Villa is blessed and grateful to have 37 legacy families this year. This special bond was celebrated on Friday morning, September 8th, at the annual Mother-Daughter Legacy Prayer Service & Breakfast. The beautiful morning event, scheduled before the start of the school day, brought Villa Maria alumnae mothers and their current-student daughters to the lovely Parsons Chapel in the Theresa Maxis Student Union. A brief prayer service and pin exchange was held, followed by breakfast in the Holloway Dining Hall. 

We thank all our legacy families for the gift of your daughters! 

Villa's Admissions Department spent the summer preparing for the informational sessions, Fall Open House, Entrance-Scholarship Exam opportunities, and Visit Villa Days that will take place starting this month. As Villa welcomes our new freshman class, new transfer students, and our returning sophomores, juniors, and seniors, we are also thinking about our future sisters - members of the Class of 2028 and beyond. 

Dozens of current Villa students will serve as ambassadors during the fall admissions season, partnering with our visiting 8th graders on Visit Villa Days, leading tours at the Fall Open House, and participating in the just-announced Villa Maria Dance Experience. Villa administrators, faculty, and staff will also support the admissions season by attending events, preparing materials, and offering welcomes to our fall visitors. 

Fall Admissions Events

• Public to Private School: What to Expect (9/20)
• Entrance-Scholarship Exam (9/23 & 10/15)
• Visit Villa Days (September, October, November) 
• Fall Open House (10/1)
• Villa Maria Dance Company Experience (10/1) 

The deadline to apply to attend Villa Maria in the Fall of 2024 is November 8th. 

Prospective Student Events

Members of the Class of 2024 gathered in the Regina Mundi parking lot before school on Thursday, August 31st, to celebrate the beginning of the year with an opening "tailgate." Music and laughter filled the Regina Mundi parking lot as students posted for quick photos and greeted friends. The opening tailgate was the perfect way to launch the 2023-2024 school year and it was one of dozens of traditions the senior class will experience in their final year at VMA.

Opening Day at Villa Maria was held on Friday, August 25, 2023. The day was warm and welcoming, as "old" friends reconnected, new friends were made, and our community came together to begin the year. A prayer service in the auditorium was followed by the formal installation of our 2023-2024 Student Council. Next, a brief run-through of classes offered a preview of the year to come. Lunchtime and afternoon fun and games made Opening Day one to remember. 

View photo gallery

Villa's new transfer students arrived on campus for their first day on Tuesday, August 22nd, and the freshman class arrived on Wednesday, August 23rd. Both days were busy and exciting for Villa's newest sisters as they met members of Villa's faculty and staff, toured campus, and made new friends. The transfer students were welcomed by a unique "Better Late Than Never!" transfer team, made up of upperclass students who also transferred to Villa. Student Council welcomed the incoming freshman class, with the kind of enthusiasm that makes Villa so special. 

On Monday afternoon, August 14, 2023, the Villa Maria community gathered for the dedication of the new Ostrowski Performance Center on campus. Located behind the Villa Athletic Center within the Marian Center and accessed through the gymnasium, the Ostrowski Performance Center will be a place where students can go to rehab from injury and proactively avoid injury through workouts.

Villa Maria is grateful to Peggy Evans, the Ostrowski family, and Excel PT for their generous support in making the Ostrowski Performance Center – and Jeff Ostrowski’s legacy – a reality at Villa Maria.

Father Arul, O.Praem, from St. Patrick's in Malvern shared the following during the dedication: “Grant that all who meet here may find the healing touch of grace you offered so often through your good and faithful servant, Jeff Ostrowski.”

In the words of Jeff Ostrowski, “Get After It.”

This time last year, the Villa community was getting a first look at the new Theresa Maxis Student Union building on campus. We couldn't wait for the students to arrive and explore the new offices, collaborative spaces, and counseling center, experience the beauty and peace of Parsons Chapel, and enjoy lunch in the Holloway Dining Hall and on the Hewes Family Terrace. The new building became a bustling hub of activity and the spiritual center of Villa's campus, just as we'd imagined. Now, we cannot imagine our campus without "TMax." 

On Saturday, July 22, Villa alumnae gathered in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, for our annual "Villa Storms the Shore" gathering. This casual get-together, held at The Point in Sea Isle and open to our "over 21" alums, offered a wonderful opportunity to reconnect, reminisce, and enjoy the enduring #sisterhood. 

