2024

News List

  • November

    Five Student-Athletes Celebrate College Signing Day

    Yesterday marked a proud moment as five of our student-athletes officially committed to continuing their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level. During a celebratory College Signing Day event, each athlete announced their plans to compete in their respective sports at esteemed institutions.
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  • The Owl's Nest is Officially Open!

    On Wednesday, Visitation Academy marked a significant achievement with the grand opening of The Owl’s Nest, an innovative outdoor STEM learning space. In a ribbon-cutting ceremony, school leaders celebrated this first-of-its-kind addition, designed to inspire curiosity and hands-on learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
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  • October

    Cardboard Arcade

    Our Grade 5 students recently transformed cardboard into creativity by designing and building their very own arcade games! This hands-on project invited them to dive into the entire engineering design process, from brainstorming initial ideas to building and troubleshooting their creations. They learned how to sketch blueprints, choose materials, and follow each step of the engineering cycle, discovering the importance of both creativity and precision. 
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  • Follow the Yellow Brick Road

    Our Middle and Upper School students recently dazzled audiences with a magical production of The Wizard of Oz! From the iconic Yellow Brick Road to the enchanting Emerald City, each scene was brought to life through impressive set designs, vibrant costumes, and captivating performances. The cast and crew, including students both on stage and behind the scenes, poured their hearts into months of preparation, perfecting every line, song, and dance.

    For the students, it was more than just a show—it was an opportunity to build confidence, embrace teamwork, and express their creativity in ways that left a lasting impact on the entire Viz community. The production captured the spirit of dedication and collaboration that makes Viz so special. Congratulations to everyone involved for creating a performance to remember!

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  • Pumpkin Painting Party!

    Halloween fun is in full swing at Viz! This week, our middle school girls teamed up with the lower school for a festive pumpkin painting session, and it was an absolute blast. The room was filled with excitement as students of all ages came together to embrace the spooky season through creativity and art.
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  • A Glimpse into Upper School

    Earlier this week, our Grade 8 students had the exciting opportunity to experience life as a Vivette in the Upper School! The day was filled with activities designed to give them a firsthand look at what high school has to offer. From the moment they arrived, they were warmly welcomed by current Upper School students who shared insights into their own journeys, offering valuable advice on academics, extracurriculars, and balancing school life.
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  • Celebrating the Feast of St. Margaret Mary

    Our school community recently gathered for a beautiful Mass to celebrate the Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, a saint whose profound faith and devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus continue to inspire us. Chosen by Christ to spread the message of His boundless love, St. Margaret Mary's life was marked by hardship, yet her unwavering faith served as a reminder of God's infinite compassion. Her legacy encourages us to deepen our connection with Christ through prayer, devotion, and service to others.
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  • Challenge Cup Showdown

    This past Friday, Viz's annual Challenge Cup brought a thrilling afternoon of competition and school spirit to life. Our Volleyball Vivettes faced off against the Nerinx Hall Markers in a high-energy match that had fans on the edge of their seats.
     
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  • A Record-Breaking Success

    This past Monday, Visitation Academy hosted its highly anticipated annual Golf Tournament, and it was a day to remember! The beautiful weather and inviting course set the perfect backdrop for an exciting day of golf and camaraderie among our wonderful community.
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  • Jane K. and Katie G. Earn National Merit Honors

    Congratulations to Jane K. '25 and Katie G. '25 for their exceptional academic achievements! Jane has been selected as a National Merit Scholarship Program semifinalist, placing her among the top students in the nation. This prestigious honor recognizes her hard work, dedication, and academic excellence.

    Katie has also earned a significant distinction as a commended student in the National Merit Program, a recognition given to students who show remarkable academic promise and dedication to their studies.
    Both Jane and Katie's achievements reflect their commitment to excellence and highlight their bright futures. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and look forward to seeing what they achieve next!
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  • Young Talent Shining Through Adversity

    Liljana Petroff, a 6th grader from Visitation Academy, has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the first-ever Viz student to qualify for the Middle School Metro 8 All-District Orchestra. Even more impressive, Liljana secured the top honor of 1st chair cellist, earning the highest score out of 14 competitors. What makes this achievement truly extraordinary is that Liljana has only been playing the cello for two years.
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  • September

    A Taste of Fall Fun!

