Oak Hill Nuts and Bolts | February 25, 2021
A MESSAGE FROM DR. SCHROEDER
Last week, we entered into the season of Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday. There is great comfort offered to us by the different seasons of the Church such as the wonder we experience during Advent or the joy we celebrate at Easter. Lent though is usually a slower, more somber season of penitence and discipline where we commemorate Christ's suffering on the Cross for us. In a year where there seems to have been so much suffering in our world, we have been looking deeply for appropriate ways to lead our students into Lent and unite ourselves as a school community to Christ.
In addition to this fasting, we are also called as Christians to pray. As we continue to work safely within Covid-19 parameters, I am extremely excited that we have been able to welcome students of all ages back into our beautiful Chapel. Whether it's been for Mass, Adoration, prayer services, or just quiet prayer time, our students have responded with joy and eagerness at the chance to be in the presence of our Lord during their school day. A schedule for the remainder of the semester can be found below.
A third pillar of Lent is known as almsgiving, and I am proud that our second graders are leading us in giving alms this Lent. Please read Giving Alums to Uganda below for the details about this project. Our hope is that students will do small jobs around the house to earn money to donate.
By taking up these practices of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving, we are united not only to one another, but to Christ over these next 40 days of Lent. As we lean into this season of Lent, we can be comforted that we are not ever alone in our earthly suffering, because Christ came down to earth and experienced great suffering as well. What carries us through is that we have confidence that Christ has overcome the world already, and we will celebrate His great victory for us at Easter.
GIVING ALMS TO UGANDA
As part of their apostolic works, Mrs. Kendall's second grade students are leading Oak Hill in a Lenten almsgiving project for our sister Sacred Heart School in Kyamusansalsa Hill, Uganda. Second graders have assembled and distributed white paper bags in which students can collect money throughout Lent. We encourage you to help your children find small chores and acts of service they can do around the house to earn money for this initiative. These small acts of service can connect our children more personally to our Sacred Heart community in another part of the world. We ask that you please return all bags by Tuesday, March 30.
UPCOMING WORSHIP DATES
It has been wonderful welcoming students back into the Chapel. We have been able to schedule a number of Masses and Adoration dates for the remainder of the school year while still adhering to Covid-19 guidelines:
While we are not able to gather as an entire student body or welcome any visitors at this time, we do hold every member of our school community in prayer at each celebration. If you have any intention you would like us to remember, please let Campus Minister Katie Maxwell know at kmaxwell@vdoh.org.
HONORING MS. BURNLEY
Last week, Oak Hill recognized Housekeeping Supervisor Pinky Burnley for all that she has done to keep them safe this school year! Each homeroom made cards and shared tokens of appreciation, and Mrs. Palazzolo made her a beautiful wreath. The students and faculty appreciate all that she does on a daily basis at Oak Hill!
MASK REMINDER
Parents are reminded that all students grades JK3-12 are required to have two clean masks in a ziplock bag in their backpack each day. And, we recommend putting your child's name on each mask.
MUSIC TOGETHER & RHYTHM KIDS
Music is off to a great start this semester at Oak Hill. Mr. Bernstein says, "What an honor it has been to meet and make music with your children and their teachers. I appreciate their enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to go on our musical journey together." Students will receive music books, CDs, and digital download codes (on postcards for JK families and inside music book front cover for K-3) with all the music being used in class. For JK families, Music Together in School gives you the opportunity to really engage in and support the musical learning our JK3 and JK4 students are doing at school. For K-3rd grade families, Rhythm Kids gives students the chance to follow up on their musical learning at home and show their families what they have been working on. If you have any questions or would like more information please contact Robert Bernstein at rbernstein@vdoh.org.
2021-2022 RE-ENROLLMENT CONTRACTS
Tomorrow, February 26, is the deadline to re-enroll students for the 2021-2022 school year. Along with submitting their re-enrollment contracts, families are also required to send an enrollment deposit of $1,000 to the Business Office to complete the re-enrollment process.
YEARBOOK SPONSORSHIPS
The deadline to create a sponsorship in the 2020-21 Oak Hill Yearbook is tomorrow, February 26. Instructions for creation and payment are included in the link below. Contact Yearbook Advisor Lisa Carswell at lcarswell@vdoh.org if you have any questions.
BONNE CHANCE AUCTION | AUCTION ITEMS
The success of our auction hinges on the unique items and experiences our donors provide. Please consider donating:
Please make your donation by Tuesday, March 9, for inclusion in the auction catalog! If you have questions, please contact the Auction Committee at auction@vdoh.org.
PASSPORT TO SUMMER
Summer athletic camps welcome students to campus to advance their knowledge and skill in a variety of sports. Youth sessions include basketball, field hockey, and volleyball and are open to boys and girls from all schools. High school sessions include basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, tennis, and volleyball. Due to MSHAA regulations, high school sessions are limited to students enrolled at Villa Duchesne for the 2021-2022 school year. Learn more: 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.
BOOK DRIVE | MARCH 5
The next First Friday book drive for the St. Louis Catholic Academy in North St. Louis is set for Friday, March 5. 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.
SPIRITUALITY SERIES
The third and final presentation in the 2020-21 Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers' Series, Prayer and Reflection, will take place at 10 am Friday, March 5. Join Shirley Miller, rscj as she presents "Do Not Forget What Your Eyes Have Seen." With her beautiful photographs and thoughtful personal reflections, Sister Miller will explore the beauty of God's love in nature and in all creation. Sr. Miller served 40 years as a teacher and administrator in three Sacred Heart schools—Woodlands Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, Duchesne Academy in Omaha, and the Academy of the Sacred Heart, the Rosary, in New Orleans—and has spent past fifteen years in the mission advancement office for the Society of the Sacred Heart in Saint Louis. Please join us on Zoom.
JOIN US IN PRAYER & ADORATION
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, March 5, as Villa and Oak Hill parents pray before the Eucharist for our community. Please contact Kelly at kellyjadamitis@icloud.com to learn more.
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 |