“What great work the Lord has entrusted to us women.” St. Lucy Filippini
Summer 2022
Letter from the Editor Avery Walsh ’23
VOL. 54, NO. 1
Towerette’s Summer Adventures
While the past two summers have felt short, personally the quality of experiences they have had to offer has truly enriched my life. Finally, I was able to visit my extended family without the requirement of a wifi connection. I could eat out at my favorite restaurants (Arturo’s in Maplewood and The Millburn Standard) and not have to worry so much about getting sick. Suddenly, the world felt a little bit smaller, with travel restrictions being lifted. While COVID-related issues might not be out of hindsight yet, the rule of quality over quantity has certainly been exemplified by experiencing the summer of 2020 in comparison to the summers of 2021 and 2022. The purpose of a summer break often gets lost in translation today. Students will take on extra jobs to make some money, stay up late with their friends, or start schoolwork before school supplies even hit the store shelves. While all of these things are not only commendable but ridiculously fun, the need to refresh and relax is dismissed, which is the key to an enjoyable summer. So after this summer, I hope everyone feels rejuvenated and ready to undergo the next amazing adventure: the 2022-2023 school year! If you are feeling particularly adventurous, I encourage you to get involved in Towerette. Each issue offers myriad creative outlets for every individual (high school and middle school) and also provides an amazing community to take part in. Writing or creating may be the rejuvenation you will need later on in the year to make you feel like you are back in summer 2022!
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In Remembrance: Faculty Holds Jim Holland Close to Their Hearts On July 31, 2022, Villa lost a beloved faculty member and friend: history teacher Jim Holland. His fellow faculty members celebrate his spirit and capture his impact on the Villa community. Jim Holland brought joy and laughter to every room with his kindness and dry humor. I am grateful to have been a colleague of his for the almost all of the years I have spent at VWA. A favorite memory of mine is greeting Jim almost every morning in the faculty room, as we were both rushing to get our morning coffee before heading out to first period. He never failed to make a joke about the start of his day while sipping from his overfilled mug. His quick wit and incredible devotion to the VWA community will have a lasting impact on all of us who had the honor of knowing him. -Elena Price
The shared hallway phone sits across Jim’s classroom. That phone and its ringing will always call to my mind Jim’s good-natured attitude about receiving and handling those communications. When I first started at Villa, I’d just had knee surgery, which meant that for nearly a full school year, Jim probably covered more calls than he should have -- but he never complained about the task, and his affability about the whole thing is a reminder to me about the nature of service and the value of small acts of kindness. -Kristina Pasko
I will miss Jim’s unexpected, welcomed drop bys which always made my day a little better. Jim was a caring attentive listener whose resourcefulness triggered new ideas. I am sorry that I didn’t get to fulfill our plans to further enlighten our students. Jim will truly be missed. -Carmela Ferrentino
Jim loved and cared for his students. He had great fun organizing the breakfast week with his economic classes where they were taught to sell breakfast to the Villa faculty and students. He even helped them cook the bacon , waffles, pancakes etc. Of course this was pre Covid… Being a generous soul I remember him bringing trays of lemon chicken and pasta from Oscar’s for the faculty after his fishing seminars! He was always ready to help people. We will miss him dearly!!! -Preethi Thomas
It is unfortunate that it is only after a person is gone that we realize how they always made us feel.. Would I say that he “sparked joy” or “lit up the room”? No, he would just laugh at me and that is the point. Mr. Jim Holland gave off positive energy and threw himself into everything with that same big, genuine smile and contagious laugh.. I will always be grateful for the rides home, the fun serving twice-baked potatoes at the Father/Daughter, freezing together when he acted as referee for the Operation Smile Powderpuff games, sharing lunch duty conversations, watching the Mock Trial enactments, his imitations of Bill Clinton and so much more. Before there was Google or Wikipedia, if you had a question on US History, the waters of New Jersey or the Beatles, there was always “Ask Jim”. Although some might say that he was a little absent-minded, it really wasn’t true. He was always mindful of his students, his music and the power of nature - the things important to him that made him important to us. Rest in peace, my friend. -Karen Cunico
