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Villa Duchesne
Attendance Reporting:
If your daughter will be absent, arriving late, or leaving early from school, please notify the school at attendance-villa@vdoh.org.
Questions about:
- Your daughter’s performance in class, e.g progress, grades, homework, or behavior: Classroom Teacher
- Athletics: 7-8 Youth Sports Coordinator Steve Stoll at 314.810.3403 or sstoll@vdoh.org / 9-12 Athletic Director Tim Deines at 314.810.3430 or tdeines@vdoh.org
- Counseling and advisory programs: School Counselor JK3-12 Becky Pike at 810.3428 or bpike@vdoh.org
- Middle school academic curriculum, discipline, and any other student needs contact Academic Dean Josh Wells at 314.810.3437 or jwells@vdoh.org
- Clubs and organizations: Dean of Student Life Emily Kaplan at ekaplan@vdoh.org
- Service Learning Program: Director of Service Learning Theresa Wiss at twiss@vdoh.org
- Student disciplinary issues and other student-related needs: Dean of Student Excellence Mesho Morrow at mmorrow@vdoh.org
- Student schedules, transcripts, or textbook purchases: Assistant to the Principal Judy Bertucci at 314.810.3469 or jbertucci@vdoh.org
- Villa policies, concerns, or comments: Principal Jeannie Steenberge at 314.810.3440 or jsteenberge@vdoh.org
Oak Hill
Attendance Reporting:
If your child will be absent, arriving late, or leaving early from school, please notify the school at attendance-oakhill@vdoh.org.
Questions about:
- Your child’s performance in class, e.g. progress, grades, procedures, homework, or behavior: Classroom Teacher
- Acorn Club (3-6 pm after-school program): 314.810.3549 or 314.365.8758 (mobile) or acornclub@vdoh.org
- Athletics: Youth Sports Coordinator Steve Stoll at 314.810.3403 or sstoll@vdoh.org
- Counseling: School Counselor JK3-12 Becky Pike at 314.810.3428 or bpike@vdoh.org
- Anything school-related: Assistant to the Principal Jaime Bergfeld at 314.810.3434 or jbergfeld@vdoh.org
- Oak Hill policies, concerns, or comments: Principal Peter M. Schroeder at 314.810.3552 or pschroeder@vdoh.org
ENTIRE SCHOOL
Questions about:
- Admissions and student referrals: Director of Enrollment Management Therese Hagemeister at 314.810.3446 or thagemeister@vdoh.org
- Alumnae/i events and information: Director of Alumnae/i Relations Rachel Gehm at 314.810.3420 or rgehm@vdoh.org
- Advancement: donations/gifts to School: Director of Advancement, Debbie Schlattman at 314.810.3589 or dschlattman@vdoh.org
- Auction: Auction Office at 314.810.3550 or vdohauction@vdoh.org
- Billing/Tuition: Financial Services Coordinator Tracy Smith at 314.810.3531 or tsmith@vdoh.org
- Café Card charges: Cafeteria Manager Steve Espy at 314.810.3540 or foodservice@vdoh.org
- Center for Student Success/Academic Assistance: Student Success Specialist Christine Phillips at 314.810.3517 or cphillips@vdoh.org
- Facilities Rental/Special Events: Manager of Community Engagement Dominic Key at 314.810.3454 or dkey@vdoh.org
- Masses, liturgies, and retreats: Campus Minister Jen MacArthur at 314.810.3404 or jmacarthur@vdoh.org
- Publications/www.vdoh.org: Director of Marketing and Communications Alice Dickherber at 314.810.3529 or adickherber@vdoh.org
- Spirit Wear: La Boutique, Mesho Morrow at 314.810.3558 or mmorrow@vdoh.org
- Technology: Technology Department at 314.810.3439 or techdepartment@vdoh.org
- School-wide policies, concerns, or comments: Head of School Michael F. Baber at 314.810.3513 or mbaber@vdoh.org
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School Calendar
Calendar & Category Legend:
- Admissions
- All School
- Alumnae/i
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Villa Duchesne Block-First Sem
- N1 (7-12)
- M5 (7-12)
- N2 (7-12)
- M6 (7-12)
Calendar Feeds
- All School:
http://www.vdoh.org/calendar/calendar_2584.ics - Admissions:
http://www.vdoh.org/calendar/calendar_2581.ics - Alumnae/i:
http://www.vdoh.org/calendar/calendar_2582.ics
School News
Reference Center
- Acorn Club | After-School Care
- Athletics
- Go Saints!
- Attendance
- Center for Student Success | Academic Assistance
- Educational Technologies | How-To Videos
- Enrichment
- Food Service Information
- Forms & Agreements
- Global & Domestic Exchange Programs 7-12
- Fundraisers & Philanthropy
- Health Care | Magnus Health
- School Hours | Arrival & Dismissal
- School Supplies
- Security
- Spirituality Opportunities for Parents
- Student Computers & Technology 7-12
- Student-Parent Handbook
- Tuition Plans, Family Individualized Tuition, and Scholarships
- Summer Programs
- Summer Reading
- Textbooks 7-12
- Uniforms
Acorn Club | After-School Care
Athletics
Athletics 1-6
Oak Hill Athletics offers students the chance to compete on soccer, volleyball, basketball, and track teams as members of the Catholic Youth Council (CYC) and lacrosse teams as part of the St. Louis Youth Lacrosse Association (SLYLA). CYC registration is at https://vdhss.siplay.com/site/.
