Elementary Announcements
April 12, 2021
What's Happening This Week?
Monday, April 12
  • Lunch: Chicken Strips
  • Joke: What do you call a very tired Easter egg? Eggs-austed

Tuesday, April 13
  • Lunch: Corn Dog
  • Joke: What do you call a mischievous egg? A practical yolk-er

Wednesday, April 14
  • 2:15 p.m. Dismissal for Faculty Meeting
  • April Board Meeting
  • Lunch: Beef Tacos
  • Joke: What did the Easter egg ask for at the hair salon? A new dye-job

Thursday, April 15
  • Lunch: Turkey Sandwich
  • Joke: What is the Easter Bunny’s favorite sport? Basket-ball

Friday, April 16
  • Prayer Service (4th grade leading)
  • Middle of the Third Trimester
  • Lunch: Pizza
  • Joke: What do you call a rabbit who gets kicked out of school? Egg-spelled
Dear Villa Families,

This month, we will be focusing on the value of stewardship. Stewardship is a value that is rooted in reverence for all creation. Ways of showing stewardship are doing your best to develop the gifts God has given to you, taking responsibility for your actions, thinking before acting and being willing to take consequences for your choices, respecting and caring for your property as well as the property of others, and helping to keep our school and all Villa property in good condition. 

We have received word from the Diocese that we are no longer required to take temperatures of all who enter the school building. Masks and social distancing are still protocols to remain in place. We expect to receive additional updates from the Diocese this week and as soon as we do, will share those with our Villa community.

Throughout the week of April 26, students in grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 will take the ACT Aspire Standardized Tests. Students will take one test a day: English (40 minutes), Math (65 minutes), Reading (65 minutes), and Science (60 minutes). The scores from these tests serve as a standard of measure to help us continue to evaluate our curriculum and progress. They are just one of the many tools we use to assess the skills and abilities of our students. Families can help students by encouraging them to take the tests seriously and have a good attitude during testing. If you are upbeat and encouraging about the test, your child is likely to feel good about it and perform to the best of his or her ability. Also, students need enough sleep and a good breakfast to do their best. Attendance is vital; be sure to arrive at school on time. Students who miss school on a test day will have to make up the tests. If you have any questions, contact me or your child’s homeroom teacher.

Blessings,

Soshana Bosley
Prayer & Pledge
School Prayer: Oh God, creator of the universe, you hold each of us in the palm of your hand. Extend to each member of the Villa community an awareness of your presence, your healing and your peace. Help us to love and respect one another, to develop our gifts to the best of our abilities, and to use those gifts in the service of others. Help us work together to grow into mature Christian people. We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our brother. 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!
4/10 Lucas (2)
4/11 AJ (K)
4/12 Jack (3) and Mrs. Wellman
14 Ruby (4th)
20 Antonio (5th); Ashlyn (K)
23 Maggie (K)
25 Adi (6th); Tonatiuh (4th)
26 Sarah (5th)
28 Leevi (2nd); Andrew (4th); Ben (4th)
Being Good Stewards of the Earth
How can you help take care of our environment? Several of our fourth grade girls created posters to hang around school reminding students of simple things they can do to for a clean Earth. Posters remind students to reduce, reuse, and recycle as well as to pick up liter if they see it on campus. We thank our "Green Vikings" for these reminders!
2020-2021 Elementary Yearbooks
It is time to order your K-6 2020-2021 yearbook! The elementary yearbook has a hard cover designed by the students and 40 pages of photographs and memories. The books can be purchased for $25 and will be delivered and distributed in August. The cost includes a name imprint on the front. Please complete this form to order and send in a check made out to Villa to Mrs. Law by May 7 to order your yearbook. Questions should be directed to Mrs. Laverty.
Summer Camps at VMA
We have added a few athletic camps for the summer!
~Drama Camp for students entering grades 3 through 7, the week of June 7. Time: 9-12 p.m. Campers should be dropped off and picked up at the Holy Spirit doors. Cost: $125. To sign up please click here. Contact: Mrs. Eichmann
~Art Camp for students entering grades K through 3, the week of June 7. Time: 9-11 a.m. Campers should be dropped off and picked up at the Holy Spirit doors. Cost: $100. To sign up please click here. Contact: Ms. Young
~Art Camp for students entering grades 4 through 6, the week of June 7. Time: 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Campers should be dropped off and picked up at the Holy Spirit doors. Cost: $100. To sign up please click here. Contact: Ms. Young
~Archery Camp for students entering grades 4 through 8 the week of June 21. Time: 1-3 p.m. Campers should be dropped off and picked up at the gym. Cost: $100. Please click here to email Mrs. Barker to sign up for camp.
~Basketball Camp for students entering grades 3 – 8 
June 15 – 18; 9:00 – 12:00; Cost: $100 Click here to sign up for camp with Coach Trevor Gould.
~Volleyball Camp for students entering grades 3 – 8
July 19 – 21; 11:30 – 1:00; Cost: $50 Click here to sign up for camp with Coach Sandi Kitchen
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Road to Manor/Montessori
Access from the Manor to the Montessori school has been closed. All Montessori traffic will access school through the Academy driveway. You will notice cars going to and from the Montessori for morning drop off, pre-school pick-up, kindergarten pick-up, and aftercare pick-up. We remind all drivers to NOT LINE UP ON CAMPUS BEFORE 2:20 p.m. as to not block the road for people who need to get to the Monastery, Academy, or Montessori. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Parent Information
PTAO: Villa Madonna Academy’s PTAO (Parent Teacher Administrator Organization) has many exciting openings to fill for the 2020-2021 school year. PTAO involvement provides families with a rewarding and enriching way to serve the Villa Madonna Academy community and become an integral member of a team working to benefit our children and school. Below, are several positions that we are hoping to fill soon. If you are interested in learning more about or possibly fulfilling a PTAO role(s) for next school year please e-mail Mrs. Bosley at sbosley@villamadonna.net. Thank You for Considering the Many Ways You Can Make a Positive Impact in the Villa Community.
  • Jingle Bell Shop: We are looking for a parent volunteer to assist the current chair with inventory, purchasing items, setting up for JBS, operations during JBS, and cleaning up after JBS. Needed parent volunteer may enlist the help of other volunteers as well (please!) This is a labor intensive project for a very short burst of time. The kids faces and joy during Jingle Bell Shop makes it more than worthwhile! Next year's JBS is scheduled for the week of December 6, 2021. Please contact Fay Blevins at faybeth2002@gmail.com or call at 417-540-7436 for more information.
  • First Communion: This individual/group of parents works with second grade teachers and administration to host a reception for the 2nd grade students for the First Communion Celebration. This is generally chaired by 3rd grade parents. Next year’s event is scheduled for May 10, 2022.
  • Kindergarten Celebration: This individual/group of parents coordinates with the Kindergarten teachers to provide refreshments for this memorable event. This is generally chaired by 1st grade parents. Next year’s event is scheduled for May 25, 2022. 
          