Jim always had time to chat & share life. His brother Chris kept calling Jim a "good egg" and that is truly Jim. He would keep me company as he passed me in bus duty. He would stop in my room to chat when he had lunch duty in the chorus room. He would catch up with us in the faculty room. My husband and I would pop in to Shannon's when we were walking in Ken Lockwood Gorge just to say hello and Jim would always make time to say hello. I love my short video of the 2020 faculty 12 Days of Christmas because Jim was my partner & so easy and fun to work with. Even this year as Jim was struggling, he remained so very positive. He was so grateful with his diagnosis that it was not another. I referred to "our era" with Jim and he seemed to love that. He graduated from Delbarton the year before I graduated from VWA. Last year after he moved to Califon we would happen to be at the same traffic light on our way to school and commute the rest of the way one behind the other. I would look for his SUV. I'm going to miss him and all of these things will cause me to think of him. Jim did not cook but once in a while he would treat the faculty to trays of delicious Italian food from his favorite spot. He was generous. My daughter gave fly fishing equipment to her husband and she naturally went directly to Mr. Holland to do so. He helped her make the decisions on what Joe would need and like, shipped it and took great generous care of them. When we walked along "Jim's river" we always would look for him in the water to see if he was fishing. Now when we walk along the south branch of the Raritan River we will just know he is present. -Pam Moyer My favorite memory of Jim is at the Operation Smile Powder Puff Football event when he would coach the Juniors. Jim volunteered his time for years at this event. He took the Powder Puff game seriously and loved when he led his team of juniors to victory against the seniors! -Jen Fleury
Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet Jim in person, since I joined Villa as what we all hoped to be a short stint as his temporary substitute. But even with his illness and difficult treatments, he was so gracious and helpful to me in my early days. What always came through was his love for all of his students and the school. My students made it very clear that those feelings were a two-way street. He was always in their prayers. Many of the girls asked regularly about how he was doing, and it was always a tough balancing act of expressing hope for his prompt return to the classroom with what became the obvious truth that he was in the biggest challenge of his life. I'm so grateful that late in the school year, some of the girls came up with the idea of having their classes video their greetings and a get-well message. After I forwarded each of the videos via text, Jim responded to each with an acknowledgment of how much he enjoyed and appreciated their effort. On his better days, when we spoke during my free periods, our intended short calls would stretch and sometimes I had to remind him that I had a class starting in two minutes. We also had the opportunity to talk about personal interests. When Jim talked to me about his passion for fly fishing, he found out that I used to be a saltwater fisherman. He never held that against me, or that I was a former Phillies fan before changes in the way the game is played waned my interest. Unsurprisingly, we had some wonderful conversations about history and politics, and also talked about some of our favorite books and history-related films. --Roy Goldman
Jim had a wonderful disposition and was always willing to lend a hand. He would often go out of his way to help me and his students. He was exceptionally patient any time we had a discussion on grades and letters of recommendation. I loved his infectious laugh -Liz Devins When biking on the Columbia trail in Long Valley, my kids and I always set a goal "Let's bike all the way to Mr. Holland’s fishing store." That way they were motivated and biked all the way to Califon and when we got to Jim's store, he spent some time with my boys and showed them all kinds of unique fishing lures and flies. They loved it and they thought it was funny that he was both a history teacher and a fisherman. -Anneliese Yombor
