September 2024 Newsletter by VillaWalshAcademy

Villa Walsh Academy NEWSLETTER

VOL. 41 No. 1 September 2024

GUIDANCE REMINDERS

SENIORS

 ChecktheGuidancewebsitepagetoseewhich collegesarevisitingVillaWalsh.

 SignupintheGuidanceOﬃceforcollegevisits.

 eGroupGuidanceclasshasdiscussedthe importanceofdevisingarealisticcollegelist.

 AsdiscussedatbothcollegenightandinGuidance class,transcriptrequestformsaredueatleast3 weekspriortotheapplicationdeadline.Student mustsubmitoneformforeachschoolsheis applyingto(i.e.ifastudentis applyingto6schools, shemustcomplete6transcriptrequestforms).

COLLEGENIGHTCLASSOF2025

OnSeptember12,2024,Mrs.DevinshostedaCollege NightforparentsoftheClassof2025.is meeting addressedthecollegeapplicationprocess, VillaWalsh’s requirementsforrequestingtranscripts,lettersof recommendations,aswellasFAQs.

COLLEGEINFORMATIONNIGHT

OnWednesday,October30,2024at7:00pm,VillaWalsh AcademywillbehostingaCollegeInformationNightfor all9ththrough12thgradeparentsandstudents.College RepresentativesfromCatholicUniversity,Universityof FloridaandPennStateUniversitywillbespeakingabout thecollegeadmissionsprocess.Wearelookingforwardto thisgreatevent–pleaseRSVPviathegoogleformthat wasemailedoutonOctober1,2024.

PEERTUTORING

Peertutoringisavailableforallstudentswhofeelthey couldbene tfromsomeadditionalhelpwithaclass.e signupforrequestingandprovidingpeertutoringcanbe foundonthedooroftheGuidanceOﬃce.Pleasestopinor emailMrs.Devinsifyouhaveanyquestions.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Over1.3millionstudentstookthe2023PSAT.Ofthese entrants,wearepleasedtoannouncethat MaliaNugent’25 andMarthaSmart’25arerecognizedasCommended Students,placingamongthe50,000highest-scoring participantsinthe2025NationalMeritScholarship Program. Congratulations MaliaandMartha!

APSCHOLARAWARDS

efollowingstudentsearnedtheAPScholarwith DistinctionAwardbyscoringanaveragescoreofatleast 3.5onallAPExamstaken,andscoresof3orhigheron ve ormoreoftheseexams: CatherineCollum’24,Beatrice Crucs’24,KatrinaEagan’24,JuliaGitto’24,Bryanna Liu’26,MeaghanO’Malley’24,MarthaSmart’25,Holly Smitreski’24,andColleenWalsh’24.

efollowingstudentsearnedtheAPScholarwithHonor Award byscoringanaveragescoreofatleast3.25onallAP Examstaken,andscoresof3orhigheronfourormoreof theseexams:JaneDufner’24,LynetteGao’25,Brianna Hetherington’25,NoraKra’25,InesLemee’25,Catherine McCarthy’24,GraceMesce’24,MaliaNugent’25,and IsabellaPizzo’25.

efollowingstudentsearnedtheAPScholarAwardby scoringa3orhigheron threeormoreAPExams: Clara Ainsworth’25,ClaudiaAragon’24,MirandaAviles’25,Ava Brancatella’24,DelaneyCaughey’24,SarahChambeau’24, AnnaConnor’24,LeahCosta’25,NoraDam’25,Elizabeth Edattel’26,LaurelHamilton’24,So aJordao’25,Jesse Kramer’24,KaitlynPavagadhi’25,EmilyPoruczynski’24, ClaudiaSteinberg’25,NataliaTole’24,ElizabethTreacy’24, LilannaWendorﬀ’24,andKatherineZiwot’25.

