by Jenny Chase, executive director of development & advancement Villa Marie School
For many families at Villa Marie School for Exceptional Children in Waverly, the hardest part of giving their child the opportunities they need to succeed is the time away from their child.
The children who board at Villa Marie go to school on Sunday evening and don’t return home until Friday evening. Many of the parents are over an hour away from their child. It can be a difficult choice to do what is best for one’s child, sacrificing personal time together so that they can be helped and given the education they so deserve. This piece shares the stories of a few of the students from the Hastings/Grand Island area.
Bella
“I cried and cried as the specialists ran tests on her tiny body as they told me she may never walk or talk, and I was devastated. Friends and family called to say they were sorry, but one friend called to congratulate me, saying, ‘Why are you crying? She’s healthy, she’s beautiful and she is yours.’ That changed everything. In that moment, I decided to stop fearing the future and instead embrace it,” said Mary Wynn.
After having several pregnancy losses and losing her firstborn daughter at 7 weeks old to SIDS, Trisomy 21, or Down Syndrome, had been the furthest thing from Mary’s mind during this pregnancy.
Bella was a sweet baby, fussing only when she wanted something. As she grew into a toddler, it became clear how intelligent she was. The world didn’t expect much of Baby Bella with Down Syndrome, but she met her developmental milestones in a timely fashion and showed the world she was quite capable of great things.
“I knew, given the right opportunities in life, she could make it further than we could imagine. However, public school didn’t expect greatness for her life,” said Wynn. “Bella is an actress, she loves fashion, is quite the cook, and a friend to all who meet her. She brings joy and light to your heart even on the darkest days. She has taught me about real love, pure love and acceptance. I wanted more for her.”
Then Wynn learned of Villa Marie School from the Janssen family in Hastings whose daughter Mary was enrolled there and making great progress. Wynn said she prayed for a year before reaching out to Sister Jeanette, the principal.
“My heart was broken to see my baby go off to school 90 minutes from home, but in my soul, I could feel this was the right decision for Bella and that she would be given the opportunities I had prayed for her whole life.”
After a couple months in the program, the staff and her family can already see changes in Bella. The Wynn family is thankful to Villa Marie and the staff for all the hard work they put into teaching and caring for Bella and all the children.
“We would never have been able to afford to send Bella to such a wonderful school if it was not for the donors who made it possible,” stated Wynn.
Mary
Mary Janssen was born with Chromosome 17 deletion. This affects all areas of development and causes some behavioral issues. After experiencing extreme frustration and struggling with the education situation in the public-school setting in Hastings, her parents began looking into Villa Marie.
In her two years at Villa Marie, Mary has matured greatly, gained important independent living skills, shown growth in academics and social skills, and is using coping skills to self-manage her mental health. She has also grown in her relationship with God.
“We are not Catholic; however, we appreciate the foundational Christian teaching that is being reinforced daily at Villa Marie,” said Michelle Janssen. “The teachers and staff are amazing and truly care about each and every child. There is really no place like Villa Marie in Nebraska.
They even have a licensed counselor onsite 15 hours a week to work with the students and provide them with the mental health support they need. I can’t imagine where Mary would be without the counselor.”
The Janssens do hope and pray that some day Villa Marie will be able to expand and offer programing for students 18-21. Currently the school serves children 6-18.
“We are so blessed and thankful for Villa Marie and all the supporters who have made Mary’s life and education better,” Michelle said.
The Janssen family learned of Villa Marie from their friend, Catherine Nagl, who provided respite care for Mary and whose daughter Sapphire was showing positive changes by attending Villa Marie.
Sapphire
Catherine heard Spirit Catholic Radio interviewing students and staff at Villa Marie School and thought it could be the perfect place for her daughter Sapphire to get more than just an education. She had been caring for Sapphire since she was 9 years old at the Family of Good Shepherd, a home for special needs children in Grand Island. Sapphire has intellectual and other disabilities, and was in Queen of Heaven Academy at the time.
At Villa Marie, Sapphire not only made great strides academically, she learned social skills and job skills that she would use in life. Through the jobs she did at Villa Marie such as washing dishes, washing windows, vacuuming, sweeping, taking out trash and folding laundry, she learned to clean slowly and thoroughly. She enjoyed hand-washing dishes and putting them away in their specific places.
She would help teachers organize classroom papers and shelves, and even supervised the students when teachers had to step out of the room for a short period. She also helped a kindergarten teacher at St. John the Apostle School in Lincoln for a few hours a week during her last semester at Villa Marie.
“The most important thing I learned is how to keep my dorm space nice, neat and tidy,” Sapphire stated. Sapphire graduated from Villa Marie in 2020 and now cleans, organizes and cares for children at the Family of the Good Shepherd, taking on the role of her late grandmother.
Sapphire would like to learn how to drive and get her driver’s license. One day she would like to own her own dog-grooming business.
“I’d like to have a little house on our property and have people bring me their dogs to groom one at a time,” she said.
When asked what she would tell a student thinking about going to school at Villa Marie, she replied, “I would tell them to go to camp. At summer camp, you meet all the kids and do fun things together, then you know each other when school starts.”
All three girls—Sapphire, Mary and Bella—loved their Villa Marie camp experience. Villa Marie Camp is usually held in June.
The parents of all three girls said the most difficult thing was having the child gone during the week.
“Bella is loved and deeply missed during the weekdays, but I know that because of this opportunity we were given, it will change her life and give her a beautiful future,” said Mary Wynn.
About Villa Marie
People are encouraged to share the stories of these girls with friends and family, to spread awareness and reach children who could be helped by Villa Marie School. Villa Marie is a boarding and day school in Waverly, for children 6-18 who have special education needs.
Founded in 1964 by Msgr. James D. Dawson, the school has been shepherded by the Marian Sisters since its inception. Students find acceptance, friendship and encouragement from patient teachers who meet them where they are and develop their God-given talents and interests so they can be successful.
The cost to educate a child at Villa Marie averages $36,000, and every child qualifies for scholarship. The school educational programing is funded 95% through the generosity of donors.
To learn more, follow Villa Marie’s Facebook page or visit www.villamarieschool.com. Donations can be made online at the website or checks may be mailed to Villa Marie School, 7205 N 112th, Waverly, NE 68462.
Annual dance
The 2023 “Shine Like His Stars” annual dance and auction fundraiser to support Villa Marie School will be held Jan. 27, 2023 at the Lancaster Event Center. Tickets and tables will go on sale Nov. 25. They are available by texting vmdance23 to 243725.
