Principal Duplace Retires
After Nine Years of Service
Principal Polly Duplace’s educational and administrative career concludes after nine years of
dedicated service to St. Ursula Villa. Ms. Duplace’s tenure included many accomplishments,
most notably the transformation of the Villa’s campus, expansion of Early Childhood
offerings, and creation of Service Learning, Outdoor Education and STEM programs.
Ms. Duplace recalls, “Within days of starting my new role as St. Ursula Villa’s principal,
I attended my first Foundations for a Lifetime campaign planning meeting. I met the
dedicated group of people working to improve St. Ursula Villa’s facilities and learned about
the scope and goals of the project. It was such a rewarding experience to participate in the
project’s early planning, lead the school through the construction phase, and witness the
many ways the new buildings have impacted the Villa’s growth and success.”
At the Manor House, the project returned the former Chapel space to its historic
use, created a classroom to accommodate a new Toddler offering, and constructed an
Early Childhood addition with six new classrooms. These changes addressed Manor
House facility issues and allowed strategic growth in the Early Childhood Program.
Improvements to the Main School enhanced educational spaces by renovating and
enlarging K-6 classroom spaces and building a Junior High wing to facilitate student
collaborative experiences and project-based learning.
“The highlight of my St. Ursula Villa career was the successful completion of this building
project. It is so exciting to see the beautiful preschool classrooms and the amazing Junior
High wing. It was all a lot of hard work – doing fundraising, managing the school during
construction, and implementing all the changes – but seeing it all come together is a huge
feeling of accomplishment and pride.”
Ms. Duplace launched several new and innovative programs such as Service Learning,
Outdoor Education, and STEM, saying “I always wanted to make the school better, to try
new, different things and keep moving forward.”
Former Villa Board Chair Matt Iacobucci shares, “Principal Duplace served St. Ursula
Villa with dedication and passion for nine years and we are grateful for her leadership
and commitment to our school. The entire St. Ursula Villa community wishes her every
happiness as she enjoys a much-deserved
retirement and begins a new chapter.”
“I have loved the
many wonderful
students, parents
and co-workers
that create the Villa
family. St. Ursula
Villa has a way of
becoming ingrained
in you ... I will truly
miss being a part of
this extraordinary
school.”
PRINCIPAL POLLY DUPLACE
Ms. Duplace reflects, “I have loved the many
wonderful students, parents and co-workers
that create the Villa family. St. Ursula Villa
has a way of becoming ingrained in you. Our
graduates and their families leave here with
special memories that will last a lifetime. The
Villa has been a very big part of my life and
my career here has been busy and fulfilling.
I look forward to having more time to cook,
entertain, read, travel, see my grandchildren,
and needlepoint - but I will truly miss being a
part of this extraordinary school.”
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