DECEMBER 2020 l VOLUME 4 l ISSUE 02 l MALVERN, PA 19335

INTRODUCING NEW STAFF Get to know Villa's new

counseling and admissions staff.>>>page 6

DISNEY: COVID-19 EDITION Learn about the plan for this

year's beloved Disney trip.>>>page 2

CHRISTMAS QUIZWhich teacher are you during

the holidays? Read to find out!>>>page 3

AROUND THE WORLDVilla students and teachers

share diverse holiday traditions. >>>page 4

Kimberly Adam ’24 prepares to perform.//Courtesy of Kimberly Adam >>>PAGE 7

Student Spotlights: Get to know your classmates!

Villa student participates in fashion designAspiring fashion designer and Villa student Maeve Crowley ’23 makes clothing lines with her sewing talent.

Devyn Stek ’23, Kendall Gillece ’24Copy Editor, Reporter

Crowley has a creative side to her: She sews. Sewing and designing have been part of her life since she was very young. She became interest-ed in the talent around the age of ten or eleven. Crowley said, “I started sewing with my grandmother because I was very inter-ested in fashion design as a little kid.” Crowley’s grandmother was happy to help her in pursuing her passion. When her grandmother was Crowley’s age, she also was interest-ed in sewing, so in a way, Crowley is carrying on the tradition. She said, “I started to sew since she had a sewing machine and she sewed a lot when she was younger, so I did a little bit with her in the beginning.” Once Crowley became hooked on sewing, her mom encouraged her to t ake fo r ma l sewing cla sses .

Crowley said, “My mom had this idea to find a sewing studio, so then we found this studio called Love To Sew Studio in Chaddsford, Pa. I started taking weekly classes and doing camp over the summer.” The sewing classes set Crowley up for a future of success in local fashion shows. Preparation for the fashion show begins in September and October, an entire year before the actual show. These fashion shows “are basically a lot

like ‘Project Runway,’” Crowley said, as the designer’s lines are judged by a panel of professionals. For the past two years, Crowley has won her category. Fitting for a sewing competition, the prize is a mannequin. Crowley stated, “For preparing for the

fashion show, It takes me almost a year to finish all the outfits I make. I then send

in to my sewing studio a biography about the fashion line and special categories and details about each outfit. Then, the day before the fash-

ion show, I invite all the models over and we practice walking in the clothes

and preparing [the] shoes and accessories.” Crowley finds inspiration for her lines from everyday life and travel. She said, “Two years ago, I created a modern Africa tribal clothing line.” This line consisted of six outfits. The inspiration for this line came from a trip to Kenya. where Crowley learned about their culture and experience. "I tried to replicate that in a modern way,” she said. “What I really took away from my trip to Kenya and my research on tribal clothing is that bright colors and patterns of all sorts come from different areas of Africa," Crow-ley said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Diversity pioneer advises on how to connect with social justice issuesMr. DeVon Jackson, D.E.I. consultant for CHānj Consulting, is back at Villa with suggestions for students. Carina Rose ’21Editor-in-Chief

Jackson has been involved with Diversity and Inclusion since 2008, and in the current political and social climate, his knowledge and experi-ence is more important than ever. He feels that DEI and social reform is his calling. Citing Mark Twain, Jackson said, “‘There are two important days in a person’s life: the time when a person is born and the time when a person finds out why they were born.’...With-out a shadow of doubt, I believe I was put on this earth to provide an alternate or opposing narrative to whatever the dominant narrative is.” By providing this opposing narrative, he is able to see someone else’s point of view, which is the first step in empathy according to researcher Brené Brown. She says the next step is not judg-ing this perspective. Finally, after connecting with the emotions that one might be feeling, it is important to communicate, to talk about and un-derstand these feelings. Empathizing with others allows people to grow in understanding and respect for what might be an opposing viewpoint. Being able to connect with issues is important when it comes to DEI. While empathy is a good way to do this, there are also other ways. Jackson believes there is one very important yet simple thing for people to do to connect with the issues.

“Get close to the problem,” Jackson said. He also talked about Brian Stevenson, who is the author of “Just Mercy” and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative. Stevenson has four things that he believes society needs

to do to change the world; the first is to get proximate to the problem. To help explain how this helps, Jackson gives an example of a traffic jam. “When you are in traffic on

the expressway,” he said, “you are wondering what is going on...

You don’t realize why you are stopped until you get close to the problem.” After getting close to the problem, Jackson said, “You can learn what is going on, and then you know how to in-teract and how you can insert yourself.” Before inserting oneself though, it is import-ant to be well informed. Being well-informed does not just mean knowing a lot of information. It means knowing information from all sides of the story, not just the side one might agree with. News sources, especially in the U.S., generally have an inherent bias and there is nothing to do about that. The important part is recognizing this and then receiving news from multiple different places to try to counteract that bias.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

Model showcases Maeve Crowley ’23 dress design.//Courtesy of Maeve Crowley ’23 >>>SEE BELOW

Micaela Shackleford '21 gardens at Villa. //Courtesy of Micaela Shackleford '21>>>PAGE 7

"Get close to the problem."

"I was very

interested in fashion design

as a little kid."

2 OPINIONDECEMBER 2020 THE VILLA VOICE

Freshman on new yearAmelia Smith ’24 and Alice Land ’24 provide

insight about Villa experience.

Mental health and the coronavirusStudents discuss how their mental health may be compromised as they try to adjust to the pandemic at hand.

Taylor Scott ’22 and Serena Jude Patrick ’21Reporters

It is statistically proven that one in five teenagers suffer from at least one mental disorder. Given that, the rate of mental health issues has only gone up due to this pandemic. While some schools are fol-lowing a virtual or hybrid schedule, Villa Maria enables its students to be able to be completely in person because of the number of students, which allows the school to be functional and running. Senior Bridget Duffy used one word to describe her mental health while back on campus: “stressed.” "Having to apply to college while having to keep up with all the school work and going for my sports practice under this pandemic has been extremely difficult.” Duffy said. Even though she is under pres-sure and stress, she said, “I listen to music in order to calm myself.”Duffy has found her senior year to be much more stressful than junior. However, she does enjoy the more frequent work days and longer breaks. “Occasionally being off from school gives my mind time to relax and detach

from the busy world and expectations I have to meet,” Duffy said. There is a lot of stress that the class of 2021 is espe-cially feeling this year. Balancing both college applications and staying on task with school work while maintaining good emotional health proves to be challeng-ing. The uncertainty of when or how the school will have to close or how bad the pandemic will get only heightens this stress. “Restless.” This is how Junior Caro-line Ward ’22 describes her current mental state during this school year. This pandemic has not only affected millions around the world physically but emotionally as well. Junior year is known to be an es-pecially stressful time. This is due to the increasingly excessive workload, the pressure to solidify a strong high school resume, and the coming-of-age experiences as a young woman. Ward is a very well-rounded person and likes to keep her mind and body occupied. “I usually try to distract my mind by keeping myself incredibly busy,” Ward said. “That is why I participate in so many activities. My favorite thing to do is spend a lot of time in the gym.

It helps me release intense emotions.” However, it has been challenging for Ward to also keep a normal routine amidst the pandemic. Ward described, “Without being busy and staying home most of the time, I have had a much harder time keeping myself calm and focused on my work.” Ward finds it difficult to reach out for help or share her feelings with others. “It is very hard for me to talk to people about my mental health because I feel like I would be a burden to them,” Ward said. “I need to be better at trying to seek help at the right times,” Ward said. In essence, the stigma around mental health makes it a difficult topic to discuss. With the pandemic affecting so many lives, it is our responsibility to shed light on these feelings so we can get people the support and help they need. Villa counseling and other outside resources are always readily available to students. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help even when asking may seem to be the most difficult part.