Villa Maria's Class of 2023 will head to 56 different colleges and universities in 22 states and two countries (USA and England) this fall. Although it is difficult to imagine campus in the fall without our beloved seniors, the entire Villa Maria community wishes our graduates well as they embark on new adventures far and wide. 

College Acceptances and Decisions 2023



 

The Daily Local News recently announced its spring season All-Area Teams, and Villa Maria athletics were well-represented. Congratulations to the following outstanding VMA players: 

Lacrosse 

First Team: Kaelyn Wolfe, Maggie Traynor 
Second Team: Brynna Hill, Alice Kash, Kayleigh Touey
Honorable Mention: Allie Meyer, Mackenzie Liberatore, Lila Traynor, Olivia Greene 

Read DLN article

Softball

First Team & Team MVP: Ari Butler 
First Team: Emilia Falcon
Second Team: Ella McHugh 
Honorable Mention: Alex Kilpatrick 

Read DLN article

Track and Field 

First Team: Maddy Kelley, Mary Cate Doughty
Honorable Mention: Marin Rosser 

Read DLN article

Many members of the Class of 2026 traveled to Disney World last week as part of Villa Maria's annual freshman trip. The experience was more than just an unforgettable opportunity for students to celebrate the end of their first year of high school; it was also a unique learning and growth opportunity. 

Early in the week, the girls attended a presentation by Disney expert, teacher, consultant, and coach, Mr. Lou Mongello. Mr. Mongello's motivational presentation included leadership lessons from Walt Disney. The morning also featured a "Concert of Faith" by LaVoz, a brother and sister Catholic music group, who offered energetic songs of praise and reflection. 

Later in the week, the group experienced Disney's Imagination Campus at Disney's Hollywood Studios, learning how Disney Parks tell stories using all five senses and gaining insight into the creative and technical roles that help create Disney experiences. 

Villa Maria’s Senior Capstone Project, required of every graduate, involves selecting an area of interest and investigating the topic during the course of senior year. Each student forms an “essential question” and spends the majority of the year learning about the topic through research. In the spring, the class participates in job shadowing or service work to learn more.

The areas of interest investigated by the Class of 2023 include landscape architecture, nutritional sciences, veterinary medicine, marketing, fashion design, engineering, law, environmental science, graphic design, psychology, real estate, forensic science, medical/healthcare, communications, publishing, technology, music psychology, aviation, film, education, social work, and more. 

Villa Maria’s Capstone Coordinator, Mrs. Cara Walsh ’04, oversees the program and helps students make connections and plan their Capstone experiences. She encourages anyone who is interested in supporting the program (via mentorship, job shadowing, etc.) or learning more to contact her at cwalsh@vmahs.org

Congratulations to the 20 student-athlete members of the Villa Maria Class of 2023 who will compete at the college level next year. 

View photo gallery

Read more about Villa Maria athletics

The Baccalaureate Mass/Graduation Ceremony for Villa Maria's Class of 2023 was held at Saints Simon & Jude in West Chester, PA, on Thursday evening, June 1, 2023. Congratulations to all!

View photo gallery

Villa Maria will be livestreaming several events this week. Visit our livestream page to link to livestreams of the Alumnae Induction (Tuesday), the Honors Convocation (Tuesday evening), Daisy Chain and Senior Sing (Wednesday), and the Baccalaureate Mass/Graduation Ceremony (Thursday evening). 

View livestream page

Villa's rowing team traveled to Oak Ridge, Tennessee over the weekend to compete at the Scholastic Rowing Association of America (SRAA) National Championship Regatta. 

The varsity 4+ crew took home medals for earning 2nd place. 

Congratulations to the rowing team and to coach, Liz Miller. 

Three distinguished Villa Maria seniors were among 129 students recognized on Tuesday evening, May 23, 2023, at the Archdiocesan Honors Convocation in Philadelphia.

Held at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and presided over by Archbishop Nelson J. Perez, the ceremony recognized scholars from 30 Archdiocesan and private Catholic high schools.

Congratulations to Kate Kent, Riley Laskowsky, and Jordi De Jong, members of Villa's graduating Class of 2023. 

