field, on the courts, on the deck, the Koalas are on fire! In only the first season of the school year, the Koalas have pulled out some amazing victories from our swim and dive team, our soccer teams, volleyball teams, field hockey teams, and more!
Both our soccer teams are going for gold this year! Our varsity soccer team is a prime example of our athletic koalas in action. Just recently, they competed in the Section One Tournament against Clarkstown South, and even won their league championship! Special shoutout to the senior captains, Erin Schade, Anna Yapchanyk, and Claire Hickey, as well as Coach Ricardo, for leading these girls through a very successful season. Our JV and modified soccer teams just ended their seasons after many celebratory wins, and we look forward to another great season next fall. Not to mention, the cross country team got eighth place at the Westchester County Championships! We are so proud of our running Koalas and wish them luck at Sectionals.
CAOIMHE MCCARTHY ‘29
As we dive into more wins, it’s hard not to mention that the Ursuline swim and dive team is unstoppable this year. Whether it’s 50 meters, 100 meters, or relay events, they’ve got it covered! This season’s achievements include wins over Fox Lane, White Plains, and more. They recently celebrated seniors Taylor D’Auria, Kenzie Cashman, Caroline Hildebrant, Kayla Sessa, Maddie Medico, and Gemma Diego at a meet against White Plains. We wish them continued success as they progress through the rest of their season and pursue their future swimming and diving aspirations.
As we come to the end of the Fall 2024 season, we acknowledge that the players have given their all, showcasing skill, determination, sportsmanship and most importantly, the spirit to win. Here’s to a great close of our fall sports, and to an even better beginning of our winter season!
Flex Learning Time: A Student-Centered Revolution at The Ursuline School
BY: JASEMINA DEGA ‘26
Adding flex time to the schedule has been a complete game-changer for students. It allows them to plan time for themselves and help balance academic success with personal growth. A break from the structured and scheduled school day has finally given students an opportunity to take responsibility in how they plan out their day, thus managing their time even better and greatly reducing stress levels. One major positive for flex time is that it provides students an opportunity to catch up on schoolwork or meet with teachers. For instance, Ryan Spillane ‘26 said, “I have been catching up on any work that I have and meeting with teachers for any concerns during this period. I usually finish my homework in school during the day, so when I get home, I have more free time.” Too many students are struggling to balance school and extracurriculars with their social lives. Ryan added, “With flex time, I feel less stressed throughout the day, and I feel like I have more time for myself.” This adjustment in the school day has also resulted in more sleep for students as they no longer feel they are in a time crunch to complete assignments. The benefits for flex time
extend farther than simply staying on top of schoolwork. Free time has been proven to foster an environment of creativity and growth. With more free time, students can sit with the lessons they learned in their morning classes and help them synthesize their education in a way that works for them. Ryan adds, “The quality of my work is better because I’m really putting in effort rather than just rushing it to get it done before the deadline.” Furthermore, having free time during the school day allows students to participate in activities within school that make the day more enjoyable. There are many exciting events that go on at Ursuline, and having stress-free time to be involved in them is crucial in developing a strong, close-knit school community. On the whole, flex time has given students a new tool to regulate their time, allowing for a balance between academics and personal growth. It is very likely that this year, students will be more productive, have less stress, and be more involved in their education and school community. Flex time isn’t just to get homework done - it’s for building a well-rounded student ready for real-world challenges and academic success.
Pope Photography
Popular Halloween Costumes 2024
Halloween is the perfect time of year to show off your fashion skills, favorite characters, and the beloved pop culture hits of the year. Here are a sampling of the most popular outfits we saw during Halloween 2024!
Beetlejuice:
This year, a sequel to the original Beetlejuice (1988) came out and shocked everyone. Tim Burton’s spooky sequel includes actors such as Jenna Ortega, Michael Keaton, and more. This movie totaled 1.317 billion dollars as of September 23rd. This huge hit led to many people dressing up as characters from this movie for Halloween. Some popular costumes were Beetlejuice himself, Shrunken head, Lydia, Delia, Astra Deetz, and many more creative costumes.
Inside Out 2:
After nine long years, the sequel to Inside Out came out this summer. Many rushed to movie theaters to watch Inside Out 2 and view the exciting new emotions that entered the mind of the protagonist, Riley. These new emotions sparked ideas for Halloween costumes portraying emotions such as Anxiety, Embarrassment, Envy, and Ennui. Each of these emotions have their own unique colors, making dressing up as them very easy and recognizable.
Red from Descendants:
A fourth Descendants movie came out this year with a fiery new character: Red. The film was released on July 12, 2024 on Disney+, and made its debut on Disney Channel on August 9, 2024. Red, daughter of the Queen of Hearts, was loved by all and remembered by her outfits and her boldlycolored red hair. Many people of all ages decided to recreate her look for Halloween this year.
