Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | January 28, 2021
A MESSAGE FROM DR. SCHROEDER
Goal I of Sacred Heart education is to educate to a personal and active faith in God. One of many ways we engage in this goal with our students is through reading and praying with Scripture. Oftentimes our students read the weekly Sunday Gospel reading as part of their religion class or prayer time. This week's Gospel is from the first chapter of Mark, where Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee and calls the first Apostles. As Simon and Andrew are casting their nets at sea, Jesus offers them an invitation: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men." He speaks to the fisherman in terms they are familiar with, but offers them a new way: to be fishers of men. This invitation to stop what they are doing, follow after Jesus, and bring in new followers to Jesus' promise of salvation is a bold one that would lead to the Church as we know it today.
As I reflect on what this passage means for us as a school of the Sacred Heart, I see it as not only an invitation, but consider this call of bringing others into the heart of Christ a great responsibility and privilege. Our hope at Oak Hill is that we not only foster the faith in our students, but that by the time they go out into the world, they are able to share their faith with others and build up God's Kingdom. By offering our students a personal and holistic education, they are equipped with the courage and confidence necessary to answer Christ's calling and to change the world.
I am happy to share that we had a very successful Open House this past weekend. Our faculty and staff welcomed many prospective families to our campus and gave them a chance to learn about what the gift of a Sacred Heart education can do for their children. Thank you to everyone in our community who helped spread the word about Open House. The most meaningful way to engage new families is through word of mouth. Your invitation or recommendation is so powerful as we work to introduce our loving school to new families.
Next week we will celebrate National Catholic Schools Week and are provided with another opportunity to reflect on our Sacred Heart values and the gift of Catholic education. Please see below for a calendar of events for Catholic Schools Week. As always, we are honored to partner with you in educating your children and always available for whatever you may need.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
Oak Hill will kick off our traditional Catholic Schools Week (CSW) with a Disney dress-down day tomorrow, January 29. Students JK3-6 may come dressed in their favorite Disney gear. It can be as simple as a t-shirt or a pair of Mickey Mouse ears – use your imagination! Please remember to wear athletic shoes for P.E. class.
We are excited to celebrate our community of faith and community of learning! CSW events next week will include classroom spelling bees, themed out-of-uniform days, and a virtual talent show. New this year will be the opportunity for students grades K-6 to connect to a family member (or two) via Zoom on Wednesday, February 3. Does your child want to make a connection? If so, view the details and complete the form below by 9 am Tuesday, February 2. If you have any questions, email Mrs. Bergfeld at jbergfeld@vdoh.org. Learn more about our upcoming 2021 Catholic Schools Week activities.
BOOK DRIVE | JANUARY 29
Due to Villa's Parent-Teacher Conferences and no school for grades 7-12 on February 5, the next First Friday book drive for the St. Louis Catholic Academy in North St. Louis will be held early and is set for tomorrow, January 29. 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.
COATS AND HATS AND GLOVES, OH MY!
We ask parents to be sure their children arrive at school prepared for outdoor play. During these winter months, please be sure to send your child to school with warm coats, hats, and mittens/gloves. Whenever possible, students will play outside during recess and at Acorn Club. Fresh air has always been a good thing, even more so this year!
PASSPORT TO SUMMER
Day, athletic, and academic camp offerings will be available in Summer 2021. Details are being finalized now and registration will be announced in February via email and social media. Please contact Director of Summer Programs Dominic Key at summer@vdoh.org if you have any questions. We hope to see you this summer!
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. We will continue to send reminders about order deadlines.
SACRED HEART SPIRITUALITY SERIES
Prayer and reflection is the overarching theme of the 2020-2021 Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers' Series. The second in this series of three presentations will take place at 10 am Friday, February 5, when Lyn Osiek, rscj presents Saint Madeleine Sophie's Use of Prayer with Scripture: Prayer and Reflection on the Word via Zoom. Sr. Osiek is Provincial Archivist of the Society of the Sacred Heart, United States-Canada and has authored, edited, and collaborated on numerous books about Saint Philippine Duchesne. She is an alumna of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Saint Charles and has taught at the Sacred Heart schools at Grand Coteau, LA, Newton Country Day Academy, Newton, MA, and Villa Duchesne. Please join us on Zoom.
Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/99360677674pwd=UlJsSGpVSzFrNi9KaVNmQW96ZXJ0Zz09
Learn more about the Sacred Heart Spirituality Series.
JOIN US IN PRAYER
Pope Francis calls the Rosary a "simple contemplative prayer, accessible to all, great and small, the educated and those with little education. In the Rosary we turn to the Virgin Mary so that she may guide us to an ever closer union with her Son Jesus to bring us into conformity with him, to have his sentiments and to behave like him. Indeed, in the Rosary while we repeat the Hail Mary we meditate on the Mysteries, on the events of Christ's life, so as to know and love him ever better. The Rosary is an effective means for opening ourselves to God." Each time we pray the Rosary, he said, "we are taking a step forward, towards the great destination of life"—heaven. The Magnificat, October 2020.
Please 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.
The Mission Committee also welcomes you to stop by the Carmelite Chapel between 9 am and 3 pm Friday, February 5, as Villa and Oak Hill parents pray before the Eucharist for our community. Please contact Kelly at kellyjadamitis@icloud.com to learn more.
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.
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 |