Lillie Falcon ’24, Delaney Hendrickson ’24Reporters

This year has been a tough one to say the least. With the rest of the in-person school year up in the air, Mr. Domenic Zampogna and the rest of the Disney trip committee are working tirelessly to make this year’s trip to Disney World possible. The annual Disney trip was created by the Counseling Department to encourage the ideals of leadership, amity, and cre-ativity within every new freshman class. The trip has become an increasingly valuable experience for Villa freshmen, enabling them to form strong bonds with their fellow sisters. Though the class of 2023’s trip was cancelled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, things are looking up for them this time around. The sophomore trip will occur from June 14-18, and the freshman trip spans from June 21-25. They will stay at the Pop Century Resort where the girls have the option to room with up to four

people. The students will be spending time at each of Disney’s four parks: Magic Kingdom, Holly-wood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot. Once inside the parks, the girls have complete freedom to explore the expansive rides, shows, experiences, and more. Though the future ahead looks bright, Zampogna details that a decision regarding the fate of the trip won’t be finalized until early 2021. “In January, before the second deposit, I will go to the administration and say, ‘You know, we want your input on how this trip should move forward, knowing what we know, and where we’re at now, and what we’re predicting for the future,’” Zampogna said. “And if everything’s good, then we will leave it up to the families to make their own decisions.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Students take traditional picture in front of the castle. //Picture from Hannah King '220

Pandemically plannedDisney trip2020 has been a series of ups and downs... What is in

store for this year’s Disney trip?

Lia Ritchie '21

Ainsley McCollum ’24 Megan McCuen ’24Reporters

Making the change from eighth grade to freshman year is undoubtedly an adjustment, especially in the midst of the coronavirus when everything is working differently. Smith was unsure and nervous about coming to Villa, especially due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19. “I was nervous, especially since I didn't know anyone. I felt like the masks would be a really big deal because I couldn’t see anyone,” Smith said. “But it turned out to not be that bad although it was definitely harder than starting a normal year.” Another big change for the girls was the switch from 40-50 minute classes to 80 minutes. Land was hesitant about the class length and stated, “I was definitely a little hesitant coming from my school where "classes were 50 minutes to Villa where periods are 80 minutes. But I actually like the 80 minutes a lot better. They honestly don’t feel that long, and you don’t feel as rushed to get your work done in a certain amount of time.” In addition, one of the most significant adjustments coming from grade school to high school is the workload and expecta-tions. For Smith she said, “It depends on the class, but definitely my core classes now are overwhelming, but I am looking for-ward to the RFTs that I have next semester.” Having many important classes in the shorter span of time than a normal year can be difficult , but Land found the schedule to be manageable. “I personally didn’t feel overwhelmed with the schedule. Since you have only four classes, you don’t get assigned as much work as you would with eight classes. Al-though it is a little hard when most assign-ments are due the next day,” stated Land. Another important part of high school is the social aspect, especially at Villa. Smith found the girls at Villa to be very welcoming and kind from the start. “They were all so nice and fun to be around,” Smith said. “I’ve met a bunch of kind, welcoming people who I really love. Everyone is so included no matter what grade they are in.” Both having attended a co-ed grade school, the girls had assumed certain thoughts about

what an all-girls school would be like. “I went to public school, so I thought it was going to be really weird, but it wasn’t,” Land said. “Within the first few days, I realized how much it didn’t affect me.”

Knowing that many other freshmen go-ing into school --whether public, private, or Catholic-- leads Smith and Land to feel very lucky that their school is in person every day. “Being able to see everyone is a lot easier than meeting people online and on Zoom,” Smith said. “You get to actually be in person and ask your teachers things." Food trucks once a month, as well as the concept of “Smart Lunch” is something unique to Villa Maria. Having this Smart Lunch bell allows students to sign out for one lunch period and two “advisory” classes, where you can get help from teachers, get homework done, or work on a project with friends. Coming into High School this was something that Smith and Land were looking forward to. “I love the food trucks. Having this time is so nice because I am able to meet with multiple teachers. It’s a fun way to relax and have 3 periods to get work done,” Land stated. Overall, both Smith and Land have been able to make the most of the uncertain circumstances. “I have had an incredible experience at Villa so far. It’s been difficult with all of the COVID precautions, but I’m look-ing forward to making more and more memories with my class,” Land stated. These were just two out of the many fresh-man’s experiences with how they felt coming into Villa during such a crazy time. From sports, to ac-ademics, to social life, this year was far from nor-mal, yet students did their best to adjust and adapt.

Counseling welcomes the Class of 24' //

Laurie Scaggs

A: You are most like Latin teacher Ms. Kat-lyn Yost, who loves to celebrate the holidays while continuing family traditions, which include eating Chinese food on Christmas Eve and attending her parish’s Midnight Mass!

VILLA LIFE DECEMBER 2020 THE VILLA VOICE

3

Mission Statement: The Villa Voice is a student-run publication created to inform the Villa Maria community with truthful and rele-vant information. We strive to give students a safe outlet for their opinions and accurately represent the student body of Villa Maria.

Submissions: Submissions from any students in the Villa Maria community are en-couraged, specifically letters to the editor and feedback. Submissions must include name and email verification, and anonymous submissions will not be accepted. Not all submissions are published.

Executive Editor-in-Chief: Madeline Ladd '21

Editors-in-Chief: Anna Heppelmann '21 and Carina Rose '21

Assistant Editors: Alexis Allen '23, Ella Nugent '23, and Brianna McDonald '23

Copy Editor:Devyn Stek '23

December Contributors:Elise Beetel '24Jacqueline Carden ’21Abigail Carlson '24Sophia Conish '24Mary Catherine Doughty ’23Ella Dudley ’22Lillie Falcon '24Lucy Figg '24Theresa Gately ’24Kendall Gillece '24Brynn Goldstein '23Quincy Hatcher ’21Delaney Hendrickson '24Autumn Hoang '23Lorelei Jacobson '23Serena Jude Patrick ’21Casey Lange ’21Tess Land '24Allison Legard '24Allie Meyer '24Ainsley McCollum '24Megan McCuen '24Grace Moore '21Kendall Nevins '24Morgan Prasawlowicz '23Allie Scaggs '22Taylor Scott '22Elizabeth Sharp '24Patty Raftovich, ’21Lia Ritchie '21

Adviser: Mrs. Laurie Scaggs '91

Copy Adviser: Mrs. Jessica Mullen

Special thanks to Ms. Marguerite Esmonde, Ms. Madeline Harkins, Mr. Darren Polsz, Sister Regina Ryan, IHM, Ms. Brittany Thompson

What is your favorite Christmas cookie? A. Gingerbread cookies and Christ-mas decorated sugar cookies B. Almond Spritzes and Pomanders C. Pizzelles and butter cookies D. Grandmother's Italian butter balls and caggionetti What is your holiday tradition preference? A. Chinese food with family on Christmas Eve and Midnight Mass B. Enjoying time with family C. Christmas Eve Mass D. Italian seven fish dinner on Christmas Day

When do you start decorating for Christmas? A. Never too early B. Two weeks before Christmas C. About a week before Christmas D. December 17th

How early is too early for Christmas music? A. Never too early, just don’t play it on Halloween and Thanksgiving B. Before December 1st C. Before Thanksgiving D. Anything before December 17th.Embrace Advent!

