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| February 1, 2009 |
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This
past week we began the second semester of the school year. For
the seniors, this is a time of rejoicing as they begin the last eighth
of their high school careers. The plethora of course offerings
available to them in English, History, Science, Religion, and other
disciplines promises to make for an invigorating semester. The
week was highlighted by a senior appreciation day put on by this year’s
ninth graders, the class of 2012.
We
are continuing our work reviewing the US daily schedule. As a
part of this process, we have been working with Dr. Mollie Galloway
from Lewis & Clark College. Dr. Galloway is a member of an
organization, Challenge Success, which has done fascinating work on
school culture and the ways we define success for our children.
We have invited Dr. Galloway to join us for a joint US and MS PAL
session on Wednesday, February 4 from 8:00-9:30 in the MS
Commons. I invite you to review the Challenge Success webpage (www.challengesuccess.org) and encourage you to join us.
Parents
of sophomores and juniors, please remember that conferences are
scheduled for Wednesday, February 11 through Friday, February 13.
Last week, you should have received your conference time in an email
from Deri Bash. If you did not receive it, please contact the US
Office. As usual, please encourage your child to join us for the
conference.
On
Tuesday, February 17, at 6:30 pm we will be hosting a Town Hall meeting
in the Middle School Commons to discuss the Laramie Project.
Rehearsals are underway for this production that will begin Thursday,
April 30; we hope you will join us for this discussion. Please
remember that copies of the play are available to the community to read
and can be checked out from divisional offices, libraries, and the
front desk.
As
usual, I encourage you to contact me with any questions or concerns you
have about the information above or any aspect of your child’s
experience at OES.
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Feb. 1: Midwinter Madness continues through Feb. 11
Feb. 2: Freshman PAL Meeting
Feb. 2: PowderTuff Volleyball, 6:30 pm
Feb. 4: Junior Parent College Admissions Panel, 7:30 pm
Feb. 5: US Winter Instrumental Concert, 7:00 pm
Feb. 6: Books & Breakfast, Author Nicole Mones Visit, 8:00 am
Feb. 6: Faculty/Senior BB Game, 3:15 pm
Feb. 7: Midwinter Madness Dance, 7:00 pm
Feb. 8: Old/New Girl Tea, 3:00 pm
Feb. 9: Sophomore PAL Meeting
Feb. 10: American Math Competition
Feb. 10: Powderpuff Football, 3:30 pm
Feb. 11: Classes in AM - Conferences begin at 1:00 pm
Feb. 12: No US - Conferences (10, 11)
Feb. 13: No US - Conferences (10, 11)
Feb. 14: Valentine's Day
Feb. 16: No School: President's Day
Feb. 17: Town Hall Meeting, 6:30 pm
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The
Annual Winter One-Acts Play Festival will take place February 25-28,
2009. Three original plays, written, and directed by seniors Nathan
Hayes, Tyler Glover, and Rachel Eaton, will be given full stage
productions. The one-acts are selected each year by a faculty panel
from all the plays written during the senior elective Playwriting
course under the guidance of Art Ward. Gabe Edge will act as the
faculty supervisor for this year's playwrights. This is a wonderful
opportunity for the community to see the hard work and creativity that
goes into writing and producing an original play. Mark your calenders
now and watch the OES Upper School web page for a link to the Ticket
Turtle site where tickets will go on sale beginning the morning of
February 2, 2009.
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Students interested in improving their SAT (or PSAT) scores might want to consider these options:
This spring—Wednesday evenings with Anna Schatz and Jeff Gadette.
Students
will learn to select effective strategies to accurately solve each type
of problem, to concentrate through the SAT test and to finish each
section in a timely and low-stress manner. The class will start on
March 4 and conclude April 29. (There will be no classes on March 18 or
25.) The cost is $195.
This summer—July 13-15, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. with Larry Krieger and Michael D’Alessio.
This
comprehensive course can help you improve your PSAT and SAT scores,
using drama and other fun hands-on methods that have proven successful.
