VWA February Newsletter by VillaWalshAcademy

VOL. 40 No. 5

February2024

PEERTUTORING

UPCOMINGGUIDANCEEVENTS:

CareerDayisbeingheldforallstudentsonMarch8.Villa Walshisexcitedtobewelcomingmanyalumnaeback on campustospeaktostudentsonvariouscareer elds.

GUIDANCEREMINDERS:

Seniors:

Ifyouhavebeenaccepted toyourEarlyDecisionSchool, pleaseremembertonotifytheadmissionoﬃces ofany otherschoolyouhaveappliedto,inordertowithdraw yourapplication oradmissionoﬀer.

SeniorsareSTRONGLYencouragedtospeaktoMrs. Devinsaboutcollegeoptions.

Pleaserememberto notifytheGuidanceDepartmentof anyscholarshipawards.Also,pleasechecktheGuidance websiteforscholarship opportunities.

SeniorsneedtomaketheircollegedepositbyMay1.

Juniors:

Pleaserememberto registerforupcomingstandardized testdates.Ifyouhavenotyetcompletedyourcollege planningquestionnaire,pleasedoso.Collegeplanning meetingswillrestartnextmonth.

Sophomores&Freshmen:

Individualmeetingsareinprogresstodiscusscareerand collegesearchesaswellcourseselectionoptions.

Shouldanystudentneedatranscript,emailMrs.Devinsat devinse@villawalsh.org.

Peertutoringremainsavailableforallstudentswhofeel theycouldbene tfromsomeadditionalhelpwithaclass. esignupforrequestingandprovidingpeertutoringcan befoundonthedoorof theGuidanceOﬃce.Pleasestopin oremailMrs.Devinsifyouhaveanyquestions.

ChristintheCityAssembly

eVillaWalshAcademycommunitywelcomedChrist intheCitytoshareabouttheirnon-pro tmissionary program.MissGeraghtyservedasamissionarywithChrist intheCityinDenver,Coloradofrom2020-2021and askedthemtosharetheirbeautifulmissionwiththeVWA Community.

ChristintheCityisaCatholic non-pro tdedicatedboth toformingyoungadults,volunteers,andthegreater communitytobelifelongmissionariesthroughknowing, lovingandservingthepoor. ChristintheCitywasfounded inDenver,ColoradobyDr.JonathanReyesin2010; heunderstoodthatyoungpeoplewereseekingtogive themselvesinaradicalwaytomakeapositivechangein theworld.ChristintheCitybringsauniqueapproach tohomelessministrybyaddressingthemostdebilitating needforthehomelesson thestreets,theunderlyingneed for humanconnection.

Aer12yearsoftheprogram,theyopenedupasatellite locationinPhiladelphia andthemissionandreachofthis organizationcontinuestogrow.In2022,ChristintheCity producedadocumentarytohelptelltheirstoryandthe storiesoftheirfriendsexperiencinghomelessness.During theassembly,thestudentslearnedmoreaboutChristin theCitythroughapresentationandtheshowingoftheir

documentary.Followingthedocumentary,MissGeraghty hadtheopportunitytospeak andpresentonher own experienceasamissionary.

VWAisgratefultoJonandMichaelaand allofChristin theCityincomingtosharetheirmission.

VWAjoinsinservingwithChristintheCity isFebruary,agroupofVillaWalshAcademystudents joinedDelbartonstudentstotraveltoPhiladelphiaon February10toservewithChristin theCity,ayoung adultmissionaryprogramwhosemainmissionisto serve thehomeless.“ChristintheCityspends over38,000 hoursperyearbuildingrelationshipswiththehomeless. Itisthroughsmallinteractions—thedisarmingpower of eyecontact,agenuine smile,asimpleintroductionto learnaperson’sname—thattheseedsoffriendshiptake rootand a journeyofhealingbegins.”

Withtrainingfromthemissionaries,thestudentswent todowntownPhiladelphiatoserveandshareamealwith thehomeless.Aneye-openingexperience,thestudents metanumberofthemissionaries’“friendsonthestreet”. Attheendoftheday,thegreatesttake-awayfromthe experiencewasthefactthatsimplekindnesses -treating otherswithdignityandrespect-yielded deep,genuine gratitudefromalltheyencountered.