My first year at Villa (2016) the faculty participated in the 12 days of Christmas for the school Christmas party. Teachers took positions as 'five golden rings,' 'two calling birds,' etc. When it came time for 'Ten ladies dancing,' Sr. Josephine, our singer, changed the words to "A perfect 10 a'dancing" and Mr. Holland leaped across the stage in a tutu that he had borrowed from one of the cheerleaders. It brought the house down. (As the song continues he had to leap at least twice more) That's what I remember about Jim: his willingness to do whatever it took to make Villa a special place. He was always such a great sport and really loved being a teacher. When he spoke about the 'kids' as he would say, it reminded me of a father speaking about his own. He seemed to take a very paternal attitude toward the students. I always enjoyed chatting with him in the faculty room, about school or his time on the stream, as he was preparing his Sanka. -Ruthann Lanni
Jim loved to give to our Filippini Sisters' Third World Missions the profits of his bagel sale, an annual project of his Econ Class. Knowing that I love dark brown pumpernickel bagels, he always included one for me amid all the white bread. I'll miss his daily shout of "HOLA, HERMANA!" -Sister Josephine Palmeri My favorite memory of Jim is a simple one that demonstrates his unending kindness and compassion for others. During faculty meetings, if Sr. Patricia had a tickle in her throat, Jim would get up to get her a water bottle. A little gesture that did not go unnoticed! -Lee Anne Nugent
My earliest memory of Jim Holland is his advice he gave me when I first started teaching. I was studying at Rutgers for my masters and having quite a bit of difficulty as a first year teacher. I was debating postponing my masters, but Jim encouraged me to keep at it. Throughout the years, I remember Jim helping with several Student Council events, such as judging the Father/Daughter dance contest. He would allow the students to dress him up for Halloween. He had an incredible “misunderstanding” of the sense of time. He frequently came into my room after school during Mock Trial season where we discussed politics, education, and Saturday Night Live. I also remember the time I brought fish in for my lunch and warmed it up in the microwave in the faculty room. It stunk up the entire first floor and he was blamed for it. I think he took the blame. But most of all I remember Jim Holland as the finest of gentlemen -- someone who enjoyed his work, respected his colleagues, and loved his students. -Julie Ann Oliveros
Some of my key memories of Mr. Holland: raising the U.S. flag to half mast at our outdoor prayer service to commemorate the tragic events of September 11, 2001; warmly welcoming the busloads of students to our annual Spring Musicale and leading the young, excited students to their seats in the auditorium; along with two of our Maintenance workers, pulling ropes (literally) off-stage to hoist characters into the air, whether for Peter Pan or The Wizard of Oz; with many other faculty members, faithfully cleaning up the Auditorium after the performances for student audiences, and re-setting the chairs. No small task!; and proudly serving as the Faculty Moderator for the Mock Trial Team and one of their biggest cheerleaders. Over the years, and it seemed to happen organically, Mr. Holland watched out for me. Moving a cart, setting up a projector, connecting a cord, troubleshooting a technical problem at a school assembly - he stepped out of the crowd and offered his help. I was, and remain, very grateful for his thoughtful assistance. I hope that in some way I helped him get to heaven. I pray that when my time comes to leave this earth, he will once again step forward and say, “Sister, what do you need?” Thank you, Mr. Holland, for all you did to advance the mission of St. Lucy Filippini here at Villa Walsh Academy. You will be missed! In the beautiful words of one of our Catholic prayers for the deceased: May the angels lead you into paradise; may the martyrs greet you at your arrival and lead you into the holy city, Jerusalem. Like Lazarus, who once was poor, may you have eternal rest. Amen. -Sr. Laura Bezila I will always cherish my lunches with Jim. We would talk about everything from our families, what we did over the weekend, or what was going on in the world. Jim had a great laugh and always had a positive attitude. I will miss him immensely. -Jennifer Hornyak I liked how Jim was always very matter-of-fact. I also enjoyed his dry sense of humor. -Kim Cheifer
My favorite conversation with Mr. Holland was around our mutual love of the Ken Lockwood Gorge. We agreed that the way the sunlight comes through the trees onto the water in the morning is a heavenly sight. I imagine him fishing there in that exquisite place for eternity. -Trisch Lagana