This is the first time this course is being offered on the West Coast
by teachers who have written books on SAT preparation. It will focus on
your critical reading, writing, and mathematical skills. All materials
will be provided, including copies of Mr. Krieger’s and Mr. D’Alessio’s
SAT books.
The cost is $425.
You can register for either of these courses by contacting
Marcy Morris
at 503-416-9244.
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Discussion and Dumplings with Author Nicole Mones!
a.k.a. Books & Breakfast: THE LAST CHINESE CHEF by Nicole Mones
Friday, February 6, 8:00-9:30 a.m., OES Dining Hall (NEW LOCATION)
Please join fellow parents and our guest, Portland author Nicole Mones,
to sample Chinese dumplings and discuss Nicole’s cuisine-centered novel
The Last Chinese Chef. Set in a culture experiencing
sharp contrasts between modernization and ancient tradition, this
romantic story is interwoven with enlightening explanations and vivid
examples of the ingredients, preparation techniques, textures, tastes,
artistic forms, and underlying meanings that characterize one of the
world’s most highly-developed cooking styles. Over an eighteen year
period, Mones built relationships and learned about China while running
a China-focused textile business. She has been writing about China and
Chinese food for over a decade. It is not necessary to have read the
book in order to participate in the discussion.
CDL Town Hall Meeting on the US Spring Play, The Laramie Project
Tuesday Evening, February 17, 6:30 p.m. in the MS Commons.
All
parents are invited to join us for an information session and community
dialogue regarding the Spring US theater production of The Laramie Project,
a unique dramatic work by Moisés Kaufman and the Techtonic Theater
Project that chronicles diverse community reactions to a tragic event.
With this open forum, we want to provide parents with a comfortable
setting in which to ask questions and share any concerns. Copies of the
script are available from the main reception desk and the divisional
offices/libraries.
Future Books and Breakfast Discussion Meetings and Titles:
March 6: THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Kim Edwards
May 1: THERE IS NO ME WITHOUT YOU by Melissa Fay Greene
Contact:
Lynne Johnston
, 503-643-3760,
Susan Phillips
, 503-292-6609, with questions, suggestions, and interests.
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Congratulations
to Matthew N. '11; Aja N. '10; Christina D. '10, and Larissa P. '11
whose art work has been selected for the 2009 High School Art Northwest
exhibit being held Thursday, February 5, 2009 from 5-6:30 p.m. at the
Gallery, Main Auditorium on the Newberg Campus of George Fox
University. Questions? Contact Sue Jensen
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In
February, the seniors’ focus shifts from completing college
applications (the deadlines have generally passed) to applying for
financial aid (based on need) and merit scholarships. If you are
applying for financial aid, complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible (use an estimated tax if
necessary) along with the CSS Profile for colleges that require it. If
you are interested in merit scholarships, check out www.fastweb.com.
You should also note that the Oregon Student Commission has an online
application for nearly 400 scholarship opportunities. Their Early Bird
deadline is February 16 and the final deadline is March 2. (www.GetCollegeFunds.org). Good luck!
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We want to hit all the high notes for the Rhapsody in Blue and Green
Auction. At this time the committee is composing “pieces” and we hope
to have your name on them. But we could use your help. Think of
auctions you’ve attended and the items that made you want to raise your
paddle. Among OES audiences wine and food always get a standing
ovation. Is your favorite restaurant willing to donate a dinner or is
there a chef you know who will cook at your home? Or perhaps you can
dust off your Julia Child and create a culinary symphony of your own?
Can you host a tasting in your wine cellar or persuade your wine
merchant to please the palate with a guided tour of some special
selections? Is it time to pull out all the stops and do the vertical
tasting of those vintage Pinots in your repertoire?
Or
would you like to have someone else do the traveling for a change using
some of your frequent flyer miles? What about that cabin in the
mountains or house at the beach? OESians love to get away for a
week-end. Tickets for sports also get feverish applause so why not
donate your tickets to a Blazer game since they’ve got their rhythm
back? Baseball, football and lacrosse tickets are also a hit.
