First Things

Science Fair

Annual Fund 2018-2019

Help Us Meet Our Goal This Year!

Already, Villa has achieved 75% of its Annual Fund goal for this year. But we cannot meet that goal without your support! 

Please remember that every gift, regardless of size, enables Villa to build on its educational culture of excellence, provide access to students of all socioeconomic circumstances, maintain the school's facility and campus, and support the professional development and growth of our extraordinary faculty.

Construction Corner

Construction Update

Check out the new paint on the ceiling of our Auditorium.

Athletics News & Notes

Becky Flynn Hensel '99, Athletic Director | VJMAthletics@vjmhs.org

We're Searching for a Golf Coach 

The Villa Golf Team is searching for a head coach for the upcoming 2019-2020 season. Anyone interested should email Athletic Director Becky Flynn Hensel at VJMAthletics@vjmhs.org or call 215-357-8810, ext 125.

Admissions News & Notes

Stephanie Gahagan, Director of Admissions | sgahagan@vjmhs.org

7th Grade Essay Contest

Tuesday, March 12, 2019, 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 14, 2019, 6 p.m.

Seventh-grade girls are invited to participate in the 7th Grade Essay Contest for a chance to earn a one-year scholarship award. Participants choose from one of two dates, at which a topic is presented to them. They have 45 minutes to compose a well-organized written response to their topic. Essays will be judged by Villa's English Department, and three winners will be selected:

1st Prize: A $2,000 scholarship award
2nd Prize: A $1,000 scholarship award
3rd Prize: A $500 scholarship award

Please register on our website, using this link.

Alumnae News & Notes

Congratulations to Kaela Jolibois '18. Kaela and her University of Chicago teammates are the 4x400m UAA League Champions. In addition, Kaela took 7th in the 400m.

Take a Jem to Work Days: Monday, April 15—Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Our Take a Jem to Work Program allows Villa Alumnae to serve as mentors to current Juniors and Seniors, interested in pursuing a similar career, by allowing the student to shadow the Alumna at her workplace for a day. We are currently scheduling shadow days for April 15 & 16, 2019 and are looking for Alumnae in the following professions:

• Arts

• Law

• Medical

• STEM

• Veterinary Medicine 

If you are employed in one of these professions and are interested and available to serve as a mentor to a student on the dates listed above, please complete the form under Take a Jem to Work Days at www.vjmhs.org/alumnae/events. For more information, please contact Mary Beth Walinskas '96, Alumnae Relations Coordinator, at mwalinskas@vjmhs.org or 215-357-8810, ext 208.

Villa's annual Career Day will take place Thursday, April 25, 2019. Career Day gives Alumnae, current parents, parents of Alumnae, and other family members and friends the opportunity to share their careers with Villa students through a college-fair style presentation in Villa's gym. If you are interested, please complete the form under Career Day at www.vjmhs.org/careerday. For more information, please contact Mary Beth Walinskas '96, Alumnae Relations Coordinator, at mwalinskas@vjmhs.org or 215-357-8810, ext 208. Please consider being a part of this very worthwhile activity!

Development News & Notes

Jennifer Drayer-McDonald,  Director of Development | jmcdonald@vjmhs.org

Interested in donating to our Annual Spring Auction? We've made it easy for you! Use this link to view our Amazon wishlist. Also, check out a sneak peek above of some awesome exclusive items that will only be available at our Auction on March 30. (And stay tuned for more sneak peeks in the coming weeks on Villa's social media sites.) For more information about the event, please visit: www.vjmhs.org/auction. Important Note: Please send an email to ajohnson@vjmhs.org if you did not receive an email confirming that your gift was received. We had two fabulous items delivered to us this week for the Auction, but we don't know who to thank!

Villa Scrip Program

Check out Villa's Scrip Program! Through ShopWithScrip.com, Villa offers gift cards to hundreds of retailers that provide a direct benefit to you and our school — a percentage of your purchases will be donated to Villa and an equal percentage will be applied to tuition for the following school year for your daughter or another student of your choosing. Click here to learn more!

