How would you describe your fine arts program?

Our art teachers are Liza Bishop and Ann Cheeks. Liza has a B. A. in art history and visual art
from Duke University, and she is the owner of Sweetlife Studio. A graduate of Village School, Liza has
been teaching photography at the school for the past two years.

The Village School dance teachers are Mariah Smith and Lori Madden. Mariah has over fifteen years of classical ballet training and five years of modern dance/jazz training. Mariah has considerable teaching and performing experience, and she nurtures an active interest in performance arts, drawing, painting, creative writing, and photography. Dance class is held in Meade Hall at Christ Episcopal Church.

Lori has been providing instruction in Irish Step, Irish Social, Ceili, and Set Dance to children and adults for ten years through The Blue Ridge Irish Music School (BRIMS), of which she is also executive director. In addition, Lori teaches Irish dance in Lynchburg, and at the Mountain Road Fiddle Camp in West Virginia and Terpsichore’s Holiday dance camp, also in West Virginia. Lori has performed with the Humorous Abandon Irish dance ensemble at Floyd Fest and the Lake Eden Arts Festival and also in the full length Irish dance productions Drowsy Maggie and Robin Hood. In 2003, Lori served as Irish dance consultant for the Paul Wagner film Angels.

Emily Rosson, our orchestra director, has a B.A. is music Education and Music Performance –
Conducting and Horn from Virginia Tech. Emily has much conducting experience, having led a multi-
aged ensemble at the Music Education Center in Earlysville for many years. Previous to that, Emily
directed a middle school orchestra in Tidewater, Virginia. She is the orchestra director at Western
Albemarle High School and the Charlottesville Waldorf School.

The Village School chorus is directed by Nancy Paulson. The mom of a Village School alumna,
Nancy has been involved with vocal performance and choral ensembles since her own middle school
years. She has sung with multiple choirs throughout the past 25 years, including the Paul Hill Chorale in
Washington, DC, the Blacksburg Chorale, and the Charlottesville Oratorio Society. Currently, she
teaches private voice lessons, directs an 8-member girls’ choir called SPARK, and serves on the advisory
board for Kansas State University choirs.

Mary Reitsma leads the Village School woodwind choir. A graduate of Calvin College, where
she was a French major and music minor, Mary is an active member of the Charlottesville Flute Choir
and the Charlottesville Municipal Band. Mary also teaches an after school French class at Village School
as well as private flute.

How would you describe your physical education program?

Physical education and development are stressed at Village School. Our P. E. teacher is Dr.
Casey Kerrigan. Casey is the mom of two Village School students, and she is formerly a professor of
physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Virginia. Currently, Casey is developing an
innovative walking shoe for women.

Village School girls play on a citywide field hockey team, and we have an inter-grade lacrosse
team that competes against other schools. Also, four Village School basketball teams play in the county
YMCA league each year.

How is technology utilized at Village School?

The use of computer technology figures prominently in daily life at Village School, where a ratio
of one computer for every two students is maintained. At Village School, students become comfortable
using computer software and hardware as tools to express their curiosity and creativity. Our students
learn basic skills such as word processing, spreadsheets, internet research, and Windows file
management. They also learn to use a scanner, a digital camera, and a digital camcorder. They study web
design and video editing. In our multi-media lab, students become discriminating viewers of mass media.
At the same time, they learn how to use power point and slide shows for class reports and presentations.
Village School girls employ modern technology as a conduit to help them find their voices as learners.

How would you describe community service at Village School?

Research indicates that children who dedicate time to helping others develop an enhanced sense
of self-esteem and self-confidence. We believe strongly in the advantages gained through an awareness
and understanding of others. Consequently, community service is an integral part of our school, and
being downtown provides us many community service opportunities. For example, every week our
students help two downtown churches with their soup kitchens. Our students are also involved in a
number of special projects. Students knit and distribute scarves to cancer patients at the University of
Virginia, and provide toys and clothing for children at the Shelter for Help in Emergency. Each year, we
hold a canned food drive for the Emergency Food Bank, and Village School students donate to charity a
percentage of funds earned at our annual Middle School Girls Holiday Craft Fair. Village School also
actively supports “Pennies for Peace,” a fundraising effort of the Central Asia Institute.

What is your admissions policy and process?

Because Village School welcomes diversity in its student body, enrollment is open to qualified
students of any race, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin. We admit girls with varied interests and
backgrounds who are intellectually curious and have the maturity and character to benefit from the
Village School experience. Students are encouraged to apply for admission in the fall and winter prior to
the desired academic year entrance. The application includes a questionnaire, school transcripts, teacher
recommendations, an interview, and an admissions test. There is an application fee due with the
questionnaire. Admission decisions are made beginning in February, and applications are considered as
long as space is available. We require all applicants to visit Village School and to spend an academic day
with us.

What is the tuition?

Tuition for 2010-2011 will be $11,000. Tuition can be paid in full or in three installments of
$3,667 each due August 2, 2010, October 15, 2010, and February 1, 2011. In addition to the tuition, there
is a $500 book and activity fee due upon admission to Village School. While the Village School
scholarship fund is limited, we make every effort to provide financial aid to those who qualify. Please
contact the school for additional information on scholarship funds.