Villa Walsh Academy
NEWSLETTER 455 Western Avenue • Morristown, NJ 07960
November / December 2025 GUIDANCE REMINDERS e College Board released PSAT scores in November. Students can access their scores by logging into their College Board accounts. Juniors: Juniors have been continuing to have individual meetings to discuss their PSAT results and college planning. Junior students were asked to complete a college planning questionnaire for future meetings. Please be aware of upcoming test dates and registration deadlines. Please keep an eye out for a Junior College Planning Night in February. Sophomores & Freshmen: Meetings will begin aer the New Year to discuss various topics. Please call the Guidance Office with any questions. In an effort to familiarize students with standardized tests through the College Board, students in grades 8, 9 and 10 will take the PSAT this spring. e PSAT 8/9 will be administered to students in grades 8 and 9 on April 15, 2026, and the PSAT 10 will be administered to students in grade 10 on April 22, 2026. For all students & parents: As a reminder, the deadline for the Guidance office to request accommodations through the College Board for these tests is February 23, 2026. If you have not already done so and would like to apply for accommodations, such as extended time and preferential seating, please notify the Guidance Office as soon as possible so we can begin the process. If you are unsure if your daughter has these accommodations, please check with the Guidance Office to ensure all of her paperwork is up to date. is includes accommodations for all College Board tests (PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, SAT, and AP exams in May). COLLEGE CORNER e Class of 2026 is encouraged to notify Guidance with college decisions. While we know the waiting part of hearing back from colleges can be challenging, we ask for you to keep the faith.
Students should also update the Guidance Office with any scholarship awards. All transcript request forms for January 1st deadlines were due December 11, 2025.
Research scholarships! Some national sources include: www.fastweb.com and www.collegeboard.org. ere is also scholarship information on the Guidance webpage and individual college websites.
PEER TUTORING Peer tutoring remains available for all students who feel they could bene t from some additional help with a class. e sign up for requesting and providing peer tutoring can be found on the door of the guidance office. Please stop in or email Mrs. Devins if you have any questions.
VILLA'S VOYAGE Record-Breaking Villa’s Voyage is year’s Fall Festival & Student Fashion Show - Villa’s Voyage: Celebrating Journeys Near & Far - was the most successful event in Villa Walsh Academy history! From the incredible creativity of our students on the runway to the heartfelt support of our families, alumnae, faculty, and friends, the entire community helped make this night truly unforgettable. We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who sponsored, volunteered, attended, donated, or lied our girls with their encouragement. Your generosity ensures that our students continue to bene t from extraordinary opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
VILLA SERVES For Veterans Day this year, ags were again placed around campus. In addition, we need to thank Gemma Cafasso’26 and family for again organizing the delivery of thank you notes and cards to members of the military and their families. Holiday Hope is an organization dedicated to providing gis for those in need so that bene ciaries can retain their dignity and witness the true spirit of the holiday. Riley Murphy’29 and Emily O’Malley’29 organized the project for Villa Serves and gis were bought, wrapped and delivered through social services to two less fortunate teenagers.
Over 75 bags of food were donated, packed and delivered to the community of St. Agnes parish in Paterson. Father Milton Camargo shared with us that “the holy seasons are a time of great joy, but also a time when many families struggle to make ends meet.” Rice, beans, unsweetened cereal, soup and canned fruit, and vegetables were collected. ere was a “friendly” competition that the freshman class took very seriously and won with over three hundred cans of a variety of soups. As a reward for their efforts, the freshman class will receive a tag day. A big thank you to all the students and their families for contributing to the drive and to Emma Naughton’26 for helping to organize the event.
Diversity Café Villa Serves and Diversity Café collaborated on an Iced Coffee and Sweets event. Zoe Lenz’28, Kendall Kiraly’28 and Anne Rionda’27 held the sale during lunch periods to raise money for Christmas treats for students at a local parish. Treat bags containing temporary tattoos, Play-Doh, Matchbox cars and coloring pages were put together by students for delivery following the Advent Novenna. A very special thank you to the Kiraly Family for donating the coffee boxes!