What is your favorite Christmas song? A. “Santa Tell Me” and “Last Christmas” B. “Coventry Carol” and “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” C. “Angels We Have Heard on High” and “Christmas Eve/Sara-jevo” D. “White Christmas” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful”

What is your favorite Christmas movie? A. Love Actually B. The Muppet Christmas Carol C. Home Alone D. It's a Wonderful Life

Mr. Spillane Where are you from? I was born and raised in West Chester. Before working at Villa, I ran my own construction firm. Villa was one of my customers, and I was recruited to be their facilities director.

How long have you worked at Villa? I have worked at Villa for 5 ½ years.

What is a fun fact about you? I used to play bass guitar in rock bands when I was in high school and college. I now jump on the drums occasionally and play with the faculty band. The band was mistakenly called the ‘faculty band’ in an e-mail and that name has stuck with the members (Mrs. Sandberg, Mr. Magness, Mr. Poole, Mr. Cucinella, occasionally Dr. Mosakowski, and myself) ever since. Do you have any fun hobbies? I cook quite a bit. I even make and can my own salsas, pickles, and hot sauces from fresh vegetables and herbs that I grow in my garden.

Is there anything else you would like to add? I never imagined working in an educational setting, but it seems to have become my path in more ways than one. I ended up marrying a teacher, coaching youth sports, and working here at Villa.

Mr. Horan Where are you from? I am from West Chester, PA How long have you worked at Villa? I have been at Villa for 3 ½ years What is a fun fact about you? I coach seventh-grade football at Fugett Middle School Do you have any fun hobbies? I play baseball, hockey, and softball. I also enjoy gardening and being outdoors. Is there anything else you would like to add? Mrs. Horan (my mother) gives me a cookie every day before lunch; it's the best part of my day!

Mr. Patton Where are you from? I am from Exton Pennsylvania. How long have you worked at Villa? It will be 2 years in April at Villa. What is a fun fact about you? Fun fact is I love ice cream! Do you have any fun hobbies? Hobbies, I love to travel, go to the beach and spend time with my family.

Mr. McLean Where are you from? I'm originally from Newtown Bucks County and I attended Council Rock High School. How long have you worked at Villa?I've worked at Villa since September 2016 What is a fun fact about you?/ Do you have any fun hobbies? I Like Hiking with my daughter and her dog. Is there anything else you would like to add? I am the heating and air conditioning specialist at the school, and I also drive the school van in the mornings and afternoon

Christmas quizCircle your answers to figure out which Villa teacher

you are most like during the holidays!

Abigail Carlson, Kendall Nevins, Alison Legaard, and Theresa Gatley Reporters

Meet the workers behind the scenes Get to know the staff that keeps Villa going!

Allie Scaggs '23 and Tess Land '24Section Leader, Reporter

B: You are most like history teacher Ms. Lisa Beiduk, who loves enjoying family time and making history class fun!

D: You are most like theology teacher Mr. Mathew Poole, who loves to embrace Catholic traditions during the holidays!

C: You are most like history teach-er Mrs. Mary Anastasi, who loves family traditions and has trouble de-ciding her favorite Christmas movie!

Mr. Patton enjoys time with his family // Courtesy of Mr. Patton

Mr. Spillane and his family enjoy time

outdoors. // Courtesy of Mr. Spillane

Ms. Yost // Lifetouch Mrs. Beiduk // Lifetouch

Mrs. Anastasi // Lifetouch Mr. Poole // Lifetouch

Mr. Horan and his mom// Courtesy of Mr. Horan

4 VILLA LIFEDECEMBER 2020 THE VILLA VOICE

Chook, Sung Tan! This is the way that Kim and the people of Korea wish one another a Merry Christmas. Although it may be across the globe, South Koreans hold Christmas as special as any one of us. Thinking about her time as a child, Kim remembers how Catholics and Christians in her town spent hours at their church for almost the whole month of December. At the church, they served hot soup, a rice cake and egg soup with beef broth. (Kim makes this same soup almost every day now in the win-ter.) Her church, St. Thomas Church, celebrated by writing letters to Jesus, decorating with Christmas lights, and most memorably, per-forming in a chorus. Kim remembers disliking chorus as a child, but now she looks at it as her fondest Christmas memory. Her family chorus, made up of four generations, accumulated to

almost one hundred family members. Although she recalls all of the family drama involved, she also remembers the laughter, love, and fun memories she made with all of her family. South Korean children await the arriv-al of Santa Halahbugie, meaning “Santa Grandfather.” She said that children sing and clap in preparation for Santa’s arriv-al. Kim feels it is a privilege it is to be in the United States and at Villa “celebrating Christmas freely and as happily as [she] can.” Although she grew up in a Catholic com-munity in Korea and was able to celebrate Christmas, the majority of the country didn’t and some were forced to celebrate in hiding. We should “appreciate what we have today because many people in history have fought and died for us to have this freedom,” she reminds us.

Miss. Leah Kim: South Korea

Sarah Gao '21: China

Helena Slupianek ’21: Poland

Senior Sarah Gao shared how Christmas is cel-ebrated in her home country, China. Christmas is not a Chinese festival, so Sarah celebrates it differently than many Americans. Gao said that they usually see it as a day to hang out with friends and go to the mall and shop. It is also a day full of romance. Gao sees it as another

Valentine’s Day. Since it is not a big holiday in China, Gao noted that there are no special foods or drinks related to the holiday season. She also said that they don’t normally prepare anything special for Santa’s arrival because they know he is not real. Some parents, however, will give their children candy as a small gift.

Madame Dianne Goddard: France

Christmas around the world Learn about different cultures across the world and how they celebrate Christmas from personal experi-

ences of some of our very own Villa faculty and students.

Patty Raftovich '21 and Quincy Hatcher '21Section Leaders

Senior Helena Slupianek shared how the people of Poland celebrate Christmas, or “Boże Narodzenie” in Polish. First, from the night of December 5-6, children write letters to Święty Mikołaj (Saint Nicholas), who is known as the messenger for Santa. Then, they will leave a shoe outside their bedroom, where Saint Nicholas will take their letters to Santa and leave a small treat. This fun tradition helps the family to get into the Christmas and holiday spirit. Next, on the morning of Christmas Eve, the family will decorate their tree, which is left up until February 2, which is the feast of “Candlemas.” The family also eats a big meal on Christmas Eve, where the head of the house or eldest male will read a section of Luke from the Gospel about the birth of baby Jesus. The table is always decorated with a “white tablecloth, a Caritas candle, some hay underneath to rep-resent the manger, and an extra place setting for any ‘surprise guest.’” Some common foods eaten on Christmas Eve are fish soup, fried carp, cabbage, pierogies, and borscht, which is a sour beet soup. For drink, “a dried fruit compote known as ‘kompot z suszonych

owoców’ is common.” For dessert, Slupianek said they enjoy “poppy seed dessert ‘makieł-ki’, poppy seed rolls ‘makowiec’, cheesecake ‘sernik’, and gingerbread cookies ‘pierniki.’” The time between Christmas Eve dinner and going to midnight Mass is when “Gwiazdor,” or Santa, will deliver the presents to the homes of children everywhere. Helena noted some of the most famous Christmas songs in Poland as “Si-lent Night (Cicha Noc), Hush Little Jesus (Lulaj że Jezuniu), and In Night’s Still Silence (Wśród Nocnej Ciszy.)” Although Poland is 4,288 miles from Villa, we are so lucky that Helena has

been able to share with us a l i t t le piece of P o l i s h C h r i s t -m a s .

