Villa Duchesne Nuts and Bolts | September 12, 2019
Our theme of Grace and Grit is evident every day we walk the halls of Villa Duchesne. You will have noticed your daughters having their first assessments, balancing their responsibilities of school work and extra curriculars, as well as managing social dynamics in and out of school. We are in partnership with you to assist your daughters in navigating this new school year. Hiring a new counselor is a top priority and we have begun this process. The plan is to interview top candidates and have them spend time on campus. When the new counselor is selected, we will introduce that person to our community. In the interim, I ask that you reach out to me if you have any concerns or want assistance for your daughters in the areas of academics or social or emotional well-being. Often it is easy to recognize the grit that your daughters possess. I have found that so much of their success can also be attributed to the grace that they exhibit and share with their peers and the entire Villa Duchesne community. Ms. Bridget Collins
National Merit Semifinalists Maria Adamitis and Rachel Ruddy with Principal Bridget Collins and Head of School Michael Baber. NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS
Congratulations to Maria Adamitis '20 and Rachel Ruddy '20 who have been named 2020 National Merit Semifinalists! Their selection is based on the high scores they achieved on the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying PSAT that they took last fall. We are proud of Maria and Rachel and all of their accomplishments and contributions to the life of Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School. Our college counselors shared a few words about each student:
"Maria is one of the most ambitious, friendly, and engaging students I have ever met in my career. She is just as motivated to immerse herself in individual learning opportunities as she is to walk beside her classmates in collaborative learning. She is a team player on and off the field and court, a servant leader, and a meticulous scholar," said Mr. Tejada.
"Rachel's kindness and caring heart are truly remarkable as she thinks about others more than herself. She is a young woman of poise and maturity inside and outside the classroom. From the most complex mathematical problem to an inscrutable theatrical accent, she brings a superior level of integrity and commitment to every endeavor," said Mrs. Malbrough.
Maria and Rachel will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships that will be offered next spring.
SUMMER 2020 TRAVEL AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Join us tonight to learn about the two educational travel opportunities in summer 2020. Spanish students in grades 9-11 are invited to join Señoras Begley and Luchini for two weeks in Salamanca, España, May 30 through June 13. Open to all students currently in grades 8-11, the Ultimate Alaska trip, which includes six days exploring Alaska, will take place June 9-15 and will be chaperoned by Mrs. Noelker. Informational meetings for both trips will be held in the Lenke Global Education Center. Details about the Alaska trip will be presented from 5:30-6:15 pm and about the Salamanca trip from 6:30-7:30 pm. Please email Mrs. Noelker at dnoelker@vdoh.org if you plan to attend the Alaska meeting and Señora Begley at rbegley@vdoh.org if you plan to attend the Salamanca meeting. Learn more and view the itineraries below.
VILLA vs ST. JOE FIELD HOCKEY T-SHIRTS
"Prepare. Invade. Conquer." is the battle cry for the annual Villa vs. St. Joe Field Hockey rivalry games on Saturday, October 5. Be part of the excitement with this t-shirt designed exclusively for the games to be held at St. Joe. Each shirt is $15 and must be ordered by 3 pm tomorrow, September 13.
BONNE CHANCE AUCTION
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES RAFFLE TICKETS
PARENT CONFERENCES | SEPTEMBER 26-27
Parent-student-teacher conferences will take place in Kenefick Gym from 4-7 pm Thursday, September 26, and from 7:30 am to noon Friday, September 27; classes will not be in session. We encourage students to attend these conferences with their parents.
Before beginning the registration process, please be sure to make a list of your daughter's teachers. Appointments with faculty are 10 minutes per subject. If a teacher with whom you want to conference has a full schedule, please email the teacher directly.
MyConferenceTime.com provides tutorial videos at the top of our registration page to assist parents in signing up for conferences. Please bring to your conferences a copy of your confirmation from MyConferenceTime listing your scheduled appointments as we will not have access to individual student conference times. All conferences will be held in Kenefick Gym with the exception of Art which will take place in the Art Wing.
If you have additional questions, please contact Mrs. Judy Bertucci, Assistant to the Principal 7-12, at jbertucci@vdoh.org.
ACORN CLUB ASSISTANT NEEDED
Acorn Club, our after-care program for students JK3-grade 6, is looking for a part-time assistant to work from 3-6 pm on all full school days. Acorn Club provides our Oak Hill students time for supervised play, snacks, activities, and homework. If you have an interest in working with children or want to refer someone else, contact Donna Toedebusch, Assistant Director of Acorn Club, at dtoedebush@vdoh.org to learn more..
SCHEDULES, GRADES, AND MORE
Parents, if you haven't yet checked out your Parent Portal, here's a quick start guide to help you navigate the page. Once logged in, you'll have access to our online school directory as well as your child's schedules, grades, and more.
COLLEGE COUNSELING
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. Be sure to check out the information about the West County Private Schools College Fair being held from 2-4 pm this Sunday, September 15, at Christian Brothers College High School and the Jesuit Excellence Tour arriving on campus in the Lenke Global Education Center from 8-9 am Wednesday, September 18. The College Corner webpage is updated weekly by our College Counseling Office, so bookmark it and visit often.
SCHOOL ABSENCES/LATE ARRIVALS/EARLY DISMISSALS
Parents, if your daughter will be absent, arriving late, or leaving early from school, please email the School at attendance-villa@vdoh.org. Please do not contact the Dean of Students directly. Students arriving at school late or leaving early must sign in or out in the Dean of Students' Office near the West Door on the ground floor.
WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
Please join us at 7:15 am Wednesday, September 18, for Mass with celebrant Fr. David Meconi, SJ. 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.
BIBLE STUDY
Seeking to live out Goals I & II, all parents are welcome to meet from 9-10 am on Tuesdays to study Scripture. The topic for the fall study, which began this week, is St. Paul's Letter to the Romans. There's still time to join us for this 10-week study running through November 12. Come and experience a deeper understanding of the Church's teachings on justification, faith and works, spiritual fatherhood, the role of Israel in salvation history, baptism, the dignity of the body, the life of charity, and more. This study will serve as the perfect springboard for the six-week winter study: The Bible and The Sacraments. The winter study begins January 14, 2020, and ends February 18, 2020. If you have any questions, please contact Polly Capps at vdohmission@vdoh.org.
ROSARY | EACH WEDNESDAY
All are welcome at 8 am each Wednesday 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.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Madeleine Sophie once said, "Let us be convinced that prayer and humility can triumph over the greatest obstacles and draw down the most profound graces." Do you have a need that you would like lifted up to God in prayer? 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.
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 | news@vdoh.org |