A message from Director of Upper School, Dr. Anna Barter:

Dear Upper School Families,

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” As I walk the hallways, I see candy canes placed in shoes and doors decorated with festive red and green paper. The girls are decorating stockings for Visitation’s annual Christmas Stocking Project, and I look forward to our Advent prayers at each assembly. Seeing so many of you at Vis the Season and the VISTA Christmas Concert was also a highlight this past weekend.

The Upper School faculty just submitted Progress Report #3, and I encourage you to talk to your daughters about how things are going in their classes as well as what they might need as we head into finals week. Please note the special schedule that begins on Dec. 16 as well as the ask that students sign up for lunch by Dec. 9. I also want to highlight the availability of structured Flex time if your daughter should like to participate. This study space will be available to students between 12-12:50 p.m., starting on Dec. 8 and continuing until the start of semester exams. Students can check in and out of the space to see their teachers yet can count on a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle that comes with that time in our school day. The library is a space where the girls can work without interruption or distraction. If you have any questions about these options, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

The annual Disco dance will take place at Saint Thomas Academy this Friday, Dec. 9 from 7-9:30 p.m. We have reached out to our students (Grades 9-12) to reserve tickets should they wish to buy one from Visitation during Lunch/Flex on Dec. 8 and 9. If plans have shifted since the reservation sign-up and your daughter wishes to attend the mixer, please have her connect with our Dean of Student Life, Ann Feitl.

I’d also like to highlight two events that are on the horizon for our VIS and STA students. The VISTA Band Winter Concert will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. in DeSales Auditorium, and the Sophomore Social – for all of our sophomore students at VIS and STA – will take place on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 7-10 p.m. at Visitation School.

I wish you a blessed Advent Season!

Sincerely,

Anna Bachman Barter, PhD
Director of Upper School