    When life gives you apples, why not turn them into applesauce? Earlier this week, our excited Grade 1 students set off on a memorable field trip to Eckert’s Farm, where they spent the day picking fresh apples right from the trees. Today, they brought their harvest into the Food Science Kitchen, rolling up their sleeves to create delicious homemade applesauce from scratch! With smiles on their faces and the wonderful smell of apples filling the air, it was a hands-on learning experience that captured the true essence of fall. What a perfect way to celebrate the start of the autumn season!
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  • Exploring Nuclear Power: A Virtual Reality Energy Adventure

    This week, our Grade 8 students took a deep dive into the world of energy by exploring nuclear power plants—virtually! As part of their ongoing lesson on energy sources, which covers everything from biomass and solar to wind, geothermal, petroleum, and nuclear power, students had the unique opportunity to use Virtual Reality (VR) technology to explore nuclear power plants in an interactive, immersive way. The VR experience allowed them to walk through plant structures, observe how energy is generated, and understand the safety measures in place. This hands-on approach brought their classroom learning to life, helping them visualize complex concepts in a real-world context. It was an exciting and engaging way to enhance their understanding of nuclear energy and how it fits into the broader spectrum of energy sources.
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  • Full STEM Ahead!

    We are thrilled to share an update on the construction of our new "Outdoor STEM Learning Space." After breaking ground just a few weeks ago, things are progressing smoothly, and we’re now entering the exciting phase where the space is really beginning to take shape. Under the skilled direction of our Director of Facilities, Tim Renz, the project is moving forward beautifully. Tim is currently constructing an amazing treehouse that will provide a fun and imaginative space for students to explore and play.
     
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  • Reading Together, Learning Together

    Friday, the Upper School Spanish class visited the Grade 5 Spanish class for a special reading activity. The older students helped the younger ones practice their Spanish by reading books together in small groups. It was a wonderful sight to see the Upper School girls supporting the Lower School girls as they worked on their vocabulary and pronunciation.

    Both classes thoroughly enjoyed the experience, sharing stories and learning together. The younger students were eager to show off their language skills, while the Upper School students served as patient mentors. This collaboration not only helped reinforce language learning but also fostered a sense of community between the grades.
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  • Montessori is Buzzing

    Tuesday morning, our Montessori students were buzzing with excitement during a special visit from Mrs. Hampton, fondly known as "Honey" by her granddaughter, Holly H. '38. Mrs. Hampton, an enthusiastic beekeeper, brought the world of bees to life for our Montessori classes with an engaging and educational presentation.
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  • May

    Science Superstars

    Congratulations to Viz Upper School students who presented their work at the 2024 St. Louis University American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Symposium. Sixty area students submitted abstracts in hopes of being invited to present. Only 15 invitations were extended, and of the 15, seven were awarded to Viz students, the most from any school. Very impressive, as was the range of topics these students researched:
     
    Sophie Burgoon, Class of 2025 - Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
    Lilian Carlin, Class of 2025 - Micro-Needle Photothermal Therapy and Immunotherapy
    Lauren Clearly, Class of 2025 - Necrotizing Neonatal Enterocolitis
    Hannah Houseworth, Class of 2025 - The Emergence of Novel Biomarkers in Multiple Sclerosis Research and Treatment
    Josie Janisch, Class of 2024 - Henoch-Scheonlein Purpura: Research on the Disease and its Effects
    Allie Kowalcyzk, Class of 2024 - DR4 Antagonism as a Potential Treatment for Schizophrenia
    Mary Stein, Class of 2024 - Apolipoprotein E and its Role in Degenerative Decline
     
    Special shout out to Hannah Houseworth, who received an Honorable Mention for her work.
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  • And the Winner Is

    Viz’s Upper School production of Mean Girls received ten nominations for the seventh annual St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards. The production received nominations in every category it was eligible for except one, making this the most nominations Viz has received since the inception of these awards.
     
