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and Voice Newsletter

Updated May 1, 2008

The Chamber Choir practicing in the lobby before going to state.

News From

It’s hard to believe we are entering the last full month of this school year! May promises to be a busy and engaging month that will take us to culminating final assessments and the excitement of the commencement of the Class of 2008.

One of our most important days of the year comes on May 14 when we remember the events of 1986 with the Mount Hood Climb Service Day. Students from all divisions of the school will engage in service activities. In the Upper School, students will spread out across Portland at organizations ranging from the Oregon Food Bank to Vose Elementary School to the Audubon Sanctuary. We have gone to extensive efforts to make sure that all of our students are present and not occupied by AP exams, sporting events and the like. I ask you to help us by ensuring your child is at school and ready to engage in the activities of May 14.

May also brings the final round of PAL meetings. I invite you to join us on the dates below as we’ll be wrapping up the year and looking forward to the big events of next year.

9th US PAL - May 5 in The DC Volunteer Room
10th US PAL - May 12 in The DC Volunteer Room
11th US PAL - May 19 in The DC Volunteer Room
12th US PAL – May 19 in The Guild Room

I’m continuing to gather interest in the exchange opportunity for Australia. Anyone who would like to participate in this exchange should contact me as soon as possible.


Spring Play

The OES Performing Arts Department will present E.B. White's classic tale Charlotte's Web from Wednesday, April 30 to Saturday, May 3, 2008 at

7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. Most of us are familiar with the delightful story of Charlotte the clever spider who trys to save the life of Wilbur, the humble, radiant, terrific pig. It is a story that works on so many levels and never better then when seen live in the theatre. A play for the whole family, make plans now to attend. Seating is very limited so call Arleene (ext. 100) and reserve your seats. We hope to see you there.


Volunteer Celebration! Fun, food, frivolity, door prizes

OES treasures all our incredible volunteers.  If you have volunteered at OES this year, even for an hour, come for breakfast, fun, door prizes, and a great time with other volunteers, on Tuesday, May 13, at 8:15 a.m. in the Dining Hall.  We hope to see you there!


All-School Tee-shirts

All School Tee-Shirts are coming! Look for order forms in each division office. Youth and Adult sizes, XS-XL. Short sleeve: $12 Long Sleeve: $15. Contact .'09.


BOOKS & BREAKFAST

Friday, May 2, 8:00 – 9:30 am, Charlton Room

Your home is your castle, but what if your castle is made out of glass?

Cover Image The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience and redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant. When sober, Jeannette’s brilliant and charismatic father captured his children’s imagination, teaching them physics, geology and how to embrace life fearlessly. But when he drank, he was dishonest and destructive. Her mother was a free spirit who abhorred the idea of domesticity and didn’t want the responsibility of raising a family. The Walls children learned to take care of themselves. They fed, clothed and protected one another, and eventually found their way to New York. Their parents followed them, choosing to be homeless even as their children prospered.

The Glass Castle is truly astonishing—a memoir permeated by the intense love of a peculiar but loyal family.

Please come and join the PDC’s final book discussion of the year. For comments or questions, please contact PDC co-chairs: Lynne Johnston (503-643-3760) or Lien Vu-Brenner (503-380-7298).


All-School Musical

In November of 2008 Oregon Episcopal School will produce its first ever All-School Musical, The Music Man by Meredith Willson. There will be six performances in the beautiful World Trade Center Auditorium in downtown Portland. This great American classic will be directed by Stephanie Mulligan, along with music and drama faculty from all three divisions of the school. Stephanie has directed several OES upper school productions and is the Literary Manager and Artistic Associate at Artists Repertory Theatre. The cast and orchestra will consist of students of all ages. We are very excited about this unique opportunity and hope you will join us in making this a great community event. Please go to www.oes.edu and click on The Music Man icon to get all the information you need about this all-school production.


Outdoor Programs

A Climbing Trip to Smith Rocks State Park is planned for Friday, May 2 to Sunday May 4. The trip is for students, faculty and families of OES who have some, little or no experience climbing. The cost is $85 per person and includes transportation, food, equipment, instruction. The sign up sheet, permission form and gear list are all available at the Outdoor Programs Wall in the Great Hall. Contact Outdoor Programs Specialist if you have questions, 503-416-9359.


