Valle Catholic Schools Foundation sponsored another in its series of Lunch & Learn, for the Valle Catholic High School students. The speaker was Mr. Matthew Brummund, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigations. Mr. Brummund started his career as an attorney in 1995, a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, holding positions as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Michigan. He became an FBI agent in 2002. He is currently stationed in St. Louis raising a family of six children. Mr. Brummund spoke to students about his career path through many varied positions in the FBI. He emphasized to the students to major in what they love in college, that there are many different paths to become an FBI agent, or other similar Federal Law Enforcement organizations such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Homeland Security Agent, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), and many others in which you can serve your country and communities.
Mr. Brummund spoke about his experiences in Human Intelligence, Investigations, and a Crisis Management Coordinator during incidents such as Ferguson, kidnapping cases and Civil Rights investigations. His experiences are extensive and varied. “This type of exposure is fantastic for our high school students, from freshman to seniors, who are discerning what majors or careers paths to pursue”, Cindy Loida, Valle Catholic Schools Foundation President. “Valle Catholic is grateful to the Foundation for hosting our students in a professional Lunch & Learn series, we are so very fortunate to give them these experiences”. Fr. Edward Nemeth, Head of Valle Catholic Schools. The series continues this year and into next school year.
Mr. Matthew Brummund
Valle Catholic Schools Foundation hosted Julie Murphy Finn in their 2nd spring "Lunch & Learn Speaker Series". This is a program supported by Valle Schools Foundation to promote and encourage their student body to dream big and to better understand all the diverse opportunities that are possible in a changing world. " The greater exposure we are able to provide the students at Valle Catholic, the more open and prepared they will be to make the important decisions that await them after their education at Valle. We continue to send exceptional students out into the world who have the skills to do well, but also the moral compass to do good", commented Cindy Loida, President of Valle Catholic Schools Foundation.
Julie Murphy Finn is a 1989 proud graduate of Valle Catholic and St. Louis University. Julie currently works for Kit Bond Strategies where she is the Director of Economic Development and Governmental Affairs. Julie was able to capture the attention of the Valle students by explaining her individual journey growing up in Ste. Genevieve and how Valle was a cornerstone of encouragement and support that helped her understand the importance of hard work, finding your passion, and dreaming big. Julie told the students that when you dream big, sometimes it is intimidating and you will be afraid, but stay true to your dream and persevere.
"You will find that being a graduate of Valle Catholic Schools means that you will have a wonderful support group of other Valle Catholic graduates around the world who will always be there for you. Throughout my professional career and personal life, being part of "The Valle Family" has meant so much to me and my family. Be faithful, believe in yourself, and wake up every morning remembering the values you learned while a student at Valle Catholic. I hope that if you remember any thing today, you remember this message".
Some of the children of the Class of 1989 Valle graduates.
Julie Murphy Finn
The Valle Catholic Schools Foundation is proud to sponsor a concert featuring Christine Westhoff, accompanied by organist, Timothy Allen, Friday, December 21, 2018 at 7pm in the Ste. Genevieve Catholic Church. Following the concert, attendees are invited to The DuBourg Centre for refreshments.
Ms. Westhoff, a St Louis born soprano, has sung throughout the USA and Europe and her recordings have been heard and broadcast all over the world. She is known for her imaginative programming and an engaging platform presence. Her program will feature sacred Christmas favorites interspersed with seasonal organ music played by Timothy Allen.
Biographies
Classically trained as a lyric operatic soprano, Christine Westhoff is a leading American artist in the area of oratorio and sacred music, bringing the beauty of sacred music all over the world. Christine’s recordings are being heard in literally every continent.
Considered a prodigy by many of her early voice teachers, Christine began her vocal training at the age of 9 and, by the age of 11 was studying and training with various university professors. Since then, Christine has devoted herself to perfecting her art and to breathing new life into the sacred texts of bygone centuries.
The 2011 release of her first recording, Ora Pro Nobis, was, for many, an introduction to the beauty of sacred music and Christine is committed deeply to the introduction and reintroduction of these sacred texts to a world that has all but forgotten many of them.
Christine’s Christmas album, Hark! became an international success. It has sold online the world over and was listed as a top seller in Independent Music sales charts. It is featured as part of the playlist for the Irish Republic’s Classical Music Station, Lyric FM.
In 2017 Christine released her patriotic recording, Glory Hallelujah! A celebration of America in well loved songs and hymns. This collection has been streamed online from coast to coast and is continuing to make an impact on the music scene.
Christine is in demand as a concert singer and recording artist. She has sung all over the world in some of the most sacred and spectacular venues. She has given concerts in Italy, England, Ireland, France, and Canada. She was a featured artist for the Arkansas Symphony and future engagements include a concert with The Priests in November 2018, a series of Cathedral recitals in the United Kingdom in June 2019, as well as the release of new recordings in Fall 2018.
Christine is represented by the Concert Artist Co-operative
Timothy Allen has worked in Cathedrals and Universities on both sides of the Atlantic. He studied Music as an Organ Scholar at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge University where he studied with Nicolas Kynaston.
