April 2024 Newsletter

VOL. 40 No. 7 April 2024

Seniors:Congratulations on makingitthrough decision day! Weknowyou are off todogreatthings!Please notifythe Guidance Departmentofanyscholarshipawards.Also,please checktheGuidancewebsiteforscholarship opportunities.

Juniors: HavebeenmeetingwithMrs.Devinsin continuing withtheircollegeplanning.Please remembertoregisterfor upcomingstandardizedtest dates.Shouldanystudent need a transcript for summerprogramsorotherwise,pleasestop in the Guidance OfficeoremailMrs.Devinsat devinse@villawalsh. org.

eGuidanceDepartmentwillbehostinga CollegeNighton May14forparentsofstudents in grades9through11.Mrs. Devinswillbepresentingon thecollegeprocessatVWA,along withtwoguest speakers–EmilyLaPlacafromthe Universityof NotreDameandJessicaGorlin from Private Prep –a testprep company.

Also,anadditionalmonetarydonationwasmadethrough a“tag”day. Whatis a“tag”day? Itisa long-honored Villa Walshtraditionthatwhena contribution to acharityismade, thedonors are allowedto wearcasual clothinginsteadoftheir uniform.is “tags” themascontributorsandis afunway of helpingthoseinneed.

SpecialOlympicsisa globalmovementthataimstomake everyonefeelincluded,regardless oftheirability ordisability.  Itprovidestrainingforathletes,childrenandadults,with disabilities. Justin timeforMothers'Day,AbriannaEsposito’25 helda jewelry saleduringbothlunchesto bene t theSpecial Olympics.Over$200was madeandcontributedto theSpecial Olympicsorganization.

BigBrothersand BigSistersofAmericais anorganization whosemissionis to“create andsupportone-to-onementoring relationships”ofadult volunteerswithchildren from veto youngadults.  NoraKra’25,helpedsupport themissionof BBBS bycollectinggently usedsportsequipmentfromtheVilla Walshcommunity.  Byparticipatingin this drive, Villais directly enablingchildren andtheirfamiliestoparticipatein sportsand activities. esoccer cleatsandbaseballgloves are nowenabling other children toparticipate in youthsports. ankyouto Nora andtoallthefamiliesthat contributedtothis drive.

CatherineMcCarthy’24led VillaWalsh in awomen’sclothing driveforan organization called Bloom forWomen thathelps women whoaresurvivorsof sex traffickingandsexual exploitation with acontinuumof care.  Bloomprovidesa safe livingenvironment alongwithdrugandalcohol addiction treatment. ey collectclothingtobe soldin theirthri shops wherethe women are employed,gainvaluable workexperience, andthepro tsgo toBloom.

On ursday,April25,Diversity C.A.F.E.organizedour rst InternationalTastingeventthatallowedustoshowcasethe diversityandrichness of ourcultures. With aninternational soundtrack playingin thebackground,studentswere able to samplefoodsfromourdiverse cultures andshort descriptions aboutthe foodweredisplayedalongside theitems. We enjoyedsamplesfromtiramisutoempanadasandsoymilk tomeatballs. As aspecialtreat, EmmaMurphy’29shared herIrish Step dancingskills. A specialthankyouto Diversity C.A.F.E.andtheir families and theVillaWalshcommunity for theircontributionsforwhatwe hopewillbecome aVillaWalsh tradition.

CovenantHouseSleepOut

is monthVillaWalshAcademyhostedour rst ever'Sleep Out' tobene te CovenantHouseFoundation!CovenantHouse isashelterthatprovidespertinent resourcestohelpkids who experiencehomelessness andtraffickingget backontheir feet,go tocollege,andmore.

Inanactof solidarity with4.2million youngpeoplewho experiencehomelessness eachyear, VWAparents,families,and siblingssleptoutside underthe VillaWalsh AcademyTower.e families includingstudents MiaMagnier’26,MaliaNugent’25, EmilyMurphy’27,CatherineAzares’29,DelaneyCaughey’24, andNataliaTole’24learnedaboutthe incredibleworkof Covenant House,andparticipated inempatheticactivities thatdirectlyputeachpersonintotheshoesofpeoplewho nd themselveswithout ahome.

Wearegrateful toallwho cameoutto supportsuch aworthy cause.VWA’sfundraisinggoalof$3,000 was impressively surpassed,asbythe end ofthe ‘Sleep Out’,weraised $5,255!All proceedsdirectlybene te CovenantHouseFoundation.

