Ursuline Global Education Conference

Ursuline Global Conference Aylesford England 2010

01-05 July 2010

Report

Headteachers and their representatives from England, USA, Barbados, Venezuela, Peru, France, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Greece, Taiwan,  Thailand and Austria met for 5 days in July. The conference theme was ‘Insieme’ [moving forward together]. Delegates visited schools, reflected on their mission as Ursuline educators and shared how the Ursuline ethos was lived out in their schools. Personal friendships were made and delegates began to plan further links between schools.

Delegates enjoyed both affirming and challenging presentations from

· Mother Cecilia Wang  

· Sr Alice Montgomery  

· Fr Michael Holman sj Jesuit Provincial in England

· Ms Patricia Carroll Episcopal delegate to Cardinal of Edinburgh and St Andrews

What were some of the key messages to emerge?

· Schools felt they needed to offer a radical curriculum which would enable students to be counter cultural and critical thinkers (challenging materialism individualism consumerism) if they were going to promote gospel values.

· Delegates wanted to consider the 'immersion' of pupils in alternative ways of living e.g. India project New Orleans project

· Schools wanted  to enable and support critical reflection and models of prayer which enable young people to be in conversation with Christ

· Delegates wanted to work not as collaborators in the church but as people who are co- responsible for its on going work

· Delegates agreed whole heartedly with the need to ‘navigate’ the hearts and minds of our students

What caught the imagination of the delegates during the Conference?

This is what some of the delegates said…

· Spirit of St Angela is alive among us

· Global dimension of St Angela today

·Sameness of our schools

·More than one spirit

·Meditation about Sr Angela

· Valuable work being done by school chaplains

·Great progress made by Eastern Europe who have reclaimed their schools

·Exchange of experiences of schools really helpful

· Recognising the fantastic work our schools are doing

· Enjoyed presentations – Ursuline is set to thrive for another 475 years!!

· Networking set up.

·Truly emphasising our global community and the common values we share.

·Fantastic presentations from visiting schools

· The formation of students to be ambassadors for justice and peace

·Leadership

·Fact that, as Ursuline schools, we are all working towards the same goal – to pass on the Ursuline Spirit

Delegates also made commitments to do things differently.

This is what some of the delegates said they wanted to do…

·Share ideas/experience on spirituality of St Angela with others

·Keep in contact with other Ursuline Schools

· Up to now our school has been only ‘a Catholic one’, from  tomorrow, it will become ‘Ursuline’

·Try to gather staff for prayers

· Try to convince staff of the positive benefits of times of reflection with students

· Be open to the Holy Spirit and the call in my heart

· Train teachers more about St Angela

·Try to forge more links with between my school and the community and other Ursuline schools.

·Offer advice, carry out decisions and be encouraged.

·Drive the message home to staff and get them more fully on board

· I’ll try to inspire my colleagues and my students to the words of St Angela

· Helping students to see themselves as belonging to a global Ursuline Community

· Help staff to realise the privilege of being partners in Ursuline schools

· Empowering staff to take invitations in networking

· Would like to participate/help organise a student congress in Desenzano or USA

·Would love to contribute ideas to an Ursuline portal, so we can continue to work with one another.

A huge vote of thanks went to all who participated in this wonderful event!