Construction Corner

Construction Update

One step closer to completion -- indoor plumbing!

Student Spotlight

Annual Fund 2018-2019

Will we reach our Annual Fund goal of $201,900?

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. With your help and support of the Annual Fund, Villa can:

• Keep tuition down, thereby allowing more deserving young women, regardless of their family's financial circumstances, the benefit of a strong, Catholic, single-sex education.
• Support the professional development and growth of our extraordinary faculty, ultimately strengthening the curriculum for every young woman.
• Provide athletics and extracurricular activities that support student growth outside the classroom.
• Maintain the school's facility and campus to provide an atmosphere where young women can find who God is calling them to be.

Please remember that every gift, regardless of size, assists Villa in covering the 15% gap in expenses left by tuition and is often unrestricted so it can be used wherever there is greatest need. Care to select where your donation is used? Make a donation today and choose where you feel most called to give!

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. 

Attention Senior Athletes!

Any SENIOR athlete who has committed to playing a sport in college next year (at any level), should see Ms. Flynn Hensel in the Main Office for details about Senior Athlete Recognition that is scheduled for Friday, May 3, 2019. 

Cheerleading

The Cheerleading team will hold Open Gym nights for current Villa students on Tuesdays and Thursdays, May 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Girls will work on overall cheerleading skills, including stunting and cheers. Contact Coach Kelsey-Lynne Keen at VJMCheer@vjmhs.org with any questions.

Track & Field

The track team opened the 2019 season at the Haverford Invitational on Saturday, March 30.

AACA Qualifiers and Medals

100 meters - Samantha Pawluczyk
100 hurdles -  Julianna Littley
200 meters - Avamarie Backich and Meredith Gauker
300 hurdles - Jordan Benner and Sabrina Rockelmann
800 meters - Lily Dineen [4th place medal]
1600 meters - Lily Dineen [4th place medal]
High Jump - Caitlin Byrnes
Triple Jump - Clare Staudenmeier [4th place medal]

 

The track team also ran at the AACA meet at Mount Saint Joseph Academy on Wednesday, April 3.

AACA Qualifiers

100 hurdles - Julianna Littley [1st place medal]

300 hurdles - Sabrina Rockelmann [2nd place medal]

400 meters - Lily Dineen [2nd place medal]

Long Jump - Clare Staudenmeier

Places

1st place - Jackie Skalski

1st place - Katie Irelan, 3200 meters

1st place - Clare Staudenmeier, Long Jump and Triple Jump

1st Place - Jackie Skalski, Shot Put
2nd place - Reagan Sharpe, Shot Put

3rd place - Lily Dineen, 800 meters

3rd place - Hailey Monaghan, Triple Jump

3rd place - Caitlin Byrnes, High Jump

 

Admissions News & Notes

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

Rise & Shine

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

Mary Beth Walinskas '96, Alumnae Relations Coordinator | mwalinskas@vjmhs.org

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.

Wall of Fame: Nominations due by May 1

Do you know someone who should be elected to the Villa Joseph Marie High School Wall of Fame in 2019? Visit www.vjmhs.org/walloffame and place your nomination by May 1, 2019.

 

Development News & Notes

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

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! 

Annual Spring Auction

Sincere thanks to our parents, business donors, volunteers, faculty, and staff, who supported Villa's Annual Spring Auction this past weekend. We raised nearly $100,000 for the girls! Save the date for next year's Auction on Saturday, March 28, 2020. We look forward to seeing you there!

 

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

Vespers

The Senior Class had their Vespers Retreat together last week. It was a night full of reflection, togetherness, prayer, and silliness. Shown above are some seniors who woke up early to watch the sun rise together.

Art Retreat

The Art Retreat took place on Tuesday after school. Fourteen students and two staff joined Caroline Hall and Jackie Newns for self-expression through water color, clay, and movement in the Chapel.

Altar Servers Needed

We are seeking Altar Servers for the Baccalaureate Mass on June 1, 2019. We encourage Villa underclassmen and siblings of seniors to participate in celebrating the Mass this way! Please sign up by emailing Ms. Hall at chall@vjmhs.org.

Service and Dancing!

The Twining Village Prom will be held on Tuesday, April 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Sign up on the Mission & Ministry board for a fun night of service and dancing!

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

Attention Villa Parents

The Parents' Guild and Administration are looking for a few good parents! If you can help with the Spring Open House on Thursday, April 25, 2019, please contact our Director of Admissions, Stephanie Gahagan, at sgahagan@vjmhs.org.

 

Also, any dads of JEMs who are interested in being involved with Villa's Fathers' Club, but are NOT receiving e-mail notifications, please email Andy Taylor to get on the distribution list: VJMFathersClub@vjmhs.org.

School News & Notes

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

Everybody Cut Footloose!

Get your tickets for the Villa Dramatic Society's spring production of "Footloose!" Showtimes are this weekend, as follows:
Friday, April 5, 2019: 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 6, 2019: 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 7, 2019: 2 p.m.

Athletes Helping Athletes

Thank you to the members of our vibrant club who have been participating in all of our area AHA Fun Days/Nights. Our school continues to be highly representing at all of the neighboring school's events. 

 

There will be an AHA Club meeting on Tuesday, April 9th at 7:30 a.m. in the student lounge. We will continue to plan for our fun night. Please come ready to help plan our fun night, plan for our future, and hear about executive board positions in preparation for the election next month. *Please note* If you are interested in running for a board position for next year, you must have fulfilled these requirements:

• Attended at least 50% of all meetings
• Attended at least 1 fun night
• Served as a host for our honorary captain at an event at least once THIS year

Rising sophomores and juniors who meet these requirements are eligible to run for a board position. All club members are expected to attend our Beach Party Fun Night on Friday, May 10 in our Gym. More details can be found on Canvas. Any questions or concerns, please see Mrs. Neeld or any board member.

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!

 

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. Gorman, Ms. Gorman, and Miss Hall.

 

Mrs. Gorman

The Lunar Chronicles  By: Marissa Meyer

 

Ms. Gorman

1. H.P. Lovecraft  Compiled Stories

2. Pedro Páramo  By: Juan Pulfo

3. Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude)  By: Gabriel García Márquez

 

Miss Hall

1. Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer  By: Br. David Steindl-Rast

2. The Secret History  By: Donna Tart

 

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!