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MS Messenger

Feb 1

A Note from Scott Hardister

What a wonderful evening we had Monday with Mo Copeland, Peyton Chapman, and Kit Hawkins.  It was great to see so many parents and faculty from the wider community come together to watch The Finland Phenomenon, followed by a panel question and answer with these three leaders in education.  I am proud to be part of a community that continues to think about the future of not just our own children, but also all children.

 Parent Happenings

Please note that new or updated information to the Messenger each week will be marked *New* or "Updated." Scroll below for details.
Here's what's new this week:

**Re-enrollment contracts to be sent via email
**Midwinter Madness Kicks off Thursday Feb 2, runs through Feb 14
**State of the School
**Leadership Volunteer Positions for 2012-13
**Aardvark Science Expo
**CDL Books & Breakfast "Little Bee"
**MS Yearbook
**MS Instrumental Concert

Lunar New Year Event

The new lunar year officially began on Monday, January 23, 2012.  In celebration of this important event, Middle School students of Mandarin will be offering a performance of traditional Chinese lion dance, martial arts, and music in the Middle School Commons on Friday, February 03 at 2:45 PM. There will be one showing dedicated to all middle school students.  Happy Year of the Dragon!

Re-Enrollment Contracts to be sent via E-mail*New*

Re-enrollment contracts will once again be arriving to you via email.  This is part of our ongoing efforts to improve our environmental and financial sustainability.  Look for contracts to arrive in your inbox on Monday, February 6^th.  If you do not see it in your inbox, please check your spam filter/junk email folder.  Contracts with deposits need to be returned to the Admissions Office no later than Tuesday, February 21^st. 

Please do not return contracts via the lockbox for tuition payments – they need to be returned to the Admissions Office.

Midwinter Madness Kicks Off Thursday Feb 2, Runs Through Feb. 14*New*

Midwinter Madness—OES's annual festival of fun and fundraising—will launch tomorrow with a Kickoff Assembly in the gym at 10:45 a.m. Parents are encouraged to attend this event, which will also be attended by the 8th-12th graders. The Kickoff Assembly is a great chance to learn about this year's beneficiary organization, Elevate Oregon, a local non-profit that provides mentoring, leadership training and academic support to at-risk youth in the Parkrose School District. 

A few notes about specific fundraisers:

SPECIFIC MS EVENT INFORMATION:

The Middle School Social , 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10,  will have an added theme of Midwinter Madness,  with a suggested donation to Elevate Oregon of $5. 

Bake Sale, February 14-16, at lunch and after school until 3:30pm.  Prices will be 50 cents and up for sweet treats middle schoolers bring in. 

Dodgeball competition: 3:10-4:15 p.m., date TBD, at SPARC. Stay tuned for more details.

A limited number of custom designed Middle School Midwinter Madness Tshirts are available for $15 each. Please email Chris Myers, the faculty coordinator for Midwinter Madness, if you would like to purchase one for your child. Show your Midwinter Madness spirit!

Parents from all three divisions are invited to pitch in by participating in the Parent Perambulation—a walk/bike/run-a-thon on the OES track, 1:30-4:30 pm. Monday, February 13. Interested parents donate $25 to Elevate Oregon and walk, jog, run, or bike a mile around the OES track to show support for the cause. The Parent Perambulation will overlap with Midwinter Madness PowderPuff Football (games of flag football played between teams of girls from each Upper School grade), which is taking place 3:30-6 p.m. on the turf field that afternoon. So you can enjoy some riveting gridiron action while walking your mile. If you'd like to learn more about the Parent Perambulation, please contact one of the two parent organizers, or , or the faculty advisor for Midwinter Madness, , 503-416-9352.

More information about Elevate Oregon is available at http://www.elevateoregon.org. 

State of the School*New*

Board Chair, Steve Grant, and Head of School, Mo Copeland, invite you to a presentation and question and answer session on the state of OES on Thursday, February 16 from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in the Dining Hall. We will discuss the strategic plan and work we have accomplished in that area, the self-study and accreditation process, current admissions and fundraising targets, and the budget projection for next year. Finance Chair, Kirk Bass, and Associate Head, Kathy Layendecker, will present on the budget and current financial planning. We hope you can join us.