Sabrina Carpenter:
This famous American singer and actress was one of the top Halloween costumes this year. Ever since her new album Short n’ Sweet came out on August 23, this pop-singer has become a big hit! On Halloween, people dressed up as her by wearing a high, blonde ponytail with a navy and white dress and a full face of makeup. Many people, especially teenage girls, recreated this iconic singer on Halloween!
Minions from the new movie Despicable Me 4:
Following the release of the new Despicable Me movie on July 3rd, this hilarious movie received a lot of popularity, especially with younger audiences. Minions have always been a popular Halloween costume, but now due to the new movie, it was even more popular. Not only can people dress up as minions for Halloween, but they can also be other Despicable Me characters such as Gru or his three daughters.
ANNIE NUGENT ‘28 AND CHLOE STINEMAN ‘28
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Halloween Movie Watchlist 2024
ASHLING DOHERTY ‘26 AND CLAIRE MICHUAD ‘26
One cherished tradition during the spooky season is watching Halloweenthemed movies. From scary movies to childhood favorites, everyone enjoys watching at least one movie to put them in the Halloween spirit. Whether you want to be frightened or you want cozy fall vibes, there is a Halloween movie for you. There are so many to choose from, but here are the top 5 movies you should watch this fall:
Hocus Pocus
(1993)
Hocus Pocus is a classic Disney Halloween movie starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy as the iconic Sanderson sisters. Hocus Pocus follows Max Dennison, his little sister Dani, and his new friend, Allison, as they set free three witches after exploring an abandoned house in Salem, Massachusetts, on Halloween night. With the help of a talking cat, Max and his friends try to defeat the evil witches and save the town of Salem.
Rating: PG
Halloweentown
(1998)
In the movie Halloweentown, Marnie, a 13 year-old girl played by Kimberly J. Brown, discovers her mother’s secret when her grandmother visits on Halloween: she is a witch. Marnie, a curious teenager who wants to know more about her witchy heritage, follows her grandmother back to Halloweentown. There, she is challenged to help her grandmother in the difficult task of saving Halloweentown from the evil forces within.
Rating: TV-G
The Nightmare Before Christmas
(1993)
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a movie created by the famous Tim Burton. This movie regularly sparks debate, with many disputing its classification as a Halloween film. The movie follows Jack Skellington, mayor of Halloween Town, as he discovers Christmas Town. He soon develops an obsession with the new holiday and attempts to bring what he observed in Christmas Town to Halloween Town. Eventually, Jack is forced to realize that Christmas is not his holiday and that he should stick to Halloween.
Rating: PG
Corpse Bride
(2005)
Taking place in Victorian England, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride is about an arranged marriage between Victor Van Dort and Victoria Everglot. Victor, who is quite nervous about getting married, is practicing his vows when he is sucked into the Land of the Dead by a spirit named Emily. Victor finds himself trapped in the Land of the Dead but is still madly in love with Victoria. Victor decides he must find a way back to the Land of the Living in time to marry Victoria, but it seems the task won’t be as easy as he anticipates.
Rating: PG
Scooby Doo: The Movie
(2002)
Starring Matthew Lillard, Sarah Michelle Geller, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Linda Cardellini, Scooby Doo: The Movie brings the iconic cartoon to life in this live action film. After a bitter break up, the members of the Mystery Incorporated gang are individually requested to come to Spooky Island, a horror-themed resort and hot vacation destination. Here, they are asked by the new owner, Emile Mondavarious, to investigate what he believes to be a demonic curse that has fallen upon his guests. Will the Scooby gang be able to solve the mystery? Watch this great move to find out!
Rating: PG
Family Traditions at TUS
The Ursuline School is known for its traditions, and while many of them center around fun and enrichment for the girls, there are two main events each year that involve the parents. The parental traditions week, which just so happens to correspond with ring week, starts each year on Sunday morning with the mother-daughter Communion breakfast, an event where mothers and daughters come together for a Mass celebration and a breakfast. This year, the motherdaughter Communion breakfast was hosted at Marina Del Rey. At this gathering, the senior quilt was presented, the chamber choir sang, girls across all grades enjoyed plenty of treats and tasty breakfast foods, and everyone took photos with their friends.
The week always ends with the father-daughter dance on Friday night. On October 25th, Ursuline girls and their fathers dressed up in formal attire and made their way to the Westchester Marriott. Here they enjoyed dancing, a three course dinner, and a build-it-yourself ice cream bar! This year continued the tradition of the seniors being honored at the event; each senior called into the ballroom while being escorted by their fathers. The father-daughter dance was filled with excitement and laughter. It is sure to be a memory that will last a lifetime. It was a lovely end to the week of fun-filled activities!
MADELINE ALAIMO ‘25 AND MAGGIE HYLAND ‘26
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From Paper to Pixels: How is Ursuline Handling College Board’s Digital Shift?
BY MADISON CONOLLY ‘26
In the 21st century, technology is starting to reshape many aspects of education, and Ursuline is at the forefront of this digital transformation. Now, also following this digital revolution—accelerated by the challenges of COVID— College Board has begun to move exams online. This year, Ursuline and its students are preparing for more exams to make this switch. How are the school and its students preparing for this exciting new era in learning?
