HS/JH Daily Announcements
Announcements 9/22/2025
Announcements Monday, September 22, 2025
"What can we do to keep our heart from going numb? GO FORTH and PROCLAIM the Joy of the Gospel." These words of Pope Francis remind us that it is in our words and actions that we live our faith. As we prepare for a new week of school, thank you for your representation of our school wherever you go and whatever you do.
News
Great News - High School Honored with 100 Years of Accreditation: Congratulations to our high school who was honored today in Lexington at the Cogniq Summit for 100 years of accreditation. This is a testament to our academic excellence rooted in the Benedictine tradition. Mrs. McQueen and Mr. C accepted the award on behalf of the school,, and we congratulate the Villa high school community.
Great News - NaviGo Scholars: Congratulations to Ksenia Miller, Alyssa Martin, and Cam Kratzer who are NaviGo Scholars. NaviGo connects students with industry leaders so they can learn skills that will carry them on to their career goals. Ksenia and Alyssa are part of the law program, and Cam is part of the mental health program.
Teacher of the Week: Congratulations to Mr. Hruszkewycz who is our Teacher of the week. “He always makes class more than enjoyable and puts a smile on my face every day!”, one of his students shared. Mr. H makes us smile, as well, and we are happy to congratulate him on being Teacher of the Week!
High School Holiday Shirt Tradition-Shirts for Sale: We love our high school traditions, and here is another one! It’s a longstanding tradition to offer holiday shirts, and we are excited to offer holiday shirts for both Halloween and Christmas! Click on the link to order. Students may wear the Halloween shirt all days throughout October, and the Christmas shirt may be worn all days after Thanksgiving through the end of December. After that, students may wear the shirts on Spiritwear Friday. The link closes on September 28.
https://vmaholidaytees25.itemorder.com/
Homecoming/Spirit Week Gratitude: Spirit Week was an incredible week of fun and service, and we are so grateful to the student/teacher committee, along with our House leaders, for planning the festivities and service project. Thank you to the Homecoming Dance Committee, led by moderator Mrs. Gurley. This is our third year for Homecoming, and we are grateful to everyone who works so we can have the event.. Thank you to chaperones Mrs. Gurley, Mrs. Lawson, Mr. Ingram, Mr. Mullins, and Mrs. McQueen. Thank you to Mr. Hesse for his work on the Homecoming events. It was a great week!
Main Events This Week: We have another busy week of events here in our high school:
- Monday: Cognia Award Ceremony; Golf Outing; Convocation
- Tuesday: House
- Wednesday: House
- Thursday: Seniors will engage in the Improve Your Edge Program on Thursday.
- Friday: The annual Boat Regatta/Picnic will take place. Students are reminded to wear a t shirt in their class color: Seniors-Red; Juniors-Orange; Sophomores-Green; Freshmen-Yellow; 8th Grade-Black; 7th Grade-White; Faculty-Blue.
- Schedule: We will be in class until 10:30 A.M. At that time, we will call students to the lake.
- 10:45 - Junior high race start
- 11:10 - Junior high race ends
- 11:15 - High school race starts
- 11:40 - Regatta ends
- 11:45 to 1:50 – Lunch and games
- 1:50 Wrap-up and dismissal. We will stagger dismissal since Montessori dismisses at this time. We are also working with Officer Butler on possible modifications to Friday’s dismissal - stay tuned.
Extra 2024-2025 Yearbooks: Yearbooks are in, and they look great! We have many extra copies of last year's yearbook for sale. They are $60 each, including tax, and can be paid with cash or check made out to Jostens. Please see a member of the yearbook staff or Ms. Specht-Bird in Room 305 to purchase your book.
2025-2026 Yearbook on Sale: The 2025-2026 (current year) yearbook is now on sale! Order at the link to reserve your yearbook. You aren't going to want to miss out on this one—it's a trip!