- Fall Sports: Soccer, Boys/Girls 1-6; Volleyball, Girls 5-6
- Winter Sports: Basketball, Boys/Girls 3-6
- Spring Sports: Lacrosse, Boys/Girls 3-6; Track, Boys/Girls 1-6
Contact Steve Stoll, Youth Sports Coordinator, at sstoll@vdoh.org for additional information. Visit Athletics for team schedules. COVID-19 may impact fall 2020 CYC Athletics, and we will continue to communicate with families.
Athletics 7-8
Middle school students compete on teams as members of the Catholic Youth Council (CYC) for most sports and registration is at https://vdhss.siplay.com/site/.
- Fall Sports: Field Hockey*, Soccer, Tennis*, Volleyball
- Winter Sports: Basketball
- Spring Sports: Golf, Lacrosse, Track
*Non-CYC, independent sports.
Contact Steve Stoll, Youth Sports Coordinator, at sstoll@vdoh.org for additional information. Visit Athletics for team schedules. COVID-19 may impact fall 2020 athletics. We will keep our families informed as we learn more.
Athletics 9-12
Visit our Team Tryouts page for information about seasonal tryouts.
Team schedules are available on our Athletics page or see a list of upcoming games in the Go Saints panel below.
Go Saints!
Villa Duchesne Games
Oak Hill Games
Attendance
If your child will be absent or arriving late to school, please notify the School as indicated below.
- Villa Duchesne parents email attendance-villa@vdoh.org before 8:30 am.
- Oak Hill parents email attendance-oakhill@vdoh.org before 8 am.
All students arriving after the start of school must sign in before proceeding to class.
- Villa Duchesne students must sign in at the Dean of Students Office on the ground floor of the 1929 Main Building.
- Oak Hill students must be signed in at the Oak Hill Office in the Duchesne Building.
All students leaving during school hours must sign out before leaving campus at the offices noted above. Parents may either send a note with their child or email/call the attendance line with an explanation for the early dismissal.
Center for Student Success | Academic Assistance
As a member of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, the Center for Student Success supports the Goals and Criteria of a Sacred Heart education of its students. Particularly, "Goal II: a deep respect for intellectual values" is the hallmark of the Center for Student Success. The Center offers support services for students with mild learning disabilities or for students who learn differently. Students experience academic success, self-advocacy, love of learning, and confidence when given the academic reinforcement. Our specialists work closely with teachers to develop new methods of learning within the dynamic expectations of a college-preparatory curriculum, while emphasizing skill building, use of assistive technology, and alternative approaches of learning. The Center recognizes and honors a student’s unique gifts, talents, learning challenges, and style. In the words of St. Madeleine Sophie Barat, we are here for the “sake of one child.”
Tutorial Services JK3-6
Several academic assistance options are included as part of tuition. Tutoring and speech services are also available on a fee-for-service model for students with learning differences or who require additional support.
- Reading Instruction: Oak Hill’s Learning Specialist is available during school hours by referral from your child’s teacher or the Student Success Specialist. There is no fee for this service.
- The Center for Student Success: Consultation, group sessions, and study skills techniques are available in the Center for Student Success by referral from your child’s teacher in collaboration with the CARE team. Members of the CARE team include the principal, counselor, learning specialists, and classroom teachers. There is no fee for this small group or individualized instruction.
- Private Tutoring: Learning/reading specialists and speech therapists are available during campus hours for an additional charge. Tutoring takes place on campus either before, during, or after school and is arranged in conjunction with the Center for Student Success, parents/student, and teachers. Appointments during school hours are coordinated to minimize classroom disruption. Payment and billing is coordinated with the specialist providing the services.
Cancellation Policy: Parents must notify the specialist of a cancellation at least six hours prior to the session to avoid the session charge. Attempts will be made to reschedule.
Contact: Christine Phillips, Student Success Specialist | cphillips@vdoh.org | 314.810.3517
Tutorial Services 7-12
Villa Duchesne offers several options for academic assistance. Teachers are available for consultation after school and during extended period and break. Tutoring is available on a fee-for-service model for students with learning differences or who require additional support.
- The Center for Student Success: Consultation, group sessions, and study skills techniques are available in the Center for Student Success by appointment. Teachers, students, or parents may request the service. There is no fee for this small group or individualized instruction.
- Reading Plus Program: Students who want to improve reading comprehension, vocabulary, or fluency may be directed to a computerized reading program for use at home or at school during a student’s free class period. There is no fee for this service.
- Private Tutoring: Experienced, subject-specific tutors and learning specialists are available during campus hours for an additional charge. Tutoring takes place on campus either before, during, or after school and is arranged in conjunction with the Center for Student Success, student/parent, and teachers. Payment and billing is coordinated with the specialist providing the services.