If you’re looking for additional ideas
Lacie McKearney
, Auction Coordinator, and
Liz Perkins
, Procurement Chair can help. To donate, just fill a donation form and we’ll take care of the rest. Next Auction Committee Meeting: Thursday, February 12, 8:15 am, Guild Room.
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Winterim
is in a lull for students, but in a very busy period for leaders. This
is the time for last minute planning, for finalizing details, and for
following up on ideas and plans. The purchase of plane tickets is very
final. At this point, changes in trips are extremely difficult. In
fact, if a replacement cannot be found, the student who drops from a
trip may be charged any fees we cannot recoup.
It
is extremely important that I be notified of course changes as soon as
they occur. Some changes cannot be accommodated. This year the main
reason is transportation. We book the vehicles ahead. All OES drivers
are trained. The safety of your children is paramount in our minds.
Last minute substitutions may not be as safe. In those cases, we refuse
the request.
Thank
you for your understanding and support of Winterim. From our point of
view, we are in the fun stage. We are beginning to put the final
touches on what we hope will be great experiences for your children,
our students! Questions? Contact Hope Stevens
, 503-416-9309.
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Previous Items
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If
you currently receive financial aid, you should have received your
2009-10 packet in the mail in early January. If you are considering
applying for financial aid, but are NOT currently receiving it, please
contact Signe Hill in Admissions (x379) for a FA application packet or Rob Orr
to answer questions. There are deadlines in the application process, the first of which is February 14.
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The
admissions season for 2009-2010 is coming to a close. The Admissions
Office is currently scheduling tours and visits and accepting
applications for the 2009-10 school year. The application deadline is
February 2, 2009. 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. If you have friends, neighbors, or
business associates who are interested in OES, please encourage them to
contact us soon.
NEW THIS YEAR! We now
have online inquiry and application capability. If you prefer, you may
inquire and start the application process online by going to our
website: www.oes.edu/Admissions/index.htm.
Pre-K
and Kindergarten sibling and faculty/staff applicants will have their
assessment day on Saturday, January 31, 2009. If you are planning to
apply, please contact Krista Rider
at 503.768.3114 to schedule your child’s visit.
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BABY PICTURES: There will be a baby picture
page in the Yearbook for all of the seniors, so we are asking the
parents to send us a baby picture of your son/daughter. This picture
can be anything from newborn to preschool age. We would prefer color.
We will be scanning these photos into the computer and you will receive
them back right away. Or better yet, send them to me by email! The
deadline is February 17, 2009.
PARENT ADS: Another way to remember the graduates is by sponsoring a Yearbook Ad.
This is an opportunity to advertise your business, give personal
congratulations to the class as a whole, or write a special dedication
to either an individual or a group (sports teams, clubs, best friends,
etc.) The rates for the ads are as follows:
$260 – full page
$140 – half page
$ 75 – quarter page
$ 40 – eighth page
You
may submit the ad ready to print in a PhotoShop layout (please adjust
the size of the slide to match the size of the ad and include high
resolution photos – 300DPI) or just send the pictures and the text and
the yearbook staff will arrange the layout for you. Please make the
check out to “OES Yearbook.” The deadline is February 17, 2009. Questions? Contact
Dana Lewis
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Sunday, February 8, 2009, 3:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.
The
senior girls are invited to join the St. Helen’s Hall alumnae for a new
twist on a treasured tradition. The “old” and “new” girls will dress in
tea party attire, including fancy hats, and share memorabilia and
stories from their experiences at the school. Contact Lacie McKearney
in the Alumnae/i Office to RSVP. Click here to see photos from last year’s event.
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Junior Parents should plan to attend our annual College Admissions Panel the evening of Wednesday, February 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. Panelists will be:
Jean Jordan, Dean of Admission, Emory University
How Do Students Get to Know Colleges?
B. Noble Jones, Senior Assistant Director of Admission, Kenyon College
How Do Colleges Get to Know Students?
