Magazine Stories Archive

Head of School The Rev. Michael Spencer shares his reflections on building beloved community at OES.

Upper School students in the Glamour Girls club are visiting senior centers and brightening the residents’ days.

Several OES faculty and staff attended the 2025 National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference held in Denver, Colorado.

Learn about Fr. Joseph Wallace-Williams' background and what brought him to the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Baptist as their new rector.

Read about all the great achievements of our cross country, soccer, and volleyball teams.

Read about what powered the Girls Cross Country Team to secure their second state title in a row this year.

All three divisions of the school found creative ways to support the members of our community during the holidays.

The Instructional Strategist program enables faculty to receive ongoing feedback from their peers in a supportive way.

Learn how OES “dorm parents” help students feel a sense of belonging in the campus boarding community.

A Lower School teacher is leading the way in showing other educators the benefits of teaching outside.

Ivan McClellan visited OES to talk about what inspired him to found the 8 Second Rodeo, enjoyed by Black cowfolks and rodeo enthusiasts from all over the United States.

New classes and student enthusiasm are growing fast inside the OES greenhouse.

Students participated in the Oregon Music Education Association in Eugene and had onstage leadership roles as well.

Tommy Zeng ’21 and three other OES alumni are having exciting adventures post-OES.

Head of School The Rev. Michael Spencer introduces the community to the new school year and new Summer/Fall OES Magazine.

From their creation of a sand mandala, to classroom visits, to their polyphonic chanting, the Tibetan monks who visited OES fascinated students and the rest of the OES community.

Read about two exciting new Upper School science classes that will increase students' awareness about food systems of the future.

Read how Oyana Lusk ’09, Brandon Longaker ’88, Ron Sorensen ’90 are experiencing careers outside the typical office environment.

Congratulations to the class of 2024, who graduated on June 14, 2024.

Get to know Student Body President Don-Pharinho Cuffy ’25 and why he decided to run for student government.

Winterim gives students the chance to explore a variety of new experiences internationally, nationally, and locally.

OES alum Arun Sharma ’23 has been making good on his promise to keep battling climate change.

Educators came together to hone their writing craft and engage with writing as a tool for achieving equity and justice.

The Peace Game offers fourth graders a chance to role play as world leaders, and understand the balance between politics and the responsible use of resources.

Children's author and teacher Andrea Olatunji offered her insight to eighth grade students on writing their own books in Spanish.

Here we honor the employees who moved on after this past school year, after working at OES for 10 years or more, to retire or follow new pursuits.

Read just a few highlights of how OES has continued to strengthen a program that supports the work of equity and inclusion across all aspects of school life, all throughout the year.

2024 marks 60 years since the construction of dorms on our Nicol Road campus was completed and another chapter began in OES’s rich history in providing a boarding program for students from across the globe.

Head of School The Rev. Michael Spencer reflects on how OES students, faculty, and alumni are sharing their power for good in the world, with sometimes unnoticed brilliance.

Eleven Middle and Upper School students participated in the All-State Choir, Orchestra, and Band in Eugene in January 2024.

This year's Speech & Debate team features a blend of new and returning members who have had a strong start to the season.

Six OES Upper School students participated in the 2024 Student Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).

Learn why one family decided to make a planned gift to OES.

Board President Paul Ehrlich shares his thoughts about the priorities of the Board and why he chose to become a Trustee.

It was another awesome season for our Aardvarks! Girls Cross Country won a state championship for the first time over 30 years, the boys took second in state, and much more!

Learn how second-grade students put the OES Inquiry Cycle to work in the EC3 Design Center and create amazing inventions during their Animal Adaptations unit.

Three student teachers from the University of Portland are implementing various teaching strategies and learning from their mentors in the OES fifth grade classrooms.

This program works on weaving Power for Good into the fabric of school life.

Colson Tubbs ’24 is making vases in the OES ceramics lab to brighten the rooms of local hospice patients.

OES Facilities Director Jon von Behren has spent the last five decades saying, “Sure, I can do that” to whatever comes his way.

The boarding students enjoyed their annual retreat, bonding with one another while enjoying fun activities and great food!

The staff of Bon Appétit are committed to providing healthy food to OES students, faculty, and staff, including our boarding students.

What does it mean to be human? The sixth grade Humanities class works on uncovering the answer to this question all year long.

New climbing walls in Fariss Hall reinvigorate love and joy for climbing.

Discover the many ways Karen Seder has contributed to the OES community throughout her 32 years here.

Lower School reading tutor is Patty Sullivan is a beloved member of the OES community.

Learn how Lorca Smetana '87, Carissa Ponting ’99, and Opher Kornfeld ’10 are cultivating their power for good and making an impact, locally and nationally.

Here we recognize alumni and former faculty and staff who have passed away. With questions or submissions, please email alumni@oes.edu or call 503-416-9367. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words and may be edited.

New Head of School The Rev. Michael Spencer shares about his first days at OES in his welcome letter in the summer 2023 issue of OES Magazine.

Welcome to our three new trustees who joined the board in June 2023: Brandon Ross '11, Jaime Sales, and The Rev. Marianne Allison.

Former Head of School Mo Copeland received the Bishop Ladehoff Award from the OES Board of Trustees in June 2023.

Kristin Deshmukh, who took on the Parent Partnership chair at the start of the 23-24 school year, shares her thoughts with OES.

Head Chaplain The Rev. Vijendran Sathyaraj shares about his journey toward becoming an Episcopal priest.

The OES community celebrated the installation of its15th Head of School, The Rev. Michael Spencer, on September 6, 2023.

The 2023 Auction, themed Blue Jean Ball, raised a record-breaking amount to benefit the OES flexible tuition program.

Read highlights of how our Varks performed in tennis, golf, and track & field this spring and finished up the winter season.

Get to know The Rev. Michael Spencer and his background before he came to OES.

Athletic Director Dennis Smith pays tribute to Co-athletic Director Missy Smith, who moved on from OES in June 2023.

Congratulations to the class of 2023, who graduated on June 16 at Trinity Cathedral.

Using visual, tactile tools helps spark learning connections for young students learning how to read.

Winterim included international trips again this year, as well as local and domestic adventures for Upper School students.

Cynthia Leitich Smith spoke at OES about her experiences writing young adult literature featuring Native American characters.

Experiential education is woven into every OES student's education, from the beginning years onward.

Former Student Body President Arun Sharma ’23 led the way in forming a pivotal partnership between students of OES and the Episcopal Church.

The Middle School theatre program has been revitalized by teacher Lauren Cuellar.

Upper School students created a portrait of Aardy the Aardvark in the style of an international artist.

Recent graduate Barrett Lindholm ’23 is gaining real-life experience as a teacher at OES.

Get to know Alexander Matthews, student body president for the 23-24 school year.

Alexandra “Dzana” Ashworth ’10 is an artist, filmmaker, and writer interested in exploring community, belonging, and identity.

Here we honor the employees who moved on in June 2023 after working at OES for 10 years or more, to retire or follow new pursuits. Thank you all for your service to the school and good luck in your future endeavors

Read updates from OES alumni regarding marriages, children, travel, new jobs and more.

Here we recognize alumni, trustees, and employees who remain with us in spirit.