NOVEMBER 2020 l VOLUME 4 l ISSUE 01 l MALVERN, PA 19335

VILLA ALUMNAE Hear from some familiar faces

about college during COVID.>>>page 4

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT Learn about Norah Bice '21's

Instagram baking business.>>>page 3

COLLEGE PROCESSSeniors adapt to canceled

tours and tests.>>>page 3

FALL SPORTSCatch up with athletes and hear

their take on the season.>>>page 4

New Student Council executives shed light on the school year and COVID-19 adjustmentsMary Catherine Doughty ’23Section Leader

Villa Maria Student Council has been facing the school year with new ideas while constantly adapting to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions. The new execu-tive council consists of President Maggie Devine ’21, Vice President Carina Chieffalo ’21, Secretary Martine Sirianni ’21, Event Coordinator Dylan Miller ’21, and Director of Communications Maddy George ’21. “I think my team and I are really excited to be unique this year, be diverse, be different from all the years past, to really make an impact,” Chieffalo said. Despite the restrictions due to COVID-19, the Student Council is excited to work together and persevere with their plans in a way that is both safe and fun. They plan on keeping as many of the new traditions as possible while at the same time implementing fun new ideas.

“Traditions are really big here at Villa, and I think this year we have the oppor-tunity to add on to those traditions and to continue them but change them up and add some new things,” Devine said. This year, the Student Council is start-ing a new initiative called Ms. Unstoppable. This title will go to a different person each month who has really exempli�ed the spirit of what it means to be a “virtually unstop-pable” Villa girl. Chieffalo said, “We choose a student each month that has shown or expressed some sort of interest or kindness, and we are really trying to highlight them.” Student Council hopes that Ms. Unstop-pable will motivate students and inspire compassionate leadership in this unprece-dented school year. “Despite all of the challenges that we have with COVID, schedule changes, [etc.], we’re trying to stay unstoppable and the way we're keeping people motivated is through the Ms. Unstoppable theme,” Sirianni said. The Student Council has a lot to do in terms of keeping up with the continually changing COVID restrictions and guide-lines. Many of the Student Council’s tradi-tional events have had to be adjusted due to safety concerns, and some have even been canceled altogether. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

New stuco execs on track for “Virtually Unstoppable” school year

Executive of�cers for Student Council pose on the convent lawn for their �rst of�cial school picture together. //Ms. Marguerite Esmonde

Mr. Darren Polsz

Coinciding with Student Council's theme this year of "Virtually Unstoppable," Katrina Heppelmann was honored with this title for October. Katrina designed the UNITE hat to support social justice causes and was nominated by the student body. //Mrs. Kara Bielli

Student leaders for DEI gather for a picture after the Installation ceremo-ny.//Ms. Marguerite Esmonde

"Maskne" Got You Down? Advice on Page 2

DEI discusses social justice issues through the lens of Villa Maria Academy. Madeline Ladd ’21 Editor-in-Chief

Social justice has become a hot-button topic around the globe after this past summer and Villa is working on �nding ways to promote ideals of inclusivity and equality both on and off campus. The Black Lives Matter movement, police brutality, protests, and other is-sues of racial injustice have taken the media by storm during the pandemic. Though each event differs in details, there is always one common denomi-nator: These issues involve us even as high school students. This idea is reaf�rmed by the rumblings seen on social media this summer. DEI Executive De’Nai Holloway ’22 felt these posts were very eye-opening. Principal Sister Regina Ryan requested a

meeting with DEI as well as several alumnae in wake of these posts. The meeting proved to be very effective and highlighted Villa’s desire to progress forward and foster attitudes of inclu-sivity. DEI Vice-President Taylor Scott ’22 was also in attendance at the meeting. “We’ve come a long way, but there’s still so much to be done,”

Scott said. “I think having a meeting and bringing the alumnae back really shows that, unfortunately, there are still issues of racial injustice, but also that we're willing to progress and the ad-ministration is willing to listen to us and understand what we are saying.” One product of the meeting was the creation of year-long, social-justice in-services for faculty and staff. Specif-ically focused on racial injustice, these in-services incorporate group discus-sions and presentations from speakers. Director of Service and Social Justice Kara Bielli said, "The academic

departments are reviewing the curriculum, keep-ing in mind racial justice issues and anything that comes under the lens of social justice. We want to be more inclusive at Villa.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Di�cult topics with the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Committee