The VMA softball team secured a decisive victory on Tuesday, May 23rd, in the District 1 4A semifinals vs. Springfield Township. The home game was shortened to four innings as the Hurricanes jumped to a 16-1 lead.

They meet Upper Perkiomen at the District 1 4A Softball Final tomorrow (Thursday) at 4:00 p.m. at Methacton High School. 

Go Hurricanes!!!

We are proud to announce that another Villa Maria student has been selected Student of the Week by Main Line Media News. 

Allie Lange is an active member of the junior class, involved with Student Council, Villa Broadcasting, NHS, The Quill and Scroll Society, and more. 

Allie is Student of the Week for May 15-21, 2023. 

Congratulations!

Read article

By Ella Nugent '23

Reprinted with permission from The Villa Voice, April 2023

Madeline Ladd is working with young leaders across the country of Africa in her role as the Project Management Intern for the Mandela Washington Fellowship.

Ladd is a current sophomore at the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, Indiana. “I am a Management Consulting major in the Mendoza College of Business with a minor in Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation. I hope to pursue a career in consulting after graduation,” she said.

Although Ladd stays busy with her work as a business major, she is involved in several extracurriculars. She is a project leader for Notre Dame’s branch of the Student International Business Council Consulting division, an Associate Sports Editor for ND’s student-run newspaper, a student caller at ND’s alumni outreach program, and the Recruiting Events Chair for ND’s Undergraduate Women in Business. She said, “Villa certainly prepared me well for college in terms of having efficient time management and confidence in my abilities. Villa is such a special place, and I see a lot of it in Notre Dame.”

Read the rest of the article in The Villa Voice
 

On Wednesday afternoon, May 3, 2023, Villa Maria held our annual 7th Grade Admissions Fair on campus. The event began with opening remarks and a welcome and presentation in the Marian Center Auditorium by Villa's Director of Enrollment Management, Mrs. Jennifer Rose, and Principal Sister Regina Ryan. Next, attendees were partnered with Villa Maria students for campus tours.

Representatives from Villa's academic, athletic, and activities departments were on hand in the gym to meet and greet our visitors, answer questions, and share highlights of the VMA experience. Attendees enjoyed refreshments - including the "famous" Villa Maria chocolate chip cookies - as they met key Villa Maria teachers, administrators, students, and staff members and then shopped in the School Store. 

The 7th Grade Admissions Fair offered an excellent opportunity to those considering choosing Villa Maria Academy for high school to get to know the Villa community, learn about our academics and activities, and experience the enthusiasm and VMA knowledge of our outstanding student tour guides. 

For more information about Villa Maria admissions, visit www.vmahs.org/events. 

Villa Maria’s annual Spring Arts Festival, held on April 28^th in the Marian Center, was an opportunity for our art and music students to shine. The festival was a culmination of months of practice and rehearsals for the musicians, and dozens of creative hours in the studio for our art students.

The results this year were truly outstanding and inspiring. Congratulations to Dr. Mosakowski, Ms. Leah, Sr. Dolores, Ms. Brown, Ms. Bacastow, and all of the students, faculty, and staff who helped make this year’s festival a huge success.

View the online photo gallery

On Friday, April 21, 2023, Villa Maria's graduating student athletes who will be playing at the college level were recognized in a ceremony and photo shoot in the Holloway Dining Hall. 

Each student athlete had her photo taken in her college gear. Attendees included family members, coaches, faculty, staff, and teammates. 

Villa Class of 2023 will be participating in basketball, field hockey, rowing, track and field, beach volleyball, volleyball, lacrosse, and soccer programs at their chosen colleges and universities. 

The colleges and universities that will welcome the VMA student athletes this fall include Rowan University, the Catholic University of America, Dickinson College, Boston College, University of Southern California University of Tennessee Chattanooga, James Madison University, Montclair State University, Lafayette College, Gettysburg College, College of the Holy Cross, University of Scranton, University of Iowa, and Penn State University. 

Pictures of the athletes from the event can be found in the Athletics section of VMA's website. 

View gallery

This year's Junior/Senior Prom was held at Ballroom at the Ben in Philadelphia on Friday, April 14th. View the beautiful pictures from the evening in our photo gallery. 

