Villa Duchesne Nuts and Bolts | January 23, 2020
I want to first thank you for your support of your daughters and the programs of the school. The weather has recently had a huge impact on our instruction and the teachers are working to ensure that we are being good stewards of your daughters' education. This coming week, we will be celebrating who we are as a Catholic school along with other Catholic schools around the country. National Catholic Schools' Week has as its theme, Celebrating Community. We, as the Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill community, are excited to be able to celebrate who we are as a school and a community. The Villa Duchesne Student Council has developed a week of community building activities that will help to deepen our sense of community and remind us of who we are as a school.
Ms. Bridget Collins
AN EVENING OF ONE ACTS
The Villa Duchesne Performing Arts Department will present An Evening of One Act Plays from 7 to 8 pm tonight, January 23, and tomorrow, January 24, in the Auditorium. The production is free and open to the public.
This year's one-act plays are: "Relative Strangers," directed by Rachel Ruddy. Two strangers on a plane discover that they may need each other with the help of a friendly flight attendant. Betsy Benzinger and Isabel Simpson direct "10,000 Cigarettes," a cautionary tale about the dangers of smoking. And, Sara Fimmano and Delaney Sullivan direct "The Least Offensive Play in the Whole Darn World," a parody of famous plays made G-rated for family audiences.
SPREAD THE NEWS | OAK HILL OPEN HOUSE
We are hosting a lower school Open House from 1-3 pm Sunday, January 26. Our Oak Hill teachers, students, and parents will be here to talk with potential families about the Oak Hill experience and show off our beautiful campus! And, our admissions team will explain our new Family Individualized Tuition program. Please encourage anyone you know who has girls or boys age 3 through grade 6 to stop by and learn more about the gift of a Sacred Heart education. Forward this link to our registration.
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent-teacher conferences will take place in Kenefick Gym from 4-7 pm Thursday, February 6, and from 7:30 am-noon Friday, February 7. Classes will not be in session on Friday. Registration for conferences will close at 9 am Wednesday, February 5.
PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES, FRANCE
Students currently in grades 9-11 who want to join Villa Duchesne's second annual summer pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, in July must turn in their applications by Monday, February 3. Participants will serve pilgrims from around the world, participate in communal prayer and liturgies, and build community with other high school students from the United States. This trip can fulfill a student's service learning requirement. Contact Ms. Rachel Kondro at rkondro@vdoh.org or 314.810.3490 if you have questions.
YOUR MOBILE NUMBER
If you recently added a new mobile number to your school profile and wish to receive alert texts from the school, you must opt-in by simply texting "yes" to 67587. Data charges may apply. You will receive an almost immediate system response if you have successfully opted-in. If you have any questions, please contact Manager of Communications Tricia Leone at 314.810.3471.
SEE YOU AT THE RACES
The gates open at 6:30 pm Friday, February 21, in Kenefick Gym for A Night at the Races. Spend an evening "betting" and cheering on six horse races that are broadcast "live" on a jumbo screen. Come enter a derby hat contest, sip on mint juleps, and purchase raffle tickets for a chance at some fantastic items and experiences. Gather your friends, family, neighbors...all are welcome! Registration deadline is Tuesday, February 18, and proceeds benefit the Villa Duchesne-City House Alumnae Association and the Sr. Mary Gray McNally Alumnae Scholarship. This event is for guests 21 or older. In the event of inclement weather, purchases are non-refundable and the event will be rescheduled. Contact Rachel Drone Gehm '88, Manager of Alumni Relations, at rgehm@vdoh.org or 314.810.3420 if you have any questions. See you at the starting gate!
FATHER-DAUGHTER DINNER DANCE
Mark your calendars and save the date for the 2020 Father-Daughter Dinner Dance to be held March 7 at the Ritz-Carlton. Invitations will be mailed the end of January. All students in grades 7-12 are encouraged to attend this dinner dance with their fathers or adults who are special to them. Watch for additional details about this time-honored tradition in future issue of Nuts and Bolts.
LA BOUTIQUE = FREE MERCHANDISE
Only one week remains in La Boutique's amazing January sale that includes free merchandise. That's right, FREE! Here's how it works, the 10th customer that buys anything out of the store will get an additional $10 of FREE merchandise. The 25th customer to make a purchase in the store will get an additional $25 of FREE merchandise. The 50th person that makes a purchase will get $50 of FREE merchandise. Lastly, the 100th person that comes in and buys anything in the store will receive an additional $100 of FREE merchandise!
Sales will be tracked and a customer notified if they are the 10th, 25th, 50th, or 100th buyer. This sale includes brand new merchandise and the store is full of it! And, the old sale is still running too with discounts up to 70% off!
2020 SUMMER SEMINARS
Current freshman will have the opportunity to travel to New York City to learn about globalization by exploring Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, Ellis Island, and much more! This amazing experience will serve as a baseline for World Civilizations II taken sophomore year. The experience begins with two in-school seminar days on June 4 and and 5. The group will depart on June 6 and return on June 8. Registration is open through April 1.
Current sophomores can travel to Santa Fe this summer to study the history of the American West. While exploring themes tied with their junior year history class, United States History, they will have the opportunity to experience the often-forgotten stories of the American West. Join Miss McCabe and Mrs. Sarra on a cultural journey through the art and history of Santa Fe, New Mexico. With an in-school seminar on May 29, this adventure departs on May 30 and returns on June 2. Registration is open through April 1.
If you have questions about these trips or simply want to sign up, contact Art teacher Maddy McCabe at mmccabe@vdoh.org or stop in the art wing for promotional materials and forms to secure your spot!
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. The College Corner webpage is updated weekly by our College Counseling Office, so bookmark it and visit often.
WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
Please join us at 7:15 am Wednesday, January 29, for Mass, Father David Meconi, SJ 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.
WINTER BIBLE STUDY
The winter Bible study, The Bible and the Sacraments, picks up again next Tuesday, January 28. It's not too late to join this 6-week study that runs through February 25. Contact Polly Capps at vdohmission@vdoh.org if you would like more information.
SPIRITUALITY SERIES
Please join us for the second in our three-part, 2019-2020 Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers Series, The Mission Continues. On Friday, February 7, Donna Collins, RSCJ will present "We Speak Their Names." She will share details on the work of the Society's Committee on Slavery, Accountability, and Reconciliation which was formed to better understand and to address structural racism. Sr. Collins will share the Society's diligent and inspiring efforts to research and pray with descendants of those who helped their mission of education succeed. Gather for goƻter at 9:30 am in the Parlor Dining Room with the presentation from 9:45-11:15 am in the Lenke Global Education Center.
ROSARY
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.
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 |