Towerette Midwinter 2024

Midwinter2024

Letter from the Editor

Ellie Treacy ’24

In the fall, the leaves change colors, we celebrate Thanksgiving, and as a Villa community, we work together to put on the fashion show. Then Christmas and winter break come along, bringing an abundance of warmth and happiness with it. But as we have started the new year and have already entered our third month of 2024, at times, it doesn’t seem like there is much to look forwardto.Homework,sports,exams,repeat. Sometimesmid-wintercanseemdreary–the once soft snowflakes turn into rain and the thought of spring seems like it is thousands ofyearsaway.

While this may not seem true at times, there is actually so much happening in the Villa community. From winter sports and ski/snowboarding club adventures to the robotics competition season and even personal explorations, there is an abundance of opportunities to engage in during the winter season. While the rest of the world may seem cold and dreary, at Villa there is so muchwarmthtogoaround!

"Behold, I am with you until the end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Notonlyaretheremanyopportunitiesto explore, but it is also a time to show our appreciation for one another. February is often associated with love -- Valentine’s Day is celebrated on the 14th. For many, it is a holiday dedicated to significant others and sweethearts, but in this Towerette issue, we hope to instead point out the love we have for ourVillasisters!

Sisterhood is the pinnacle of the Villa experience and shapes the way we go about our lives in the present and even the future. Hopefully, after reading this, you will be inspired to give a friend or your sister a hug and let her know how much you love her. By recognizing your sisters and friends in this month of togetherness and love, we hope you will come to appreciate those bonds more deeply. Grab a blanket and some hot chocolate before diving into our mid-winter Issue -– we hopeyouenjoyit!

The author (right), with her sister

PhotobyJesseKramar’24

MakingWaveswiththeNewCo-op SwimTeam

Gemma Hong ’27

Swimmers, take your mark: the Villa swim team has begun its 2024 season swimming with the Morristown Beard School (MBS), and it’s been a swimmingsuccess!

Current Events

MusicalUpdate:“OhtheThingsYou CanThink!”

Kat Ziwot ’25

The Villa swim team began its first co-operative season with MBS due to a lack of swimmers needed to formafullteam.Thankfully,MBS,whichisalsoaprovider of our home swim facility, offered to co-operate teams, allowing Villa girls to continue swimming. With approval from our school administration, New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), MBS, and New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA), Villa Walsh beganitsseasonswimmingamongMBSswimmers.

Ourseasonhasbeenextremelysuccessful,withall threeofourswimmers(Cameron Shull ’26, Annie Rionda ’27, Gemma Hong ’27) attending both Counties at Morristown High School and Prep Schools Championships in Lawrenceville. Our girls also scored many points for the team, allowing the team to garner morewinsforthegirls’teamthantheyhadlastyear.

The MBS athletic department has been very cooperative and inclusive with the co-op. The Villa girls fit in well and feel like they are part of the community. Annie Rionda ’27 said, “It is really fun and regardless of swimming ability everyone is included […] the other swimmers are very welcoming and kind.” Annie also described the welcoming and competitive environment bythecoaches.

The team cap designed by Villa’s athletic director Mrs. Fleury features both teams’ logos, and is used as the official team cap for the 2024 season. Also, the Villa swimmers worked with Mrs. Fleury to design merch that wasavailableforallswimmers.

Combining teams with another school was a new experience for the Villa swim team, but it proved to be theperfectdecision.GoCrimsonandgoVikings!

Close your eyes and think of something. Anythingatall.Somethingcrazyandwild.Likeacatin a red and white-striped hat. Or a blue bird with a one-feather tail. Hold onto that image and now picture the Villa Walsh stage. The tall blue curtains, shinywoodfloor,andasinglespotlightonthebeloved image of everyone’s favorite cartoon cat. Can you see it?Don’tfretifyoucan’tbecause,inoneshortmonth, youwon’thavetoimagineit.Itwillbeallonthestage inthisyear’sspringmusical: Seussical!

Thisyear,theshowispioneeredbyourveteran choreographerMrs.Lanni,andwewelcomeMr.Smith to the Villa community as director. Together, their vision of Seussical is brought to life by a wide array of colorful props, whimsical sets, and a cast of true thinkers. The story combines stories from Dr. Seuss’s classic children’s books to create a world of wonder andsong.

Our Villa actresses have been rehearsing their high notes and box steps for the past month in preparation for their March performances. “It’s hard work, but it is coming together,” says Cierra Wolckenhauer ’25. “It’s so wonderful to be a part of thisprocessandcreateanothergreatshowbyVilla.” Catch characters like the Cat in the Hat and HortontheElephantonstageMarch15,16,and17!You won’t want to miss this spectacular display of imagination,wonder,andjoy!

POV: Big Sisters Reflect on their Little Sisters

Ellie Treacy ’24

Not only do friendships thrive at Villa, but sisterhood does as well! Many of our students have siblings who currently attend Villa or recently graduated. We asked every senior who has a younger sister at Villa some commonly disputed questions and were excited to see how their responses aligned or differedwiththeiryoungersisters’answers.

This article features digital responses from Brianna Hetherington ‘24, Brooke Hetherington ‘25, Delaney Caughey ‘24, Caroline Caughey ‘29, Meaghan O’Malley ‘24, Emmy O’Malley ‘29, Olivia Martin ‘24, Ashlee Martin ‘26, Ellie Treacy ‘24, Katie Treacy ‘28.

Big Sister Responses:

How do you like going to school with your sister? How has it shaped your relationship?

It was agreed among the big sisters that going to school with their little sisters has given them the opportunitytogrowcloser,especiallyastheyspenda lot of time in the car together on their way to and from school. They have the chance to not only bond over common experiences as the seniors were once also underclassmen, but also have one-on-one conversationswiththeirsisterstocatchuponwhatis goingonintheirlives.

Who controls the aux on your way to school?

The majority of the big sisters control the music on theirwaytoschool.Meaghanclaimsthatshe“justhas better music taste,” while Brianna occasionally allows her younger sister, Brooke, to play some Taylor Swift music. On the other hand, when Olivia is driving, Ashlee mans the directions and music so her sister canfocusontheroad.

Who makes you late?

Most of the older sisters claim their younger sister makes them late to school, but Delaney Caughey admits that she is the reason they pull into the parkinglotafterthebell.

Who’s bossier?

The answers were split right down the middle as Meaghan and Delaney are the bossy ones in their sibling pairs, while Brianna and Olivia believe their sistersarebossier.

What’s the hardest thing about having a younger sister?

Briannasaysthatthehardestpartis“figuringoutwho has to pay for Starbucks.” She mentioned that they usuallyswitchoffwhopaystokeepitfair.

Who do you think is your mom’s favorite daughter? Your dad’s?

Briannaissuresheisbothhermomanddad’sfavorite child, but Olivia said that her mom’s favorite is her sisterwhilesheisherdad’sfavorite.

What’s the best quality about your younger sister?

Delaney says that her sister’s best qualities are her outgoing personality and constant support, while Meaghan is so proud of her sister’s unwavering dedication to her school work. Meaghan explained that Emmy studies on the way to school and gets her books out right away when she gets home after school. Olivia said that Ashlee’s best quality is how intentionalsheiswithhertimeandwhoshespendsit with.

Who’s room is messier?

Meaghan, Brianna, and Olivia all believe their room is the cleanest, but Delaney, who shares a room with Caroline,believestheyarebothequallyasmessy.

Do you share clothes?

All of the big sisters agreed that their younger sister wears their clothes. But Meaghan added, “I wouldn’t say we share clothes. She just takes mine.” As for myself, I will often find my coat to be missing and will later pull out my sister’s left behind lip glosses and wrappersfromthepockets.

Who’s the funnier one?

Delaney said that her and Caroline are funny in their individual ways, while Brianna admits Brooke is the funniest of the two. And Olivia is absolutely certain she is the funnier one as she’s always coming up with anewjoke.Ultimately,theyallhaveagoodtimebeing togetherandarethankfulfortheirsharedlaughs.

POV: Little Sisters Reflect on their Older Sisters Villa Voices

Bryanna Liu ’26

Little Sister Responses:

Who would you say makes you late to school?

Ashlee accuses Olivia of making her late to school, while Caroline and Katie admit to making them and theirsisterslate.

Who’s bossier?

Katie and Caroline believe that their sisters are bossierbecausethey’reolder.However,Katieclarified that neither of them are very bossy, but Ellie controls the music in the car and what time they leave the house every morning. Ashlee believes she, as the youngerone,isbossier.

Are you excited for your sister to go off to college? Will you miss her when she leaves Villa?

Ashlee and Caroline both say that they’re excited for their big sisters to go to college, but will miss them. KatiedreadsEllieleavingforcollege,butisthrilledfor hertomeetnewpeopleandlearnnewthings.Shewill definitelymissEllieduringherabsence,butexpresses beingexcitedtoraidhercloset!

What’s the hardest thing about having an older sister?

Ashlee says the hardest thing about having an older sister is sharing clothes, but Caroline thinks it’s when Delaney gets mad at her. The wider age gap between Caroline and Delaney possibly explains this range of responses. Katie says that the hardest thing about having an older sister is that there is never any hot water left to shower and that all of her food mysteriouslydisappears.

What do you like or not like about being the younger child?

Ashleelikesbeingtheyoungerchildbecausesheoften gets off the hook, and Caroline likes having older role models to look up to. Katie likes being the youngest because she always got to tag along with her sister and her friends on their adventures when she was

Who do you think is your mom’s favorite daughter? Your dad’s?

Both Ashlee and Caroline agree that they are their mom's favorites while their older sisters are their dad’sfavorites.Katiethinksit’sobviousthatshe’sboth her parents’ favorite: she believes she’s naturally funnier than Ellie and more easy-going, so she finds “ithardtoseehowIcouldn'tbethefavorite.”

What’s the best quality about your older sister? The worst? (What is your sister really good at?)

AshleesaysthatOlivia’sbestqualityisherempathyor skills in soccer and the piano, while her worst is her stubbornness. Caroline says the best quality about Delaney is her humor and her worst is her attitude. She finds Delaney super smart and excellent at all sports. Katie was “threatened” by her sister (who is the managing editor of this issue) to not include any of her bad qualities, but she was granted permission toaddressthepositiveones.KatiecommendsElliefor being a surprisingly fabulous singer. She points out Ellie’s humility in displaying her natural talent but suggests stopping Ellie in the hallway to break out in song.

Whose room is messier?

AshleesaysOlivia’sroomismessier,butsinceDelaney and Caroline share a room, their rooms are equally as messy. Katie provided a subtle answer about how her room is seldom clean, but Ellie’s could also use some decluttering.

Who’s the sister who always borrows the other’s clothes without asking?

Ashlee points fingers at Olivia for borrowing her clothes without asking, but Caroline guiltily admits to borrowing Delaney’s clothes without permission. Katie humorously answers by saying she never borrows her sister’s clothes without asking as the potentialconsequencesscareher.

Who’s the funnier one?

Ashlee says that she thinks she is the funnier one while Caroline finds Delaney funnier. Katie says that there’snocompetition–she’sthefunnierone.

Villa Voices Robotics Kick-Off Summary: A

Snowy Winter’s Morning

Katie Treacy ’27

On the 6th of January, Sisters 1st Robotics team members, mentors, and alumnae gathered together to discover what exciting challenge would be in store for this year. Bundled up in our coats we drove to Villa at 11:30am to watch the reveal video and begin our prototyping process. Eagerly we watched as the promptwasunveiled.

This year, the game is titled “CRESCENDO presented by Haas.” Like the name suggests, it is a music-themed challenge. The robot must acquire orange rings, called notes,andinteractwithgamepiecessuchasthe amp, speaker, stage, and microphone. After watching the stream, we quickly started our processofcreatingtherobot,andwehavebeen designing and improving ever since in anticipationofourfirsttournament.

'Twasthenightbeforekickoff,whenallthroughthelab, Notarobotwasstirring,noteventheDiscordapp. TheTVwassetuponthewallwithcare, InhopesthattheCrescendorevealvideowouldsoonbe there.

Thestudentswerenestledallsnugintheirbeds, Whilevisionsofprototypingtherobotdancedintheir heads.

AndMrs.Nugentinherclassroom,thestudentsall there,

GatheredatVillaWalshwithlittletimetospare. Whenintheroboticslabtherearosesuchaclatter, wesprangfromourdeskstoseewhatwasthematter.

AwaytothescreenMr.Buslerhaddashed, TheTVhadfrozen,andourvideohadcrashed! Inamatterofseconds,withourvideobackup Asighofrelief,breathedthewholeroboticsclub. Finally,welearnedofthechallengeanditsrules, Andourteamwasexcitedtorepresenttheschool! Thisyear’smusicalchallenge,unlikeanyother Anamptoshootinto,andthespeaker,atalltower!

Whatwe’dbethrowingwasthebigask, Anorangeroundnotewouldbethetoolforthistask. Duringthecompetition,neartheendofeachround, Therobotsmusthangonachainhighabovethe ground.

Theninthetraptheymayplaceanote, Adifficulttasktodowhileafloat.

Andwiththis,thedaywasalmostover, Astheweatherwasgettingcolderandcolder, Outsidesnowbegantocomedown

Andthewholeteamwastoldwithafrown “Wecannotdallyhereanylonger, Asthecoldwinterwindsgrowstrongerandstronger! Wemustleavenowforwecannotstay, Sohappykickofftoall,andtoallagoodday!’

No Objections, Your Honor, to Being

a Mock Jock

Nicole Muniz ’24

Have you ever dressed up for a performance?

Have you ever watched television and wished you were that powerful lawyer on the other side of the screen?Haveyoueverwantedtoinvestigateacaseor beinacourtroom?Ifso,youareherebysummonedto jointheMockTrialteam!

Although it is a time commitment and requires dedication, as playing a sport would, Mock Trial is immensely rewarding. Participating in Mock Trial allows you to discover many new skills you will implement beyond the courtroom. For one, your involvement in Mock Trial teaches you proper time management, critical thinking, argument, and collaboration skills. With that, you will learn how to speakpublicly,withgrandiloquentjargon,infrontofa crowd with confidence. You will also learn how to appropriately dress for court, which may become beneficialwhendressingforanintervieworattending professionalevents.

Ifyoufeelthatthecourtroomisnotforyou,do not fret. There is a place for everyone on the Mock Trial team. Paralegals assist behind the scenes, formulatingtimelinesandmemorygamessotheteam bettercomprehendsthecase.Otherpositionsinclude being a witness or an attorney, which involves acting inanactualcourtroom!

Thisyear,Ihadthepleasureofplayingtherole of Brighton Kershner, a not-so BRIGHT student accused of being accepted into a university based on her parents’ wealth. Dressing up for court in my whale-enthusiast-inspired attire and being asked about my favorite whale BRIGHT(on)-ed my day! Saying Mock Trial was enjoyable is an understatement.

At Villa Walsh, Mock Trial is not just a club but ateamthatbecomesyoursecondfamily.DuringMock Trial season, most of my conversations, whether or notinschool,revolvedaroundMockTrial.Theseniors and I spent endless hours on calls devising tactics to defend our case theory. We spent most weekends meetingtodiscussourstrategiesorpractice,whether it be at the school or the Salad House. We all have a passion for Mock Trial and want to practice on weekends,evenstayingaftertheallottedtime.