Look Ahead & Lean In
Leadership Volunteer Positions for 2012-2013*New*

It's already time for Parent Community Link to start looking ahead to our next school year! Please take a moment to investigate the different volunteer leadership positions open for 2012-2013. Click here to access a listing of descriptions. Express your interest in being considered for a specific position by clicking on the “Express Interest” icon shown by the job description. All interested individuals will be contacted by members of Parent Community Link between March and April to determine if a placement might work and to discuss options. We look forward to hearing from you!

Aardvark Science Expo*New*

Parents, family, and friends of the OES community are invited to visit the OES Aardvark Science Expos where Middle & Upper School research projects/exhibits will be on display.
On Thursday, February 23rd, from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, the exhibit hall in SPARC Gymnasium is open to the public. Student exhibitors will not be with their projects that day, though it is an excellent opportunity for members of the entire OES community to spend time perusing the wide array of 250+ incredible projects and reading exhibit boards.
On Friday, February 24, after judging, there is an open house from 6:30 – 7:30 PM, followed by the awards ceremony from 7:30 – 8:30 PM. Buses will run between SPARC and the lower lot by the athletic fields from 6:20–9:00pm. If you would like a parking permit for SPARC, inquire at the Upper or Middle School office.
Would you like to help as a judge or volunteer?  Visit the Volunteer Opportunities page.
For a more comprehensive schedule see the Complete schedule

CDL Books & Breakfast:  "Little Bee"*New*

Please join Community Diversity Link in The Drinkward Volunteer Room on Friday, February 24th, from 8:00-9:30 am to discuss Chris Cleave's incredible book, "Little Bee." The book will be discussed for one hour, followed by a review of the year's programs and conversation about plans for the 2012-2013 year.  For more information: http://www.oes.edu/about/diversity-books.html

MS Yearbook*New*

LOTS of great XC pictures! Sadly lacking soccer and volleyball. Surely there are some parents out there with sports photos? Please e-mail them to Carrie Cool. Questions? E-mail or feel free to call at 503.997.4902

MS Instrumental Concert!*New*

Monday, February 27th, 6:30 – 8:00 pm.

Please mark your calendars!  This is the culminating performance for the first semester. We ask every student to stay for the full concert so that each group has a full audience.  Groups performing are:  All MS bands, jazz band, strings.

Questions? Contact Nancy Teskey

Volunteer for the Auction

And get a cool auction T-shirt!

Anyone interested in helping please go to the VolunteerSpot website to sign up or contact the . There are all kinds of opportunities to pitch in, from collecting bottles of wine curbside to entering data before the big event. There are also lots of fun jobs the night of the auction – setting up, selling raffle tickets, passing cocktails…

Tuesday, February 28: Please stop by the Charlton Room at 8:15 for a “bling party” to help put together the centerpieces for the auction dinner. As usual, there will be sweet things to eat.

The auction could still use some donations. Anything, big or small, is appreciated. How about extra air miles or hotel points?

The Wall of Wine is another great way to help. Two wine shops have offered to help: SEC WINES will take 10% off wine donations to the auction: call Eric at 503-805-5871.  Anthony Dell Cellars will donate one bottle of wine for each bottle purchased for the auction, up to a maximum of 48bottles.  Call Brandee at 971-218-7040, Wed. thru Sun.12-6. Our volunteers will pick up your donation from both stores and deliver it to the auction.

Finally, don’t forget the deadline for the auction poster contest! The deadline for entries is February 1 and judging will take place February 3. Turn posters into the division offices. Don’t forget the signature, name and grade.

Snack Shack Closures for February

Please note that on the following January dates the snack shack will be CLOSED due to a large group of students off campus, prearranged meetings scheduled for the dining hall and/or large on-campus catered events.

Thursday, Feb 2
Thursday, Feb 16
Friday, Feb 17

Please contact the MS office at 503-768-3127 should you have any questions.

If you want any information added or updated in the MS Messenger, please contact in the Middle School office by Monday, for inclusion in that week's Messenger.