Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | September 13, 2018  

Each year at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School, we celebrate International Day of Peace. The United Nations General Assembly dedicated September 21 as a day to strengthen the ideals of peace. According to the UN website, "A peaceful society is one where there is justice and equality for everyone. Peace will enable a sustainable environment to take shape and a sustainable environment will help promote peace."

Oak Hill students have been celebrating Peace Day since 2005. This year, the upper and lower school students are joining together for a Cor Unum event! At 9 am Friday, September 21, we will begin our "Peace Journey" in Condie Hall and move from there in parade fashion with our "love train" up to the 1929 Main Building to pick up middle and high school students. Our train will wind around the building to the back bowl where the students' art work and prayer flags will be on display during the prayer service led by the sixth grade. All parents are encouraged to join us! Please note, the road past the grotto will be blocked from 8:55-9:55 am for the parade, so arrive early or plan to park on the lots near Condie Field. 

Blessings,

Dr. Peter M. Schroeder

Sixth graders prepare for a day of challenges at Camp Wyman.

SIXTH GRADE AT CAMP WYMAN

Our sixth grade students departed this morning for their overnight trip at Camp Wyman. This is a fantastic way our students live out Goal IV – building community as a Christian value – as they solidify and deepen their relationships with their classmates. The students also work on personal growth (Goal V) as they challenge themselves on the different trails and courses. 

French delegation arrives in time to celebrate Global Service Day.

GLOBAL SERVICE DAY

This morning we welcomed a group of Sacred Heart visitors from France who are on a pilgrimage that includes visits to our campus, Florissant, Cathedral Basilica, The Academy in St. Charles, and Sugar Creek, Kansas. The group visited classrooms and offices and some of the members will be joining us for our Global Service Day, September 15, which is just two days away. There's still time to get involved in one or more of the following ways:

• Donate Blood at Campus Blood Drive (Age 16 to Adult)
• Assist at Campus Blood Drive (Grades 7-12)
• Sort Food at St. Louis Area Food Bank (Age 3 to Adult)
• Clear and Weed Campus (Age 3 to Adult)
• Fill Blessing Bags on Campus for Homeless (Age 3 to Adult)
• Deliver Blessing Bags to St. Nicholas Parish (Age 16 to Adult)
• Donate Toiletries and Food for Blessing Bags (All Ages)
• Attend Social Justice Conference at SLUH (Grade 9 to Adult)

Select the button to learn more about each of these opportunities and how you can volunteer.

Share your inspirational stories from Global Service Day with #SacredHeartService on social media. And, please join us for our blessing and commissioning service for all student and adult volunteers at 2:15 pm Friday, September 14, in the Chapel.

MATH IN FOCUS PARENT TRAINING

On Tuesday, September 18, beginning at 7 pm, Oak Hill is providing an opportunity for parents to learn more about Math in Focus Program implemented last year in kindergarten through grade 4. We welcome Dr. Priscilla Bercovici, who has served as the Department Head, Math Specialist, and Area Coordinator at Sacred Heart, Greenwich since 2006. In this role, she provided ongoing support/coaching of teachers and students (and parents) in the area of mathematics. Dr. Bercovici assisted our team in implementing the Singapore Math-in-Focus program. This meeting is a wonderful way to get more information and ask questions related to the program.

Please let us know if you are planning to attend by completing the online form below. Contact the Oak Hill School Office 314.810.3434 if you have any questions.

ANNUAL GIVING PLEDGE DAY

KENDRA GIVES BACK PARTY

Kendra Scott is hosting a Kendra Gives Back party at their Plaza Frontenac location from 11 am to 2 pm Saturday, September 29. Stop by and shop, and Kendra Scott will donate 20% of the sales to our Bonne Chance Auction.

MOTHERS' CLUB LUNCHEON

Celebrate our Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School community by joining us for the Mothers' Club Fall Luncheon at 11:30 am Wednesday, October 10, at Old Warson Country Club. Our special guest will be Villa alum Candace Bond McKeever '83. Candace was named by the Los Angeles County Commision For Women, Woman of the Year 2014.

Reservations for the luncheon are due no later than Wednesday, October 3.

STATE OF THE SCHOOL

We invite you to attend our State of the School meeting from 6 to 7 pm Thursday, October 11. Come hear from Head of School Michael F. Baber as well as board members and staff. The meeting will be held in the Global Education Center and will be followed by a wine and cheese reception.

MAROON PLATOON

Mothers' Club President Casey St. John and Fathers' Club President Dan Brown invite parents to join the Maroon Platoon. It is a new way for parents to weave themselves into the daily fabric of the school. We will help our students foster school spirit. We will support our faculty and administration. We will work directly with other school clubs and organizations to build community among students and adults.

You will soon hear about Pack the Gym, Flood the Field, and Crash the Court Days with the Maroon Platoon cheering on our students at a designated game or match for each sport, each season. You will be called to Pack the Auditorium Days to support our students in Show Choir and Performing Arts Department productions. You will see the Maroon Platoon at student art shows and theology presentations.

Be ready to get involved! Be ready to make some noise! Be ready to join the Maroon Platoon! Watch for your Maroon Platoon alerts.

OAK HILL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS – SIGN UP TODAY!

Would your student like to try something new? Engineering? Self-Defense? Acting? You won't want to miss out on our enrichment programs! Oak Hill's enrichment programs support our curriculum by offering students additional opportunities to explore their interests and develop their talents in classes taught by skilled professionals. Most enrichment programs meet from 3:15 to 4:15 pm unless otherwise noted. Enrichment registration is available under the Reference Center in your Parent Portal. Space is limited for these fee-based programs; learn more and register today!

WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS

On Wednesday, September 19, we will pray for the Red Cross. Mass begins promptly at 7:15 am in the Chapel and usually concludes no later than 7:35 am. Mass is celebrated most Wednesdays at 7:15 am in our Chapel when school is in session. Everyone in our school community is invited and encouraged to attend. View our 2018-2019 Mass Intentions list to see the specific intentions planned for each week.

ROSARY | EACH WEDNESDAY

All are welcome at 8 am each Wednesday when school is in session in our Chapel to offer the Rosary to Mater for her motherly protection of our children and for all the faculty, staff, and religious of this community who play such a critical role in nurturing and teaching our children.

• September 10-14
• September 17-21
• September 24-28

Each Thursday, the Nuts & Bolts newsletters will highlight important information including upcoming school events, student achievements in and outside of school, forms to be completed, and program deadlines. Send your information for students and parents to news@vdoh.org to be included in either the Oak Hill newsletter, the Villa Duchesne newsletter, or both.

Please log in frequently to access personalized announcements and calendar items in your portal. Contact your Principal's Office with questions about your online account. For Villa Duchesne, email Judy Bertucci at jbertucci@vdoh.org. For Oak Hill, email Jaime Bergfeld at jbergfeld@vdoh.org.

Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School

801 S.Spoede Road | St. Louis, MO 63131

314.432.2021 | www.vdoh.org