Special to the Register by Father Kenneth Borowiak
WAVERLY (SNR) – Eighth-graders from St. Michael School in Lincoln visited Villa Marie Home and School for Exceptional Children in Waverly Dec. 6 for an Advent project which St. Michael students planned, organized and carried out.
They began to plan the Advent activity in early November. They brainstormed on what type of activities they could share with Villa Marie students. Activities included cookie and a Christmas ornament decorating, games and a gift exchange for Villa Marie students.
Realizing they needed resources to bring the project to fruition, St. Michael students strategized about how they would fund raise.
They turned to parishioners Ryan and Lisa Funke who own The Donut Hole in Lincoln. The Funkes gave the students 15 dozen donuts which the students distributed after a recent weekend Mass, in exchange for donations. With the proceeds, the eighth-graders bought ornaments, icing, and paper products. In addition, St. Michael eighth-graders bought a gift and a card for each of the 18 students currently enrolled at Villa Marie School.
The students from both schools worked on the project together. After they finished decorating the Christmas cookies and ornaments, they went outside to the newly-dedicated playground and spent more than an hour playing together.
The Advent project illustrated the work that Villa Marie School and Home for Exceptional Children has done for more than 55 years and the dreams and the hopes that the home and school has for the future.
Started in 1964 by Msgr. James Dawson and the Marian Sisters, Villa Marie is now in its 56th academic year. Staffed by the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln, Villa Marie provides an educational setting and residence for children ages 6 through 18 who have intellectual and learning challenges.
The school, located at the Catholic Center between Lincoln and Waverly, provides a family-like, loving environment for students, families and staff.
Of the 18 students currently enrolled at Villa Marie, 13 board there during the week.
Villa Marie students learn from teachers certified in special education. The school is approved by the Nebraska Department of Education. The school provides academics, studies in life skills, social skills, spiritual life and physical fitness. Because of the generosity of private donors, students have access to technology including Smart Boards and iPads. Most of the students participate in Special Olympics.
After reaching age 18 and upon completing their individualized programs of academics and formation, Villa Marie students go on to vocational skills training in order to facilitate semi-sufficiency and independence.
Villa Marie School is unique in that it is not attached to a particular parish. In the parochial school model, a parish has a large enough demographic base in order to provide the financial resources for the operation of the parish school. However, Villa Marie is a specialized, stand-alone school. As a school and residence, the educational costs per student are much higher than other Catholic schools or public schools.
With the exception of a very small amount of revenue received through the federal hot lunch program, Villa Marie School and Home relies almost entirely on the generosity of private donors for its operation, special projects, repairs and improvements.
Sister Paula Watts, M.S., a staff member at Villa Marie School, noted the school’s ongoing needs.
“We are looking at basic improvements such as paint and mattresses,” she said. Each of the dorm rooms is sparsely decorated and has four students to a room.
“We are looking to replace eight twin-size mattresses, four for each of the two boys’ dorm rooms. Some of the mattresses are quite old,” she added. If money was available, Sister Paula said they would replace all 16 mattresses.
While 18 students are currently enrolled at Villa Marie, Msgr. Perkinton and the Marian Sisters would like to expand in order to accept a larger number of students. Two more students are expected to enroll at Villa Marie in January.
“There are far more students eligible to be enrolled in Villa Marie than we currently have room for,” Msgr. Perkinton said.
“We have a lot to be grateful for at Villa Marie,” he added. “Especially today for the beautiful witness of Jesus’ disciples in the eighth-grade students of St. Michael School.”
