August 2017 Edition

Welcome to our August edition of the "Division Coordinators Corner" where we dive a little deeper into current happenings, mission and educational philosophy, teaching and learning methods, parent education and support, school policy, and more! We each choose our own topics that we hope will continue to inform you about your child's day-to-day academic, social, emotional, and physical experiences at Oakwood. Let us know about questions and topics that may interest you and others.  


LOWER SCHOOL CORNER


New Year
 

Dear Lower School families,

I hope this finds you well and in the midst of a wonderful summer full of memories and family adventures! It always amazes me how quickly the summers go by, and this one is no exception. The appearance of school supply displays in the stores signals that summer vacation is winding down, and the excitement of a new school year is just beginning! I want to be the first to welcome you to a brand new year at The Oakwood School!
 
Although summer is a time to refresh and relax, our teachers have already begun preparing for the new school year. Many of our teachers have been working on classroom design and preparing curriculum for their students. We will be ready to hit the ground running on August 24 for the first day of school! 
 
At Oakwood, we are here to make good things happen for your child. The focus of our Lower School is to develop a love of learning within each student and to provide the academic foundations that your child will need for a lifetime. Your child's social, emotional, and character development are just as important as academic growth, and it is our hope that your child will develop into a caring, kind, and conscientious citizen as he/she goes through the younger grades at Oakwood. Your trust in us to provide the very best educational experience means a lot, and your partnership in your child's education is invaluable in helping your child to grow and learn and develop positive attitudes towards school and learning. Thank you for your commitment to an Oakwood education for your child.
 
As your Division Coordinator, I am excited about working with all of you and your children. I look forward to continuing relationships with our returning families as we work together for your child's education and Oakwood experience. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our newest families and students, and congratulate you on being accepted to our school. Thank you for choosing Oakwood and for trusting us to care for and educate your child. I am confident that it will not be long before you feel at home with your new school. The time and energy you have spent to find the best school for your child is understood and appreciated, and I am thrilled that you have chosen to join our Oakwood family. Please know that everyone at Oakwood from teachers to current families is more than willing to answer any and all questions to help with the transition to our school.  I hope that you will quickly feel comfortable at Oakwood, and would urge our veteran families to reach out and welcome those who are new to our school. Our Lower School is such a special place, and it is such a pleasure to share our school with you all. 
 
We are delighted to welcome Angela Eason as our new first grade lead teacher in Lower School. Angela has been an assistant teacher in second grade for the last two years and she has proven herself to be a strong, knowledgeable, and capable teacher in that time. Angela has been preparing for her new role by taking courses in the Orton-Gillingham and Hill Center methodologies for reading instruction. Angela will be an asset not only to her classroom, but also to our Lower School faculty with her expertise.
 
Cathy Aulino will be the new assistant teacher in second grade. Mrs. Hammond and I look forward to what Cathy will bring to second grade, and I know that our second grade team will also have an exciting and wonderful year.
 
Enjoy the last few weeks of a more relaxed pace as summer vacation begins to wind down. I know that I speak for all of the teachers when I say that we are anxiously awaiting the return of the students when the hallways once again come alive with laughter and learning. Don't forget our Meet and Greet event which will take place on August 23 from 4:30 until 6:00.  This will be a wonderful time to meet new faces and renew old friendships, and I will look forward to seeing  many of you then!
 
Please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of assistance as we begin the new school year or throughout the year. I am here for you and your family with any concerns or questions.
 
Best regards,

Lower School Division Coordinator
Pre-Kindergarten to 3rd Grades

Our Lower School Promise:  
In Oakwood's Lower School, our teachers instill a love for learning by teaching the whole child through an enriching curriculum and customized learning in a happy, nurturing and safe environment where children want to come to school.

MIDDLE SCHOOL CORNER

New Year
 

Dear Middle School Parents,
 
As the Division Coordinators for the Oakwood Middle School, we welcome you to the 2017-18 school year. It seems like only yesterday that we were waving good-bye to the middle school students in June, and here it is almost August again! We are both looking forward to another year working with middle school students, their families, and the faculty. The middle school years represent one of the most significant periods in human growth, and the faculty is committed to actively supporting the students' intellectual, emotional, and social growth when their attitudes about learning and self-esteem are most challenged. As division coordinators, we will continue to support you and your children during this exciting and challenging journey. We look forward to a wonderful school year.
 
