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FamilyOne day at a timeVilla Maria Academy was featured in the Spring 2021 edition of theNational Catholic Educational Association journal, “Momentum,” for thecreative ways we kept our community together during the height of thepandemic. We posted prayers and campus photos on Earth Day, sharedinstructions for making homemade palms for Palm Sunday, and circulatedprayers with a photo of the crowned Blessed Mother statue for theMay Crowing. From home, students prepared encouraging messages toaccompany sweet treats for doctors, nurses, and first responders. Alumniworking on the frontlines in healthcare were lifted up in a social mediaprayer chain to protect them in their life-saving work.The show must go onEven without a physical audience, annual showcases for Valentine’s Dayand Easter went ahead in virtual formats. Kindergarten students became Instagram starsperforming “I Bought a Box of Chocolates” that wound up empty before they ever got toMom for Valentine’s Day. “Eastertime!” performed by a very enthusiastic first-grade classwas Zoomed live into the living rooms of family and friends. Eighth-grade buddies wereserenaded through the windows of Hall Marguerite.Always on our mindsFirst-graders spread the love a little further afield this Valentine’s Day makingValentines for nurses, doctors, and hospital staff who have been fighting COVID on thefront lines for almost a year now. Sean M.’s mom, Dr. Mahoney, sewed fabric heartsthat the children filled with candy. Dr. Mahoney distributed them to grateful colleaguesat St. Barnabas Hospital.Keep smilingSr. Teresa refuses to allow the pandemic to diminishthe cheerful atmosphere that makes learning fun.She’s been designating special days to celebratesome of our favorite things: sometimes silly, oftencolorful, always a reminder to celebrate every daywe spend together.On World Wildlife Day of the Panda, Villa studentsdressed in black and white and made their ownpanda ears and face masks for a little bit of Bronxwildlife. We recognized the amazing women whocame before us, the brave women who lead us, andthe next generation of leaders in the halls of theVilla on International Women’s Day. Wacky hair, sillycostumes, and a visit from the Cat in the Hat himselfmarked Dr. Seuss’ birthday. On World ComplimentDay, we took time to let our school friends knowhow awesome they truly are. Mini pies of alldenominations were shared on 3.14, Pi Day. Red paper lantern-making crafts, mostlyunsuccessful chop stick lessons, and a chilly fresh air Chinese ribbon dance welcomed inthe Year of the Ox! Good health and good fortune to you! aThe Villa Magazine b Spring 2021 b5

FaithA community of faith: Meiji GakuenWe are part of a universal Church and an international CND family. Villa 5th-graders are learning this lesson in real time with new penpals from Meiji Gakuen, the CND school in Tokyo, Japan. Students from both schools exchanged handwritten Easter cards and drawings,sharing recommendations for Anime films, pop culture and fun facts about themselves. Villa students sent postcards of famous New YorkCity landmarks, signing them in Japanese characters. Students in both countries arelooking forward to getting to know each another better.“It is a grace and blessing to praytogether, even over Zoom.”Every year on Holy Thursday, Villa 7th-grade students, themselves preparing for thesacrament of Confirmation, lead a Stations of the Cross prayer service including atableau, reflections and intentions. In order to commemorate this important momentin a safe and socially distanced manner, Mrs. Mastropietro, Campus Minister,creatively reinvented the Stations of the Cross tradition for Zoom. Each classroomread a station and reflection, leading prayers before a communal response. Seventyparticipants, including present and remote students, teachers and staff, joined.With a Father’s HeartPope Francis proclaimed the “Year of Saint Joseph” fromDecember 8th, 2020 – December 8th, 2021. On St. Joseph’sfeast day everyone wore red and the halls of the buildingswere decorated with pictures, prayers, and specialtraditions. Classes zoomed into St. Patrick’s Cathedral tojoin the consecration. In honoring St. Joseph, the schoolcommunity said a special daily prayer for all fathers,families, and workers:“St. Joseph, watch over me andcare for me just as you cared forthe child Jesus; and by your help,may I come to know your Son, andso grow in strength and wisdom andthe favor of God.” AmenJust breatheThe Monti Ministry Fundsupported a journalingprogram to provide a centeringactivity that supports themental and emotional healthof every member of theschool community during thischallenging and unprecedentedtime. Students and teachersreceived journals and lists ofprompts to inspire self-reflectionand centering thought. a6 b VMA Magazine b 14th Edition