Cancellation Policy: Parents or students must notify the specialist of a cancellation at least six hours prior to the session to avoid the session charge. Attempts will be made to reschedule.
Student Expectations: Students are asked to bring their materials to each session.
Contact: Christine Phillips, Student Success Specialist | cphillips@vdoh.org | 314.810.3517
Educational Technologies | How-To Videos
Enrichment
Food Service Information
Lunch Order Form
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.
Food Service JK3
Students who would like to purchase lunch at school must complete a Café Card Order Form to open an account. Food Service Consultants offers a daily lunch plan or the option to load a Café Card with money to purchase lunch a la carte at a cost of $5 per lunch. Here is information for the daily plan:
- JK3 - 3 days per week: $300 per student for the year
- JK3 - 5 days per week: $500 per student for the year
For the first two weeks of school, we will track your child's meal purchases even if we haven't yet received payment from you. Purchase of a daily lunch plan must be made by check. To pay by check, please write a check payable to Food Service Consultants. Please complete the Café Card Order Form and send it with your check to:
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School
c/o Food Service Consultants
801 S. Spoede Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
There will be no cash transactions allowed in 2020-2021.
Food Service JK4-6
Students who would like to purchase lunch at school must complete a Café Card Order Form to open an account. Food Service Consultants offers a daily lunch plan or the option to load a Café Card with money to purchase lunch a la carte at a cost of $5 per lunch. Here is information for the daily plan:
JK4 - grade 6: $750 per student for the year
For the first two weeks of school, we will track your child's meal purchases even if we haven't yet received payment from you. Purchase of a daily lunch plan must be made by check. To pay by check, please write a check payable to Food Service Consultants. Please complete the Café Card Order Form and send it with your check to:
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School
c/o Food Service Consultants
801 S. Spoede Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
There will be no cash transactions allowed in 2020-2021.
Food Service 7-12
Lunch is included with tuition for Villa students. Please use the Lunch Order Form to place orders for boxed lunch. There will be no snacks available for purchase for the 2020-2021 school year.
Café Card Account
Oak Hill students who do not have a daily lunch plan may purchase lunch with a Café Card account.
Food Service offers two ways to load a Café Card account with money to purchase lunch a la carte for your student, check or paypal. Regardless of how you pay, you must complete a Café Card Order Form and mail it in so that Food Service can open an account for your student. For the first two weeks of school, we will track your child's meal purchases and deduct them once we receive payment. To pay by check, please write a check payable to Food Service Consultants. Return your check and Café Card Order Form by mail to:
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School
c/o Food Service Consultants
801 S. Spoede Road
St. Louis, MO 63131
Food Service also accepts Café Card payments through PayPal. Food Service does not charge for this convenience; however, PayPal charges 2.95% plus $.30 per transaction. These fees are automatically deducted from the amount you submit with the remainder placed in your child’s Café Card account. A personal PayPal account is required to use this service. The email address for sending funds to your child’s Café Card account is foodservice@vdoh.org. Please include your child’s name, child’s grade, and the school name in the ‘Note’ section so the funds are posted to the correct account and select ‘services’ as your purchase type. Learn more at PayPal Payments. If you pay via paypal, please mail in your completed Café Card Order Form.
There will be no cash transactions allowed in 2020-2021.
Returning Oak Hill Students, tap the button to check your child's Café Card account balance. You will need your account ID number to check the balance. Contact Mrs. Bergfeld (jbergfeld@vdoh.org) to obtain ID numbers for Oak Hill students and Mrs. Bertucci (jbertucci@vdoh.org) to obtain ID numbers for Villa students.
Food Service Consultants has served the students, parents, faculty, and staff of Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School for more than 25 years.
Forms & Agreements
Forms JK3-6
Oak Hill permission forms are located in the ‘Resources’ element on your child’s homeroom page. Your personal Finalsite login is required to complete most online forms. If you cannot locate the permission form you are seeking, please contact Jaime Bergfeld at jbergfeld@vdoh.org or your child's homeroom teacher.
Forms 7-12
Villa Duchesne Permission and Agreement Forms
Your personal Finalsite login may be required to complete permission forms. If the permission form you are seeking is not shown below, please email Judy Bertucci at jbertucci@vdoh.org.
Coalition of Catholic Secondary Schools | Freshman Meetings [no login required]
Global & Domestic Exchange Programs 7-12
There are twenty-two schools throughout the United States that belong to the Network of Sacred Heart Schools and more than 150 Sacred Heart schools around the world. Middle school students have the opportunity to participate in two-week domestic exchanges with other member schools in the Network of Sacred Heart Schools in the United States; while our high school students may spend either a quarter or semester at one of our domestic or international sister schools. Students from Sacred Heart schools around the world also attend Villa Duchesne and live with host families. Contact the Principal's office for more information. Due to COVID-19, exchange opportunities are paused for 2020.
Fundraisers & Philanthropy
Ways to make a difference:
- Your support of Annual Giving impacts our students directly and is one of the most important fundraising programs at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School.