Plansfornextyear’sevent are alreadyin theworks!Can’twait to seeyouthere!

PodcastwiththeBishop

VillaWalsh Academy’sCampusMinistry Director,Colette Geraghty’15,and veVWA students joinedBishop Sweeneyon hispodcast,‘BeyondtheBeacon’.

Invitedto discuss faith- lled friendships, JaneDufner’24, NadiaPinsonault’24,Colleen(Jackie)Walsh’24,Mia Magnier’26,andGiselleScanella’26 sharedtheadvicethey wouldsharewithpeers in situations in whichastudentfeels aloneandis seekingfriendship.estudentspointed outthat theChurchisinstrumentalinformingcommunity,and that friendshipsareoenfoundincommunitywithothers whohave shared experiences.ecurrentseniorsonthe panelshared theirthoughtsaboutleavingforcollegeinthe fallandthe ways in whichtheyplanto makefriendsin theirnew college communities.

Ms. Geraghtyshared her owncollegeexperiences,andthe story ofhowshewentfrombeingaVWAstudentto‘cominghome’ to VillaWalsh AcademyasCampusMinistryDirector.

SacredHeartCathedralBasilica

Aspart of theirSacramental eologystudies,theSeniorclass wenttoSacredHeartCathedral Basilicain Newark,NJ onApril 12. Havingstudied church architecture brie yduring class,theywere abletonowseethe church'sclassical Gothic structure withinterior vaulted ceilingsandexteriorgargoyles and towers, beautifulstained glass rose windows,numerouschapels, andmosaic Stations of the Cross,made,for the mostpart,ofmaterials fromvariousUnited States.eyprayed,especially inthe St.Lucy Filippinichapeland thechapel oftheBlessedMother.Examiningthemany windows andstatues depicting biblical scenesand saints,they couldnow understand whythecathedralsof theMiddleAges becamethe "catechism"forthefaithfulwhohad no access toBiblesorreligious education.Recognizingthisas themostbeautifulandlargest church in NewJersey made this trip auniquememoryfortheir Senioryear.

Sisters1stFRC Team 8513,VillaWalshAcademy’srobotics team, theONLY ALL-FEMALEFIRST®RoboticsCompetition(FRC) teamin NewJersey,took11studentstotheFIRST® WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP,the SuperBowl ofrobotics,onApril 17-20in Houston,Texas.

e2023-2024 school yearthat culminated atFIRST®World Championship incorporated the followinghighlights:

●August 2023EducationClasses

●AirForcevisitwiththeirNationalAsset Born toFly,amobile unitwith6 ightsimulators

●One of3 teamsto showcaseFIRST®Robotics Competition at “Made in NJ” ManufacturingDay,sponsoredbyNJMEP

●TourofNBC at30Rockviaour sponsorComcast

●Competed at off seasontournament,BrunswickEruption

●CommunityOutreach

●ExtendedProgramManagement SubTeamto include scheduling soware

●TwoDistrictTournaments

●DistrictChampionship atLehigh University

Asaresult of theteams’hardwork andconsistentlyhigh performance,they nishedthe2024Season titled Crescendo with thefollowingrecordandstatistics:

●Record34-21-0

●Ranked:

○406thworldwideoutof3474teams

○355thinthe USA outof 2806 teams

○10thinNew Jerseyoutof87teams

DuringtheFIRSTMid-Atlantic District events,theyalso earned thefollowingfour awards:

●DistrictChampionship IndustrialDesign

●ExcellenceinEngineering

●Judges’Awards

●AllianceCaptainandFinalist at theMontgomeryDistrict Competition

Attendingtheevent with approximately60,000peoplewas not onlyan opportunity tomeetandcompeteagainstotheryoung peoplefromaroundtheworld(theUS,Canada,MiddleEast, Africa,Europe,CentralAmerica,China,andSouthAmerica), but alsoa chancefor enhanced learningopportunities,scholarships, researchandexploration,interactivelearning,andnetworking andmentorship.Onedirectresultthatis alreadyhappeningis thatthestudentsofSisters 1stwereinspiredto startaSocietyof WomenEngineers (SWE) Next Chapter Club,not onlyjust for theirteambutforallofthe studentsatVillaWalshAcademy.