Asimplehellocangoalongway!

AshWednesdayLiturgy

VillaWalshAcademybeganitsLentenjourneyon Wednesday,February14withaMasscelebratedinSt. LucyChapel.In additiontolendingtheirvoicestothe Chorus,ledbyMr.PaulDaher,seventh-gradestudents fromtheClassof2029assistedattheliturgybyserving atthealtar,welcomingustochapel,proclaimingthe Scriptures,readingthepetitions,carryingthegis,and processingwiththecrossand candles.emasswas celebratedbyFr.SebastianKajko,CFR,whoreturnedto MostBlessedSacrament FriaryinNewarkwithhundreds ofsandwiches madebystudentvolunteersfromCampus MinistryandVillaServes.

OperationSmile

DuringtheweekofFebruary12,OperationSmilevolunteers workedhardto“spreadthelove.” OperationSmileatVilla WalshAcademysharedtheirspiritofservicebyspreadingthe wordoftheOperationSmileOrganizationand“spreadthe love”withthecreationofagratitudepaperchain,saleofbaked goods, andbraceletmakingamongtheactivities. Aspecial thankyouto JesseKramer’24 fororganizingtheseevents.

DiversityCafe'

DiversityCafe’againtransformedthecafeteriaintoacoffee housebutthistimeitwasanInternationalCafe’. erewasa selectionofbakedgoodsfromCubatoIrelandandthearomas fromblack coffee,browncoffee,andevenchai. Presentations weremadebystudentsthatincluded atalkfromClaudia Aragon’24oncoffeeandnorthernSpain. EmmaMurphy’29 andErinLyons’25 entertaineduswithIrishstepdancing, whileInesLemee’25gaveamovingre ection inFrench. Julia Gitto’24andCatherineCollum’24sharedexcerptsfromthe FestivaldiSanremo. Additionally,JesseKramer’24,Annie Connor’24,andMeghanO’Malley’24exploredthewonders ofYerbaMate,thedrink. A selectionmadeby Miranda Aviles’25wasreadby NoraDam’25,andIsabellaCantave’24 sharedwithusapoemofHaitianorigin.

Inaddition,members ofDiversityCafe' attended Delbarton’s celebrationofBlackHistoryandCultureeventthatincluded culturaldisplays,music,dancingandfood.

WecelebratedMentalHealthandWellnessDayon February7thwithathemeofMentalHealth,Inclusivity andTransformation.egoalofthedaywastotalkabout inclusionandcelebrateallofthethingsthatmakeusdiﬀerent, knowingthatweallhaveonethingincommon:wewantto feelconnected.

StudentsweregreetedbyKona&Ray,ourfavoritefurry friends,andbeganthedaywithakeynoteaddressabout MentalHealthandFaithbyDr.EllieIngbritsen.

Ourstudentswentontograde-speci cworkshopshosted byVWAAlumnaeandotherVWAcommunitymembers, BrookeHanlon’09,MeganCox’10,SarahDeVizio’10, KathrynOsborne(sisterofaVWAAlumna),Ms.Joanne Smith,Mrs.OlgaNegrinandMrs.ElizabethDevins.

Aertheirworkshops,studentsgatheredtogetherforaspecial lunchwheretheytasted“PastasfromAroundtheWorld!”, organizedbyMrs.NatachaCantaveandtheDiversityCafe'.

Oncelunchconcluded,theVWAcommunitygatheredinthe Auditoriumforaviewingof“InsideOut”and somefreshly poppedpopcorn!edaywas lledwithconnections,fun, andpositivity!Welookforwardtoseeinghowourstudents implementwhattheylearnedintotheirdailylives!

