Villa Duchesne Nuts and Bolts | March 5, 2020
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
Sunday began the 31 days in March when we celebrate and reflect upon the historical achievements of smart, passionate, and compassionate women both near and far from us. Women's History Month is a time for us to reflect upon and give thanks for the women who built our homes and schools and filled them with warmth and wisdom, the women who taught us and pushed us to become the incredible humans we are today, the women who gave us life and filled our hearts with a love that never wavers. This month, and always, may we be reminded of the greatness, the strength, and the resilience of the women who surround our lives.
She is clothed in strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. –Proverbs 31:25
Christine Phillips Student Success Specialist
FIRST GRADE ACTS OF KINDNESS
Last week, our first graders challenged us to perform acts of kindness—large and small—throughout our school and our community. By the end of the week, more than 100 acts of kindness were document on the board outside the first grade classroom. See the results of that challenge in the slideshow below.
WELCOMING NEW STUDENTS
Want to help spread Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School cheer? Acceptance letters will be mailed on Friday, March 13, for incoming 7th and 8th graders at Villa, as well as incoming Oak Hill students for the 2020-2021 school year. We have ordered yard signs for them and would greatly appreciate your help in distributing them next Friday, March 13. The signs will be available for pick up in Choral Hall that morning, and you can deliver them any time that day before 3 pm. Please email Katie Martin at kmartin@vdoh.org if you can help us distribute signs and spread the excitement!
COUNSELOR'S CORNER
Spring Break is right around the corner! Please pay attention to your daughter (or son!) in preparation of Spring Break trips and the warmer weather approaching. We are seeing increasing numbers of students engaging with weight loss apps and social media platforms that encourage fasting, restriction, cutting carbs and sugar, "eating clean," and weight loss for "resetting their system." While there are exercise, nutrition, and fitness apps designed to help people get and stay healthy, there are some that are harmful, and young people are finding new, unintended ways to achieve some extremely unhealthy goals. The journey of pursuing a physically healthier version of oneself can be a slippery slope that can go from healthy change to dangerously obsessive very easily.
This is not to say that kids shouldn't be taught healthy eating habits. Our girls need to be educated in ways that take into account their body's innate wisdom and this period of growth and development. Please watch for any of the negative behaviors noted above and talk to your child about what they are hearing and seeing in their friend groups with regard to food and body. Please don't hesitate to contact our School Counselor, Becky Pike, at bpike@vdoh.org if you have concerns or want additional resources.
BOOK DRIVE | ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC ACADEMY
The next First Friday book drive for the St. Louis Catholic Academy in North St. Louis is set for tomorrow, March 6. Drives will be held each first Friday throughout the school year. New and gently used books are needed for all grades and reading levels, from children's books to chapter books. Look for bins at the West Door and at the Duchesne Building. Contact Maria Adamitis '20 at madamitis2020@vdoh.org if you have any questions.
LITTLE BIT OF STEAM | MARCH 7
Current and prospective families with boys and girls ages 2 1/2 to grade 3 are invited for a Little Bit of STEAM at Oak Hill. Join our Admissions Team and Oak Hill teachers from 9-10:30 am Saturday, March 7, for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math activities. Register with Katie Martin, Assistant Director of Enrollment Management, at kmartin@vdoh.org. (Older children are not left out. We will host another Little Bit of STEAM for students in grades 4-6 on Saturday, May 2.)
MOMS' HAPPY HOUR
The Parent Association invites all moms for a Moms' Happy Hour from 6:30 to 8:30 pm Saturday, March 7, at the MAC West for drinks and appetizers in the 1903 Bar. Please register below.
SUMMER SERVICE OPPORTUNITY
Registration for this year's Summer Service opportunity will be available on our Passport to Summer webpage beginning Monday, March 9. Rising juniors and seniors and invited to join trip sponsors Bridget Collins, Therese Hagemeister, and Theresa Wiss to serve St. Louis!
The "trip" is scheduled from the evening of June 8 until the afternoon of June 11. Students will arrive on campus on Monday evening for a brief meeting and goal setting session. Tuesday will begin the first full day of service. The students will spend the night on Villa's campus both Tuesday and Wednesday night and then head home Thursday afternoon. The overnight component is an integral part of the experience as it will allow the students to thoughtfully reflect on their service work and connect with the other students. Our hope is to give students opportunities for service and comradery while instilling in them the need for service in and around our own metropolitan area.
There is a $250 fee which will allow us to provide meals, some snacks, and help with the transportation costs. This trip can fulfill the service learning hours requirement. Space is limited so bookmark Passport to Summer and check back on March 9.
2020-2021 RE-ENROLLMENT CONTRACTS
Enrollment and Tuition Contracts for the 2020-2021 school year were due last week. Thank you to those families who have already submitted their contracts for next year. We ask that ALL families, even those not returning, submit their intent for the 2020-2021 year. Returning families are also required to send an enrollment deposit of $1,000 to the Business Office to complete the re-enrollment process. If you have any questions, please contact Financial Services Coordinator Alice Tuhro at atuhro@vdoh.org or 314.810.3531.
PASSPORT TO SUMMER 2020 | ATHLETIC CAMPS
Registration for Passport to Summer 2020 Athletic Camps is now open! Youth camps include field hockey, soccer, and basketball. High school camps include field hockey, soccer, volleyball, and tennis. Visit Passport to Summer for more information.
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.
FIRST FRIDAY MASS & EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Tomorrow, March 6, 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 final presentation in our 2019-2020 Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers Series, The Mission Continues. Tomorrow, March 6, Frances Gimber, RSCJ will present "On to New Frontiers: the Mission Spreads." Sr. Gimber will discuss how the Society moved beyond Europe and the Americas after the dramatic event of 1818, Philippine Duchesne's voyage to America and her mission endeavors in the New World, and thus, the beginnings of the internationality of the Society. 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.
WEDNESDAY MORNING MASS
Please join us at 7:15 am Wednesday, March 11, for Mass, Father Donald Henke 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.
LENTEN MORNING OF REFLECTION
The Mothers' Lenten Morning of Reflection, sponsored by the Mission Committee of the Parent Association and inspired by Goals I, II, and IV, offers a morning of prayer, presentation, and light continental breakfast from 8 to 10 am Wednesday, March 11, in the Lenke Global Education Center. Selections of Bishop Robert Barron's series on The Mass will be shown, followed by the praying of the Stations of the Cross. Contact Polly Capps or DeAnn Gueck for more information at vdohmission@vdoh.org, and please respond below if you plan to attend. All are welcome to join the celebration of Mass beforehand at 7:15 am in the Chapel.
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, 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 |