OES Upper School Voice Newsletter

Upper School Hours for the 2023-24 School Year

8:25 a.m.-3:10 p.m. - Except late start Wednesdays which start at 9:10 a.m.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Gloria and Robert Stephens, Jr., are walking to school together when the unthinkable happens: Robert, a young Black boy, kicks a teenaged White landowner in an attempt to defend his older sister's honor. It's 1950 in rural Florida and Jim Crow is the law of the land, so after a sham trial Robby is sentenced to six months in the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory with a reputation for such extreme brutality that it has its own graveyard for the boys who don't survive their sentences. The Reformatory's narrative alternates between Robby, who is able to see and communicate with the reformatory's resident haints, and Gloria as she desperately tries to free him. The result is a novel that is as brutal as it is brilliant, in which the traditional horror elements take a back seat to the horrors of the Jim Crow South setting when it comes to fright factor. Inspired by the true story of the death of author Tananarive Due's relative in a Florida reformatory, this is a bloody and deeply disturbing novel that, in Due's deft hands, still bursts with hope as she shines a light on one of the darker corners of our country's history.

Read More about Jelly Rec March 22: Book Recommendations from US Librarian Erika Jelinek
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A Message from the Division Head

by Sarah Grenert-Funk
Need to Know March 22

We wrapped another wonderful week of Winterim yesterday and the stories and pictures have been pouring in. While I did not lead a course this year, I enjoyed living vicariously through so many by way of updates at the end of the day, checking in with local course students during breaks and around campus, and photos coming in from all corners of the country and world. The Film, Food, and Stories course brought back delicious treats each day for the office staff and I got to see the amazing ceramics, screen printings, and sewing projects during a walk-about on Wednesday. My daughter in Primary raved about her Lower School Intern and said she wants to visit her in Upper School. Stay tuned for more stories and photos coming soon!

After we return from spring break we’ll be approaching the end of the third quarter and another round of academic progress reports as well as registration for next year’s courses. Look for more information in a separate letter about the curriculum guide and course registration coming soon. We’ll also hold parent partnership meetings about course registration - a morning and evening option on April 16 and 17 respectively. 

I hope you all have a rejuvenating spring break. 
 

Upcoming Events and Looking Ahead
April 2: Classes Resume
April 11: End of Quarter 3
April 12: Teacher Work Day - Comment Writing - NO SCHOOL
April 16: Morning Parent Partnership Meeting on Zoom: Registration
April 17: Evening Parent Partnership Meeting on Zoom: Registration 
April 26: Spring Long Weekend - No Classes
April 29: Morning Screenagers Under the Influence Screening - more information soon!
April 30: Evening Screenagers Under the Influence Screening - more information soon!
May 4: Prom
May 8: Mt. Hood Climb Observance
May 14: Morning and Evening Parent Partnership Meetings with Joy Ellis on Zoom
May 15-18: Spring Play