Hillary Viveros, Class of 2026, has been accepted into Washington University's College Prep Program (CPP). The CPP is a no-cost, three-year immersive learning experience that serves to successfully prepare first-generation college students for college life and beyond. Fifty rising high school sophomores representing public, private, and charter schools from across the region will participate in this tenth cohort of the program, founded in 2014. Congratulations to Hillary!

Congratulations to Marin Hugge, Class of 2024, and her water polo teammates on their third-place finish at State on Saturday, May 13. Marin has been playing water polo since sixth grade for local club teams as well as for the Midwest Zone team at USA Water Polo events. She joined the Parkway North water polo team this season. Girls' water polo is a fast-growing sport in St. Louis, and several schools in the area have formed co-ops. This is how Marin landed a spot on the Parkway North team. She had a great season and was selected first team all-conference in the girls division (Yellow Conference) and second team all-conference in the varsity boys division (Blue Conference).

Our Lower School friends started their Friday spending a little quality time with their moms during the ever-popular Muffins with Mom. The Lower School has been counting down the days until the end of the school year with an A-Z-themed list, and appropriately, Friday's Q theme was Queen for the Day. We hope all our Lower School moms enjoyed this special day and wish all Viz moms a very Happy Mother's Day.

Congratulations to Carley Pohl, Class of 2023, who received an honorable mention in the 2023 Robert J. Stuckey Essay Contest for her original work, Chapter 1: The List. The annual contest, sponsored by the Friends of the University of Missouri Libraries, is open to Missouri high school students; only one entry is accepted from each school.

 

When asked what inspired her to write the essay, here is what Carley said.

 

"The essay I wrote, Chapter 1: The List, started off as an idea I had for my college application essay. I have always loved reading and found it such an influential part of who I am. When originally writing about this for my college essay, I drew from a moment when I was younger when I lost a list that held all the names of the books I had read and related it to how now, it isn't the names of the books that really mattered but the values I learned from each one. Then, after the encouragement of my teacher to submit my essay to the Stuckey Contest, I expanded upon my essay, diving deeper into how some of my favorite books have inspired me over the years. Through writing this, I really realized how important reading truly was to me as it is an endless opportunity to learn and grow."

It's not quite official, but the days are quickly ticking by, and the Class of 2023 will soon become Viz alumnae. To give them a sampling of what's to come, seniors were invited to stop by Reunion Zero before graduation practice on May 9. This first glimpse into what reunions at Viz look like included a pizza lunch, beverages, some furry friends, and alum swag.

Lelaina Pursifull, Class of 2026, received a Silver rating at the State Solo and Small Ensemble Festival held April 27-29, adding some additional bling to the medal she previously was awarded at the All-District competition. Jenn Haney, Middle School/Upper School Music Director, commented, "It's very rare for a freshman to receive this rating. Lelaina represented Viz with class and poise."

 

Another successful Field Day is in the books. Following an all-school Mass and awards ceremony on Friday, April 28, students from all divisions hit the outdoors for some fresh air and fun. Congratulations to this year's Middle School and Upper School St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, and Principal’s Award winners:

	St. Francis de Sales Award   Given to students who Live Jesus through the Salesian virtues.	St. Jane de Chantal Award   Given to students who exhibit St. Jane's spirit of service to others in all ways, shapes, and forms.	Principal’s Award   Chosen by the principal in collaboration with the faculty, these young women demonstrate a consistent dedication to the Visitation community and serve as role models to all in a quiet, gentle, and humble manner.
Grade 6	AnnaBeth Modde	Janie Benedict	Kayla Karimi
Grade 7	Anna Friedrich	Lila Burkemper	Gertie McGroarty
Grade 8	Bella Griffiths-Hill	Maddie Mug	Sandra Khoukaz
Grade 9	Jane Hillenbrand	Mikayla Woods	Caelan Vulin
Grade 10	Katie Gasper	Emma Locht	Adele Finney
Grade 11	Annalise Crow	Heidi Kraemer	Natalie Ori
Grade 12	Carly Pohl	Maggie Alexander	Haley Brinker

On Thursday, April 27, the Upper School pre-calculus 12 class hosted a probability carnival as their final project for the school year. The carnival included approximately ten carnival games that the students created using their knowledge of probability. The probability that the day provided fun, learning, and prizes – 100%!

The Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals announced its annual Missouri Scholars 100 list. We are thrilled to share that Rebecca Selness, Class of 2023, earned a well-deserved spot on the list. This select group represents Missouri's most capable high school seniors in the Class of 2023. They are recognized for exceptional scholarship, citizenship, and reliability. Congratulations to Rebecca!

Allie Kowalczyk, Class of 2024, was accepted into Boston University's Research in Science & Engineering (RISE) practicum program. She will spend six weeks this summer in Boston studying computational neurobiology. This is an outstanding accomplishment, as this is a highly selective program. Allie also received acceptance into the Notre Dame Summer Scholars Program, where she will focus on global health in under-resourced settings for two weeks in South Bend, Indiana. Way to go, Allie!

Mikayla Woods, Class of 2026, was installed as a Member-at-Large of the Board of Directors for Girl Scout Eastern Missouri. The Board has two spots that are held by Girl Scouts. To earn this position, Mikayla had to submit a resume and participate in several rounds of interviews. She will serve a three-year term which began on April 1. Congratulations, Mikayla!

On Monday, April 24, our senior athletes were celebrated at the annual Red and White Sports Banquet. A record 45 seniors were in attendance. Thank you to this group of young women for their dedication to their respective sport(s) during their years at Viz. And a special thank you to Emma Mitchell, Class of 2015, who was the guest speaker for the evening.

Esther Appelstein, Class of 2023, was chosen to speak to a capacity audience at Powell Hall on Saturday, April 22, about her experience as a member of the St Louis Children's Choirs. She shared stories from her 11 years with the SLCC, talking about the friends she has made, her love of music, and her "desire to aim for brilliance in all facets of my life."

 

After the concert, SLCC alums Emily Essig, Class of 2008, and Emma Baylis, Class of 2015, congratulated Esther and shared similar experiences with the St Louis Children's Choirs.

Please join us in congratulating the following Visitation Academy students who received Presidential Volunteer Service Awards from the St. Louis Gateway Chapter of the National Charity League, Inc. for their outstanding service work in 2022.

 

Silver Recipients (volunteers aged 11-15 with between 75-99 hours of service and volunteers aged 16-25 with between 175-249 hours of service)

Bronze Recipient (volunteers aged 11-15 with between 50-74 hours of service and volunteers aged 16-25 with between 100-174 hours of service)

On Wednesday and Thursday, Lower School students will bring Roald Dahl's Willy Wonka KIDS to life on Viz's Costigan Theater stage. In addition to the two scheduled performances at 4:00 p.m. on May 3 and 7:00 p.m. on May 4, the cast and crew also will give a special performance just for fellow Lower School students. Good luck to all participants on stage and behind the scenes.

Yesterday was a special day for our Viz second graders – these young ladies made their First Holy Communion in the Chapel at Visitation. Sending our congratulations and prayers to these students and their families on this momentous occasion.

On Friday, April 14, Visitation Academy AP and College Credit biology students were guests of St. Louis University's 1818 Biology Program. SLU provided a walking tour of campus followed by a biology panel discussion prepared for our Viz students. Panel members, including current first- and fourth-year biology students, shared their experiences and the challenges of transitioning from high school to college.

 

The day also included a tour of SLU's new biology/engineering building, and Viz students were invited to sit in on a biology 1260 class taught by Dr. Ashley Milam, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology. Following Dr. Milam's class, SLU provided lunch and swag bags/t-shirts for Viz students. While on campus, the Viz students ran into some Viz graduates who were excited to see Vivettes on campus.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, so Viz was happy to welcome local first responders from the West County EMS and Fire Protection District, Town and Country Police Department, and Cardinal Glennon Transport Team to campus on April 19 to give a very informative and realistic presentation on this serious subject matter. Our junior and senior drivers truly benefitted from seeing and hearing this potentially life-saving information.

Katie Fogertey, Viz Class of 2001 and Chief Financial Officer of Shake Shack, met with Upper School students in the Ellen Thomasson Malecek Entrepreneurial Leadership Program via Zoom on April 14. Katie, who has served as Shake Shack's CFO since 2021, answered questions submitted by students about her career path, obstacles as a woman in her position, what she is most proud of professionally and personally, and the experiences she had at VIZ that helped mold her in her journey to where she is today to name a few.