Brian Henley, Director of Admission, University of Oregon
Keeping Sane through the College Admission Process
Tom Gordon, father of Sean Gordon, ‘08
One Parent’s Perspective
.Parents of sophomores are welcome to attend.
(The admissions officers will be meeting with the juniors first thing
in the morning on Thursday, February 5.) It should be an evening
you will find worthwhile.
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The Upper School’s annual winter fundraiser, Midwinter Madness, will
raise money for humanitarian aid to women and children in war-torn
Congo through the organization “Run for Congo Women.” This cluster of
fun, student-planned, and student-run events will take place Jan.
29-Feb. 11.
Parents are encouraged to attend and support the various Midwinter Madness events.
This year’s planned events include:
• CRUSH sales, in which students (and parents!) can send a bottle of CRUSH soda to someone they have a “crush” on.
• The annual Senior-Faculty Basketball Game, at 3:15 p.m. Friday, February 6, in the OES gym. Admission: $3.
• Powderpuff Football, in which teams of girls from each of the Upper
School classes play flag football, at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 10,
on the OES turf field. Admission: $5
• PowderTuff Volleyball, in which teams of boys will compete in 6 v. 6 volleyball, at 6:30 p.m. Monday, February 2, in the gym.
• The Mother of All Bake Sales, Tuesday-Friday, Feb 3-6 in the Great Hall, from 7:30 a.m. until baked goods run out each day.
Other events are still in the planning stages!
Parents, please be aware that students will be allowed to charge
Midwinter Madness purchases to their OES accounts. You may wish to
discuss with your child some limitations on these charges. Midwinter
Madness purchases may also be made with cash or with checks made out to
“Women for Women International.” Approximately 50-75 percent of all
Midwinter Madness purchases are tax-deductible, depending on the
event/item.
More information about “Run for Congo Women” is available at the organization’s website: http://www.runforcongowomen.org/
If you have questions about Midwinter Madness, please contact the faculty coordinator,
Chris Myers
, by phone or email: (503) 416-9352.
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All are invited to the annual US Winter Instrumental Concert on Thursday, February 5 at 7pm Location TBA.
Ensembles performing:
US Chamber Ensemble, US Strings Ensemble, US Brass/Woodwind Ensemble US Jazz Band, OES Orchestra
Directors: Derek Sims, Nancy Teskey, Nelly Kovalev, Adam Steele
For more information - see the Performing Arts Calendar http://www.oes.edu/arts/index.htm
For music students:
OMEA-Oregon
District 15 Solo/Ensemble is on Saturday, February 21, all day,
off-campus. Be sure to check with your music teacher that you have
registered!
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FRESHMAN CLASS
Our next PAL meeting
is scheduled for Monday, Feb.2, from 8-9:30 in the Drinkward Center
Volunteer Room. Jordan Elliott plans to review graduation requirements
and course descriptions. Please contact Sarah Grewe
at 503-292-9609 if you have any questions. Future meeting dates are April 13 and May 4.
SOPHOMORE CLASS
Please join us for our next PAL meeting
in the Volunteer Room of the Drinkward Center on Monday, February 9
from 8:00 - 9:30 am. 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 meets from 8-9:30 am. Future meeting dates are:
February 23, April 27, and May 19 (Tues.) in the DC Volunteer Room. Questions? Contact Will Ilcisin, 503/642-9751.
Also save the date of March 7 for a Junior Parent Party! More info later.
SENIOR CLASS
NEW
TIME, USUAL PLACE: Our next 12th grade PAL meeting is scheduled for
Tuesday, February 24 from 8-9:30 a.m. in the DC Volunteer Room.
Future
meeting dates are: April 28 (DC Volunteer Room), and May 18 (DC
Volunteer Room). If there is a topic of particular interest that you
would like discussed at the PAL meeting or if you have any questions,
please contact Nancy Greene by email or at 503-297-0444. And a special
thank you to Ann Carter for leading the January meeting.
Link to message regarding events leading up to Graduation 2009.
See Message above for Yearbook (baby pictures, parent ads).
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