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Annual calendar showcases Ursuline student artwork, honors 35-year tradition

Annual calendar showcases Ursuline student artwork, honors 35-year tradition

by Shannon Dufresne
 

Each year, Ursuline students showcase their creativity through a publication that has become a beloved community tradition, the annual school calendar. The tradition celebrates gifted young artists and highlights the diversity of artistic styles across grade levels. The 2025–26 edition features artwork from 7th grade through senior year, highlighting a range of media, including mixed media, digital photography, acrylics, watercolor, markers, oil pastels, graphite, and more.

“Every page of the calendar reflects not only the individual vision of the artist but also the shared spirit of creativity that thrives at Ursuline,” said Ms. Mary Quartaro ’80, chair of the Visual & Media Arts Department.

“Every page of the calendar reflects not only the individual vision of the artist but also the shared spirit of creativity that thrives at Ursuline.”
- Ms. Mary Quartaro ’80, chair of the Visual & Media Arts Department

A tradition rooted in alumnae talent

The calendar’s origins date back 35 years, when the Ursuline Fathers’ Club invited the art department to design a fundraiser. “The first calendar was all blue, and each page was designed by a senior,” Quartaro recalled. “We eventually shifted to featuring artwork from all grade levels. That tradition continues today.”

Quartaro, along with Mrs. Meg LaBella ’83 and Mrs. Deirdre Stones ’96, now teaches in the Visual & Media Arts program. Stones also experienced the power of the calendar firsthand as a student.

“Artwork in the calendar was definitely a thing by 1992 when I started here,” Stones said. “I had a piece published in my sophomore year in Judy Duffy’s class—a Christmas-themed still life that still hangs at my parents’ house. I’ve always loved knowing our students’ work hangs in the homes of our community.”

LaBella, meanwhile, traced the calendar's growth through her perspective as a faculty member.

"I loved art before I got here, but Ursuline teachers like Sr. Anne Terese educated, inspired, and pushed me. By the time I joined the faculty, I helped Sr. Joann Safian produce the calendar. We moved from paste-ups and QuarkXPress to Adobe InDesign, and later began printing in-house. It has evolved so much while keeping its heart—the student art—at the center."

"I loved art before I got here, but Ursuline teachers like Sr. Anne Terese educated, inspired, and pushed me."
- Mrs. Meg LaBella, '83, visual arts teacher

Building anticipation and pride

This year's calendar showcases how students at every level grow in their craft. Seniors and juniors refine their techniques in advanced courses, while sophomores and freshmen experiment with new media and develop personal styles. Seventh- and eighth-graders, meanwhile, launch their artistic journeys with imagination and confidence, setting the stage for years of creative exploration ahead.

Among the featured artists, Brigitta T '26, whose colored pencil drawing appears in September, found inspiration in her own study space. One evening, she snapped a photo of her desk while doing homework and used it as the basis for her artwork. A returning calendar contributor, she said, "I love being included in the calendar. It's very special."

Genesis R '26, featured in October, contributed a graphite and charcoal drawing—a story of perseverance. She had misplaced the original piece but recreated it from memory. "It was something I really liked, so I decided to make it again," she said.

Both students also displayed their work at the Pelham Arts Show last spring, reflecting how Ursuline artists share their talents beyond the school walls. (Related story HERE.) That same spirit of community connection runs through the calendar, which does more than mark dates—it links generations of Ursuline artists.

As Stones reflected:
“The calendar is a great reminder of the value of art and the talent of our students. It showcases everything from still lifes to digital photography, reflecting the full range of what we do.”

“The calendar is a great reminder of the value of art and the talent of our students. It showcases everything from still lifes to digital photography, reflecting the full range of what we do.”
- Mrs. Deirdre Stones, '96, visual arts teacher

The heart of the visual arts program

Housed in the Mooney-Hancock Arts Center, Ursuline's visual and media arts program fosters creativity from middle school to AP-level work. Courses span Art 6–8, Intro to Art & Design, 3D Art & Design, Art & Design 1, Advanced Art & Design, and AP Art & Design. Faculty guide students in both traditional and contemporary methods, preparing them for future studies and creative endeavors.

Together, the annual calendar and the spring arts events form bookends of the year's story in arts education—beginning with pages full of creativity and promise and ending with chapters of accomplishment. One marks its beginning with fresh inspiration, and the other celebrates its culmination with achievement and recognition.

As Quartaro noted:
"The calendar builds anticipation for what’s to come and reminds us that the arts remain a vital thread in the Ursuline experience. It’s something our entire community looks forward to each year."

Learn more about Ursuline's Visual & Media Arts program at Explore the Arts at Ursuline.

Explore the 2025-26 calendar artwork HERE.
 

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