“Joyeux Noël” is how the French people wish one another a Merry Christmas. Goddard shared some of the most popular traditions that are celebrated in France throughout the Christmas season. Réveillon (Holiday Feast), one of Goddard’s favorite traditions, served on Christmas Eve, is “a lavish spread of delicious food, twelve courses total for the twelve apostles. The twelfth course is dessert. It is the highlight of the meal: the bûche de Noël, the yule log cake. In Provence, the twelfth course of Réveillon is “les treize desserts,” the thirteen desserts, which symbolize Christ and the twelve apostles. In France, people decorate their les Sapiens de Noël (Christmas trees) and place the gifts underneath. To celebrate the feast of St. Nicholas, chil-dren leave their “sabots” (wooden clogs) out for Père Noël to fill. Most gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve, but some adults may exchange gifts on New Year’s Eve. The twelfth day of Christmas is a special tradition celebrated on January 6, the Epiphany. “On this day, the “galette des rois” (Kings’ cake) with a hidden

charm or “fève” (bean) is served. Goddard said, “Whoever finds the charm is king or queen for the day; he or she wears a paper crown and is expected to have good luck in the coming year.” Another one of Goddard’s favorite tradi-tions is Les santons de Provence, a French Christmas tradition that began in the early 1800s. Every year there is a santon fair held in Marseille where the people celebrate the regional art form of clay figurines that represent the villagers and the crèche (Nativity scene). If you ever spend Christmas in France, be sure to try the delicious bûche de Noël, which is served at the twelfth course of Réveillon. This decadent dessert is “a sponge cake rolled with chocolate buttercream filling and is deco-rated with frosting and Christmas decorations.” Children in France anxiously await the arrival of Père Noël (Father Christmas), who does not resemble the Santa Claus that children adore here in America. Madame said, “he is tall and slender with a long white beard and a long red robe edged with fur. He does not arrive on a sled; rather, he is accompanied by a donkey to help with the heavy sack of toys.” There also are many famous and tradi-tional Christmas carols that are sung and enjoyed by all in France. Madame’s person-al favorite is “Minuit Chrétien” (Christian Midnight), which is loosely translated to English as “Oh Holy Night." Goddard said, “It is much more beautiful in its native French version.” Another popular Christmas song is “Petit Papa Noël” (Little Father Christmas). “Joyeux Noël” from all of those in France!

Ella Morgan ’21- England In England, people wish one another a Merry Christmas or a Happy Christmas. A common tradition among English families occurs during Christmas dinner. Families pull crackers, cardboard cylinders that are festively decorated, that make a popping sound when opened. The family member who has peeled open the most of each side wins and receives the prize that is inside of the cracker. Another essential tradition for English people is to watch the Queen’s annual Christmas Day speech. Morgan shared that she and her family will often go and watch a pantomime during the Christ-mas season. A pantomime is “a short, funny play that is usually a fairytale with a twist.” The day after Christmas is another important holiday in England known as Boxing Day. Boxing Day originated from when the servants were granted a day off

from work when they would also receive a special Christmas box from their masters. Families in England continue the Christ-mas celebrations and festivities on this day. Some of the special Christmas treats that are enjoyed by those in England are mince pies, Christmas pudding, and Yorkshire pud-ding. Children prepare for the arrival of Father Christmas similarly to how children in America prepare for Santa Claus, but instead of milk and cookies, they leave a mince pie and wine or beer for Father Christmas. They also will leave out some carrots for the reindeer to snack on. Morgan shared that the songs “White Christmas,” “Last Christmas” by Wham!, and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” by Michael Buble are some of the favorite Christmas carols in England.Happy Chr i s tmas f rom Eng land !

Señora Belen Medina-Mendo-za: Puerto Rico

Hispanics wish one another “Feliz Navidad” throughout the month of December as they prepare for the Christmas holiday. One of Señora’s favor-ite traditions is the Paraandas, which is when a group of family members or friends gather togeth-er to sing and play Christmas music from house to house. Medina-Mendoza said, “I remember how excited I was when my dad arrived and shared that we were going to give Parrandas to our friends.” Another tradition is the Misas de Agui-naldos, which are Masses that are held from the 15-24 of December every day at 5 a.m. “In my neighborhood, it was a tradition to walk to church together and the last stop be-fore arriving home was to the nearby bakery to buy warm bread,” Medina-Mendoza said. One of the most popular dishes enjoyed by those in Puerto Rico is Arroz con Dulce, which is similar to rice pudding. Arroz con Dulce is Señora’s absolute favorite Christmas dish because it reminds her of her childhood.“It was my favorite because you were able to smell the cinnamon from a distance,” Medi-na-Mendoza said. “This dessert brings fond memories of going to my grandmother’s house the weekend before Christmas to prepare all of the Christmas desserts, including this one.” In Puerto Rico, children wait all of December for a special visit from Papá Noel. Since Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, Papá Noel is very similar to Santa Claus and the

children in Puerto Rico prepare for his arrival just as the ones in America do. Christmas is just a mid-point for the festivities and celebrations in Puerto Rico and other Spanish-speaking countries. El Dia de los Reyes, the celebration of the Three Kings takes place on the Epiphany, January 6. The night before this feast, children set out a shoebox full of grass for the camels and a glass of water for the three kings. The next morning, the children wake up and discover gifts that the three kings have left for them. Some of the most famous Christmas songs include “Felíz Navidad,” “Dame la Mano Paloma,” “Llegó la Navidad,” “De la Montaña Venimos,” and “Noche de Paz”. “Feliz Navidad” from our amigos in Puerto Rico!

Makowiec, a poppy seed dessert made by Helena's mother.//Helena Slupianki '21

French club at Villa celebrates Christmas with a yule log cake, just like the French //Dianne Goddard

Eating homemade rice pudding is a favorite Christmas tradition//Belen Medina-Mendoza

Service and charity during COVID-19 and Christmas Service team members Joy Ann Wolf ’22, Devyn Stek ’23, and Director of Service and Social Justice Mrs.

Kara Bielli shed light on what service has been looking like so far this year and what they plan for the future.

Lucille Figg ’24 and Grace Moore ’23Reporters

The internat ional students at tending Villa are unable to return to their home country as a result of the traveling restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their lives have been impacted by the deadly virus and their plans for the holidays have been changed. Sarah Gao ’21 and Ivy Lin ’21 are included in the group of students who now must stay in the U.S. for the holidays. Gao said, “I have been trapped here for almost a year now.” Neither Gao nor Lin have been able to go home this year, which has now extended to the holidays. Their usual traditions over the winter holiday included New Year’s celebra-tions and activities, as well as other festivals. Lin explained, “It is a Chinese New Year tradition to give some red packets to children that have some money in them.” In China, red is a color associated with en-ergy, happiness, and good luck. These pack-ets are given to friends, family members, and employees as a symbol of good fortune. In addition to the Chinese New Year, Lin also missed being home for China’s Mid-Autumn Festival, which takes place during mid-September. Lin said, “The festival memorializes an anc ient hero , Hou Yi , and we wi l l e a t mo onc a ke d u r i ng t h e fe s t iva l .” Though Lin was not able to be home for the festival,

she still celebrated with traditional food in America. Now that they have to remain here, they both plan to study and work on their col-lege applications while making time for hol-iday celebrations with their sponsor families. However, despite these rough times, Lin

is grateful for the optimistic and positive atti-tudes of the Villa Maria community. Lin said, “I’m very happy that our school is still open”. Both Gao and Lin said that despite the lack of ac-tivities and holiday events, they are truly disappointed that they are unable to see their families back home. Gao said, “The way the virus has affected me most is the travel; I won’t be able to go back home. And also, we cannot have that many activities.” The virus has changed the lives of exchange stu-dents in many ways, but they continue to work hard and look forward to the day they can return home.