Lia Ritchie '21

2 OPINIONNovember 2020 The Villa Voice

Seniors share college process

Preventing the inevitable: “maskne”Get the inside scoop on ways to combat the pesky maskne!Patty Ra�ovich, '21Section Leader

In this particular day and age, it is not just the teenagers suffering from the sore and itchy break-outs; this new phenomenon known as maskne (mask + acne) has affected people of all ages that have to wear a mask for an extended period of time. Dr. Mona Gohara, a professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine, has con�rmed that maskne is in fact a new skin condition that is adversely affecting people across the globe. The wearing of masks can both worsen previous skin conditions or cause new ones to exist.

Seniors share the added challenges they face in the college admission process due to COVID-19 circumstances. Anna Heppelmann ’21Editor-in-Chief

Without being able to visit some of their colleges in person, seniors have had to adjust to a new college process, . Fiona Diskin ’21 and Stefanie Janowicz ’21 share their experi-ences. Diskin would like to major in marine biology, but with virtual tours she has not been able to focus on what she is speci�cally interested in. Although the tours have been helpful, colleges are only showing what they deem to be the best parts of themselves through virtual tours, and students are not able to witness every type of class or student that the school offers. “Although [colleges] all use the same platform [for virtual tours], everyone does it a bit differently. For some of them, there was nobody speaking to you; you just clicked through pictures and read information,” Diskin said. “Other ones had a voice recording through it all, [and] other ones had videos.” Diskin was luckily able to visit schools in California last

year but will not be able to see schools in the South for a long time. “I had a trip to the Carolinas planned; I had a trip to Florida planned, and I can’t go to Florida because I would have to quarantine for two weeks when I come back,” she said. Janowicz said, “I think I will wait and see where I get in and then try to go visit those schools instead of visiting before I apply.” Most colleges are doing test optional, but Janowicz still had to send an SAT score for the University of Pittsburgh’s Nursing Program. Both Diskin and Janowicz noted it was strange to still be taking standardized tests while also working on applications. Due to SAT and ACT test centers closing, Diskin had booked test centers in Philadelphia and Cherry Hill before knowing about Villa’s on-campus testing opportunities. Janowicz said, “My August SAT got canceled two or three days before.” Diskin also received a last minute cancellation in August. “I didn’t even know it was closed; I didn’t get an email,” Diskin said. Standardized testing has not been the only aspect affected

in the college admissions process, as Diskin was un-able to participate in activities that could be included on her resume. Diskin said, “One major thing that I was hoping would help me stand out was the Belize service trip because the topics of that service trip are what I want to study in college.” Diskin and Janowicz also were not able to contin-ue a planned project this summer, which they initiated outside of school, one they believed would help them stand out in the application process. Last summer,

they created a dance program at St. Agnes, where they taught younger children dancing and singing skills. Janowicz said, “We were planning on trying to do at least two weeks of [the program] over the summer, which didn’t end up happening.” They hoped to continue this program, as it bene�ts children who may not have the resources or opportunities to take danc-ing or singing lessons. Diskin said they hoped to “pass the torch to someone who is younger and who wants to get involved with it as well, but it was hard to �gure out what they were allowed to do.” Diskin and Janowicz feel grateful for how Villa has helped them through this process and remain optimistic in the applica-tion process, despite the many changes this year.

“One night, my friends and I decided to Zoom and give a bunch of random celebrities our codes. Hours went by and no one joined. Around 10:00, Matt James (the best friend of Tyler Cameron from

'The Bachelorette') joined our zoom with Tyler! No one saw it coming, and it was so funny.”

“My sister and I helped my brother, who had bought hun-dreds of dollars worth of equipment, melt down aluminum

and make molds for the �rst part of summer and make dozens of bars of soap for the second half.”