I will remember our many conversations about the Yankees, as he would keep me up to date on the players. His spirit will continue to be with us and we will forever hold him in our hearts. -Sr. Elaine Jim was so much more than a colleague; he was my friend. Jim and I were always the last to arrive at school in the morning, so we walked in together almost every day. I enjoyed our conversations which always made me laugh and started my day off with a smile! One of my favorite memories of Jim was watching him coach the junior girls in the Powder Puff game. It was evident that Jim loved being a part of Villa Walsh Academy. His stories, kindness and willingness to "be silly" in front of the girls will forever leave a mark at VWA. I will miss you my friend! -Stacey Grabowski
Halloween 2014
As a former student of Mr. Holland, I'll never forget his kind and upbeat nature. He was always cracking jokes, and often tried to cheer up his students when worries of test grades or future assignments swam in our minds. The impact of his care and love for the Villa community will never be forgotten. -Angela Solazzo
Villa Voices Proust Questionnaire: Student Council Secretary Delaney McKee ’23 Hannah D’Cruz ’23 Q: Which talent would you most like to have? A: I think it would be really cool to play an instrument -- maybe piano. Q: What is your favorite occupation? A: I love being a Promly intern. Promly is an organization helping teens with mental health struggles to reach out for help and find friends. It’s been a great experience. Q: Which words or phrases do you most overuse? A: Like or actually. Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement? A: I am a six-time world qualifier for Irish dance. Q: Which living person do you most admire? A: Adam Sandler -- he’s just so funny and he makes everybody laugh, he never lets fame get to him and he’s still a down-to-earth person. I admire that about him. Q: Where would you most like to live? A: In New York or Boston -- I like living in a city, because it’s so close to everything and there are so many available resources. I have family in New York, so that’s why New York would be better. Q: What is your most marked characteristic? A: Outgoing or welcoming -- I always like to reach out to new people, ask them things about themselves, and make them part of the group. Q: Which historical figure do you most identify with? A: I like Michael Jackson. He was in a group singing with his brothers, and everyone was saying how good he was, so he made his own label. It must have been hard to leave his group but he made people so happy. Q: What is your motto? A: Go big or go home. I always put 100 percent effort into everything, and never let something be just okay.
Personal Perspectives Dear Freshmen… Katherine Ziwot ’25
Starting at a new school can be scary, but fear not: everyone at Villa is happy to lend a helping hand. You might feel overwhelmed about meeting new people or anxious about getting good grades, but the most important thing to remember is you’re not alone. Surrounding you are people who feel the same way, so take a deep breath and relax. As you enter high school, an important skill to master is time management. One way I manage my time is by using my free periods during school to finish homework. This way, I have extra time at home to study for upcoming assessments. I also found that when studying it was better to spend five to ten minutes looking over the material every day for a week beforehand than cramming the night before. This made it easier to remember the material because I was more familiar with the concepts. Whether you are coming into Villa with friends from your previous school or are entering this journey alone, being kind and open to everyone will go a long way. You can do this by joining a club. Villa has so many fun clubs that will help you meet people with the same interests! Clubs usually meet from 3:00 to 3:30, which makes it possible for everyone to participate. At Villa, your mental health is just as important as your physical health. If you feel exhausted, sad, or anxious, do not hesitate to visit our guidance counselor, Mrs. Negrin. In her office you will find fluffy pillows, a comfy couch, and two ears open and ready to listen. Taking care of yourself is vital, and although stress is expected, perfection is not. Humans aren’t perfect and neither are you. Everyone makes errors, but as long as you’re trying, you’re going to be okay. Years at Villa can go by quickly, so savor this time because pretty soon you will be seniors wishing you could experience the excitement of freshman year all over again!
