A message from Director of Middle School, Ilse Norris:

This week on Tuesday, the Middle School welcomed nine prospective students and families on campus for a visit day, info session and tour. Middle School students love to host visitors and are paired up with a visitor according to interests and preferences. Visiting students spent the morning shadowing their host student, attending middle school assembly and class meetings, and eating lunch with their newfound friend and prospective classmates. We make sure that our visiting students feel welcomed, known and loved in Visitation Middle School. If you know of a family whose daughter is interested in a visit day, please contact the enrollment office. 

On Wednesday, November 20, the Middle School celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Chapel. With Thanksgiving right around the corner, it was an opportunity for us as a community to give thanks to God for all that we have and all that we are. Father Colombo expressed how being thankful in turn brings an abundance of joy. Everyone present participated to the fullest and sang their little hearts out. It was a beautiful celebration.

Every Wednesday morning at around 7:45 a.m., the Middle School students lead Rosary in the Chapel. The Rosary is a Marian devotion that involves meditating on the mysteries of Jesus' life through the intercession of the Blessed Mother. When we visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC last spring on the eighth grade capstone trip, I found this inscription: “The Rosary is a meditative prayer that can transform hearts and change lives. The Rosary is our prayer to God through the intercession of the Blessed Mother.” Whenever a family member or a friend of the Visitation community falls ill, we pray the Rosary, offering worries and prayer intentions to God. This tradition was started by Sister Jane DeChantal and is carried on through the Middle School. Praying the rosary can help people get in touch with their deepest desires for God and discover how God is calling them to live.

Looking ahead: 

Please note that November 7 marked the end of the first Trimester. Grades and comments were available on November 19, in time for Middle School conferences. Conferences will take place on Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26. Conferences on Monday will be held via Zoom, and Conferences on Tuesday will be in person. For more information and to sign up for conferences, please click here.

On Friday, November 22, the Middle School LEADS are hosting a Holiday Movie Night in the Visitation dining room from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The cost is $10 for the event. This includes freshly popped popcorn, a pizza dinner, concessions, pop, and of course the movie! The student body voted from a list of three pre-selected Holiday movies and the overwhelming winner was … Home Alone 2: Lost in New York! For more information and to register for the event, please click here.

The Micro Bows, the Middle School Robotics team, is hosting a STEAM toy drive to benefit the Children’s Hospital of Minnesota as part of their community outreach. This drive is held exclusively for middle school. The team members ask each grade to bring in as many new unwrapped STEAM toys as possible (playdough, Magna ties, little art kits, colored pencils, coloring books, nothing too fancy or expensive), and the grade with the highest toy-to-student ratio will win a doughnut party! This competition is held the weeks after Thanksgiving until Tuesday, December 10. The Micro Bows made an announcement at the Middle School Assembly and hung flyers all over the school to promote the toy drive. We thank you in advance for your generosity to benefit the patients of Children’s Hospital at Christmas time.

The Middle School/Upper School Christmas Concert is coming up on Sunday, December 8 at 4 p.m. in the Commers Gym. This holiday tradition promises to be one of the highlights of the season. I had the privilege of attending the rehearsal on Tuesday and I have to give a big shout-out to Randi Rexroth, our Choir director, and Ross Bell, our Orchestra director. They truly pour their heart and soul into putting on this Christmas concert and in turn inspire the kids to bring their best selves to the table. Please note that attendance is required for all Middle School students, so mark your calendars and bring the family!

It is a privilege to partner with you and work with your daughter in this excellent school!

Warmly,

Ilse Norris
Director of Middle School