Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | December 6, 2018
The weeks ahead bring us through the season of Advent and into the fullness of joy and celebration at Christmas. As we begin this new Liturgical season, I want to share a quote which I recently rediscovered. It resonates deeply with my own heart, and I like that it describes a faith journey deeply rooted in the Hope.
Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience.
The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and his presence among us—as one of us—give us reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned. (Connections Magazine, 11.28.93)
May this Advent season be a time for hope and light for you and yours. We invite you to share in our preparation for Christmas by attending our First Friday Mass and Adoration tomorrow, December 7, our early childhood Christmas program on December 19, and our annual Christmas Baskets Mass on December 21.
Blessings,
Dr. Peter M. Schroeder
| |
CHRISTMAS BASKETS
On the last day before the Christmas holidays, December 21, our community will once again come together to celebrate Christmas Baskets Mass to bless the baskets of food we prepare for those less fortunate in our community. Every year, Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School commits to provide at least as many baskets as there are families in our School. Each family's participation in this time-honored tradition is essential to fulfill this commitment. Participation is both an honor and a serious responsibility. Follow our Christmas Baskets link to learn more about preparing your basket and this tradition.
In addition, we are always in need of drivers to deliver baskets to the individuals and agencies. If your family would like to take part in delivering the baskets, please email Dean of Students 7-12 Krista Richardson at krichardson@vdoh.org by Monday, December 10.
| |
CHRISTMAS BASKETS DISMISSAL | CHRISTMAS BREAK
All students will be dismissed for the Christmas holidays following Christmas Baskets Mass on Friday, December 21. Since many Oak Hill parents attend the Mass, we offer two dismissal options – pick up immediately following Mass in the Kenefick Gymnasium or at 10:15 am at the students' regular dismissal sites. Acorn Club WILL NOT be available on December 21 and all school offices will close for Christmas break following Mass. Classes resume Tuesday, January 8. All parents are asked to complete the Oak Hill Christmas dismissal form by Wednesday, December 19. If you have any questions, please contact Jaime Bergfeld, Assistant to the Oak Hill Principal, at jbergfeld@vdoh.org.
| |
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
Parents with students in JK3-K are invited to join us for Coffee and Conversation at 8 am Wednesday, December 12, in the Conference Room of Pod A. The focus of the morning will be STEM curriculum at Oak Hill and how the Makerspace, Science Lab, and our 64-acre campus will benefit your child's development. Socialize with fellow parents and get to know School Administration in a relaxed and conversational environment.
| |
UPCOMING OUT-OF-UNIFORM DAYS
- Elf Day, December 20—Oak Hill students are encouraged to wear Christmas or red and green attire. Please remember that students should wear tennis shoes for physical education class.
- Christmas Baskets Mass, December 21—Students may dress in church-going clothes (NO jeans) or dress uniform.
Guidelines for out-of-uniform days can be found in the Student-Parent Handbook.
| |
Thank you to the generous donors who supported Sacred Heart education at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School on #GivingTuesday! We are honored to have received $20,000 on this day of giving. There is still time to support our students before the end of the calendar year by visiting www.vdoh.org/give.
| |
MADELINE'S CHRISTMAS, A MUSICAL
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill's sixth, seventh, and eighth grades will perform Madeline's Christmas, a musical based on the book by Ludwig Bemelmans. Join Madeline and her boarding school friends for an unforgettable, magical Christmas eve.
Performances begin at 7 pm Thursday, December 13, and Friday, December 14, with a running time of about one hour. Tickets are available at the door prior to each performance or online below. All ticket sales are general admission seating. Adults $10, Students $3, Children 6 and younger are free. No actual tickets will be issued. A list of all online purchases will be at the box office the nights of the show.
| |
CHRISTMAS DEALS IN LA BOUTIQUE
La Boutique is offering two more Christmas deals days—Fridays, December 7 and 14. Enjoy 25% off merchandise during school hours when you stop in and stock up for Christmas.
| |
Sixth grade students were presented with sweatshirts to mark their final year at Oak Hill. Each girl received a Villa sweatshirt from Director of Enrollment Management Therese Hagemeister welcoming them to attend Villa in seventh grade. Boys received Oak Hill sweatshirts from Manager of Alumni Relations Rachel Gehm to remind them to always cherish their Sacred Heart roots at Oak Hill as they prepare to head off to their new schools next year.
| |
BOOK DRIVE | ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC ACADEMY
The First Friday book drive for the St. Louis Catholic Academy in North St. Louis continues tomorrow, December 7, and will be held each first Friday throughout the school year. New and gently used books are needed for all grades and reading levels, from children's books to chapter books. Donated books will fill "treasure chests" in classrooms at St. Louis Catholic and will be awarded to students for good behavior, birthdays, and academic successes. Bins for donations are at the West Door and at the Duchesne Building. Contact Maria Adamitis '20 at madamitis2020@vdoh.org if you have any questions.
| |
FINANCIAL AID
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School offers need-based financial aid for families with students in Kindergarten-Grade 12. ALL requests for financial aid, whether it is for a current or prospective student, require parents to complete an online financial aid application with Smart Tuition Aid. Applications for the 2019-2020 school year are now being processed. Visit our website for application instructions and Smart Tuition Aid to begin the application process. Our school ID code is 12537.
If you have any questions regarding financial assistance, email admissions@vdoh.org or Alice Tuhro, Financial Services Coordinator, at atuhro@vdoh.org. Financial aid awards are solely need based and kept separate from the admissions decision process.
| |
FIRST FRIDAY MASS & EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Tomorrow, December 7, Oak Hill will celebrate First Friday Mass at 8:15 am followed by Benediction and exposition of the Eucharist until 3 pm. All are welcome to join the Oak Hill students for Mass or to visit anytime during the day to spend time in prayer and adoration with Our Lord.
While students, faculty, and staff will make visits throughout the day, parent volunteers are needed to ensure that the exposed Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended. For more information about serving, please contact Kelly Adamitis at kellyjadamitis@icloud.com.
| |
WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
On Wednesday, December 12, we will pray for migrants and refugees. 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.
| |
PRAYER INTENTIONS
Do you have a special intention or a loved one that you would like to be included in our Oak Hill Mass petitions? Please send an email to Katie Maxwell, Campus Minister, at kmaxwell@vdoh.org. We would very much like to remember the intentions of those in our community as we celebrate Mass together.
| |
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