Winter 2010 Take Note LETTER CONTENTS from the Letters from Administration .................... 2-3 Academic Achievements ............................ 4-5 President The Arts ........................................................... 6-7 Serving the Community ............................. 8-9 Let me express my sincere thanks to all of you who Ring Day Celebration ....................................10 have made a contribution to the school during the past Salsa and Chips ...............................................11 fiscal year. Your generosity has allowed us to weather MSU Fall Events ...............................................12 the present economic downturn with a renewed spirit. The Ursulines have been most generous. Yet, 2010 Looking Ahead ................................................13 may still hold many unexpected surprises for our country. As a consequence, we remain Class Notes/In Memoriam ................... 14-15 vigilant and observant for any winds of change that may have a profound impact on our students, their families, and our school. Our attempts at cost cutting and increasing our enrollment remain our major objectives for the new year. ALENDAR We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded a second Taproot Foundation C grant to help us craft a marketing brochure that will appeal to foundations, donors, and prospective students. Ms. Vanessa Williams has graciously given us important Open House ........................................... Feb. 4th leads in music and drama circles to help us continue our efforts in promoting arts as an Grease Matinee ...............................Apr. 18th enhancement to our academics and service platforms. This is in addition to our existing partnership with the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s Urban Voices program. Alumnae Reunion at MSU ...............Apr. 24th (‘85 and earlier) Our young alums have responded with great enthusiasm in assisting with our Salsa and Chips success in November. They also held a phone-a-thon contacting those prospective Alumnae Reunion at The Pines .......May 1st students who attended our open house in October. It is great to see our young alums (‘95 - ‘05) willing to fill the shoes of those alums who have been faithful, extremely generous, and Cinco de Mayo Raffle .......................... May 5th loyal to their alma mater. We attempted our first flea market in December and hope to Benefactor’s Breakfast ....................May 13th make it a yearly event. Commencement in MSU Chapel ��June 12th Our faculty continues to inspire. For the first time, our students had the opportunity to compete against another school in an academic competition on MSG Varsity. We won! It was broadcast on December 18th. We now have a budding guitar group. Our students garner praise for their step dancing prowess. The drawings and paintings of our Art ONTRIBUTORS Academy are among the best in the city. Our Liturgy Club uplifts our celebrations of C Mass. More importantly, our students are made aware of the importance of service and Fr. John A. Vigilanti, Ed. D. the needs of the global community, as instilled by the Ursuline tradition. On December President 7th we had a school assembly on human trafficking sponsored by our National Honor [email protected] Society and reinforced by a presentation from one of the members of the New York State Assembly.Our 2009 graduates garnered $4.4 million in scholarships, evidence of the Ms. Lisa Harrison academic standards that have been a part of the rich tradition of our school. Principal [email protected] Mrs. Anna Ramos It is interesting to note (and foundations now ask): how many graduates finish college Director in four years? We are proud to say that in a recent survey of our graduates (1995-2006) Development/Alumnae Relations 73% finished college in four years, a further 17% finished in 5 years, and 5% finished in [email protected] less than four years! Miss Natasha Alejandro ‘03 As good neighbors we now host the local Methodist congregation in our cafeteria on Development Associate Sunday. A new sign, donated by an alum, will grace our property between Bedford Park [email protected] Blvd. and Bainbridge Ave., proudly announcing our location for those not familiar with the school. The walkway between Bainbridge and the school has been replaced, bordered Ms. Cecilia Granda ‘99 Public Relations Associate/Webmaster with new evergreens and flowers. The first residents of Fordham Bedford's affordable [email protected] housing project, Serviam Gardens, have become our new neighbors. Added to this, we have transitioned to a new uniform for the students that is cheaper for parents, clean in Mrs. Margie O’Reilly appearance, easier to maintain, and safer for our students on public transportation. Assistant to the President mo’[email protected] Thank you for your continued interest in the Mount. I thoroughly enjoy