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April
Principal's Message
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Greetings!
Though April offered only a few weeks of classroom time, our students have experienced hands-on learning, enriching specialty classes, social and spiritual growth, and educational (and fun) activities on our lovely campus.
The month of May promises to be a busy month -- I hope you will enjoy the coming weeks as we prepare to wrap up another outstanding school year!
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St. Ursula Villa's faculty and administration attended the National Catholic Educational Association conference - the largest private-education association gathering in the nation. They refreshed skills and expanded knowledge through workshops and seminars on such topics as assessments, technology, ministry, and leadership.
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Traditional 3-year-old preschoolers are following the development of caterpillars into butterflies through classroom observations, books, and discussion.
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Montessori B explored how things grow by planting a seed in both a cup with soil and a plastic bag with a moist cotton ball, comparing and monitoring progress while applying the scientific process.
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5th graders learned about constellations as part of their unit on Stars and Galaxies. Each student chose a constellation, researched and wrote a report about its myth or legend, created a visual representation of their constellation, and presented their report to classmates.
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Outdoor Education students observed nature far away with binoculars and up close with magnifying glasses. They discovered geese, a bird’s nest, a chipmunk, flowers, leaves, logs, rocks, and more.
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3rd graders prepared for their upcoming Spring Concert in Music class. In their short piece called "Possum Trot," students on recorders play the melody and students on percussion (Djembe, triangle, and bongo drums) add a rhythmic accompaniment. This activity allows them to practice reading rhythmic notation and maintaining an independent part in an ensemble.
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During their Social Studies unit on Reconstruction after the Civil War, 8th graders w
rote short books describing how African Americans lived under "Jim Crow" laws.
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Manor House students celebrated "Reds Opening Day" with baseball-themed crafts and activities, face painting, and ball park treats.
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In Robotics Club, students designed and built programmable robots using motors, sensors, gears, wheels, axles, and other technical components to understand how technology works in real world applications. They interpreted two-dimensional drawings to create three-dimensional models; built, tested, troubleshot and revised designs to improve robot performance; and gained practical, hands-on experience using mathematical concepts such as estimating and measuring distance, time, and speed.
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4th graders practiced using the Scientific Method during a flower seed planting. Each student asked a testable question about different types of flowers, soil, water, temperature, etc. and designed an experiment to test their hypothesis. Many of these flowers will be transferred to the campus Butterfly Garden sometime next month.
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8th grade Science students created edible models of animal and plant cells by assigning everyday foods and candies to the organelles of the cells and their functions.
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Manor House Science Day featured Cincinnati Zoo's "Zoo on the Move" program which brought several animal to visit. Students learned about how different animals move by comparing the Screaming Hairy Armadillo, Screech Owl, and Rainbow Boa Constrictor.
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In their Geology unit, 3rd graders learned that the Earth’s crust is made of tectonic plates which slide, collide, and separate causing earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains. Students simulated these movements by using graham crackers as tectonic plates and frosting as mantle. After recording their results, they enjoyed their models as a sweet treat.
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Junior High students participated in an in-school retreat led by NET (National Evangelization Team) Ministries, a small group of traveling catechists who serve throughout the US. The theme of the day was "Strength in Numbers: Authentic Friendships." The students thoroughly enjoyed the day of prayer, small group sharing, playing games, and spending the day together.
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Our 2nd graders celebrated their First Holy Eucharist among their family and friends at Saint Ursula Academy's chapel. They prepared for this Sacrament throughout the year, growing closer to Jesus and remembering what He did for us in His life, death, and resurrection.
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Members of our Girls on the Run team do group sit-ups to practice giving and receiving support while training for their upcoming 5k race.
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Showing that the Villa love never ends, more than 80 former Villa parents enjoyed a fun night of socializing and reconnecting at a Villabration sign-up party.
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Each year Villa students are invited to participate in Joseph Beth Booksellers' bookmark design contest through our Villa library program. Congratulations to Rafferty Desmond for winning his age group. As winner, he had a bookmark signing event before an enthusiastic group of family, classmates, and Villa staff, and also received a Joseph Beth gift card.
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Villa Parents' Organization
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VPO will again offer an optional on-line method of purchasing school supplies (grades TK - 6 only) for the upcoming school year. To order simply follow this link to Schoolkidz:
http://www.shopttkits.com/
, input our school code of
67034,
view the list for the grade your child will be
entering next year
and place your order. More details are available on RenWeb.
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Thirteen Villa 1st - 8th graders are participating in Track & Field this spring. Offered through Villa Boosters, Track & Field is run and coordinated by St. Gertrude with students from 7 other area schools. Students have been practicing after school and preparing for the SMAC East/West All-Star Invitational Track Meet.
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Ms. Caroline Miller joined the Villa 3 years ago to lead our Toddler/2-year-old program after teaching 3rd grade for 35 years. Ms. Miller's hobbies include gardening, cooking, and her several pets which include Maxine, a 10-year-old turtle.
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