 

She also offered advice to future Viz entrepreneurs as they move toward college and beyond. We are so thankful to Katie for returning to Viz to share her wisdom and experience with our current students.

 

Katie was recently featured in QSR Magazine. Click here to read the article.

Visitation Academy is hosting an accreditation team from the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISCAS) this week, beginning with a welcome reception in DeChantal Hall on Sunday, April 16, at 4:00 p.m. Viz started the seven-year accreditation cycle in January 2022, a process designed to support member schools in fulfilling their mission.

 

Since the initial kick-off, Viz completed the second phase – a comprehensive self-study process involving all school employees and key stakeholders – in preparation for this accreditation team visit. The accreditation team confirms the school's adherence to the ISACS Standards for Membership and uses the self-study report, together with on-the-ground observations and previous experience, to commend the school for its strengths and make recommendations for school improvement. Throughout the remaining years of the cycle, Viz will implement plans for school improvement and report to ISACS regularly on our progress. The goals Viz sets based on the ISACS study will align with our Strategic Plan and Visitation Salesian Network report goals.

On April 12, Lower School students and parents were treated to a curriculum showcase. The open-house-style event featured student artwork, performances, hands-on activities, and project showcases from students in Grades 1-5. Proof positive that some amazing things are happening in the Viz Lower School!

Congratulations to Natalie Ori, Class of 2024, who was accepted into Summer Seminar at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. From June 18-June 23, Natalie will experience all the Naval Academy has to offer through this intensive summer program focused on academics, physical training, and leadership. Natalie will have the opportunity to talk personally with current midshipmen and Naval Academy faculty and staff about what life is like at USNA.

Five Visitation Academy juniors attended the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology symposium on Saturday, April 1. The event, hosted by St. Louis University, was held at Doisy College of Health Sciences on the SLU campus.

 

Students were nominated and submitted research abstracts in hopes of presenting their work at the symposium. Our five Viz students, along with seven other area high school students, were selected to share their work. We are proud of each of them and excited to share that Rebecca Mooney took home a third-place award. Congratulations Rebecca!

After various conversations about ways to celebrate, embrace, expand, and educate fellow students about the diversity that exists at Viz, senior Erinn Porter's idea for the Diversity Club came to fruition. Students of varying races and ethnicities are using this new extracurricular opportunity to introduce peers to their culture through food.

 

On Thursday, March 23, sophomore Maia Crawford and her mom kicked things off, preparing traditional Filipino dishes in the food science kitchen, including lumpia spring rolls and rice cakes. Maia's mom also told her immigration story and the importance of food and shared meals in Filipino culture. This is the first of what will be an ongoing initiative of the Diversity Club. Senior Ava Sanford, who has grown up with Columbian influence and culture, is having a close family friend who is Columbian come in to share her heritage through food.

 

The Diversity Club, which currently has 37 Upper School members, meets every other week, rotating with the Peace and Justice Club. All students are invited and encouraged to participate. The Diversity club also is planning a trip to Cherokee Street, a well-known dynamic, multicultural neighborhood in St. Louis.

Two Viz freshmen, Zoha Huda and Ava Lane-Liwo, have been accepted to Northwestern University's 2023 College Preparation Program. The pair will participate in the IN FOCUS: So You Want to Be a Doctor? seminar of the program, held July 3-14, 2023.

 

IN FOCUS seminars expose students to top former and current Northwestern faculty and instructors, highlighting themes relevant today. The two-week certificate seminars are structured like a college course, featuring discussions, readings, and study, enabling a rich learning experience.

We are in the final stretch of the current school year, but it's never too early to start preparing for the 2023-2024 school year. Take care of all your school and PE uniform needs at the upcoming recycled uniform sale on April 19 and uniform fitting days at Just Me Apparel on April 24 and 25. Click here for Just Me Apparel uniform pricing.

This past Wednesday, Middle and Upper School students were surprised by the announcement that it was Just Because Day. The fun day – just because – included lots of interactive activities, spirited kickball games, Imo's pizza, rootbeer floats, and some St. Louis specialty treats from our FLIK food service team.