meeting our alums in some of the most unlikely places and listening to their stories, as well as their concerns. If there are other issues or topics you would like to see included in Take Note, let us know. To have your news listed Sincerely, in the next issue of Take Note, please email [email protected] or fax to 718-584-1507. Fr. John A. Vigilanti, Ed.D. Ta k e N o t e - President Ta k e N o t e - MESSAGE GREETINGS from the from the Principal Director The start of a new At the beginning of this school year calendar year is a alumnae and friends attended two magical time for special events at the Academy of many, as it carries Mount St. Ursula. In October, MSU with it a renewed celebrated its 50th anniversary of the sense of hope- traditional ring day skate. Alumnae and the suggestion from the Class of 1960, who began of endless possi- the tradition, led alums from Poe bilities; The New- Park up the Grand Concourse to the Year’s allure is, in school. Approximately 200 alumnae evitably, in its im and family members participated in plication of a slate the event for a truly fun day for all! wiped clean and a path opened wide to a fresh and A little Latin spice was added to our fall fundraiser, Salsa and Chips, better start. in November with the addition of salsa lessons. With the help of the The renewed spirit of which Fr. Vigilanti speaks members of the Young Alumnae and Event committees, the Development in his letter is of a similar kind. Such optimism Office converted the auditorium into an entertaining room of dancing, is characteristic of the Mount St. Ursula school casino games, a 50/50 raffle (of nearly $6,000 in winnings) and an upbeat community, and is a testament both to its faith and to ambience for 120 guests. The night raised over $28,000 for MSU! The its tenacity. While the obstacles facing the school, its event was extremely successful because of the enthusiasm of all involved. stakeholders, and the larger community as a whole Events such as these would not be a success without the participation, are indeed many, we simply refuse to accept that generosity and hard work of our dedicated alumnae. It is because of you they are insurmountable. So we remain flexible. We our that MSU is recognized by so many outsiders as one of the most generous adapt. Most importantly, we carry on in these tough solid, college-preparatory curriculum, our diverse all-girl schools in the country. I can verify this since in the eight years I have times with the strength of our varied traditions: We must continue this upward artistic and cultural expressions, and our enduring been here our fundraising has doubled, even tripled some years because commitment to leadership and to service trend to keep MSU thriving for future young women who desire an educationof the generosity focusing of the on Ursuline Academics, Sisters. Arts and Service. , aspects of which are all so vividly described in Father’s letter. Fundraising at Mount St. Ursula continues to be strong. Currently, we are When I think of these circumstances in which we at 75% of our $1.5 million goal, with seven months remaining for the year. currently find ourselves, I am not disheartened. Not only is this a very positive beginning, as we are still experiencing a Instead, I am reminded of the words of J. Willard poor economy, but it is a testament to the importance MSU is in the lives of Marriott, a famous American entrepreneur: “Good so many. Your support is extremely important! We will be more aggressive timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the in reaching out to foundations this year. Over the next few months I will be wind, the stronger the trees.” We persevere. We are working on grants seeking program support and financial aid assistance. resilient. We are living proof that, in hard times, the We must try to reach out on all levels. spirit always prevails, and is all the better for having struggled. We thank you all, wholeheartedly, for your The students here are grateful for all your support. My wish is for a past and continued support of our school and its wonderful 2010 for all! If you have any ideas for the Development Office, critical mission. please feel free to contact me. Sincerely, Warm Regards, Lisa A. Harrison Anna Ramos Principal Director Development/Alumnae Relations -- 33 -- WinterWinter 20102010 Congratulations to Advisor Glenn Stordeur; seniors Adeola Okoduwa, Marian Guerra, Lucille Watkins, Alisha Roman and Kumhyun Song for defeating St. Barnabas high school on Friday, December 18th on the high school academic game show, “The Challenge.” Led by their advisors, Mr. Glenn Stordeur and Ms. Cecilia Granda, The team is preparing for the next round of competition. The shoot and cheered by fellow classmates, faculty and parents, the students date is scheduled for March 4th. The students ask that you keep them rose to the occasion and claimed a team victory for Mount St.