Updated December 3, 2009

Great Season! Congratulations!

News From Jordan Elliott

I hope everyone enjoyed a restful and celebratory Thanksgiving.  We will post only one Voice this month so I want to wish everyone the best for the upcoming Winter Vacation.  Look for the next edition of the Voice in January, 2010.

The academic work for the 2009 calendar year will come to a close with final exams on December 16-18.  The schedule for final exams is listed below.  The schedule and nature of final exams will vary depending on your child’s grade and courses.  I recommend discussing with your child what their final exam schedule will be and what strategies they are using to prepare.  In addition, we will again be offering students off-campus privileges for lunch between exams on two of the finals days.  For non-seniors this privilege will only be granted if your child picks up a permission form from the US office, has it signed by a parent, and returns it back to the US office. Please keep your eye on eGathering for other announcements about final exams (and let’s hope we don’t get snowed out again!).

St. Nick’s Chapel is the final event before Winter Break.  Upper School students are required to be a part of this all-school celebration and your help in ensuring students are present is much appreciated.  Parents are also welcome to join us!

Finally, I want to give you an update about the review and distribution of the Spring Semester Schedule.  During the two weeks of December 7-18, advisors will work with their advisees to review next semester’s schedule in light of their four-year plans and their requests made last spring.  During this time, advisors will also work with students to request schedule changes.  I want to emphasize that the schedule has been built based on student requests last spring – another reminder of how important the spring forecasting process is.  Based on this review and request for changes, we will finalize the schedule and communicate it on January 8, 2010. 

The MBS bookstore will open at this time and should allow plenty of time for second semester books to be purchased before the new semester begins on Monday, February 1.  Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s advisor, Deri Bash, or me if you have specific questions, concerns, or general comments.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

Dec. 3: Wreath/Greens pickup

Dec. 5: Game Night, 7:00 pm, Great Hall

Dec. 6: Winterim Big Trip Safety Mtg, 4:00 pm, Great Hall

Dec. 7: Sports Awards Banquet, 6:30 pm, Dining Hall

Dec. 8: Community Coffee with Kathy Layendecker, 2:00 pm

Dec. 8: Financial Aid Meeting, 7:00 pm, Dining Hall

Dec. 9: Advent Service, 7:00 pm

Dec. 9: Afterglow, 7:45 pm

Dec. 9: Art Sale, 8-9:00 pm

Dec. 10: Books & Beverages, 8:00 am, Dining Hall

Dec. 10: Auction Committee Mtg, 1:00 pm, Vol. Rm. Drinkward

Dec. 10: Sophomore Backpack Slide Show, 7:00 pm, Dining Hall

Dec. 10: Art Sale, 9 am - 4 pm, Great Hall

Dec. 11: Art Sale, 8 am - 4 pm, LS Library

Dec. 16: FOESL Meeting, 8:05 am, Volunteer Room Drinkward

Dec. 16: Language AM; English PM Finals

Dec. 17: Science AM, History PM Finals

Dec. 18: Math & Other Subject AM Finals

Dec. 18: Last day of classes

Dec. 18: Sophomore Cookies for Lunch, 11:00 am

Dec. 18: St Nick Chapel, 1:30 pm

Dec. 19: Dorms Close

Dec. 19-Jan. 3: Winter Break

Jan. 2: Dorms Open

Jan. 4: Classes resume

Giving Tree Time! (New)

Join us in this important and joyful service to our local community...
The AASK Partnership Giving Tree has arrived! Upper School students on SLAC (Service Learning Action Committee) coordinate sponsorship of 25 families (over 120 individuals) from Vose Elementary for whom the OES community provides gifts and new clothing at the holidays. Vose carries out this venture as an outreach to their families that especially need this support. 90% of the families at Vose are on the free and reduced lunch program, determined by income that is at or below federal poverty guidelines. OES is honored to be part of this effort, in which a number of community organizations participate.

Pick up a gift tag from the Giving Tree in the foyer anytime between November 30 and December 7. Gift items must be placed under the Giving Tree,

not wrapped, and with gift tag securely attached, by Tuesday, December 8. Each sponsored Vose family will receive socks, shirt or sweater, pants or jeans and a gift item. Pick the items that you would most like to give! We are always touched by the generosity our community shows toward this project, and we thank you for your participation.

This annual gift-giving for Vose Elementary is separate from the special book drive at the Book Fair, for which so many people so generously purchased books for the Vose and Community Transitional School libraries. The annual AASK Partnership Giving Tree supports individuals and families at Vose.

Questions? Contact Myra Clark (503-768-3193), Gisela Walitzki (503-416-9394), or Robin Schauffler (503-416-9308).