View photo gallery

Villa Maria science teacher, Mrs. Keglovitz, organized a trip for Villa students to Belize during spring break in early April, 2023. Activities included spending a morning collecting and cataloging trash on the protected reef for the National Geographic Foundation, and reef and mangrove forest snorkels, where they observed vibrant sea horses, sharks, barracuda, parrot fish, and more amazing sea life. 

The students also experienced a night snorkel and a reef sampling snorkel. They collected data on coral bleaching and infection by diving down and examining color change in the different types of coral and uploading the data to the reef protection site. 

The students searched for macroinvertebrates for a river study, participated in night bat captures, tracked white lipped mad turtles, met a scorpion, and formulate their own research projects.

Villa junior Sophia Conish was named Main Line Student of the Week for the end of March, 2023. A junior at Villa Maria Academy, Sophia Conish is an executive leader on the school’s Mission and Ministry club, an assistant editor for “The Villa Voice” school newspaper, and a member of the school’s Student Advisory Board and French Club. She belongs to the Quill and Scroll Honor Society, is a member of the school’s Liturgy Planning Committee and is a reader at the Villa Maria Academy’s Mass liturgies.

Congratulations to Sophia for this well-deserved recognition. 

On Thursday, March 23rd, Villa's freshmen and sophomores had the opportunity to participate in Project LIVE (rhymes with "give"), a student-driven initiative that promotes wellbeing.

Activities offered in the gym during Smart Lunch included mindful coloring, a wellness presentation, yoga, mindful meditation, and visits with therapy dogs. A similar event was held last fall for our juniors and seniors. Both events offered the opportunity to take a brief break between classes, relax, and enjoy laughs with friends (and animals)! LIVE is an acronym for Listen, Inform, Validate, Educate. 

On the chilly and a bit rainy Friday afternoon of March 17th, members of Villa's new Wildlife Protection & Environmental Conservation Club spent a couple of hours transplanting daffodil bulbs around St. Joseph's Hall and the Italian Gardens on campus. The group of about fifteen students was led by Ms. Diann Venezia, a Villa math teacher and gardening enthusiast. She showed the students how to dig up recently-sprouted daffodil plants from the gardens outside of St. Joe's, separate them, and transplant them to new locations. The transplanted bulbs should bloom throughout April, and then continue to multiply in their new locations. 

Villa held a STEP OUT on Tuesday, March 14th, to recognize swim team standout, sophomore Keriann Collison. Keriann will represent Villa at the State Swimming Championships next week! 

Tuesday's high winds and snow squalls prevented students from gathering outside for the STEP OUT, so Keriann ran through the hallways of St. Joseph's Hall before moving outside to wave to students in the other buildings alongside Athletic Director, Mrs. Taylor. 

Villa's "Stall Day" was held on Friday, March 10th, on the final day of our Mission Drive. On Stall Day, Villa teachers counted hundreds and hundreds of coins that had been donated by students, faculty, and staff throughout the week, and classes were "stalled" until the counting was finished. As the teachers counted, the students played games, created Lenten crafts and cards for Camilla Hall, relaxed with friends, watched movies, enjoyed yummy bake sale items, and enjoyed a little break from classes. 

More than $8,000 in coins were donated and counted. The funds will be used for Villa's special charities, which include the IHM sisters in Peru, St. Mary's Catholic mission parish, Pardada Pardadi educational society, and Mother Mercy House in Kensington. 

View our photo gallery from the day

Two new courses have recently been added to the series of enrichment classes that will be offered at Villa Maria this summer: English Readiness (for incoming Villa 9th graders), and Studio Art (for rising 7th - 9th graders). 

English Readiness, which will be held the week of June 26th, is designed to build confidence to bridge the skill gap from 8th to 9th grade. The course covers writing mechanics, usage, grammar, literary analysis, and essay writing. 

Studio Art, which is also held the week of June 26th, offers four days of creativity, exploration, and fun. Students will create original drawings, paintings, and collages while exploring a range of artistic styles.

Villa's Summer Series also includes athletics camps for students of all ages. 