The district 11 solo/ensemble festival was held at Parkway Central on March 10 and 11, and our Viz vocalists were amazing! Lola Bishara (Class of 2026), Abby Winter (Class of 2025), Amelia Ward (Class of 2024), and Avery Smith (Class of 2023) all received Outstanding ratings. Lelaina Pursifull (Class of 2026) and Rebecca Mooney (Class of 2024) received the highest rating, Exemplary. The girls received their certificates this past Monday when they returned from spring break.

 

Lelaina and Rebecca's performances qualified them to move on to represent Viz at the State solo/ensemble festival to be held at the University of Missouri-Columbia in Columbia, MO, April 27-29. This degree of achievement is a first-ever for vocal solos and the first time Viz vocalists will compete at State in voice. Congratulations to all!

Please join us in congratulating Caroline Keller '23, Viz's Archbishop John L. May Service Award recipient. Caroline and other St. Louis area high school honorees received the award at a Mass held at the Cathedral Basilica on Monday, March 6.

 

Caroline completed over 100 hours of service, primarily at St. Francis Cabrini Academy. When reflecting on the experience, Caroline said, "I love seeing the faces of the students I tutor brighten and smile when a new concept clicks. Through my volunteering, I know that I am helping these kids master their elementary school topics so that they can have greater success in both middle school and high school."

KMOV featured Viz students and soccer players Hannah Robinson and her twin sister Hailey Robinson (Class of 2024) in a news story about ACL injury and recovery, common among adolescent female soccer players. Both sisters suffered ACL tears that were repaired by Dr. Robert Brophy of Washington University Orthopedics, who also is the medical director for St. Louis CITY SC and has worked with the Rams and the Blues.

 

While Hailey is back on the field, Hannah remains sidelined three months post-op. The Robinson sisters have committed to playing D1 soccer at Southern Indiana University after they graduate from Viz. Click here to see the story.

Viz educators are shaking things up in their classrooms and enhancing their curriculum this year thanks to the rebranded "Concept Corridor," which includes the Viz food science kitchen and makerspace area. The state-of-the-art food science kitchen boasts five prep stations equipped with all the necessary tools for students to use cooking as a learning tool. The fully outfitted makerspace is a collaborative environment for hands-on activities, complete with materials for students to unleash their creativity. It also houses cutting-edge tools such as 3D printers, laser cutters, vinyl cutters, virtual reality goggles, sewing machines, and more, allowing students to deepen their understanding of various topics. The "freedom of use" model encourages both teachers and students to make the most of these inviting and innovative spaces.

 

 

When not in signature Viz red, junior Lilly Hoehn is wearing blue as a 16U St. Louis Lady Blues AAA club member. Sporting the #6 sweater, Lilly loves hitting the ice with her teammates as a defensive player.

 

This is Lilly's first year with the Lady Blues, but her love of hockey goes back to her early childhood. She started playing hockey in third grade on a boys' team called the Rockets, moving to the Lady Cyclones for a year before joining the Lady Blues.

 

Lilly also is very active off the ice, having played on Viz's varsity tennis team and JV2 basketball team this year.

The Crypto Cats, a team of Viz fifth graders Kelsey Herzog, Tess Kramer, Molly Lohse, Idgie Simmons, and Vada Tulyasathien, sponsored by Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri (GSEM), were invited by FIRST in Missouri to present at the 2023 STEM Day at the Capitol on March 2. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a global robotics community preparing young people for the future and the world's leading youth-serving nonprofit advancing STEM education.

 

The girls demonstrated their robot and discussed their project on grounding with visitors. The team also met with Senator Andrew Koenig to learn details of the legislative process, sat in the upper gallery of the Senate Chambers while the Senate was in session, and toured the Governor's Mansion. Additionally, the Crypto Cats were featured in a video about Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri's partnership with FIRST, shown during the GSEM's Dessert First Gala. Check it out here.

Congratulations to Viz's own Laura Gurly, Grade 3 teacher, and Lori Horton, Lower School librarian! Their proposed presentation, Using Literature, Research, and Hands-On Projects to Think Like an Entrepreneur, was accepted for the 2023 Summit for Transformative Learning in St. Louis (STLinSTL).

 

Created and hosted by Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS), STLinSTL brings together experts and master teachers to share research-based, sustainable learning practices. STLinSTL seeks to prepare educators to create meaningful changes in their practice to meet the needs of today's learners. The Viz duo will present their subject matter to fellow educators during the June 1-2, 2023, conference.

After defeating St. Charles West in the District semifinal game with a score of 62 to 44, the varsity basketball team went on to topple Westminster in the District championship 66 to 61. This is the first District title for our Vivettes since 2008. Way to go, ladies!

 

The team advanced to the Class 4 State Sectional game on Tuesday, March 7, narrowly losing to Moberly High School 48-55. Congratulations to the entire team on a great season.

Corrine Runnels (Class of 2027) and her family went on a Catholic pilgrimage to the Holy Land in February, following in the footsteps of Jesus from the annunciation and nativity to the crucifixion and resurrection to appearances of the risen Christ.

 

Corrine wanted to share this meaningful experience with her classmates. On March 7, the eighth-grade class gathered in DeChantal for a presentation, which included highlights from the pilgrimage: the peaceful Sea of Galilee region with the capital of Jesus' ministry in the town of Capernaum, the Garden of Gethsemane, and time spent at the Visitation Church to name a few. While at the Visitation Church, Corinne was invited to do a reading and the intentions during Mass. The congregation knew she was a student from a Visitation school and prayed for our community in St Louis.

Five Visitation Academy juniors - Tori Brennan, Josie Janisch, Allie Kowalczyk, Ali McDonald, and Rebecca Mooney - were selected to present research summaries at St. Louis University's American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research Symposium on Saturday, April 1, 2023.

 

A team of Viz science students – the Viz Beez - competed at the St. Louis Area Brain Bee (SLABB) at Washington University on Saturday, February 25, the largest SLABB to date. While this is an annual competition for high school students that tests knowledge in neuroscience, this was the first opportunity for the ladies of Viz to attend the in-person SLABB.

 

The Viz Beez received the team award trophy for their solidarity at the event. The students made a great impression and had well-formulated questions for the neurobiology panel. The Beez - 45 students in Grades 9-12 - plan to return stronger than ever next year.

 

In preparation for the event, Viz hosted its first Viz Bee on Friday, February 24, a traditional bee-style competition to test students' knowledge of all things neurobiology. Congratulations to the Viz Bee winners:

 

First Place: Junior, Jane Ledbetter

Second Place: Junior, Finley Hercules

Third Place: Freshman, Maeve McMullen

The Middle School production of Honk, Jr. is right around the corner. A few tickets remain for both shows - March 8 at 7:00 p.m. and March 9 at 7:00 p.m. Click here to get yours now.

Congratulations to Sarah Walsh, Viz's computer science and engineering teacher and the school's robotics team moderator. She is a National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) 2023 Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois Affiliate Educator Winner!

 

Sarah is one of only two individuals to receive this award in our region. Her contributions to Visitation have been invaluable. She grew the robotics team from just two students to 28, many of whom hold leadership roles. Additionally, Sarah has introduced new courses into the Upper School curriculum, including AP computer science principals, AP computer science Java, and intro to engineering, adding tremendous value to Viz's computer science program.

Viz Middle School Counselor Ashely Giljum has launched an exciting new initiative in the Middle School this year, the Orientation Leader program, to help fifth-grade students with the transition to middle school. Orientation leaders will serve as mentors to the younger students and will collaborate on the creation of tailored lessons and lead large and small group lessons in May. The student-mentors also will serve as leaders during Middle School Orientation in August, assisting all students new to the Viz Middle School.

 

Current seventh-grade students who wanted to be considered submitted applications. The selection team sought motivated, responsible, and well-rounded/involved applicants. Congratulations to the following seventh-grade students who were selected to fill this important leadership role:

 

Lila Burkemper

Taylor Carr

Brigid Feldman

Winnie Ferrick

Anna Friedrich

Lena Hoffman

Audrey Jenkins

Maddy Kozak

Celia Pursifull

Another Viz athletics team - racquetball - competed in State competition last weekend and did well. The varsity team finished sixth overall, JV 1 in fourth, and JV2 in seventh place.

 

Here are the individual results:

 

Sejal Sekhar (Class of 2023) - Third Place, Varsity Seed 2

Regina Dennison (Class of 2023) - Second Place, Varsity Seed 3

Jessica Martin (Class of 2023) - Fourth Place, Varsity Seed 5

 

Morgan Dalebout (Class of 2025) - Second Place, JV1 Seed 1

Audrey Sprich (Class of 2025) - Fourth Place, JV1 Seed 2

Elena Moolsintong (Class of 2025) - Second Place, JV1 Seed 4

Mattea Schwartz (Class of 2024)/Macy Haley (Class of 2024) - Fourth place, JV1 Doubles

 

Kate Fletcher (Class of 2025) - Fourth Place, JVII Seed 1

Evangelia Bonifacio (Class of 2025) - Third Place, JVII Seed 5

Congratulations to Annie Restovich (Class of 2023). She needed 23 points in the basketball game against Parkway Central on Tuesday, February 21, to reach the coveted milestone of 1,000 points for her career. She scored exactly 23. And the Vivettes took home a victory as well! Way to go, ladies!

The Viz swim and dive team completed their season last weekend, competing in State competition at the St. Peters Rec-Plex. Team captain Amelia Dino (Class of 2023) competed individually in the 200 and 500 freestyle, capping off a strong four years in those two events.

 

Amelia also competed in the 200 medley relay with Sandra Kim (Class of 2026), Caylee Moore (Class of 2024), and Madison Seabaugh (Class of 2026) and 400 free relay with Caroline Hugge (Class of 2025), Caylee Moore, and Madison Seabaugh. The team posted some impressive splits in both events. Shout out to Julia Kelpe (Class of 2023), the first Viz diver to make it into State competition.

Junior Ella Kadyk is a candidate for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) St. Louis Student Visionaries of the Year campaign. Ella and her team, A New Hope, are raising funds for LLS from February 17 to April 7, 2023, and have set a goal of $50,000. All donations will support the LLS's mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. If you would like to support Ella and her team in the fight against blood cancer with a tax-deductible contribution by April 7, 2023, here's how:

 

On Wednesday, February 15, the Upper School entrepreneurship class visited World Wide Technology, a company at the forefront of technology innovation and progress. This cutting-edge organization employs several Viz alums, and entrepreneurship students got to sit down with them and ask questions about everything from being a woman in a predominately male industry to how Viz prepared them for college and beyond to what their major was in college and the road that took them to where they are today. Thanks to Katie Costigan Heyel 1993, Deveny Trautman 2012, and Kat Zaber 2017 for their expert insights and guidance. And a big thank you to Mr. Scott Miller, father of Emma (Class of 2024), who also works for WWT. He came and spoke with the entrepreneurship class and assisted in making the trip to WWT happen.

Visitation Academy is hosting a blood drive to benefit the Red Cross on Monday, February 27, in Jane's Place. This event is open to Viz parents and students over 18. If you would like to participate, please visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter VAofSt.Louis to schedule an appointment.

The middle school years, aka adolescence, tween, or pre-teen, are a pivotal time in the growth of all young women, with a lasting impact on their future. The transition between childhood and adulthood is exciting, as well as a period that sometimes leaves girls feeling vulnerable. Providing guidance, resources, and opportunities to help young women become healthy, ethical, intelligent, and productive is critical for both the student and the parent at this developmental stage.

As part of a Dissoi Logoi project assigned in English class, junior Ali McDonald was required to convey her chosen issue - the different interpretations of the media's effect on mental and physical health - to an audience. Ali felt that Viz Middle School students could benefit from a presentation on this topic. During the advisory period on Friday, February 10, Grades 6-8 assembled in DeChantal Hall for Ali's engaging and interactive presentation. The topic really got the girls talking.

The bitter cold outside could not compete with the warm smiles inside during the annual Lower School picnic on Tuesday, January 31. Students from Montessori through Grade 5 and their parents and-or special someone(s) enjoyed a picnic-style lunch on the floor of Marion Gym.

 

Students in Grades 1-5 were surprised with the announcement that it also was Just Because Day. The "It Is Snow Much Fun At Viz" themed activities included an indoor snowball fight, snowflake making, and watching the movie Frozen, to name just a few. The girl's favorite activity was decorating gloves with jewels. The day's events also included a snow cone truck.

