South American Ursuline sisters at school...

This was the first full week with our Peruvian and Chilean sisters in classes. On Tuesday, we welcomed the Peruvians to campus. Just as the Chileans had done last week, they cheerfully greeted the school community on the PA system and then had a tour of campus. Even though we've only had our guests on campus for a few days, they are already blending in with our students going from class to class and to school activities. In fact, if it weren't for the different uniforms, we wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them and our Ursuline Dallas students. It's so much fun having our sisters here with us and it's even more special this year because they are here together - it's twice the fun!

Sr. Lois with the Chilean delegation

Welcoming the Peruvian Delegation

Touring UA upon arrival

Every Ursuline girl needs an Ursuline bear :)

Preparing to say hello on the PA in the Attendance Office

Gattitown with all our friends!

What a great week we have had at Ursuline Academy! The fun began on Monday evening when we all met at Gattitown for an evening of fun and friendship - And by "All" we mean our friends from Chile, Peru AND Uganda plus all of us from UA. It was great to bring all of these cultures together for pizza, games and LOTS of laughs. Only later did I think about how Monday was also Martin Luther King day and how appropriate it was that we all joyfully came together in friendship from so many different backgrounds and experiences. As you can see from the photos, we had a blast!!!!

Peruvians are here!!

 And now we are all here together - UA Dallas, Colegio Santa Ursula Vitacura and Colegio Santa Ursula Lima - YAY! Today our Ursuline sisters from Lima arrived and were received by much fanfare and joy at DFW. Some of the host students already know their new sisters from previous travel to Lima and from their pen pal projects in Spanish classes. And many have become fast friends on Skype and Facebook these last few weeks. Of course, there's nothing like actually being together and that is what we are all celebrating today - The next few weeks are going to be thrilling!!

Welcome Chilean Sisters!

Today we welcomed 8 students and one teacher from our sister school in Santiago, Chile. We were thrilled to see them after their long flight (via Canada - oh my!). Our host students have been waiting for this day for a long time and were super excited to greet their Chilean sisters with a reception (and a really big cake) at St. Ursula's. These first moments together were very special and filled with lots of hugs and chatter about the weeks ahead.    

Today begins a series of very special events which will occur this month. Next we will welcome our Peruvian sisters and then we will enjoy Global Celebration Day with all of our sisters AND our Ugandan friends. This January is a busy, multicultural and very joyful time at Ursuline!!

Volleyball & Festivity with Spirit of Uganda

Our first official activity with Spirit of Uganda was January 2nd when we all got togther at Net Results Sports Center for a fun-filled evening of volleyball and laughter.  We'd like to thank the super-awesome Ryder family for hosting this special event which gave us time with some of our favorite people in the world. It was a great evening!!

Welcome Spirit of Uganda!

Yesterday, the Spirit of Uganda arrived in Dallas! This amazing group of young performers is part of Empower African Children and, every two years, they go on tour in the USA in order to raise funds and awareness about children in Uganda. These young artists are actually our dear friends who we just visited in Uganda last Fall. Our Africa Delegation, minus a couple of students who are out of town for the holidays, joined the large and happy group eagerly awaiting the arrival of Spirit of Uganda at DFW airport. It was such a joyful occasion! After the welcome, we joined our friends for their first USA meal at Chipotle, a favorite restaurant of the Ugandan students who have been here before.  We are so happy to see our friends and look forward to the weeks ahead when we will share many good times  together!