English | Math | Social Studies | World Languages | Science | Religion | Fine Arts | Visual Arts | Health and Physical Education | Guidance
Villa Victoria's Upper School helps to develop each
student's inner abilities of critical thinking, creativity, self-esteem
and compassion. This is done through small class size, our emphasis on
a well-rounded education and many leadership opportunities that exist
for our students. Our program prepares students to meet the challenges
and opportunities they will face in the future.
The Upper School's curriculum gives our students the opportunity to explore all their talents and interests. A variety of honors and advanced placement courses are offered in both Science and the Humanities to balance each student's education. For this reason, graduates of Villa Victoria make confident, informed decisions when pursuing a course of study in college.
At Villa Victoria Academy, young women are encouraged to explore their own capabilities. They are the leaders. They are the scholars. Our students are given the encouragement and the opportunities to reach inside themselves to discover talents that they never knew existed.
- To improve our students’ appreciation of the English language, its literature and its role in modern society.
- To develop coherence and fluency in our students’ oral and written composition.
- To enable students to become discriminating readers by sharpening the skills of comprehension and critical thinking.
- To contribute to each student’s intellectual, emotional and spiritual maturity through a variety of literary experiences.
Course Offerings
(Grades 7 to 12)
English 7 (Literature taught by genre)
English 8 (Literature taught by genre)
College Prep/Honors English I
(Literature overview taught by genre)
College Prep/Honors English II (American literature)
College Prep/Honors English III (British literature)
Honors/AP Humanities English IV (World literature)
SAT Preparation
Creative Writing
Critical Writing
- To help our students develop an understanding of the nature and structure of mathematics.
- To engage our students in problem solving and analytical activities.
- To strengthen our students’ critical thinking skills.
- To enhance our students’ ability to reason and communicate.
- To impact our students’ performance in all areas of the curriculum.
Course Offerings (Grades 7 to 12)
Math 7
Pre-Algebra
College Prep/Honors Algebra I
College Prep/Honors Algebra II
College Prep/Honors Geometry
SAT Preparation
College Prep/Honors Pre-Calculus*
College Algebra*
Honors/AP Calculus
*Trigonometry is included in these courses.
Social Studies
Departmental Goals
- To help our students develop a thorough knowledge of American and world history and geography.
- To give students a grasp of American history and character through the study of the United States’ social, economic, intellectual and cultural history.
- To prepare as many students as possible for the Advanced Placement exam in history during their Junior Year.
Course Offerings (Grades 7 to 12)
Social Studies 7 (World Geography)
Social Studies 8 (American history and government)
World Cultures
College Prep/Honors U.S. History I
College Prep/AP U.S. History II
Sociology
Psychology
Introduction to Film
Film: Special Subjects
World Languages
Departmental Goals
- To progressively develop the skills of understanding, speaking, reading and writing necessary for effective communication in the target language.
- To prepare students to fit into a world that is multilingual.
- To encourage the study of the culture and people of the target language in order to better understand and appreciate them.
- To academically prepare our students for college-level language study.
Offerings (Grades 7 to 12)
Language 7 - Intro to French, Spanish and Latin
French I or Spanish I (Grades 8, 9)
French II or Spanish II (Grades 9, 10)
French III or Spanish III (Grades 10, 11)
French V or Spanish IV (Grades 11, 12)
French V or Spanish V (Grade 12)
AP French Language or AP Spanish Language (Grade 12)
- To provide students with a comprehensive foundation in the physical and biological sciences.
- To encourage scientific inquiry by the students so that they can discover and interpret scientific knowledge.
- To help students develop desirable attitudes, interests and appreciation for science and its impact on modern society.
- To enhance student understanding through a balance of lecture, experimentation and structured activities.
Course Offerings (Grades 7 to 12)
Physical Science (Grades 7, 8)
Earth Science (Grades 7, 8)
College Prep/Honors Biology(Grade 9)
College Prep/Honors Chemistry (Grade 10)
College Prep/Honors Physics (Grade 11)
Honors Anatomy and Physiology (Grade 12)
AP Chemistry (Grade 12)
- To weave together the elements identified by the Catechism of the Catholic Church: the articles of faith, liturgy and sacraments, scripture, morality and spirituality.
- To nurture our students’ spiritual development and awareness of social justice issues.