Apply Now - Student Ambassadors: We are excited to announce our Student Ambassador Program. Student Ambassadors will be hosts to shadow students, give tours at Open House, participate in area school visits, welcome new families to Villa, and be the “face of Villa” - a great opportunity for students who are hospitable and represent our Benedictine school. Please stop in the office to pick up an application. O-Team members must, also, fill out the application in order to participate in the welcoming events, school visits, and Open House.
Weekly Brain Teaser: Congrats to Natalie Mai, last week’s winner of the weekly brain teaser. Natalie may stop in and see Mrs. Lawson for her prize. Check out this week’s puzzle on the bulletin board at the end of the third floor hallway.
Weekly Reminders
Junior High Parent/Student Sock Hop: Junior high students, we are looking forward to a fun event with you and your parents! Send in your reservation for Saturday, September 27. Music, dancing, burgers, shakes, and fries will make for a great evening. Cost is $15/person. Parent volunteers who would like to help with decorations, registrations, etc., please contact Mrs. Rood ([email protected])
Join Us-Rosary: Please join us in praying the Rosary on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of every month at 7:30 A.M. in Room 202. Together we will pray for peace and an end to violence. Start your morning in a powerful way—come pray with us! Parents, we ask that you join us, as well.
Flag Football: If you are interested in the fall flag football league being run by Owen Phillips and Alex Chadwick, please fill out the following survey: Link:
Walkers from the Sanctuary Subdivision to Villa: If you are walking from the Sanctuary Subdivision, please use one of two routes, per the Benedictine sisters: The fence line behind Carpenter’s Trace or the concrete path by St. Walburg Monastery. If you choose the concrete path, please walk along the far side of the road—on the right when heading toward Villa and on the left when heading away from Villa. This is important because the curve in the road creates a dangerous blind spot for drivers and delivery trucks, and we want to make sure everyone stays safe. Also, for safety reasons, no one should be near the maintenance shed area. Thank you as we work to keep everyone safe.
Daily Announcements on Website: The announcements will be emailed home on Mondays and Fridays. All families will receive Villa Week on Wednesdays. Here are instructions for accessing the announcements via the website: Home page - https://hsjh.villamadonna.org/; view the top line of choices and see News; the dropdown gives an option for announcements.
Meetings
HS Academic Team: The High School Academic Team has practice today in the Learning Commons from 3-3:40 P.M. All members should attend.
JUG: JUG will be held tomorrow and Thursday after school in Room 308. Please report by 3:05 P.M. See Mr. Shields with questions.
Graphic Design Club: Students interested in graphic design are invited to join the Graphic Design Club. The introductory meeting will be during HOUSE on Tuesday in the art room. We will be discussing and planning design projects for the year.
GSA Meeting: Sophomores and juniors with a strong interest in the arts, including design, writing, theater, dance, and music, are welcome to join Ms. W in the high school art room after school on Wednesday, September 24, to learn more about Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts and its application process. GSA is a three-week intensive summer arts program hosted at the University of Kentucky.
High School NHS: National Honor Society will host its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 24, in the Learning Commons at 12:50 P.M. Please eat your lunch in the cafeteria, and then come up to the Learning Commons for our brief meeting. Do not bring food to the meeting. If you have a service story or idea you would like to share, please do so. All current members are obligated to attend.
BIGS: Attention all BIGS in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program: We are ready to start matching Bigs with Littles at Glen O Swing Elementary. There will be a mandatory training meeting next week, Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 2:00 P.M. in Mrs. Lawson’s room. It is an early dismissal day because of the faculty meeting, so we are starting at 2:00 P.M. Not all Bigs will have a match right away as we wait for more applications to come in, but those who do will start the program on Wednesday, Oct 8th. See Mrs. Lawson if you have any questions.
Service
Craft Fair: Our annual PTAO Craft Show will take place this year on October 11th from 9:00 A.M.-3:00 P.M. in the gym and surrounding area. Please consider volunteering to work this event and earning service hours.