“My cousins would always be singing in the back-ground of my Zooms. I

kept forgetting to put my-self on mute! My teacher

realized that it was happen-ing almost every day and knew it was me when she

heard the singing.”

Interesting Quarantine Stories Over the course of a six-month period spent only with immediate family, some interesting things are bound to happen. Some spent their days picking new hobbies, others watched their favorite movies over and over, but a few had peculiar experiences that are unlike any other.

5 SIMPLE WAYS TO PREVENT MASKNE:Find the Right Mask: Finding the right mask for you is an essential aspect to preventing maskne breakouts. A mask that proper-ly �ts your face should feel snug and comfortable around your nose, the sides of your face, and your chin. If a mask feels too tight or slides around on your face, then that can lead to irritated skin.

Cleanse & Moisturize Your Face: After wearing a mask for an extended period of time, you should wash your face. Washing your face helps to remove the excess amount of oils, sweat, and bacteria that build up on your face underneath the mask. Moisturizing after washing your face is also an important component of preventing maskne. The American Academy of Dermatology Association suggests using a moisturizer that includes one of these key ingredients: ceramides, dimethicone, or hyaluronic acid. There are then different styles of moistur-izers that you should use based on skin type. People with oily skin should use a gel moisturizer, people with normal or a combination should use lotion, and people with dry skin should use cream.

Skip the Makeup: If wearing makeup underneath a mask, the makeup is more likely to clog your pores, which leads to breakouts. Try not to wear makeup in the mask area unless it is necessary. A bene�t to the mask is that it will cover up what you may use your concealer or foundation to hide. If it is necessary to wear makeup, try to use a product that is labeled as “non-comedogenic” or “oil free.”

Wash Your Mask: After wearing a reusable mask, you should wash it immediately. Do not wear the same reusable mask for consecutive days without washing it because then you are more prone to maskne. The oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria on your mask will increase overtime if it is not washed properly.

Consider the Material: Masks that are made out of synthetic fabrics — nylon, polyester, and rayon are more likely to cause irrita-tion and breakouts.

HOME REMEDIES TO PREVENT MASKNE:

DIY Lemon Face MaskIngredients:1 lemon (juice)¼ cup of olive oil (Substitutes: sweet almond oil)OR ½ lemon (juice)1 tbs. honeyInstructions:Mix ingredients together. Apply to face, speci�cally affected areas. Wait 15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Be sure to test on a small area of your face to ensure that it does not irritate your skin.

DIY Mustard Face MaskIngredients:Yellow Mustard (enough to cover face) Mustard seeds contain a bacteria-�ghting sulfur, which is good for acne, in�ammation, and skin sensitivity.Instructions:Apply a layer of yellow mustard to face, speci�cal-ly affected areas. Allow to sit on your face for 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Be sure to test on a small area of your face to ensure that it does not irritate your skin.

"I had my permit over quarantine and my mom, sister and I would spend three plus hours just in the car driving around — anywhere

from our neighborhood to Philly!"

Lia Ritchie '21

Lia Ritchie '21

“My sister and I helped my brother, who had purchased hundreds of dollars worth of equipment, melt down aluminum and make soap

molds. We made dozens of bars of soap!"

Mission Statement: The Villa Voice is a student-run publication created to inform the Villa Maria community with truthful and relevant 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 encouraged, spe-ci�cally letters to the editor and feedback. Submissions must include name and email veri�cation, 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 '23Copy Editor: Devyn Stek '23

November Contributors:Jacqueline Carden ’21Mary Catherine Doughty ’23Maddy George ’21Casey Lange ’21Patty Raftovich, ’21Lia Ritchie '21

Adviser: Mrs. Laurie Scaggs '91Copy Adviser: Mrs. Jessica Mullen

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

New year, new schedule, new bell Behind the camera: remote learning at Villa

Villa takes on quarantining students and having to implement remote learning.

