VMA News

Villa Maria Musicians Selected for All-Catholic Honors

Congratulations to Olivia Ward '26, Emma Caldwell '26, Joy Lee-Zakarewicz '27, and Alyson Maguire '28 for their selection to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s All-Catholic Music Festivals!

After a semester of preparation and a rigorous audition process, these talented high schoolers earned spots in these prestigious honor ensembles. A special shout-out to sophomore Alyson Maguire, who earned the First Chair leadership position for the Viola section.

Olivia, Emma, and Alyson will represent the Villa Maria community at the All-Catholic Orchestra festival from March 19–21, 2026. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and dedication to musical excellence!

Read more about the Villa Maria music program here! 

 

January 6, 2025: Dozens of Villa Maria grads from the past four years headed to campus on Tuesday afternoon for a couple of hours of fun with their Villa sisters and former teachers/staff members. The early January date was chosen to accommodate Villa students who had returned home from college for the holidays. Stories, laughter, and Villa cookies were shared as our former student reunited with "old" friends. Thanks to all who attended - it was wonderful to see you. 

The Villa community came together on December 11, 2025, to celebrate the season at our annual Christmas Concert. Months of practice culminated in a gorgeous and joyful celebration filled with song and stellar orchestral performances. The Malvern Preparatory School Men's Chorus joined in on the fun, performing several favorites with Villa Maria Vocalise. 

Congratulations to Music Director Ms. Leah Kim-Tomilson, full-time teachers Ms. Lindsay Miller and Mr. James Shirey, our adjunct professors, our faculty/staff performers, and everyone involved with this year's concert. 

December 10, 2025: One of Villa Maria's favorite traditions took place in the Marian Center Auditorium last Thursday, December 4, 2025 The Class of 2027 received their class rings in front of family and friends during a lovely, music-filled ceremony.

Juniors wore red robes and processed into the Marian Center Auditorium promptly at 6:30 p.m. while singing, "Come All Ye Faithful," a Christmas classic. A variety of songs followed, including "What Child is This," "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," and "Little Town of Bethlehem," punctuated by student readings of the Christmas story. 

Students were individually called up to the state to receive their rings from Villa's principal, Dr. Jane Hannon. Their names were read by their Huddle moderators. 

Following the ceremony, the students joyfully gathered in the gym for photos with their new rings before heading home with their families and guests. 

Carol & Ring is a special event for our junior class and it also serves as an early Christmas/holiday celebration each year. 

December 10, 2025: Villa Maria's Director of Service and Social Justice, Kara Bielli, has announced that senior Megan Cappelli has been named our Service Spotlight Student for the second quarter. 

Megan spent part of the last two summers volunteering through the PALS Programs, which facilitate “inclusive camp experiences for participants with and without Down Syndrome.” Megan lived on the campus of Notre Dame of Maryland University and worked one-on-one with a person with Down Syndrome within a team of 5 pairs of volunteers and participants. Her goal in volunteering was to foster friendships and balance it with mentoring.

The volunteers arrived a day early to decorate areas around campus, especially the dorm rooms. After the participants arrived, the volunteers and participants enjoyed activities both on and off campus such as water games, a trip to Hershey Park, and boating at a yacht club. The volunteers also helped the participants with healthy eating, morning and evening routines, and checking in on how they were feeling.

According to Megan, "Volunteering for PALS Programs has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Although there are sometimes challenges, everyone works together to overcome them, leaving the week feeling uplifted and inspired to continue the mission of belonging.”

Megan learned about PALS through social media, but she was inspired by a family member with special needs. She plans to volunteer again this summer and highly recommends the program for those wanting to volunteer. Megan plans to major in Biology or Comprehensive Science in college, and is looking at a career as a physician's assistant or genetic counselor. 

Congratulations and thank you, Megan!

Tuesday, December 2nd is Giving Tuesday! Join us today in support of Villa's mission of empowering young women. Visit our giving site to learn more about the Villa Fund, gift matching opportunities, and scholarships. 

We are so grateful to all of our donors, regardless of the amount. Thank you. Happy Giving Tuesday! 

Contribute Today

Excitement is building for a new event from Villa Theater designed specifically for younger siblings or friends/neighbors/relatives with children. Stories with Santa will include storytelling, holiday treats, games, photo ops, and visits with Santa! Join us on campus on December 14th for a couple of hours of holiday fun. Parents/caregivers are free and the fee for each child is just $15. 

