Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | December 17, 2020
A MESSAGE FROM DR. SCHROEDER
Together, we have made it to Christmas break! As I look back on our first half of the year, I am proud of how far we've come as a community. This week we celebrate the third week of the season of Advent and light the third candle of our Advent wreaths. The candle for the third week of Advent is pink – a break from the usual purple. While purple/violet is a color to signify prayer, penance, and preparation, the color change to pink signifies the joy we can experience now that Christmas is almost here. Lighting the lighter-colored candle this week is a sign that what was dark is getting brighter, and joy is on its way. We are joyful because we are now more than halfway through our Advent season of waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
This shift in our prayer and our celebration seems to come at a welcome time in our world today. In a year filled with many challenges and walking in the 'darkness' of the unknown, how beautiful it is to have such a sure sign of joy. We know that Christ will come to us at Christmas and illuminate our hearts and our lives. With the coming of a new calendar year, we have another chance for something new, bright, and beautiful. In the readings at Mass this past Sunday, we hear in St. Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, "Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks." At Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill, we certainly have a lot to be thankful for. Together may we rejoice and be filled with the true joy of Christmas!
Have a wonderful time embracing the love and grace that is embodied in our Christmas celebration – namely, God has been born into our world! Again, and again, God becomes present in our lives as we are his beloved children. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!
TOOHEY SISTERS TAKE THE STAGE
Second grader Catherine Toohey and fourth grader Chloe Toohey have been cast in Ignite Theater Company's upcoming production of Annie KIDS. Chloe will be playing the role of Miss Hannigan and Catherine will be Kate, the tiny, snarky orphan. Due to COVID-19, the show isn't being performed live; it will be streamed December 26-30. If you're looking for a fun, winter break activity to keep your kids busy, you can purchase the stream at www.ignitewithus.org.
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES
Oak Hill art teacher Lisa Carswell is working with international partners to create rich learning experiences for our students. Our first graders made snow globe drawings for friends in India and received Diwali cards from Edify School in Bengaluru. Yesterday, the fourth graders received Christmas banners, letters, and gifts from their penpals in Taiwan. This is our twelfth year of collaboration with Yinglun and her students at NNKIEH in Tainan, Taiwan!
CHRISTMAS BASKETS MASS LIVESTREAM
All families are encouraged to join us (virtually) at 9 am tomorrow, December 18, to celebrate our annual Christmas Baskets Mass. Mass will be livestreamed on our Facebook page and our YouTube channel.
CHRISTMAS BASKETS DROP OFF
Christmas baskets may to be dropped off at the West Door of the 1929 Main Building until 3:00 pm today, December 17, or between 7:00 and 8:30 am tomorrow, December 18. A team of seniors and staff will be at the West Door to receive your basket. Even if you are delivering baskets, please bring your basket to the West Door to be included in the total count!
Delivery of the baskets will begin around 10:30 am on December 18. If you volunteered to deliver baskets, please check in with Mrs. Wiss Friday morning.
CHRISTMAS BREAK
The Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School campus, including all school offices, will close for the holidays beginning tomorrow, December 18. Classes resume on Monday, January 4. Always refer to the online calendar for the latest information regarding the school schedule and events.
LUNCH ORDERS
The menu for the week of January 4 is now posted. Students who wish to order lunch for the first week in January should place their orders before leaving for Christmas break. We will continue to send reminders about order deadlines.
OAK HILL OPEN HOUSE
Please help us spread the word. Oak Hill is hosting an Open House from 1:00-3:00 pm on Sunday, January 24. Prospective families will have the opportunity to tour the school, meet faculty and current parents, and learn about the amazing experiences our students have every day, both in and out of the classroom! Interested families can register at www.vdoh.org/schedule-a-visit.
TOY DRIVE THANK YOU
Thank you to all who donated to the Mission StL Toy Drive. Because of your kindness, hundreds of families in the St. Louis area will have a brighter Christmas this year.
YEAR-END GIVING
The clock is ticking but there's still time to make your gift to Cor Unum Annual Giving this calendar year! All gifts must be postmarked by December 31, 2020, for 2020 tax purposes or can be made online at www.vdoh.org/give or on Venmo @VillaDuchesne. When a grade achieves 100% parent participatio, students in that grade will receive an out-of-uniform day. Will your grade be the first to achieve 100% parent participation? Check out our current participation numbers below and give from the heart today!
YEARBOOK CALL FOR PHOTOS
Tomorrow, December 18, is the deadline to submit photos of students and their pets for the yearbook. View the updated eShare flier below for more information and instructions on how to submit your photos. Please note that the school code is case sensitive; only the first letter of Acorns should be capitalized. Watch for our next themed call for photos after the first of the year. Please contact Mrs. Lisa Carswell at lcarswell@vdoh.org if you have any questions.
BONNE CHANCE AUCTION | SAINTS DERBY
Our annual Bonne Chance Auction has been moved to Saturday, April 24, 2021. We need volunteers to help solicit donations and sponsorships, set up and staff the event, pick-up and package items, sell raffle tickets, and more! If you are interested in volunteering, please email auction@vdoh.org and get involved!
COMMITTEE NOMINATIONS
The Board of Trustees is seeking nominations for Standing Committee members. Standing Committees that support our Board of Trustees include Buildings & Grounds, Finance, Strategic Planning, and Community Engagement. Serving on one of these committees is an important first step in the process of serving as a trustee. Your recommendations can help us identify individuals with the expertise we need to advance our mission. This process upholds the National Association of Independent School Principles of Good Practice for Governance (NAIS) and School by-laws. If you or anyone you know has nominations, please submit an online nomination.
JOIN US IN PRAYER
"Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today." - St. Padre Pio
Please join us each Wednesday when school is in session 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.
NEXT NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 7
Nuts and Bolts will not be published during Christmas Break. Watch for our next issue on Thursday, January 7.
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 |