Visit Summer Series page

On Wednesday evening, March 1st, Villa Maria held our annual Scholarship Reception in the Theresa Maxis Student Union. Hosted by the Admissions Team, the lovely prayer service and awards presentation in Parsons Chapel was followed by a dessert reception in the dining hall. The scholarship recipients are members of Villa's incoming Class of 2027. Scholarships were awarded for: IHM Charism, Academic Scholars, Academic Scholarship, Music, Art, Dance, and STEM. Congratulations to all, and welcome to Villa Maria!

Villa alumna Helen Ryan Dobrowski '01, a senior producer and co-director with Sarah Colt Productions, visited Mr. Cucinella's Freshman Scholars class on Friday, February 24, 2023.

Ms. Dobrowski has helped produce multiple documentaries for PBS's American Experience, such as Billy Graham and The Gilded Age. She shared her knowledge of the documentary filmmaking process; specifically about turning research into a compelling documentary that tells a story.

The students are in the process of creating original short documentaries throughout the course of this semester.

Updated 3-3-23.

Villa varsity basketball will play Rustin in the Division 1 5A Championship at Temple University on March 4th at 12:00 noon. Click for additional information and ticket link. 

Villa's basketball, swimming and diving, and indoor track and field teams have each had strong seasons, and the excitement continues this weekend.

On Friday, February 24th, Villa basketball will play Bishop Shanahan in the District 1 5A Semifinal game at 7:00 p.m. The winner will play either Gwynedd Mercy or Rustin in the final on March 4th at Temple University. Purchase tickets here. 

The swimming and diving team sent eight Villa athletes to the District 1 Championships in York, PA, taking place on Friday, February 24th and Saturday, February 25th. Congrats to swimmers Natalie Ade, Brinley Beck, Keriann Collison, Ainsley Ingram, Riley Meriwether, Ava Meyers, Riley Mulhern, and Graciella Schofield.

On Sunday, February 26th, three Villa athletes will compete at the Indoor Track and Field State Championships at Penn State University. Pole vaulters Maddy Kelley and Mary Cate Doughty, and high jumper Talia Davidson will compete. 

Roll canes!

Villa's summer enrichment and athletics camps kick off in June, and registration is now open! Secure your spot at the session(s) of your choice by registering today!

Information & Registration 

Villa Maria junior Mackenzie Duffy has been selected Student of the Week for February 13-19. 

Read Main Line Times Article 

With the big game just days away, Villa's chorus show their Eagles spirit by performing a beautiful rendition of the fight song.

Watch performance
.

This week at Villa Maria we celebrated Catholic Schools Week, starting with liturgy on Monday morning. The remainder of the week was spent showing and expressing our appreciation for our parents, faculty, staff and students, through social media messages, spirit days, a faculty/staff breakfast, and an ice cream treat at lunch. 

"Since 1974, National Catholic Schools Week is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States...Schools typically observe the annual celebration week with Masses, open houses, and other activities for students, families, parishioners, and community members. Through these events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our church, our communities, and our nation. - NCEA.org/csw 

Villa Maria celebrated DEI Week during the week of January 23, 2023. A highlight of the week was Tuesday's assembly, which featured Villanova graduate and STEM professional, Michelle Ducombe. 

Ms. Ducombe, Senior Product Manager with Comcast, inspired students with her professionalism, humor, and important messages about STEM careers and building relationships by understanding other cultures. 

DEI Week also included informative workshops, coordinated and hosted by the DEI Committee, and a service project that benefitted the Mother of Mercy House in Kensington, an IHM Mission. 

View photo gallery

On Friday, January 20th, Villa Maria students gathered on campus for an early-morning prayer service, and then boarded buses and traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in the annual National March for Life. 

"The right to life is a human right. Our defense of that right is a joyful witness to the beauty and dignity of every human person.

The March for Life is an inspiring, peaceful, vibrant, and joy-filled rally of women, men, young people, and children from all across the country. Every year, tens of thousands of pro-lifers converge on the National Mall and march on Capitol Hill on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling..." - marchforlife.org

Updated 1-17-23

"A good coach can change a race. A GREAT COACH can change a life. Thank you Coach Cathy Hay for inspiring us to be the best we can be."

The Villa swim and dive community came out to celebrate the retirement of Coach Cathy Hay before the meet in Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Malvern Prep. Those gathered to celebrate Coach's Hay career and retirement included her family, friends, students, team members, alumnae, faculty, and staff. VMA is grateful to Coach Hay for her many years of service and guidance. We will miss you!