SUMMER SERVICE VILLA SERVES

BlytheDudley’25ledVillaServesinadrivetocollect stuﬀedanimalstosupporttheworkofMary’sHands atSt.Margaret’s ofScotlandin Morristown. Mary’s Handsprovides one-on-onefamilyassistanceas needed andconnectsclientswithlocalservices.Inaddition, Mary’sHandshasbeenasourceofcompassionfor manyfamilies,includingnewmothersandchildren. TeresaPrendergast,DirectorofClientServices,willuse thestuﬀedanimalsasgis,incentives,andasourceof comfortforthechildrenandfamilies.

OperationSmile

Marie(Mia)Magnier’26andJaneAnderson’26are continuingtheworkofOperationSmileandgavea presentationtoourinitialVillaServesmeetingonthe workofOperationSmilelistingsomeoftheplansforthe schoolyear. PlansforthenextPowderpuﬀgamehave begun!

DiversityCafé

DiversityCafékickedoﬀ thecelebrationof Hispanic HeritageMonthatSeptemberfestthis yearwithbeautiful skiesandweather. DiversityCafédelightedourown studentsandfamiliesaswellasourguestsfromother schoolswithmulticoloredfriendshipbracelets,coloring pages,bookmarksandtemporarytattooscelebratingthe month.

ankyoutoallthefamilieswhosharedtheirheritage withfood.Aspecialthankyou tothe CantaveFamily, LemeeFamily andthe AvilesFamilyfortheirpresence, energy,andserviceinmakingthisdaysuccessful. ank youtoInesLemee’25,MirandaAviles’25,Lynette Gao’25,AnneRionda’27,AugustinaMartinezFerretti’25,OliviaChang’25,EmmaMurphy’29,and ZoeLenz’28fortheirfood,serviceandplanning. Guests weretreatedtoempanadas,churros,horchata,andso muchmore!

OnJune10,2024,twelveVWASpanishHonorSocietyand ClubmemberstaughtSpanishtochildrenofSt.Gerard SchoolininnercityPaterson.Onthis 16thannualSt.Gerard Day,VWAgirlstaughtgrades1to8,providingtheirown lessonplans,materials,prizes,snacks,andjoinedtheirlittle studentsforlunchandplaygroundrecess.

Wethank ouroﬃcersoftheSpanishHonorSocietyand SpanishClub:InesLemee’25,AngelinaRizk’25,Emma Naughton’26,So aJordao’25,SabrinaPasko’26,Nora Dam’25,MirandaAviles’25,CierraWolckenhauer’25, LeahCosta’25,MarissaNoonan’25,recentgraduate ClaudiaAragon’24,andalumJuliOr ni’05.

ankyoutoourdriversandchaperones:Mrs.Rezza,Mrs. Or ni,Mrs.Martinez,Mrs.Aviles,Mrs.LinaMaraschi,and SisterJosephinePalmeri.

AertheSpanishclasses,Sr.Jo-AnnPompa,MPF,Principal ofSt.Gerard’s,graciouslyservedalunchtoourVWA studentsandchaperones.

Septemberhasalreadybeenaproductivemonthforstudents inVilla’sCapstoneprogram.StartingwithAPSeminar duringsophomoreyear,andcontinuingwithAPResearch injunioryear, thecoursesuseaninterdisciplinaryapproach todevelopthecriticalthinking,research,collaboration,time management,andpresentationskillsneededforcollege.

SophomoresinMrs.Oliveros’ APSeminarclasshavebeen learningskillstodeveloptheirabilitytocriticallythink. eyhavebeenpreparingfortheir rstPerformanceTaskby investigatingandanalyzingaresearchablequestionderived fromthetopic:eIntersectionalityofGenderandClass, whichtheyhavebeenstudyingsincethesummer.Students, inteams,aredevelopingresearchquestionsthatcan be viewedfrommultipleperspectives,conductingresearchto identifypossibleapproachestothequestion,anddividingthe responsibilitiesamongteammembersforindividualresearch onaspeci capproachtothequestion.Aertheirindividual researchhasbeencompleted,theywillcometogetheragain tocreateandpresentamultimediapresentationontheir ndingstoanaudience.