VILLA NEWS November 2020 The Villa Voice

3

Villa Maria Academy updates the bell and schedule for the new year to reduce excess contact between students.Brianna McDonald '23Assistant Editor

The 2020-2021 school year has been �lled with a multitude of changes due to COVID-19, but Villa Maria has been trying to remain open by accommodating health department guidelines in order to ensure the community’s safety while being back at school. There has been a lot of uncertainty in the process, but Villa has managed to adapt. “We didn’t know what the school year was going to bring in terms of how much we were able to be in-person versus online again like we were after March 13,” Ms. Linda Henderson, Director of Curriculum & Instruction said. One of the major changes made was the switch from the A-day/B-day schedule to a 4/4 schedule. After the closing of schools during March of this year, Villa Maria wanted to lessen the amount of contact a student would have with her teachers or peers this year. This newly formatted school day consists of mostly four classes that meet every day for an entire semester; then, the remaining four classes convene during the second semester. Henderson found this to be challenging since administration had to create entirely new schedules, but there are some advantages. “The advantage is that you’re not taking as many courses, so you should be able to concen-trate really solidly,” Ryan said. “You get to know the teacher better, and the teacher knows you faster and better.” Ryan, along with other teachers, found the 4/4 schedule helpful and an improvement from Villa’s past one. Now that classes meet every day, Sister Regina believes that the students will retain the material faster and be more prepared for quizzes and tests. Claire Keefe ’21 felt the new schedule was mostly better than the previous one. Keefe said, “I’m having the class every day so I’m more con-sistent with my work and my memory on what I’m learning.” Samantha Bruder ’23 thought the A-day/B-day schedule was better for her studies since

each night would have a balanced or different workload. “I like how you only have to worry about four classes at a time, but I dislike how it’s so repetitive every single day,” Bruner said. “You also don’t see a lot of your classmates; you see the same people every day.”

Another new change for this school year is the bell schedule. The switch to using the B-bell more than last year was to minimize the congested hallways and give students the opportunity to take a mask break between classes. “I certainly like not having the crowds in the hallways. That’s one of the reasons we did it,” Ryan said. “I think that’s a great advantage.”

Between the student body, there have been small debates on whether students use the extra B-bell 40 minutes of the day more ef�ciently than the R-bell. “I like the B-bell better because it gives me time to talk to friends before class,” Keefe said. “I think that time is spent better in between classes rather than at advisory. The B-bell gives you a break, but I wish we had more R-bells,” Bruder said. “If you need help from a teacher, you don’t really have that opportunity unless you stay before or after school.” Along with deciding to use the B-bell more often than the R-bell, the students of Villa Maria voted for a new bell sound last year. After asking students which bell they enjoy more, the answer from the majority was the old bell. “I like the old bell better because I can’t really hear the chime bell, and I have to ask people if the bell rang in almost every class,” Bruder said. Villa has shown its resiliency and ability to overcome uncertain circumstances. The admin-istration looks forward to the feedback of the students and will take it into consideration when planning for the future.

Alexis Allen ’23Assistant Editor

Villa Maria has been working with the Chester County Department of Health to be one of the few schools in the area taking part in in-person learning. This entitles the department to choose to quarantine students when they see �t; for example, if they are exposed to the virus or if they test positive to COVID-19. Quarantined students have had to learn remotely from their homes. English teacher Mrs. Megan Filipowicz ’95 has had many of her students do remote learning and feels it is going very well over-all. Although there have been some dif�cul-ties, it has been very productive and ef�cient. “I am not a student, so I don’t know how it feels to be quarantined and to be stuck at home,” Filipowicz said. "However, from my end, I think once I got past technical dif�cul-ties, it was pretty easy for me.” Although remote learning has been an overall success so far, there will always be issues with not being present in-class when learning. Filipowicz felt it was hard as an English teacher to keep a discussion �owing over Zoom in the spring and is very grateful to be back in person. “It’s hard as an English teacher to really get people engaged since sometimes it really is an abstract concept,” Filipowicz said. “Being able to use hand gestures and move around the room makes it feel like much more of an engaging conversation than on Zoom when there’s only so much you can say and discuss.” During Virtual Villa, Filipowicz missed the classroom chatter the most. She explains how being around people can make a drastic difference in the learning environment. “When you're on Zoom, there is the set work that we're doing and then goodbye, so I did miss those side conversations you could have with different small groups when you talk about something that happened outside of school,” Filipowicz said. I feel like that creates the culture more rather than the re-mote learning; I do prefer the in-person over the remote.”

