October
Principal's Message
Greetings!

October is wrapping up and autumn is definitely in the air! I am pleased to share the various lessons and activities of this busy month and celebrate the many ways St. Ursula Villa demonstrates the importance of education, faith, and community.
EDUCATION
During Outdoor Education class, students discovered why leaves change color, identified the different leaves and trees on our campus, and enjoyed walking our beautiful Nature Trails.
National Metric Day is observed on October 10th, the 10th day of the 10th month, because the number 10 is pivotal to the metric system of measurement. Villa Math students celebrated by applying the metric system to various activities and games during Metric Olympics.
Traditional 4-year-olds read the classic book Blueberries for Sal, then played a counting game to fill mini-pie shells and make a tasty blueberry pie!
Cincinnati Observatory Outreach Astronomer Dean Regas led the 3rd grade in recreating the position and size of the planets in our solar system, as well as educating about dwarf planets, asteroids, meteors, comets, the Sun, and other moons.
While studying apples, Montessori B learned about the parts of an apple, peeled and sampled different varieties of apples, and voted for their favorite - Honeycrisp. They also worked on polite manners such as waiting until everyone was served before tasting, and saying "please," thank you," and "I don't care for this."
1st graders benefit from "Partner Reading" to increase student fluency, encourage students to work together, and support peer-assisted learning and cooperation through reading, listening, and responding to other readers.
During their Ancient Civilization unit in World History class, 7th graders selected a Greek god or goddess; researched and wrote a descriptive paper; and created a throne depicting three aspects of that god or goddess, such as this throne of Poseidon, God of the Sea.
Traditional 3-year-olds explored pumpkin seeds, fibrous strands, and pulp when they carved and decorated their classroom pumpkin.
6th graders developed map skills by using latitude and longitude to identify coordinates on the map and to find absolute location as opposed to relative location.
Traditional Kindergarteners write their spelling words in shaving cream to practice and prepare for the upcoming spelling check.
4th, 5th, and 6th graders in the Musical Club and Choirs performed Willy Wonka, Jr . to their enthusiastic classmates during the school day and a delighted crowd in the evening. Over $500 was raised from ticket sales and donated to the S.C.P.A. (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). View more photos here .
Kindergarten through 6th graders loved Field Day - a full day of games and activities on our beautiful campus. Coordinated by Gym teacher Ms. Hake and assisted by 7th graders, Field Day encourages physical activity, friendly competition, and outdoor fun.
In the "Wax Museum of Inventors," 2nd graders presented stories and information about creative thinkers like Richard Drew who created masking and cellophane tape, as well as the inventors of things such as the telephone, Ferris wheel, and cotton swabs.
School House Symphony visits and performs for Villa students several times a year, fostering an understanding and appreciation of music from many different cultures and time periods, and promoting awareness of how music is structured and performed.
FAITH
A Villa tradition for more than 20 years, the 3rd grade celebrated Mass and Pet Blessing in honor of St. Francis of Assisi. Parents, pets, and students gathered on the Manor House lawn for a wonderful morning and were joined by special guests from the Cincinnati Police Department - Police Officer Mike Harper and his K9 partner, Cairo. More photos of the morning can be viewed here .
Junior High students led other classrooms in morning prayer as we observed Saint Ursula's Feast Day.
St. Ursula Villa commends Philip Jones (2nd grade), Charley Johnson (5th), and Kate Sullivan (8th) as our Ursuline Students of the Month. They were selected for demonstrating "A Strong Family Spirit Within the School" - this month's Ursuline characteristic.
Junior High students regularly visit the residents of Brookdale Assisted Living and Memory Care to build relationships, foster community, and demonstrate commitment to Christian service.
COMMUNITY
Our first-ever Moms' Bunco Night was a huge success! Villa moms of all ages enjoyed a fun evening of conversation and community - stay tuned info about our next Moms' event!
Pink Out! raised more than $1,554 for the Karen Wellington Foundation for LIVING with Breast Cancer. Students and faculty paid $2 to wear pink out of uniform and enjoyed pink lemonade and treats during lunch. This Foundation is close to our heart, as Karen Wellington was a Villa mom and wonderful volunteer during her children's years at the Villa.
Parents of 2-, 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds connected with friends old and new at the 14th annual Manor House Wine and Cheese Event.
We hosted almost 600 visitors at Grandparents' and Special Friends Days where guests visited classrooms and shared a wonderful morning with "their" Villa student. To view our photo library of the event, click here .
Villabration 2019 featured a Live Auction paddle raiser party to Keeneland's Fall Race Meet. Over 50 people won the bidding for a fun day at the races with a chartered bus, tailgate fun, and prime grandstand seats. The event was a success and spirits were high despite the soggy weather.
Manor House students paraded their Halloween costumes through the building and enjoyed classroom parties.
Villa Parents' Organization
The VPO graciously hosted Grandparents' and Special Friends' Days at both the Main School and Manor House by greeting and assisting our visitors. Thank you to the VPO and all who volunteered or joined us for what is always a highlight for the Villa students.
Villa Boosters
Over 150 students in Kindergarten through 5th grade earned a pre-season basketball clinic by selling $120 of tickets for the Boosters Raffle. The clinic, run by McNicholas High School Head Coach Tim Monahan and members of his team, focused on shooting hoops, agility drills, and ball-handling.
Villa Girls Kickers team of 7th and 8th graders won the Cincinnati SAY East Soccer Tournament and advance to the SAY State Tournament in mid-November. Go, Eagles!
Faculty Feature
Ms. Diana Horst has taught at St. Ursula Villa for 14 years, most recently as 5th grade Religion and Language Arts teacher. She grew up in Cincinnati, her husband is a teacher at Archbishop Moeller High School, and they have 3 daughters: Rachael and Kelsey graduated from the Villa and are now at Mount Notre Dame, and Lauren is a current Villa 8th grader.
Other fun facts about Ms. Horst:
  • Favorite Food: "I love chocolate, especially dark chocolate."
  • Favorite Book: Wonder by R.J. Palacio because "it teaches so many valuable lessons."
  • Hobbies and Interests: "I enjoy dancing and love watching my girls dance with their dance team. I also enjoy sewing and baking."
  • Favorite Vacation Spot: "This photo is from our last family vacation to Hilton Head, S.C. where we go every summer. We enjoy spending time together and going to the beach every day."
  • Why I Love Working at the Villa: "I love working at the Villa because the students and the staff are so dedicated to their work. The teachers are all very kind and caring toward one another which sets a good example for how the students are to act."