Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | May 2, 2019
As we enter these last weeks of school, I wanted to let you know about another outdoor education initiative on which we have begun work. Head of School Michael Baber and I wanted to see the nature trail used more frequently and in meaningful ways. With the help of Director of Counseling Celeste Chappuis and others, we have begun the installation of a low ropes course along the trail. Two elements have been installed already—the All Aboard and the Horizontal Spider Web (see below for a brief description)—and more will be completed soon.
Blessings, Dr. Peter M. Schroeder
All Aboard: The challenge is to get your entire group on a small platform for 10 seconds with at least one foot of each person being in contact with the platform. The activity is great for developing group cohesiveness and group creativity among many other things.
Horizontal Spider Web: The challenge is set with a grid of squares made by tying rope to 4 separate trees. While there are many variations of things to do with this. One option starts with the entire team on one side of the web. One person at a time must navigate across the "web" without touching any of the suspended ropes. If a rope is touched, they return to their side and wait for another turn. This challenge is perfect for developing group inclusion and support as team members are encouraged to offer thoughts and advice to the one navigating the web
FIELD DAY 2019 TOMORROW Tomorrow, May 3, is Field Day! Much like the US Postal Service, our Field Day motto for 2019 is "Neither rain, nor clouds, nor muddy fields shall stay these athletes from the swift completion of their Field Day games." Regardless of wet and/or muddy fields, if it is safe for our students, Field Day 2019 will take place outside. Students should wear their Field Day t-shirts with shorts, socks, and shoes that they don't mind getting wet or muddy. Students may wish to bring a towel and an additional change of clothes. We will observe our usual school start times for all grades JK3-12. Oak Hill students should report to their homerooms, middle school to Room 201, and high school to the Auditorium. Field Day events will begin with Opening Ceremonies and Parade of Athletes at 8:25 am in Kenefick Gym followed by Goûter on the Front Lawn. Activities for students JK3, JK4, and Kindergarten end at 11:30 am. Students in grades JK3-K will have an optional dismissal at 11:30 am or parents may choose to have these students remain at school until regular 3:15 pm dismissal. There will be no Acorn Club following Field Day activities. Learn about the days' schedule, dress code for the day, parking, and more: With most Field Day events scheduled for outside, parents are asked to remind their children to take any needed allergy medicines prior to arriving at school. Over-the-counter allergy medicines are not available in the Health Center. Additionally, students with asthma should be sure to have their inhalers at school and all students should use sunscreen as it is a long day outside.
STUDENT HEALTH RECORDS | DUE MAY 3 Parents are reminded that a current physical dated on or after February 1, 2019, is required for the 2019-2020 school year for all students entering grade 7 and grades 9-12 as well as all students new to Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School and those entering junior kindergarten 3, kindergarten, or grade 4. Each student's medical information should be entered or updated in Magnus by tomorrow, May 3. For a list of all health care requirements, please view Health Care | Magnus Health in the Resource Center of the Parent Portal. You will receive emailed notifications from Magnus about incomplete 2019-2020 health record enrollment until you complete all required items. To get started, log in to Magnus Health using your vdoh.org website username and password. This is the same login information used to view grades, submit permission forms, check your billing status, etc.
BOOK DRIVE | ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC ACADEMY The final First Friday book drive to benefit the St. Louis Catholic Academy in North St. Louis is tomorrow, May 3. New and gently used books are needed for all grades and reading levels, from children's books to chapter books. 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.
MOTHER-CHILD MASS AND BRUNCH Head of School Michael F. Baber invites all Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School mothers and their children to join us for Mass and Brunch, Sunday, May 5, beginning at 10 am in our Chapel. Please register below if you will be able to join us. Contact Manager of Engagement Dominic A. Key at dkey@vdoh.org or 314.810.3454 if you have any questions about this event.
MARKET DAY FOR TINY SUPERHEROES On Tuesday, May 7, third graders will hold a Market Day in the cafeteria during lunch time as part of their Helping Hearts project. They will sell items to support Tiny Superheroes, an organization that empowers kids who are overcoming illnesses and disabilities. The Market Day will feature hand-made items including pieces produced in the Makerspace that will range in price from $1 to $5. All proceeds will help provide custom-made capes for the children in the Tiny Superheroes program and donations are welcome. Our third graders are so excited to be able to support the extraordinary children that will receive their capes!
STUDENTS AND FRIENDS FROM OTHER SCHOOLS, JOIN US ... Boys and girls in grades 5-8 from all schools are invited for a night of Trivia Friday, May 10. Doors open at 6:30 pm; trivia begins at 7 pm. Soda and snacks are provided and there is no charge for this evening of fun. If you have questions, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@vdoh.org. For more information and to register, visit:
UNIFORM EXCHANGE & FITTING DAYS The final uniform exchange for both the upper and lower schools will be held Monday, May 13, in the Duchesne Building Conference Room from 7:30-9:30 am as well as 2:30-3:30 pm. If you have any current uniform items to donate, please drop them off at the Oak Hill Office. Feel free to drop in to the exchange and pick out items as needed. Please remember that students are to be in complete uniform through the last day of school. Just Me Apparel, our exclusive uniform provider, will hold a Uniform Fitting Day between 2:30 and 6 pm Tuesday, May 14, in the Small Dining Room of the 1929 Main Building. All uniform items, as well as PE t-shirts for grades 7-12, will be available for order. Just Me Apparel will deliver your order to campus on Saints Start-Up Sunday, August 18, unless you prefer to pick up items at their store. View Uniforms under Resource Center in the Parent Portal for Just Me Apparel 2019 price sheets
2019-2020 RE-ENROLLMENT CONTRACTS Thank you to those families who have already submitted their 2019-2020 enrollment contracts. We ask that ALL families, even those not returning, submit their intent for the 2019-2020 year. Returning families are also required to send an enrollment deposit of $1,000 to the Business Office to complete the re-enrollment process. In addition, families who seek financial assistance must reapply each year. If you have any questions, please contact Financial Services Coordinator Alice Tuhro at atuhro@vdoh.org or 314.810.3531.
FAMILY RECORDS (CONTACT INFO) New for the 2019-20 school year, our printed school directory will include mobile phone numbers. Up to three unique phone numbers can be published for each family. Numbers will be pulled from the Residential Address Block of your My Backpack Profile. To prevent a phone number from being published, you must check the box to the left of it in your profile. We ask each family to ensure their contact information is complete and up-to-date. Under the Bulletin Board on your Parent Portal, expand the MyBackPack window and tap the 'Update Profile' link to get started. Your user name and password will be required to access your profile. Check for:
PASSPORT TO SUMMER | ATHLETIC CAMPS All eight weeks of Passport to Summer Day Camps are full! However, seats are still available for athletic camps. For more information, visit our website or contact Dominic A. Key, Manager of Community Engagement, at dkey@vdoh.org.
WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
Please join us Wednesday, May 8, when we will pray for immigrant workers. 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 |