Congratulations to the Viz Middle School CyberPatriot team! (Pictured from left to right: Mia R., Mary Anne C., Zoe H., Allie F., and Olivia B.) They finished in third place in their division for the state of Missouri. The girls demonstrated outstanding technical skills, problem-solving, and teamwork, positioning them among the top teams in the CyberPatriot XV State round.

Adelina Johnson and Teresa Missey (both from the Class of 2030) represented St. Louis in the giant slalom and slalom during a ski competition held last weekend in Wisconsin, and they both did great! These two dedicated skiers put in a lot of hard work and time on the road as they travel routinely to compete in their regional league, the Wisconsin/Illinois/Iowa Junior Alpine Racing Association (WIJARA). WIJARA awards the fastest skiers at each of its events. At this latest competition, Adelina took home two first-place medals and two second-place medals for her performance in the giant slalom and slalom categories. Congratulations!

Congratulations to senior Kylie Beauchamp, who is a 2023 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing(AiC) honorable mention recipient. This year, 40 winners and 360 honorable mentions were selected from more than 3,300 amazing, talented young applicants across 44 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and all U.S. overseas military bases.

 

This award recognizes aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, tenacity in the face of barriers to access, and plans for post-secondary education.

After a couple of snow delays, the annual Lower School and Middle School spelling bee took place on Tuesday, January 31. Congratulations to superstar spellers Mary Anne Carroll (Grade 8), who earned first place, and Celia Pursifull (Grade 7), who finished in second place. We are BEE-yond proud of all the contestants!

This past week was Spirit Week; oh, what a week it was! The hallways were transformed into this year's theme, A Blast from Our Past. Students, faculty, and staff embraced the theme throughout the week through daily, paid dress-down days. All collected proceeds were donated to the organization Friends of Kids with Cancer. Spirit wear merchandise and a lively spirit assembly got the student body ready for the JV and varsity homecoming games on Friday, which was a great end to a great week!

Middle School and Upper School students brought their collective energy to all three performances of The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon last weekend. Bravo to the entire cast and crew for a spectacular show!

The Viz swim team experienced several bests during the Hickman Invitational held in Columbia, Missouri, on January 21 and 22. The varsity relay teams dropped more than two seconds in all relay events, sophomore Libby Mooney dropped five seconds in the 100 free, and freshman Rosie McDaniel won her heat in the 200 free. A new school record was set by sophomore Ashlyn Canale in the 100 breaststroke, who posted a time of 1:08.15. Fantastic job, ladies!

Students in Mrs. Lauren Hanna's Grade 6 computer science class recently finished a project in which they designed and coded their own websites. Working in teams, the girls applied the skills they learned to create websites covering various topics. All the girls did such a great job! Here are a few examples of their hard work: The 3 R's – how to help the earth and facts and tips about recycling and Food for All – the importance and the how to's of donating to local food pantries.

Service is an essential element of a Visitation Academy education. Students are encouraged to be good stewards of the community and to make service a lifelong venture. Throughout the school year, Viz provides many opportunities to educate students about the ministries in our area that are in need and perform service projects to support these organizations. Here are a few that occurred in December in the Middle School.

Please join us in congratulating senior Madison "Madi" Harness, Visitation Academy's 2023 Martin Luther King, Jr. Model of Justice Award winner. This award is presented to high school students who have demonstrated, through their attitude and their work, a commitment to serving humanity in the broader community. Madi was one of 21 teens in the St. Louis area that received this honor during the 47th Annual Archdiocesan Celebration on January 15, 2023, at the Cathedral Basilica.

 

Viz's varsity basketball team had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Knightstown, Indiana, to take the court in the gym featured in the classic 1986 movie Hoosiers. Click here to read more about this iconic landmark. Viz has been waiting for this chance for two and a half years, as the venue only hosts around 80 high school games each year. While the experience was a definite win, the Vivettes ultimately lost 46-48 to the Cor Jesu Chargers.