Worldswasa huge leap for thisyoung teamsincethe2024Season wastheirthirdyearofcompeting.Onlytwoyearsagowhenthe teamwas foundedfortheirRookieSeason,theyweredesigning andbuildingtheir125lbrobotnamed “Rocki”in ahallway.Now, VillaWalsh has aRoboticsCenterwhere theyCNC,CAD,3D print,machine,assemble,andprogram their robots.Recognized byVillaas aVarsity/JVsport,Sisters1stis coachedbyMrs.Lee AnneNugent,Mr.OwenBusler,andMrs.Elena Priceandhas 25% of theirstudentbodyactivelyparticipatingon Businessand Technical Subteams.

Finally,Sisters1st FRCTeam8513wouldnotbe asuccesswithout thegenerosityof theirsponsors(R.Seelaus,Johnson& Johnson, PhoenixTube,Horizon,Comcast,DoD STEM,Picatinny Arsenal, BAESystems,NokiaBellLabs,ServiceNow,MetalSupermarkets, andMeierStone),the support of Villa Walsh Academy,and themanyvolunteer hoursfromMentorswhodonatetheir timeto teachthe team!Formoreinformation,pleaseemail robotics@villawalsh.org,viewtheirwebsitehttps://www.vwasisters1st-8513.com/,andfollow onInstagram,@vwarobotics.

On May1st,the VillaWalsh AcademyComputer Science Honor Society(CSHS)heldits rst annual inductionaerschool.Ms. Rebekah,societyadvisor,foundedVillaWalsh’sComputer Science HonorsSociety onAugust 7,2023,to promote computer science scholarshipamong students atVillaWalshAcademy.Itaimsto dothisby electingmemberson an honorary basisaccording totheir pro ciency incomputerscienceandbyengagingin activitiesdesignedtopromotethisdynamic eldandthescholarly developmentofitsmembers.e inductionwas ledby Ms. Rebekahandthefounding Executive Committee: GraceMesce'24 -President,LeahCosta'25-VicePresident, LaurelHamilton'24Induction Chair,EmilyPoruczynski'24-Secretary, NoraKra'25 -Treasurer,AubreyToth'25 -Webmaster, NataliaTole'24MembershipChair,and AmaliaHrondides'25 -FundraisingChair.

erewere38members from grades10to 12inductedinto the Society.ank youtoMs.Rebekahandthe other officersfor organizingtheevent.

is year20Frenchstudents,of45,000students nationwide, participatedinthe FrenchNationalLanguage Contest.Weareproudto announcethefollowing placementand awardsforthesestudents!

FELICITATIONS!!

NationalLaureateCerti cateandGoldMedal

Level1:EmilyMurphy’27

NationalLaureateCerti cateandSilverMedal

Level3:AmeliaKleinle’26

NationalLaureateCerti cateandBronzeMedal

Level2:SabrinaWaivada’26, IsabellaWhite’26

Certi cateofHonorableMention

Level5:BeatriceCrucs’24

Level3:GraceCalvano’26,AudreyWilbanks’25

Level2:BridgetDrew’26,BerniceFernando,’26Erin Jacobs’26,TeaganMacPherson’26

Certi cateofMerit

Level5:LaurelHamilton’24

Level3:MadelineKnagenhjelm’25,LeiaLange’25,Avery Poruczynski’25

Level2:KarinaSiegel’26, AlexisSica’26

Level1:AzariahAndrews’27,IsabellaOrosz’27,Peyton Simmons’27

LastMarch,thefollowingstudentsofItalian classes participated inthenational examsponsored bytheAmerican Associationof TeachersofItalian.

GoldMedal

Level4: AvaBrancatella’24,CatherineCollum’24,Julia Gitto’24,GraceMesce’24

Level3:MirandaAviles’25,SophieLewandowska’25,Lily Meier’25

Level2:ValentinaCalipa’26,ElizabethEdattel’26

Level1:AlexaLombardi’27,BiancaPetrucci’27

SilverMedal

Level4: LiliannaWendorff’24

Level3: IsabellaPizzo’25,AgustinaMartinez-Ferretti’25

Level1:EveLoughran’27

Bronze Medal

Level1:KatelynHadzima’27, MiaSpataro’27

HonorableMention

Level3:ClaudiaSteinberg’25

Level1:ValentinaDePaco’27,RebekahSaxon’27

Certi cateofParticipation

Level1:AlexaBarravecchio’27,Georgia Doyle’27, Katelyn McGowan’27,IsabellaNilio’27,SarahPorr’27

Amonetaryprize of $50,inadditionto amedal,willbe awardedto thestudentswhohavescoredthehighestpercentile intheirrespective levels.Students'names willbepostedonthe NIEwebsite.