Updated 1-26-23

As of January 26, 2023, varsity basketball holds a record of 16-2. 

The Villa Maria varsity basketball team has gotten off to a strong start this season, with a record of 12-0 after defeating Gwynedd Mercy on Thursday, January 12th. 

The City of Basketball Love website featured VMA in two recent articles:

December 29 Villa Maria stays unbeaten with big goals in mind
January 12 Villa Maria locks down Gwynedd Mercy in battle of unbeatens

Main Line Media News, publisher of the Main Line Times & Suburban, regularly highlights Villa Maria students in the "Student of the Week" and "Athlete of the Week" features. On this first week of January, 2023, two Villa students have been selected for special recognition. 

Kenya Cook, a VMA senior, is Student of the Week. The Main Line Times article includes details about her extensive involvement at VMA, including a discussion of her goals as Vice President of the National Honor Society, her role as President of Villa's orchestra, and her favorite books.

Read full article 

Villa senior Marah McHugh is Athlete of the Week. The Main Line Times article includes a discussion of Marah's start in basketball, fun facts (like her favorite pre-game pump-up song and her favorite course at VMA), and her mentors. 

Read full article

Villa Maria Academy High School offers our warmest wishes for a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Enjoy our Merry Christmas video! 

On Wednesday, December 21, 2022, Villa students, faculty and staff gathered in the Marian Center for the Christmas Liturgy. Father Kevin Gallagher from St. Denis in Havertown was the celebrant at the beautiful Mass, which included traditional Christmas songs, a blessing of the junior class rings, and a rousing rendition of "In Old Judea," sung by the student body, as the recessional. 

This is the students' last day of classes before Christmas break. We wish the entire Villa community a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

View photo gallery

View recorded live-stream

Villa Maria's Music Department presented a preview of the annual Christmas Concert last Friday, to the delight of students, faculty and staff. 

View the photo gallery

The livestream from Friday evening's Christmas Concert is now available. View the livestream. 

The following update is provided by Kathy McCartney, Director of Advancement at VMA.

The Ostrowski Performance Center

Today at Villa Maria we broke ground on the Jeff Ostrowski Performance Center. Located on the back of the gym, this will be a place where students and faculty can go to rehab from injury or proactively avoid injury through workouts.

In November 2020, the Villa community lost Jeff Ostrowski, father of Carly '17, and husband of current volleyball coach, Peggy Evans. Jeff was a renowned physical therapist who wanted to help folks live functional, pain-free lives after injuries or illness. Jeff was the co-founder of Excel PT.

Thanks to the generosity of his coworkers at Excel and the deep commitment of his own family and friends, this project is fully funded, and Jeff's legacy will forever be part of Villa Maria.

Villa is so grateful to Excel and to Peggy Evans for their commitment to the health and well being of everyone in the Villa community.

Tennis Court Installation

The installation of new tennis courts at Villa Maria was part of our Honoring Our Past...Building Our Future campaign. Through the generosity of our donors, these courts are fully funded and will be built in the spring. They will be ready for the 2023 tennis season.

Carol and Ring is a Villa tradition that coincides with the Christmas season. Students gather on stage to sing classic songs, and then each junior receives her ring from Principal Sister Regina Ryan. 

The event was held on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 in the Marian Center Auditorium.

Watch the recorded livestream 

A photo gallery of images from Villa's fall play, Around the World in 80 Days, is now available. Revisit the wonderful adventures of Phileas Fogg and his faithful companion, Passepartout, as they set out to circle the globe in an unheard-of 80 days. The play was presented by VMA Theatrical Production and Design on November 18 & 19, 2022. 

View photo gallery

The week of November 14th-18th was National French Week! French Club members enjoyed French pastry lessons at Strawberry Bakery in Malvern, making croissants, mini-baguettes, macarons, and cupcakes. On campus, the French Honor Society hosted a crêpe sale during lunches, proceeds going to purchase fresh produce for our Thanksgiving baskets. Thanks to World Languages Department Chair and French Teacher, Mrs. Goddard, for your enthusiasm in leading the efforts. Bon appétit!