Financial Aid Informational Meeting (New)

Financial Aid—Presentation on Financial Aid for OES and College: Tuesday, December 8 from 7:00-8:00 p.m. in the Dining Hall. A presentation for parents about financial aid at OES and financial aid options for college—with time for questions. During the college portion we will provide an overview of need- and merit-based financial aid. Parents of students in all grade levels are welcome.

For more information, contact Rob Orr ,Director of Financial Aid at OES, or Paula Sutton , Director of College Counseling.

Announcing Aardy’s Party 2010, The Age of Aquarius (New)

We hope you catch the groovy auction spirit this year! Exciting plans are underway and we invite you to get involved.

Next Meeting: Thursday, December 10, 1:00 pm in the DC Volunteer Room (NEW LOCATION)

Help Wanted: Would you like a sneak peek at the auction items? Do you have good computer skills and prefer to work behind the scenes? Do you have a couple of hours a week to spare in January and March? If so, we could use your help in Data Entry. In addition, we could use extra hands in some other fun auction planning areas: Silent Auction, Catalog Writing, Wall of Wine, Advertising, and Auction Night Clean Up. Email Lacie in the Auction Office if you would like to help this year.

Admissions applications are now available for

2010-2011.

Admissions applications are now available for 2010-2011. The admissions season is in full swing! The Admissions Office is currently accepting applications and scheduling tours and visits for the 2010-2011 school year. If you are considering OES for another child in your family, please stop by or contact the Admissions Office (503-768-3115) to receive an application packet. We now have online inquiry and application capability. If you prefer, you may inquire and start the application process online by going to our admissions website: www.oes.edu/Admissions/index.htm. The application deadline is February 1, 2010. If you have friends, neighbors, or business associates who are interested in OES, please forward this information to them and encourage them to contact us soon.

(New)

Pre-K and Kindergarten sibling and faculty/staff applicants will have their assessment day on Saturday, January 30. If you are planning to apply, please contact Emily Pritchard (503.768.3114) to schedule your child’s visit.

Sophomore Fall Backpack Trip Slideshow (New)

I would like to invite all of you to the Sophomore Fall Backpack Trip Slideshow on Thursday, December 10 from 7-8:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria at OES. I will project some of the pictures the students and instructors took on the backpacking trip. Please come and enjoy some refreshments and take this time to visit with other parents, faculty and students about this experience. The entire sophomore class has been asked and all are expected to attend as a means of enjoying closure to this trip and share any stories from this challenging experience.

If you have any questions about this evening, please call Tom Handel at 503-416-9359.

OES Fund News (New)

High participation rates express the vitality of our community, revealing the commitment of those engaged in making the ideals of the OES mission a daily reality. Current Parent Participation rate is 63% and climbing!

You can easily give or pledge online.

Upper School: 56% (counting only parents of day students = 67%)

2010/Grade 12: 57% (parents of day students only = 73%)
2011/Grade 11: 67% (parents of day students only = 82%)
2012/Grade 10: 59% (parents of day students only = 70%)
2013/Grade 9: 45% (parents of day students only = 52%)

Winter Break Chinese Cultural Camp (New)

Need to release some energy in a healthy and safe way on a cold winter day? Spend the day learning Chinese Wushu and exploring the Chinese culture! The morning will be full with Wushu (a new name for Kung Fu) and Chinese games and the afternoon will explore the Chinese language and Chinese painting.

Master Shaowen Yu is the founder of the U.S. Wushu Center and a former member of the Beijing Wushu Team in China. Master Yu and his instructors have many years of training and experience and are world champions.

Please see the camp flyer for more information and return the registration form to your division office to sign up for this one day experience! Contact Joan (503.768.3145) or Marcy (503.416.9244) with any questions.

Music Department (New)

Advent Service: All are invited to the annual Advent Service in the Chapel on Wednesday, December 9, at 7 pm in the Chapel with music offered by the US Concert Choir, soloists, EC 3rd - 5th Grade Choir, the OES Boys' Choir, 6th & 7th grade choirs, the 8th grade girl choir and the 5th grade Boys’ Handbell choirs.  Following the Advent Service at 8 pm will be the traditional Afterglow Reception & Holiday Art Sale in the Great Hall and Dining Hall with music in the Great Hall by US Acappella. All are welcomed to join in the holiday merriment!