VILLA NEWS DECEMBER 2020 THE VILLA VOICE

5

COVID-19 prevents international students from traveling homeAmidst the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Villa’s international

students cannot return to their homes in China.

Brynn Goldstein ’23 and Lorelei Jacobson ’23Reporters

Due to COVID-19, there have been many changes, including changes in the format of charity events and collections. This change has brought the Villa community together in many ways. The Service Leadership Team had to think outside of the box for this year because of CDC guidelines and new social distancing rules. They came up with simple yet thoughtful services, such as making exciting cards for hospitalized children, decorating beautiful cards for the nuns at Camilla Hall, and making delicious casseroles for the homeless. These new and inventive ways for the students at Villa to provide service has made a huge impact all around the community. This school year has been rocky, but the service leadership team has been very creative in creating op-portunities for the Villa students in doing amazing things for not only Villa but also the outside community. “In general, we are allowing more at-home opportunities such as making cards, baking for charity, and making casseroles.” Stek said. “We are allowing more opportunities for service in general just because you can do it from the comfort of your own home and still make a difference in the world.” By doing these services and hosting these charity events, the Villa community as a whole has realized the importance of having the chance to work together in person, even during the time of COVID-19. “It’s a different experience when you get to physically see the people you are helping and the things that you are doing as a community,” Wolfe said. “It’s a lot more meaningful and special when you see directly the people you are impacting while you are working together to accomplish a common goal.”

There are many possible risks for in-person service learning due to pandemic, but Villa has done everything possible to make it safe. The packing of the Covid testing kits is a prime example of how Villa is ensuring the safety of students by taking the necessary precautions. “With packing the COVID-19 testing kits, the girls sit behind the plexiglass in the cafeteria; it would be easier if we were in an assembly line, but we chose to have them sit at tables for safety reasons.” Bielli said, “It takes longer and is a little messier, but at least we can be together and still help others. ” But what if you aren’t comfortable working in person for your service hours even with all the pre-cautions? There are still so many other options to choose from when picking where to apply for service. “At some point safety comes before service, and you have to make sure you are do-ing it in a safe way,” Stek said. “There are virtual opportunities too. There’s Zooniverse, Smithsonian Digital Volunteers, Project Gutenberg, United Nations Volunteer program.” Although service opportunities have been different from previous years, the Villa commu-nity has shown its resilience and ability to overcome difficulties when faced with challenges. “Even though we have to socially distance, the participation for service has increased,” said Wolfe. Service so far this year truly shows that even in the hard times, Villa girls have the strength to continue being selfless and care for others in times of need. Check out the weekly list of service opportunities and see how you can make a difference in the community this holiday season.

Kenny sisters sew blankets for homeless shelter. // Courtesy of Mrs. Bielli

Porta sisters collect pumpkins for cows. // Courtesy of Allison Porta '22

Due to COVID-19 concerns, both Walt Disney World and Villa Maria have made signif-icant changes to protect the health of people visiting Walt Disney World. At the moment, Disney is not offering park-hopping tickets, an option that would allow for entry into multi-ple parks daily. Disney has taken this precaution to ensure that guests limit interaction while still being able to enjoy the experience. Normally, Villa students would be able to hop to different parks with permission from Mr. Z and the other chaperones. In The Magic Kingdom, the normal capacity before coronavirus was around 100,000 occupants. Right now, Disney World is only permitting a fourth of that to keep their pa-trons safe. The counselors will be able to make accommodations as needed in the spring and before the trip. “As time goes on and once we get into the spring, if there's anything that adjusts, we will have to adjust with it,” Zampogna said. There has been a great deal of concern regarding the safety of the trip, but Villa students are remaining positive. Ariana Butler ’24 feels that as long as we stick to the regulations, she would feel secure and out of danger. “I think as long as everybody has their masks on all the time and is very strict with the precautions and making sure everybody follows all the rules, then I would feel safe,” Butler said. Brianna McDonald ’23, a student attending the sophomore trip, is mainly concerned about one specific thing. “The only thing that I’m worried about for the trip is the cleanliness of the rides. So many people go on the rides every day, and I don’t know how safe it would be unless we were told we have to bring hand sanitizer with us at all times. Other than that, I think Villa has taken great precautions to keep us safe,” McDonald said. The COVID-19 pandemic has put a significant amount of stress on the planning of the Disney trip. Though there is concern, Zampogna reminds the Villa community that safety remains a high priority. “Safety is a number one before anyone thinks about anything else,” Zampogna said. Villa families can be assured that all necessary safety precautions will be taken to ensure the health of all those attending the trip. Regardless of the restrictions imposed on this year’s trip, there is no doubt that it will still be a tremendously beneficial experience for Villa Maria students. Zampogna believes that the trip has and will continue to inspire the girls to trust in themselves and accomplish their goals. “I believe that someone in front of me on these trips will understand that she has the potential to do just as much in this world, for this world, as Walt Disney has,” Zampogna said. Overall, the goal of this year’s Disney trip is to provide for the girls a safe way to have fun with their friends and inspire them to act upon their dreams. Even during this tough time, we encourage everyone to stay positive and remember that we will all get through this together.

DISNEY, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2

International students experience Christmas in America. // Photo courtesy of Ivy Lin '21

6 DECEMBER 2020 THE VILLA VOICEVILLA NEWS

Newly-hired admissions staffThe new team in the admissions department, Kelly Broadway ’05 and Jessica Siso, have been working

together to make the Villa application process easy for incoming students.

Mary Catherine Doughty ’23 and Ella Dudley ’22Section Leader, Reporter

Admissions marketing communications faculty Mrs. Kelly Broadway ’05 and Mrs.Jessica Siso are enjoying their new jobs at Villa; despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the pair continue to figure out ways to attract potential students to Villa through virtual events and in-person one-on-one tours. “We have different skill sets, but together I think we make a dynamite team,” Siso said. Together, Broadway and Siso do a variety of different work, allowing each and every new student to have the best first-impression of Villa and a smooth transition into high school. Siso said, “Our job is really to show the community and prospective students what Villa has to offer to the girls in this area.” The new members of the admissions team both have experience in the admissions and marketing fields, which helped lead them to the positions they have at Villa. Broadway said, “I was in college ath-letics for about 10 years, where my main responsibility was recruiting… specific students that fit the criteria we were looking for while also trying to maintain numbers.” Siso also has an expert background when it comes to working in marketing, admis-