Villa Voices

Our Mock Trial team is a sisterhood! All of us are immensely dedicated to Mock Trial and become excited when someone discovers a new element of the case. Even after our team was out of the tournament,theseniorsgotfrozenyogurt,nottosulk in our sorrow but to celebrate all our hard work paying off and successfully bringing our case theory tofruition.

Recently, we had our end-of-season party, where we shared our favorite jokes and memories with the team while enjoying waffles and ice cream. Truly, there is nothing better than eating waffles and ice cream to commemorate your team’s dedication and growth and, better yet, celebrate a sisterhood, ourclose-knitbondthatlivesbeyondthecourtroom.

Photos by the author

Never Tire of Villa’s Sisterhood: A Flat Tire

Story

Holly Smitreski ’24

Mondays are hard enough already; I can only imagine how frustrating it must have been for Katie Eagan ’24 to realize that on top of tackling her homework and leading the robotics team, she now had to make time to change her flattire.

During their practice, Coach Yombor and the track team were the first to notice the issue, and sent Katie a text to warn her. With a new mission for the Sister’s FIRST Robotics Team, Katie explains, “Grace, Leah, Kaitlyn and I called Mr. Busler to see if he would come help us try to change it and he told us he would watch to make sure we didn't screw it up but wasn’t gonna help atall.”

While this may have seemed frustrating at first, Mr. Busler’s approach gave Katie and her team the opportunity to learn for themselves and let their sisterhood take the wheel — or more accurately,thejack.

Katie says that by “using our full combined mass and taking turns doing the tiring stuff like turning the jack,” they were able to change her tire. But Villa sisterhood extends far beyond the school parking lot. With the newly attached donut,Katiecontinues,“Gracedrovewithmetoa place in Morristown where we dropped it off for the night and then got Chipotle to celebrate our hardwork!”

“I don’t think I would have been able to do it without their help, so sisterhood was the only thing that got me driving again,” Katie says with a laugh. From Kaitlyn Pavagadhi ’25 and Leah Costa ’25’s willingness to help, to Grace Mesce ’24’s kindness in driving with Katie to drop off the car, “the bond between us all,” as Katie describes it,wasevidentwhensheneededitmost.

Together, there is no obstacle too big, nor anytiretooflat,forthesistersofVillaWalsh!

Villa Voices

Photos by Mrs. Pasko

St. Paul's Abbey: A Monument to Faith

A monolithic grey building surrounded by flat fields, St. Paul’s Abbey in Newton, NJ, sticks out like a sore thumb. Stone walls adorned with climbing vines add an almost ethereal air to the complex. The building stands right off the street, while an old decaying barn and small silo can be found just to its rear. There is minimal graffiti on the outside and a smallcoloredmuralalongthesideofwhatappearsto be a stone passageway. This structural beauty inspires awe and curiosity in travelers who pass it on the road, me being one of them. I have passed the abbey before, and it has never failed to instill a sense ofquietamazement.AsIinvestigateddeeperintothe history of this building, I learned more about religious life and those who choose to pursue it. It could be thought that this landmark was left up so thatpasserbyswouldseeitandhaveadesiretoknow more about it. This longing for knowledge would then lead to an introduction into the world of religiousliving.

Founded in 1924 by Father Michael Hienlen, St. Paul’s Abbey had its start as Little Flower Monastery, an homage to St. Therese. Children were often introduced to religion there during this time. It was home to a mere handful of monks at its founding, but gradually, more arrived and took up residence. They came from Germany and West Africa, allowing for a diversemixofbackgroundsandculturestobeshared due to the bond of religious brotherhood. Father MichaelHienlenservedassuperiortherefor17years. Later on it became a Conventual Priory in 1936, and in 1947 Father Charles Coriston was elected as abbott and changed the title of the monastery to St. Paul’s Abbey.

