Dear Friends ,
From the President ’ s Desk
This has been a highly unusual school year with sizeable educational feats . We modified classrooms , reinvented teaching methods , and used our 22-acre campus in creative new ways in response to COVID-19 guidelines . We made plans and then revised those plans ; worked with extremely fluid enrollment numbers that ended with a sizeable student increase in grades K-8 ; navigated government funding programs and health department protocols ; rearranged student and teacher daily schedules ; and safeguarded the health and well-being of our teachers , staff , and students — all while delivering a full school year of in-person , in-classroom , academic instruction .
Even without the challenges of COVID-19 , it was an extraordinary year : In addition to focusing on education , St . Ursula Villa assessed and implemented a new administrative structure to strategically position the school for continued success and future growth . Those key positions are staffed , and the new Academic Leadership Team is in place and ready to launch the 2021-22 school year .
Another milestone was the Ursulines of Cincinnati transitioning sponsorship and formalizing the process for the Sisters and their Order to step into a new chapter . The deliberate , prayerful , and complex work done by the St . Ursula Villa Board of Trustees and Sr . Margie Efkeman culminated in a special gathering on June 8 . I was honored to witness the proceedings and add my blessings to the evening ’ s touching ceremony .
I salute the Class of 2021 and their many accomplishments , including $ 932,500 in merit scholarship offers to 69 % of the class , and 100 % placement into their first-choice high school . These graduates experienced very different Junior High years and missed many traditional Villa highlights such as the Musical and Class Trip , but their focus on classwork and academics resulted in impressive individual and collective achievements . We bid farewell to those graduates as well as cherished retiring Villa faculty . We also say “ thank you ” for the extraordinary effort by so many to conclude this remarkable 2020-21 school year on such a positive note .
St . Ursula Villa is a success story . We are so grateful for the generous , caring Villa community of parents , students , teachers , donors , and large circle of friends who helped make this year truly remarkable in the best sense . When COVID-19 is a distant memory , this “ Villa Voice – The Pandemic Edition ” will serve to remind us of how the Villa Values of Education , Faith , and Community are stronger than ever .
Sincerely ,
2020-21 Administration
Kent Halaby , Interim Principal Lisa Wolfer , Interim Assistant Principal ,
Director of Early Childhood
Board of Trustees
Jody Sedler , Chair Suzy Dorward Marianne Scott Emmert Dan Ferris Paul Frodge Matt Iacobucci Karen Jahnke Craig Maliborski John Meisenhelder Jessica Metzger Bill Mulvihill Jim Neyer Steve Perez , M . D . Tracy Sagester Peter Stautberg Judy Wimberg
Contributors
Cari Brehse Dr . Pamela Dillion Sr . Margie Efkeman Marianne Scott Emmert Kent Halaby Susan Hall Brenda McCann Angie Meisman Laura Riehle Marta Runnels Julie Scherer Jody Sedler Kristy Thomas Lisa Wolfer
Alumni
Kindly direct all updates , address changes , or other correspondence to m . runnels @ stursulavilla . org or at www . stursulavilla . org / alumni
On the Cover
St . Ursula Villa provided in-person learning throughout the 2020-21 school year . Our students adapted beautifully to the new challenges brought by the pandemic . www . stursulavilla . org
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Kent Halaby President
MISSION STATEMENT St . Ursula Villa , a coeducational Catholic elementary school in the Ursuline tradition , nurtures the whole child , fosters academic excellence , and instills a Christ-centered commitment to society .
In this Issue :
01 From the President ’ s Desk 02 Leadership Team 04 Graduation 08 Highlights & Happenings 15 Annual Report 22 Faculty Notes 24 Alumni News