OnDecember11thmembersofVilla’sDanceEnsembleand ChorusvisitedePillarSchoolinLivingston,New Jerseyto entertainandspreadholidaycheer.ePillarSchoolispart oftheCerebralPalsyofNewJerseyNetworkandstudents rangefromKindergartentoeighthgrade.

eVillaDanceEnsemble;ErinJacobs’26,Blythe Dudley’26,KieraVowells’27,OliviaBarsemian’27, andAlexaLombardi’27performedvariationsfrome Nutcracker,underthedirectionofMrs.RuthannLanni,inthe genresofballet,lyricalandacrobatic dance.Villa’sChorus, leadbyMrs.AngelaMasi,performedgroup piecesandsolos fromtheirinspiringChristmasconcert.ClaraAinsworth’25, CierraWolckenhauer’25,KatherineZiwot’25,Michela Vaccaro’26,Marie(Mia)Magnier’26,ValentinaReale’27 andKieraVowells’27sharedtheirbeautifulvoices.Asmall giwasgiventoeachchildatePillarSchoolandanew traditionwasborn.

Mrs.Lagana andMrs.Cheiferareveryproudtoannounce thattheartwork ofelevenstudentswasacceptedintothe BlackwellStudentShow.reehundredworkswerechosen outofoversixhundredsubmittedfromnineteen Morris Countyschools.eworkwillbedisplayedonthe ve oors oftheAtriumGalleryintheCountyCourthouseBuildingin Morristown. eshowwillbeopentothepublicfromApril 8thuntilMay1stwithanopeningreceptionbeingheldon April11,6-8pm.

Freshman: OliviaBarsemian,EmilyMurphy,AnneRionda, AvaSansano,andKatieTreacy

Sophomores: BerniceFernandoandAngelinaSantorelli

Juniors: ElizabethKandziolkaandClaraAinsworth

Seniors: BriannaHetheringtonandAnnaConnor

Additionally,OliviaBarsemian'27createdaworkofart whichwasacceptedintotheMPACStudentGalleryExhibit. ereceptionwasonTuesday,March5th andtheshowwill beupthroughMarch19th.

Itisincredibletobesowell-representedinbothofthese wonderfullocalannualartcontests,congratulationsVilla artists!

OnSaturday,March2nd,sevenVillaWalshAcademy studentscompetedintheDioceseofPaterson National CatholicForensicsLeagueGrandTournamentandNational Quali er.Fouroutofthesevenstudentsplacedin thetop5of theircategories.AmeliaKleinle’26 placed5thinProseand Poetry,MirandaAviles’25placed4thinOriginalOratory, AvaBentz’26placed3rdinDeclamation,and Cierra Wolckenhauer’25Placed2ndinDrama. Cierraquali ed fortheNationalTournamentinChicago,ILbecauseofher performanceinGrands.Exceptionalperformanceswerealso givenby AudreyWilbanks’25,KieraVowells’27,andGiselle Scanella’26. Aspecialthankyougoesto SadieSmith’25and MarissaNoonan’25whocametoshowtheirsupporttothe team.

Weareproudofthehardworkanddedicationofourwhole forensicsteam.

isFebruarytheInvestmentsClubkickedoﬀthemonth withaseriesofspecialguestpresenters.eclubhas beenfortunateenoughtohavealumnaeandparentsof alumnaewhoareapartofthe nanceindustrycomeinto givepresentationstoVWAstudents.MaryJoWoodford, aparentofanalumna,cametotalkabouthercareeratJP Morgan.LindseyMedd'15cametospeaktothestudents aboutstartingherloungewearbusiness,Star t.

eInvestments Clubisexcitedto continuetogrowand learnmoreaboutinvestingandthe nanceindustry. Studentsaregainingknowledgeonwhatitlooksliketo workin nance andexpandingtheir horizonsastheylook towardtheirownfuturecareers!

OnMarch2-3,theVillaWalshAcademy FIRST® Robotics CompetitionTeam8513Sisters1stcompetedattheMount OliveDistrictEvent.Aertwelvequali cationmatches,the teamranked6outof33teams.

Intheplayoﬀs,theteamended uponthe4th alliance, makingittothesemi nalswheretheysettheNJhighscore forthisseason!

Aerallthedustsettled,theywalkedawaywith the prestigious ExcellenceinEngineeringAward andare currentlythe8thhighestrankedrobotinthestate!

Lookingforwardtoseeingtheteam’sperformanceon March16-17attheMontgomery TownshipDistrict EventandalsohopefullyattheFIRSTMid-Atlantic ChampionshipsatLehighUniversityonApril3-6.

