Villa Duchesne Nuts and Bolts | January 10, 2018
New beginnings and new adventures. These are what the second semester of school brings to a campus. Students are able to reset and start anew. There is a rejuvenated spirit amongst your daughters. The laughter and joy are back in the building and your daughters bring life to the castle.
We are excited about all that the second semester will bring. New courses, dances, and congé, as well as exploration, investigation, and growth, are all components of this new beginning. Next Wednesday, January 16, all students will participate in a special schedule. The morning has the seniors meeting with a panel of alums for Career Day presentations as well as a new segment of the Healthy Bodies curriculum. Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen will take standardized tests. And, middle school students will participate in activities designed specifically for them. After lunch, all students will gather for an all-school House activity. This will be a time for the girls to work together as a cohesive and supportive House to achieve a common goal.
A new beginning is also found in the person of Christine Phillips, our new Student Success Specialist. We will be developing numerous opportunities for all students to take part in student success mini sessions with study skills and test prep among those offerings. If your daughter has a learning plan, we will be setting up individual meetings for you to meet with Mrs. Phillips.
I look forward to this new beginning and am encouraged by the growth and strength of character that continue to flourish in your daughters.
Ms. Bridget Collins
We are excited about all that the second semester will bring. New courses, dances, and congé, as well as exploration, investigation, and growth, are all components of this new beginning. Next Wednesday, January 16, all students will participate in a special schedule. The morning has the seniors meeting with a panel of alums for Career Day presentations as well as a new segment of the Healthy Bodies curriculum. Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen will take standardized tests. And, middle school students will participate in activities designed specifically for them. After lunch, all students will gather for an all-school House activity. This will be a time for the girls to work together as a cohesive and supportive House to achieve a common goal.
A new beginning is also found in the person of Christine Phillips, our new Student Success Specialist. We will be developing numerous opportunities for all students to take part in student success mini sessions with study skills and test prep among those offerings. If your daughter has a learning plan, we will be setting up individual meetings for you to meet with Mrs. Phillips.
I look forward to this new beginning and am encouraged by the growth and strength of character that continue to flourish in your daughters.
Ms. Bridget Collins
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OUR HEARTFELT THANKS!
Your generous donations to the Mothers' Club Christmas Gift Fund made Christmas merry and bright for our Sacred Heart educators this year. Your kindness is appreciated more than words can express. Thank you!
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INCLEMENT WEATHER PLANS
Families are notified of school closings, campus closings, late starts, and early dismissals via the SchoolMessenger phone messaging system. Announcements are also made on KSDK-TV (Channel 5), posted on our website at www.vdoh.org, and placed on our main switchboard line at 314.432.2021.
In the event of a weather-related late start to school, campus will open 30 minutes prior to the published start of classes. Classes will start no earlier than the announced late start time, which means that zero hour will be cancelled. For the safety of our students and staff, in the event of an early dismissal from school due to inclement weather, please plan to pick up your students within 30 minutes following the announced early dismissal time.
During inclement weather, parents who choose for their students to leave before school is officially dismissed must contact Dean of Students Krista Richardson. No student may leave without parental consent even if the student with whom they ride is leaving. All Villa students must sign out in the Dean of Student's Office if leaving before school is officially dismissed.
These procedures as well as all other school policies are available in our Student-Parent Handbook.
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HOST FAMILIES NEEDED
Villa Duchesne is seeking host families for visiting students from Japan and Ireland this spring:
- One student from Fuji Sacred Heart School in Susono, Japan in February
- Three students from Colaiste Ailigh in Letterkenny, Ireland between March 26-April 16
Hosting an international student is a fantastic way to broaden horizons, learn about a new culture, and liven up your daily routine! These international students are a great gift to our community and do so much to enrich our classes, so please consider being a host this spring. Interested families should contact Global Education Coordinator Emily Kaplan at ekaplan@vdoh.org or 314.810.3503.
