Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | December 19, 2019
Emmanuel – meaning "God is with us" – is how many of the Old Testament prophets referred to Jesus within the context of the Christmas story. For me, there is a juxtaposition between the breathtaking and extraordinary nature of the birth of Jesus in our world and the more ordinary experience of God being with us in all the various moments of our days.
Blessings, Dr. Peter M. Schroeder
CHRISTMAS BASKETS Tomorrow, December 20, our community will come together to celebrate Christmas Baskets Mass to bless the baskets of food we prepare for those less fortunate in our community. Baskets may be dropped off at the West Door of the 1929 Main Building until 3 pm today or between 6:30 and 8:30 am tomorrow. A team of adults and students will be at the West Door to receive your basket. Even if you are delivering baskets directly, please bring your basket to the West Door first to be included in the total count! The baskets are presented at the Mass.
Please remember this is a REQUIRED school day. Christmas Baskets Mass will begin at 9 am tomorrow in Kenefick Gym. Oak Hill students should arrive at their regular time; Villa Duchesne students need to be at school by 8:30 am for announcements. Students may dress in church-going clothes (NO jeans) or dress uniforms including cardigans for all girls and blazers for boys grades 3-6.
Families are invited to join us for Mass; and ALL students will be dismissed after the Mass for Christmas Break (approximately 10:15 am).
CHRISTMAS BASKETS DISMISSAL | CHRISTMAS BREAK
All students will be dismissed for the Christmas holidays following Christmas Baskets Mass tomorrow. Parents attending Mass should pick up their children in Kenefick Gymnasium immediately following Mass. All other students should be picked up at 10:15 am at the students' regular dismissal sites.
Acorn Club WILL NOT be available tomorrow and all school offices will close for Christmas break following Mass. Classes resume Monday, January 6. Always refer to the online calendar for the latest information regarding the school schedule and events
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS We invite you to celebrate Christmas with us at our annual Christmas Eve Mass in the Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 6 pm December 24.
WINTER 2020 ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
Oak Hill's Winter 2020 enrichment programs include chess, gymnastics, Snapology, and Little Medical School. Enrichment courses are offered from 3:30-4:30 pm on the day noted. All students enrolled (except for those enrolled in Little Medical School) will walk down to Acorn Club at dismissal and the enrichment instructor will pick them up from there. At 4:30 pm, parents can pick their child up from Acorn Club on the Lower Campus or the student can remain until Acorn Club closes at 6 pm. Learn more below and register online through your parent portal. Registration is available in the Enrichment tab in the Reference Center of your portal. The first class begins January 13, so register today!
MURAL DONATIONS NEEDED
As a part of the U.S. Green Building Council-Missouri Gateway Chapter challenge announced last week, the fifth-grade art classes will be creating a mural made from recycled plastics. Our parents can help by sending in clean plastic lids (more color is better), old toothbrushes (Mr. Thurm will chop off the brush, so we will just use the handles), and bits of plastic toys small enough to fit in a child's hand (like a Lego, a plastic toy car, a tiny plastic doll, etc.). We prefer these be broken/unusable toys to avoid waste. A box marked "Recycled Mural Project" will be available in the Oak Hill entrance for items to be dropped off.
NEXT NUTS & BOLTS
Nuts and Bolts will not be produced during Christmas break. Please watch for our next issue on Thursday, January 9.
WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
Due to Christmas break, Mass will not be held in our Chapel on December 25 or January 1. Please join us at 7:15 am Wednesday, January 8, for Mass, Abbot Gregory Mohrman, O.S.B. presiding. 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.
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.
Each Thursday when school is in session, 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 |