It's TWOsday! - We are are so grateful for your support of VillaRama this weekend. We came so close to our goal of raising $20,000 for technology and COVID relief. An anonymous donor has provided a matching grant of $4,000. That means every dollar you give will be doubled. Please help us reach our goal. Click on the link to donate: https://villamadonna.org/support/online-giving/
Elementary Announcements
February 23, 2021
What's Happening This Week?
Tuesday, February 23
  • Lunch: Bagels with CC, PB, or Salami
  • Why are tigers terrible storytellers? Because they only have one tail

Wednesday, February 24
  • Lunch: Chicken Patty
  • What kind of bird works at a construction site? A crane.

Thursday, February 25
  • St. Walburg Feast Day
  • Lunch: Corn Dogs
  • Why did the mom call pest control? Ants were on the March!

Friday, February 26
  • Prayer Service (5th)
  • Lunch: Cheese Pizza
  • Can February march? No, but April may!
Villa Families - please remember that you MUST wear your mask over your mouth and nose whenever in our gym for practices. No exceptions.
Dear Villa Families,

Life is busy - and fun! We study and go to school. We're working. We're cleaning. We're fixing things. We're exploring the neighborhood and playing games with our friends. Sometimes, we need a break from the busy. We need quiet and thinking time. What a relief it is to just be by ourselves outdoors or inside our room - walking or sitting in the quiet - just us and God! Jesus took forty days alone in the desert where he fasted and prayed. As we continue our Lenten journey remember to take some quiet time to be with God.

Thank you for your support of our Virtual VillaRama! It was such a great night thanks to the support of Alison Montoya and John Gumm! Special thanks to Mrs. McQueen, Mr. Isaack, Mrs. Motley, Mrs. Thiemann, and Mrs. Holtzman for all of their work with this special event.

This Thursday, we celebrate the Feast of St. Walburg. The Benedictine Sisters who sponsor VMA named their monastery after St. Walburg. Many miracles, especially healing, have been attributed to St. Walburg. Say a special prayer for our Benedictine Sisters on the 25th and wish a “Happy Feast day” to those you meet.  

Report cards will be send home this Wednesday. Spring conferences will be held on March 11. To sign up for a conference please visit the Sign-up Genius link. if you have questions about your child's progress, be sure to contact your child's teacher.

As always, thank you for your continued support.
 
Blessings,
 
Mrs. Soshana Bosley
Prayer & Pledge
Lenten Prayer: God, Father, and Creator, we thank you for all the gifts you have given us, especially the gift of your Son. During this Holy season of Lent, help us to change and grow and become the kind of people you created us to be. Fill our hearts with love for you, and love for other people created in your image. Show us how to use the gifts you have given us to help others in your name. As we journey together toward the light of Easter, we know you are with us in all that we do. May we live always as people of your kingdom, praising your name now and forever. Amen.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Announcements
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Happy Birthday!
2/23 Maddie (6th)
2/24 Mattox (K)
2/27 Mrs. Vieth
2/29 Abigail (3rd)
3/3 Cora (K)
3/4 Xavier (4th) & Rory (K)
3/8 Seava (4th) & Arjun (4th)
3/10 Riley (6th)
3/11 Alexa (4th)
3/13 Zachery (4th)
Students of the Month!
Congratulations to the students in grades K – 3 who were nominated by their teachers as “Students of the Month in Peace and Hospitality”. They were chosen because they have consistently displayed politeness in speaking to others and in their behavior, thoughtfulness in remember to thank others, being trustworthy and honest, and respect for fellow students and for other’s belongings. Students nominated include: Simon Hughes, Emma Kluthe, James Wang, Hannah Ford, Chance Lam, Harper Mitchell, Lucia Adams, Lorenzo Brueggemann, Leevi Grosse, Charlie Case, and Abigail Ford.
Archery
The elementary archery team competed in the St. Henry High School Tournament on Friday night. The team finished 2nd and was led by Emily Barker, who placed 7th, and Madelyn Dekker, who placed 8th. Other high scorers were Madelynn Carman, Cailyn McKinstry, Lincoln Schaeffer, and Kamdyn Jhaveri. We are proud of the progress made by all of our archers who increased their team score by 200 points from the previous tournament. The middle school team finished in 4th place. We congratulate 6th grader Norie Barker for her high score at the event. The middle school team also participated in the Boone Co. Tournament on Saturday where the team finished 6th. The middle school team has been invited to participate in the State Tournament!
Virtual VillaRama 2021
Thank you so much for all of your support for Virtual VillaRama 2021. We appreciate everyone’s generous gifts and hope everyone enjoyed the event. Thank you so much to our students, faculty, parents, sponsors, donors, local businesses, friends, and staff of Villa Madonna Academy who made all this work possible. None of this would be possible without you supporting this school that we love so much.  Students who turn in a pass that was purchased at VillaRama may be out of uniform on February 25. 
Villa Madonna Montessori
Open House
February 28, 2020
1-3 p.m.
The Montessori school will be hosting an adult only Open House on February 28. Click here to learn more about this program that begins for children age 3, meet the teachers, and see the learning environment. To sign up for a slot to attend the Open House, click here. For additional information you can contact the director here.
Parent Information