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RETHINKING THOSE GOALS
For more years than I would prefer to admit, I have had the habit of using some time during exam week to evaluate my progress as a coach and educator and to recalibrate my goals accordingly. I learned early on that planning backwards is a terrific way to build out the academic year or sports season. Sometimes I would put goals on my list that were unrealistic or that I wasn't motivated to fulfil, like running a marathon. I don't run to run as a rule. Sometimes, I would put goals on the list that intrigued me but also failed to motivate—learning to needlepoint. I can usually get my sister to whip up the odd throw pillow or eyeglass case—so not a needle pointer either. Gradually I stopped setting goals that weren't actually real goals for me. I started setting goals that are specific, measurable, actually of value for my community, realistic, and timely. This year, I spent some time examining how I can best be of service to our community.
Coincidently, I was recently asked to give a health and wellness talk to some folks at a public accounting firm. Those guys love the numbers so to bring them into the room and focus on me, I gave them numbers—my numbers—the numbers I know I want to be different by Maypole. The numbers we all need to try and hit on a daily basis. I focused on the Big Four: prayer and meditation, sleep, nutrition/hydration, and exercise. I believe our children need the same—sleep, exercise, fuel, and time to pray and develop the sacredness inside them.
In the coming weeks, I will be spending some time on Monday mornings at announcements regaling the benefits of all of the Big Four as well as other wellness topics. I hope that through these presentations the sacred love each child has for herself will be emboldened, invigorated, awakened, kindled, and rekindled, that she knows she is cherished and cared for with great love.
As always, please let me know how I may be of service to you and to your family. My office is in room 232 of the 1929 Main Building, and I can be reached at 314.810.3428 or cchappuis@vdoh.org. We can figure anything out together.
Celeste Chappuis | Director of Counseling JK3-12
Celeste Chappuis | Director of Counseling JK3-12
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PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent-teacher conferences will be held Thursday, February 7, from 4-7:30 pm and Friday, February 8, from 7:30 am-12:00 noon. Watch for information about signing up in future issues of Nuts & Bolts.
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FINANCIAL AID
The deadline to apply for 2019-2020 need-based financial aid for families with students in Kindergarten-Grade 12 is Tuesday, January 15. 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. 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.
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NO SCHOOL JANUARY 21
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School will be closed Monday, January 21, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
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MAROON PLATOON ALERT | CONCESSIONS VOLUNTEERS
The Saints need you to help staff the concessions stand in Kenefick Gym for home basketball games this season. Sign up for your shift today!
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COLLEGE CORNER
College Corner, a valuable resource for parents and students, offers the latest information on college rep visits, opportunities to connect with colleges, scholarships, and much more. This webpage is updated weekly by our College Counseling Office, so bookmark it and visit often.
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LA BOUTIQUE CLEARANCE SALE
All clearance items in La Boutique are tagged at $5 each. The sale also includes many winter items. Villa Sherpa hoodies, Villa and Oak Hill Sherpa blankets, and select sweatpants are marked down to $25 each. Miscellaneous hats including Villa and Oak Hill winter hats as well as select Villa jersey pullovers are available for $15 each. Sale items are available while supplies last. La Boutique is open from 11:30 am-1 pm Monday-Friday.
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WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
On Wednesday, January 16, we will pray for people with mental health disabilities. 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.
BIBLE STUDY
The winter Bible study began earlier this week but it's not too late to join. Seeking to live out Goals I & II, all parents are welcome for the remainder of this six-week study. Genesis to Jesus will provide an overview of the Old Testament that will show how salvation history reaches its climax and fulfillment in Christ. The study group will meet from 9-10 am on Tuesdays in the Parlor Dining Room through February 12. If you would like to attend or have any questions, please contact Polly Capps at vdohspirituality@vdoh.org.
SPIRITUALITY SERIES
The next lecture in our 2018-19 Philippine Bicentennial Sacred Heart Spirituality Speaker Series is entitled "Following Philippine to Frontiers Crossed – Now What?" and will be presented by Lyn Osiek, RSCJ from 9:30 to 11:15 am Friday, February 1. Sr. Osiek will discuss what we have learned during the celebration of the Bicentennial of the Society's arrival in North America and how that can carry us forward. Coffee and goûter will be available in the Parlor Dining Room at 9:30 am. The presentation will be held in the Global Education Center. Please join us!
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ROSARY
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.
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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.
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Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School
801 S.Spoede Road | St. Louis, MO 63131
314.432.2021 | www.vdoh.org | news@vdoh.org