Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | January 30, 2020
Happy Catholic Schools Week! As we celebrate our ability to blend faith and spiritual development with academic excellence, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest appreciation for you! I understand the great trust that parents extend to their children's educational institutions, and I do not take that responsibility lightly. I am honored to be in community with our Villa and Oak Hill families.
Below is a graphic from the National Catholic Educational Association illustrating a dozen reasons to choose Catholic Schools.
Blessings, Dr. Peter M. Schroeder
Pictured, Runner-Up Audrey Qureshi on left decked out for Crazy Hat and Socks Day and Winner Abigail Morgan on right. CSW SPELLING BEE WINNERS
Congratulations to Oak Hill School Spelling Bee Champion Abigail Morgan (6) and to Audrey Qureshi (6), the runner-up! Abigail is eligible to compete in the semi-final written spelling bee at McKendree University on March 7. All of the students who participated in Monday's Spelling Bee are recognized for their tremendous effort!
COFFEE AND CONVERSATION
Our February 5 Parent Coffee and Conversation will begin with an introduction and welcome by Dr. Pete Schroeder, Principal of Oak Hill, and Ms. Bridget Collins, Principal of Villa Duchesne, followed by break-out, division-level sessions. Each division principal will provide an overview of the 2019-20 school year—what has been accomplished in the fall semester and what to look forward to in the upcoming spring semester. The coffee will begin at 8 am in the Lenke Global Education Center.
DADS' HAPPY HOUR
The Parent Association invites all dads for a Dads' Happy Hour from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Wednesday, February 19, at the MAC West for drinks and appetizers in the 1903 Bar. Please register below.
FEBRUARY IS GIVING MONTH!
Give from the heart this February and support Annual Giving! Your gift to Annual Giving makes an immediate impact on the lives of our students and brings our mission to life. Help us fill the heart and achieve 100% parent participation! Make your gift today!
PASSPORT TO SUMMER 2020
Registration for Passport to Summer 2020 is filling fast and space is limited! Each week celebrates a different nation where children will explore art, cooking, STEM, and games from these cultures. Weekly field trips and special guest visits are favorites for all campers. Day camps are offered to children from all schools entering grades JK3 through 6. Register now to save your spot! Contact Manager of Community Engagement Dominic Key at dkey@vdoh.org if you have questions. And, check back after February 18 for details about summer athletic camps.
DANITA TRIPLETT KNIGHT TALK
As we continue to celebrate our school year theme of Grace and Grit, we are excited to welcome Danita Triplett Knight '80 home to Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill. A true child of the Sacred Heart, Danita will share in a dialogue with our 7-12 graders what it means to be a leader and how to live a life of courage and authenticity. All members of our school community are welcome to join us.
Danita graduated from the University of Missouri–Columbia with a major in Journalism. Her extensive career in Communications and Public Relations has led Danita to positions with the NCAA, the United Way, and currently at Agnes Scott College, a private women's liberal arts college in Georgia, as the Vice President for Communications and Marketing. Danita also leads through her example of her service to others. Her many volunteer roles make Danita an integral and vibrant contributor to her communities. She helped bring a WNBA team to Atlanta and was named as the first African-American Chairperson of the Atlanta Women's Foundation. Please join us to welcome Danita and her husband, Billy Knight, Sports Consultant, Former General Manager of the Atlanta Hawks and NBA player, at 9:55 am Monday, February 3, in Kenefick Gym to hear her speak. If you have any questions, please contact Rachel Drone Gehm '88, Manager of Alumni Relations, Manager of Alumni Relations, at rgehm@vdoh.org.
FREE DRESS DAY RESCHEDULED
Last week, Principal for the Day Mia Martinez awarded the Oak Hill community a free dress day. Due to the snow day, we are rescheduling it for Monday, February 10. Students are reminded to wear tennis shoes for PE.
YEARBOOK SPONSORSHIPS
The Yearbook staff is giving our families the opportunity to honor students with sponsorships in the 2019-20 Oak Hill Yearbook. Parents may choose to buy a sponsorship space to congratulate a special award (i.e. speech, science fair, the arts, or sports), commemorate First Communion, or to just say they are proud of their Sacred Heart student. Flyers with more information will be sent home this week or download a copy below. You may create and pay for your sponsorship online. The deadline is February 28, so mark your calendar. Contact Lisa Carswell, Yearbook Advisor, at lcarswell@vdoh.org if you have questions.
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!
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
February is Black History Month and organizations throughout the St. Louis area are offering numerous learning opportunities and resources. Here are just a few:
MURAL DONATIONS NEEDED
The fifth-grade art classes are still seeking donations for a mural they will be creating from recycled plastics. Our parents can help by sending in clean plastic, jar or bottle lids (the more color the 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.
WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
Please join us at 7:15 am Wednesday, February 5, 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.
FIRST FRIDAY MASS & EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
On Friday, February 7, Oak Hill will celebrate First Friday Mass at 8:15 am followed by Benediction and exposition of the Eucharist until 3 pm. All are welcome to join the Oak Hill students for Mass or to visit anytime during the day to spend time in prayer and adoration with Our Lord.
While students, faculty, and staff will make visits throughout the day, parent volunteers are needed to ensure that the exposed Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended. For more information about serving, please contact Kelly Adamitis at kellyjadamitis@icloud.com.
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.
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 |