- Look for more information about our Bonne Chance Auction, the BEST event of the year! View our previous auctions.
- Support us while you shop with Schnucks eScrip, AmazonSmile, and Office Depot "Back to School" Rewards Program.
Health Care | Magnus Health
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School partners with Magnus Health to enable parents to electronically complete, sign, and return their children’s health forms. Magnus Health is a web-based health records management system that securely integrates with our school database. You will not only use this system to update your student’s medical history but to also download all other medical forms that need to be completed by your physician, such as physical forms and action plans.
Forms for the 2020-2021 school year are now available. Due to difficulties caused by COVID-19, parents have until Wednesday, July 15, to enter or update each child’s medical information in Magnus. This includes emergency contacts, insurance information, physician information, health history, permission to give over-the-counter medications, allergy information, and permission to treat.
In addition, some families are required to submit the following:
- A current school physical completed within the last calendar year for all students new to VDOH as well as all students entering junior kindergarten 3, kindergarten, grade 4, or grade 7. Students in grades 9-12 should have a MSHSAA or VDOH physical. High school physicals are valid for two years from the date of the exam unless the physician states that it is only valid for one year. For students participating in sports, all other physicals will be approved or rejected based on the MSHSAA requirements. Students not in compliance cannot try out for any sport. Physicals may be completed by your physician, an urgent care center, or a walk-in clinic, like those at Walgreens.
- A current list of immunizations for all students new to VDOH including all immunizations required by the State of Missouri. An updated list of immunizations for students entering kindergarten with two MMR and two Varicella, students entering grade 8 with Tdap and MCV, and students entering grade 12 with a second dose of MCV unless the first dose was administered after the age of 16. A signed medical or religious state exemption form is required for all exempt immunizations.
- A current Action Plan signed by your physician and a Parent Request for Treatment for any student with an allergy requiring an EpiPen, asthma requiring an inhaler or nebulizer, diabetes, a seizure disorder, or chronic anxiety disorder.
- A Parent Request to Administer Medication at School form for all medications (including EpiPens and inhalers) not included in the over-the-counter medication permissions. Note: All medications are kept in the Nurse’s Office. Students may not carry medications while on campus unless it is an EpiPen or inhaler and your physician has given specific approval for the student to have it on her/his person.
- A physician's signed order is required for any over-the-counter medication to be dispensed above the recommended dosage as well as for all prescriptions to be given at school.
If your child has any special health care needs, please call the Nurse’s Office to discuss her/his needs and how we can best help her/him meet them.
HOW DO I COMPLETE THE ONLINE FORMS?
The 2020-2021 health care forms are now available on Magnus Health. Get started at https://secure.magnushealthportal.com/ss/339115/login. Log in using your vdoh.org website username and password.
Student Health Tracker in Magnus: After logging in to Magnus, check “complete now” next to the name of the student whose records you want to access. The Student Health Tracker for that student will open and will clearly indicate all requirements as well as which are complete and which are still outstanding. From this page, you will be able to download any forms that need to be completed or signed.
The site will include directions on how paper forms may be uploaded to the Student Health Tracker. You may also mail them to the Magnus Health address listed on the site.
You will receive email notifications about incomplete enrollment until you complete all required items.
WHAT IF I NEED HELP WITH THE FORMS?
You can contact Magnus Health by phone, email, or live chat. Contact information is available upon login to Magnus at https://secure.magnushealthportal.com/ss/339115/login.
You may also call the Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School Health Center or email Sandy Conway at sconway@vdoh.org during the school year. We are happy to help you.
Sandy Conway, RN | sconway@vdoh.org | 314.810.3499
School Hours | Arrival & Dismissal
School Hours
Grades JK3-6: School begins promptly at 7:55 am for JK3-6. Junior kindergarten dismisses at noon except for those enrolled in the optional Full Day program. Kindergarten through sixth grade dismiss at 3:15 pm.
Grades 7-12: The warning bell rings at 7:55 am and all grades 7-12 begin promptly at 8:00 am. School dismisses at 3:00 pm. On-campus faculty hours for full-time teachers begin at 7:30 am and typically conclude at 3:30 pm.
Snow Schedule/Early Dismissal: In the event of a “snow schedule,” the campus will open to all students with before-care supervision for JK3 through sixth grade 30 minutes prior to the published start of classes. In the event of an early dismissal from school, such as due to inclement weather, for the safety of our students and staff, please plan to pick up your child(ren) within 30 minutes of the early dismissal. Acorn Club is not available on these early dismissal days.
Arrivals/Drop Offs (may be updated with COVID-19 Planning. Check for updates in August)
Grades JK3-6: The Oak Hill campus is open to JK3-grade 6 students beginning at 7 am each school day. There is no supervision provided for students before 7 am and students are not to be on campus. Oak Hill students should be dropped off at the Duchesne Building until 7:30 am. After 7:30 am students in grades 3-6 may be dropped off at the lower campus for morning recess. No students should be dropped off at the West Door or in front of the pods.
Students are escorted to their classrooms at 7:45 am. For safety reasons, students may not enter any classroom before these times unless requested to do so by a teacher. The school day begins promptly at 7:55 am. Students who are not in their classrooms by these times must report to the Oak Hill Office.