Congratulazioniragazze!

On April 18, forty-oneVWAlanguage students wereinducted into theirrespectiveHonorSocieties,forhavingmaintaineda high averagein theirtarget languageforthree years. Withlighted candles,studentspledgedto continuelanguage studyinorderto fosterpeaceandbrotherhood.

FRENCHHONORSOCIETY:

GraceCalvano’26,AmeliaKleinle’26,MadelineKnagenhjelm’25, LeiaLange’25,AveryPoruczynski’25,AudreyWilbanks’25

ITALIANHONORSOCIETY:

MirandaAviles’25,SophieLewandowska’25,AgustinaMartinezFerretti’25,LilyMeier’25,IsabellaPizzo’25,ClaudiaSteinberg’25

SPANISHHONORSOCIETY:

JohannaAguilar-Yañez’26,BhavishyaBoga’25,Margaret Boler’25,IsabellaCantave’24,KaylaCastellano’25,Olivia Chang’25,AnnaCollins’25,MariaCostello’25,NoraDam’25, RiordanFarley’25,LynetteGao’25,BrookeHetherington’25, So aJordao’25,JesseKramer’24,InesLemee’25,ErinLyons’25, MaliaNugent’25,KaitlynPavagadhi’25,AlexandraRezza’25, AngelinaRizk’25,VerraScorsune’26,MarthaSmart’25,Sadie Smith’25,AubreyToth’25,CierraWolckenhauer’25,Delaney Yosh’25,RoisinYosh’25,MeganYoung’25,KatherineZiwot’25.

e34th AnnualVillaWalshAcademy Father/Daughterdinner dancewas heldonFridayevening,March22.Fathers and daughtersdonnedtheir dancingshoesandgatheredinthe Mother NinettaAuditorium,whichwasdecorated ina “Glampingwith Dad”theme.

Dads from eachgrade were challengedto a“ChubbyBunny'' contest,andmanydadswerequiteskilled atteenage girltrivia.A dancecontest roundedup theevening.

efollowingdadsanddaughtersplaced inthefollowing categories:Disco:ClaudiaAragon’24;Polka:Ella Trezenowski’27; Salsa: KieraVowels’27;Waltz: Evie Martin’29; Freestyle:IsabellaWhite’26;andtheMostEnergetic trophywent toMariaCostello’25.

Manythanksto membersoftheHome SchoolAssociation ExecutiveBoard,faculty,andstaffwhoassisted withdinner service,photos,andcheckin.Aspecialthank yougoesto Mrs. JulieAnn Oliveros,moderator,andtothe Student Councilofficers for theireffortsinpreparingthis memorableevening.

“Ohtheinksyou canink”while creatingashow!eVilla Walshstagein MotherNinettaAuditoriumwasfullof color and imagination fortheSpringMusical Seussical.On March15th, 16thand17th ourfavoriteDr.Seuss’screations came aliveand ourchildhoodimaginationwasrevisitedthrough thetalents ofourdedicatedcastandcrew.isyear’sVillacast included seniors: ClaudiaAragon(WickershamBrother#1/McGurkus), SarahChambeau (GeneralGengisKhanSchmitz),and Laurel Hamilton (Mayzie LaBird),juniors;ClaraAinsworth (Horton theElephant), ElizabethKandziolka (BirdGirl#1), Leia Lange(BirdGirl#3), CierraWolckenhauer(SourKangaroo), KatherineZiwot (BirdGirl#2), sophomores; ErinJacobs (eCat inthe Hat),freshmen; KieraVowells(JoJo), eighth graders: SamanthaInnella (GertrudeMcFuzz),LaylaVreeling (YertletheTurtle), seventh graders; KathleenDugan (Vlad Vladikoff)and NeeveCanniffe(Mrs.Mayor).Gratitudeis extendedtoNicoleAragon,(WickershamBrother #2) Siena Lanni(Wickersham Brother#3)andTristanWolckenhauer(e Grinch)whojoinedusfromAssumption School.isyear’s childrens castincluded:Penny Lang(YoungKangaroo),Ella Coughlin (Maxthe Dog/ ElephantBird), andLilyCoughlin (CindyLouWho).Fourofoursenior crew members, Delaney Caughey,CatherineLane,CatherineMcCarthy,and Meaghan O’Malley, alsohelpedwith themagicoftheproduction by becoming‘ings’ andmoveour sets andpropsin costume.

