Ursuline Academy Activities, Clubs and Honor Societies 2011-2012 AP biology test prep group: This is an extension of the AP biology class specifically focusing on test preparation. Open to: students currently enrolled in AP biology Meeting: Thursday afternoon activity period Art Enrichment: This activity engages students in a relaxed open art studio atmosphere. Members are able to focus, explore new art media, increase their confidence and improve their skills while they fulfill a desire to make art. Open to: grades 9 and 10 (limited to 20 students per session) Meeting: Wednesday or Thursday during D block Open Art Studio: This is for students enrolled in art classes who need more time to complete or polish their work. Open to: any student enrolled in an art class (limited to 20 per session) Meeting: Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon activity period Ballroom Dancing: Members of this club will learn self-confidence, so that at a formal affair they are able to step onto the dance floor with assurance. They will learn the fundamentals of ballroom dancing and develop poise, grace and respect for others through the international language of ballroom dance. Meeting: Monday or Tuesday during activity period Bears Care: This group provides an opportunity for girls to develop 1 to 1 friendships with children and students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Members must demonstrate a high level of responsibility and be willing to commit to after-school and weekend activities. Open to: grades 10 through 12 Meeting: 2 nd Tuesday of the month during activity period Big Sisters: Each student is paired with a Big Sister who offers guidance and friendship to make the transition to Ursuline a smooth one. Open to: all students Meeting: as needed Book Club: The Book Club provides those who love to read an opportunity to meet to discuss/discover both new and old books and works of literature. During the meetings, students discuss the books they are reading and any other book-related news. Sometimes the club reads the same book and other times students choose their own book to share with the club. Open to: all students
Meeting: 1 st and 3 rd Fridays of the month during activity period Choral Group: This invitational group is a very important part of the monthly religious services. They gather to practice at various times during the school day and perform at numerous events throughout the year., by invitation Meeting: school days during break Current Events: This club discusses and debates world events. Members subscribe to the NY Times and prepare presentations on world issues, as well as view and discuss films of significance, such as An Inconvenient Truth. Open to: grades 10 through 12 Meeting: Tuesdays during activity period Diversity Club: The goal of the diversity club is to understand and accept everyone for who they are. This club is dedicated to universal respect, reaching out to those of different race, religion, nationality, appearance, family and financial status. We welcome all who are willing to explore and understand these kinds of differences and to encourage acceptance and tolerance. The entire community at Ursuline is invited and welcomed. Meeting: 2 nd Tuesday of the month during activity period Drama Club: This group of very talented young ladies who love to act, create, sing, dance and have fun presents two performances a year, winter and spring. Meeting: after school, various days as required Faith Formation: This group is open to members of the senior class who seek to deepen their relationship with God and grow in their faith. Open to: grade 12 by application (in the spring of junior year) Meeting: Wednesdays during activity period Fitness Club: The members of this group engage in weight training and exercise for a healthy lifestyle. Meeting: Wednesdays during activity period French Club: All students of the French language who are interested in the further exploration of the French language and culture are welcome to join this group. Meeting: 2 nd Fridays Glee Club: The Glee Club meets throughout the year in preparation for two performances: the Christmas Gathering and the Spring Arts Showcase. Any student who enjoys singing is encouraged to join. Meeting: Fridays during D period
Green Team: This is a club for students who are interested in helping the environment through waste reduction, reuse and recycling. Meeting: 1 st and 3 rd Fridays during activity period Humanities Club: This is an opportunity to be in touch with the arts in all forms. Monthly meetings consist of lectures or performances by artists who have achieved expertise in a variety of art forms: dance, music and painting, to name a few. In addition, the Club sponsors field trips and theatre nights. In the past, students have visited the MFA, the Harry Potter exhibit at the Museum of Science, toured Salem and Newport and have seen musicals such as The Lion King, Wicked and The Phantom of the Opera. All events are open to the entire Ursuline community. Meeting: 1 st Mondays Instrumental Music: The Ursuline Chamber Ensemble is made up of intermediate and advanced musicians in grades 7 through 12. The ensemble practices in the evening and performs at the Christmas Gathering and the Spring Art Showcase. (intermediate and advanced musicians) Meeting: one evening per week Library Council: Students in the Library Council provide assistance in the library. They check materials out, re-shelve books and assist students with informational needs and the copier. Special projects are undertaken each year under the direction of