Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | November 5, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM DR. SCHROEDER
I am so proud of the initiative, enthusiasm, and creativity shown by our fifth grade class this week!
In preparation for this year's International Festival, Mrs. Carswell has been teaching the fifth graders about British artist Andy Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy's work is not only inspired by nature but uses all materials he finds in the outdoors, like leaves, rocks, and sticks. Mrs. Carswell is planning to work outdoors with the fifth grade class and, as Goldsworthy does, photograph their creations and put the photos on display. The students instantly fell in love with this project!
Our industrious fifth graders could not wait to employ these techniques and, while on a mask break, started creating art in Goldworthy's style. Their impromptu artwork combined many levels of learning – kinesthetic, visual design, etc. – with a positive and meaningful experiences with the natural world. Also, many of them were able to engage in a group dynamic by coordinating the project together. I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to stop by and admire their work! If you are interested in learning more about Andy Goldworthy's artwork, you can check out this video Mrs. Carswell showed the students. You can find his work locally at the St. Louis Art Museum and Laumeier Sculpture Park.
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION TEST
Today, November 5, at approximately 5 pm, we will conduct a test of our school broadcast system. A recorded message will be sent to your home, work, and/or mobile phone numbers as listed in your family records in My BackPack. We will be using this system to call you with important information throughout the school year. This includes early dismissal, late start, or school cancellation due to inclement weather.
DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP SAFETY
As we prepared for colder and wetter weather, I want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to prevent accidents and protect our students. We ask that all students enter and exit the vehicle on the right-hand side (curbside). Faculty and staff are present to help them get in and out of the car as needed. Some car seats are trickier than others. If you know your child will need extra assistance with their seat belt harness, please pull to the top of hill or park in the Fathers' Club Field parking lot to assist your children.
VILLA OPEN HOUSE | SPREAD THE WORD
Open House is going to look a little different this year, but we still need help from our entire community to make this event a success. We will be wearing masks, socially distancing, and having more outside stations to showcase our 60+ acre campus. As an Oak Hill parent, you can help by talking it up to family and friends and including it in your social media. The Villa Open House for students entering grade 7-12 will be held from noon to 3:30 pm on Sunday, November 8. Anyone interested in attending can visit www.vdoh.org/schedule-a-visit to register.
TOWER TALK | VILLA NEWSMAGAZINE
The Villa Tower Talk staff has produced their first issue of the newsmagazine for the 2020-21 school year. Check out what our Villa students have to say.
FIRST FRIDAY BOOK DRIVE
The First Friday book drive for the St. Louis Catholic Academy in North St. Louis is set for tomorrow, November 6, with drives 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 for your book donations at each house door and at the Duchesne Building. Contact Karie Adamitis '24 at kadamitis2024@vdoh.org if you have any questions.
MERCI BEAUCOUP!
Thank you to our parents who participated in Giving October and helped to make this month of giving a huge success. We have raised more than $235,000 towards our goal of $650,000, and we are truly grateful for your support! Our current parent participation numbers are below. Even though Giving October has ended, gifts and pledges can continue to be made online at www.vdoh.org/give or on Venmo @VillaDuchesne. Give from the heart today and help your class be the first to achieve 100% parent participation!
LUNCH ORDERS
Each week, students who wish to order lunch from school should select lunches for the following week using our Lunch Order Form. Place lunch orders by 9 pm each Tuesday for lunch the following week. Order forms will be updated on Wednesdays.
SPIRITUALITY SERIES
Prayer and reflection is the overarching theme of the 2020-2021 Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers' Series. The first of three presentations will take place at 10 am tomorrow, November 6, when members of the HEART Response Team present Prayer and Reflection in the Digital Age via Zoom. The HEART Response Team came together at the invitation of the Provincial Team to create a community that could share resources and experiences with all those whom their digital communications reach. This group worked together virtually to create new ways of discovering our calls to contemplation, courage, and compassion. Please join us on Zoom.
JOIN US IN PRAYER
"I, too, wonder if there has been a saint since the 13th century who has not prayed the rosary?" – Excerpt from Rosary Gems by Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC
Join us each Wednesday at 8:00 am in the Front Bowl to pray the Rosary together for our VDOH community. If you have any questions about this or other opportunities to get involved with the Mission Committee, please contact Molly Pollnow Kraeger '92 or Ellen Reis Weis '97 at vdohmission@vdoh.org.
"Reflect before the tabernacle, calm yourself, empty yourself face-to-face with fullness…renew yourself in the wounds of Jesus Christ, especially in the wound of his side; it is ours…and then live anew joyously." -Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat
The Mission Committee also welcomes you to stop by the Carmelite Chapel this First Friday, November 6, as Villa and Oak Hill parents pray, during the day, for our community. Please contact Kelly at kellyjadamitis@icloud.com to schedule a time or learn more.
Come. Let us adore Him.
TRAVEL GUIDANCE
The holiday season is upon us! This is a time of year when many families travel to different destinations. The CDC offers guidance on safe travel during the pandemic. Please check the CDC website for the most current guidance before finalizing your plans. Here are some ideas to keep travel safe for our families over the upcoming breaks:
As a school community, we will continue to monitor everyone for symptoms and follow the practices that have served us well this year. If you have questions about upcoming travel, please reach out to Dr. Schroeder.
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 content 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 |