Congratulationstothe dedicatedStageCrewledby Sr.Helen Sanchez.Ourcrew trulybecame partof theproductionby helpingwithsets,props,andforsome- joiningus on stage. StageManager JaneDufner’24,led her crew includingseniors; DelaneyCaughey,BriannaHetherington,CatherineLane, CatherineMcCarthy,and MeaghanO’Malley,sophomores; ValentinaCalipa,JaneGuarnieri,SabrinaPasko, freshmen; AzariahAndrews,MaeveDam,LiaGriffin,andPeyton Simmons.ecrew effectivelymastered notonlythesound board,spot lightsandstagelightsandcostumed set changes,but alsotheadditionofa cycloramaincludinga new lightingboard.

ecreativeteamthisyearincluded;Mr.JamesConrad Smith,DirectorandMusicDirector, andMrs.Ruthann Lanni,Choreographerandproductionorganizer. Gratitudeis extendedtoallofourproductionhelpers: Costumecommittee andcreations;Mrs.Colleen Coffey (CommitteeHead), Tess Coffey’26, Mrs.NancyInnella,Mrs. LashanaReale,Mrs. Joanne McGowan,Mrs.LingLange,Prop collectors; Mrs. KristinaPasko and SarahChambeau’24,setconstruction;Mr. RobInnella,Mr.John Canniffe,Mr.Nasine Dam,Mr.Chris Vowells,Mr.DaveWolckenhauer,Mr.BrianTuckandDaniel Tuck,SetPainting;Mr.Joe Lanni,Mrs.KristinaPasko,Mrs. AmyChambeau,Mrs.NancyInnella,Mrs.Tara Wolckenhauer, Mrs.TrischLagana,Mrs.Ruthann Lanni, SarahChambeau’24, SabrinaPasko’26,AzariahAndrews’27,PeytonSimmons’27, LiaGriffin’27,IsabellaCantave’24,NeeveCanniffe’29,Cierra Wolckenhauer’25,SamanthaInnella’28 andSienaLanni.

SpecialthanksforthetalentsofMrs.LauraKandziolkaandher mother,Mrs.MariaD’Ambrosia for creatinganddyingcolorful wigsforthisproductionandleadingtheir team,Mrs.Diana Allerot,Mrs.SusanZiwot,Mrs.EmilyAnnCouglin,and Julia Gitto’24.ankyoualso toallofourvolunteers whohelpedin variouspositionsduringtheproduction,includingthe families whofed usduringtechweek,especially Mrs.Karen Vowellsand Mrs.HollySimmonswhoorganizedthe meals.Specialthanks extendedtoSr.ElaineBebyn,forherconstantsupport;Sr.Helen Sanchez;Mrs. TriciaBrancatella,volunteer coordinator;Mrs. StaceyGrabowski,publicity,programsandlobbydisplay; Mrs. MariaManley;and themanyparents andstudentswhoassisted withconcessions and ticketsales;andtoourfaculty,familiesand friendswhosupported ourproduction goals.

Ourannual celebration of thearts tookplaceon April30.e VillaWalsh Choralstudents,vocalists,andmusicianshelda “CollageConcert” showcasingpiecesfrommanygenresanderas. SurroundingthespaceweretheVisualArts students'paintings, drawingsandsculptures.e“collage”experienceismodeled aerthepresentationsatthe UniversityofMichiganwhichbegan in1977 andincorporates allof thearts;visualart,dance,vocal performance and music.eaudience isimmersedinthe talent of theartists.Performersuse manyareas of thetheaterto performto theaudiencein‘theround’sothat theaudience feels like itis apart oftheexperience.

eHighSchoolChorus,underthe directionofMr.PaulDaher, begantheperformingartsprogram with “I Know WhereI’m Going” (ScottishFolksong).Duringthe eveningeMiddleSchool sang“eRose”(McBroom).ecombinedchorusesperformed “Seasons of Love” (Larson), and “CantateBrasilia”(Emerson).

Musicianswho sharedtheirtalentwithusincluded: Bryanna Liu’26(cello), SophieLewandowska’25 (piano), Bhavishya Boga’25(piano),IsabellaOrosz’27(piano andvocals).Each musicianshowedher artistrythroughbothclassicaland contemporaryworks.

