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| April 2, 2009 |
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Welcome
back from Winterim and Spring Break! I have heard wonderful reports
about Winterim courses since we returned back to school. I am so proud
that our teachers and students come together to offer such wonderful
and diverse experiences for the week. From on-campus courses like “Play
in a Week” to local courses like “Arts in Portland” and “Digital
Photography” to our international trips to France, Spain, Romania and
South India, Winterim is a truly unique learning experience for our
community.
I spent my Winterim week
traveling to three cities in Asia to meet with OES families and alumni.
I had a strong turnout at events in Seoul, Korea, Shanghai, China and
Taipei, Taiwan and was most appreciative of the generosity and kindness
extended by our OES community in those cities. I look forward to
sharing more details about my trip at the next round of PAL meetings
beginning with the 9th grade on Monday, April 13. Please join us if you
can!
On
Thursday morning, April 2, Deri Bash and I kicked off the course
forecasting process for 2009-10 with the current 9th, 10th and 11th
grade students. The process is multi-faceted and will span from this
introductory event through completion on Monday, April 27. After an
introduction to the process this week, students will work with their
advisors to plan which courses they will take next year. Additional
conversations will happen with current teachers, particularly in math,
science and language, about placement for next year. In addition, we
are involving the college counselors for rising seniors. Of course, we
want parents to be involved in this process. As a minimum, we are
asking that your children secure a parent signature on the printout of
their course selections and return it by that final date of April 27.
You can expect that form to come home the week of April 20. You may
wish to engage in conversation with your child before this. Look for
more information in future issues of eGathering and feel free to
contact advisors, current teachers, and department chairs if you have
any questions.
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April 1:
All School Choir Concert, 6:30 p.m. in the chapel
April 3: NW Science Expo, all day
April 3: Dance, MS Commons, 8-11:00 p.m.
April 5: Sophomore Cultural Event, 6:30 p.m at Keller Auditorium
April 6: School in session
April 8: US Choir Festival, all day
Apr. 9-11: MUN, UO, Eugene
April 10: Good Friday - no school
April 13:9th Grade PAL, 8:00 a.m.
April 14: FCD 9th Grade Parent/Student Night, 7:00 p.m.
April 18: New Student Math Placement Testing, 9:00 a.m.
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(New)
It takes an orchestra to perform a rhapsody and the OES community is busily readying Rhapsody in Blue and Green
for its debut April 18. The procurement committee has assembled a
comely collection of items on a grand and a diminutive scale.
Volunteers are stationed at pick up and drop off this first week after
Spring Break to take your Wall of Wine donations and to receive your reservations. As with all performances an enthusiastic audience
takes it from good to great and we hope you will put together a table
of parents and friends or reserve spots and we’ll find a congenial
table for you to join. Click here to reserve tickets online.
And
if you want to support the “performance” from behind the scenes there
are lots of volunteer opportunities for the night of the event, which
include perks like a parking pass, volunteer dinner, and a paddle
should you wish to bid from the wings. Contact Michele Ackerman mdackerman@comcast.net or Amber Krisky amberkrisky@comcast.net to sign up.
All of this build up will make Rhapsody in Blue and Green a not to be missed event. The students in the AASK program and the faculty/staff
who participate in professional development and training are ready for
a standing ovation in gratitude to all who support OES through this
event that brings the community together in one extended movement to
share our exuberance for educating the minds, bodies and spirits of
students from PK to 12th grade. Bravo!
Next Auction Committee Meeting is Thursday, April 9, 8:15 a.m. in the Guild Room.
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You
can have the chance to win a new Sony DCR-SR40 Handycam (retail value
$499.99) by purchasing a $10 raffle ticket in the Aardvark Handycam
Raffle. Volunteers will be in all student pick-up locations on April 9,
16, and 17 selling a limited number of raffle tickets for your chance
to win. Raffle tickets can be charged to your student account. Don't
miss the chance to capture precious moments with a new Sony Handycam,
generously donated byThe Shutterbug! Winner will be drawn
at the OES Rhapsody in Blue & Green Auction on April 18 - winner
need not be present to win. If you have any questions or want to buy a
raffle ticket, please contact Beth Rosch (bethrosch@msn.com) or Jenny Garcia (jennydomingo@me.com). Click here for more detailed product information about the Sony Handycam.
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During the week of April 13-17, the folks from Freedom from Chemical
Dependency will be on campus educating our 7th, 9th, 10th and 12th
graders on the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol and
other drugs. For more information on this organization, please visit
their website at www.fcd.org.
