Do You Have a Growth Mindset?

Today, Kendy Schiffert from the Bucks County IU spoke with our students about tools to handle stress and engage in better academic strategies. This is part of an educational program series to reduce student stress and an overall effort to support our students.

To learn more about what Growth Mindset is, we encourage you to view this 10-minute video from creator Carol Dweck.

We will continue to offer additional programs for the girls, and we will be sure to inform you ahead of time. If you have any questions please contact Anne Perez at aperez@vjmhs.org or Stephanie McCarthy smccarthy@vjmhs.org.

Christmas at Villa: Brunch with Santa, Vendor Fair, and A Maria Hall Christmas

Villa welcomed current families, alumnae, and the local community to school on Sunday for our Christmas at Villa event. Brunch was delicious, and children enjoyed time with Santa and many fun Christmas activities with our students. Over 20 vendors provided guests with many opportunities to shop local for the upcoming holiday. Maria Hall provided us with exquisite decorations and interesting facts about the historic mansion, as well as musical performances provided by Villa's band and chorus. What a fun, festive day to enjoy the holidays with our Villa family!

Villa Welcomes Officer Leaper

Students in Mrs. Leaper's Forensic Science class were engaged in a presentation this morning by Mrs. Leaper's nephew, Officer Collin Leaper, of Northampton Police Department. The students have been learning about different types of drugs, the effects of drugs and alcohol on the body, procedures for identifying, collecting and processing substances, crime scene investigation, blood alcohol concentration levels, drinking and driving and field sobriety testing. A big thank you to Officer Leaper for helping our students to connect with all of these topics that they have been learning about, and for bringing the "real world" into our classroom.

Raised $67,895 (25%) of

Our Goal of $275,000

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!

Give online here.

Congratulations to our Bucks County Courier Times Golden Team: Soccer

We are so proud of all of your team and individual accomplishments!

www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/sports/20191208/no-title/2

Mentor Program

Through Villa's Mentor Program, we strive to help our students gain valuable real-world experience by fostering mentor relationships with our Alumnae. Alumnae, would you like to share your success story with a current student interested in your field of study? Students, would you like to be matched with an alumna mentor? Both alumnae and students can sign up for the Mentor Program here.

Villa Scrip Program

The final scrip order before Christmas will be accepted ‪through 9:00pm on Thursday, December 12‬. Scrip will resume with the first order of the new year being transmitted ‪at 9:00pm on Sunday, January 5. 🎁 www.shopwithscrip.com Enrollment code: F27L35CB31L41 ‬

What is Scrip? 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.

Senior Mothers' Tree Trimming

Thank you to the many senior mothers who came out for this special evening last Thursday. Senior mothers received and hung personalized ornaments on the Villa tree in the PAC lobby, representing each of their daughters, and enjoyed time socializing with one another. (Pictured above: Kathy Taylor '20 and Diane Fortunato '20)

Founded in Faith. Fulfilling the Mission Update:

Phase One: Performing Arts Center - COMPLETE

Interested in learning more or care to schedule a tour of our new Performing Arts Center? Contact Jennifer McDonald at 215.357.8810 x124 or jmcdonald@vjmhs.org.

----

Phase Two: STEAM Hallway and Media Center

Construction is set to begin in the summer of 2020 on a 21st-century STEAM hallway, complete with robotics, computer, and innovation labs, a sound booth, recording studio, and media center, in addition to renovated classrooms.

----

While Villa's Annual Fund and Auction support the yearly operations of the school, Founded in Faith. Fulfilling the Mission, the Campaign to support the Villa's facilities expansion, is an investment in Villa's future. We are looking for partners to join us in our vision to create an environment where young women can explore who God is calling them to be. Already, $3.4 million has been raised from 88 donors. Please consider how YOU can partner with Villa to assure an exemplary Catholic secondary education for future generations of Jems.

2020 Spring Regional College Fair Dates

Lancaster County Regional Fair (Thaddeus Stevens College):

Thursday, March 5, 2020; 8:30-11:00am

Main Line Valley Forge Regional Fair (Valley Forge Casino & Resort):

Monday, March 23, 2020; 6:30-9pm

Northeast Regional Fair (King's College):

Monday April 27, 2020; 8:30-11:30am & 6:00-7:30pm

Northwest Regional Fair (Allegheny College):

Tuesday, May 12, 2020; 6:30-8:00pm

Main Line Villanova Regional Fair (Villanova University):

Thursday, May 21, 2020; 6:30-9pm

Girls in Engineering and Related Sciences (GEARS) Day

University of Pennsylvania, January 20, 2020

Application will be due on November 25th, 2019 at 11:59 pm.