The preference for in-person learning is the same on the student end, especially for those who have experienced remote learning this school year. Senior Ella Morgan ’21 had to quarantine for a week because she was ex-posed to the virus. She found it hard to keep up and listen during remote learning since she was not physically in class. Morgan also missed the school environment. “When I was home, I felt like I was missing part of my senior year, just like I had been thrown back into last March, except this time it was just me missing out,” Morgan stated. “It was also the start of the year, so everyone was being introduced to the classes. I also missed my friends and just being in school in general.” Morgan is grateful to be back in school and feels that she performs the best in-person. “When you are at home, you are distract-ed and unmotivated because no one wants to be sitting looking at a screen while everyone else is in person participating,” Morgan said. “In-person I am focused and able to learn better when there are no distractions or tech-nical issues.” Although quarantined learning may not be people's �rst choice, the students and teachers understand why it needs to be done. Everyone is grateful for the sacri�ces Villa has made to allow students to come back safely in-person and experience the normal school environ-ment.

Norah Bice ’21 sells French macarons on Instagram to support social and equal justice organizations.Ella Nugent, ’23Assistant Editor

Due to the many social justice campaigns that arose over the summer, Bice was inspired to make a difference by selling one of her baking passions: French macarons. “I wanted to do something to donate more money than I could by myself, and I was already baking macarons because of quarantine, so I decided to post on Instagram to see if anyone wanted to buy any,” Bice said. “That’s where it started.” Bice sells the cookies and donates half of the pro�ts to a cause of the month that deals with equal or social justice. She offers delivery for those within 25 miles of her home, as well as pick up. Bice sells her delicious desserts on Instagram because of its ease and accessibility. “It’s something that everyone I know is already on, and it’s pretty easy to just make an Instagram account; it’s already something I know how to do.” Now, because of school and how time-consuming the macarons are (about 4 hours per batch), Bice has slowed down a bit. She hopes to eventually create a website to expand her audience. “I’m just trying to adjust to school but am planning to take more orders over breaks,” Bice said. In addition to bene�ting justice organizations, Bice feels having her own business has changed her for the better. “I’ve learned so much from it, taking advice from other people like my parents or others that I know who have businesses,” Bice said. “ “I started it as a way to raise more money for something that I had a passion about, which I wouldn’t have been able to do without selling these [macarons],” Bice said. “I think people like the idea of be-

ing able to support something that could possibly make a difference while also eating some cookies.” Since Bice started this business all on her own, she has realized that she needs to stay on top of orders to be successful. “At the beginning, I was delivering everywhere, and it ended up being a six-hour trip to deliver to all these places,” Bice said. “Being �exible to what comes at you is important.” According to Bice, a spreadsheet, time management, and a �exible mindset are key to any busi-ness. She has found it very rewarding knowing people are interested in her cause. “It’s been really cool to meet all of these new people and see that they are interested in what I am doing also,” Bice said. Bice enjoys making the cookies. This business is not only making a change and inspiring others but is a creative, fun activity for Bice.

Student supports social justice through baking business

Seniors socially distance while eating lunch in the cafeteria. //Ms. Marguerite Esmonde

Ella Morgan participates in class while on Zoom from home.//Ms. Marguerite Esmonde

Check out Bice's macarons on her Instagram@westchester.macarons and order a tasty treat.// Miss Norah Bice