Founded in 1900, College Board was created with the purpose of giving students access to higher education while still in high school. AP classes, or Advanced Placement classes, began in 1952 with many of the core classes like Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, History, along with languages like French, German, Spanish, and Latin. The classes offer an exam at the end of the course that can earn a student a college credit at certain institutions if she earns a passing score.
Here at Ursulinel, 19 Advanced Placement courses are currently offered. In 2024, 91% of Ursuline examinees scored a 3 or higher.
Following COVID, schools all around the country were forced to quickly test out ways to continue education while in lockdown. In a hurry, many AP Exams which had always been on paper were converted to online exams.
This happened at Ursuline with the AP Italian class taught by Mrs. Delucia. Mrs. Delucia has taught AP Italian for 6 years. Due to COVID, she states, “They were only allowed to take the speaking part, and there was no written part so it was harder because they missed one part of the exam.” She believes that it may have caused some students to struggle as they may have been stronger in the writing portion rather than the speaking. Due to this, the Italian department has begun to put more of an emphasis on speaking to allow students to be more
well versed in both writing and speaking Italian.
While the A.P. Italian exam at Ursuline has returned to paper, and the College Board has begun to move many exams online. According to College Board, students who take AP exams online can expect quicker results and more interactive features that can better showcase their understanding. At one point when questioned, the College Board stated “Accelerating the digital transition will help us preserve the integrity of the AP exam experience for students and educators”.
A.P. United States History teacher Christopher Talarico has been teaching A.P.U.S.H. for eleven years, including two years at Ursuline. He says that though teachers are not yet fully aware of how the exam will be formatted, he has been attempting to prepare his students to continue using the same important skills but helping his students to begin learning to apply them without having a physical copy to mark. He states “I feel as if there is enough infrastructure here that it won’t be an issue, and that all of you, for the most part, have enough access to laptops and electronic devices where I don’t necessarily think there will be any issues.” However he does voice his worry for schools who are in areas not as fortunate and up to date as Ursuline who may face issues with accessing online exams and resources.
Though Ursuline is prepared for the exam, students are more worried about what the actual look and set up of the exam will be. Many of them who have taken AP classes before are now worried about the changes that may occur to the exams that they are used to. With this, one student I interviewed, a junior at Ursuline stated, “I like annotating paper. It kind of helps with my dyslexia, and now I can’t.” While this concern about student needs being met is shared by many people at Ursuline and across the country, Ursuline teachers are preparing students for their exams to the best of their abilities.
Thanksgiving Word Search!
Bruce Beck’s Journey: Inspiring the Next Generation
BY: MIKEA BRAJOVIQ ‘25
When Bruce Beck visited Ursuline on September 19, he didn’t just talk about his impressive sports broadcasting career; he shared advice that inspired every student in the room. Bruce Beck is a well-known NBC sports broadcaster. Growing up in Livingston, New Jersey, Beck was an active studentathlete throughout high school. After graduating, he continued his education at Ithaca College. His hard work and dedication in those early years shaped him into the successful person he is today. Beck visited the Ursuline School to share his journey with the student body, offering insights from his long career. At the event, Beck’s enthusiasm for telling stories and being part of the sports world shone through. He said, “So if there’s one thing you take out of today’s session, it’s the impression you make with the smile, with the look, with eye contact. Try to be a good listener–being a good listener is so important.” His advice wasn’t just for future broadcasters; it was for anyone looking to make a difference. Beck emphasized that these small but powerful actions can leave a lasting impact on others. Beck’s visit wasn’t only about his career. He also came to help students grow by encouraging them to persevere through any challenges life throws at them. During the event, two students read news reports in front of the audience to demonstrate that even if mistakes are made, it’s best to keep going. Beck praised them for how well they handled their mistakes and nervousness. He
said, “Who can tell me the best thing she did during the presentation?” Someone answered, “She kept going,” Beck nodded in agreement. “You correct yourself in such a way that no one even notices it. You turn the negative into the positive.” Mr. Dapolite, who helped organize Beck’s visit, shared why he felt the presentation was so valuable. “We realized that so many of his tips and advice for young broadcasters relate to many other professions as well, so we decided to bring him back to Ursuline so he could meet the whole student body and teach skills that are applicable to many different professions and can be used in life in general.” Beck’s message has a wide impact, and his emphasis on confidence applies to all students no matter their interests. Beck’s connection with the Ursuline community goes beyond just one visit. His dedication to inspiring the next generation left a lasting impression on everyone who attended the event. His advice wasn’t just about becoming a successful broadcaster–it was about becoming a better person. Beck’s ability to make complex ideas simple and relatable is one the reasons his visit was so impactful. Whether students are interested in sports, broadcasting, or something different entirely, they could all learn something from his talk. He reminded everyone that success doesn’t come easy, but with passion and determination, anything is possible.