Grades 7-12: Supervision is provided for Villa Duchesne students beginning at 7:00 am. All Villa Duchesne students enter through the West Door. Students should not enter a classroom prior to the start of school unless requested to do so by a teacher. Students arriving after the first period of the day begins must sign in with the Dean of Student Excellence.
Dismissal
Grades JK3-6: Students are dismissed by their carpools at 3:15 pm from either the Duchesne Building or the Activities Building on the Lower Campus. Oak Hill students who carpool with Villa Duchesne students must be picked up at either the Duchesne Building or the Activities Building. Acorn Club is available until 6 pm on all full school days.
Grades 7-12: All students dismiss from the West Door at 3:00 pm. No students may be picked up from the sidewalk in front of the School, or the Portry, or the East Door. Supervision is provided until 6 pm.
Arrival and Dismissal Traffic Patterns (printable PDF)
School Supplies
Supplies JK3-6
2020-2021 School Supplies
Due to locker size, bookbags or backpacks must be no larger than 18”Hx12”W—no wheels permitted. Locker decorations and shelves are also not permitted. Students are not allowed to bring Trapper Keepers or permanent markers to school. Please write your child’s name on all supplies before they are brought to school.
Supplies 7-8
SEVENTH GRADE SUPPLIES
General
- VDOH planner (purchased through MBS; will be distributed at school)
- Backup face masks (2, stored in ziplock in backpack at all times)
- Earbuds for computer stored in backpack
- Post-It notes (1 pad)
- 1 or 1.5 inch binders (4)
- Loose leaf lined paper (approx. 400 sheets)
- Spiral notebook (1)
- Tracing paper
- 3 x 5 inch index cards (300)
- Pens/pencils/highlighters/red pens
- Colored pencils/markers
- Erasers
- Scissors
- Small stapler
- Hole punch
- Glue sticks (2)
Course Specific Supplies
- French 7: 2 inch binder
- Spanish 7: 2 inch binder + tabs
- Pre-Algebra A: 2 inch binder, TI-84 Plus graphing calculator, Green or red pen (for grading)
- Pre-Algebra B: 2 inch binder, Graphing calculator
- Honors Algebra: notebook, 1 inch binder (dividers optional), Graphing calculator
EIGHTH GRADE SUPPLIES
General
- VDOH planner (purchased through MBS; will be distributed at school)
- Backup face masks (2, stored in ziplock in backpack at all times)
- Earbuds for computer
- Post-It notes (1 pad)
- 1 or 1.5 inch binders (4)
- Loose leaf lined paper (300 sheets)
- Tab dividers (40)
- 3 x 5 index cards (300)
- Pencils/pens/highlighters/red pens
- Colored pencils, markers
- Erasers
- Scissors
- Glue sticks (2)
Course Specific Supplies
- French 8: 2 inch binder
- Spanish 8: Yellow ring binders (2), Yellow pocket folders (2)
Email your teacher, Señora Luchini, at mluchini@vdoh.org if you have any questions. - Pre-Algebra B: 2 inch binder, Graphing calculator
- Honors Algebra: 1 inch binder, Graphing calculator, Notebook
Supplies 9-12
Security
Talking to Your Child about Active Intruder Situations by Tier One Tactical Solutions, LLC
What can I do as a parent in the event of this type of situation?
- Know that in a crisis, telephone lines may become overwhelmed. Access to the School may be restricted. The School will initiate communication as quickly as possible, providing instructions reuniting you with your child through our secure process.
- To ensure you receive timely updates, please UPDATE PROFILE in MyBackPack with your current address, telephone numbers and emergency contacts.
- Frequently ask your child about the drills and training that they have practiced in School.
What else can I do?
You can also emphasize with your child the importance of:
- Listening to all information that comes across the emergency system.
- Following the instructions of the teacher or any adult in charge.
- Taking all drills seriously so that they are prepared and know what to do in the event of an actual emergency.
- Making sure that they report to an adult when the outside doors are propped open or left open for others.
- Telling an adult when they know someone has plans to bring a weapon to School, whether they believe them or not.
- Telling if someone has brought a weapon to School whether they have seen it or not.
Also, you can:
- Have frequent discussions with your child regarding their feelings about active intruder situations.
- Create safety plans for your child for your home, when they go outside to play or if they get lost. Practicing personal safety is an important task for all of us.
What is Options-Based Active Intruder Training?
The School has adopted options-based active intruder protocols based on the recommendation of the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. These agencies recommend that all Schools teach students and staff options that may be available to them in an intruder situation. The foundation of our options-based active intruder program is the 4E concept. The 4E’s represent Educate, Evade, Escape and Engage.
- The EDUCATE option is where students learn and practice the terminology and skills taught in the 4E program. They also learn to keep their School safe by observing and reporting when they see or hear something wrong.
- Students learn about the EVADE option by locking doors, turning off the lights, covering the window, and using items in the room to barricade the door.
- The ESCAPE option instructs students and staff to leave the building, when they believe it is safe to do so, by the quickest possible path.
- The ENGAGE option is not part of the elementary-grade training, but is taught at the middle and high school level. Students are instructed that when their lives are in imminent danger and no other option is viable, they can distract by throwing anything available and fight back to maximize their chances of survival. Engaging is only used as an option of last resort.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I say to my child if they have concerns about an intruder coming into their School?
While the subject of active intruders can be unsettling for students and staff, our ultimate goal is survival. If your child is concerned that something like this might happen at their School, remind them that it is necessary to be prepared and practice active intruder drills just as they do fire drills, tornado drills and earthquake drills. Principals, teachers and staff will help students learn how to think and react in an emergency situation.
Why did the School change to an options-based active intruder model instead of the “traditional” lockdown?
In the past, locking down a facility was the only response utilized regarding an active intruder. However, research has shown that allowing staff and students to employ options when dealing with active intruders increases the chances of surviving a critical incident.
What if my child or I have specific questions or concerns about active intruder information?
If you or your child have any questions or concerns about the topic, feel free to contact your child’s teacher, counselor or principal. Make sure your child knows that they should tell an adult right away if another person talks about hurting others, themselves or obtaining any type of weapon, even if they think the person is joking. Students should also report any potential safety issues to an adult such as a fire, a tripping hazard or an unidentified person(s) in any school building.
What type of emergency drills do students practice?
All students practice several drills annually. They consist of fire drills, active intruder drills and tornado drills. Parents will be notified of any active intruder drills ahead of time.
Why should my child participate in active intruder drills?
Drills are a way for students and staff to practice and be prepared to act in a crisis. Active intruder drills are clearly identified as “Only a Drill”, and we have members of our staff who are trained to assist students. All students should be trained so that they are not only able to use these skills taught at the School, but also in any dangerous situation they may encounter outside of School, as well.
I have heard my child talk about the “Rally Point.” What is it?
Most schools practice escaping to an off-site location called a Rally Point. The Rally Point is a term used to describe a predetermined location that staff and students ESCAPE to when there is an emergency situation inside the School that requires them to go to a safe location off-site from the campus. The students are shown where the Rally Point is, and how to get there.
In the event of a crisis that requires the temporary evacuation of the building, the School has designated a ReUnification Point or R.U.P. Should a crisis event occur, the School will be inaccessible except to first responders (police, firefighters, EMS, etc.) To reunite you with your child as quickly as possible, a Reunification Point is established off site and away from the commotion to aid in reuniting students with their families.
Spirituality Opportunities for Parents
Many events or meetings we would typically have in person are paused right now. We will provide more information on the format of spirituality opportunities going forward once we have certainty. Thank you!
Parent Association Mission Committee
This committee seeks to integrate parents with the school community in living out the Goals of Sacred Heart education. All parents are welcome and encouraged to join together to pray for each other and our school. Questions? Contact the Mission Committee at vdohmission@vdoh.org
Rosary | Contact: Molly Kraeger and Ellen Weis
A beautiful expression of Goal I, all are welcome at 8 am each Wednesday at the Marian grotto in the Front Bowl to offer the Rosary to Mary, Our Queen and Mother, for her motherly protection of our students and for all the faculty and staff who play such a critical role in nurturing and teaching them.
This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with parents across all grade levels at VDOH. Please be sure to wear a face mask and maintain proper social distancing. 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.
First Friday Eucharistic Adoration | Contact: Kelly Adamitis (Paused for fall 2020)
An integral part of the Sacred Heart life, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration is a tradition that exemplifies Goals I & IV. Therefore, it is fitting that this event engages the entire Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School community: students, faculty, staff, parents, and alumni. First Friday Eucharistic Adoration days for the 2020-21 school year are paused for Fall 2020. We will notify parents when we our schedule resumes.
Typically on these days, the Eucharist will be exposed for adoration following the 8:15 am Oak Hill Mass and Benediction until 3 pm in our Chapel. All are welcome anytime during the day to visit and pray. Students, teachers, and staff make visits throughout the day; however, parent volunteers are still needed to ensure that the Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended. Adorers are scheduled for hour shifts from 9 am to 3 pm.
Parents' Morning of Reflection | Contact: Polly Capps and DeAnn Gueck (Paused for fall 2020)
Inspired by Goals I, IV, V, all parents are invited to a morning of prayer and contemplation that will begin with the celebration of mass, followed by breakfast, a presentation, and prayer. These Mornings of Reflection have been postponed and new dates are not yet determined.
Wednesday Morning Mass (Wednesday Masses are paused for Fall 2020. We will notify parents when we can start offering Mass again.)
On most Wednesdays throughout the school year, Mass is celebrated at 7:15 am in the Chapel. Each Mass is offered for the intentions of specific grades, departments, and apostolic works within our community. Intentions are listed in the weekly Nuts & Bolts newsletter. Everyone in the VDOH community is invited and encouraged to attend.
All-School Masses
The entire Sacred Heart community is encouraged to attend all-school Masses celebrated on special occasions throughout the year. Mass dates and times are posted on our online calendar and announced in the weekly Nuts & Bolts newsletter.
Children of Mary Sodality
The Children of Mary is an organization of women dedicated to growing in their interior life of prayer through Mary, Mother of Jesus. Monthly meetings take place on Saturday mornings, October through May, and include Rosary, Mass, and a speaker. Other events include a pilgrimage to St. Charles in honor of St. Philippine Duchesne and a Spring Morning of Recollection. All women who would like to grow in their faith of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus are welcome. For information about becoming an aspirant, contact Sally Stephens, rscj, at sstephens@vdoh.org. More information is available at http://childrenofmarystl.wix.com/children-of-Mary.
Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers Series
The Sacred Heart Spirituality Speakers Series is sponsored by the Mums of Alums for the benefit of the entire Sacred Heart family. Dates are planned for Spring 2021. Dates and speaker information are published in our online calendar and in the weekly Nuts & Bolts newsletter. All are invited to attend. For information, please contact Cathie Ott at cathieott365@att.net.
Mass Cards
Community prayer/mass cards are available at the Portry for $6 each or 6 for $25. Each consists of a beautiful Mater card with an envelope for mailing the card to a friend in need and an intention card that is then posted on the wall of the Chapel vestibule. All enrolled are remembered in the school masses and prayers of the Sacred Heart community.
Student Computers & Technology 7-12
Villa Duchesne’s 1:1 computer program is a powerful tool that supports student learning, and we want to ensure every student’s computer is ready for the 2019-20 school year.
Returning Classes of 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025
All returning students need to deliver their current school computers to the Tech Department for summer maintenance. This will allow the Tech Department to make necessary updates and fix any hardware and software issues. Each returning student is required to complete the following:
- Review the Policy for the Ethical and Responsible Use of Technology in the Student-Parent Handbook.
- Back up all personal documents and images to an external hard drive or cloud.
- Deliver her computer for summer maintenance to the Tech Department no later than Thursday, May 28, 2020.
Students will be notified via their school email address when their computers are ready for pick up. Updated computers may be picked up from the Tech Department between 8 am and 3 pm Monday through Thursday.
New Students
- Review the Policy for the Ethical and Responsible Use of Technology in the Student-Parent Handbook.
- The Technology Department will contact new families before the start of school with instructions on when and where to pick up their student computers.
- Once they have their new computers, students should login and begin familiarizing themselves with the installed programs. Students should bring their computers to Student Orientation; this is an opportunity to address any questions or concerns.
Please contact the Technology Department at techdepartment@vdoh.org if you have any questions.
Student-Parent Handbook
Tuition Plans, Family Individualized Tuition, and Scholarships
Tuition Plans | Smart Tuition
The School offers five tuition payment options:
- Annual Plan (August 20) paid by check to VDOH*
- Semester Plan (August 20, January 20) paid by check to VDOH*
- T
- 8-month Plan (July-February) paid through Smart Tuition
- 10-month Plan (July-April) paid through Smart Tuition
Families choosing the Trimester, 8-month, or 10-month Plan must register with Smart Tuition and pay the associated fees. Our Smart Tuition school code is 12537. Please see the Student-Parent Handbook for the full Tuition and Fee Payment Policies. Contact the Business Office at 314.810.3531 if you have questions regarding payment plans or Smart Tuition.
*If a family wants to pay the Annual or Semester Plan by credit card or automatic bank withdrawal, they must register with Smart Tuition and pay the associated fees. If a family selects the Annual or Semester Plan with payment by check in the Enrollment and Tuition Contract and accounts become more than five days past due, the Parents are deemed to consent to registration with Smart Tuition, and School will register the Parents with Smart Tuition.
Family Individualized Tuition and Scholarships
If your family situation has changed and you are concerned about affording tuition, please reach out to us! We want to help and there are programs in place to support our families. Learn more about Family Individualized Tuition and the Scholarships we offer. We value your commitment to Sacred Heart education!
Summer Programs
View our Passport to Summer page to learn more and register for summer programs.
Summer Reading
Grades JK-6
Although Oak Hill students have no required summer reading, summer is an important time for students to keep reading and improve their language skills. Numerous studies indicate that students who don’t read or read infrequently during their summer vacation see their reading abilities stagnate or decline. Please consider encouraging your children to read at least 30 minutes per day from books of their choosing. They are more likely to meet that daily goal if they are reading books they’ve chosen themselves. To help guide you and your children with summer selections, Oak Hill faculty have put together a list of recommendations by grade level.
Grades 7-8
English, 2020:
- Grade 7: ENG71 English 7
- Grade 8: ENG81 English 8
Social Studies, 2020:
- Grade 7: SOC71 World Geography. Chinese Cinderella by Adelin Yen Mah
- Grade 8: SOC81 American Civics. Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood
Grades 9-12
English, 2020:
- Grade 9: ENG101 Foundations in Literature & Composition
- Grade 9: ENG102 Foundations in Literature & Composition Honors
- Grade 10: ENG201 British Literature & Composition
- Grade 10: ENG202 British Literature & Composition Honors
- Grade 11: ENG301 American Literature & Composition
- Grade 11: ENG302 AP English Language & Composition
- Grade 12: ENG401 Thematic Studies in Literature & Composition
- Grade 12: ENG402 AP English Literature & Composition
Social Studies, 2020:
- Grade 9: SOC101 World Civilization I. Prisoners of Geography: Our World Explained in 12 Simple Maps by Tim Marshall ISBN-13: 978-1783964130 [please note corrected ISBN number]
- Grade 10: SOC201 World Civilization II. A History of the World in Six Glasses by Tom Standage ISBN-13: 978-0802715524
- Grade 11-12: SOC301/SOC302 United States History/AP. Lost in Transition by Christian Smith ISBN: 978-0199828029
- Grades 11-12: SOC402/SOC408 American Government & Economics/AP. No Summer Reading.
- Grades 11-12: SOC403 Social Psychology. No Summer Reading.
- Grades 11-12: SOC404 Women’s Studies. No Summer Reading.
- Grades 12: SOC405 AP European History. No Summer Reading.
Textbooks 7-12
Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School partners with MBS Direct as a source for school textbooks in grades 7-12. Please note that effective January 2020, the web address for MBS Direct has changed to: https://bnck-12.com/vdoh. Although the former URL will remain active this calendar year, we recommend that families change any links or bookmarks to access the virtual bookstore to the new URL.
Selling Textbooks | May 2020
At the end of each school year, MBS Direct is happy to buy back textbooks that meet their quality assurance standards. Buyback will not be held on campus this year, but the online process is simple. Just three easy steps.
- Create a quote.
- Ship your books for free.
- Decide how to receive your buyback funds.
When visiting our Villa Duchesne online bookstore at MBS Direct, always log in using the same email address used to purchase books to review eligibility for Guaranteed Buyback and Customer Loyalty. To determine if your used textbooks are acceptable for buyback, check out MBS Direct's required book conditions in this Online Buyback flier. Guaranteed buyback values expire on Friday, June 5. Textbooks must be mailed to MBS within 30 days of creating a quote.
MBS BUYBACK INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO
Buying Textbooks | Summer 2020 [please note revised dates]
Finalized course schedules for the 2020-21 school year will be available in mid-July in the My BackPack tab on the Bulletin Board in the Parent and Student Portals. The list of textbooks needed for each class, complete with ISBN numbers, is available below. Families may purchase textbooks from MBS Direct beginning Wednesday, July 22, with FREE SHIPPING* on orders placed by Tuesday, July 28, or from another vendor of their choosing. For an overview of the MBS process, check out this Book Ordering Quick Reference flier.
Online Bookstore at MBS Direct is available beginning July 22.
2020-2021 Text Book List with ISBN Numbers [PDF]**
2020-2021 Text Book List with ISBN Numbers [Excel]**
*Free shipping is offered on MBS orders of $99 or more during the time frame noted above..
**Note updates to textbooks for 402 Honors French IV (July 25), 405 Honors Precalculus (July 28), 401 Faith & Spirituality (July 30)
Uniforms
Students are required to be in complete uniform from the first day of school until the final day of the school year unless the School designates an out-of-uniform day. Uniform items must be purchased from Just Me Apparel, our exclusive uniform provider, unless noted otherwise. Uniform shoes may be purchased at any retailer.
Beginning June 2, Just Me Apparel will resume in-store shopping with limited hours. To learn more about their hours of operation and any precautionary measures being taken, please contact them at 636-391-3551 or cs@justmeapparel.com. Just Me Apparel will also continue to take online orders and are available by phone to help you determine the correct sizing.
Uniform Apparel JK3-12
Uniform items must be purchased from Just Me Apparel, our exclusive uniform provider, unless noted otherwise.
All uniform items, as well as PE t-shirts for grades 7-12, will be available for online ordering. Just Me Apparel will deliver your order to campus on Saints Start-Up in August, unless you prefer to pick up items at their store.
Just Me Apparel
www.justmeapparel.com
232 Old Sulphur Spring Road
Manchester, MO 63021
636.391.3551
- Student-Parent Handbook for all your uniform information (pdf)
- Boys JK3-6 Just Me Apparel Price Sheet 2020 (pdf)
- Girls JK3-JK4 Just Me Apparel Price Sheet 2020 (pdf)
- Girls K-3 Just Me Apparel Price Sheet 2020 (pdf)
- Girls 4-6 Just Me Apparel Price Sheet 2020 (pdf)
- Girls 7-12 Just Me Apparel Price Sheet 2020 (pdf)
- Just Me Apparel to order uniforms online
Uniform Shoes JK3-6
Athletic shoes are worn year round by students in grades JK3-6 and may be purchased at any retailer. Oak Hill students may wear any all gray or all white athletic shoe. Velcro shoes are allowed for younger students still mastering shoe-tying. Suggested, but not mandated, brands/styles include:
- K-Swiss classic (all white) or infinity sneaker (all gray)
- Adidas originals (either all white or all gray)
- Adidas cloud form running shoe (gray)
- New Balance Evergreen sneaker (gray)
- Asics running shoe (gray)