AP CAPSTONE

Meanwhile,Mrs.Pasko’sAPResearchstudentshavebeen expandingontheskillstheydevelopedinAPSeminarlast yearto developtheirownuniqueresearch questions, many ofwhichfocusonsocialandcognitiveareas.Studentswill answertheresearchquestionsthroughoriginaldatacollection andanalysis.Forinstance,inJanuary,membersofthestudent bodymaybeinvitedtovolunteertorespondtoanonymous surveys,orparticipateininterviews,onavarietyoftopics.

Tohelpdeveloptheirresearchstudiesandexpandtheir bodyofknowledgeontheirselectedtopics,theAPResearch studentstraveledonSeptember27to RutgersUniversity’s AlexanderLibraryin NewBrunswick.A Rutgerslibrarian instructed thegroupontechniquesandtoolsnecessaryto searchinRUdatabasesandcollectusefularticlesandstudies.

VWAalumnaearealsohelpingtoinspireourresearchers: onOctober3, VictoriaWong’23metwiththeclassvia Zoomtoshareherexperienceoverthesummerasastudent researcherfortheMITSloanSchoolofManagement;her teamisinvestigatingtheimpactofshareholderproposalson promotingsustainability.OnOctober18,wewillwelcome JuliannaMcKenna’17,viazoom,so shecan shareher experiencesasa researcherfortheCenterforAutismat Children'sNationalHospital.

WeareeagertohearfromtheVillacommunity,including alumnae,family,andfriends,aboutcollegiateresearch experiences,so pleaseconsiderreachingouttoMrs.Pasko (paskok@villawalsh.org)todiscussavisitwithAPResearch.

STUDENT COUNCIL

ELECTIONSANDINDUCTION

OnWednesday,September25,2024,thefollowingstudents wereelectedtoserveonStudentCouncilforthe2024-2025 schoolyear:ClassCommissioners MarissaNoonan’25,Cara Fitzpatrick’26,EllaTrzenowski’27,andAveryDraeger’28. ServingasClass Representativesare RiordanFarley’25, ClaudiaSteinberg’25,CierraWolkenhauer’25;Tessa Bowers’26,CameronShull’26,GiselleScannella’26;Maeve Dam’27,EmilyMurphy’27,KieraVowells’27;Kendall Kiraly’28,ElyseO’Sullivan’28,So aMarcello’28;Caroline Caughey’29;andJeanelleCantave’30.

efollowingMonday,September30,StudentCouncilheld itsinductionceremonyinMotherNinettaAuditorium. Marie(Mia)Magniere’26 presidedasMistressof CeremoniesandSisterElaineinstalledeachstudentinto StudentCouncil.

NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

eStudentCouncilExecutiveBoardconsisting ofPresident NoraDam’25,VicePresidentAmalia Hrondies’25,Secretary LilyMeier’25,andTreasurer AveryPorucynski’25welcomedstudentsfromtheClasses of2027,2028,2029,and2030toVillaWalshAcademyon Wednesday,August28,2024,intheSisterDorisLavinthal AthleticCenter.enewestVilla studentswerewelcomed intotheirneoncolorgroupswiththetheme“OurFuture IsBright.”Foractivities,studentsjoinedinaprayer service,socializedwithicebreakers,andparticipated indiﬀerentrotatingstationsthroughoutthemorning. StudentswenttotheCaféforlunchandanintroductionto VillabySisterElaine.Aerlunch,Seniorsservedstudents icecreamwithtoppings,andvolunteersgaveeachgroup atourofVilla.MuchgratitudetofacultymembersMrs. OlgaNegrín,Mrs.MariaManley,Mrs.StaceyGrabowski, Mrs.KerryHarper,Ms.ColetteGeraghty,andMrs.Laura Williamsfortheirassistancewithstudents.Andmany thankstoMrs.JenniferFleuryandMrs.CarolBarnhart fortheirhelp intheSDLAC.Aspecialthankyougoes toMrs.JulieAnnOliveros,StudentCouncilmoderator, andtothemanystudentvolunteersforjoiningusin welcomingthenewstudents.