From Jim Bunker, US Counselor: Freedom from Chemical Dependency- What Parents Can Do

I have heard some great feedback from both parents and students about the four days FCD educators Chris and Connie spent with us last week leading discussions about chemical dependency. They teach using a prevention model, which is proven to be the best possible intervention for adolescents. Educating parents and students is an integral part of the process. I would really like to encourage all of you to look up the ‘Freedom from Chemical Dependency’ website (www.fcd.org) for further information and a list of resources for you to access. I would also like to share with you some pro-active interventions that were highlighted by the FCD educators while they were here.

• Talk to your kids
• Get to know their teachers, friends, and their friends’ parents
• Be a good role model
• Set limits and consequences
• Educate yourself about alcohol, other drugs, and addiction
• Call ahead for parties
• Stay up at night
• Don’t leave your teenagers home alone on weekends
• Make fun, safe activities available for teens
• Help kids develop protective factors
• If you see a problem, talk about it with your child immediately
• Safeguard all drugs at home, monitor quantities and control access
• Set clear rules for teens about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the medical provider’s advice and dosages
• Be a good role model by following these same rules with your own medicines
• Properly conceal and dispose of old or unused medicines in the trash
• Ask friends and family to safeguard their prescription drugs as well

I have a handout available for anyone who wants to read more about these methods of prevention. Please feel free to email of call me and I would be happy to get you a copy. My email is bunkerj@oes.edu and phone is 503-416-9356.


GOBS IS BACK! Books and people needed

The 2008 Great OES Book Swap – GOBS – will be held in the Lower School Library on Tuesday, May 20, and Wednesday, May 21. The Friends of the OES Libraries (FOESL) offers this swap biennially to give students and their families a chance to clean out their bookshelves and pick up new titles for summer reading.

FOESL volunteers will be collecting books 7:30-8 a.m. every Tuesday at the Lower School walkway. Books may also be dropped off during business hours at any OES library. Bags and boxes of books must be clearly labeled with students’ names to ensure book-swapping credit. Particularly popular at past GOBS have been young adult fiction, children’s series books, and adult fiction; however, all types of books EXCEPT textbooks, computer manuals, partially completed coloring books, and magazines are wanted for GOBS.

Here is how the swap works: Volunteers count donated books and tally points based on book types: 1 point for children’s paperbacks, 2 points for children’s hardbacks and adult paperbacks, 4 points for adult hardbacks. On the first day of GOBS, books may only be “purchased” with points from individuals’ donated books. On Day Two, points or cash may be used. Prices are very low – 25 cents for children’s paperbacks, 50 cents for children’s hardbacks or adult paperbacks, $1 for adult hardbacks – however, inventory is greatly reduced after the first day of swapping. Everyone is strongly encouraged to donate books, earn points, and take full advantage of GOBS.

FOESL needs additional volunteers to count and sort books, set up GOBS on May 19, and “sell” books on May 20 and 21. To assist, please contact or .


Summer Reading Notes

Please contact , Upper School Librarian by email or at (503) 416-9352 if you have any questions about OES summer reading. Thank you.


Music Department

Summer Music Camp offerings can be viewed online. Also here is the link to view Private Lessons.


OES Summer Programs

What are your summer plans? Make OES Summer Programs part of your fun and learning this summer! From volunteer opportunities in our summer camps working with young children to brushing up on your English skills, there is something for everyone. Take Digital Photography from a world renowned photographer or develop your own entrepreneurial business in our Business Skills class. For a catalog, call Joan Lowe in the Summer Programs Office at OES. 503.768.3145.


AASK Day Camp! June 23 – July 26

Summer is fast approaching! If you want to have a lot of fun, be adored by young children, and make some good friends, apply to be an AASK Counselor-in-Training or Jr. Day Camp Counselor! If you haven't filled out an application, you aren't on the staff list even if you have talked to me. So get things rolling, and get those in as soon as possible! OES students have priority, but I also accept applications from the community and space is limited. Questions? Contact Myra Clark, clarkm at oes.edu, (503) 768-3193.


