Be
GRADES
Visitation Academy is a community that exists to educate children and young women and to receive and share Jesus as Mary did in her visitation to Elizabeth.
In an environment that values excellence in scholarship, spirituality, leadership, and service, this Visitation community encourages students to develop their unique gifts.
As students learn to Live Jesus with gentleness, humility, joy, and freedom, they are prepared to continue to grow and to respond to others, the Church, and the global community.
Opportunity. Growth. Potential.
Viz’s all-girl Middle School helps students unpack their unique potential in an atmosphere of opportunity and exploration. Their inner strength and confidence blossom as they grow into the young women they are meant to BE.
“Be who you are and be that well.” These timeless words from St. Francis de Sales - challenging each person to develop their distinct gifts - underpin a Visitation Academy education.
Since our inception in 1833, Viz has been devoted to developing and celebrating the strengths found within each young woman who walks through our doors. Our unique educational philosophy and supportive, faith-based learning environment spark curiosity and impart lifelong learning skills
imperative for the future. We nurture students’ individuality, prepare them for Upper School success, and help them develop a resilience that will last a lifetime.
Our students thrive in an environment that allows them to BE: challenged academically, stimulated creatively, encouraged athletically, inspired personally, supported emotionally, filled spiritually, and appreciated and loved for their unique, authentic selves.
Welcome to Visitation Academy.
The place to BE for an all-girl education.
Be
ACADEMICS
HIGH ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS IN A CARING AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT are
the CORNERSTONE OF THE MIDDLE SCHOOL.
The Visitation Academy Middle School curriculum is centered on the developmental readiness, needs, and interests of our young women, guiding and supporting our students’ academic, social, emotional, and spiritual growth. Our educators meet your daughter where she is and help her become who she is meant to BE.
LIFELONG LEARNERS
Viz’s Middle School program builds a bridge from childhood to young adulthood. Students are guided in making choices, taking ownership of their education, and fully engaging in the learning process
Exploration and challenge are hallmarks of the Middle School experience. Students
are exposed to a wide variety of academic disciplines and encouraged to explore what it means to be a mathematician, a scientist, a writer, a programmer.
Our classrooms are active, hands-on centers of learning that involve experiments, demonstrations, simulations, and projects
CONCEPT CORRIDOR
Learning by doing - Middle School students at Viz can let their imaginations soar in our Concept Corridor. With media production spaces, a Makerspace, an engineering lab, and a Food Science kitchen, our students can do what they dream.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
At Viz, the world is our classroom! From local field trips to our annual trips for sixth, seventh, and eighth graders, we give students opportunities to enhance learning through hands-on experiences.
TAILORED TEACHING
A Visitation education equips young women with the knowledge, virtues, and skills to thrive in the world ahead. Across all areas of academic study, faculty members share a focus on our students and their engagement with the curriculum. We are invested in a student-first approach that emphasizes the creativity and problem-solving skills students will rely on for a lifetime.
Viz faculty members work closely with students to supplement classroom learning with real-world skills you won’t find in a textbook. Viz girls develop strong skills in critical thinking, communication, and collaboration.
Salesian values are the foundation of our educational philosophy. We motivate students to Live Jesus by exemplifying the same humility, joy, gentleness, and thoughtful concern for others as St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal. Together, our faculty helps young women discover and embrace their unique gifts.
BeInspired
Inspired SPIRITUALITY SALESIAN
Visitation Academy is rooted in the Roman Catholic faith and strengthened by Salesian Spirituality inspired by the founders of the Visitation Order, St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.
Salesian Spirituality is known for its universality and down-to-earth practicality. Because it is rooted in an understanding of human nature and the movement of God’s grace in each individual’s life, it is a spirituality that people of all ages, cultures, and religions can embrace.
Just as St. Francis practiced the Little Virtues daily, students are encouraged to live the virtues of gentleness, humility, patience, thoughtful concern for others, balance, simplicity, courtesy, graciousness, joyful optimism, and genuine love, contributing to Viz’s respectful, loving community of faith.
The Visitation educational philosophy:
• Fosters a personal friendship with God, which leads to a faith-filled vision of life.
• Integrates a strong academic course of studies with a Salesian spiritual dimension.
• Builds faith communities that call their members to understand the value of diversity and to respect the dignity of each person.
• Promotes the development of liberty of spirit, which empowers students to make life-giving choices.
• Embraces and models gospel values of peace and justice in order to be catalysts for positive change.
• Encourages an awareness of and care for the gifts of God’s creating hand.
Ask Us About
Middle School Masses and Prayer Services | Middle School Families
Gummy Worms, M&M’s, and Honey Drops | Class Retreats | Direction of Intention
Built by Love and Faith
The History of Visitation Academy in St. Louis
1844-1846 N. Broadway
1846-1858 9th Street
1858-1892 Cass Ave.
1844-1846 - Two separate Visitation Convents and their associated schools operated in St. Louis, Missouri. The original St. Louis foundation, sent in April 1844, educated day scholars on 6th Street while the group of Sisters from Kaskaskia educated boarding students on N. Broadway.