Bishop’sMass

VillaWalshAcademycelebratedits rstliturgyofthenew schoolyearwithBishopKevinSweeneyfromthediocese ofPatersononFriday,September20inSt.LucyChapel.In his homily,Bishop Sweeneyencouragedourstudentsand facultytonevertireoflearning,especiallyaboutourfaith.He encouraged ustostudythelifeofSt.ElizabethAnnSeton, foundressofCatholic educationintheUnitedStates,andthe rstAmerican-bornsainttobecanonized.

Villa’sChorusstudents,undertheguidanceofVilla’snew chorusdirector,Mr.PaulDaher,ledthecongregationin prayerandsong,includingamagni centpost-communion meditationofomasDorsey’s“PreciousLord,Take MyHand,”sungbyClaraAinsworth’25,Madeline Knagenhjelm’25andCierraWolkenhauer’25. anks alsotoNoraDam’25,IsabellaPizzo’25,AmeliaKleinle’26, Marie(Mia)Magnier’26,GiselleScannella’26,Lia Griﬃn’27,EmilyMurphy’27,AvaSansano’27,Lexi Stappas’27,SamanthaInnella’28,HaileySimmons’28, eodoraHronides’29,JanelleCantave’30, andCaroline Caughey’30,forhelpingtoservethisliturgybycarryingcross andcandles,servingthealtar,readingScriptureandpetitions, presentingthegisattheOﬀertory,anddistributingthemass programs.

BigSister/LittleSisterLuncheon

SeniorsfromtheClassof2025welcomed ourfreshman studentsoftheClassof2028totheVilla WalshAcademy familybyhostingtheannualBigSister/LittleSisterLuncheon onWednesday,September25.Coolweatherandcloudyskies didnotdetertheexcitementandenthusiasmofthepicnicby theTower,withbrightballoons,basketsofthoughtfullittle gis,andlunch. CandyDay,theannualVillatraditionthat takesplacepriortotheluncheon,givesthefreshmen students achancetointroducethemselvestotheseniors,and share withthemalittlesweettreat. Specialthankstotheclassof 2025fortheirkindandgenerouswelcometotheirLittle Sistersinthefreshmanclass.

Rosary

StudentsandfacultygathereveryWednesdayaerschoolat 2:45PMto praytherosaryforourneedsandtheneedsofthe wholeworld. Weliveinprecarioustimes,andOurLadyhas promisedusprotectionandpeace,andexhortsusmorethan evertoturntoGodinprayer,especiallytherosary. Allare welcome.

Adoration/Reconciliation

Continuingwithabeautifulnewtradition,VillaWalshinvites students,faculty,andfamilies tojoininourmonthlyFriday AdorationandReconciliationDays,tospendsometime inthequietofSt.LucyChapel. AdorationoftheBlessed Sacramentisa powerful,personalwaytopraywithOur Lord. St.AlphonsusLiguorisays,“WeoughttovisitHim oen. HowdeartoHimisaquarterofanhourspared from ouroccupations…tocomeandpraytoHim,visitHim,and consoleHim.” Sign-upsheets aresharedmonthly,andallare welcome.

SoupKitchenMeal

VillaWalshAcademyhasvolunteeredtoprepareamealonce amonthinsupportoftheFranciscanFriarsof theRenewal’s St.MartindePorressoupkitchen,anoutreachtotheirpoor neighborsinNewark. Classeswilltaketurnsplanningfor andpreparingthemealinthekitchenoftheGraceAnnCafe', usingfooddonationsfromtheentireschool.e rstmeal, eightcatering-sizedtraysofchickenfriedrice,wasservedon October1. ankstothewholeschoolcommunityfor lling upthedonationsonSign-Up Geniusso quickly,andforthe membersofthesophomoreclasswhogenerouslygavetheir timetocookthemeal.

