Villa Victoria Academy has been in operation since 1933. Some of our current traditions date back to the early days of the Academy. We enjoy a long legacy of Villa Girl Sisterhood!
Big & Little Sisters
The Big & Little Sister program offers an opportunity for older girls to mentor younger ones, offering advice, guidance, or a listening ear. In turn, the younger sisters play a role in honoring their big sisters at special events. Some Big & Little Sister activites vary from year to year. In middle school, the eighth graders are mentors to the seventh graders. In high school, the juniors and seniors are big sisters to the freshman and sophomores, respectively.
Class Day
Each seventh grade class is designated a month and color that is passed on by the graduating seniors. The class retains this month and color until they graduate and pass it on to the incoming seventh grade.
High school students celebrate a “class day” during their designated month. On this day, the class spends time together in chapel for a prayer service they have created that highlights special qualities of each member of the class and the class as a whole. After the prayer service, the class enjoys a luncheon together, along with the teachers, that has been prepared by the class parents. On this day, the students dress up in their class color and enjoy extra time together as they share a meal, take pictures, and appreciate one another.
Freshman Induction
This ceremony is prepare by the juniors who are the big sisters to the freshman. At the beginning of the year, the juniors give a questionaire to the freshman. Using the answers, each junior prepares a brief presentation about her little sister that “introduces” her to the school community. Included in the ceremony are prayers and a meaningful gift that designates the freshman as an official member of the high school. The ceremony is followed by refreshments in the cafe for students and parents.
Junior Ring Ceremony
This ceremony takes place during the Eucharistic Liturgy celebrated before Thanksgiving. Each member of the junior class is blessed by the presiding priest as she receives her official Villa Victoria Academy school ring. As a demonstration of the school’s legacy of sisterhood, the last girl in the senior class gives the first girl in the junior class her school ring. Then each junior gives the ring to the next junior in her class. The last junior “holds the legacy torch” until the following year’s ring ceremony. Each freshman has the honor of announcing her big sister’s name and then offers her a congratulatory gift.
Christmas Party & Secret Santa
The day before Christmas break is fun and festive. We begin the day with a special Advent prayer service, light the Advent wreath, listen to readings from Scripture, and sing O Come, O Come Emmanuel. Then the students are treated to a delicious breakfast prepared by the faculty. At the beginning of Advent, each student and teacher receives the name of another student or teacher and is that person’s “secret santa” which involves giving that person several small gifts or notes during December
Spirit Days & Spirit Week
The purpose behind this friendly and fun compeition is to promote school and class spirit. The goal for each class is to build up the most spirit points by working together, participating in school activities, and displaying an overall good attitude. The culmination of the year’s spirit points comes during spirit week which usually takes place in the Spring. Traditional spirit week events include hallway decorating according to class color, student vs faculty game, crazy class color day, and spirit dance, among other activities.
Junior/Senior Prom
This formal event takes place in May and is held at a venue of the prom committee’s choosing. One highlight of the evening is pre-prom held at the Fisk Mansion on the Villa grounds, part of the Sisters’ residence. Juniors and seniors enter the mansion through the orignial main door facing the Delaware River and introduce their dates to the Sisters, teachers, and family members standing in a reception line. Before departing for prom, the junior and senior classes are photographed on the main staircase.
Senior Tea & Alumnae Induction
This time-honored event takes place the Thursday before graduation. The seniors and their parents are invited to the Villa Mansion for an afternoon tea followed by an alumnae induction ceremony in the Sisters’ chapel. A Villa Victoria Alumna addresses the seniors as the newest members to join the ranks of Villa Victoria alumnae.
Senior Day Festivities & Tree Planting Ceremony
This special day celebrates our seniors the Friday before graduation. The seniors are recognized for academic, athletic, and co-curricular awards. The principal addresses the seniors and their parents, the sophomores present a “spoof” on their big sisters, and the seniors show a nostalgic slide show of their high school years, after which everyone goes outside for the traditional tree planting ceremony. The student body continues the celebration with the seniors at a luncheon hosted by the sophomores who introduce their big sisters and the colleges of their choice, presenting each one with a gift. The seniors conclude the luncheon with their “last will and testament” which is a mix of sweet and comical sentiments.