VILLA NEWSNOVEMBER 20204

Jacqueline Carden ’21 Reporter

Most of Villa Maria’s student athletes have been unable to compete and play together as a team since March 12. The deci-sion to re-implement fall sports at Villa Maria was not an easy one with the continuous threat of COVID, but Athletic Director Ms. Stephanie Taylor felt the many positives of sports were too great to ignore. Sports are extremely bene�cial for a student's physical and mental health, as they offer a crucial outlet for the athletes' feelings. Field-hockey player Margie Carden ’21 attests to sports be-ing an integral part of her life. “Having a place to go after school to forget about the strug-gles of schoolwork and other stresses is crucial to having good mental health,” said Carden. “Field hockey has been that for me. Each day I get to spend my afternoons and early evenings with all my friends out on the �eld, and I wouldn't trade any-thing for those times together.” Sports prepare students for high pressure situations they will face later in life, and for some students, sports are crucial to their physiological development. Taylor and Athletic Trainer Mrs. Marci Luty understand sports are a vital component of life for some

students, so to the drawing board they went with the task of creat-ing a successful season. Taylor collaborated with Villa Maria and other schools in the Catholic Academy Conference until fall sports were made a reality. “After losing the spring season entirely, it was devastating for everyone who loves sports,” Taylor said. “We wanted to be really prepared for the fall season and prevent that from happening again.” Villa has taken the time to instill COVID-19 precautions to ensure the safety of all athletes and coaches. Taylor decided to implement optional practices as an outlet to get students back on the �eld during the summer months. “The increased number of athletes that attended summer training compared to other years was a true testimony that we were working to meet this need," Taylor said. Senior soccer player Maura Levine ’21 experienced optional practices herself. “A lot of people showed up during the summer,” Levine said. “We weren’t allowed to scrim-mage, and we had to socially distance at practice. It was a lot different than normal seasons obviously because of COVID, but we still felt like a team. ”Volleyball senior captains

Sarah Kearns ’21, Erin Keaveney ’21 and Alessia Giannandrea ’21 were creative with the setting of their practices so that everyone could be included. “Wearing masks makes it really hard to play because we’re inside,” said Keaveney. “Early on in the season, we used the out-door track so that we could have the whole team together to build friendships with the underclass-men.” Games and meets have been occurring throughout the weeks for each sport but with restric-tions. “You have to wear masks on the sidelines and so do the spec-tators,” Levine said. “When you’re playing, you don’t have to wear a mask, so the game itself isn’t really that different.” Kearns feels that COVID also restricts the team atmosphere for the athletes, and it is hard to do some of the pregame rituals. “We aren’t allowed to high-�ve each other on the court, so get-ting pumped up is different this year,” said Kearns. Though sports may not look the same as previous years, their presence at school is even more important than in the past. This effort to reinstall fall sports amidst COVID-19 reaf�rms the idea that Villa is truly better together.

Maddy George ’21 and Casey Lange ’21 Section Leader, Reporter

Villa graduates Alexa Turco ’19 and Jackie Ford ’20 de-scribe their college’s response to COVID-19. Turco is a current sophomore at The University of Tampa, where her classes are currently hybrid. Despite having some classes virtual and others in person, Turco looks to the positive side of hybrid learning. “I feel so lucky that we are able to have some classes in per-son, considering most colleges are fully virtual this semester,” Turco said. “This semester has de�nitely been an adjustment, but it's nice to have a bit of normalcy.” Turco, a nursing major, is currently living on campus in a residence hall for sophomores. “All students have to wear a mask everywhere, get their temperatures taken, wash their hands, and use hand sanitizer frequently,” Turco said. “We must wait in lines to prohibit large crowds in order to follow social distancing guidelines that were previously not required.” Turco is also on the swim team at The University of Tampa,

one of the lucky schools able to participate in their sports sea-sons this year; Turco stresses the importance of being part of a team during this global pandemic. However, despite the changes that COVID-19 has brought to The University of Tampa, Turco feels that Villa has prepared her well. “Even with the pandemic, I still feel so prepared from all of the life lessons on time management and socialization that Villa taught me," said Turco. Villa ’20 graduate Jackie Ford is a freshman at The Uni-versity of Loyola, Maryland. Unlike The University of Tampa, Loyola is currently online for the semester due to COVID-19. Ford is currently taking classes remotely and is not allowed to live on campus, which has proven to be challenging. “It's just such an odd and unpredictable time we are all living in,” Ford said. “A key part of freshman year is meeting new people and making friends, and that is what I am missing out on. I haven’t really been able to meet anyone yet, and I am very eager to eventually be on campus and connect with new people.”