sions, and advancement for schools. “I was at the Benchmark School… and then I went to Villanova University and worked in marketing and communications for the advancement team there for about a year and a half before coming here,” Siso said. With experience in independent schools and higher education, Siso was eager to continue her work in the small environment of Villa. “I was very familiar with the independent school world and knew that I wanted to get back into that after having moved into higher ed for a bit of time,” Siso said.“I think edu-cation is just so rewarding… I’m able to still see students come in at a certain level, get to know them, and see them really flourish as they grow. That’s really special to me.” Broadway, an alum of the graduating class of 2005, was able to return to her “home” and was very excited to get to work. She incorporates her personal experience at Villa and highlights to prospective students the ways Villa has adapted and changed throughout the years. Broadway said, “On a lot of my tours, I am able to talk about my personal experiences from 2005 when I was here and also how the school has contin-ued to grow and adapt throughout the years.” Although the transition was fairly easy, both experienced some change in their lifestyle, in the process of switching ca-reer paths, especially during a pandemic. With the unpredictable state of the virus, Siso and Broadway are happy that they are able to work in person in with their colleagues as opposed to at home over the computer. Siso said, “I've really enjoyed being back

and really collaborating with people in person.” As part of Villa Maria’s admissions team, Siso and Broadway are in charge of everything from planning open houses to scheduling and conducting entrance exams and tours. Together with the large marketing and com-munication department, the admissions team works on marketing to local seventh and eighth graders at both Catholic and public schools who could potentially become future Villa students. More than ever because of the pandemic, public school students are interested in attending Villa. The fact that Villa has remained open while many other schools have had to resort to online learning has been a huge asset to admissions. “There are a lot of students who are thrilled to hear that we are in person… I know that that’s been a huge benefit to current students and to

prospective students who might be struggling with the online learning that’s taking place at their current schools,” Siso said. Despite the current situ-ation with the COVID-19 pandemic, Broadway and Siso have been working very hard to incorporate all of the old Visit Villa routines while adapting to the current

circumstances in a safe and effective way. “At Open House, which is normally ful-ly in person, we were only able to have a limited number of individuals come, and then everyone else was encouraged to do our Virtual Open House online,” Siso said. Siso shares that the unique situations this year may lead to important and ben-eficial changes to the admission process. “I think it’s been a really good opportunity for us to learn and to potentially adopt things that might be valuable going forward,” Siso said.

They are very excited to experience the unique sisterhood and commmunity at Villa. “Villa is a wonderful community, it's a wonderful sisterhood. There are a lot of alumni who are back here working and there are a lot of teachers, faculty, and staff who really care about the students, so when you go into the admissions process, it's really easy to sell something to a potential family that you believe in,” Broadway said. Siso’s favorite part of Villa is the small environment and close community. “I think when you have a school of this size, it’s big enough but still feels very homey, very close knit, and I really like that… you feel like you really get to know each person indi-vidually, each student individually,” Siso said. With the tight community, amazing faculty and staff, and the love for learning between stu-dents and teachers, Villa is something that Broad-way can easily promote in the best way possible. Broadway said, “I think it's the commu-nity; that was something that I loved when I was here many years ago as a student. Having the opportunity to help sell the school and get the next generation of Villa girls here, that's something to be very excited about.”

Introducing Villa’s new counselorsGet the inside information about the new members of the counseling staff at Villa Maria Academy.

Autumn Hoang ’23 and Morgan Prasalowicz ’23Reporters

Despite these hard times at Villa Maria Academy, Villa was able to welcome Mrs. Cyn-thia Flores as a new school counselor and Ms. Madeline Duckhorn as a new college counselor. Flores originally worked in medical technology, but after having kids she be-came a licensed professional counselor. “I’ve always known that I’m a good listen-er. I am not one of those people who doesn’t want to hear people’s problems. I actually like to be in support,” Flores said. “I particularly like to work with teens...I believe that every teen has potential and that here at this school is where it starts. This is where you really start to become self-aware of who you are.” Duckhorn, a graduate of Villanova Univer-sity, started working in the admissions office there because of her interest in the college admissions process. This led her to a coun-seling graduate program also at Villanova. Some of the students may recognize her from working at Villa Maria last year as an intern. “One of the things that most fascinated me about counseling was helping students actually make the transition [to college]. It's a very emotional process in terms of finding a school that fits with you and your interests, and there [are] a lot of people who also have opinions on college and navigating that,” Duckhorn said.

Both counselors love their new posi-tions here at Villa and are excited to get to know all of the students on a person-al basis and begin working with them. “I love it here. I have been here six weeks now, so I’m still pretty new. There’s been a huge learning curve just because of the different environment; it's been public schools in the past. I love the sense of community here. I really love the level of interaction that we’re able to have with every student. I’ve never been someplace where I could potentially get to know every student at some level. I just think that the fact that adults and students are all seen as part of the team [is] really important,” Flores said. “I think it’s been great to not have to feel like I’m chasing students down and to have them being so flexible and open to communicating with me,” Duckhorn said. During COVID-19, the counseling depart-ment has been introduced to many difficult obstacles. Meeting with students, college interviews and tours, and getting to know the freshmen are just a few of the many obstacles they have encountered. However, they have combated these issues by using various resources, such as Zoom, to help provide students with a normal experience. “I think that one of the things that's been

really challenging is helping students consider schools that they haven’t been able to visit,” Duckhorn said. “On the flip side, I think being able to have access to Zoom and bringing col-lege admissions counselors in via virtual visits has been a plus because [the girls] might not have been able to get to see them [otherwise].” As counselors, a big part of Flores and Duckhorn’s jobs is to help students cope and give advice to students, especially during this pandemic. Flores advises students to remember health guidelines and that the pandemic will end and that life will eventually return to normal. “We have to do our part and listen to the experts who say to wear masks and socially distance, but the good news is that it will not be forever. There will be a day where...life will look more normal for the young people,” Flores said. Duckhorn reminds students to just relax, especially in these unprecedented times. “ Just give yourself a break...There’s a lot going on, so I think it’s easy to feel over-whelmed, but just take a minute and think about the amazing things you guys have done in very challenging and crazy times. You guys have accomplished a lot and you should be proud of that,” Duckhorn said. Feel free to stop by the counseling depart-ment anytime and introduce yourself to the new

staff. They can’t wait to hear from you and begin navigating your high school careers with you.

Ms. Madeline Duckhorn//Lifetouch

Mrs. Cynthia Flores//Courtesy of Cynthia Flores

Mrs. Jessica Siso//Courtesy of Jessica Siso

I’m able to still

see students come in at a certain level, get to know them,

and see them really flourish as they

grow.

Mrs. Kelly Broadway '05//Courtesy of Kelly Broadway

MR. JACKSON, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Ja ck s o n ch a l l enge s eve r yo n e t o “ d o yo u r ow n r e s e a r ch ” a n d t o “be the person to learn so that you are aware of what is going on around you.” He believes in finding out the why behind something that is going on. “If you don’t know the why,” he said, “you’re just going to walk into an atmosphere that is un-known, and you’re not going to know how to fix it or how to insert yourself in there." Just like the news, individuals all have there own biases. Just as is necessary with the news, Jackson recognizes that it is important to be aware of them. If a person is aware of their own bias, she can purposefully work to avoid acting on those biases. “What I need to do [when I recognize my bias] is to not put action to whatever my prejudicial stereotype is because once you put action to your prejudice or stereotype, it becomes discrimation,” Jackson said. “I like to tell teachers to make sure [they] uncover [their] bias so [they] can check it when it triggers.” Jackson believes the current high school gen-erat ion wil l be the one to change things. “Everyone my age [42] and above, we are so stuck in our ways. It’s conservatism bias if you will…You all have things; you have information at your fingertips… You all know what to do, it’s just a matter of learning the dynamics that surround things,” he said. To truly be able to make a difference and educate oneself, Jackson ad-vises to get close to the problem and understand and acknowledge internal bias. Simply put, he said, “Step out of [your] normal routine and learn more.”