In preparation for our start of school, please be reminded of a few important items:
  • A postcard from your child's new homeroom/advisory teacher will be mailed August 14th.  This is formal notification of your child's advisory teacher. 
  • Students will receive their class schedule on the first day of school. Please know that the process of entering schedule information is a work in progress and adjustments may be made as new students are enrolled.
  • Meet and Greet Night is Wednesday, August 23rd from 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. This evening is planned for students, families, and teachers to reconnect with one another before the start of school. School starts the following day, Thursday, August 24th.
  • Middle School Curriculum Night is Tuesday, September 12th from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. This evening is planned for parents to learn about the goals, expectations, methods, and procedures for each of their child(ren)'s courses.
  • The Middle School homeroom period (8:15- 8:30 a.m.) serves as the advisory period. It is a very important time for the advisory groups to build community, hear school announcements, celebrate milestones and achievements, work out social issues that have developed and need attention, discuss current events and character education topics, and gather materials needed for the morning's classes. Please be sure your child arrives on time for these advisory meetings; arriving late to advisory puts students at a disadvantage as they miss getting set up appropriately for their first class. Students who do not arrive on time will be marked absent and will need to sign in at the main office and get a class pass in order to have the absent notation changed to tardy. GLC students should report directly to the portable classrooms outside of Monk Hall at 8:15 a.m.
  • This will be our sixth year having a Middle School Student Government Association. All advisory groups elect one representative and the middle school student body elects four officers from candidates in 6th and 7th grade who choose to run for the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Events Chair.
  • Middle School Morning Meetings occur every Tuesday during Advisory time. During these meetings, the entire middle school gathersto discuss school events, community service opportunities, student accomplishments, and student government initiatives.
  • Extracurricular clubs and competition groups, including Math Club, Science Olympiad, Robotics, Envirothon, Spelling Bee, and Geography Bee, will meet as needed according to the competitions' schedules so that all students have an opportunity to compete if they wish.  These opportunities will be introduced early in the year, and students are allowed to sign up starting in September.
  • Attendance policy, dress code, computer responsible use policy, and other important school guidelines can be found in  The Oakwood School Student/Parent Handbook, located on our school's website.  We encourage you to read the handbook and share this information with your child. Teachers will review specific portions of the handbook with their advisory groups during the first few days of school.
  • The Lower Middle School (4th and 5th grade) will be a nut-free environment starting this school year. Two students have severe peanut and tree nut allergies.  We aim to provide a safe environment for all of our students, and we will educate all of our students about the severity of food allergies. Please refer to this "safe foods list" for items that are nut-free. Thank you for your cooperation.
  • We are excited about our fall overnight field trips. Specific details regarding each trip will be distributed on Monday, September 26th. Our travel schedule is as follows:

    - 4th Grade - Jamestown and Colonial Williamsburg
      Thursday, November 2 - Friday, November 3, 2017
    - 5th Grade - Marine Science Explorations - Duke Marine Lab
      Thursday, November 2 - Friday, November 3, 2017
    - 6th Grade - Arts and Cultural Exploration - Camp Hanes, King, NC
      Tuesday, October 31 - Thursday, November 2, 2017
    - 7th Grade - Camp Cheerio - Glade Valley, North Carolina
      Monday, October 30 - Thursday, November 2, 2017
  • Please visit the school website (www.theoakwoodschool.org) often for important school updates, dates for special events, and school news.   
Thank you for your commitment to your child's education and your support of The Oakwood School. We look forward to working as a team to continue to build a strong middle school program. Please do not hesitate to contact either of us should you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Ashley Blackmer - Lower (4th and 5th Grades) Middle School Division Coordinator
Anita Rish-Hodgkins - Upper (6th and 7th Grades) Middle School Division Coordinator

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Middle School Student Supplies & Consumables for 2017-18
 
All courses:
Middle School students should supply their own bookbags/backpacks.  For safety reasons and in consideration of space in the locker areas, bookbags/backpacks without wheels are recommended.  All middle school students are required to purchase an iPad and iPad-compatible keyboard or keyboard case (see the Eagle Tech blog at www.theoakwoodschool.org/blog/eagletech for more information). All other middle school supplies and consumables will be purchased by The Oakwood School, with the exception of the calculator for Math Course 3 and Algebra I (see below). By ordering supplies this way, students are assured of having the appropriate materials needed for the school year.
 