FORENSICS Villa Walsh Forensics is off to an exciting start for the 20252026 year. e rst Paterson Catholic League meet was held at DePaul Catholic on Nov. 15. Ten girls competed: Ava Bentz’26, Mila Chevalier’29, Giselle Scannella’26 and Cecilia Timmons’27 in Extempt; Abigail Wright’28 and Vivienne Qiao’28 in Declamation; Samantha Innella’28 and Kendall Kiraly’28 in Dramatic Interpretation; Kiera Vowells’27 in Oral Interpretation and Whitney Witko’28 in Original Oratory. Kiera Vowells’27, Abigail Wright’28 and Kendall Kiraly’28 all placed second in their categories. In addition, Villa Walsh joined the National Speech and Debate Association in November of this year. With our membership, students are now able to qualify for the National Honor Society. Samantha Innella’28 has quali ed for membership in the Honor Society with an Honor designation (the second level). Ava Bentz’26, Kendall Kiraly’28, Giselle Scannella’26, Kiera Vowells’27 and Abigail Wright’28 have all quali ed for membership in the Honor Society with a Merit designation (the rst level). Many of our other members are very close to qualifying for membership in the Honor Society. On Dec. 13, students Samantha Innella’28, Amelia Kleinle’26 and Kiera Vowells’27, along with their coaches Dr. Lemke and Mrs. DiMarzio-Emery attended the Summit Hilltopper Holiday Classic at Summit High School. is is our rst time competing at a NSDA competition. Samantha Innella’28 placed 6th in Dramatic Interpretation and was presented a trophy at the awards ceremony. Congratulations to the Forensics Team!
CAMPUS MINISTRY November All Souls Remembrance e universal Church prays for the souls of all the faithful departed every year during the month of November. Villa Walsh participates in this devotion with the names of our loved ones written on crosses for our All Souls Wreath of Remembrance. Relocated this year to the school lobby outside the Grace Ann Cafe in Regina Pacis, students were reminded to pray for their family and friends as they entered and le the school. It also offered a visual reminder of the love and grief that so many others in our community bear with the loss of a loved one, giving us the opportunity to join in prayer for the repose of their souls. In addition, the Religious Teacher Filippini continued their tradition of remembering our beloved deceased, whose names were placed on the altar for their daily masses in St. Lucy Chapel all throughout the month of November. May they all rest in peace. Junior Retreat e members of the Class of 2027 spent a day on retreat on November 5th, taking a break at the Shrine of St. Joseph in Stirling from the busyness of their academics and extracurricular activities and obligations. With talks and sharings, adoration, holy Mass, and the sacrament of Reconciliation, the students enjoyed the beauty of the Shrine’s surroundings, the laughter of shared friendships, and the chance to “catch their breath” with Jesus, the best Friend that they will ever have. Senior Retreat e annual Senior class overnight retreat at St. Joseph by the Sea Retreat House in So. Mantoloking, NJ was on November 18th and 19th. e students were accompanied by Sr. Elaine, Sr. Helen, Mrs. Manley and Mrs. Negrin. e fun activities were designed by Mrs. Manley and Mrs. Negrin with the purpose of providing the Seniors with the opportunity of being together as a class for prayer and interaction. e girls enjoyed the hospitality afforded them by Sr. Brunilda and Sr. Dolores there at the house. ank you to Sr. Elaine and the faculty for providing this special memory to the Class of 2026. anksgiving Mass 2025 On Tuesday, November 25, before departing for anksgiving break, students, alumnae, parents, administration, faculty and staff gathered in St. Lucy Chapel to give thanks and praise to God for the many blessings received, doing so in the context of a Eucharistic Liturgy. Father Krzyszstof Tyszko, associate pastor of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Morristown, offered the Mass. Father Kryzszstof ’s homily re ected on the one healed leper out of ten who returned to thank Jesus for the gi of healing. Father Krzyszstof invited each one present to look within ourselves to see how oen is it that we, who call on the Lord multiple times each day, are oen so preoccupied that we forget to come back and actually express our gratitude to God for His goodness and mercy. Members of the Sophomore Class led the congregation in worship. Many thanks to Emma Allen’28, Nicole Aragon’28, Mary Cafasso’28, Katherine Canon’28, Sara Carvalheiro-Santos’28, Galina Dangler’28, Lauren Doss’28, Avery Draeger’28, Samantha Innella’28, Maria Kalavrouziotis’28, Zoe Lenz’28, Satine Nader’28, Amy Perlera’28,
