On January 20 and 27, Villa Academy conducted Student Health Screening. These state mandated tests include vision and hearing tests for students in Grades K-3, 5, 7 and all new students in Grades 4, 6 & 8. The procedures are simple, using standard screening tools. On April 9, 2009 HB 1322 rescinded scoliosis screening at schools. Scoliosis screening had been state mandated for students in grades 5, 7 & 9. Scoliosis is a side-to-side curve in the spine. Families and/or health care providers recognize the vast majority of spinal curvatures. School screening was very time-consuming and resulted in a large number of false positives.

Parents of students who met the referral threshold for vision and/or hearing will receive a letter with the results.

Senior Nursing students from Seattle Pacific University conducted the screening with the assistance of their instructor and Villa parent volunteers. I want to thank the SPU instructor and her students for all their help.  I also want to thank the Villa volunteers: Gina H., Amy M., Georgine L., Sarah H.,  and Nicole C. M.

Dear Families:

As Mrs. Skinner wrote in last week’s Monday Memo, we are working on building time into our busy school days for reflection. This year, an additional opportunity for reflection is being offered our families on Friday, March 19, 2010.

Middle School:

We are offering an OPTIONAL spring conference to reflect on students’ academic progress and to renew their commitment to their academic and social success this year while looking forward to next.

On March 19, middle school advisors will meet with advisees and their parents to review students’ work over the first two trimesters of the year. Students will discuss their strengths and the obstacles they have overcome as well as present examples of their best work in various subjects.

In the meantime, advisors, teachers, and students will work closely together to present a global picture of each advisee as a student at Villa Academy.

Lower School:

The Lower School faculty would like to give families an opportunity to have a spring conference with their child’s teacher. The purpose of this OPTIONAL conference (K-5) is to talk about progress to date, both academically and socially, discuss third trimester and perhaps summer goals, as well as the transition to a new class/grade.  The last conference was in October and students have been hard at work since then!  It is a time to celebrate, ask questions, clarify, refocus, and end the year on an academic “high note.”

Preschool:  We ask that all families sign up for a conference.  Parents only attend.

Kindergarten-Second Grade:  Parents can choose to sign up for a conference.  Parents only attend.

Third-Fifth Grade:  Parents can choose to sign up for a conference.  Student and parents attend together.

In addition to homeroom teachers, specialists and math teachers at each level will also be available.

Online sign up for these OPTIONAL conferences begins on Tuesday, February 16. Please watch future Monday memos for further details. We hope to see you on March 19.

Thank you very much,

Pat Preib and Jody Elsner

Your spare change can help the Villa Student Emergency Response Team support relief work in Haiti!

SERT’s “Change for Haiti” drive will run for two weeks, from Monday, January 25 through Friday, February 5. All of the money raised will go directly to the Catholic Relief Services Haiti fund (http://crs.org/).

CRS is providing food, kitchen, and hygiene kits to people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. A $40 food kit that can feed a family of five for 5 days, and the bucket it comes in can be used to collect and store water. That means just $8 can feed a child for 5 days in this critical time of need. Start saving your change and see how quickly it can add up to $8 or more!

Bring in your spare change to collection containers in all homeroom/advisory classrooms, as well as at morning carpool. Cash and check donations are welcome as well; checks should be made out directly to Catholic Relief Services with “Haiti fund” in the memo line.

Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated January 31 – February 6, 2010. The theme is “Catholic Schools -Dividends for Life”

Catholic Schools Week is an annual national celebration of the important role that Catholic elementary and secondary schools across the country play in providing a values-added education for America’s young people. Catholic schools are proud of their educational network that emphasizes intellectual, spiritual, moral, physical, and social values in their students.  Catholic Schools Week is a key part of the yearlong National Marketing Campaign For Catholic Schools.

FYI: 2010 is the 37th time Catholic Schools Week has been held; the first celebration was is 1974.

Schedule of Catholic Schools Week events

Proceeds benefit the Villa Academy CYO Athletic Program.
Please join us on Friday evening, January 29 for Villa’s Fourth Annual Villa Poker Showdown. The evening will offer great food and drink, an opportunity to socialize with the Villa community, and the chance to participate in the Fourth Annual Villa Poker Showdown!

The event is open to everyone in the Villa community, whether you’d like to play or watch the action from the sidelines. To participate, click HERE for a registration form. Participation is limited so sign up today!

What: Fourth Annual Villa Poker Showdown
When: Friday, January 29th
6:00 p.m. Check-in/6:30 Tournament play begins
Cost: $120 to play OR
$25 to attend and watch the action!
Where: Villa Academy Parlor

Mitten Tree a Success!

Thank you to all who participated in our Mitten Tree service project. Many children will be warmer this winter thanks to your generosity. Thank you also to Ana Bowman for volunteering to deliver the collected items to First Place School. We appreciate the Help! Before sending the items to First Place, the three kindergarten classes met to tally and sort what was collected. Below you will find the final count.

Scarves (1)

Hats (17)

Mittens (8)

Gloves (35)

Sets (4)

Socks (15)