VILLA LIFEDECEMBER 2020 THE VILLA VOICE

MAEVE CROWLEY, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "Since I went to East Africa I mostly used special-ty wax patterned fabrics popular in East African tribes. I accessorized this line with handmade jewelry created by the women of the Samburu tribe who I visited with my family. For this line, it was six outfits: two jumpsuits, pants and a top, [a] skirt and a top, a dress, and a skirt with a jacket.” “I am most proud of my equestrian line,” Crowley said. As a horseback rider herself, this line reflects her personality. “For my line, which was inspired by my two passions, sewing and horses, I created fashion-able horseback riding clothing. It featured one for the casual rider, one for a horse show competition, and one for a special competition with a tailored shad belly coat with tails and points,” she said.

Beyond the fashion shows, Crowley has managed to combine her love of sewing with helping people in need, especially during this pandemic. She has made 50 masks for Paoli

Hospital. She primarily made the masks out of cotton and interfacing, which helps block out the dangerous particles of COVID-19. For anyone who is interested in getting into fashion, Crowley offers some words of advice: “If you’re getting into fashion, at the beginning, it is really frustrating because you want to make all these things that you see everywhere and on T.V., but you really start out small. The more you work, you can make it bigger and bigger. The more you work, the bet-ter you get at it.”

Sophia Conish ’24 and Elizabeth Sharp ’24Reporters

Adam did not hesitate to choose Juilliard’s Pre-College Program since Juilliard is her dream school. Adam was born and raised in the Philippines and moved to the United States last August. While moving she was looking for somewhere to study singing. Adam said, “It was hard moving since that was my first time moving to a different country, and I had to leave some of my family behind, but I got through it, and I’m very happy where I am now.” Once settled, Adam started focusing on the process of getting into the program. “First you send in a video audition and the panel will screen it. If they like you from the screenings, you will then have to come in for a live audition,” Adam said. “Afterwards they might give you one to two callbacks to make their final decision. For me I only got one callback.” Adam is one of the youngest of six-

teen voice students in the program. She is very musically diverse as she can sing, play the piano, and play the guitar.Every Saturday, Adam gets on Zoom to study classical opera, within classes such as music theory, ear training, her major (voice), one-on-one coaching, and then electives such as piano and conducting. This is a program that spans until she graduates high school, and she plans on taking full advantage of that.

“It is a great thing to put on my resume and a great pathway when auditioning for future colleges and conservatories,” Adam said. Growing up, she was very shy and never saw herself as a singer. Adam said, “No one really made me want to start singing; it's just one day I listened to a song and I said, maybe I could sing that.” Although only a freshman, Adam clearly sees herself as a singer or a musician in 10 years. “Hopefully, in ten years I'll be singing on stage either in opera or on Broadway or having a con-cert of my own or maybe being a music teacher.” Singing is an important part of Ad-am’s life and hopefully it will remain one. “I hope that people could learn that it doesn’t matter how old you are; if you re-ally have something you want to do, you shouldn’t let a lot of people stop you from doing it,” she said. “You should always work hard and always hold on to that dream even if some people say you can’t do it.”

Freshman Kimberly Adam '24 sings at Juilliard.Adam is studying classical opera singing at the

Juilliard Pre-College Program in New York City.

Student inspires others through immense involvementMicaela Shackleford ’21 gets involved in Villa’s extracurriculars to make a change and inspire others.

Ella Nugent, ’23, Elise Beetel, ’24Assistant Editor, Reporter

By pursuing her passions, Shackleford has made a difference in her community. Selected as Miss Unstop-pable for November, she is involved in music, sports, and service, all of which are her most striking passions. “My main sport is baton twirling. I have been involved with that since second grade and [have competed] since sixth grade,” Shackleford said. “I really like to perform, and baton helps me do that in a competitive sense. I’m able to set goals for myself and be patient with myself when I don’t reach those goals.” Shackleford also takes guitar lessons, is part of chorus and the Madrigal Singers, and is on the Music Ministry Leadership Team. She performs in Marian Masques and Malvern Theater Society, is co-president of Student Integrity, is in French Honors Society, and is a French Club member. Shackleford doesn’t regard herself as a naturally or-ganized person, but she finds that as long as she tries to prioritize the next thing she has to get done, it works. “I find that when you’re passionate about something, it’s easy to [make] time for it,” Shackleford said. “That may mean getting things done for school earlier than you might need to or trying to find creative spots in your day to get things done.” Shackleford also has met so many people because of the variety of activities she has taken part in. “One thing that I especially like about joining different activities is getting close with people not even in [my] grade. With chorus especially, you’re in a big group and are able to bond with the people there.” Shackleford has noticed how her classmates have re-alized the importance of being open to new friendships. “I think the whole senior class has realized how rewarding it is to try to branch out and be friendly with everyone,” said Shackleford. “This has really helped me connect to other people ."

Service also plays a big part in Shackleford’s life, and she loves to help students at Villa take part in service opportunities held on campus. “I know everyone at Villa is really caring and they want to reach out to other people. Knowing that I’m working with other people to make a way of reaching out to others more acces-sible at Villa is something I’m very happy I’ve been able to do.” One of her greatest accomplishments is being President of the first Mission and Ministry Leadership Team for Service at Villa. “I think it’s really helped having a student leadership team because they’re able to help give input. It’s been re-ally nice for people to have more outlets to reach out to if they have a service idea or have questions about service.” Shackleford has even worked with members of the Valley Forge Audubon Society to create a native plant and vegetable garden at Villa. She donates the vegetables to Chester County Food Bank. With the garden, I think it’s really nice that girls who are passionate about the environment are able to have a concrete way to [serve and help out],” Shackleford said. “The more little things you’re able to do, the more you’re helping.” Hoping to get involved in her future communities, Shack-leford plans on continuing service in college and beyond. “I definitely want to continue to make service a part of my life, and I want to make sure that I keep that up in college and out of college too,” Shackleford said. Since becoming involved in so much, Shackleford has con-sidered studying psychology, international affairs, and social action to help better people’s approach to mental health care and make it more accessible. Although she has not decided on anything, she is extremely passionate about social advocacy. “Whether that be advocating for more insurance coverage or doing things to dismantle the stigma around mental illness, I really want to keep doing things for others in my career and

I want to make sure that every day I am do-ing what I can to help others,” Shackleford said. Shackleford wants underclassmen to not be afraid to try something new even if that out of their comfort zone. “If you think you might have a passion for it, don’t be afraid to try,” Shackleford said. “You don’t have to be in a million clubs to make a difference at Villa; you can make a difference in little ways too. Just by spreading kindness to your classmates, you’re making a mark at Villa, and that’s really important.” Having the ability to pursue the things she is pas-sionate about has made Shackleford extremely happy. “One thing that makes you happy in life is being able to do the things you love and because there are so many op-portunities at Villa, I’ve found that it helps [me] find a little bit more meaning in [my] everyday life,” Shackleford said.