Guidance News & Notes

Anne Perez,  Director of Guidance | aperez@vjmhs.org

College Planning Night

We have rescheduled our College Planning Night for Tuesday, March 12, 2019 at 7 p.m. in the Villa gym. We will have a panel of admissions counselors and will provide an overview of the college planning process at Villa. This evening is highly recommended for the Class of 2020, but we encourage the Class of 2021 and 2022 students and families to join us, as well.

Upcoming College Fairs:

Allentown Regional Fair: Wednesday, March 6, 2019: 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Lancaster Co. Regional Fair: Thursday, March 14, 2019:  8:30-11 a.m.                 
Main Line Regional Fair:  Monday, April 8, 2019: 6:30-9 p.m.
Northeast Regional Fair: Monday April 29, 2019: 8:30-11:30 a.m. & 6-8 p.m.      
Northwest Regional Fair: Tuesday, May 14, 2019: 6:30-8:00 p.m.

2019 Spring Regional College Fair Dates

Mission & Ministry News & Notes

Stephanie McCarthy, Director of Mission & Ministry | smccarthy@vjmhs.org

Litany for Mother Maria

The Archbishop of Chicago recently approved a new Litany for Mother Maria. Please join the Villa community in praying this litany as we continue to pray for Mother Maria's canonization.

Parents' Guild News & Notes

Anita Wagner, President | vjmparentsguild@vjmhs.org

Campus Store

The Campus Store (in our temporary location - Room 211) will be open on Tuesdays and Thursdays during all lunch periods starting March 5.

School News & Notes

Marissa Brown, Dean of Student Affairs | mbrown@vjmhs.org

Important Reminder for All Students and Parents

• Please follow all traffic patterns including, and most importantly, the 15 MPH speed restriction.

• Students should not be dropped off at the first stop sign because this backs up traffic. Please pull forward.

• Parents, please do not arrive to school for pickup until 2:50pm. Thank you!

Senior Quotes for Yearbook

Attention Seniors! Please submit your personal quotes for the yearbook by March 22, 2019. These quotes will appear next to your portrait. You can submit your own words, words from a person you admire, scripture, or a famous quote. Please do not exceed 25 words. Send an email with your full name, your quote of choice, and the speaker of said quote to VJMYearbk@vjmhs.org. Any questions, see Mrs. Oakley.

2019 Phillies All-Star Teachers Contest

The Phillies will honor great educators in the region who are making a difference on May 3, 2019, during the 19th annual Teacher Appreciation Night. Now through March 15, 2019 at 4:59 p.m. ET, you can nominate a teacher, past or present, who has positively impacted your life. For more information  or to submit your nomination, click here. 

AHA Club

Villa's AHA club was well represented at Council Rock South's Carnival Night. Smiles and laughs filled the night!

The Week Ahead

Important Links

• School Calendar
• Athletics Calendar
• Liturgy Calendar
• Prayer Intention Submission Form
• Download the FREE Villa Joseph Marie App for all Apple-based mobile devices:
  
  • Go to the App Store.
  • Search for Villa Joseph Marie.
  • Click Install.
  • Follow the prompts on screen.

Parents, share your photos with us! If you post photos from Villa events and activities on Facebook, please tag us at Villa Joseph Marie. Our Alumnae and fellow parents really enjoy seeing the many good things our Jems are up to! (Note: The Facebook account entitled "Villa Joseph Marie High School" is not an official account and is not managed by Villa). Photos also may be emailed to efranzzo@vjmhs.org

Please forward your submissions for This Week at Villa to Erica Franzzo '03 at efranzzo@vjmhs.org. Deadline for submissions is 12 p.m. on Wednesday. Submissions may be edited or omitted for space, clarity, or content at the sole discretion of the editor. We also welcome your questions, feedback, and suggestions. Thanks for reading This Week at Villa!