Open Mic Night/Cans Film Festival

At the end of April we kicked off the annual all-school canned/nonperishable food drive for Neighborhood House. A spin-off of the statewide effort Project Second Wind, our food drive supports our nearby agency, Neighborhood House. Their Emergency Food Box program supplies food to families and individuals who have trouble making ends meet, and helps to feed 800 people per month. All divisions of the school participate in this effort, which is coordinated by the All-School Service-Learning Committee. In the US, Advisories compete to bring in the most food, and students also bring in cans to vote for their favorite entry in the Cans Film Festival (at Open Mic Night, Saturday, May 10, 8-11 pm.).
The Food Drive ends on May 14, Mount Hood Climb Service Day, when Middle School students deliver the food to Neighborhood House.


Mount Hood Climb Service Day, May 14

And don’t forget: Mount Hood Climb Service Day, May 14. Upper School students and faculty spend the day working with service agencies to help those in need. Please note that this is a required day of school, and an essential part of being a student at OES. We ask that you not schedule out-of-school appointments or travel during this day. More information will be forthcoming as we get closer to the event. We often need help with transportation on the Service Day. If you can volunteer to drive a small group of students to one of our agencies, please contact , Service Learning Coordinator, (503) 416-9308.


College Counseling

Reminder: The June 7th SAT is your last opportunity to take the Reasoning Test or Subject Tests this school year. The next test date is in October! Registration deadline is May 6th. Go to www.collegeboard.com to register.


Parent Association Link

Make your doctor appointments early! All 9th and 11th grade and new students for the 2008-09 school year will need a physical and a sports pre-participation form completed by parents and their physicians before school begins in the fall. Forms will be sent to you soon.

9th grade PAL
Freshman parents: The last 9th grade PAL meeting of the year – Monday,

May 5 from 8-9:30 a.m. in the Drinkward Center Volunteer Room. Our agenda will include meeting the 10th grade class Dean, Rick Rees; get caught up on the happenings of the final month of 9th grade; learn what to expect about the upcoming Sophomore class backpacking trip in the Fall; recap and evaluate this current year; plus more!

Be sure to SAVE THE DATE May 24th for the 9th grade Spring Parent Potluck Social at the home of the Tareen family (details will follow). If there are any specific questions or concerns you want addressed at the meeting, send an email to .

10th grade PAL

Sophomore Parents: Our next meeting will be on Monday, May 12, 8:00-9:30 a.m. in the Drinkward Center volunteer room. Any questions or suggestions, please contact .

11th grade PAL

Junior Parents: The next Pal meeting is scheduled on Monday, May 19, 8:00-9:30 a.m. in the Drinkward Center volunteer room. Please contact if you have questions.

12th grade PAL

Senior Parents: The next PAL meeting will be Monday, May 19, in the Guild Room (church basement) from 8:00-9:30 a.m. Please contact if you have questions.

All seniors must complete and document all Winterim, Discovery, and Service Learning hours by May 23 in order to receive an OES diploma at graduation.

Seniors who have not completed their Service-Learning requirements must turn in all forms by Friday, May 23. If the student has plans for completing hours after this date, those plans must be approved by Robin Schauffler, Service Learning Coordinator: (schaufflerr at oes.edu; (503)416-9308).

To view the senior pictures taken recently for the Senior Composite board that will hand in the US Lobby, please go to the website http://www.ShutterFly.com/pro/mccartypics/oes2008seniors. You may view and/or order prints from this online photolab. If you have any problems getting on the website or ordering prints, please contact at 503/244-0292 or email at mccartypics at msn.com.

We have arranged to have a professional quality DVD made of the 2008 graduation ceremony at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. The sound and the images have proved to be very good and we are offering this again. The DVD will also include some pictures of the OES campus, faculty, and some 2007-08 activities. Parents, in recent years, have felt that the finished product is well worth the $30 for each DVD. An order form will be available later this month.

Senior Parents: Please note that in this issue of The Voice there is a link to “Schedule for Seniors” (list of important dates) as we approach graduation as well as an RSVP for the Family Dinner that follows Senior Service on June 11. Details are included on the form.


Sports

Spring sports are in full swing. For times and dates of various sporting events

Sports schedules are available on line. Questions? Call Kris Van Hatcher at (503) 768-3128.

Go Aardvarks!!!


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