Vocal soloists,duetsandtriosincludedperformancesby:  Laurel Hamilton’24,ClaraAinsworth’25,ElizabethKandziolka’25, CierraWolckenhauer’25,MadelineKnagenhjelm’25,Isabella PropperStuehr’27,andKieraVowells’27,

eenergetic “GreenEggs andHam”(AhrensandFoster)dance fromourspringmusical, Suessical,was adaptedforCollage to includeboththecast of Seussicalandmembersofthe VillaWalsh DanceEnsembleclass.erewasalso aduettap danceperformed by LaurelHamilton’24 and ClaudiaAragon’24 tothesong “Together,WhereverWe Go” (Laurents).

eperformances werecapped withalivelymedley from “MammaMia”(Abba/ Huff)sungbytheHighSchool Chorus andaccompaniedbyMr.Paul Daher(piano),Mr.David Graessle (guitar),Mr.Owen Busler (bass),andMr.Anthony Salimbene(Drums).

ankyouto ourstagecrew JaneDufner’24and Delaney Caughey’24 onlights and soundand JaneGuarnieri’26on spotlightsunder the directionofSr.Helen Sanchez.

CongratulationstoMr.PaulDaher,choral director,for coordinatingthiscelebrationofthearts;Mrs.KimberlyCheifer andMrs.TrischLagana,instructorsforthe neartpieces;and Mrs.RuthannLanni,for leadingtheDancers. Specialthanks to Sr.ElaineBebyn,Mrs. MariaManley,Mrs.StaceyGrabowski, Mrs.Brancatella, andSr.HelenSanchezwho helpedtocreate this beautifulnightfor ourstudentsandaudience.ank you alsoto Mr.MatthewWendorff andhis exceptionalcrew who helpedtransform thespace.

LacrosseVarsity

Despite facingtoughcompetition, our girls'lacrosseteam continuestoshinewithunwaveringdeterminationandteam spirit!Withevery game,theydemonstrateresilience and growth,turningchallenges into opportunitiesto honetheir skillsandbondasa team.eir2-10recorddoesn'tre ect thetalentthisteampossessesand improveseverygame. Congratulationstoseniorgoalkeeper LaurelHamilton’24 on reachingher 300thcareer save, KaylaCastellano’25onreaching 100 careerpoints,and TessaBowers’26 forreaching100career goals.

LacrosseJV

ecurrentJVVillaxrecordstandsat2wins,5 losses,and2 tie games.estats,however,arenotindicativeof thegrowth thatthisteamhasseensincethe seasonstarted onMarch16. MarissaNoonan’25 ishavinganincredible season inthenet as ourJuniorgoaltender.Freshman BiancaPetrucci’27 hasgained invaluableexperienceas anew memberoftheVillaxsquadand stepping into goal.JaneAnderson’26,MichelaVaccaro’26,and CaraFitzpatrick’26 have continuedto bea formidabletrio, rackingup signi cantpoints forourteam. AlexandraRezza'25 hasrecordedmultiplegoalsas areturningattacker.Sophomore CameronShull’26 andFreshman AngelinaDattola’27have created some greatopportunities for the teamwiththeirability tointercepttheballduringgames throughout ourseason.Our veteran Villaxersandnewteammates are continuingtoincrease theirskilllevelwitheachpracticeandeachgame.We look forwardto ourcontinuedsuccessasweroundouttheback half ofourseason!

GolfVarsity/JV

egolfteamhadastrongshowingintheMorrisCounty Championship Tournament.eteam,led byco-captains HollySmitreski’24and NoraDam’25, nishedinfourthplace overall.  RebekahSaxon’27 shota roundof 49to take h place inthe individualcompetition,and BridgetDrew’26 just missedindividualhonors with a54.e teamdroppedtwo awaymatches,oneto Oak Knollandone toconference-leading Morristown Beard,beforetakingtwo ina row,scoringa seasonbestteamtotal of204againstNew Providenceandbeating Madison in ahomewin.Aer droppingamatchto Mendham, RebekahSaxon’27shota season-low 47to leadthe teamasit defeatedMountainLakes atNorth JerseyCountry Club.As we moveintothelast monthofthe season,theteamrecordstandsat 4wins and6losses.eteamislookingforwardtothe remaining matches andtwotournaments le ontheschedule.eteamwill competeinthe NJAC ConferenceTournamentandthe StatePrep BChampionship atPeddie.