the school librarian. Meeting: during period D and afternoon activity periods Liturgical Dance: The Liturgical/Lyrical Dance group is composed of students with several years of ballet training and who are currently studying ballet. In addition to sharing their talents at Mass in liturgical dance, these young women perform lyrical dance at the Christmas Gathering and spring Festival of the Arts. with ballet training Math League: This group is open to any student enrolled in Algebra I through AP Calculus. These students compete in 6 contests over the academic year, in which questions are posed in non-traditional ways based on the math curriculum. Open to: students in algebra I or above Meeting: as announced during activity period Model UN: This is a group for students interested in developing a global perspective. The model UN members assume the role of ambassadors from UN member nations to debate current issues from the UN s agenda. Model UN requires a high level of interest in international affairs and willingness to research vital world issues. Meeting: Tuesdays during D period
National Honor Society: The National Honor Society recognizes ideals of scholarship, leadership, character and service. Students must achieve a high level of scholastic achievement to be considered for membership. A special induction ceremony is held each year to honor those who are invited to join. Open to: by invitation Meeting: Mondays during activity period as needed Newspaper: The Blazer is the Ursuline student newspaper, published 4 times a year. Girls in grades 9 through 12 may join as a formal activity, but every grade is encouraged to contribute articles, photos and ideas. Meeting: Fridays during activity period Peer Ministry: Peer Ministry is a working and committed ministry for God and others. This ministry involves a deepening of one s faith life, allowing the student to become a spiritual leader in the school community. Members are expected to participate actively and responsibly in the work of evangelization. Students are equipped by their facilitators to make intelligent, moral and creative contributions to the school and, hopefully, to the Church and the world. This ministry requires a very serious commitment of time, work, prayer and creativity. Open to: grade 12 by application Meeting: Tuesdays during activity period (until 4:30 PM) A greater time commitment is required as the year progresses. Robotics: The robotics club will introduce students to the design and construction of robots. Students will learn to build and program Lego Mindstorm robots which will be used to compete in local competitions. Students will be introduced to engineering concepts related to robot design and learn about careers in engineering. This club will be lead by engineers from Draper Laboratory in Cambridge. Social Justice in Film: This group meets each week to watch and discuss films of moral significance. The group decides which films to view and discuss and there are occasional field trips to a local theatre. (limited to 25) Meeting: the last Wednesday of the month during activity period Spanish Club: The Spanish Club offers girls in grades 7 through 12 a variety of opportunities to experience the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. Activities include celebration of traditional holidays, crafts, visits to restaurants, music, dance and occasional guest speakers. Meeting: 2 nd Fridays during activity period
Speech Team: The speech team is an eclectic, talented and enthusiastic group of young women who practice weekly and compete in many regional events. Experienced students on the team act as coaches for the newer students. Competitions are usually held on weekends. Meeting: Thursdays during D period Student Ambassadors: The members of this group serve their school by promoting it to interested young ladies and their parents. Ambassadors assist with various aspects of the recruiting process such as addressing invitations, giving tour during the annual Open House, representing their school at high school fairs, helping out at admissions receptions and welcoming new students into the Academy. Meeting: Thursdays during D block Student Council: This elective body is comprised of representatives from each grade level and a president and vice-president of the student body, elected school-wide. Weekly meetings, open to the entire school community, are held wherein students discuss issues and concerns with regard to student life. In addition, Student Council sponsors such activities as the Winter Dance, Spirit Week, Inner Beauty Day, the Purple and White Event, ski trips and the Christmas Assembly., by election Students Offer Service: SOS promotes the school s motto, Serviam: I will serve. Students promote and assist in school-wide service projects such as Mission Day, the Thanksgiving food drive, the Christmas clothe-a-child project and the Cinderella project. In addition, students have visited area nursing homes, worked for local food pantries and participated in Christmas in the City. Meeting: Mondays during activity period WUA News: WUA News is open to students interested in journalism, broadcasting, editing or video production. The goal of WUAN is to create interesting, informative content that will be posted to Youtube on Ursuline s WUA News page. The WUAN team meets one day a week and newscasts will be posted every two weeks. Meeting: Tuesdays during activity period Yearbook: The school yearbook, Olim, is published every year. The members of the staff assist in its design, content and layout. Meeting: Fridays during activity period