    Here is the list of nominations:
     
    Outstanding Technical Execution – The Student Crew led by Ella Kadyk, Class of 2024
    Outstanding Set Design and Execution – Jonathan Hartley, Visual and Fine Arts Technical Director
    Outstanding Costume Design – Caroline Belt, Class of 2024
    Outstanding Ensemble
    Outstanding Choreography – Ellen Isom, Dance
    Outstanding Musical Direction – Jenn Haney, Music and Choir Director
    Outstanding Direction – Marty Strohmeyer, Visual and Fine Arts Department Chair
    Outstanding Supporting Actor – Owen Hanford, Chaminade College Preparatory School
    Outstanding Supporting Actress – Rebecca Mooney, Class of 2024
    Outstanding Production
     
    Tali Allen, Director of Education at The Muny, was on campus on Tuesday, May 7, to present medallions to all the nominees. An awards show will be held at The Fabulous Fox Theatre on May 24, and the cast will perform on the Fox stage. Bravo to all!
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  • She Shoots. She Scores!

     
    Emma Miller, Class of 2024, scored her 100th career goal Monday night in a match against MICDS. What a fantastic way to cap off her four-year lacrosse career at Viz. Congratulations!
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  • Swimming Success

    This past weekend, Ayra Rosinski, Class of 3033, competed at a regional long-course swimming meet in Newberg, Indiana, her first long-course meet and first out-of-state meet. Things went swimmingly for her. Up against a field of 60 swimmers on teams from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and Missouri, Ayra placed seventh in the 100 butterfly and eighth in the 200 individual medley. She recorded the fastest nine-year-old times in all her competitions; her lowest finish for the weekend was 15th. Way to go, Ayra!
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  • April

    Athletic Administration Acumen

    Viz’s Assistant Athletic Director Michelle Hanock has been recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) as a Certified Athletic Administrator. The voluntary certification process included a thorough evaluation of her educational background, experience, and professional contributions, and a rigorous, comprehensive written examination.
     
    To earn this distinction, Michelle demonstrated the highest level of knowledge and expertise in interscholastic athletic administration and is one of an elite group of interscholastic athletic administrators nationwide to attain this level of professionalism. Congratulations!
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  • The “Write" Stuff

    Congratulations to Maggie Cima, Class of 2025, for her second-place win in Saint Louis University’s 1818 Advanced College Credit Program Creative Writing Competition.
     
    Maggie's original work, Chalk White, earned her a $150 prize and a small gift from the 1818 Program Office. Additionally, Maggie will be celebrated in conjunction with the St. Louis Literary Award; the title of her piece will appear in the program accompanying the St. Louis Literary Award ceremony honoring Jamaica Kincaid at the Sheldon Concert Hall on Thursday, April 25, at 7:00 p.m.
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  • Number Fore and Counting!

    Visitation Academy junior Avery McLaughlin was getting in some practice at Bellerive Country Club in preparation for the upcoming spring and summer season when she picked up something truly remarkable - her fourth hole-in-one. Congratulations!
     
    Click here to read the complete story in the online issue of West Newsmagazine.
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  • Speaking of Golfing Greatness

    Grace Fagan, Class of 2024, was named the 2024 Visitation Academy Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete. Congratulations on this well-deserved honor, which caps off a stellar four years on the Viz golf team.
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  • March

    Women in STEM

    Viz’s Women in STEM club launched a new speaker program this month. The first two lectures in this ongoing series, brought to fruition by club president Josie Janisch, Class of 2024, will feature Viz alumnae in the STEM field. Additionally, women scientists, representing both alumnae and non-alumnae, have been invited to speak at future meetings. Inaugural speaker Caitlin Hamill, Class of 2020, was on campus on Tuesday, March 19, to discuss her journey from Viz to St. Louis University (BS in Biochemistry) and the preparations she is making to begin her graduate program in a career in Medical Drug Discovery.
     