The Annual Holiday Art Sale is coming! Photographs, cards, textiles, holiday soaps, jewelry, fused glass and prints made by US students and all school faculty and staff including:

• knitted scarves by Sarah Lowe
• holiday cards by alumna Maryanne Seeley

• cards by alumna Cathy Walitzki
• watercolor and photographed cards by Robin Schauffler
• watercolor cards by Patsy Seeley

• collaged cards by Emily Pritchard
• handmade goatmilk soaps and art scarves by Tanja Horvat
• earrings by Rebecca Cleveland-Stout
• knitted baby hats by Raji Nagalla
• art cards made by the Graphic Arts class
• fused glass by Shelley Stoffer
• and LOTS MORE!!! !!

Every year the Art Department sends 10% of the Holiday Art Sale's profits to a worthy charity.  This year our proceeds from the sale will go to the Dougy Center. The Dougy Center (a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and their families can find support through the death of a loved one) suffered a tragic arson fire this past summer. Art sale hours are Wednesday, December 9 following the Advent Service from 8-9:00 pm in the Great Hall; Thursday, December 10, 9 am-4 pm, Great Hall; Friday, December 11 8 am-4pm in the Lower School Library. 

Come hear many of our school's music ensembles share music of the holiday season at the traditional St. Nick Chapel on Friday, Dec. 18  at 1:30 in the gym.

LOOKING AHEAD in JANUARY:

All are invited to attend the US Instrumental Concert on Monday, Jan. 25, 2010 at 7pm in the Great Hall.  Music by US Symphonic Orchestra,

US Brass Ensemble, the US Jazz Band, and the US Jazz Combo.

Adam Steele and Derek Sims -  directors.

OES Book Fair (New)

FOESL hopes everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This year’s OES Book Fair, from November 17-19, was an incredible success! FOESL would like to thank all of the parents and students of OES who supported FOESL by purchasing their books from the Book Fair! We would also like to thank the volunteers who dedicated their time to prepare for this event! We could not have done it without you! The next FOESL Meeting will be held on December 16 in the Drinkward Room from 8:05-9:30 a.m. Please feel free to join us.

COMMUNITY DIVERSITY LINK ANNOUNCEMENTS

THE SOLOIST: A Lost Dream, An Unlikely Friendship, And The Redemptive Power Of Music by Steve Lopez -

Books and Breakfast:  Thursday, December 10,

8-9:30am in the OES Dining Hall

New York Times Columnist Steve Lopez befriends Nathaniel Ayres, a onetime musical prodigy studying at Julliard who now struggles with homelessness and mental illness.  Lopez offers honest reflections and fast-paced stories of his creative attempts to help Nathaniel get off of Skid Row and recover his musical potential.  The newly released movie offers parents another good way to experience this moving and provocative story.

Upcoming Books and Breakfast Discussions (Dates Pending):

DREAMS FROM MY FATHER: A STORY OF RACE AND INHERITANCE by Barack Obama

HALF THE SKY:  TURNING OPPRESSION INTO OPPORTUNITY FOR WOMEN WORLDWIDE by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

Please contact Co-Chairs Susan Phillips (503 292-6609) and Anne Nedrow (503 297-3593) with your questions, suggestions and interests.

Class Notes

Freshman Class
9th Grade PAL does not meet in December. Next meeting dates are: January 4, February 1, April 5, and May 3. Questions? Contact Betsy Leonard, 503/954-1133.

Sophomore Class

What could be better than cookies for lunch? (New)

Friday – December 18, 11:45 – 1:00

10th Grade PAL Cookie Lunch

OES – Guild Room (The Large Meeting Room Under the Chapel)

A great chance to share your favorite cookies and holiday cheer with other 10th grade parents. Please bring a dozen or two of your favorite cookies. Coffee will be provided.Come early and get a parking spot…..You will want to stay for St. Nick's Chapel at 1:30.
The whole student body attends this event in the gym. Highlights are a visit from St. Nicholas and the singing of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in which each class sings the refrain for its grade.

10th Grade PAL does not meet in December. Next meeting dates are: January 11 (Guild Rm), February 8, April 12, and May 10. Contact Sarah Grewe, 503/292-9609.

Junior Class

11th Grade PAL does not meet in December. Our January meeting will be on a Tuesday, January 19, 2010 due to the MLK Jr. holiday. This meeting will also be held in the Guild Room. If you have any questions or topics you'd like to have covered this year, please contact Eileen Pilkenton at 503.297.8548.

Senior Class

12th Grade PAL does not meet in December. Next meeting dates are on Mondays: January 25, February 23 (Tuesday), April 26, and May 24. Questions? Contact Will Ilcisin, 503/642-9751.

Link to message regarding events leading up to Graduation 2010. Please note that the Senior Farewell on the attached link has been changed to 4:30 pm on June 16. The Family Dinner will begin at approximately 5:30 pm.

Sports

Go Aardvarks!!!

To submit information for the Voice, please email Carlene Traverso in the Upper School office when you have items to include.