FutureAlways question.Always wonder.A challenge of this unusual school year has been providing an enriching,collaborative educational experience while social distancing, not an easytask when students are limited to their classrooms or the outdoors. Butwinter is science season at the Villa, so when the Bronx Regional ScienceFair was scrapped due to COVID, Villa teachers made a hyper-local sciencefair just for our school, broken down into grade-wide mini competitions. Students turnedteachers presenting their though-provoking scientific inquiry to classmates. There were threewinners in each class.T-O-G-E-T-H-E-RThis year gave us quite a good reason to celebrate the magic of Catholic schools. The Villaopened on time and despite class quarantines stayed open all year. Students got back on trackwith studies and reconnected with friends. Parents got back to work knowing their children werein a safe and clean space. Things were different but we were together and that’s what counts!So, despite pandemic restrictions and snowstorms that prevented field trips and assemblies, wecelebrated Catholic Schools Week and Spririt Day with a deeper appreciation for our school. .“This is the reason why we love Villa.”“Esperanza Rising,” written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, is about a young girl who faces challenges butpersists in forging a hopeful future. Esperanza is initially embarrassed by a humble doll created byher mother but later comes to appreciate it as a harbinger of hope. After reading the book, 5th-gradestudents learned to make the same folksy dolls in an in-class project, Several were inspired to createyarn dolls for sale and donate proceeds to children’s charities. Ali E. sold the dolls she made tofriends and family, raising 250 for the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club near Arthur Avenue.In time of test, family is best.Just like so many other events this year, the annual open house had to be reinvented. It was transformed into an online encyclopediaof videos, slideshows and FAQs. The new “Virtual Open House” can be found on the Villa home page, vma-ny.org. Log on to seeprekindergarten students excitedly rushing into school to start a new week or hear newly enrolled 6th-graders gushing about the warm Villawelcome or learn about the best things the Villa has to offer according to a kindergartener (“eat time, snack time, and lunch time.”) Sharethe site generously and help us expand the Villa family!Earth Day IRLThe Villa garden is back in business. Two sisters living in theconvent took over during the pandemic spring but now a newcrop of 5th-graders have adopted it. The strawberry patchhas been filled out with herbs, onions and chives to keepthe insects and the geese at bay. Early season vegetablesand several types of lettuce will be ready for harvest beforesummer vacation. The resurrection of the Villa garden supportsother green initiatives at the Villa including solar panelsthat are being installed on Hall Marguerite in an elaboratepartnership with New York State. The panels will make theVilla building an important community meeting spot for reenergizing during a weather-related crisis. aThe Villa Magazine b Spring 2021 b7

ALUMNI NEWSVICTORIA GREGORIO, BA, MS, PhD ’00“When I think about mychildhood, it brings asmile to my face.”Victoria entered the Villa in 1st-grade. Her parents loved the academic foundation. Sheloved the sisters and everything else! The Villa was the whole package — a beautifulcampus, outstanding academics and friends for life! She was heartbroken to leave whenshe moved after 3rd grade and her new school never felt the same. After two years,her parents figured out a creative way to bring her back. Since her mother worked at CalvaryHospital, a side trip to Country Club Road did the trick and and Victoria was home again.“Teachers that showed compassion and love made the Villaso unique and wonderful.” Mrs. Kilgen’s lessons aboutsharing and compassion made sacramental preparationVictoria with her 2nd-grade teacher,for First Holy Communion meaningful. Mrs. Bowser madeMrs. Kilgen.learning fun and created lifelong learners in the process. Mr.Frey and Mr. Cottingham staged musical productions givingstudents the opportunity to expand their horizons and try out new talents. Though it wasnot an easy thing for a fourteen-year-old girl to step onstage dressed as Peter Pan, theirencouragement gave Victoria the courage and confidence to shine.In so many ways, Villa supported Victoria’s ambition and affirmed her sense of agency.She always knew she wanted to be a leader and have a voice but the Villa taught herthe importance of doing the right things for the right reasons. The positive, cheerfulatmosphere taught her that doing work and making a contribution could also be fun.Arriving at New Rochelle High School, Victoria realized she was way ahead of otherstudents especially in writing. Though challenging and scrupulous, Sr. Anne’s Englishclasses continued to serve her well into her further education, even coming in handyfor her 400-page doctoral dissertation. Now with a doctorate inPlanning and Public Policy, Victoria leads the Center for Innovationand Change of Children’s Specialized Hospital, the largest children’shospital in the nation. With her team, she is creating new ways forhealth care to address the special needs population into the future.Working with robotics, artificial intelligence, population health,and social determination health, she is creating new initiatives tosupport the social, emotional and mental needs of patients andtheir families. This work is especially relevant as the pandemic hasexacerbated stressors on families dealing with disabilities who arenow facing issues of unemployment and poverty.Above, Victoriawith Sr. SusanO’Halloran,then AssistantPrincipal.Dr. Victoria Gregorio making positive change forspecial needs families.8 b VMA Magazine b 14th EditionAt the end of the day, it’s all about wanting to do service and helpimprove the quality of life for people. Those are the lessons learnedand the foundation built at the Villa where living an ethical life wasthe ultimate goal. Even for students in the youngest grades, the Villainstilled values in a warm, nurturing environment. “I had other friendswho went to Catholic schools and were taught to fear nuns and God,but we had a warm relationship with God and with each other. Therewas no fear just a lot of love.” a

