Villa Duchesne Nuts and Bolts | January 16, 2020
Nina Schifano '20 will perform as part of the Young People's Symphonic Orchestra at the Missouri Music Educators Association Annual Conference on Thursday, January 23. Nina plays violin in the YPSO and is a member of Villa's Show Choir, Villa Vocé, and the Diversity Club. If you'd like to see a sneak preview of Nina performing with the YPSO, there is a free concert at the Community Music School of Webster University at 6 pm Sunday, January 19, on the Webster University campus.
Five delegates from Villa Duchesne attended the annual Missouri State Thespian Conference in Kansas City on January 9-10. Representing Villa were freshmen Greta Donnelly and Savannah Mossa-Willoughby, sophomore Cooper Littlepage, junior Sara Fimmano, and senior Rachel Ruddy, accompanied by faculty member Ms. Janis Valdes. Though winter weather forced an early departure, the students made the most of two full days of workshops on acting, stage combat, special effects makeup, dance, and more.
NO SCHOOL JANUARY 20 AND 21
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School will be closed Monday, January 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Additionally, all students will have the day off Tuesday, January 21, as awarded to them by Superior General Barbara Dawson.
AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS
The Villa Duchesne Performing Arts Department will present An Evening of One Act Plays from 7 to 8 pm Thursday, January 23, and Friday, January 24, in the Auditorium. The production is free and open to the public.
This year's one-act plays are: "Relative Strangers," directed by Rachel Ruddy. Two strangers on a plane discover that they may need each other with the help of a friendly flight attendant. Betsy Benzinger and Isabel Simpson direct "10,000 Cigarettes," a cautionary tale about the dangers of smoking. And, Sara Fimmano and Delaney Sullivan direct "The Least Offensive Play in the Whole Darn World," a parody of famous plays made G-rated for family audiences.
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
Please mark your calendars for the upcoming Coffee and Conversations this spring semester: February 5, March 11, and April 29. Each session with begin at 8 am. More details will be announced later.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent-teacher conferences will take place in Kenefick Gym from 4-7 pm Thursday, February 6, and from 7:30 am-noon Friday, February 7. Classes will not be in session on Friday. Registration for conferences will close at 9 am Wednesday, February 5.
2019-2020 PINK OUT SHIRTS
If you didn't purchase a Pink Out shirt during volleyball season, here's your second chance. The basketball Pink Out games will be on Friday, February 7. Shirt orders are due tomorrow, January 17. Payment is due at time of order. Proceeds from the shirts will support the Pink Ribbon Girls, an organization whose mission is to help ease the minds of individuals and families affected by breast & women's gynecological cancers with direct services and support.
SPREAD THE NEWS | OAK HILL OPEN HOUSE
We are hosting a lower school Open House from 1-3 pm Sunday, January 26. Our Oak Hill teachers, students, and parents will be here to talk with potential families about the Oak Hill experience and show off our beautiful campus! And, our admissions team will explain our new Family Individualized Tuition program. Please encourage anyone you know who has girls or boys age 3 through grade 6 to stop by and learn more about the gift of a Sacred Heart education. Forward this link to our registration.
SEE YOU AT THE RACES
The gates open at 6:30 pm Friday, February 21, in Kenefick Gym for A Night at the Races. Spend an evening "betting" and cheering on six horse races that are broadcast "live" on a jumbo screen. Come enter a derby hat contest, sip on mint juleps, and purchase raffle tickets for a chance at some fantastic items and experiences. Gather your friends, family, neighbors...all are welcome! Registration deadline is Tuesday, February 18, and proceeds benefit the Villa Duchesne-City House Alumnae Association and the Sr. Mary Gray McNally Alumnae Scholarship. This event is for guests 21 or older. In the event of inclement weather, purchases are non-refundable and the event will be rescheduled. Contact Rachel Drone Gehm '88, Manager of Alumni Relations, at rgehm@vdoh.org or 314.810.3420 if you have any questions. See you at the starting gate!
FATHER-DAUGHTER DINNER DANCE
Mark your calendars and save the date for the 2020 Father-Daughter Dinner Dance to be held March 7 at the Ritz-Carlton. Invitations will be mailed the end of January. All students in grades 7-12 are encouraged to attend this dinner dance with their fathers or adults who are special to them. Watch for additional details about this time-honored tradition in future issue of Nuts and Bolts.
SCHOOL ABSENCES/LATE ARRIVALS/EARLY DISMISSALS
Parents, if your daughter will be absent, arriving late, or leaving early from school, please notify the School by email at attendance-villa@vdoh.org. Please do not contact the Dean of Students directly. Students arriving at school late or leaving early must sign in or out in the Dean of Students Office near the West Door on the ground floor.