Luckily, Ford is in the same boat as Villa alumna, Sarah Gosselin ’20, and the two have adapted together. "Since Loyola is online, we have moved to Philadelphia for the semester and are living in her parents’ home,” Ford said. “It has so far been such a great experience and is a start to living on my own.” These Villa Maria graduates chose to go to college on the same coast, yet ultimately have totally different experiences. The college experience continues to change by school. Only time will tell as to what college will look like for next year’s freshman.

Villa sports program, a survivor of the COVID-19 hurricaneSports are alive and running at Villa Maria Academy despite many schools canceling their own seasons.

How are colleges handling COVID-19? COVID-19 brought changes altering nearly every aspect of college life for both students and faculty.

DEI, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The faculty and staff have also created their own DEI Com-mittee, led by Bielli and Brittany Thompson, Dean of Students. The committee is composed of 15 staff members across all departments. "We call ourselves ‘Good Trouble’ from a quote by the late John Lewis,” said Bielli. “The DEI Committee communicates to me what they want to be discussed, and the professional develop-ment committee will do that for the teachers and staff.” It is also up to the student body to promote this attitude of inclusion. “Girls know what these types of social justice issues are even if they do have some privilege,” Scott said. “Try to do your best to make them feel welcomed.” It is of the utmost importance to choose your words wisely. Being educated on the topic at hand can go a long way. “It's important to communi-cate what you’re trying to say because sometimes it comes out wrong or is misinterpreted," Holloway said. "Sometimes it creates a big thing, and it doesn’t have to be.”

People must not take the easy way out and should make an active effort to have conversa-tions that may seem uncomfort-able. “Just posting a black square is not going to help anybody. Reaching out does more than just posting something. Just talk to your friends and be more self-aware of your prejudice and your bias,” DEI President Kalise Mack ’21 said. Coming off of last year’s well-received Diversity Week, DEI has exciting plans for this year. “We have a social justice prayer service coming up in Jan-uary,” said Clare Kiester. “It’s to honor African American victims of police brutality, lynching, and hate crimes through history, and to emphasize Villa’s commitment to do better in diversifying our community.” Additionally, DEI plans to host another Diversity Week in February, where some elements of last year as well as possible guest speakers will be incorpo-rated. Above all, the committee hopes to shed light on current events and promote a greater awareness of racial justice to the members of Villa’s community.

STUDENT COUNCIL, CONTIN-UED FROM PAGE 1 “A lot of activities that we would like to do are being shut down or altered, like the Break-fast Club, for example,” Sirianni shared. The Breakfast Club has proved especially challenging because it involves food distribu-tion, but the Student Council still manged to make it happen. “Breakfast Club looked a little different this year, but we still wanted to have those key little events that Villa loves and create them a little differently,” Devine stated. The Student Council is nor-mally elected at the end of the school year and has the entire summer to plan together as an elected council. This was not the case this year due to COVID. Chieffalo said, “We missed out on that whole summer to plan, which is de�nitely a chal-lenge. In the spring, everything was new and improvised in the virtual setting. However, if Villa has to go virtual again, Student Council has an idea of what’s coming, as well as a committee

dedicated to virtual events. “Last year we went in blind, but now we actually can antici-pate things. We have a subcom-mittee for virtual that works on virtual ideas and plans just in case we do have to, so we’re prepared either way,” Chieffalo said. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the new guidelines, Student Council has set up a feedback page for students to submit ideas and concerns. Sirianni said, “We’re just trying to make sure that everyone else feels comfortable. We have an anonymous feedback page on Schoology that allows people to submit how everyone’s adjusting to these changes.” Student Council plans on taking advantage of the present time with everyone at school to spark Villa spirit for the entire year. They always welcome new ideas and suggestions. “We’re going to try to do things right now to really set the tone for the year," Chieffalo said. "Most of all we want to let girls know that we’re here, and we’re open for feedback."

Ready for another game, senior soccer play-ers line up on the �eld. // Peyton Coron '22

Volleyball seniors pose for a picture before their senior night game. // Erin Keaveney '21

THE VILLA VOICE

Ford and Gosselin head out to dinner in Philadelphia. // Jackie Ford '20