SpringTrack&Field

eVilla springtrack team hasbeenbusy competingin relay meetsandsettingnew school records.AttheRandolphRelays, Villawonthe “SmallSchoolsDivision”whilealsobreaking2 schoolrecords.JesseKramer’24,DelaneyCaughey’24, and AmaliaHronides’25 brokethehighjumprelay recordwith a combined height of 14’4”. MargaretBoler’25,InesLemee’25, AveryPoruczynski’25, andBlytheDudley’26beatthe 2013 distancemedleyrecordby 13seconds.enewrecordstandsat 12:34seconds.

Afew dayslatertheabovementionedhigh jump relaywasback atworkandwon rstplaceattheMorrisCounty Relays.Another rstplaceplusnew school recordwasearnedbythe4x1600m relayconsistingof ErinLyons’25,InesLemee’25,Margaret Boler’25,andBlytheDudley’26.with atimeof 21:58;theteam offourbroketheoldrecordby3seconds.

AttheNJACSmallSchoolsChampionships,Day1, Margaret Boler’25keptthemomentumgoingandaddedher nameto yet another event on theschool recordboard.“Maggie”replaced theold2016markof1:00.62,setby MichelleQuinn’19,with hernewtimeof1:00.50.At thesamemeet,freshman Azariah Andrews’27 quali edforthe 100m nals and nished witha timeof13.44.

eteamis gearingupforthe Morris CountyChampionshipsat BoontonHighSchool,whichwilltakeplaceonMay14and15, 2024.Comeout to cheer on theVillaathletesastheyrun,jump, andthrowagainstthe best inMorrisCounty!

Soball

emonthof April was lledwithexcitingsoballexperiences! On April 19th,VillaWalshSoballhadagameagainstDover High School,winning12-2!egirlscontinuedto workhard, playingagainstMountainLakes High School,American Christian,and Madison HighSchool.eir skilllevelhasgrown so muchin just afew shortweeks;CoachNegrinandCoach Husseyareso proudofthe team!VillaWalshSoballhastwo more excitinggames coming up!ey faceSummitHigh School onMay8that4 pmat VWA.OnMay14th,theywillcelebrate theiramazing seniors,Colleen(Jackie)Walsh’24,Grace Mesce’24,SarahChambeau’24,Catherine(Katie)Lane’24, andCatherineCollum’24aswefaceMorristown Beardat4 pm! Let’sgo SOVWA!

Scholar-Athletes

Congratulationsto HollySmitreski’24 for beingnamed the VWA,NJSIAAScholar-Athlete.Hollywill behonoredata statewidebanquet on May19thatthe PinesManorin Edison.

CongratulationstoDelaneyCaughey’24for beingnamed the VWA MorrisCounty Scholar-Athlete.Delaneywill behonored onWednesday,May22nd,attheHanoverManor.

Congratulationsto LilianaWendorff’24 forbeingnamedthe VWA,Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete. Lilywillbe honoredattheVWASeniorAwardsCeremonyon May31st,whenthe VillaWalsh AcademyScholar-Athletewill alsobeannounced.

Congratulations,scholar-athletes,youmakeVWAproud!

eALChosted Movie Nighton April 19.75studentsparticipated andenjoyeddeliciousfoodfromthe Mexican Spicetacotruck, popcorn,anda moviein theparkinglot of theSDLACby repits lent byVWA families,drive-in style! egroup wenton a eldtrip on4/29to Microso inNYC.eyheardfrom leaders atMicroso andhowathleticsplayeda rolein theirlives.e ALC members weretakenona tourofthefacilityandsawthenewest andmost innovativeprojects.eyevenhadanopportunitytointeract with AI!enextmeetingisscheduled for May16th,whenthe 20242025ExecutiveBoardmemberswill beannounced.

eVWA Booster Clubhelditsannual DinnerandGolf FundraiseronMay2ndatSpringBrookCountryClub.Special thanks toPresidentLynneConnorandBoosterClubvolunteers for organizingsucha wonderfulevent.Also,a specialthankyou tooursponsors,volunteers,andgolfersfortheirparticipation andsupport.Wehope tosee everyoneatthe Junemeetingwhen wecelebrate theBooster SeniorParentswho are“graduating” outofthe BoosterClub.

e boutique is open online every day for your shopping convenience: stores.villawalsh.com

Wearyourschoolpridetoshowtheworldhow VillaSHINES! (http://stores.villawalsh.com/)