Construction Corner

Construction Update

Villa is focused on keeping our girls safe! Additional security is being added this week at the front entrance, including a second set of doors, more door swipes and security cameras. 

Founded in Faith. Fulfilling the Mission  Update

Already, $3.4 million has been raised from 81 donors, including a $1 million gift from the Sisters of St. Casimir. This historic campaign will support the Villa Mission by creating space for our young women to collaborate and further develop the skills needed to be tomorrow's leaders, provide for further expansion of classroom space into St. Joseph's Hall, and allow for increased availability of financial aid to attract and retain the most academically focused students, regardless of their financial circumstances. The Board of Directors has approved this $6 million campaign in support of these efforts. 

 

Interested in a tour of the new space? Want more information? Contact Jennifer McDonald at 215.357.8810 x124 or jmcdonald@vjmhs.org.

 

Student Spotlight

3.14

Mu Alpha Theta (Villa's Math National Honor Society)  wishes you a happy Pi Day!

Science Fair

Congrats to all the participants who competed at the Bucks County Science Fair on Tuesday.  Here is the list of winners from Villa:

Thank You

Check out this Thank You video that Villa's Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica chapter, Con Amor (Spanish National Honor Society), received in response to their fundraiser. Great job, girls!

Annual Fund 2018-2019

We need your help to reach our 2018-2019 goal!

Like most schools, tuition is the greatest source of income at Villa Joseph Marie, however, tuition covers only about 85% of the actual cost to send a student to our beloved school. The reason for this approach is to keep tuition costs down so a Villa education is open to all deserving young women, regardless of their family's financial circumstances. Villa's Annual Fund covers the 15% gap in expenses left by tuition and is often unrestricted so it can be used wherever there is greatest need.

 

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.

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. 

Congratulations to Our Swim Team! 

Congratulations to the members of Villa's swim team who finished 22nd of 32 teams at the PIAA State Championships this week at Bucknell University. We are so proud of the 200 medley relay team of Lillie Corino '22, Sabina Hartman '21, Megan Iannacone '21, and Caitlin Whalen '20. Additionally, Caitlin placed  14th in the 200 individual medley final and 15th in the 100 butterfly final, and Sabina placed 2nd in the 100 breaststroke consolation final, earning her 10th place overall. Go Jems! 

Sailing 

Last call for anyone interested in joining Villa's new sailing team. The season begins on April 1, 2019. Any student interested should see Ms. Flynn Hensel in the Main Office as soon as possible for details.

 

Admissions News & Notes

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

Rise & Shine

March 19, 2019
March 25, 2019
April 4, 2019
April 10, 2019
May 2, 2019 *Special session featuring the Transcend Program
May 15, 2019

Visit Villa bright and early this spring! Seventh-grade girls and their parents are invited to Rise and Shine—an opportunity for students to experience their first taste of the Villa environment without losing a whole school day to shadow. Please register on our website, using this link.

Summer@Villa

Villa presents many summer camp programs to educate, excite, and inspire students in grades 4-12 throughout the summer. For more information and to register on our website, please use this link.

 

Alumnae News & Notes

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.

Career Day: Thursday, April 25, 2019

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

Annual Spring Auction

• Purchase your "Best of Live" raffle ticket for a chance to select and win one of our amazing Live Auction prizes. Only 100 tickets will be sold and will be available only in advance of the event. 

• 50/50 Raffle tickets are also available in advance of the event and can be purchased online.

• Don't forget to register to attend the Auction today. You do not want to miss this awesome night filled with good friends, great food, and amazing items!

Please visit www.vjmhs.org/auction for more information and to purchase tickets!

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

Upcoming College Fairs:

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.  

Book Recommendations

The National English Honor Society has compiled a list to highlight Villa's current faculty & staff's favorite books. Enjoy reviewing their recommendations and reading any works that pique your interest! This week we'd like to highlight Mrs. Bedrosian, Mr. Bender, and Mrs. Brown.

 

Mrs. Bedrosian

Pride and Prejudice  By: Jane Austen

 

Mr. Bender

1. A History of the World in 6 Glasses  By: Tom Standage 

2. Hiroshima  By: John Hershey

3. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History  By: Elizabeth Kolbert 

 

Mrs. Brown

My Sister's Keeper  By: Jodi Picoult

 

Click here to read why they chose these books and to see the full list of book recommendations from our faculty & staff.  

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!