| A person living in the Northwest will find a mixed climate. During the fall and spring months, temperatures can be as high as 90 (degrees in Fahrenheit) but average in the 70s. The winters can be quite chilly with lows in the 30s. Our most common weather is rain in the winter, but occasional snow is possible.
Clothing should be neat (not torn or ripped), clean and in good repair. Students should not wear clothing with sexual, alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs references. Extremely short garments or clothes that are too revealing are inappropriate.
For our monthly formal dinners students are expected to wear more formal clothes. Boys should wear nice slacks, button-down shirts and a tie. Girls should wear dresses, skirts or dress slacks. Jeans and sneakers are not allowed for these events. Everyone should have one nice pair of shoes for these events.
At various times of the year students may need clothes for a variety of school-related trips. Students should bring at least one set of outdoor clothing for use on work crews, field trips, and wilderness expeditions. Equipment lists will be provided for these events but basic items include good, comfortable hiking boots, wool socks, pants, sweaters, rain gear, and a sleeping bag. (Only synthetic Holofil or Polarguard is allowed. No down-filled equipment is permitted.) OES staff will assist in the purchase of these items if there are concerns about buying the proper items.
We encourage International students to bring one or two clothing items representative of their culture and country for special occasions.
Please note: It has become important over the last couple of years to ask students to obtain written permission from parents for drastic changes to personal appearance, including tattooing and body piercing. Wherever they are during the school year, students are representatives of OES. Please understand that OES values individual tastes, but is also looking out for each member of the community, and encourages clear communication among students, their parents, and the school.
- alarm clock
- desk lamp
- pillow
- 2 sets of twin size sheets
- blankets
- comforter or quilt
- towels
- washcloths
- clothes hangers
- wastebasket
- any other items to decorate the room
There are a number of large department stores nearby where students may purchase many items for room decorations and personal use. Students may wish to bring a camera, a bicycle, a tennis racquet, or other sports equipment.
We view the dorm rooms as an extension of one’s room at home and therefore students do have a certain amount of freedom. However, we do not allow posters or items that depict sexually suggestive scenes, alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs. In addition, modifications to students’ rooms including painting or changes to built in furniture are not allowed.
Each boarding student can have access to the Internet in his or her dormitory room. Students also have access to computers in the libraries, computer labs and classrooms. OES Information Technology staff will help all students with setting up and maintaining their network connection in dorm rooms. Other problems with students’ personal computers are referred to an off-campus service provider, and OES does not cover the costs of such repairs or service.
Dorm students use the same Internet access as the rest of school. OES uses software that denies access to a list of Internet addresses known to contain material that is unacceptable. This software is normally effective in blocking access to pornographic and other inappropriate sites. Students and staff members are encouraged to let us know about blocked Internet sites that should be accessible. We can quickly grant access to such sites.
Even with the use of this software, however, OES does not have control of the information on the Internet. While our intent is to make the Internet accessible to further the School’s educational goals and objectives, it is impossible to completely restrict access to objectionable materials. Other sites accessible via the Internet may contain material that is illegal, defamatory, inaccurate, or offensive to some people.
OES Internet access also limits or prevents the use of many file sharing and online gaming software programs. While these programs may be considered acceptable and used at home, in school and corporate environments they can cause havoc with network reliability and stability.
Internet access will be turned off on weeknights from midnight until 6 a.m. and on weekends from 1 a.m. until 6 a.m.
A student who uses the computer system inappropriately may be subject to probation, suspension, or expulsion depending upon the nature of the infraction. For more information on computer use, please see the OES
Computer Use Policy in the All School section of this handbook.
The School is not responsible for items that are lost or stolen. The dorms provide a bicycle rack, and lockers are available in the school for books. Each room can be locked and students are provided a key at the beginning of the year. We suggest that parents include their child’s belongings in their homeowners insurance policy.
Weapons of any type are also forbidden (this includes: knives, swords, handcuffs, paintball or pellet guns etc.) If students do bring them to campus they will be confiscated until the end of the year or until a parent/guardian can take them home. Students should not have in their possession lighters or matches.
Please do not bring televisions or pets to OES. There are televisions available for viewing in the dorm lounges.
SAFETY
- Halogen lamps, space heaters and toaster ovens are not permitted in dorm rooms.
- Hallways must be completely clear of any kind of clutter; even small objects such as shoes may not be left in hallways.
- Baths and showers must be completely clear of any personal possessions.
- In order for safe egress from the room in the event of a fire and for the convenience of dorm parents and prefects doing room inspections, furniture and decorations must be arranged so that the entire room is clearly visible from the doorway and the entrance is not obstructed.
Please note: Concerns about safety have made it important to
ask that students not have more than one refrigerator, stereo,
or major appliance in their rooms.
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