Madonna Manor Work: Madonna Manor continues work on their grounds. You may notice that the house near the Montessori playground and the white storage building have been taken down. Several trees will also be coming down in part of the planning process as the Manor adds additional buildings on their property.

Spring Testing: The Diocese did not renew a contract with Iowa Assessments for our annual standardized testing. We will still be conducting spring testing. After several discussion with the elementary faculty and a review of testing options we have decided to pursue using the ACT Aspire test for our elementary students. The ACT Aspire test maps student progress and connects to the scoring system of the ACT test.  More information will be shared closer to testing which will occur after spring break.

COVID Safety Reminders: We remind all of our school community to follow COVID-19 requirements. Please wear a mask, maintain social distance, wash/sanitize hands frequently, keep your child at home if they are feeling sick, and keep your child home if someone in the household is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. The most recent safety information (1/21/21) can be found here. Covid testing information can be found here and scheduled here. On Friday, January 21, the Diocese updated the travel quarantine guidance.  As a result, we will return to our previous guidance which mandates quarantines for travel to states where the positivity rate is 15% or higher or there is a high-risk activities trip (i.e. traveling sports teams, flying). The updated Diocesan document can be found here and the state positivity can be found here.

2021-2022 School Calendar: Please find a copy of the 2021-2022 school calendar by clicking here.

Athletic Waiver Form: Beginning February 15, 2021, all students participating in any athletics program sponsored by Villa Madonna will be required to complete the Diocese of Covington Communicable Diseases Wavier form. This form is required by the Diocese of Covington in order for a student to participate in any school sponsored athletic activity. Mrs. Froelicher has coordinated with coaches and all student athletes have received the form. Forms should be turned into the main office.

School Delays/Cancellations: Should we have severe weather, school delay/cancellation will be communicated by means of local radio/TV stations, Villa’s website, Villa’s Facebook pages, and by text through the Remind App.

Dismissal: Cars should not line up around the school building until 2:20 p.m. If you arrive on campus before this time please park in a parking lot space. This rule is in place so that emergency vehicles or guests on our campus can get to school buildings and the Monastery.

Virtus: Parents who wish to volunteer at Villa must be Virtus trained. Please contact Julie Dickman, in the main office if you have any questions. To register and sign up for a class, visit www.virtus.org, and click on “Registration.” If you missed a bulletin, be sure to go into your Virtus account and catch up before you are locked out of the system!
Calendar
February
24     Report Cards Sent Home
25     Feast of St. Walburg
26     ES Prayer Service (5th); February birthdays may
be out of uniform
March
3         2:15 p.m. Dismissal for Faculty Meeting
5         ES Prayer Service (4th)
11        Spring Conferences 3 PM – 6 PM
12        Faculty In-service – No School
19        ES Prayer Service (3rd)
26        ES Prayer Service (5th)
31        Stations of the Cross (6th); March birthdays may be out of uniform
Villa Madonna Academy, a private, Catholic, K-12 school, educates students in a Christ-centered community rooted in the Benedictine traditions of scholarship, service, and hospitality.