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OES Lower School Express Newsletter


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A Message from the Division Head

by David Lowell
A Message from David Lowell 3-22-24

We are heading into Spring Break on quite a high note. 

Tuesday began with a beautiful and joyful chapel celebrating Nowruz, with children sharing important symbols of the holiday, parents dancing us into spring and everyone enjoying the celebration. Thank you to the parents and children who shared their tradition with us all.

Then many of us headed down to the Athletic Center to watch the Beginning Years Movement Program, an annual tradition where our youngest students share some of the skills they have been learning in PE before the large and adoring crowd. For the grenade finale of the program, everyone was dancing on the gym floor with students teaching their parents the moves. Thank you to the PE Team, Scott Corris, James Nolan, Ben Smucker, and Spanish Teacher, Alfredo Peche, for preparing the students to share physical skills and dance moves with us all.

Yesterday the fourth graders shared the culmination of their winter project work during their Advocacy Symposium. The fourth graders learned about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and while thinking globally, figured out how they can act locally to realize their power for good. Thank you to the Fourth Grade team, Erin Flaherty, Michelle Mazeros and Adelaide Wainwright for guiding the students from research to realizing their power for good through this project.

The fifth graders also culminated their project work on Thursday, opening their Innovations and Technology Museum to students and parents.  Thank you to the Fifth Grade Team, Jen Millan, Linda True and Leah Wyllie for their work helping students realize the impact of technology and innovations on culture and history and making that learning visible through the creation of historical artifacts and context dioramas.

Yesterday also brought to a close our week with the twenty Upper School Winterim Interns who worked to support each homeroom in Lower School. Over the course of the week Upper and Lower School students learned from one another, forged connections with one another and even inspired each other with their learning. Thank you to Kristen Haferbecker and VJ Sathyaraj for coordinating this annual opportunity.

And today, we culminated our Season of Action in Gathering, sending students off into Spring Break with an invitation to continue exercising their power for good wherever they may be and to carry the Kindness Challenge beyond the bounds of the campus.

Have a wonderful Spring Break. Rest, relax and make memories. I look forward to seeing you and your students back on campus Tuesday, April 2, rested and ready for the final ten weeks of school.

Mindset Math Summer Class Sign-Up
The Mindset Mathematics Summer Camp is a 2-week mathematical experience designed by Stanford University professors and facilitated by our own Dr. Mary Duden (and possibly other teachers depending on the # of students). The purpose of the class is two-fold; deepen understanding of mathematical concepts appropriate to the grade-levels the students are going into and beyond, and help students develop important mindset messages that will increase students mathematical agency and identity. There will be two different classes; one for students entering 2nd and 3rd grade and one for students entering 4th and 5th grades. 

Mindset Math Summer Class Sign-Up

  • Entering 2nd-3rd Grade, July 1st - July 12th, 8:00-11:30 am - This class is almost full
  • Entering 4th -5th Grade, July 22nd -August 2nd, 8:00-11:30 am - This class is full, but we have started a wait list.
  • Snacks will be provided, but no lunch
  • Student Enrollment: 15 students max
  • Cost: We are applying for a grant since this is a pilot program, so the cost will be either $0 or $375 depending on whether we receive the grant. 
  • This is not through Summer Programs. Dr. Mary will send all communications. dudenm@oes.edu

After Spring Break we will be asking your help to have your students comply with three basic rules in Lower School, all detailed in the All School Family Handbook

  • The LS Uniform Policy - Page 52
  • What not to bring to school - Page 54    
    • Toys from home
    • Personal electronic devices

We thank you in advance for helping your child come to school dressed according to the uniform policy and without their personal electronic devices and toys. 

Keep personal electronic devices and smart devices out of school
The All School Family Handbook clearly states, “Students should not bring personal electronics such as cell phones, smart watches, or handheld electronic devices to school.” 

Keeping Our Community Healthy

  • We strongly recommend wearing a mask when a child has mild respiratory symptoms for which our guidelines do not recommend exclusion.
  • Do not send an ill child to school. Please review the exclusion criteria for guidance on when a child should remain at home and return to school. Exclusion examples include:
    • temperature of 100.4℉ or greater
    • vomiting
    • diarrhea
    • new, unexplained rash
    • unusually sleepy or lethargic
    • active cough
    • any symptom(s) that prevent the student benefiting from or participating in all classroom activities (e.g. excessive runny nose)
  • Notify the school if your child is sick with a contagious disease (e.g. chickenpox, measles, scabies). We recommend reporting other diagnosable illnesses (e.g. flu, Covid-19, RSV) as this can help us track health trends at the school and communicate with families accordingly.

Have OES Community News to Publish in LS Express?
Use the Send Us Your News button located in the lower left hand side of the LS Express. Please submit requests to include your announcement in the next Lower School Express by 3 p.m. on Wednesdays.