- To emphasize the value of service to the community as demonstrating faith in action.
Course Offerings (Grades 7 to 12)
Creed Part I and II (Grades 7, 8)
Liturgy and Worship (Grades 7, 8)
Morality (Grades 7, 8)
Hebrew Scriptures (Grades 9, 10)
Christian Scriptures (Grades 9, 10)
Celebrating the Sacraments (Grades 9, 10)
A Spirit-Filled Church (Grades 9, 10)
Christian Vocations (Grades 11, 12)
World Religions (Grades 11, 12)
Growing in Christian Morality (Grades 11, 12)
Peace and Justice (Grades 11, 12)
- To expose students to the many forms of music through history, culture and performance.
- To provide students with the opportunity for creative expression through singing, acting and dancing.
Course Offerings (Grades 7 to 12)
Introductions to Music (Grade 7 and 8)
Discovery of Music (Grade 9)
Humanities Music (Grade 12)
Choir (Grades 7 to 12)
Visual Arts
Departmental Goals
- To inspire students to appreciate the art of others and to create their own art as an important form of individual expression.
- To help students gain an understanding of art history and the context in which works of art were created.
- To enhance our students’ understanding of human culture and the relationships among people and their reactions to their natural and social environments.
Course Offerings (Grades 7 to 12)
Art 7
Art 8
Discovery of Art (Grade 9)
Humanities Art History (Grade 12)
2-Dimensional Studio I and II
Advanced 2-Dimensional Studio
3-Dimensional Art
Advanced 3-Dimensional Art
AP Art Portfolio
Pottery/Painting
Photography
Health
and Physical Education
Departmental Goals
- To develop and maintain within the individual the highest degree of physical potential.
- To teach the fundamental skills that will satisfy both the immediate and future goals of the individual.
- To promote social development by working for a common cause, so that the individual may assess personal worth and respect peers.
- To develop wholesome ideals, attitudes and habits.
Topics Studied (Grades 7 to
12)
Physical Education: Soccer, Tennis, Floor Hockey, Volleyball, Basketball,
Softball, Tennis, Fitness - Flex-Band workout, Intro to Yoga, Basic Dance,
Tae Boe
Health: personal responsibility, personal safety, personal development,
mental health and nutrition
Guidance
Guidance services
Academic Advising: working in collaboration with faculty, student
and parents, students are assisted with daily academic needs, including
goal setting, organization and time management. Moreover, the counselor
works with students to make an academic plan of action involving their
course selection.
Social-Emotional Counseling: students are encouraged to seek counseling concerning personal issues which can stem from inner struggles to relational struggles with friends, family or classmates. Proactive and crisis management measure are taken in both the individual and group guidance formats. Students may be referred for additional assistance outside of the VVA guidance department.
College Counseling: starting junior year, college guidance is a high priority. Students are advised through the entire process including assisting students to get to know themselves, the college search process, the application procedure and the final destination, selection. The main goal is to help the student find a college match that fits both academically and socially. The counselor meets with students individually and in a group setting. She prepares letters of recommendation and coordinates college admissions information meetings.
Standardized Testing: all students are involved in standardized testing with the Guidance department offering interpretation of results to aid in overall academic progress. The 7th and 9th grades take the Terra Nova, 8th grade take the SSAT, the 10th and 11th grades take the PSAT and the 11th and 12th grades take the SAT for college entrances. Grades 9-12 may also take the SAT II when applicable.
The Role of the Counselor
Counseling is a helping process in which the counselor provides a safe,
nurturing environment in which students attain a sense of self-awareness
and are helped to plan a course of action. By establishing a trusting,
working relationship, students can share their feelings and develop positive
solutions to personal and academic problems. Students develop goals and
learn how to utilize education as a tool to achieve them. They also learn
to understand their interests, abilities, talents and limitations and
how to deal with them effectively. The focus is often on problem solving,
decision making and discovering personal meaning related to learning and
development.
Confidentiality
An important obligation of counselors is to maintain the confidentiality
of their relationship with students; therefore, the confidentiality of
information received, or of any written pupil records is safeguarded.
Counselors are obligated not to discuss information that a student has
shared within the context of the counseling relationship, unless such
disclosures are necessary to protect the student from posing a threat
to herself or to others.