Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | August 22, 2019 I hope this finds you well. We have had a tremendous start to the 19-20 school year! Everyone is happy, engaged, and excited to be here. Goal 4—building a community as a Christian value—is alive and well.
At our first morning assembly today, I asked the students, "Do you know that you have superpowers?" Most of them didn't believe me, so I explained by comparing them to Superman.
Superman:
Our Students:
So, what are their superpowers? You guessed it--it's their grace & their grit. At any moment, they have the capacity to discover and determine where God is in each other and in each situation they find themselves. They can be empowered by the Sacred. Also, they are stronger and more capable than they ever imagined. Their sense of grit says "I will do this; I've got this." in all things.
Having come to know everyone in our school community, it seems like you have these same superpowers, too!
Dr. Peter M. Schroeder
RULL FAMILY INNOVATION CENTER
We can't thank our 2018 Children's Challenge donors enough! On Sunday, August 18, we had the privilege of revealing the Rull Family Innovation Center to our community. Chairman of the Board Spencer Finney, Head of School Michael Baber, students, and families joined the Rull Family for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Our students will study engineering, physics, computer science, robotics, fine arts, and mathematics in the new space. We are so grateful to our community of supporters and to the Rull Family for their commitment to advancing STEAM education at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School.
GOAL FOUR IN ACTION
Please enjoy the following slideshows from Saints Star-Up and the first day of school.
PARENT BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT | SEPTEMBER 4
Please mark your calendars for our Oak Hill Parent Back-to-School Night on Wednesday, September 4, beginning at 6:30 pm in the Duchesne Building. More details about the evening's schedule will be provided in next week's issue of Nuts & Bolts.
PARENT COFFEE | SEPTEMBER 5
Join us Thursday, September 5, from 8-9 am in the Lenke Global Education Center to meet the School Leadership Team and Parent Association Executive Committee and hear about ways to get involved in the year ahead. We will also discuss Angela Duckworth's book, Grit, the faculty and staff's summer reading book, and how determination and perseverance are traits to encourage and foster.
HEAD OF SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL
The Head of School (HOS) Advisory Council consists of parents, faculty, students, administration, and other members of the school community, and its primary purpose is to offer advice and assistance to the Head of School in accordance with the mission of our School. Advisory council members share their experience and expertise to strengthen the decision-making process of the Head of School. The HOS Advisory Council meets from 9:15-10 am on the first Friday of each month in room 219, beginning Friday, September 6.
If you are interested in being considered for the HOS Advisory Council, please email Amy Pridgeon, Assistant to the Head of School, at apridgeon@vdoh.org by Friday, August 30.
DADS' HAPPY HOUR | NEW DATE
Dads talked and we listened. Thank you for your feedback about the timing of our Dads' Happy Hour and please note our new date of Wednesday, October 16. We invite all dads and grandfathers to join us for drinks and dinner with Anthony Pulis, Head Coach of Saint Louis Football Club and father of Grace and George. Watch for more details in upcoming issues of Nuts & Bolts.
NO SCHOOL | SEPTEMBER 2
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School will be closed Monday, September 2, in observance of Labor Day.
ROSARY | EACH WEDNESDAY
All are welcome at 8 am each Wednesday beginning August 28 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.
MASS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT | LENKE GEC DEDICATION
Please join us for our next all-school Mass, where we call on the Holy Spirit to bless students, educators, and our school year. On Friday, August 30, our entire Sacred Heart community will come together to celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit at 9 am in the Chapel. A dedication of the Lenke Global Education Center will follow Mass.
FIRST FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
An integral part of the Sacred Heart life, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration is a tradition that exemplifies Goals I & IV. On these days, the Eucharist will be exposed for adoration following the 8:15 am Oak Hill Mass and Benediction until 3 pm in our Chapel. All are welcome anytime during the day to visit and pray. First Friday Eucharistic Adoration days for the 2019-2020 school year are scheduled for September 6, October 4, November 1, December 6, February 7, March 6, April 3, and May 1.
While students, teachers, and staff make visits throughout the day, parent volunteers are needed to ensure that the Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended. Adorers are scheduled for hour shifts from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information about serving, please contact Kelly Adamitis at kellyjadamitis@icloud.com.
PRAYER REQUESTS
The Parent Association Mission Committee has established a special intentions prayer group. If you have a prayer request for yourself or a loved one, we have a dedicated group to pray for your need. Please send your request to prayers@vdoh.org. Prayers are confidential if requested.
And, did you know that Mass Cards are available in the Portry for special intentions or the repose of the souls of departed loved ones. Prayer intention candles are also available to light. They are adjacent to the Rose Philippine Duchesne Shrine in the vestibule of the Chapel.
BIBLE STUDY
Seeking to live out Goals I & II, all parents are welcome to meet from
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 |