NJMarchforLife

Together,agroupof VillaWalshAcademystudents Madeline Knagenhjelm’25,Marie(Mia)Magnier’26,Giselle Scannella’26,SierraWarjanka’26,andEmma Murphy’29 joinedDelbartonstudentstotraveltoTrenton, NewJerseyfortheMarchforLifeonSeptember26th.As part of ourwitnessasacommunitythatrespects life, itwasa joytobeamongothersprayingandstandingupforthosewho arethemostvulnerable.

OurstudentsattendedmassattheCathedralofSaintMaryof theAssumption.emasswascelebratedbythebishopsfrom manydiﬀerentdioceses throughoutNewJersey,includingour ownBishopKevinSweeney.Studentsthenattendedtherally andheardspeakersandjoinedinprayerwithallofthosein attendance.Weconcludedthedaywalkingthroughthestreets ofTrenton.

Itwasagreatdayforcommunitybondingandbeingableto joinalongwithotherschoolsandmembersof ourcommunity anddiocesetostandupforlife.

ATHLETICS

TennisVarsity

eVarsitytennisteamreturnedthisseasonwithaveteran rosterof5seniorsand5juniors. AngelinaSantorelli’26 has playedatthenumber1spotfortheentiretyoftheseason, makingabigleapfromplayingseconddoubleslastyear. Her skillsand con dencecontinuetogrowinthisverychallenging top spot.CameronShull’26 defendedherpositionatsecond singlesandcontinuestoperformsolidlyatthisposition. Senior,KaitlynPavagadhi’25 returnedtoherpositionat3rd singleswhereshehasshownoutstandingmentalstrength battlingthroughhours-longmatches. Ourdoubles teamshave doneexceptionallywellthisseason. Our rstdoublesteam isapairofseniors, MaliaNugent’25 andOliviaChang’25, whohaveleveragedtheirexperiencetoachievea9-1regular seasonrecordandmakeittothesemi- nalsintheMorris CountyTournament. GiselleScannella’26 andAlexRezza’25 cametogethertoformourseconddoublesteamandhavean impressiverecordof8-2intheregularseason. Gisellerose tothisspotfromanalternatelastyearandAlexmadean impressivejumpfromJVtoawinningvarsityrecord. Senior LynetteGao’25,andjuniorsOliviaParillo’26 andBridget Drew’26roundoutthevarsitylineupandhaveplayedverywell thisyear. eteamhadshutoutwinsagainstVernonTownship andSt.Elizabeth’s!eteamhasanoverallrecordof4-7anda Divisionrecordof 2-5.

TennisJV

JVtennis hadagreatstarttotheseasonwithawinningrecord of7-3. OurlossescameagainsttheMorristownBeardSchool (2)andMadisonHighSchool. eteamwonagainstMountain LakesHighSchool(2),KinnelonHighSchool,Academyof St.Elizabeth,HanoverParkHighSchool(2),andParsippany HillsHighSchool. Weatherforcedustopostponematches againstMadisonandKinnelonHighSchools.Highlightsfrom theseasonincludeacoupleofteambondingeventswhenthe VarsityandJVtraveledtoMorristownforicecreamatthe Creameryattheendofpre-season,andtheJVgirlsenjoyeda teamdinneraerourhomematchagainstMountainLakesHigh School.

eJVTennisTeamhasa22personrostercomprisedof captains AvaBentz’26andLibbyFarmer’26;juniorsJohanna Aguilar’26,KristinaDangler’26,ElizabethEdattel’26, BerniceFernando’26,KristiCiasulli’26andAvaSeaman’26; sophomoresAngelinaDattolo’27,IsabellaNilio’27,Isabella Orosz’27,SarahPorr’27,EllaTrzesniowski’27,andValentina DePaco’27andfreshman GalinaDangler’28,LaurenDoss’28, SienaLanni’28,AdrianaRizk’28,LaylaVreeling’28,Abigail Wright’28,WhitneyWitko’28 andOliviaLeuzzi’28.

SoccerVarsity

eVillaWalshGirlsVarsitySoccerTeamexperienced adynamic monthofSeptember,withamixofsuccesses andchallenges.Headingintothenewseasonwithanew coachingstaff,everyonewaslookingtogenerateteam chemistry,understanding,andastyleofplay.eteam playedatotalof7games,workingtoimplementteam chemistryandre netheirplayingstyle.Wewantedto gaugeprogressfromthestartofthemonthtotheendof themonthwithgamesagainstKinnelon.OverallRecord forSeptember:4Wins,3Losses, 1Tie.ereweremany playerhighlightsandtopperformancesthisseason. Avery Poruczynski’25contributedto52%oftheteam’sgoalsthis seasonandisleadingasthetop goalscorerwith12goals andtopsinassistswith5,totaling17goalcontributionsfor September.GiselleLongo’26gotherseasonofftoa yer, makinganincredible45savesin 4games. Giselle(Gigi) wasalsonamedMorrisCountyAthleteoftheWeekforher amazingperformances.Sadly,Gigi’sseasonwascutshort duetoaninjury.Welookforwardtohaving Gigiback on the eldnextseason.CaraFitzpatrick’26steppedupas theteamgoalkeeperfortheremainderoftheseasonand hasdoneanexcellentjob.Shehasshowngreatleadership skillsand theabilitytoworkwithinateam,andthisaction shouldnotgounmentioned.Whenthecoachingstaff comparestheopeninggamevs.Kinnelontothesecond game,weareproudtoseetheprogressfromthisgroup. Wewereheavilybeateninthe rstmatch(6-2),butbythe secondmatch,wedominated thegameinallareasofthe eld,creatingmultipleclearchancesand wereveryunlucky toloseinovertime.egirlsshowedgreatimprovementas asquadinallfourpillarsofthegame.Wearenowcreating morecontrolledtouchesinthe nalthird comparedtothe startoftheseasonandgivingupfewershots.Varsityteam membersinclude:AbriannaEsposito’25,So aJordao’25, KylieMazzei’25,SkylerPela’25,captainIsabellaPizzo’25, captainAveryPoruczynski’25,JaneAnderson’26, KayleyBascom’26,ClodaghBateson’26,eresa(Tessa) Bowers’26,CaraFitzpatrick’26,So aKearns’26,Giselle Longo’26,AshleeMartin’26,KaylaBurrell’28,Serena Sabatella’28andmanager Marie(Mia)Magnier’26.

SoccerJV

eVillaWalshJVSoccerteamcurrentlyhasawinning recordof4-3.eteamdemonstratesahighskilllevel, willingnesstolearn,andheart.Eachplayerexempli es themissionofVillaWalshAcademyinherownunique way.eteamwork andchemistrythegirlsdisplayis whytheyhavebeensuccessfulthusfar.eteamisled bycaptain LexiStappas’27whodominatesaspart-time eldplayer,part-timekeeper.Infrontofherisa solid defensivebacklineincluding SamanthaInnella’28, Eve(Vivi)Loughran’27,AnneRionda’27,Georgia

Doyle’27andSo aGrum’28. Controllingthemiddleof the eldaretacticallysoundplayersLyndsaySheaﬀer’28, JosephineRezza’28,andKatelynMcGowan’27.Witha plethoraofquick andgrittyforwards,weareabletokeep our opponents on the defensive end of the ball. SaraCarvalheiro-Santos’28,MiaSpataro’27,Gabriella Farag’27,AlexaBarravecchio’27,CeciliaTimmons’27, andGraceSokol’28contributetotheiroﬀensive opportunities.Althoughyoungand smallinnumbers, thegirlshavecometogetherandworkedasacollective uniteverysingledayinordertogetbetterandreachtheir goals.eyareexcitedtotakeontherestoftheseasonand continueto putinthehardworkinordertogettheresults theydeserve.