    Coincidentally, Upper School AP/College Credit bio students recently were on the SLU campus to experience a day in the life of STEM students and had an opportunity to hear from Caitlin, who was on a panel of students selected to discuss their STEM experiences at SLU. Students also received a campus tour - with special emphasis on the Engineering and Science building - and attended the class equivalent to the college credit they are earning.
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  • Saturday Scholar

    Congratulations to Sophie Burgoon, Class of 2025, who applied for and was accepted into Washington University Medical School’s prestigious Saturday Scholar Program. Accepted students attend five Saturday sessions in the spring (with a teacher), where they are immersed in lectures, gross anatomy lab sessions, and clinical patient experiences with Washington University medical students. Sophie was honored to experience this program and enjoyed her medical school immersion and the opportunity to discuss pre-med topics with Washington University’s Dr. William Ross and his students.
     
    The five-week program culminated on March 16 with student presentations of a particular pathology selected by the Scholars committee. Sophie’s presentation was outstanding, and she represented Viz well.
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  • February

    Calculated Curiosity

    Jane Kramer, Class of 2025, and Isabella Bradford, Class of 2026, received a 2024 Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois Affiliate Honorable Mention as part of the NCWIT Aspirations in Computing High School Awards. This recognition is a testament to their dedication, hard work, and exceptional skills demonstrated in the computing field. The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) aims to encourage young women’s interest and participation in computing. We hope their achievements serve as an inspiration for other Viz students to explore and excel in the field of computing.
     
    In addition, Sarah Walsh, Vis Computer Science Teacher, also was named the 2024 NCWIT Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois Affiliate Educator Winner. Congratulations to all!
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  • Talent Pool

    The Viz swimming and diving team had a great showing at the State Championship, finishing ninth out of 52 teams. Junior Ashlyn Canale took second place in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke and posted a new school record in the process. Ashlyn teamed up with freshman Mia Moore, freshman Maddie Mug, and sophomore Madison Seabaugh in the 200 medley relay, taking third and earning a new school record.
     
    In all events, this small but mighty squad made a solid showing:
     
    • Maddie Mug finished seventh in the 100 back and 11th in the 100 fly
    • Freshman Mia Moore finished 15th in the 100 fly
    • Madison Seabaugh finished 15th in the 500 free
    • Freshman diver Clara Hugge competed at her first State competition
     
    Congratulations to the entire team on a great season and for finishing strong.
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  • Silver Sensations

    Viz’s two Upper School CyberPatriot teams, the Cyber Hoots and Apple Cyber, shined at the state-level competition held in late January. The two teams placed first and second, respectively, in the Silver Tier Award category.
     
    Congratulations to all the competitors:
    Carmen Barreiro
    Isabella Bradford
    Katie Gasper (Team Vice President)
    Ella Kadyk (Team President)
    Gabrielle Reese
    Olivia Thornton
     
    CyberPatriot is the National Youth Cyber Education Program created by the Air & Space Forces Association to inspire K-12 students toward careers in cybersecurity or other science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines critical to our nation's future.
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  • January

    CATching Fire

    Viz sixth graders Aarushi G., Kelsey H., Tess K., Idgie S., and Vada T., aka the Crypto Cats, were very successful at the FIRST LEGO League qualifier on January 6. The Crypto Cats robotics team, sponsored by Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, was awarded the 1st Place Champion’s Award for the best overall performance across all judging categories - Project, Robot, and Core Values. This award advances the team to the Missouri Regional Championship on Saturday, February 24. Additionally, the Crypto Cats won the Robot Performance Award for achieving the highest score during the robot game. Congratulations!
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3020 N. Ballas Road, St. Louis, MO 63131        314-625-9100
Visitation Academy is an independent, private Catholic school offering a coeducational Montessori preschool and Kindergarten program, the area's only all-girl elementary program for Grades 1-5, and an all-girl middle school and all-girl high school.
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