Traditions

Ursuline has a history of more than 125 years in Santa Rosa. Ursuline is part of an Ursuline Ministry that began in 1535 in Brescia, Italy, and now, through schools and other service ministries, touches lives around the world. This history brings with it many wonderful traditions. These include:

Freshman LINK Orientation: Throughout the school year, LINK leaders provide welcome to the incoming freshmen with various activities.

Dances: Each school year starts with a well-attended Welcome Dance. Only Ursuline and Newman students attend and the atmosphere is one of fun and inclusion. Homecoming, Turnabout, Spring Spirit, and Prom are the other Dances which students enjoy.

JOGATHON: Early in the school year the students hold their own fundraiser—JOGATHON! Students look forward to JOG Day as a great spirit building event!

Junior Ring Ceremony: Each October, near the Feast of St. Ursula, the juniors receive their school rings, symbols that they are members of the global Ursuline family.

Father/Daughter Dinner Dance: The senior class council puts together this magical evening for fathers and their daughters. It is the most looked forward to event of the year!

Christmas Families: Each year every homeroom adopts a family for Christmas and sees to the family’s food and Santa needs. The homerooms often support these families at other important times during the year—children’s birthdays, valentines, etc.

Retreats: Each class enjoys the privilege and camaraderie of retreats. Retreats are designed to bring the students into greater harmony with themselves, their classmates, and with God.

Mother/Daughter Brunch and Fashion Show: Each spring the sophomore class council and the parent association sophomore representatives put on a brunch and fashion show for all of our moms and daughters.

Senior Boards: The four-year Community Based Service Learning program culminates in the senior year with a senior project. The final examination for the senior religion class and for English 12 is the Senior Boards presentation in which students talk about the research that lead them to their project, their personal experience of the project, and their spiritual growth from the experience. Seniors present to a panel of individuals from the school and the greater community.

Senior Awards and Lunch: Students don their graduation gowns and receive various school, university and greater community awards for their outstanding accomplishments throughout the senior year. The event is followed by a lunch for the seniors and their parents. The lunch is hosted by the Parent Association.

Baccalaureate: Baccalaureate is truly the highlight of the various senior ceremonies. The sharing of stories and talents in the liturgical setting provides for a special and moving event.

Graduation and Grad Night: Dressed in white caps and gowns the Ursuline women join the burgundy gown clad Cardinal Newman gentlemen on the lawn at Sonoma State University in the ceremony of graduation. After the ceremony, the seniors march through an honor guard of faculty, mingle with family and then board buses which carry them to a completely transformed gymnasium filled with music, food and a variety of activities to entertain the graduates royally throughout the night.

Grades 9 through 11 Awards: Academic and community awards earned throughout the course of the school year are presented to the ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade students at this important ceremony.

Move Up Ceremony: In the spirit of joy students watch a slide show created by the school historians. Then the new ASB and class officers lead the students in a march around the gymnasium and into their new section in the bleachers, signifying their movement to a new grade level.