In 1945 the abbey’s first missionaries were sent to South Africa, and the abbey itself began structural expansion. Buildings were erected across the street. There was the retreat house, and then in the 1950’s the Abbey Gift Shop was built, in order to provide books and religious information to thepublic.Thefieldsaroundtheabbeywere usedforfarmingandagriculturalendeavors, thus leading to the need for a grain silo. There is also a Christmas tree farm. These fields belonged to the Red Gate Farm, which was in association with the abbey. The abbey eventually moved across the street, intowhatwastheretreathouse.

Throughout all of the expansion, one thing on the large property has stayed the same:theoriginalstonebuildingstandingto the side of the highway, intriguing and enlightening travelers. While the structure may no longer be functioning, it is still a part of the St. Paul's Abbey property, so one might care to say that it has not been fully abandoned. It has withstood the test of time and has maintained its beauty. It is as though the building still standing is proof of God’sgraces.

Photos by the author

Restaurant Review: Enzo

Sabrina Pasko ’26

There'saparkinglotinMorristown,onethatdisplays four large letters: E-N-Z-O. A door to the left will lead you to a red-lit hallway with curtains at the end. Pull back the curtain to see and smell a Enzo restaurant. Large trees are centered among the booths and tables under the dim balls of light. The sight of candles among the tables, the clang of glasses, and the echoes of a fully booked room both calm and excite the senses. One sense must still be fulfilled: taste.

The bread, soft and warm, will only make you more eagertotrythemenu.Youhavethechoiceof13appetizers, 8 salads, 6 soups, 18 pastas, 11 chicken dishes, 6 veal plates, 6 seafood options, and, of course, numerous types of pizza. With such a diverse (Italian) menu, I promise you can find something to make your mouth water and hunger for more. My dining experiences at Enzo included two types of penne: penne vodka with a sweet and salty vodka sauce with some tender breaded chicken, and penne with marinara sauce that startles the taste buds with strong tomato and basil flavors. I like lentils, those beans that people think are gross, and so that’s what I ordered–the lentilsoup.

Man, that soup was tasty. I (silently) slurped those lentils, carrots, potato, and broth into my mouth as swiftly as Taylor. And it was a true appetizer, indeed; it wasn’t too filling but tastefully tied me over until I had the one and only chickenfrancese.Ihadalreadyeyedthedishduringmy previous excursion to the restaurant but I knew, in my heart, that it must be ordered. My heart was correct. It fulfilledandbroughtmydiningexperiencetothenextlevel.

The chicken was in a light, creamy puddle of lemon, butter, and wine (cooked, obviously… I’m not 21). That tender chicken forced my hand to keep picking up my fork and shove more into my mouth. Of course, pizza was also a go-to. Plain cheese: simple but soft and crunchy on the ends. So by the time dinner was accomplished, I was wonderingabouthowtoconveymydiningadventuretothe readers of Towerette. I thought for a while about one word tosumitallupandso,Ichosewisely… scrumptious.

I will warn you, Enzo is popular. Reservations on the weekends are booked even a week prior; beat the rush of the crowd and their online bookings. Though it is busy, you willnotbedisappointedintheserviceorflavors.

Courtney Summers

Isabella Cantave ’24

How far would you go for your sister? Would you risk it all to get the million dollar question tearing your family down? For Sadie, she went the mile for her younger sister. After finding out about the murder of her sister, Mattie,withthehelpofhergrandmother and disapproval of her mother, Sadie opened an investigation into who killed hersister.

This all was going well, and everyday Sadie got closer to finding theanswersuntiloneday,shenever came home. Sadie disappeared. Her grandmother always wondered: Did shegettooclose?Hadshefoundthe killer? For podcast host West McCray,thisstoryintriguedhimthe second he heard about Mattie’s murder. Now, he decides to start a podcast titled “The Girls,” to interview the people that were closest to the case and figure out what really happened to Sadie and Mattie.