Chloe Scheuerman’28, Whitney Witko’28, and Abigail Wright’28 who proclaimed the readings and petitions, sang the responsorial psalm, enhanced the music accompaniment, or carried the cross, candles, and offertory. We also extend our gratitude to the chorus and Mr. Paul Daher, Choral Instructor, for beautifully enhancing our worship and helping us to give expression to the gratitude that resides in our hearts. Adoration/Reconciliation Students, faculty, staff, Sisters and parents signed up to spend time with Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament at our monthly adoration day on November 7th. On December 10th, students spent their eology class in adoration in the quiet of the Sisters’ private chapel. For both occasions, priests were available for those who wanted to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation. Look for announcements of the shared Google Sheet to sign up for adoration in January 2026! Soup Kitchen Meals Continuing our monthly act of service for the poor, students from grades 9-12 gathered in the Cafe kitchen to cook and assemble meals on November 18th and December 16th for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal to serve their neighbors, the homeless and working poor in Newark. Using funds raised from a dress-down day in September, the students supplied two meals–a big hit with their neighbors–for both December and January. Students look forward to working together for the opportunity to complete a corporal work of mercy. Look for another dress-down day in January to sponsor meals in 2026. KK Tradition In an effort to place the focus of our December activities squarely on the contemplation, repentance and preparation that is the hallmark of the Advent season, Villa reimagined its annual gi-giving tradition and adopted a gi grab-bag for the school’s Christmas party on December 19th, In addition, throughout the last two weeks of school, students participated in Christmas Sock Day, Christmas Hat Day, Christmas Sweater Day, Red-andGreen Day, and received a sweet treat and hot cocoa from the Student Council. Everyone enjoyed all the activities, and are looking forward to a joyful, peaceful celebration of Jesus’ birth at Christmas. Christmas Liturgy One of the last things the Villa Walsh Academy community does before Christmas break is to gather together in St. Lucy Chapel to celebrate mass to give thanks to God for the gi of His Son, Jesus. e mass, celebrated by Rev. Lukasz Wnuk, pastor of St. Virgil’s parish in Morris Plains, helped to remind us all that baby Jesus, in the manger at Bethlehem, is the best gi any of us can ever receive. Special thanks to Mr. Paul Daher, who conducted Villa’s Chorus to sing so beautifully for our congregation, and to the freshman Class of 2029 including Catherine Azares’29, Grace Boler’29, Grace Costa’29, Kathleen Dugan’29, Emma Gubernat’29, Richa Lanjewar’29, Norah Kennedy’29, Caroline McAdams’29, Riley Murphy’29, Emily O’Malley’29, Brianna Polito’29, Naomi Scotto’29, Claire Witko’29, and Camille Zazzali’29 for reverently coordinating the liturgy by welcoming us to worship, singing in the Chorus, carrying the cross and candles, reading Scripture and petitions, and presenting the gis for the offertory.
ART DEPARTMENT Art Open House e Art Department hosted an Open House in conjunction with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting on ursday, December 11, 2025. is gave the VWA community an opportunity to see all of the art created so far this year. “e Ocean Connects Us” has been the theme for grades seven through nine in Mrs. Lagana’s room. In a cross-curricular event combining science and art curricula, one hundred VWA students visited the American Museum of Natural History on October 30th. e AP Biology students made the trip as well. e nal project of the semester was a sea creature collage using recycled materials inspired by all of the ocean life seen at AMNH. Mrs. Cheifer joined in with her freshman who created ocean paintings, some which included mixed media - yarn, fabric so sculpture, paint peels, and paper texture. Mannequin Design Contest 2025 is year the Best in Show award went to Nicole Aragon’28 and Araya Singh’28 for their creatively coordinated dress trimmed with a winding black feather boa, a nautical waist ornament, with matching hat and bag. ey did a stellar job matching the theme, plus well thought out details, plus writing an art statement about integrating Villa principles out in the world. Runner Up went to Mia Marulanda’29. Her dress was uniquely layered with a transparent petal cape revealing an asymmetrical design. Hand sewn gold details at the bottom hems oated on top of yet another layer in this Asian in uenced dress. Plus she wrote about what inspired her dress which told a story relating to Villa integrity. For the Most Creative award, Sophie Sims’29 and Richa Lanjewar’29, craed a golden winged gown with stunning, cascading gold trim looping down from the hips. Sequins accented the neckline and were dispersed around the bottom like stars. It seemed like an angel should wear this imaginative and elegant garment. Kudos to the remaining fashion mannequin contestants: Siena Lanni’28, Juliana Kenworthy’28, Caroline McAdams’29 and Claire Witko’29. Congratulations ladies for all of your intensive work and amazing talent that you added to our Fashion Show this year!