In 1986 Tim became Assistant Organist at Chelmsford Cathedral before his appointment, in 1991, as Organist and Master of the Choristers at St Columb’s Cathedral, Derry, N. Ireland. In a busy ten years he revived the choir of men and boys and founded a major cross-community Music Festival with his colleague from Derry’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Donal Doherty.
Tim moved to the USA in 2001 to take up a position in St Louis. In 2006 he became the Organist at Trinity Cathedral in Little Rock, moving in 2012 to his current position at St Mark’s Episcopal Church also in Little Rock. He directs a growing choral and instrumental program. He is also College Organist at Hendrix College, Conway. He is represented by the Concert Artists Co-operative.
In order for Valle Catholic students to be successful post-graduation, they must be exposed to more than just classroom learning, being prepared for success often means we must look outside the classroom format.
The Valle Catholic Schools Foundation has launched a new initiative, “Lunch & Learn”. Valle High School Juniors and Seniors will be hosted by the Valle Catholic Schools Foundation at the Dubourg Centre on a regular basis for lunch and a guest speaker. During the Lunch & Learn series, we look forward to welcoming speakers of various fields and occupations as well as topics meant to enrich and educate students in experiences outside college classes such as; interviewing, networking, etiquette, etc. Not only will the students be exposed to various industries and occupations, they will have the opportunity to make valuable networking connections and meet many of our fabulous alumni!
We were excited to welcome our first guest speaker yesterday, Maria Rozier Kiphart ‘03, Senior Manager of Consumer Insights at Procter & Gamble. Maria shared her education and career path with Valle students. She emphasized the importance and positive impact that networking can play in college, as well as how it helped her successful placement at Procter & Gamble. She discussed her role in consumer insights and the detailed and time intensive research that goes into understanding what products will be successful in various markets. Maria has traveled globally in her position and shared what a positive experience she has had at Procter & Gamble. She left the students with her email address and sincere offer to help anyone who needs “networking help” from many of the Valle graduates she is connected with through her business dealings. Thank you, Maria!
Maria is True Valle Blue!
Juniors and seniors gathered for their Prom on Saturday, April 21st at DuBourg Centre.
Jack Staab, son of John and Carrie Staab was crowned King. Christine Peterson, daughter of Neil and Jocelyn Peterson was crowned Queen. Their court consisted of seniors Taylor Siebert & Luke Ritter with juniors Alivia Bauman & Kellen Blum. The rest of the 2018 Prom Court: Seniors: Autumn Naeger, Kaydance Heil, Hannah Viox, Thomas Otte, Clayton Drury, and Owen Schweigert.
Junior Class
Senior Class
Thank you, Ste. Genevieve, for making our Warrior Auction such a huge success. We raised $220,000 for Valle Catholic Schools—wow! Hear thanks from our kids in the video below!
Pi Day (March 14) at Valle Catholic celebrated all things related to the ever-important mathematical constant that measures the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter.
Throughout history, much has been done to understand more about this unconventional number; determining its value definitely tops the list. And while we can't tell you what pi is worth, we think there are a few things you should know about π . Here are four:
Here's one more thing to know: it gives students a great opportunity to bring round goodies and eat them during class!
Valle Catholic 4th-8th Graders recently competed in math competitions sponsored by the MO Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
Those advancing to regionals are: Lauren Wolk (4th Gr), Gavyn Joggerst (6th), Alissa Grass (6th) and Cannon Wolk (6th).
Special recognition to 7th Graders Peter Roth for placing 3rd overall and also advancing to State, and Clayton Drury for placing 5th overall.
Students were prepared for the competitions by Math teachers, Mrs. Michelle Basler and Ms. Natalie Grass.
Congratulations to all the students who participated!
To mark the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, Valle Catholic students and staff participated in a local March for Life in Ste. Genevieve. This was to coincide with the Washington DC March for Life attended by Valle seniors and juniors. The Valle silent march was held on Friday afternoon, January 19th.
This trip, made each year by juniors, seniors and parents is a wonderful opportunity to participate in what St. Pope John Paul wrote in The Gospel of Life: "It is impossible to further the common good without acknowledging and defending the right to life, upon which all the other inalienable rights of individuals are founded and from which they develop." This year's pilgrimage was organized by Mrs. Jan Weiler, Mrs. Patty Shuh, and Mrs. Pam Basler.
Aside from standing up for the unborn, the group had an opportunity to visit the sites in and around our capital city. A special moment occurred as students placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. Watch a video of the ceremony below.
The final stop before leaving Washington was a visit to the Pentagon Memorial, a permanent outdoor memorial to the 184 people who died as victims in the building and on American Airlines Flight 77 during the September 11 attacks.
The mission of the March for Life held each year in Washington DC, is to provide all Americans with a place to testify to the beauty of life and the dignity of each human person. The March unites and strategizes around a common message, and communicates a message to the government, the media and the nation in a way that is powerful and life-affirming.
A popular item each year at the Valle Auction is "Lunch with My Teacher" and "Lunch with My Principal". This week was the time for the highest bidders to have their special time with their teachers/principal.