April Principal's Message
Greetings!

Though shortened with Easter Break, April is the last full month of the 2020-21 school year. I'm amazed at how we have grown accustomed to things that seemed so foreign to us when school began in August, such as wearing masks, staying 6 feet apart, and following new school routines and schedules. I am very proud of St. Ursula Villa's success and give thanks to our teachers, staff, parents, and students for their commitment to follow health and safety guidelines and allow a full year of in-person, in-classroom instruction. The pandemic is not over, but we have weathered the worst of this storm while educating our children and delivering many special experiences.

We look forward to reinvented traditions and new celebrations as we conclude the year, confident that St. Ursula Villa will continue to be an example of the Villa Values - Education, Faith, and Community.
Kent Halaby
Principal
EDUCATION
In their unit about weather, Traditional 3-year-olds read the book Little Cloud by Eric Carle and used shaving cream and glue to form interesting dimensional clouds.
3rd graders read about the journey of a girl traveling on a wagon train in Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Diary of Hattie Campbell and explored the Oregon Trail and American westward migration. As a culminating classroom activity, students wrote a diary entry imagining they were on a wagon train and created a diorama that included a covered wagon and depiction of an important landmark along the Oregon Trail. 
Traditional Kindergarten studied insects and their importance to our daily lives. In this project, students first followed direct teacher instruction to draw a lady bug then added color with watercolor paint.
During Library, Toddlers enjoyed a special Easter activity.
The 4th graders read Shiloh as a class novel and added to their learning experience by creating board games based on the book. Some students created entirely new games and others used existing games as a model. They played the games in small groups as a fun way to review the novel's plot and characters and prepare for a test on the material.
Reading to Spot is a a favorite activity in the Montessori C classroom. Spot is a leopard gecko and is reputed to be an excellent listener.
The "Reading Rainbow" project is a highlight of 1st grade! Students dressed up as a favorite book character and presented a book talk for a video. Interesting and fun characters included Harry Potter, Nate the Great, Spider Man, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Geographic and cultural units rotate regularly in Montessori B. South America is this month's continent and a favorite classroom work matches South American countries and flags.
In Science class, 6th graders used marshmallows and toothpicks to model crystalline and amorphous solids. Crystalline solids are made up of crystals with particles forming a regular, repeating pattern; in amorphous solids, particles are not arranged in regular patterns.
Traditional 4-year-olds studied birds by reading books, discussing species characteristics, and creating drawings of various birds, including owls.
5th Grade Math students graphed linear equations and created stained glass windows as an enrichment activity. They figured T-charts of x and y values, plotted those points on a coordinate grid, and colored the sections created by the lines formed.
Traditional 3-year-olds decorated cups with their pictures and filled them with grass seed and dirt - they will have grass "hair" when the seeds sprout and grow.
1st grade has been studying map elements, globes, and how location affects needs for homes, clothes, food, and transportation. Students created a landform and painted land, water, and mountains to help visualize the different physical elements.
In a unit about the RMS Titanic, 2nd graders studied the actual event, read historical fiction, and learned about the time period. Each student researched a passenger on board the ship to learn who they were, where and why they were traveling, and if they survived the ill-fated voyage.
FAITH
Each month, a Primary, Intermediate, and Junior High student is selected by our faculty for demonstrating one of the nine Characteristics of an Ursuline Education. We commend these Ursuline Students of the Month for exemplifying April's characteristic of Commitment to Christian Service: Alexa Barnett (Primary), Parker Knight (Intermediate), and Mary Reese Sullivan (Junior High).
In preparation for confirmation, 7th and 8th graders designed their own coat of arms as a "Soldier of Christ." Students selected images to represent their identity by sharing a personally descriptive motto, something that makes them unique, and their own personal symbol for confirmation.
Our 7th and 8th graders received the sacrament of confirmation at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter in Chains. Preparation for this special event is part of our Religion curriculum and included in-class discussions and activities, an all-day retreat, a project about a selected saint, and an interview with their sponsor.
Our 2nd graders will celebrate their First Holy Eucharist soon and have devoted time in Religion class throughout the year to learn, prepare, and understand the importance of this special sacrament.
COMMUNITY
Villabration's Villa Royale was a huge success! We loved the opportunity to (safely) gather together to socialize and support St. Ursula Villa's educational programs. The evening's emotional highlight was the Special Appeal to finance faculty bonuses as a "thank you" for their dedication and service during this unusual year, and to add funding to the initiative to make faculty salary scales more competitive. Villa teachers decorated the school carlines with signs of gratitude for the love, support, and generous bonus gifts.

You can still donate at this link, or add your family to the August 14th Fun in the Sun Party here. We thank our sponsors, donors, attendees, and everyone who helped make Villa Royale such a special and successful event - grossing over $225,000! It truly takes a Villa-ge!
At their Girl Scout meeting, 1st graders decorated and planted flower pots as Mother's Day gifts, explored the campus trails, and enjoyed a beautiful spring afternoon.
Villa Parents Organization
VPO congratulates 7th grader Jack Ryan who won the VPO March Madness Bracket and joined Ms. Hake as gym teacher for a very fun day. Special thanks to Kate Rath for organizing the March Madness event.

Would you like to become involved with VPO or volunteer at individual VPO events in the upcoming 2021-22 school year? We invite you to join us and to reach out to Julie Doxsey at julieanndoxsey@gmail.com or Cari Sullivan clr3sullivan@cinci.rr.com for more information.
Villa Boosters
St. Ursula Villa fielded 2 girls softball teams this season - a combined school team with 4th graders from the Villa and St. Mary, and an all-Villa team of Kindergarteners and 1st graders. Both teams have seen some action on the diamond, despite the recent rain. Go, Eagles!
Faculty Feature
Ms. Tammy Fisher has been with St. Ursula Villa for 7 years in various roles, most recently as a dedicated substitute teacher. She grew up in Cincinnati and is married with 4 children, 2 sons-in-law, 1 daughter-in-law, and 5 grandchildren. Ms. Fisher describes her most significant accomplishment or source of pride, "Being a mom!"

More fun facts about Ms. Fisher:
  • Favorite Food: Italian
  • Hobbies or Interests: "I love walking, reading, and the Cincinnati Bearcats!"
  • Favorite Book: "To Kill a Mockingbird - since the first time I read it in Junior High!"
  • Favorite Movie Quote: "How do you love somebody so much who you just met?" Novalee Nation in Where the Heart Is
  • Favorite Super Hero: "Wonder Woman - for her name alone!"
  • Why I Love Working at the Villa: "I love the kids and what they teach me every single day!"