VolleyballVarsity

eVillaVarsityVolleyballisbeingledbyseniorcaptains NoraDam’25and AmaliaHronides’25.eother5 seniorsontheteamare: MariaCostello’25,NoraKra’25, LeiaLange’25,LilyMeier’25and ClaudiaSteinberg’25. GemmaCafasso’26,ElodieCooney’26,KarinaSiegel’26, MichelaVaccaro’26andSabrinaWaivada’26represent thejuniorclass. Tocompletetheteam,thecoachesrelyon sophomoresEmilyMurphy’27,BiancaPetrucci’27and KatherineTreacy’27.egirlsstartedoutstrongandwere undefeatedaerthe rst4matches,butfacedsomereally toughopponentsandlostsomeclosematchesintheweeks aerthat.AtSeptemberfest thevarsitysquadplaced second,showcasinggreatvolleyballallaround.

eteamislookingtobuildmomentuminthesecond part oftheseason,leadingup totheStatetournament.

Comeoutandsupportthebiggesteventoftheseason,the AnnualDigPinkfundraiseronOctober17,2024,when VillaplaysagainstHanoverPark.DigPinksupportsStage 4BreastCancerResearch.Bakedgoods,pizza,andT-shirts willbeforsale,andspectatorscanwinprizesbyservingto “HittheViking”!Onthe22ndofOctobertheseniorswill becelebratedinthematchversusMorrisTech.

GoVWAV!

VolleyballJV

JVvolleyballstartedoﬀtheseasonstrongwithacurrent recordof9-3.egirlsworkso hardinpracticeanditis reallyshowingoutonthecourt.eyrankednumberone goingintoourSeptemberfestTournamentand nished as2024JVSeptemberfestChampions.elastweekof Septemberhasreallythrownchallenges attheteamwith injuryandsickness,buttheyhavemadeVillaWalshvery proud.egirlsaretryingoutnewrolesandrotationsand reallysteppingupforeachother.ispastSaturday,out oftenteams,theymadeittothequarter nalsinthePayne

TechtournamentinNewark.ehighlightsofthetournament werewhenPeytonSimmons’27andCarolineTully’27had kickstokeeptheballinplay.Itis,andalwayshasbeen,ajoyto coachthesegirls,and Ican'twaittoseewhatOctoberbrings.JV playersinclude: GraceCalvano’26,EmmaNaughton’26,Alexis Sica’26,AzariahAndrews’27,MaeveDam’27,LiaGriﬃn’27, IsabellaPropper-Stuehr’27,AvaSansano’27,Peyton Simmons’27,CarolineTully’27and KieraVowells’27.

VolleyballFreshman

efreshmanvolleyballteamisoﬀtoastrongstartwithan undefeatedrecordof8-0.AttheSeptemberfesttournament,they hadincrediblematches,andultimately,wonthetournament.

emembersofthe2024-2025freshmanvolleyballteamare: LeahBourdoin’28,MaryCafasso’28,AveryDraeger’28,Maria Kalavrouziotis’28,JuliannaKenworthy’28,KendallKiraly’28, So aMarcello’28,SatineNader’28,VivienneQiao’28,Sibylla Ramos’28,SarahShalhoub’28,HannahWarjanka’28,Zoe Ye’28,andmanager AmyPerlera’28.

CrossCountryVarsity

e2024CrossCountryteamisoﬀtoagreatstarttothe season. eteambegantheseasontravelingtoNYtocompete intheWarwickValleyWaveManiaInvitational. eteam earneda1stplacechampionship plaqueinthe eldof19 teams. BlytheDudley’26wastheindividualwinnerina timeof18:30. Newcomerstotheteam Margaret(Maggie) Boler’25andAmeliaKleinle’26madeanimmediateimpact ontheteamplacing3rdand 11threspectivelyinthe eld of87runners. Veteranseniors InesLemee’25and Martha Smart’25hadstrong nishesaswellin7th and15thplaces. eteamhas alsocompetedin3NJACconferencedualmeets throughoutSeptemberand emergedwitharecordof6-0with winsoverMountainLakes,WhippanyPark,Madison,Morris CountyTech,Kinnelon,andMorrisCatholic. isearnsthe teamthetitleofNJACLibertyDivisionchampions! eteam willcompeteintheprestigiousShoreCoachesInvitational onOctober5thand willthenenterthechampionshipmeet season. Teammembersforthe2024seasoninclude Miranda Aviles’25,BhavishyaBoga’25,Margaret(Maggie)Boler‘25, InesLemee’25,ErinLyons’25,MarthaSmart’25,Audrey Wilbanks’25,BridgetBoler’26,ValentinaCalipa’26,Blythe Dudley’26,EmiliaKapas’26,AmeliaKleinle’26,Katelyn Hadzima’27,LaurenPetrie’27,ElizabethKinney’28.