Uniform: School Belles will be having a sale April 23-26, 2021. The K-6 code is S1995 and the grade 7 - 12 code is S1996. Our PTAO will be hosting our annual May Used Uniform Sale closer to the end of the school year.

Family Directory 2020-2021: Each school year, we publish a VMA Family Directory. In an effort to update our current directory, please assist us by signing into the VMA website. Go to MYVILLALIFE, and then click on the Family Directory. Review the information for your family’s listing. If there are changes that need to be made to your listing, please email Eileen Junker. If everything is correct, no further action is needed. Please note: We will update each child’s grade level for next school year and remove our graduating seniors. 

Middle of the Third Trimester: Friday, April 16, marks the middle of the third trimester. Parents of students in grades 4 – 6 can check student progress through the online grading portal, MMS.

2021-2022 School Calendar: Please make note that Presidents' Day was listed incorrectly on the school calendar for 2022. Presidents' Day is February 21. Please find a copy of the 2021-2022 school calendar by clicking here.

Fine Art Patrons Gallery Night: Our annual Gallery Night will be held virtually on Friday, April 30 via Facebook beginning at 7 p.m. Gallery Night is an annual showcase of the artistic, musical, and dancing talents of the students at Villa Madonna Academy. If your student is interested in performing for our Virtual Gallery Night, please take a video of your child and upload it to your child’s school Google Drive. Then, share that file with Mrs. Holtzman at aholtzman@villamadonna.net . You can make your video as simple or creative as you like!  Videos will be accepted through April 25.

Elementary Career Day: Do you work in a job that you love? Do you have an interesting career path? Do you wish to share some thoughts and ideas about careers with our Villa Madonna Academy Elementary Students? Do you know someone who has a job our students would love to learn more about? If so, we would love to hear from you! Every year we organize a Career Day where people from the community share information about their careers. Students enjoy hearing about the many career choices they have as they learn and grow. Students normally meet guests in person, however this year we are going to do a virtual format. If you are willing to provide a video sharing information about your career, please upload it to your child's school Google drive. Then, share that file with Mrs. Bosley at sbosley@appsvillamadonna.net. Videos should be uploaded by May 15.
Things you might want to include in your presentation: 
A brief history/background of yourself that led to your current career or job;
Average day-in-the-life at your job.
Description and responsibilities of your career/occupation;
Education and/or training required (please do emphasize the importance of lifelong learning);
Skills needed (examples: good communication skill, eye-hand coordination, etc.);
Personality traits that make you good at your job (introvert/extrovert, analytical/compassionate, etc.);
What courses in school would help a student prepare for a career in your field;
What specific types of tools, equipment and/or technology do you use on a regular basis;
Any extracurricular activities in school or college and how they may have helped you;
What do you like most about your job, what do you like least about your job;

Boosters Golf Outing: Save the date for the 2021 Boosters Golf Outing. It will be held June 21 at Triple Crown Country Club in Union. There will be a 1:00 pm shotgun start. More details will be provided in coming weeks.

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.

Spring Testing - Grades 3 through 6: We will be conducting spring testing the week of April 26. After several discussion with the faculty and a review of testing options we have decided to pursue using the ACT Aspire test for our 3rd - 6th grade students. The ACT Aspire test maps student progress and connects to the scoring system of the ACT test.  Scores measure each child’s growth as well as serve as a standard of measure to help us continue to evaluate our curriculum and progress. These tests are just one of the many tools we use to assess the skills and abilities of our students.  More information will be shared closer to testing.

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, April is an OPEN MONTH IN VIRTUS. Be sure to go into your Virtus account and catch up before you are locked out of the system!
Calendar
April 
12       Classes Resume
13       FAP Meeting; Fire Drill
14       Faculty Meeting – 2:15 p.m. dismissal
16       ES Prayer Service (4th); Middle of 3rd Trimester
21       Administrative Professionals Day
26-30   Testing Week grades 3- 6
23      ES Prayer Service (3rd)
29       April birthdays may be out of uniform
30       ES Prayer Service (6th); Virtual Grandparents’ Day; Virtual Gallery Night
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.