View Photo Gallery

Seven new members were inducted into the National Honor Society on November 30, 2022. Congratulations to the following Villa seniors: front row: Gabriella Yacovelli, Madeline Sirianni; back row: Brianna McDonald, Emma Chapman, Marin Rosser, Morgan Prasalowicz, Kirstin George.

Congratulations to Maddie, who has been selected as Student of the Week for November 28 - December 4, 2022. Read the article here. 

November 22nd was a special day at Villa Maria. Students, faculty and staff came together for a beautiful Thanksgiving Liturgy. Following the liturgy, the senior class debuted their senior song, written by Jordi De Jong, Clare McGill, Anjana Mosakowski, and Natalie Young. Seniors were presented with white roses and gathered for pictures outside. The liturgy and senior song were livestreamed, and the recording is available for viewing. Happy Thanksgiving! 

View Thanksgiving Liturgy and Senior Song Debut 

Main Line Media News has named Villa senior Gia Whalen as Athlete of the Week for November 21-27, 2022. Read the article here. 

On November 10th, the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary celebrated Founders’ Day. On behalf of the Villa Maria community, we honor and thank the sisters for their dedication to love, fidelity, and creative hope. On November 10th, Villa students, as well as many faculty and staff members, engaged in service projects and activities both on and off campus. The inspiration of the sisters guided and motivated us. Happy Founders’ Day! 

Emmaus 2022 featured two speakers, both on-campus and off-campus service opportunities, and a film viewing followed by small group discussions. Carly Aquino ‘14 returned to Villa to share her work as a former Peace Corps Volunteer in Benin as well as her current position as a Cultural Orientation Specialist who works with newly arrived clients on adjusting to life in the United States. Carly is passionate about building strong, inclusive communities that celebrate diversity, justice, and equitable access to opportunities.

Junior Mackenzie Duffy shared her work with Pamoza International. Mackenzie has started a programcalled Girls Rise which organizes and facilitates educational programs for girls in Malawi. On-campus service opportunities included education and activities with the following organizations:

Achieve and Believe Foundation
Butterfly Baskets
Camilla Hall
Cardz for Kids in English and Mandarin
Girls Rise
Project Ensonga – Days for Girls
Off-campus service opportunities included the following service sites:
BVSPCA
Cradles to Crayons
St. Mary’s Franciscan Shelter
Stoneleigh, Natural Lands
Sunrise of Paoli
Thorncroft Equestrian Center
Variety

Students viewed the film The Biggest Little Farm which follows a couple and their dog on their journey from city dwellers to sustainable farmers outside of Los Angeles. The film was followed by small group discussions and a reflection on Villa’s day of service and social justice.

View Emmaus Day of Service Photo Gallery 

VMA Field Hockey Update

Next game: Wednesday, November 16th vs. Mechanicsburg at 7 pm, Governor Mifflin HS, Shillington. 

Get Tickets

Go Hurricanes!

On Friday, October 28th, Villa students, teachers and staff members came to school in their Halloween finest. The senior class dressed as Vector from "Despicable Me!" Happy Halloween!

View photo gallery

Congratulations to Villa junior Miriam Knutson, who has been named Student of the Week by the Main Line Times.

Read the article here!

The week of October 17-21 was Respect Life Week at VMA. Hosted and organized by Villa’s Respect Life Club, the week was designed to spread awareness, inspire important conversations, gain understanding, strengthen friendships, and support others. Activities and events included an assembly, a diaper and wipes drive, a movie and pizza day, a Butterfly Baskets service opportunity, and information sharing with the Respect Life club at lunches.

The mid-week assembly featured a presentation by Ryan Bomberger, the co-founder and Executive Director of The Radiance Foundation, a life-affirming organization that creatively illuminates that life has purpose.

The Villa community answered the call when asked to donate diapers and wipes during the week, donating 6,101 diapers and 371 packages of wipes.

Many thanks to Mrs. Rightley and the VMA Respect Life Club for their hard work in planning an important and engaging week.

Congratulations to Villa's soccer and volleyball teams. They are both AACA Conference Champions!

Villa Maria has been empowering young women to lead lives of spiritual growth, intellectual inquiry, and Christian service for 150 years, and the Villa community has spent the year celebrating this tremendous milestone. A highlight of the anniversary year happened on Friday, September 30, as the Villa Maria community came together for mass at Parsons Chapel on campus, followed by a reception and concert at People's Light in Malvern. The concert featured Anna Wilson '90, and her husband, Monty Powell, both of whom are successful artists, songwriters and musicians. The duo alternated between performing beautiful songs and telling entertaining stories, with Anna sharing memories about her time as a Villa student. 