GoSisters1st!

AtthebeginningofFebruary, veseniors;JaneDufner’24, LiliannaWendorﬀ’24,KatrinaEagan’24,Isabella Cantave’24,andLaurelHamilton’24attendedthe11th annualTeensforHealthyRelationshipsConference,hosted byJBWS(JerseyBatteredWomen’sService)atDrew University.

Duringtheconference,theywatchedadocumentaryabout abusiverelationships,tookaself-defenseclass,andwere splitintogroupswithotherstudentleadersfromhigh schoolsacrossNew Jerseyforinteractiveworkshops.

Attheendoftheday,studentssharedtheirplanstospread awarenessaboutdatingabusetotheirrespectivehigh schools.egirlsplantoorganizeatagdaywhereeveryone wearsorange,thecolorwhichrepresentsTeenDating ViolenceAwarenessaswellashaveaspeakercomeinand presentatanassembly.

BasketballVarsity

VillaWalshVarsityVikingsbasketballteamhad aphenomenalhighschool2023-2024season.In conferenceplay,theVikingsweredefeatedbythe LakersofMountainLakesathome40-44.Beforethis loss,theteamwasinathree-waytiewithMountain LakesandSt.ElizabethatoptheNJACIndependence Conference.TheresaBowers’26ﬁnishedwith10 points,6rebounds,and3steals,CaraFitzpatrick’26 tallied9pointsand2steals,and Delaney Caughey’24contributed8points,2rebounds,2steals and2blocksfortheVikings.

WecelebratedourseniorsDelaneyCaughey’24 andHollySmitreski’24athomeon2/8/24vsthe TigersofDoverinconferenceplay,withawinover theTigers71-20.DelaneyCaughey’24ﬁnished with16points,3rebounds,and5steals. Caroline Tully’27netted14points,5rebounds,and4assists, HollySmitreski’24scoredaseason-high9points, 4rebounds,and2steals,andTheresaBowers’26 netted9pointsand6reboundsfortheVikings.

Wehostedourfirst-everPlay4Kayeventandplayed atoughsquadfromPequannockon2/12/24.The VikingspulledoffanEPICwin48-43afterbeing down17pointsinthe3rd quarter.Ouroffensive displaywasledbyCaraFitzpatrick’26whoscored acareer-high21points,7rebounds,2assists,and 2steals,including(6)3’sfrombehindthearc. DelaneyCaughey’24chippedinwith10pointsand 6rebounds,CarolineTully’27landed(3)3’sfrom behindthearc,finishingwith10points,3rebounds, and3assists,TheresaBowers’26netted5points,6 rebounds,2assistsand2stealsand IsabellaPizzo’24 contributed2points,4rebounds,3assistsand2 steals.

TheVikingsclinchedthe3rdseedinthePrep-B StateTournamentandhostedDoaneAcademyin the1stroundofthetournament.TheVikingspulled awaywitha64-20win.Ateameﬀortledby Michela Vaccaro’26with14pointsand7rebounds, Theresa Bowers’26netted11points,4rebounds,and2 steals,DelaneyCaughey’24contributed10points,

9rebounds,and2assists,andSoﬁaKearns’26 added9points,4reboundsand4assistsinthewin. InthePrep-BStateTournamentsemi-ﬁnalround, theVikingsplayedtheirbestgameoftheyearbefore beingoustedbytheRedHawksofPenningtonPrep 53-61.CarolineTully’27ledthewayfortheVikings withanincrediblescoringperformance,including17 points, (4)3’sfrombehindthearc,3rebounds,and 2assists,andIsabellaPizzo’24wassolidaswell, tallying12points(2)3’sfromthebehindthearc,5 rebounds4assistsand2steals. CaraFitzpatrick’26 netted8points,(2)3’sfromthe behindarc,5 rebounds,4assists,and2steals.

TheVikingswrappedupafantasticyearintheNonPublic BStateTournamentquarterﬁnals,fallingshort toatalentedGillSt.Bernardteamontheroad40-84. CaraFitzpatrick’26pouredin11points,Caroline Tully’27netted10points,3rebounds,and3assists, DelaneyCaughey’24,IsabellaPizzo’24andSoﬁa Kearns’26combinedfor17reboundsintheloss.