CrossCountryMiddleSchool

eMiddleSchoolCrossCountryteamisoﬀ toa“running” startwithalmostallofthereturningrunnersfromlastyearback andseveralnew7thgraders.egirlswontheir rstraceagainst KinnelonandBoontonatachallengingSilasPark inKinnelon onSeptember17. CatherineAzares’29wontheracewith fellowclassmatesLucySmart’29,CarolineCaughey’29,Elodie Tuck’29 and7thgraderAvaKloster’30 roundingoutVilla’stop 5tosecureateamwin. JoellePaolino’29,EmmaMurphy’29, EmilyO’Malley’29,RichaLanjewar’29,EavanMartin’29 and

eodoraHronides’29recordedimpressivetimestooas Villa’sreturning8thgraders.Ourtalented7thgradersinclude BaileyGardner’30,LyraKirby’30,LucianaSuzuki-Scotti’30, JeanelleCantave’30,AliyahWarjanka’30 and,asmentioned earlier,AvaKloster’30.eteamhadastrongshowingat Villa’sownMunchkinInvitationalonSeptemberfestandtheir meettwodayslateratDelbarton.LucySmart’29wonthe AssumptionInvitational,registeringherbesttimeeveronthe CentralParkcoursewhileteammate CarolineCaughey’29 alsomedaledattheracerepresentingVillaWalsh.eMiddle SchoolCrossCountryteamislookingforwardtotheirteambuildingtripnextweekandcontinuetoworktogetherand encourageeachotherwhiletheyfaceaverybusyOctober schedule.

AthleticLeadershipCouncil(ALC)

e2024-2025ALCcametogetherforthe rsttimeinAugust attheannualALCworkshop.eywelcomedformerNFL playerandNJAthleticDirectoroftheYear,SeanDowling, whopresentedthemwithactivitiesanddiscussedleadership, goalsetting,andtheimportanceofleadingbyaction.e councilkickedoﬀ theschoolyear's rstmeetingon September 26andwelcomedNJSIAAVolleyballoﬃcialandVWACoach LoriVegatodiscussleadership.Ournextmeetingison October31from2:45-3:15intheSDLAC.

Septemberfest-September21

ankyouforcomingouttocelebratetheVWAstudentathletesonSeptember21statSeptemberfest!Itwasagreatday forourteams,alumnae,parents,friends,andvisitingteams.

eday’seventsweremadeextraspecialas theVWAsoccer communityhonoredretiredheadcoachKristinMcCormick forher10yearsas headvarsitycoachand15+yearsinthe program.egamesstartedwiththeNationalAnthemsung beautifullybyVWA CierraWolckenhauer’25.Aspecial thankstoBoosterPresidentHilaryDudleyandtheBooster Clubmemberswhovolunteeredtosetup,cleanup,grill,sell VWmerchandise,helprunthevolleyballtournament,help withparking,donatesnacksandwater,andmore!

ankstoallofyou,thedaywasabigsuccess!

BOUTIQUE

echillinthe airmeansit’stimetogearupforfallfun! Cozyupwith thelateststylesatthe VWABoutique and makeeveryout ta statement!

Don’tforgettoelevateyouruniforms andunleashyour schoolspiritEVERYFRIDAYonSpirit Day!

eBoutique isopen 24/7foryourshoppingspree: stores. villawalsh.com

LET YOURLIGHT SHINEBRIGHT!