Mr. Jackson spaaks to the faculty and staff at Villa about recognizing personal biases.//

Courtesy of DeVon Jackson

Kimmi Adam sings at the Children of Mary prayer service in the beginning of the year.//Darren Polsz

Model shows off one of Crowley's beautiful designs.//Courtesy of

Maeve Crowley '23

VIlla's garden shines in the sunlight and brightens up campus//Micaela Shackleford '21

7

Alexis Allen ’23 and Allie Meyer ’24Assistant Editor and Reporter

Soccer coach Gary Christopher and student athlete Maura Sweeney ’21 share their insights on how COVID-19 restrictions affected their fall season. Villa recognized the vitality of sports to its student athletes and was willing to do whatever it took to provide them with a season. As the fall sports seasons have concluded, it is evident that Villa has done its part in keeping its players and coaches safe through trying times. Although the season may have looked different from prior years, players and coaches were grateful for the ability to have participated in their respective sports. Villa partnered with the Chester County Health Department in order to ensure the safety of players and coaches. New rules and restrictions had to be implemented in order to carry out the season.

“The girls needed to come to practice masked, and then when they left, they had to also be masked,” Christo-pher said. “Whenever they put their bags down, they were six feet apart, and anytime we wanted to bring them in for discussion or talk to them, they wore masks as well.” Many precautions were taken in order to limit possible expo-sures and quarantines as a result of cross contamination. “We had to make certain that the players were in pods,” Christopher said. “So if there was ever a challenge, we were able to limit the exposure of the players because we were in pods.” Through light-hearted games, they were able to incorporate enthusiasm and spirit into uncertain circumstances. “This year we did what we called the lemonade games. And so if life gives you lemons, you make lemonade,” Christopher said. “We split the girls up into three teams and both varsity and junior varsity girls made up those teams.” The lemonade games were usually played on Friday as a way to boost spirits and helped the team to overcome some of the damper of COVID-19 on their season. The three teams would play mini games to earn points for their team and the team with the most points would choose where they donated money . “The girls who were on the winning side got to choose three charities and then all of the teams got to choose one of those three charities,” Christopher said. The team was fortunately able to donate nearly $2,000 to a charity that supports individuals with Alzheimer's. One of the Villa soccer camps was cancelled over the summer due to COVID-19, so the Villa Soccer team decided that the money not used from the camp should be donated to charity. A m ove t owa r d s o c i a l - m e d i a - b a s e d c o n -nections, which included live-streaming, was another positive that came out of a newly approached season. “I thought that there was benefit for everybody in that regard. It probably built up some good spirit… We really wanted to be more social media driven, and the live streaming was definitely part of that as well,” Christopher said. “We tried to stay as connected as we could with our alumnae and with our team.”

Soccer certainly reaped the benefits of being outdoors; however, others had to take a different approach as they were faced with the various challenges of being indoors. “I was hoping and praying that i t could be, that they were going to be ok to get their season in.” Unlike soccer, volleyball was played inside and had other adver-sities to overcome. Maura Sweeney ’21, a senior on the volleyball team, shared her experiences after the conclusion of her season. “We had to wear a mask [almost] the whole time. You can pull

them down if you’re far away from anyone, and in games you’re allowed to take them off on the court,” Sweeney

said. “It was weird, but you’ve seen the same thing in school. It’s become a second nature kind of thing.” COVID-19 precautions not only affected conduct out-side of play but also impacted players’ actions on the floor. As simple a gesture as an encouraging high five after a play was prohibited due to these regulations. “After points, we weren’t supposed to huddle.

You weren’t supposed to high five,” Sweeney said. Vi l la vol leybal l a lways pr ior i t ized con-

nections with their fans, yet due to the growing pandemic, spectators were unable to attend the games. “Our parents have always come to the games,” Sweeney said. “I remember from when I was a freshman [how] the parents were always very involved and we always had our outstanding cheering section. Not having that was a big difference too.” Sweeney also touched upon the importance of their re-lationship as a team as a positive aspect of their season. “I would say in the beginning the open gyms were re-ally fun,” Sweeney said. “[Doing activities] later in the year is another positive, and that is nice because being a fall sport, you don’t really connect with your team as much later in the year… It definitely helped with creativity.” Overall, Villa overcame the hardships COVID-19 placed on the various fall sports. Despite being told initially that there could be no fall sports, Mrs. Luty, Ms. Taylor, and the entire administration never failed to lose hope and were adamant in achieving a fall season for their student athletes. Sports were an outlet of hope amidst trying circumstances, and through determination and persistence, Villa as a program was able to conduct a safe and successful fall sports season.

VILLA NEWS8

Big virus takes down small businesses across the United StatesCOVID-19 has given small businesses a high fever as they strug-gle to stay alive in the crippling economy.

Jacqueline Carden ’21Section Leader

Many workers and owners of small businesses are not only six feet apart but also six feet underground with no shovel in sight to dig them out of financial ruin. COVID-19 has taken so much from our community: loved ones, schools, sports and now small businesses. A walk down main street has become a walk through a ghost town as small businesses everywhere close their doors permanently. Many small business owners have been forced to shut down due to being unable to accommodate COVID-19 guide-lines or they simply can no longer finance their businesses. According to Mckinsey & Company, “[The] analysis of sev-eral surveys of small businesses suggests that before accounting for intervention, 1.4 million to 2.1 million of them (25 to 36 percent) could close permanently as a result of the disruption from just the first four months of the COVID-19 pandemic.” Daniel Carden, owner of C&V Landscaping Inc., con-siders the impact COVID-19 has had on small businesses. “Through this pandemic, I think many businesses have seen the importance of effective decision making. As we continue

to tread into uncharted territory, it is vital that I and my associate are confident in our decisions. The current economy leaves no room for indecisiveness,” Carden said. Some small businesses have accepted small business loans from the Federal Government, which were passed in the CARES Act as a last ditch attempt to survive. The money received is to go toward payroll and any overhead debt. The CARES Act is supposed to stop the unemployment rates from increasing by giving small businesses the ability to pay their employees. While the small business loans have helped curve the economic destruction of COVID-19, not all small businesses were able to receive loans. Those that did will be forced to pay their loans back if any funds were not used for the specified areas. How can we stop this unfortunate chain of events? How can we stop corporate America from taking over? A loaded question with a simple answer: Shop small. The Christmas season is crucial to the survival of many small businesses. It is a last-ditch attempt to enter the black stage of revenue, meaning to generate a profit. In a recent article in "The Week" magazine Grace Olmsted stated, “2020 is the Year to Shop Small. Perhaps this year, we could trade in our usual consumptive habits for more mean-

ingful shopping traditions, and thus add some value to one of the more dubious habits of the American holiday season.” During this unusual time, it is so easy to take a backseat ap-proach to life. As a society we feel helpless; life is happening to us and there is nothing we can do about it. COVID-19 controls how we live our lives. This is true to some extent, but what we do with our lives is still up to us. So this Christmas season shop small; give back to the community. Take control back from COVID-19, and together we can all save small businesses. As all fellow Hurricanes know, everyone is better together.

Villa’s fall sports overcome COVID-19Diving into the raw perspectives and recapping the season of play-ers and coaches of Villa fall sports with COVID-19 restrictions.

"This year we did what we

called the lemonade games. And so if life gives you lemons, you make lemon-

ade."

DECEMBER 2020 THE VILLA VOICE

The seniors kept a positive attitude during their soccer season. // Ms. Marguerite Esmonde

Senior Maura Sweeney prepares for a serve from the opposition. // Mrs. Laurie Scaggs

Shop local artwork by Lia Ritchie '21