1846-1858 - The two Visitation communities reunited in one building and operated one school that educated day students and boarding students on 9th Street between Marion and Carroll Avenues.
1892-1962
Cabanne Ave.
1962-Present Ballas Rd.
1858-1892 - Visitation relocated their growing Academy and Convent to a newly constructed building on Cass Avenue.
1892-1962 - Following the city’s westward expansion, the Sisters moved to Cabanne Avenue and erected the Visitation Convent and Academy, dubbed the Chateau on Cabanne.
1962-Present - Visitation Academy established its current location on Ballas Road.
Inspired by the de Sales’ family crest, one of the founding group of Sisters bestowed the first gold crescent on a Viz student in 1838, beginning the longstanding tradition of Viz graduates receiving a gold crescent at graduation.
Founded in 1833 in Kaskaskia, IL, by a group of eight Sisters from the Georgetown Visitation Monastery in Washington, DC, at the invitation of Bishop Rosati, Visitation Academy is the Sisters’ testament to the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal, whose love and wisdom form the foundation of our teachings. The Sisters are united in their mission to receive and share Jesus, just as Mary did in her visitation to Elizabeth. Their gentle, prayerful spirit permeates campus, serving as an example for students and faculty.
Through the Sisters’ forward vision and thoughtful guidance, Viz continues to thrive. They have secured the Catholic future of Viz for generations to come through the Association of Christian Faithful (ACF).
This organization, composed of former faculty, alumnae, and past and present parents and grandparents, serves side-by-side with the Sisters, continuing their educational and religious ministry.
BeInvolv
EXTRACURRICULARS ATHLETICS SERVICE ARTS ed
BE CREATIVE
The arts are essential to the development of a well-rounded student.
We empower girls to foster creativity through a variety of art forms. Our comprehensive approach to the arts gives students the opportunity to explore different forms of expression and discover their talents and passions.
From learning the elements of art and design and how to analyze, interpret, and judge a work of art to the joyful exploration of music, from performing onstage in a play to experiencing art through movement in dance, students have a full and rich experience of the arts through their Middle School years.
Fine Arts Day | Middle School Play | Middle School Choir Concerts Middle School Art Show | Tech Theatre Ask Us About
BE CURIOUS
Extracurricular Activities
Are you a budding artist? Avid reader? Gifted linguist? Future leader? Robotics fanatic? Viz offers students opportunities to explore all these interests and many more. Middle School students have fun, grow, and flourish while participating in a variety of extracurricular activities throughout the year. Additional offerings not listed may be available based on student interest.
Ask Us About
• Ambassadors
• Art Club
• Bellarmine Speech League
• Book Club
• Cooking Club
• Cotillion
• Creative Writing Club
• French Club
• Latin Club
• Pickleball Club
• Robotics
• Sisters in Christ Club
• Spanish Club
• Spirit Club
• Student Council
• Study Skills Club
• Wellness Club
BE ACTIVE
Athletics
Both serious and casual athletes alike embrace sports early, and we provide all of our students with the opportunity to represent the school by participating in athletics. We take joy in inspiring students to reach their full potential, regardless of skill level. Our athletes embrace the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, and perseverance and form friendships that can last a lifetime.
Sports available to Middle School students at Visitation Academy include the following:
• Basketball
• Cheerleading
• Field Hockey
• Golf
• Heart & Sole
• Lacrosse
• Soccer
• Swimming (Grade 7 and 8)
• Tennis
• Volleyball
BE GENEROUS
“To carry God on the tongue with beautiful words, to carry God in the heart with beautiful affections, is not everything. We must carry Him in our arms with good works.”
- St. Francis de Sales
Our Middle School students engage in various opportunities to Live Jesus in service to others throughout the school year. Girls plan and design service opportunities they believe in and are passionate about, instilling a lifelong commitment to service within them.
Enrichment Week Salesian Service | Christmas Family Adoptions Live Jesus Service Opportunities | Grade Level Retreat Service Components Ask Us About
It all starts w th opportun ty.
The opportunity to realize God-given potential, develop unique gifts, and uncover inner strength and confidence.
A Middle School student at Visitation Academy:
• Lives Jesus according to Gospel values and Salesian Spirituality.
• Shows respect for God’s creation.
• Is a person of character who understands the importance of serving others.
• Values and displays excellence in scholarship.
• Applies knowledge and skills across the curriculum and to real-world situations.
• Solves problems analytically, logically, and creatively through independent, critical thinking.
• Is a digital citizen in a global community.
• Applies effective study skills to academic work.
• Demonstrates responsibility and self-direction when collaborating with others.
• Models confident and responsible leadership.
• Appreciates cultural diversity.
Are you ready to BE who you are and BE that well?
ADMISSIONS
Visitation Academy in St. Louis is part of the Visitation Salesian Network (VSN), which includes additional Visitation schools in various areas of the country.
Guided by the Sisters of the Visitation of Holy Mary, the Visitation Salesian Network is dedicated to forming minds and hearts in the spirit of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal.