Parents

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
• Development: donations/gifts: Director of Development, 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: Executive Chef Lee Gustin 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: Assistant Head for Strategic Advancement 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

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.

STUDENT/PARENT DIRECTORY | Login Required

The Acorn Club is Oak Hill's complimentary before- and after-school care program. The times and plan for Acorn Club for the 2020-2021 school year will be announced in early August. If you have questions about Acorn Club, contact Mrs. Bergfeld at jbergfeld@vdoh.org.

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.”

Lower School | Class Dojo

• Using Class Dojo as A Parent
• Using Class Dojo as A Student

Upper School | Google Classroom 

Parents and Google Classroom

The upper school uses Google Classroom as its learning management system. This is where your daughter will find assignments, materials, and announcements posted by her teachers. Students will also be able to turn in work, receive feedback from their teachers, and collaborate with their peers digitally. Many teachers and students have been using Google Classroom for the past few years with great success and have provided very positive feedback.

As a parent, you have the option to receive email summaries to help you follow your daughter's progress in her classes. You will still use this Portal to access grades and attendance information.

New families: You will receive an email invitation from Google Classroom to opt in to receive the emailed summaries. If you accept, you will receive emails listing by course your daughter’s assignments, any missing assignments, and class announcements. You have the option to receive daily or weekly summaries that will include information from all of her classes. 

Returning families: The Google Classroom Summary settings you selected last year will carry over to this year. If you opted not to receive summaries last year and would now like to receive them, please contact Dean of Academics Stacy Henning at shenning@vdoh.org. She will send you an invite to Google Classroom. If you opted to receive summaries last year and would now like to unsubscribe, click unsubscribe at the bottom of any email summary you receive.

Families of 7th and 9th graders: We have been impacted by the computer chip shortage and our shipment of laptops for students has been temporarily delayed. Teachers will make all assignments and course materials available for students in non-digital formats until we can ensure all students have equal access to Google Classroom. 

Google offers an information page that provides more details and a view of what email summaries entail.

We have created a helpful guide with more information and troubleshooting if you are experiencing any issues receiving the parent summaries. 

If you have any questions about Google Classroom, please contact Stacy Henning, Dean of Academics, at 314-810-3569 or Aaron Kaiser, Technology Supervisor, at 314-810-3439.  

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.

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 Dr. Melissa Allen for more information!

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 2022-2023 school year will be available in April 2022. Parents have until Friday, May 15, 2022, 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. Please note that your student’s enrollment at Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School must be complete before you can access Magnus.

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. For students participating in sports, all other physicals will be approved or rejected based on the MSHSAA requirements. Upper 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. 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 and must be renewed yearly.
• 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 2022-2023 health care forms will be available April 2022 on Magnus Health. Log in at https://secure.magnushealthportal.com/ss/339115/login 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 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

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 3:10 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  

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 beginning at 3:10 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 East Door or Science Wing Door at 3:00 pm. Parents will be directed to line up beginning at the East Door. Supervision is provided until 6 pm.

Campus Traffic Patterns for Dropoff and Pickup (printable PDF)

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.

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 beginning August 25 at the Our Lady of Lourdes 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. In the event of inclement weather, the Rosary will be held in the Chapel. 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
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.

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. All First Friday Masses are listed on the Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill calendar.

Parents' Evening and Morning of Reflection 
Inspired by Goals I, IV, V, all parents are invited to an evening or morning of prayer and contemplation. Our first Evening of Reflection will be held Wednesday, September 15, beginning at 6 pm at the Gueck Family Pavilion. All are invited to come learn more about St. Madeleine Sophie Barat's Life through the lens of the Rosary, presented by Sra. Botera and Mrs. Oliviera.

Bible Study
This year's Bible study will be A Biblical Walk Through the Mass by Dr. Edward Sri. The study will be offered on Tuesday mornings during the fall semester and in the evening during the spring semester. The fall study will be held from 8-9:30 am October 5 through November 9. To register or for more information, email mission@vdoh.org.

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 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. The series begins on Friday, November 5. Dates and speaker information will be published in our online calendar and in the Saints Weekly newsletter. All are invited to attend. For information, please contact Cathie Ott at cathieott365@att.net.

Mass Cards
We offer two variations of our Mass Card; one to extend sympathy, the other for special intentions. Each set contains an acknowledgment card to be sent to the individual or family whom you want remembered, a request card to be returned to our Campus Ministry Office, and two envelopes. Both variations of our card feature the marble statue of Our Lady that resides in the Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill Chapel and this quote by Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat, "Let us love the will of God above all things; let us cling to it no matter what happens, in life, in death, in sickness, in health. This is the source of all peace and happiness." Those individuals for whom we receive requests will be remembered in the Masses celebrated by our students and faculty. Order cards online.

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 2021-22 school year.

Returning Classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026

Following their exams, 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 Wednesday, June 2, 2021. 

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.

View our Passport to Summer page to learn more and register for summer programs.

Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School partners with MBS Direct as a source for school textbooks in grades 7-12. Textbooks may be both bought and sold through MBS. The web address for Villa Duchesne's online bookstore at MBS Direct is https://bnck-12.com/vdoh.

BUYING TEXTBOOKS | Summer 2022

To make textbook ordering easier, students will now be able to shop by schedule. A student can simply enter her student ID and the books associated with that schedule will populate. Finalized course schedules for the 2022-23 school year will be available no later than July 18, 2022, in My BackPack (log in required). Our online bookstore at MBS Direct is available beginning July 18, 2022. For an overview of the MBS process, check out this Course Materials Buying Guide.

If needed, the list of textbooks required for each class, complete with ISBN numbers, will be posted below prior to July 18.

2022-2023 Text Book List with ISBN Numbers [Coming in July.]

Families may purchase textbooks from MBS Direct beginning Monday, July 18, with FREE SHIPPING* on orders placed by Sunday, July 24, or from another vendor of their choosing.

*Free shipping is offered on MBS orders of $99 or more during the time frame noted above.

SELLING TEXTBOOKS 

At the end of each school year, MBS Direct is happy to buy back textbooks that are both still current and meet their quality assurance standards. Creating a buyback quote is simple, and shipping is free.  

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 review the process and determine if your used textbooks are acceptable for buyback, check out MBS Direct's Textbook Buyback brochure. MBS Direct recommends starting your buyback quote no earlier than the last week of school to ensure all eligible books are listed. Textbooks must be mailed to MBS within 30 days of creating a quote.

TEXTBOOK BUYBACK 

Families can also choose to donate any used textbooks to the School. A cart for donations will be at the West Door during finals week. 

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.

Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill's 2022 Uniform Fitting Days are scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, from 10 am to 7 pm and Wednesday, May 11, from 10 am to 4 pm at Just Me Apparel, 232 Old Sulphur Springs Road in Manchester. To provide our parents with better service, Just Me Apparel has created an online appointment sign-up tool. Registration is not mandatory but simply gives you priority at your scheduled time. Orders may be placed in person, online, or by phone. However, Just Me Apparel suggests visiting their store for your first order to ensure proper fitting.

These fitting days are set up as a courtesy for our families, however, uniforms may be ordered anytime May through July. To learn more about Just Me Apparel's hours of operation, please contact them at 636-391-3551 or cs@justmeapparel.com.