LA BOUTIQUE = FREE MERCHANDISE
During the month of January, La Boutique's amazing sale will include free merchandise. That's right, FREE! Here's how it works, the 10th customer that buys anything out of the store will get an additional $10 of FREE merchandise. The 25th customer to make a purchase in the store will get an additional $25 of FREE merchandise. The 50th person that makes a purchase will get $50 of FREE merchandise. Lastly, the 100th person that comes in and buys anything in the store will receive an additional $100 of FREE merchandise!
Sales will be tracked and a customer notified if they are the 10th, 25th, 50th, or 100th buyer. This sale includes brand new merchandise and the store is full of it! And, the old sale is still running too with discounts up to 70% off!
EIGHTH GRADE EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES
One of the advantages of being a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools is that it affords our students an opportunity to visit Sacred Heart schools in other cities, explore different communities, and meet new people around the world. Currently, our network schools in San Francisco and Chicago are interested in setting up exchanges with members of our eighth grade class. Middle school exchanges typically last one to two weeks. Eighth graders interested in pursuing an exchange with either of these schools or at another Sacred Heart school within the United States should contact Global Exchange Coordinator Mr. Chris Livingston at clivingston@vdoh.org.
PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES, FRANCE
Students currently in grades 9-11 are invited to join Villa Duchesne's second annual summer pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, July 22-30, 2020. Students will have the opportunity to serve pilgrims from around the world, participate in communal prayer and liturgies, and build community with other high school students from the United States. This trip can fulfill a student's service learning requirement. For more information, please contact Ms. Rachel Kondro at rkondro@vdoh.org or 314.810.3490.
2020 SUMMER SEMINARS
Current freshman will have the opportunity to travel to New York City to learn about globalization by exploring Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, Ellis Island, and much more! This amazing experience will serve as a baseline for World Civilizations II taken sophomore year. The experience begins with two in-school seminar days on June 4 and and 5. The group will depart on June 6 and return on June 8. Registration is open through April 1.
Current sophomores can travel to Santa Fe this summer to study the history of the American West. While exploring themes tied with their junior year history class, United States History, they will have the opportunity to experience the often-forgotten stories of the American West. Join Miss McCabe and Mrs. Sarra on a cultural journey through the art and history of Santa Fe, New Mexico. With an in-school seminar on May 29, this adventure departs on May 30 and returns on June 2. Registration is open through April 1.
If you have questions about these trips or simply want to sign up, contact Art teacher Maddy McCabe at mmccabe@vdoh.org or stop in the art wing for promotional materials and forms to secure your spot!
COLLEGE CORNER
College Corner, a valuable resource for parents and students, offers the latest information on college rep visits, opportunities to connect with colleges, scholarships, and much more. The College Corner webpage is updated weekly by our College Counseling Office, so bookmark it and visit often.
WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
Please join us at 7:15 am Wednesday, January 22, for Mass, Father Donald Henke presiding. Mass is celebrated most Wednesdays at 7:15 am in our Chapel when school is in session. Everyone in our school community is invited and encouraged to attend.
WINTER BIBLE STUDY
Seeking to live out Goals I & II, all parents are welcome on Tuesdays from 9-10 am for Bible Study. The topic for the winter 6-week study is The Bible and The Sacraments. The winter study runs January 14-February 25. The group will not meet on January 21. Contact Polly Capps at vdohmission@vdoh.org if you plan to attend or would like more information.
SPIRITUALITY SERIES
Please join us for the second in our three-part, 2019-2020 Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers Series, The Mission Continues. On Friday, February 7, Donna Collins, RSCJ will present "We Speak Their Names." She will share details on the work of the Society's Committee on Slavery, Accountability, and Reconciliation which was formed to better understand and to address structural racism. Sr. Collins will share the Society's diligent and inspiring efforts to research and pray with descendants of those who helped their mission of education succeed. Gather for goûter at 9:30 am in the Parlor Dining Room with the presentation from 9:45-11:15 am in the Lenke Global Education Center.
ROSARY
All are welcome at 8 am each Wednesday in our Chapel to offer the rosary to Mater for her motherly protection of our children and for all the faculty, staff, and religious of this community who play such a critical role in nurturing and teaching our children.
Each Thursday, the Nuts & Bolts newsletters will highlight important information including upcoming school events, student achievements in and outside of school, forms to be completed, and program deadlines. Send your information for students and parents to news@vdoh.org to be included in either the Oak Hill newsletter, the Villa Duchesne newsletter, or both. Please log in frequently to access personalized announcements and calendar items in your portal. Contact your Principal's Office with questions about your online account. For Villa Duchesne, email Judy Bertucci at jbertucci@vdoh.org. For Oak Hill, email Jaime Bergfeld at jbergfeld@vdoh.org.
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School 801 S.Spoede Road | St. Louis, MO 63131 314.432.2021 | www.vdoh.org | news@vdoh.org |