Please be aware that on Tuesday, April 14 from 7:00 8:30 p.m. all
freshmen and their parents/guardians are expected to participate in a
mandatory evening gathering with the educators from Freedom from
Chemical Dependency. We will be meeting in the Middle School Commons.
The purpose of this meeting is to help facilitate honest and open
conversations between kids and parents about alcohol and drugs. Because
we recognize this is a school night, the evening will be a No Homework
Night for freshman only. Additionally, the FCD educators will be
available from 8:30 9:00 p.m. to speak individually with parents
about any other relevant questions or concerns. If you have any
questions about the evening, please contact Jim Bunker (503-416-9356)
or Jordan Elliott (503-768-3121).
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AASK Day Camp! (New)
Think
about being a Counselor-in-Training (CIT) for AASK this summer! Have
fun, gain new skills in working with younger students, increase your
intercultural awareness and communication skills, and work with some
dynamite staff. Counselors-in-Training can receive service learning
hours, which generally decimate the Upper School service learning
requirement. In order to apply, high school students must have
completed 9th grade, be committed to working with younger students, and
be a positive role model, a strong team member and a reliable,
dependable person.
AASK increases the academic
skills of students who are primarily English Language Learners who need
to make 1.5 years of academic progress for every year of progress made
by their native English-speaking peers. It’s important work that makes
a real difference, and CITs often say with feeling that it has changed
them as much as it has changed the lives of the students they work with.
Dates: June 22 – July 25, 7:45 – 4:00 (with shorter hours during the
first week as it is pre-camp training). There is some flexibility with
CIT I positions for dates, however you must talk about it with Myra.
(clarkm@oes.edu)
Apply online at: http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228R4BR2XRV <http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228R4BR2XRV>
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 Books & Beverages: There Is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene
Friday, May 1, 8-9:30 a.m., Charlton Room
Even
those who think they know about the AIDS crisis in Africa will savor
this book; and for those who know little or nothing about it, this is
the way in -- a way paved with decency and hope. It is our contemporary
Schindler’s List, one person’s heroic effort to right a tilting world.
We welcome you to join in the conversation whether you have read this
book or not. Contact: Lynne Johnston , 503-643-3760, or Susan Phillips , 503-292-6609, with questions, suggestions and interests.
Dr.
Wendy Mogel Parent Education Lecture: “Blessing of a Skinned Knee - How
to Stop Overindulging, Over-scheduling and Overprotecting”
Thursday Evening, May 7, 7:00-9:00pm, Mittleman Jewish Community Center
 OES
and the Portland Jewish Academy are co-sponsoring a parent education
lecture by Wendy Mogel, a nationally-acclaimed speaker and best-selling
author of parenting wisdom based on Jewish teachings. Dr. Mogel will
offer parents guidance on how to strike a balance between  hovering and encouraging self-reliance. Her advice will help parents recognize and refrain from overprotecting,
overscheduling and overstressing their children and adolescents.
Because OES is a sponsor, half-price ($10) tickets will be available to
our parents for the first 75 tickets purchased on-line at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/54033 using discount code SPONSOR.
Contact: Lynne Johnston , 503-643-3760, or Susan Phillips , 503-292-6609, with questions, suggestions and interests. |
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The state conference will be held April 9-11, 2009 at the University of
Oregon in Eugene. This year OES participants number 35 representing
Switzerland and Panama and the state secretariat. This is a
multi-phased activity: students have done considerable research on
their countries and topics, presented their credentials, learned to
debate, learned to write resolutions, learned an informal form of
Roberts’ rules, and learned extensively about the United Nations.
Watching them in action gives me the energy each spring to start again
in September. For many this form of learning is wonderful indeed.
Hope Stevens,
MUN Advisor,
503-416-9309 (
stevensh@oes.edu)
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The
last trip, the language exchange to France, returned late last week.
Winterim 2009 is officially over. I personally love hearing the stories
from both faculty and students and would love to hear from you if you
have comments. We constantly strive to improve! Thank you for your
support in so many ways!
Winterim 2010! (March 11-March 18, 2010)
The
planning is beginning! If you have ideas for Winterim courses, the
committee would LOVE to hear them. There is a multi-phase process by
which Winterim courses are approved. The student-faculty committee
reviews all applications for feasibility, interest, meeting Winterim
goals criteria, and affordability (that is, we want a range of costs
from nothing up to international trip costs). If the committee approves
an idea, it is vetted with the Head of Upper School. After that, the
proposer is contacted and asked to fill out the description including
more specific costs. In general, International or “Big Trips” (those
costing more than $1400) are approved by May 1 of the previous year. We
happily begin approving domestic courses as they come up but the
deadline for those is the end of September. All courses have an OES
faculty member attached to them. Costs are expected to include the
costs of chaperones. International Trips have a guideline of two weeks
abroad. For safety of students, all personnel who travel with students
are required to go through a background check which includes being
finger-printed. All OES faculty go through this upon hiring.