Hurry! The sign-up deadline is December 7th.

Read more and register

November 19, 2025

When Founders Day rolls around each November 10th, the Villa community gathers to celebrate the anniversary of the founding of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. This year was no different. An assembly was planned and students by the Villa Maria Mission & Ministry Team and faculty, and staff came together in the Dunn Auditorium for the celebration. 

Sister Mary Catherine Chamberlain, IHM, joined us for the day, dressed in the traditional IHM habit. She read from portions of Mother Theresa Maxis' Letter from Heaven and students re-told the IHM origin story. 

The Villa Maria Dance Company performed a beautiful dance, specifically choreographed for Founders Day. At the end of the assembly, Villa's own Sister Stephen Anne Roderiguez, IHM, President and Sister Mary Jo Ely, IHM, were recognized for their 50 and 25 jubilees.

 

 

"French Week" was celebrated at Villa Maria the week of November 5th. French Week is an opportunity for the entire Villa community to experience French cuisine, language, and culture through lunchtime activities, French food options in the dining hall, and daily prayers led in French. A highlight of the week was a trip to Strawberry Bakery in Malvern, where the students made croissants, mini baguettes, petits gâteaux au chocolate, and macarons. Huge thanks to the French teachers, led by Mme Goddard, for enhancing our awareness of all things French!

Villa Maria's popular Mother/Daughter Fashion Show took place on Sunday, October 26 at Overbrook Golf Club. Hundreds of students and their moms registered for this sold-out event, which featured vendor shopping, a sit-down lunch, and a fashion show. Students and their moms walked the runway in styles provided by Main Line Fashionista. (Villa mom, Ashley Meyers, owns the Paoli retail store.) 

Thanks to the Villa parents, Ashley Meyers, and all who made this day a huge success. 

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Villa Maria junior Eliana Karasavas serves her community in many ways, but she especially enjoys doing so through faith-filled opportunities.

Eliana shared “being rooted in my faith motivates me to serve. Service isn’t about me or my personal gain; it’s about serving others as Christ calls us to do.”

This past summer, Eliana served as a teen leader at Camp Guadalupe. At Camp Guadalupe, the campers and staff honored our Blessed Mother particularly under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe and enjoyed a taste of Mexican culture. There were over 200 campers, ages 4 – 12 years old at the camp, and teen leaders like Eliana led faith-filled activities, music instruction, arts and crafts activities, and games.

Additionally, last school year at Villa, Eliana organized and facilitated six Rosary making sessions for students. Students made Rosaries for the Communion and Confirmation classes at St. Andrew’s, a homeless shelter, and residents of a local senior living facility.

Eliana is also on the executive leadership team of Mission & Ministry at Villa.

Thank you, Eliana, for your faith-filled service with and for your community.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Villa Maria Academy High School Welcomes Alumna Dr. Flannery O’Connor as Director of Advancement 

October 20, 2025: Villa Maria Academy High School, an independent Catholic college preparatory school, sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHMs) and committed to spiritual growth and academic excellence, is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Flannery O’Connor as Director of Advancement, effective October 1, 2025.

Dr. O’Connor is a proud graduate of the Villa Maria Academy High School Class of 2002. She holds a B.A. in Theology from Boston College and an M.Ed. from the University of Notre Dame. An eager lifelong learner, she continued her education by earning a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.

Thirteen years ago, Dr. O’Connor was part of the founding team that launched Cristo Rey Philadelphia High School, where she served as director of admissions, teacher, and principal. In her time at Cristo Rey, she spearheaded organizational strategies to advance student college and career readiness for 500+ students annually. She comes to Villa with a strong understanding of how mission-driven development fuels innovation, opportunity, and the formation of confident students ready to lead with integrity and purpose.

In her role as Director of Advancement at Villa Maria Academy High School, Dr. O’Connor will lead a 4-person team in developing and growing key fundraising events and initiatives, growing Villa Maria’s endowment, engaging with and supporting Villa Maria’s 6000+ alumnae, and developing parent events and activities. She will serve on Villa Maria’s Administrative Team, reporting to Villa Maria President, Sister Stephen Anne Roderiguez, IHM, EdD.

As a graduate of Villa Maria, steeped in the IHM charism and the value of an all-girls, Catholic education, Ms. O’Connor will fit seamlessly into the fabric of VMAHS.