To work the Craft Show sign up at the link below:tps://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4FADAD2AABF9C34-57558430-villa
Craft Show Bake Sale: Please sign up to provide baked goods for the bake sale. https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080945AFA92FA0FE3-58215884-vmacraft
Counseling News
GSP Interest Meeting: For any junior interested in applying for the Governor’s Scholars Program (GSP), Mr. Ingram will hold a meeting today during lunch in the Learning Commons. If you wish to attend, please complete the GSP Interest Survey in SCOIR.
Career Exploration: Healthcare Careers in a Day is an interactive career exploration experience for current high school juniors and seniors. Check out this flyer for more information. The deadline to apply is October 3.
Part-Time Job: St Walburg Monastery is seeking healthcare assistants to work in the infirmary. The hours are 4:30-8:30 P.M. and weekends 7:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Applicants should have some interest in the healthcare area, be friendly, and willing to help the elderly. If you are interested, please contact Sr Nancy by email or phone. 859.322.9433 or [email protected].
Part-Time Job: St. Walburg Monastery is in need of kitchen help. If interested, contact Maureen Smain at 859-760-6324. You must be age 14 years and up. Help is needed every other Friday 4-7 P.M.
VMA College Visits: A current list of all VMA college visits is available in SCOIR. Parents and students are welcome to attend. Students, please note that you must register in advance to attend a college visit from SCOIR. Upcoming college visits are listed below:
- Monday, Sep 22 @ 8:50am - Butler University (in-person)
- Tuesday, Sep 23 @ 8:00am - Furman University (in-person)
- Tuesday, Sep 23 @ 11:50am - University of Cincinnati (in-person)
- Wednesday, Sep 24 @ 8:50am - University of Chicago (in-person)
- Wednesday, Sep 24 @ 1:15pm. - Santa Clara University (virtual)
- Thursday, Sep 25 @ 11:00am - Kentucky College of Art + Design (in-person)
- Thursday, Sep 25 @ 1:15pm - Ohio Dominican University (in-person)
- Friday, Sep 26 @ 9:38am - Lipscomb University (in-person)
Athletics
Cross Country: The cross country team had a spectacular weekend at the Louisville Trinity and Williamstown Invitationals. At the Louisville Trinity Invitational girls’ varsity race, Nina Tibbs broke the girls’ school record that was set back in 2009 with a time of 19:43. She was followed by Norie Barker (who ran a huge PR of 20:34) Abigail Ford, Alyssa Martin, and Anna Kolar. Top scorers in the boys Varsity race were Alex Chadwick, Brendan Ramdass, Xavier Burgin, Langston Coppage, and Owen Phillips. One of the many highlights at the Williamstown Invitational was Natalie Mai who earned her very first Varsity medal. Congratulations to all of the runners for a great weekend of racing!
Girls Golf: Good luck to our girls golf team in Regionals today.
Golf Outing: Thank you to all who are participating in today’s golf outing.
Athletics This Week
Monday 9/22
- Girls Golf @ Pioneer 8:30 Regionals
- Boys Soccer @ Villa v St. Patrick @ 5:30 V--HAS BEEN CANCELLED
Tuesday 9/23
- Boys Golf @ Boone Links 8:00 Regionals
- Middle School Golf @ World of Golf v St. Tim’s 6:00
- Boys Soccer @ Brossart 5:00/6:15/7:45 F/JV/V
- Volleyball @ Williamstown 6:00/7:00 JV/V
Wednesday 9/24
- Volleyball @ Grant Co 6:00/7:00 JV/V
Thursday 9/25
- Girls Soccer @ Villa v Dixie 5:00/6:30 V/JV
- Boys Soccer @ Tower Park v Highlands 6:00 V
- Volleyball @ Villa v Calvary Christian 6:00/7:00 JV/V
Friday 9/26
- No Events
Saturday 9/27
- Girls Soccer @ Villa v Boone Co 9:00/10:00 JV/V (Senior Night)
- Cross Country @ Masterson Station Park - Bluegrass Invitational