Additional reading: On Stage Extra: Villa Maria celebrates 150th anniversary with concert, The Unionville Times, September 30, 2022

Congratulations to Villa senior Mary Cate Doughty, who has been named Student of the Week by the Main Line Times.

Read the article here!

Villa Maria held our annual Fall 7th & 8th Grade Open House on Sunday, October 2, 2022, as the remnants of Hurricane Ian swept through the area. Not even the storm could dampen the spirits of Villa students, parent volunteers, faculty and staff as they provided tours, answered questions, and talked about what makes Villa Maria Academy so special. 

8th grade students who wish to enroll at for the 2023-24 school year and/or be considered for scholarships are required to take the Entrance-Scholarship Exam at Villa Maria on October 16 or October 22, 2022. Register today.

Villa Maria welcomed this year’s peer ministers with an induction ceremony in the Marian Center on Friday, September 23. This group of seniors forms a community of Christian leaders who engage in private and shared prayer and who are trained in communication skills. Members help to plan retreats, including the writing of retreat talks and facilitating discussions and activities.

Other service groups inducted were DEI, Mission and Ministry, and Eucharistic Ministry. The freshmen and anyone new to Villa Maria received their Children of Mary medals, the oldest and most treasured tradition at Villa Maria.

"Passionate leaders, generous donors, dedicated hearts, and willing hands have brought us to this day, a day of blessing - opening the doors of Villa Maria's Theresa Maxis Student Union."

On August 26, 2022, as Villa Maria Academy High School students arrived for their first full day of school, the Villa community gathered for a blessing and ribbon cutting at our new building. 

Villa students, faculty, staff, alumnae, supporters and friends joined us on campus for the 8:30 a.m. ceremony, which included a blessing by Father Vincent E. Smith, OSFS, a ribbon cutting by Principal Sister Regina Ryan, IHM, and the singing of Villa Maria's Alma Mater. 

Following the ceremony, attendees enjoyed tours of the new building and light refreshments. 

The Theresa Maxis Student Union is located in the center of campus, between the Marian Center and St. Joseph Hall. It is the new home to Villa's Administrative Offices, Connelly Commons, the Raymond Family Memorial Garden, the Counseling Center, the Holloway Dining Hall, the Nurse's Suite, the Hewes Family Terrace, and Parson's Chapel. 

Villa’s Marian Masques delighted us with Mary Poppins last spring. The club is excited to announce their 2022-2023 productions. 

AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS

Fall Play: November 18-19, 2022

In 1872, on a gentleman's wager, Phileas Fogg and his French manservant Passepartout attempt to traverse the globe in just eighty days. The two encounter strange new countries, colorful (and at times hostile) characters, and even love. A faithful, swift adaptation of Jules Verne's classic adventure novel.

INTO THE WOODS

Spring Musical: May 19-21, 2023

This 1987 musical is based on the book by James Lapine and features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The musical intertwines the plots of several Brothers Grimm fairy tales, exploring the consequences of the characters' wishes and quests. 

The 2022-23 school year is here! Our transfer students arrived on Tuesday, the Class of 2026 last Wednesday, and all students on Friday, August 26.

Students enjoyed returning to campus to many changes. The new Theresa Maxis Student Union will be a hub of activity, as it houses the school administrative offices, counseling center, Parsons Chapel, the nurse's office, and the Holloway Dining Hall. The Hewes Terrace offers comfortable seating for an outdoor lunch option. The former cafeteria, in Regina Mundi Hall, has been transformed into a large, multi-purpose room and a conference room.

Looking forward to a great year at Villa.

After more than five years of planning, two years of capital campaign development, and one year of construction, Villa Maria Academy High School is pleased to announce the opening of the Theresa Maxis Student Union, just in time for the start of the 2022-23 school year.

Located on Villa's ring road between the Marian Center and St. Joseph Hall, the Theresa Maxis Student Union features the new Parsons Chapel, a bright and welcoming cafeteria, the counseling center, and the school's administrative offices.