ALUMNI NEWSSTEPHEN SANCHEZ, BSN, RN, CCRN, SRNZ ’06“We’re not here to skate by”Growing up in Morris Park, it would have been easier for Stephen to attend St. Francis Xavier or St.Clare. His parents chose the Villa because it was recognized far and wide as the best school in thearea with the added benefit of a beautiful campus. “I attribute a big part of my success in life tothe Villa,” Stephen, a self-motivated, ambitious young man comments. “We were aware that ourparents were paying tuition and were invested in our futures. We werenot there to skate by but motivated to be the best we could be. We knewwe were building a foundation and laying the groundwork for the future.”Teachers were partners in the effort. Math was often challenging and there were times in class whenStephen just didn’t get it. As an adolescent he was unwilling to slow down the class with a questionwhile simultaneously drawing attention to himself. His junior high math teacher, Mrs. Burkhart,constantly reassured the students that she was always available so he would wait until after classto approach her with questions. She never made him feel rushed and spent all the time he neededto ensure he mastered the material then gave him plenty of challenging homework to reinforce theconcepts. By the time he arrived at Cardinal Spellman High School, he was so academically advancedthat freshman year felt like review.The Villa was about more than academic achievement though. Alongside hard work and highexpectations, the loving environment taught empathy and compassion. Caring for each other was a wayof life. Students were taught that their unique gifts equipped them to make positive contributions totheir communities. Growing up in this value-rich, nurturing environment influenced his career choice.Early on in high school, his grandmother became ill and homebound, and began receiving regular carefrom visiting nurses. Here was a way to employ his many gifts developed through years at the Villa in a vocation of care and service.From that moment, he was a man on a mission.Stephen attained a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Lehman College. He achieved his registered nurse licensure shortly thereafter.While working at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital and later Columbia Presbyterian, he achieved certification to work in critical care (CCRN).He is currently enrolled in a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at Fairfield University with the goal of becoming a CertifiedRegistered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), a professional who works collaboratively with healthcare teams to administer anesthesia. Theseprograms are rare and selective. He was one of only 13 applicants selected from a field of nearly 300 at Fairfield.The DNP program requires fulltime attendance, so it precludes students who are neither willing nor able to forgo workingsimultaneously and those who do not wish to accumulate a burdensome debt. As a product of the CUNY system, Stephen sees theneed for a more inclusive, affordable educational option in this field. “I love helping and I love teaching.” After several years of clinicalpractice, Stephen forsees organizing a DNP program within the CUNY system to create opportunities and ensure greater representationof students from different backgrounds. aTHEN &NOW.k Ring day ceremony circa 1967when soon-to-be Villa graduatesreceived their school rings.Soon-to-be Villa graduates jattend mass in advance of theTACHS exam circa 2020.The Villa Magazine b Spring 2021 b9