Villa Maria Academy High School is located on a 45-acre campus on Central Avenue in Malvern, PA, and has 423 students in grades 9 through 12. VMAHS provides a true independent Catholic school experience in which motivated young women grow through intention, define themselves for greater purpose, and uplift others with sincerit

Fall Ball - always held within a few weeks of the opening of school - is the perfect chance to dress up and have fun with friends and guests. 

Villa Maria's Fall Ball was held on Saturday, September 20th on campus. The gym was turned into a dance floor, complete with amazing music and a light show. Students headed outside for fresh air, where they could also enjoy ice cream from our favorite Petrucci's. Villa Maria's Fall Ball is open to students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, and their guests. 

6th, 7th and 8th grade students and their parents/guardians joined us on a beautiful morning on campus on Sunday, October 5 for our annual Fall Open House. Deep blue skies and unseasonably warm weather marked the day, which began with check-in at 9:00 a.m. Families gathered in a full auditorium for brief words of welcome from Principal Sister Stephen Anne Roderiguez, IHM, Ed.D., Principal Hannon, student Anne Gentilotti '26, Mr. Avellino, parent of a Villa junior, and Jennifer Rose from Villa Admissions, before heading off for student-led tours. 

Tour groups ended their visit in the gym, where they enjoyed Philly pretzels and Villa cookies as they visited tables with representatives from Villa clubs, athletics, Alumnae Association, counseling, Capstone Program, fine arts, and more. 

Villa Admissions is welcoming 8th grade visitors to campus this October and November at Visit Villa Days and on the remaining Entrance-Scholarship Exam Day - October 19th. Students are encouraged to apply for the Class of 2030 by November 5th. 

Visit www.vmahs.org/admissions and vmahs.org/events to learn more. 

 

 

Schedule and Transportation News  

Wednesday, October 1: 2-Hour Delay Bell for QPR Training-Dismissal at 2:55 p.m.

• Freshmen and Sophomores are required to attend QPR training at regular start time of 7:55 a.m. 
• Juniors and Seniors are not required on campus until classes begin at 9:55 a.m.
• Please note that school district buses will be operating on a regular school day schedule. If any student needs to arrive early, she is to report to the dining hall until classes begin. 

Wednesday, October 8:  Noon Dismissal with buses at Noon

• *The Great Valley, Haverford, Methacton & Spring-Ford School Districts will not be providing bus transportation HOME on October 8.  Please make alternate arrangements.

Wednesday, October 29: Dismissal at 1:34 p.m. with buses at 2:55 p.m.

Hundreds of Villa Maria parents/guardians arrived on campus on Tuesday, September 16th for Back to School Night. Welcoming presentations by Villa leadership and counselors were held in the auditorium before parents had the opportunity to follow their daughters' schedules. They visited classrooms and teachers, walked the halls and path between buildings, and enjoyed a peaceful but energized evening on campus. 

Villa is grateful to all the attendees as well as our faculty, staff, and student volunteers. The Villa Maria Academy Parents Association (VMAPA) provided dinner for our faculty and staff as well as light snacks for the parents. 

It's going to be an extraordinary year at Villa Maria!

Villa's most anticipated admissions event of the year is just weeks away. 6th, 7th, and 8th graders and their parents/families are invited to learn more about one of the area's best independent schools. Attendees will receive an enthusiastic welcome by our dedicated Villa students. A brief welcome and info session will be followed by student-led campus tours. 

Visit our classrooms, the dining hall, the chapel, and the gym. Walk the path between buildings and imagine yourself as a Villa Maria student. Pick up a copy of our 2025 Viewbook and mark your favorite pages. 

Register to attend today! WALK-INS ARE WELCOME if you make a last-minute decision. Come on over to campus! It's going to be a beautiful day. 

We can't wait to welcome you to campus. 

Read more and register

Villa Maria opened our doors to the fall semester on Monday, August 25, 2025, with the arrival of the incoming freshmen and new transfer students.

As students were dropped off or arrived by bus on Monday, members of Villa's student council were there to greet them with cheers and "welcome" signs. 

The day included a run-through of classes, icebreaker activities, school tours, lunch, and afternoon ice cream from the Petrucci's truck. 

Orientation continued on August 26th with a second orientation day for the Class of 2029 before school starts for all students on Wednesday.