Starting High School ‘Solo’: It Takes Courage

The leap from eighth grade to high school can be challenging, especially if you are the only one of your friends choosing to attend a particular school as part of your continuing educational journey. The teachers and staff at St. Ursula Academy, however, in recognition of the bravery it takes for students to do something different from the rest of their classmates, have developed a group – aptly named The Brave Ones – to support those students venturing into high school solo, so to speak.

"We try to make sure that every student who joins us at St. Ursula is known as more than just a face and a name," says Sara Utecht, Assistant Principal of Student Affairs. "And that’s how The Brave Ones program started – based on the idea, the recognition, that we have many girls attend here from all over, many who don’t know each other but who are courageously choosing to start this new chapter of their lives with us. Members of the administrative leadership team asked themselves, ‘How can we make sure these students feel included and invited and celebrated as unique individuals here at St. Ursula?"

One of the reasons so many students choose St. Ursula as their high school is the welcoming family feel, Utecht adds. Establishing The Brave Ones concept enhances that type of academic yet personal atmosphere. "We have girls whose parents drive them from quite far away every day to go to St. Ursula, and we consider that such an honor to partner with those girls and their families. There are many wonderful schools in our area, but they decided to attend St. Ursula, and we want to make sure everyone feels at home. Because we draw students from different areas of the tri-state, we wanted to embrace that and celebrate their differences. We wanted to bring them all together, make them comfortable in a casual setting, and help them meet not only each other but some of the key adults who will be their major supporters and advocates while they are at St. Ursula."

To ensure they learn each student’s story, St. Ursula’s administrative team is intentional about providing time and space for the school’s adult community to get to know students individually as people, as learners, as contributors to not only the world of St. Ursula Academy, but the world beyond its walls.

Young women from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana attend St. Ursula Academy because their parents know they will receive not just an excellent education but a unique, invaluable formative experience, Utecht says. "When they graduate, they will have grown into thinkers, confident leaders, nurturers of others as well as themselves, and prophets who stand up for what is right, who are committed to a better world."

As such, The Brave Ones, now in its second year (created by Mary Ann Meyer, recently retired former assistant principal for academics) is a perfect philosophical fit with St. Ursula Academy’s core values and overall mission, Utecht notes.

"Part of our mission speaks to a faith component, and there is an integrity piece and a courage piece. The Brave Ones complements the courage piece," she says.

Members of The Brave Ones display a symbolic "1" on their school identification lanyard to make it easy for adults to recognize them and for "solo" freshmen to recognize each other.

"It’s a nice way for The Brave Ones to be able to recognize each other, especially the first few weeks of the school year, to offer a smile or a nod if they are not quite ready to reach out to others more personally," Utecht explains. "Right now, we’re just focusing our efforts on the freshman class, but in the future, it certainly could evolve into more.  Last year, The Brave Ones program was heavily rooted in relationship building and bridging the connection between the girls and various school resources."

Discussions revolving around freshmen fears and apprehension gave way to establishing friendships.

"By the end of the school year, the girls reported back to us that, because some of the people and resources we connected them with, they felt more confident, more comfortable and they could see themselves thriving at St. Ursula Academy," Utecht recalls.

Twenty-two freshmen were invited to join The Brave Ones last year, and they all participated. "We expect the same kind of turnout this year," she says.  "We’re excited! There might even be a few more Brave Ones this school year. It’s been great on the adult side of the program, too. Our faculty and staff have really enjoyed meeting these girls and getting to know their stories."

"I was able to talk to other students just like me who were in a similar boat; it was a very comfortable environment," sophomore Peyton Allen recalls. "We were able to talk on a personal level with each other, not necessarily about academics specifically, but more talking friend-to-friend. I was really proud to be a member of The Brave Ones last year. I made so many connections, and this year I tend to reach out to more new freshmen. I understand where they are."

For parent Jill Cahill, who also serves as St. Ursula’s vice president of marketing, this is her second school year as a parent of a Brave Ones member, and she couldn’t be happier with the program.

"Last year, my freshman daughter was so nervous about starting high school, and I was very nervous as a parent," Cahill says." We knew it was the right decision, that we had made the right choice, and we knew all the wonderful things that were going to happen. But as parents, we also knew there were going to be growing pains – the transition to high school is not always easy. So, being part of a school community that takes so much time and makes such an effort to care to acclimate new students and to get to know them so quickly certainly put my mind at ease. I could see in my daughter, in a very short time – really, just a matter of days – feeling more comfortable and confident, knowing it was all going to be OK. And that was very comforting at a parent."

"The inclusion, the equity, the diversity – we want to celebrate everybody who comes through our door and meet them where they are at in their St. Ursula journey," Utecht concludes. "We’re definitely committed to educating and empowering young women,  and we want all young women to know they have a place here at St. Ursula."

All prospective students, their parents and friends interested in learning more about St. Ursula Academy are invited to attend the school’s annual open house on October 27 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

St. Ursula Academy – a Catholic college-preparatory high school for young women that offers an intensive four-year program in the fields of English, mathematics, science, social studies, French, Spanish, Latin, and religion – is located at 1339 E. McMillan St., Cincinnati, OH 45206. For more information, visit stursula.org.