ATHLETICS FALL SPORTS Soccer Varsity Congratulations to our soccer athletes on achieving NJAC Independence Division awards for 2025 - Jane Anderson’26 and Kayley Bascom’26, 1st Team; Clodagh Bateson’26, Ashlee Martin’26, and Kayla Burrell’28, 2nd Team; eresa Bowers’26, Honorable Mention. Congratulations to Ashlee Martin’26, Jane Anderson’26, and Kayley Bascom’26 for being chosen to represent VWA at the Senior All-Star game on Sunday, November 30. Tennis Varsity Congratulations to our tennis athletes on achieving NJAC Liberty Division awards for 2025 - Angelina Santorelli’26, 2nd Team; Cameron Shull’26, Honorable Mention. Volleyball Varsity Congratulations to our volleyball athletes on achieving NJAC Independence Division awards for 2025 - Sabrina Waivada’26 and Emily Murphy’27, 1st Team; Michela Vaccaro’26, Elodie Cooney’26, and Satine Nader’28, 2nd Team; Karina Siegel’26, Honorable Mention. Emily Murphy’27 also received NJISAA Prep B Honorable Mention. Cross Country Varsity Congratulations to our cross country athletes on achieving NJAC Liberty Division awards for 2025 - Blythe Dudley’26, Amelia Kleinle’26, and Catherine Azares’29 1st Team; Bridget Boler’26 and Lucy Smart’29 2nd Team; Valentina Calipa’26 Honorable Mention. Blythe Dudley’26 also received All Morris County 1st Team *Top 10 and All Non-Public 2nd Team. Catherine Azares’29 also received All Morris County 1st Team *Top 10.
WINTER SPORTS Swimming Varsity e swimmers are excited for the start of their season and have been working hard in the pool and at the dryland practices. e team captains this season are Cameron Shull’26 and Anne Rionda’27. e following swimmers had top 3 performances in the 1st meet against Academy of Saint Elizabeth’s: Lauren Petrie’27, Anne Rionda’27, Catherine Azares’29, and Cameron Shull’26 placed 2nd in the 200 Medley Relay. Lauren Petrie’27 placed 3rd in the 200 Free & 2nd in the 100 Backstroke. Cameron Shull’26 placed 2nd in the 100 Fly. Catherine Azares’29 placed 3rd in the 100 Fly. Mila Chevallier’29 placed 2nd in the 100 Free and 3rd in the 100 Backstroke. Anne Rionda’27 placed 3rd in the 400 Free and 1st in the 100 Breaststroke. Cameron Shull’26, Lauren Petrie’27, Mila Chevallier’29, and Anne Rionda’27 placed 2nd in the 400 Free Relay. Rounding out our team this year are Alexa Perez’26, Sierra Warjanka’26, Lauren Doss’28, Chloe Scheuerman’28, Lauren
Dischinger’29, and team manager Alexis Sica’26. Welcome to Coach Colin Feeney who is joining the team this year as Assistant Swim Coach. e swim team would like to wish all of the other winter sports good luck this season! Winter Track Varsity is year’s Winter Track team is young, energetic, and shows a lot of potential. Leading the team are captains Emma Naughton’26 and Azariah Andrews’27, along with seniors Bridget Boler’26, Blythe Dudley’26, and Jillian Paolino’26. ese ve upperclassmen bring extensive experience; more importantly, they show up ready to work hard in practice and lead by example. e sophomore class is represented by Galina “Gigi” Dangler'28, Elizabeth Kinney'28, Lyndsay Sheaffer'28, Hailey Simmons'28, and Abigail Wright’28. Last but not least, we are welcoming eight freshmen to the team: Grace Boler’29, Natalia Bruzzichesi’29, eodora Hronides’29, Richa Lanjewar’29, Caroline McAdams’29, Joelle Paolino’29, and Ashley aler’29. e thirteen sophomores and freshmen will be critical to lling all events and earning valuable points at big meets. Coach Yombor and Coach Ladolcetta are looking forward to a competitive season with the young squad. e team has already competed in one relay meet on the indoor track at Drew University, with two more meets on the schedule before Christmas. At the rst meet, the Gardiner Relays, the sprint medley team of Grace Boler’29 (400m), Emma Naughton’26 (200m), Azariah Andrews’27 (200m), and Blythe Dudley’26 (800m) placed rst among all the schools, and broke the school record with a new time of 4:25.33. e Villa Winter Track will be competing all the way into late February and some athletes are looking to qualify for the Meet of Champions on March 8, 2026. Good luck to the team! Work hard, have fun, and stay warm! Basketball Varsity Last season, we dominated the Independence Conference, nishing with a awless 10–0 record and a loss of just one graduate, Isabella Pizzo’25. is year, we’re raising the bar as we step into the formidable Liberty Conference and tackle a demanding independent schedule designed to test our limits and showcase our grit. Our roster is nearly