See the attached flyer for more information.

Temple University Tyler School of Art Pre-College Programs

Portfolio Boot Camp is open to 11th and 12th graders. Register here.

• Session 3: November 23, December 7, 14 (No class November 30)
• Session 4: January 11, 18, 25
• Session 5: February 8, 15, 22
• Session 6: March 7, 14, 21
• Session 7: April 4, 11, 18

Bucks County Community College's Center for Workforce Development was recently awarded the PASmart Grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. We are delighted to announce that through the PASmart Grant Bucks' Metalwork and Industrial Maintenance Programs have been formally recognized as Pre-Apprenticeship Programs by the Office of Apprenticeship and Training at the Department of Labor & Industry. Using PASmart grant funding, Bucks will be expanding its Industrial Maintenance Pre-Apprenticeship Program, for this one time to offer FREE training to high school students and young adults, ages 18-24. The course will be modified to take place over 16 weeks from 1:00–––– 5:00pm to accommodate students' schedules during their senior year. See the attached flyer for more information.

The National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in Washington, DC has MANY scholarships available to high school seniors. The awards range from $2,000 to $5,000. New this year, all applications for the National Scholarships are submitted online. DEADLINE for DAR NATIONAL scholarships: February 15, 2020. Visit the website for more information: www.dar.org/national-society/scholarships.

Advent Reflection

Sunday marked the first week of Advent. This year, we will continue to share weekly Advent reflections as we prepare for the birth of Christ.

Week 2 Reflection

Join Your Fellow Classmates in Honoring and Remembering Our Fallen Heroes

On Saturday, December 14, at the Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Villa students, family members, and friends will participate once again in Wreaths Across America, a national program to remember our service members during the holiday season. Why not do something special this Christmas and volunteer an hour of your time to honor those who sacrificed so much to preserve our freedoms? Please e-mail Mary Frances McNulty at maryfrancesmcnulty@gmail.com or maryfrances.mcnulty@vjmhs.com if you plan to attend the event. Participants will be notified by e-mail regarding the time and location where the Villa community will gather. All are welcome.

Add a little bling to your holiday with items from the Campus Store. Your "Jem" will thank you!

Campus Store

The Campus Store will be open tonight, Thursday, December 12, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m and Tuesday, December 17, during all lunch periods for last minute shopping and for order pick ups. Additional hours may be added; we will announce via social media when all items from the Christmas order are received. We will also email the families who have missing pieces from their orders via email when the missing items are in.

Parents of 2023 Students: There are still some items left from the Fall Special order - 2023 long and short sleeved tees and a few pairs of sweatpants. Stop in and get yours now before they sell out!

Bus Transportation on December 18

The following school districts will be providing 12:30 transportation on Wednesday, December 18:

Abington, Bristol, Central Bucks, Hatboro-Horsham, New Hope-Solebury, Pennsbury, Philadelphia and Upper Moreland.

Students residing in Bensalem, Centennial, Council Rock, Lower Moreland, and Neshaminy will need to secure transportation at 12:30 on this day.

All districts will provide AM Transportation.

SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST

Parents, share your photos with us! If you post photos from Villa events, sports, and activiti———— or share about upcoming events like our Open House — on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn, please use our new hashtag #AlwaysVilla. Anyone (parent, student, alumna, friend, etc.) that uses our #AlwaysVilla will automatically be entered into a monthly drawing to win a $20 gift certificate to the school store. One entry per post per platform. No limit on entries — share, share, share, and help us spread the word about our great school! Winners will be messaged privately on social media and announced publicly each month in This Week at Villa. Everyone, continue to share and post using the #AlwaysVilla for a chance to win again!

Fri, Dec 13

Day 6-1

Sat, Dec 14

Haiti Trip

Sun, Dec 15

VJM/HGP Concert:

4:30 p.m., PAC

Haiti Trip

Mon, Dec 16
Day 1

Haiti Trip

Tues, Dec 17

Day 2

Honor Society Induction Practice:
7:15 a.m., PAC

Haiti Trip

Wed, Dec 18

Day 3, Schedule E

Prayer Service, PAC

Haiti Trip

Thurs, Dec 19

Holiday - No School

Jack Frost Ski Trip

Haiti Trip

Fri, Dec 20

Holiday - No School

Sat, Dec 21

Sun, Dec 22

School is back in session on Thurs., January 2, 2020.

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!