Simple Lenten Meal Wednesday, March 13
During Lent we focus on prayer, personal sacrifice and service to others. Our simple meal will draw the students’ attention to those less fortunate among us. View the March menu for details of what will be included in the meal. WE hope many of you will plan to have your child participate. One dollar for each meal purchased will be donated to Catholic Relief Services, Operation Rice Bowl. Click here for details about Operation Rice Bowl. Students will be served only once; there will be no second helpings served on Wednesday, in keeping with our theme. We will begin each meal in the lunchroom with a special prayer.
Second Graders on “Safari to Kenya”
Fr. Okumu shares his shuka with Mrs. Purn's second grade class.
Villa Academy second graders recently began their Safari to Kenya, a four week, activity-based unit in which students role-play as photographers invited to travel to Kenya’s Maasai Mara Wildlife Preserve. Throughout their safari, students will participate in various activities tied to lessons about the physical environment of Kenya and the Maasai people and culture. For example, students are tasked with packing their suitcases with appropriate clothing and equipment, requiring them to research the climate in Kenya.
Their studies came to life when students received a special visit by St. Bridget pastor and native Kenyan, Fr. Stephen Okumu. He brought many items to share with the kids including the Kenyan flag, the national team soccer jersey, and his own shuka, a distinctive Maasai garment. Fr. Okumu told many personal stories about life in Kenya – a favorite of the kids being his encounter with a leopard!
Empowered to take charge of their own learning, the Safari to Kenya unit is embraced by students and remains a hallmark of the second grade at Villa Academy.
Villa Alumni Recognized for Academic Excellence
Thirteen Villa Academy alumni were recently recognized for their academic excellence at Bishop Blanchet High School. Blanchet students earn academic honors at the end of each semester based on their grade point average for all classes. First Honors recognizes a 3.7 – 4.0 G.P.A. and Second Honors recognizes a 3.3 – 3.699 G.P.A.
Villa Academy alumni receiving First Honors include Erica Blume (10th grade), Anna Clarkson (12th grade), Julie Henling (12th grade), Molly Henling (9th grade), Shelly Henling (10th grade), Alexander Piedra (10th grade), Isabel Piedra (10th grade), and William Whitfield (10th grade).
Villa Academy alumni receiving Second Honors include Erik Johnson (10th grade), Jefferson Lee (11th grade), Nicolina Rutkowski (10th grade), Jack Shephard (9th grade), and Jeremy Tanaka (10th grade).
“The accomplishments of your graduates reaffirm the fine educational preparation and instruction that you have provided them,” said Blanchet President Antonio DeSapio.
Congratulations!
Health Screening Thank You
This week and last, students at most grade levels were screened for vision and hearing with the help of 10 senior Seattle Pacific University nursing students and their instructor, Carol Redfield, R.N., M.N. This partnership with SPU has made the task of state mandated screening at Villa easily manageable while the student nurses receive valuable clinical experience in a public health setting. Parent volunteers also help with the process. Thank you to Hilary Gilkinson and Tammy Taylor for running a smooth operation. The student nurses comment each year how impressed they are with Villa Academy students. Thank you, all!
A Great Gatsby Auction: Update from Head of School
Dear Friends,
Last Saturday night’s Auction, held at Seattle’s historic Arctic Club, had a Great Gatsby theme – and it certainly lived up to the hype! The guys in their black ties and the dolls in their flapper dresses and cloche hats had a roaring good time – all to benefit VIlla Academy. Auction 2013 was one of the most successful Villa Auctions in recent memory and, on behalf of my colleagues on the faculty and staff,
THANK YOU!
Thanks to all who attended, sponsored, contributed, or procured auction items and worked on this great event! Many thanks go especially to Jennifer Roberts, our Auction Chair (and flapper-extraordinaire), and her “army” of volunteers that put in hundreds of hours over the last year to make the Auction a tremendous success. I offer a special thank you, also, to my colleague, Marcie Cheung, our Development Events Coordinator, for all that she did to make this event special…Well Done, All!
Although we’re still counting all the coins, it appears that we’ve grossed over $340,000 for Villa Academy – including over $77,000 toward our School Security Fund-A-Need with additional contributions still being received and processed. For those who’d still like to support the Fund-A-Need, you can do so at: Fund-A-Need 2013.
Finally, if you’d like to see proof that the Villa Auction 2013 was a “blast,” checkout these pictures from the photo booth: Auction 2013. If you’d like a copy of one or more pictures from the photo booth, just “click” here: Photo-Booth – Auction 2013.
What a great event…Thanks everyone!
Sincerely,
John K. Milroy
Head of School
Changing the World, One Coin at a Time
Juan and Juan
As many of you know, last year, Villa Academy’s preschool raised over $1000 for Wuqu’ Kawoq Maya Health Alliance to help two-year-old twin boys, Juan and Juan in Guatemala. Recently, the preschool class received a video update from Wuqu’ Kawoq’s Medical Director, Dr. Peter Rohloff. The young boys were severely malnourished and had a number of medical issues when Dr. Peter (as he is known to the preschoolers) first met them a year ago. ”They are much better now thanks in part to all of the money you were able to raise for them,” Dr. Peter reported, “and their mother, in particular, is very, very grateful for everything that you did to help them out.”
Continuing their Coins for a Cause community service project, the preschool is currently collecting money for another Guatemalan child, Levi. Just a few months old, Levi was born with congenital deformities of his hands and feet. Additionally, he is severely malnourished. Levi’s overall health needs to improve before doctors can begin the multiple operations required to repair his deformities. Dr. Peter thanked the preschoolers in advance for their efforts: “Funds raised will provide Levi with the milk, food, and vitamins he needs to get stronger.” Preschoolers are especially excited their coins will help with one of the surgeries to restore full use of Levi’s hands and feet. ”My kids were very touched to give for that reason alone as they wanted baby Levi to be able to hold his toys and run and play like they do,” said preschool teacher Sara Olson.
Coins for a Cause, which will run through March 28, also provides students the opportunity to learn about Guatemalan culture and geography. This will include a short lesson in Kaqchikel, one of the Mayan languages, an introduction to quetzal birds and howler monkeys, as well as a glimpse into the village where Levi lives.
Contributions to the preschoolers’ Coins for a Cause may be made directly at http://www.wuqukawoq.org/levi.
Viking Sports News
Sports and activities are really rolling right now.
Basketball – We offer clinics all week long with Watts Basketball. Just go to Watts Basketball and sign up for the time that works for you and your friends.
Tennis and Golf got off to a great start last week with over 30 kids signed up and swinging a club or racquet. If you missed this session, look for the next session starting in late April.
Volleyball has started and we are competing very well and have 5 teams in four grades.
Baseball is gearing up to start play in the 7-8th grade league on March 17th for the first time in over 6 years.
Track registration forms are in the office and here online. Forms are due April 26th.