untouched and brimming with talent. is seasoned squad is led by battle-tested seniors eresa Bowers’26, So a Kearns’26, Michela Vaccaro’26, and Cara Fitzpatrick’26, whose leadership, poise, and court savvy set the tone. eir chemistry in scoring and communication makes them the heartbeat of the team. Backing them up are returning varsity standouts who bring scoring repower, relentless defense, and unstoppable energy: Caroline Tully’27, our sharpshooter who drained a season-high 44 three-pointers, and Lexi Stappas’28, a versatile force on both ends of the oor. Katherine Canon’27, Serena Sabatella’28, and Kendall Kiraly’28, young but poised for big moments. is trio proved to be contributors to our 20-8 record and conference championship! e excitement doesn’t stop there. Isabella Nilio’27 brings leadership, energy, a strong work
ethic, and a team- rst mentality to the team. While newcomers, Brianna Polito’29, Eriel Porter’29, and Emma Gubernat’29 bring height, speed, and fresh energy that will make us tough matchups throughout the program. Marie Magnier’26 and Maeve Dam’27 are bringing their support as our team managers. Aer sharpening our game in scrimmages against Mt. St. Dominic, Chatham, Morristown, and Columbia, we’re primed and ready for the season ahead. Bring the noise, bring the energy, and let’s pack the gym! Go Villa! Basketball JV Villa Walsh JV Basketball is back for another unforgettable season! Leading the way are some returning players from last year's squad: Isabella Nilio’27, Kendall Kiraly’28, Natalie Brinkworth’28, and So a Velez’28. Former point guard Maeve Dam’28 is coming back to manage the team this season as well. e team also gained some promising newcomers such as Lucy Smart’29, Eriel Porter’29, Georgiana Hushon’29, Grace Costa’29, and Sophie Sims’29. Together we strive to be GREAT. Go Villa!!
Basketball Freshman We are excited to kick off our freshman basketball season! Our talented players are training hard and preparing for an exciting season. e following athletes are ready to embrace the challenge, rise to the occasion, and leave their mark on the court! Tessa Arturi’29, Caroline Caughey’29, Grace Costa’29, Brooke Kenny’29, Noreen Mack’29, Alyvia Simmons’29, Sophie Sims’29, Elodie Tuck’29, and Juliana Joshi’29 our team manager! Go Villa! Basketball Middle School e Middle School Basketball team consists of the following players: Norah Ali’31, So a Ali’31, Amanda Carter’31, Chloe Dane’31, Amelia John’31, Carina Lehnes’31, Alexa Van Slyke’31, and Ella Van Slyke’31. Ella Van Slyke’31 had 16 points against the Craig School. Carina Lehnes’31 added a basket also in that game. Alexa VanSlyke’31 helped clinch a win vs. Kent Place with a key foul shot. So a Ali’31 also chipped in a key basket at the Kent Place win. Amanda Carter’31 played incredibly tough defense for the Kent Place win. e annual “sweet” chocolate-making Christmas Party was a fun time with all dipping chocolate-covered strawberries, marshmallows, and pretzels. e team enjoyed a fun team-bonding trip to the Famished Frog and a visit to Santa’s House on the Morristown Green on 12/11. Winter Kick-Off Meeting e winter kickoff meeting held for all winter student-athletes and their parents was on the snow-day rescheduled date, ursday, December 4. irty-four out of sixty-four parents attended the informational meeting. A special thanks to the Athletic Leadership Council Executive board members for their Q&A on how unsportsmanlike spectator behavior affects our student-athletes’ performances.
Athletic Leadership Council (ALC) In place of a November meeting, the ALC members attended and supported the Powder Puff game on ursday, November 13th. e annual VWA Powder Puff event is organized by VWA students passionate about supporting Operation Smile's goals and smiles! Congratulations to Powder Puff student chair, Marie Magnier’26, for organizing her committee and raising $1300 for Operation Smile! Congratulations, Mia! National Girls and Women in Sports Day Congratulations to Tessa Bowers’26, for being chosen by VWA coaches and athletic staff to represent Villa Walsh Academy at the NJSIAA National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration. On Sunday, February 8, 2026, at Rutgers University, Tessa will be honored during halime of the Rutgers women’s basketball game, standing alongside remarkable female athletes from New Jersey's colleges, universities, and high schools. Way to go, Tessa! Villa Walsh Academy is immensely proud to have you as our representative.