TheVikingsﬁnished16-8overalland9-3inthe NJACIndependenceConference,whichisthemost winsinconferencesincejoiningtheconferencein 2020-2021.

Thankyouforallyoursupport.GoVilla!

BasketballJV

TheVillaWalshJVLadyVikingshadavery productiveandsuccessfulbasketballseason.The teamfinishedwitharegularseasonrecordof11-1. Theyalsoplacedasthe#5seedintheMorrisCounty JVTournament.TheywentonanexcitingCounty Championshiprun,defeatingSaintElizabeth’sHigh School(#12),eventuallylosingahard-foughtbattle inthequarter-finalsto#4seedMadisonHighSchool. TheJVLadyVikingsfinishedtheyearwithan overallrecordof12-2,butmoreimportantly,theteam seemedtogetbetterwitheachgame,andthegirls genuinelyenjoyedeverymomentoftheseason.

Leadingtheteaminpointsthisseasonwere Ava Seaman’26(11ppg)andEllenDiDomenico’26 (9ppg).CharlotteStager‘26(4apg)andMaeve Dam‘27(7apg)ledtheteaminassiststhisseason.

BridgetDrew’26(4rpg),LexiStappas’27(4rpg), andBridgetBoler’26(5rpg)ledtheLadyVikingsin reboundingthisseason.AzariahAndrews’27,Eve Loughran’27,IsabellaNilio’27,MiaSpataro’27, GabriellaFarag’27,andRebekahSaxon’27also chippedinthisseason,havingahugeimpactonthe team’sdefensivecultureandoverallsuccessthis year.

TheVillaWalshJVLadyVikings’2023-2024season wasﬁlledwithmanylessons,learning,laughing,and winning.We can’twaittoseewhatisinstorefor nextseason. GreatJobLadies!GoVilla!

BasketballFreshman

ThefreshmanteamﬁnishedtheirseasononFebruary 14thwithaconvincingwinagainstLenapeValley. Thegirlsﬁnishedtheseason7-10. While thelosses outweighedthewins,thegirlsworkedhardinevery game. WebeatteamslikeRandolph,LenapeValley, MorristownBeard,andMountSaintMary’s. The girlsworkedhardallseasonandenjoyedplaying evenwhenweonlyhad5players.

Welookforwardtoseeingthegirlsonthefreshman teamprogresstoJVandseewhatskillstheygainin theoﬀ-season.

Swimming

OurVillaWash-MorristownBeardCo-Opswim teamwrappedupthe2023-2024seasoninFebruary. Thisyearsawexcitingindividualperformancesand teamresults,culminatingina6thplaceﬁnishin theGroupBDivisionatPrepChampionshipsthis pastmonth.Thegirlshadaseason-high4dualmeet wins,includingvictoriesagainstParsippanyHigh School,MendhamHighSchool,Jonathan-Dayton HighSchool,andOakKnollSchool.Thestrength anddepthofthisyear’steamwasgreatlyenhanced bytheadditionofthreestudent-athletesfromVilla Walsh:CameronShull’26,AnneRionda’27,and GemmaHong’27. Theseswimmers,alongwith IslaJohnston,joinedtogethertoplaceanimpressive 8thinthe200FreeRelayand12thinthe200 MedleyRelayatPreps!WethanktheMorristown

BeardAthleticDepartment,CoachSharp,andCoach Ellertonforworkingtocreatea positiveexperience forourVWimmers!

WinterTrack&Field

OnFebruary16,2024,theVillaWintertrackteam wontheNJSIAANon-PublicBStateChampionship intheTomsRiver“Bubble.” Itwasanexcitingmeet thatwasdecidedwiththelastevent,the4x400m. BlytheDudley’26brokeherownpreviousschool recordinthe1600mbyrunninga5:07.24.The 4x400mteamofMargaretBoler’25,Colleen (Jackie)Walsh’24,ClodaghBateson’26, andBlythe Dudley’26smashedtheoldseason'sbesttime by 7secondsandwonthe4x400Non-PublicBtitle. MargaretBoler’25earnedthe800mNon-publicB Statetitle,winningtheracein2:24.25.