More than 60 attendees were present on Wednesday, January 11, to learn from Andrew Laue, Associate Director for Fine Arts Admissions for Webster University's Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts. His presentation, "Visual and Performing Arts at the College Level," was sponsored by the college offices of CBC, Chaminade, DeSmet, Priory, St. Joe, Villa, Viz, Westminster, and Whitfield. Attendees heard about various areas of interest to those considering pursuing a degree in fine arts. Mr. Laue has presented on the topic of the college search process for students in the arts at regional and national events.

Saint Louis University is gearing up for the 2023 soccer season, officially announcing its 2023 recruiting class which includes Viz senior Lucie Schwartz. SLU's head women's soccer coach, Katie Shields, announced the addition of 10 student-athletes to the Billikens' program. All ten will have four years of eligibility beginning next fall.

 

Click here to read the complete story on soccerwire.com, which includes Lucie's background in soccer and Coach Shields's thoughts about what Lucie brings to the Billiken squad.

The Upper School Chamber Choir will be singing the National Anthem – on the playing field – at the St. Louis Ambush vs. Kansas City Comets game on Friday, January 20. Game time is 7:35 p.m. at the Family Arena. Show your support for our Viz girls and our hometown indoor soccer team at the same time. Click here to purchase your tickets.

A few local men in blue visited our youngest friends in Montessori and Kindergarten on January 10. Officers from the Town and Country Police Department made a "routine stop" in classrooms to read stories and run intruder drills with students. Students also got an up-close look at their patrol car. Did the students enjoy the morning? That's a big 10-4!

The Brothers Grimm's fairy tales are turned on their heads in The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, a fast-paced, rollicking ride. Our Middle and Upper School actors will combine 209 stories ranging from classics like Snow White, Cinderella, and Hansel and Gretel (the original darker versions, not the happy versions people have become accustomed to) to more bizarre, obscure stories like The Story of Johannes and The Girl Without Hands into one spectacular spectacle you won't want to miss. The curtain goes up on January 27 at 7:00 p.m., with additional performances on January 28 at 7:00 p.m. and January 29 at 2:00 p.m. Get your tickets here.

Viz's own Abby Van Vooren (Class of 2023) participated in the Congressional App Challenge, a nationwide coding contest run by the U.S. House of Representatives in each district. She received a letter and Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from Missouri representative Ann Wagner. Congratulations to Abby, and special thanks to Upper School computer science teacher Sarah Walsh for facilitating this opportunity for our students.

Another successful Visitation Academy Christmas basketball tournament is in the books. After a thrilling 44-40 win in the opening round, the Vivettes ultimately finished the tournament in sixth place. There were plenty of highlights, including a feature story on our Vivettes in the online edition of the Post-Dispatch. Additionally, Kate Restovich (Class of 2023) was selected to the All-Tournament 1st Team, and Lucie Schwartz (Class of 2023) was selected to the All-Tournament 2nd Team. Congratulations!

In preparation for Christmas, freshmen theology classes investigated the Church's tradition of the Jesse Tree and then put a unique spin on it. Students specifically looked at women who had a role in Salvation history and then made ornaments in the makerspace to symbolize these women's roles. They then presented their research to their classmates and hung their creations on the class's Jesse Tree.

When the new Upper School and Middle School schedules were launched this year, I was delighted to see that a five-minute reflection time was included every afternoon. Unlike the morning and afternoon prayers over the announcements, reflection time would be five minutes, where the entire Middle School and Upper School divisions pause to say and do nothing. To just be.

 

For me, those five minutes of reflection are like a shaken snow globe after it is set down. The flurry of activity settles, and I am left with the beautiful, present moment at the center of it all. I concentrate on the calm of my soul and my body settling down. As the five minutes draw to a close, I do a quick inventory of the present moment, and more often than not, it is filled with grace and joy. More often than not, it becomes clear that I have so much to be grateful for and that my flurry of worry has kept me from glimpsing that joy.

The varsity basketball team visited the St. Louis County Courts in Clayton, compliments of Dan Stoecklin, Athletic Director Paul Stoecklin's brother. Dan works the Viz home and away basketball games, keeping the official scorebook, but professionally, Dan is a latent examiner.

 

During the visit, Dan showed the girls how fingerprints are collected from crime scenes and processed. The girls collected their fingerprints from different items, and Dan showed them how to search for and locate matches in the system. The girls also saw the evidence room during their visit.