Ursuline Academy (Delaware)


Ursuline Academy is a private school in Wilmington, Delaware, which offers Early Childhood and elementary school for both girls and boys, Middle, and Upper school classes for girls. Established in 1893 by the Ursulines, it is run independently within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wilmington.

History

founded the Ursuline Order in 1535. Her mission was to educate girls and her goal became known throughout the world.
On July 31, 1893, the Ursuline Nuns arrived in Wilmington from Bedford Park, New York. Ursuline Academy was created when they succeeded the Visitation Nuns who, up to that time, had conducted a boarding and day school at another location. Students received a strict education along with training in the Fine Arts.
In 1926 the cornerstone of the present Ursuline Academy was laid.
In 1954, a new building was constructed to accommodate the Lower School classes. A major development program began in the summer of 1977. At that time, the Lower School Auditorium-gymnasium was converted into instructional areas. After a period of temporary use of the auditorium and gymnasium by all Ursuline students, a modern gymnasium complex was constructed for use by the Academy in 1979. In 1992, classroom additions were constructed adjoining the Upper School to accommodate Middle School students.
In the summer of 1994, the convent was renovated to accommodate the Fine Arts Center. The full name of this building is the Rollins Fine Arts Center.
The entire second and third floors of the Upper School were renovated during the summer of 2002. In the fall of 2002, the second floor science labs and third floor instructional areas opened. In addition, the third floor is the home of the Chapel of St. Angela, where students go for reflection and prayer. Also in 2002, the Academy purchased the former Christian Scientist Church adjacent to the campus. The building is now Ursuline Academy's Performing Arts Center. Not to be confused with the Rollins Fine Arts Center, the Performing Arts Center is the location of some school masses and performances.

Location

Ursuline Academy is located in the Cool Spring and Tilton Park section of the West Side of Wilmington.

Academics

Montessori
The hallmark of the Montessori Method is individualized instruction using concrete materials designed to be sequential and to relate to other materials in the classroom.
Kindergarten
A curriculum for kindergarten children would include open-ended Language Arts, reading skills, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and an appreciation of the arts, technology, and activities that focus on fine and gross motor skills. Pre-reading and language skills are taught through thematic units, which focus on phonemic awareness and children's literature.
Primary
A curriculum for primary children includes Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and an appreciation of the fine and performing arts.
Intermediate
A curriculum for intermediate girls includes Religion, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science, Foreign Language, and involves critical thinking, problem solving, higher order thinking skills, and creativity and exploration through various forms of the fine and performing arts. This is accomplished through teacher-directed activities and cooperative learning, reading, discussion, varied strategies, and continuous assessment.
Middle School
6th Grade7th Grade8th Grade
Religion Religion -
Language Arts Language Arts -
Foreign Language Foreign Language -
American History IAmerican History II-
Pre-AlgebraAlgebra I-
Physical ScienceEarth Science-
Chorus, Studio Art, Drama, Dance, Music, BandChorus, Studio Art, Drama, Dance, Music, Band-
Physical Education/HealthPhysical Education/Health-

Upper School
FreshmanSophomoreJuniorSenior
TheologyTheologyTheologyTheology
EnglishEnglishEnglishEnglish
Social StudiesSocial StudiesSocial StudiesSocial Studies, Math, Science...
MathematicsMathematicsMathematics...and/or Foreign Language
Foreign LanguageForeign LanguageForeign LanguagePhysical Education
Lab ScienceLab ScienceLab ScienceElective
Physical EducationPhysical EducationPhysical EducationElective
HealthDriver EducationElectiveElective
ElectiveElective--

Advanced Placement courses are offered in Art History, Human Geography, European History, United States History, United States Government, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Science, French, Spanish, Calculus, Statistics, English Language, English Literature, and Studio Art.

Athletics

Beginning in 3rd grade, students may participate in sports. 3rd to 8th graders participate in CYM sports, while 9th to 12th graders participate in the Division II Diamond State Catholic Conference. Sports offered in the high school are cross country, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, swimming, dance, indoor track & field, golf, lacrosse, outdoor track & field, soccer, and softball. If a student in 8th grade excels in a certain sport, she may be able to participate on the high school team.

Notable alumni

By most standards, exceptional scholastic achievements are the norm for the school. The majority of senior graduates, further applying to colleges, maintain a GPA of 3.87+.