PointswereearnedbyJillianPaolino’26inthe 400m,MargaretBoler’25andBlytheDudley’26 inthe800m,BlytheDudley’26inthe1600m,Ines Lemee’25andErinLyons’25inthe3200,Amalia Hronides’25andJesseKramer’24inthehighjump, AveryPoruczynski’25inthepolevaultandbythe 4x400mteam.

Lessthanaweeklater,thesquadmadethisseason's hardworkpayoﬀagainwithawinattheBdivision ofthePrepIndoorTrackChampionshiponFebruary 21,2024,inthe“Bubble.” BlytheDudley’26won the3200min11:01.42,justone-secondshyofthe schoolrecord,andshealsocapturedthe1600m title.MargaretBoler’25wonthe800m,and Colleen(Jackie)Walsh’24,MargaretBoler’25, ClodaghBateson’26,andAveryPoruczynski’25 wonthe4x400minyetanotherseason’sbest.All threepolevaulters,AmaliaHronides’25,Avery Poruczynski’25,andBiancaPetrucci’27, collected points,andall400mrunners, ClodaghBateson’26, JillianPaolino’26,andKaylaCastellano’25,scored forVilla.JesseKramer’24earnedpointsinthehigh jumpandshotput,andInesLemee’25scoredinthe 1600mandthe3200m. AveryPoruczynski’25and DelaneyYosh’25got5thand6thinthe800m,and Colleen(Jackie)Walsh’24placed6thintheshot put.Manypersonalbestsandgreatsupportfromall themembersontheteammadeforagreatdayonthe track!

Theseasonculminatedwithanexcitingdayatthe"Meet ofChampions"atOceanBreeze inStatenIsland.NJ’s30 bestathletesineacheventqualifyforthismeetduringthe StateGroupMeets.Atthe“MOC,”BlytheDudley’26 broketheindoor1600mschoolrecord again forthe20232024seasonbyfinishingtheracein5:05.14and14thplace inallofNJ.MargaretBoler’25brokethe800mVilla indoorrecordbyrunninga2:21.24andreceived16thplace overall.BlytheandMargaretjoinedClodaghBateson’26 andColleen(Jackie)Walsh’24 tocompeteinthe4x400. Thedynamicrelayteamwasonlyonesecondawayfrom breakingthe4x400mVillaschoolrecord.Witha4:13.98, theyfinishedin24thplace.InesLemee’25 ranthe3200m andalsofinishedin24thplace.AmaliaHronides’25 qualifiedforthehighjumpeventandhadgoodattemptsat 5’.

Greatseason,wintertrackteam!GoodlucktoallVilla Walshathletesinspringsports!Thetrackandﬁeldcoaches lookforwardtoworkingwiththeirathletesonthetrackand intheﬁeld!

FALLSPORTS

Soccer

OnSunday,January21,2024,theNewJerseyGirls CoachesAssociationhelditsannualstaterecognition banquet.OliviaMartin’24receivedNJGSCAState RecognitionandwasvotedaTop20playerintheNorth 2Region.Thisawardrecognizesherasoneofthetop80 femalesoccerplayersinNewJersey.

CongratulationsOlivia!

TheFebruaryALCmeetingwasheldonFebruary 13th.GuestspeakerJessicaMcGinncametospeak totheALCaboutcoachingstyles,motivational techniques,andbestpracticestocommunicate eﬀectivelywithcoaches.

ThenextmeetingisscheduledforMarch20.

TheMarchBoostermeetingwasheldonMonday, March4th,intheSDLACStudyRoom.Weare wrappingupthewinterseason,discussingthe spring,andplanningtheDinner&GolfFundraiser onThursday,May2.PleasecontactBoosterClub PresidentLynneConnortovolunteertoserveona committee.Please lookforournewsletteremails showcasingsponsors,specialannouncements,and waystoparticipate.

WehopetoseeyouattheAprilmeetingonMonday, April8,at7:30intheSDLAC.

Allparentsarewelcome!