Sadie is a thriller, mystery that will keep you on your toes, and bitingyournailseachpageyouturn. For any true crime or mystery fans, this book is right up your alley. You will fall into Sadie and Mattie’s world, leaving you with more questions than answers. Make sure tobuyahardcoverforwhenyouare ready to throw the book across the room because that happened to me a few times. If you are ready to hear the story of two sisters who loved each other to the end, filled with plot twists leaving your head spinning,thenstepintotheworldof Cold Creek, Colorado with West McCray.Andofcoursealittleadvice before you start – is anyone ever tellingthetruth?

Red in Fashion

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I thought I would explore the color red and its prominence in mediaandsociety.Redisacolorthatsignifiesmany things, especially love which thrives through sisterhood.

The Pretty Woman dress was made by designer Marilyn Vance and worn by actress Julia Roberts. Paired with white gloves, this dress could be said to be a symbol of love, as we see its simplicity, elegance, and beauty. Roberts’ character wears this dress as she accompanies her love interest to the opera. Her dress is the opposite of what she wore at the beginning of the movie. This dress shows how love can transform someone, and itbecameoneoffilm’smosticonicreddresses.

Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime show is the most watched Super Bowl performances of all time—and probably the most iconic outfit amongst all other half-time performances. Her performance and outfit even inspired a TikTok trend to recreate her dance and Halloween or party costume idea for that year. Rihanna’s outfit from designer-brand Loewe features a red utilitarian cargo jumpsuit. Rihanna put her blood, sweat, and tears into that performance—all while pregnant! Now that is passionanddedicationindoingwhatyoulove!

Olivia Rodrigo also put blood, sweat, and tearsintoher2024GrammyAwardsperformanceof hersong“Vampire”—quiteliterally.Halfwaythrough her performance, she began to fake bleed to really play out the idea of a vampire. Rodrigo also wore a classy Naeem Khan red dress to accentuate the vampire idea even more. One author for InStyle Magazine compared Olivia’s performance, specifically referencing the dress, to the popular horror film Carrie—which is a movie, too, related to loveandheartbreak.

Red in Fashion (

Luxury fashion designer Christian Louboutin states that “red means love, passion, and blood.” His most iconic design, and one of fashion’s most iconic shoes, are the classic pumps, most known for their red-leather sole. These stilettos have been noted by many artists, such as Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, and Iggy Azalea, in some of their most popular songs. Louboutin’s are often referred to as “red-bottoms.”“Red-bottoms”areasymbol

markthewomen’sabsence.

Red is a universal color we can all appreciate for many different reasons. There ismuchmoretoclothingandcolorthanwhat meetstheeye.

ST & F UND-TIQUE

Story,photos,anddesignby

“Sole” Searching?!

Are you sole searching? Have you lost your favorite shoe? Then your next stop is the Lost-n-Found! Currently, this unceasing table of lost items holds two pairs of shoes. Shoe number one: black, velvet, heels, between 2-3 inches. Who walked out of semi barefoot? (ew) Someone ditched their Vans for sneakers: These once-white, artisanally-distressedVansareasize7.

Who rejected their water bottles for Wehaveallbeenthere:ifitwasrejecting the Swells for Hydro Flasks or the Hydro Flasks for the Stanleys, we have all been guilty water bottle owners. The lost-n-found holds a total of 7 colorful water bottles. I know it may be hard to leave your Stanley behind for a day, but what are you supposed to do while it's beingcleaned--youdocleanit,right!?

Who needs to break the bank at Flynn O’Hara?

Thistablesurelyhasaplethoraofuniforms:a whopping 5 skirts, 5 tops, and 7 Villa sweatshirts, and 2 pairs of socks. No one has the excuse of being out of uniform when this collectionisavailable!