If
you are interested, I hope you’ll contact me! Making a suggestion does
not mean you must participate. Happy Spring!! Questions? Contact Hope Stevens
, 503-416-9309.
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LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND EXCITING TO DO THIS SUMMER? Check
out the OES 2009 Summer Programs catalog at
http://www.oes.edu/Summer/index.htm!
You’ll be amazed at how many classes throughout the entire summer are
geared to Upper School students—classes to strengthen your skills and
for enrichment! Are you interested in 3D Modeling & Animation,
Digital Photography, or Computer Music Programming? Try Creative
Writing Skill Development, Geometry, or Financial Independence. There
is a Driver's Education course and private music lessons.
For Grades 10-12, we are offering a three-day SAT/PSAT/SAT 2 Prep &
Study Skills course. Renowned educator, Mr. Larry Krieger, is coming to
OES this summer to present his course for the first time on the West
Coast! Mr. Krieger is the author of four books on the SAT including the
leading vocabulary book "Direct Hits Vocabulary" and has just published
a book for AP History students. All materials for this comprehensive
course are provided.
You can register for any class online (see OES home page) or call Joan,
503.768.3145, or Marcy, 503.416.9244, in the Summer Programs office for
information or assistance.
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Small Schools Invitational Choir Festival (League Choir)
Wednesday
, April 8, OES will be hosting the Small Schools Invitational Choir
Festival. We will have choirs from Catlin Gabel, Portland Christian,
Columbia Christian, Central Catholic including our choir participating,
and all are invited during a free period to come listen in the chapel.
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Juniors:
The regular registration deadline for the May 2 SATs has just passed.
Late registration closes April 9. For the June 6 SATs, register by May
5. This is done on-line. The tests are not given at OES, but you
sign-up for the test center that is most convenient for you.
Sophomore Parent Meeting
On Tuesday
evening, April 21, the college counselors will introduce the college
counseling program to the parents of the sophomore class. It will be
held in the Middle School Commons at 7:30 p.m. Other parents are
welcome to attend, but space is limited.
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FRESHMAN CLASS
Our next PAL meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 13, from 8-9:30 in the Drinkward Center Volunteer Room.
Jordan will discuss his trip to Asia. Please contact
Sarah Grewe
at 503-292-9609 if there are any topics you would like to add to the agenda. Future meeting date is May 4.
SOPHOMORE CLASS
Join us for our next PAL meeting
on Monday, April 20 from 8:00 - 9:30 to hear about the Literary
Journalism Project our students will be working on next year.
Rick Rees has arranged for some juniors to share their work and give us
a better understanding of what the project will entail. We will
meet in the Drinkward Center Volunteer Room and have updates from Rick
and Jordan as well. Please contact Eileen Pilkenton
(503-297-8548) if you have any questions.
Sophomore Cultural event scheduled:
The entire sophomore class will be attending a performance of the Broadway musical Wicked
on Sunday, April 5, at 6:30 p.m. at the Keller Auditorium. Annually
sophomores have the opportunity to attend a local arts or cultural
event as part of the memorial to the students and faculty who died in
the Mt Hood Climb in 1986. Many of those students had been active in
theatre at OES, and an endowment was established to give each sophomore
class a special cultural opportunity. This year’s event was decided by
vote of the class. More information about this event will be available
closer to the date.
JUNIOR CLASS
11th Grade PAL
will meet on Monday, April 27 from 8-9:30 am in the DC Volunteer room.
Future meeting date is May 19 (Tues.) Questions? Contact Will Ilcisin,
503/642-9751.
SENIOR CLASS
Our next 12th grade PAL
meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 from 8-9:30 a.m. in the DC
Volunteer Room and our very last meeting will take place on Monday, May
18 in the DC Volunteer Room. At our April meeting we are hoping to coax
back some parents of students who graduated last year so they can
relate their perspective on their child's experiences during the first
few months of college. In addition we will be discussing graduation and
the graduation party. Please join us. If there are other topics of
interest to you, please contact Nancy Greene
,
503-297-0444.
Link to message regarding events leading up to Graduation 2009.
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