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Reviews Lizzo’s Summer to Remember Isabelle Cantave ’24 and Annie Connor ’24 Lizzo fans have had an exciting summer! On July 15, Lizzo released her newest album, Special. After four years of putting hard work into this album, Lizzo brought us a blend of hip-hop, R&B, funk, pop, and disco through 12 different tunes that showcase her creative side. This album helped Lizzo reach her first, and well-deserved, No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart. Lizzo’s most popular song from Special is “About Damn Time,” which she dropped as a single on April 14. Over 330 million streams on Spotify (as of August 20) allowed it to climb to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and the song stayed there for two weeks. “About Damn Time” also gained a lot of attention on the social media app TikTok for its catchy dance, created by Jaeden Rae Gomez. Premiering on August 15, Lizzo’s music video for “2 Be Loved,” another iconic song from the album, has reached over 3.7 million views on YouTube (as of August 20) and is receiving a lot of attention from the media for its visuals featuring Lizzo as a bride running away from the altar. The teaser for this music video transitions from the music video of Lizzo’s most well known song “Truth Hurts.” Catch Lizzo saying goodbye to her wedding dress and hello to a bedazzled, silver chainmail set. Special symbolizes many things in her life. Lizzo opened up about how the album is really about finding her self-love and feeling confident in her own skin. Some of the lyrics in her song such as “Am I ready…..2 be loved” reveal her effort to reach that happiness in her life. A few months before her album release, Lizzo announced that she would be taking Special on tour with 29 upcoming shows across 3 countries. This tour was
anticipated by many fans after her Emmy award winning show “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrls” hinted at a whole new dance group that would travel on tour with her. Fans have fallen in love with both Lizzo’s new performance and her dancers. If you are ready to see a show-stopping performance, it’s about time you get those tickets!
Towerette publishes throughout the school year, so look for upcoming articles on school events, new teacher interviews, student highlights, sports, classroom activities, and more!
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Reviews
Crawdads Sing a Symphony Sabrina Pasko ’26 It would be great if the world had more beautiful tunes running through people’s hearts. Oh wait -- now these tunes are in a major motion picture, Where The Crawdads Sing. This movie was originally a novel written by Delia Owens and captured the story of a young teenage girl finding her way through the world of uncertainty. I could probably write a song about this girl’s story -it’s filled with dating issues, boyfriends, society, and maturing. Did I mention murder too? What a perfect combination to put some tunes together. Kya, the protagonist, was just a little girl when almost everyone in her family, except her dad, left her. This book tells the story of her finding her place in the world. Even if she lives on the marsh, sells mussels, doesn’t have shoes, is called “The Marsh Girl’’, or collects feathers and shells, she still impacts her community in a unique way. The dramatic effects of nature, the characters’ intense interactions, and the emotions they portray create a symphony-like experience in both the book and movie. This book is worth reading in a day, like I happened to do. As a fan of this novel and now movie, I recommend that you read a bit of this so-called symphony and try to listen to the breathtaking background music that Delia Owens intended for us to focus on.
Book Review: The Mutual Friend Sophie Lewandowska ’22 Over the course of our lives, different realities encapsulate us: real life versus life behind a screen. This newfound “age of distractions” is something that all of us can certainly relate to: our phones and other technology play a crucial role in our lives. Whether it be for work, school, or other activities, our devices are important means of communication with one another, but can also lead to many hindrances in our busy schedules. Carter Bays’ 2022 novel The Mutual Friend follows the lives of four individuals whose diverse personalities cause a myriad of changes, unveiling the truth of how everyone’s lives and doings are somehow connected. Along with rekindling, understanding, and discovering, each character is on their own personal journey of destiny and fulfillment, while they learn about living simultaneously in the two realities of the internet and real life. As teenagers in today’s society, it’s simple to get lost in the world of social media, but life on the internet may not always translate to what is true. This novel takes you on the ride of your life as you uncover many unknown meanings of love, friendship, and life as a whole.
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Managing Editor: Avery Walsh
Avery Walsh ’23 spent her summer helping kids make slime and build with blocks at Genius Gems in Millburn, NJ
Hannah D’cruz ’23 visited family and saw her great-great grandparents’ house in India this summer.
Katherine Ziwot ’25 spent her summer watching The Bachelorette and relaxing on the beach.
Ava Simmons ’23 spent her summer playing volleyball and hanging out with friends!
Mrs. Pasko spent her summer traveling with family, hanging out with Puffin, and reading good books. PAGE 11