Artwork Straight from Olympus

Olivia Barsemian ’27

You may wonder what the connection is between apples, Greek mythology, and icon paintings. Since the last arts update, Mrs. Lagana’s art classes have been creating marvelous art pieces including still-life sketches of apples, drawings representing mythology, and recreations of Catholicicons.

The middle school students created still-life portraits of apples. The goal of this gateway project was to instill in the students an eye to create form and an understanding of how light hits an object. Obtaining this skill is necessary for creating shadows and highlights leading to a dynamicdrawing.

On a different note, the 9th-grade students each created two pieces regarding Greek mythology: they each chose a famous artwork of a Greek god and recreated it. This assignment combined what the students are learning in English and history with art class. The first drawing was a piece that looked exactly like the original art; the second was a personal interpretation allowingthestudentstoincorporatetheirindividualityintoartwork.

Grades 7, 8, and 9 worked on icon paintings. Not only was this a perfect opportunity to intertwine religion into art class, but it also gave students a chance to look into historical paintings and read up on saints. As Towerette reported in the last issue, Mrs. Lagana was inspired to assign this project after learning that the Virgin Theotokos is now on display at the MET after being brought from St. Catherine’s Monastery in Egypt. She explained that icon paintings reach their full beauty and potential when made in a prayerful state of mind. She therefore inspired her studentstocreateaniconinthesamefashion.

Art class is always an enjoyable experience, and Mrs. Lagana's students are exhilarated to seewhatisinstoreforthemintheirnextproject.

Clockwise from left: Sarah Porr ’27, Hailey Simmons ’28, Claudia Aragon, Brianna Hetherington, and Sarah Chambeau ‘24, Gigi Dangler ’28, Isabella Orosz ’27, Gemma Hong 27, and Emily Murphy ’27

How Does Villa’s Art Adorn the School?

From the beautifully adorned mannequins in the cafe to the intricate artwork hanging in the hallways, Villa is indeed adorned.IwonderaboutMrs.Cheifer’splanstohavestudents

createsuchbeautifulartwork.

APartstudentswillbetakingstilllifepicturesoftheirceramicsandwillplayaroundwithdigitalart to create a related piece. Ceramics have been bustling with so many techniques to learn and execute, like attaching a foot to a vase. After ceramics the Advanced Art students will practice palette knife painting: using a palette knife to learn about the forms of a face. As for the Art and Design students, they will be workingonlinearperspective.Lateron,theywillbedoingdigitalart.

One of Mrs. Cheifer’s wonderful ideas was inspired by Mrs. Williams. Over the summer, when they were at work at Villa, Mrs. Williams told her about Kintsugi (a Japanese art of emphasizing imperfection), since it was part of the theology department. In Kintsugi, a broken pottery piece is mended by using gold. Sobackinthefall,theartstudentsexploredthisJapanesestyleofartthroughpainting.

Mrs. Cheifer also gets inspired by her background in fine art and commercial art to teach her students various art techniques. She says that the students, too, inspire her with their fun pieces and creativeideas.

Bhavishya Boga ’25

Sarah Chambeau ’24

Cara Fitzpatrick ’26

Samantha Modernel ’26 and Kristina Dangler ’26

Abby Esposito ’ 25

Audrey Wilbanks ’25

Lizzie Kandziolka ’25

Editor Annie Connor lovesto gooncarridesandlistento musicwithhersister!

Featured Contributor Bella Cantave lovesto watch Sister Sister with hersister!

Managing Editor Ellie Treacy lovestotrynew restaurantsandcafeswith hersisterandfriends.

Editor Katherine Ziwot likestowatchmoviesand makelate-nightsnacks withhersisters!

Editor Bryanna Liu likestogoshopping withhersister!

Mrs. Pasko lovesaccidentally wearingthesameoutfitsasher EnglishDepartmentsisters!

Design Manager Laurel Hamilton iseagerlylookingforwardto performinginVWA’s Seussical with herVillalittlesister!