ALUMNI NEWSSR. CLARE BERTERO, OSF, BA, MS, MS ’62“A palpable sense offearlessness for youngwomen”Sr. Clare’s Villa ties are deep and long. Her mother, Margaret Primont, graduated from the Villa in 1930.Margaret entered the school when both her family residence and the Villa were located on the UpperEast Side of Manhattan and transitioned to the current campus when both her family and her schoolmoved to Country Club Road. The Villa was a family affair.Among the many other gifts of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, Sr. Clare remembers anopenness to God’s call and an awareness to the needs of the church. So it was not surprising that ina moment of clarity and inspiration during her sophomore year retreat at the Villa that she received avocation to religious life.There was a palpable sense of “fearlessness for young women”Sr. Clare in photos from the Villaat the Villa that made it a unique place. Faculty confidentlyyearbook.communicated a message that the world and the future were wideopen. “If you live a good Christian, Catholic life you will make a difference.” Particularly ata time of cultural turmoil and change. students advanced into an uncertain future armedwith a sense of confidence and competency. Looking back, this fearlessness fittinglyreflected the life and service of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys who traveled to into an unknownworld and addressed needs as they arose, equipped with faith and love.The Villa had far fewer students than other schools and an intimate family atmospherethat allowed faculty to really know and nurture the students academically, socially, andspiritually The faculty were excellent teachers who prepared students for the future. Mrs.Clark had a way of making social studies relevant. Mt. St. Hippolyte came all the way fromParis teaching seriously authentic French. Mt. St. Eunice taught rigorous English classesfocused on exemplary grammar making lifelong writers of her students. The librarian, Mt.St. Ann, had a special visit in 1961 from a former student who had become a celebratedfilm star, Rosalind Russell. This made for an exciting assembly as all the girls had theopportunity to meet and pose questions, learning, among other things, that Auntie MameSr. Clare at a celebration of her retirementwas her favorite film. Despite Mt. St. Ann’s Hollywood connections, Villa principal, Mt.as Director of Religious Education for theSt. Dorothy Ann, was the true local celebrity. She had such a happy demeanor and clearlyArchdiocese of Boston.loved the girls and concerned herself with their progress. She was a person deeply contentin her religious life as expressed by her warm and loving nature.Sr. Clare treasures the CND influence in her life but she grew up in Holy Cross parish in the Bronx led by the Allegheny Franciscansand her aunt, another Villa alumna, had joined that order. After graduating, Sr. Clare spent a year teaching in public school and thenentered the order as well. After a post-graduate degree in education at St. Bonaventure College in the Buffalo area, she directedreligious education at Holy Cross in the Bronx while earning a master’s degree in religious education from Fordham University.Several years later, Sr. Clare inquired about a position in a local parish in Massachusetts but she was invited to direct religiouseducation throughout the Archdiocese of Boston instead. Thirty-two years later she retired from that position. Retirement couldn’tkeep her idle though as, these past 9 years, she has taken up communications, development and vocation work for the AssumptionistFathers in Brighton, Massachusetts.Sr. Clare is grateful for a “very full, very rich life.” The Villa girls from 1961 remain a part of it. “It wasn’t just academics. We receiveda very well-rounded foundation. We made friends and stayed friends. We grew up together.” The Villa was grounded in faith andnourished that faith in its students. That faith-filled atmosphere supported friendships that continue to thrive decades after graduation.Classmates from the Villa Class of 1962 still meet online every few weeks, chatting for hours and never running out of things to say. a10 b VMA Magazine b 14th Edition

Follow us as we count down the daysuntil graduation on social tter.com/villamaria3335the villamariaacademyCALLING ALL ALUMNI!Visit the Alumni section ofwww.vma-ny.org and click“Keep in Touch” to updateyour contact information.Ways to GiveGIFTS OF CASH Mail your check, payable to theVilla Maria Academy, in the enclosed envelope toVilla Maria Academy at 3335 Country Club Road,Bronx, NY 10465.CREDIT CARDS To make a secure credit card giftonline, visit www.vma-ny.org, click on Support/Give Now or make your contribution over the telephoneby calling Caroline Hennessy at (718) 824-3260.MATCHING GIFTS Contact your humanresources department to obtain matching gift formsthen send them to the Villa Maria Academy at theabove address.PLANNED GIV

Maria Academy Class of 2031. With the blessing of God and the accompaniment of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys, we will look to the future. We are an Easter people. We live in hope. Hallelujah! Love, Sr. Teresa Barton, CND Principal VILLA MARIA ACADEMY Board of Trustees, 2020-2021 Sr. Sally Norcross, CND, Chairperson Sr. Marion Andreykovic, CND