Math Course 3 (Pre-Algebra) - Kris Arnold
TI-84 Calculator
 
Algebra I - Anita Rish-Hodgkins
TI-84 Calculator


Our Middle School Promise:  
The Oakwood Middle School enriches your child's growing independence and unique individuality with an invigorating curriculum, guidance from brilliant teachers, and extra-curricular opportunities that fortify them cognitively, socially, and personally.

UPPER SCHOOL CORNER


New Year


Dear Upper School Parents,
 
This summer has been a joyous one full of many wonderful moments shared with others. I was particularly heartened one hot July morning when, standing in the parking lot of the main campus, I heard a chorus of youthful voices shouting my name and saw a group of seniors running out of volleyball practice.  It is moments like these that remind me of how special a place Oakwood is, a place where relationships matter and are the basis for strong education. In a time when debates over education litter the headlines of newspapers and news reports, Oakwood maintains its focus of strengthening character, creativity and the wisdom to make a difference in the world.  We do this through our proscribed curriculum, through advisory activities, and through every-day interactions with each other.  Upon graduation, our students know that their faculty and staff have invested the time and energy to prepare them to take the next step in their educational journey. This year, our 22nd year at Oakwood, will prove to be no different.
 
I want to bring a few important ideas to your attention in my letter before the school year begins. They include the following:
  • Students and parents can find class schedule for the 2017-2018 school year on PowerSchool. For parents familiar with PowerSchool, please log in using their password. If you are new to Oakwood, please call Fred Austin, the school's technology director, at (252-931-0760) to receive your password. If a student wishes to take an independent study or online class but does not see it listed on the PowerSchool schedule, he/she should see the particular teacher to have the Independent Study Form or Virtual Learning Contract completed and turned in to me. Once that process is completed, the class will be added to PowerSchool. If you or your child should see a discrepancy or desire a change in schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me at school or via email. I will make the necessary changes prior to the first day of classes. In addition, if you have a question about your child's schedule, I will be happy to discuss it with you. Please note that we can not honor requests for particular teachers if a class has two sections taught by different teachers.
  • Attendance policies, as well as the dress code, the responsible use policy, and additional school policies can be found in The Oakwood School Parent/Student Handbook that you can access via the school website. I urge you to look through the updated and revised Handbook and to share it with your child. We will be going through important parts of The Handbook in advisory groups at the beginning of the year.
  • One important policy to take special note of is the Upper School sign in/sign out policy.
    • Any student arriving at the Upper School after advisory ends (8:35) needs to sign in at the UPPER SCHOOL front desk (not with Mrs. Christine) before going to class. If a student arrives during advisory, he/she may check in with the advisor. 
    • In addition, any student leaving campus for any reason during the day except for school-related activities must have a parent sign him/her out at the UPPER SCHOOL front desk OR have a parent-signed note indicating that the student may leave. Notes should be given to me or the teacher at the front desk at the time the student signs out. Please note that students may not leave school without a parent signing him/her out OR the parent-signed note. 
  • The Senior Off-Campus Lunch Form and The Responsible Use Form can be found in the online student handbook; please have students bring those in as soon as school starts. Seniors will not be allowed off campus for lunch until the signed form is turned in.
  • We continue to have success with students seeking educational opportunities outside of Oakwood's campus. Last year students completed online courses in science, foreign language, and the social sciences through FuelEd, the online school we use as a part of the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS) consortium.  Prices for the FuelEd classes are discounted for Oakwood students and the offerings are varied. Some classes are taught by teachers in the NCAIS system and offer students an opportunity to collaborate with students in other independent schools around the state and country.  Prices for FuelEd-taught classes range from $285-$375 per semester.  In addition, students may also take advantage of classes through the North Carolina Virtual Public School.  If your child is interested in taking an online course but has not filled out the proper paperwork, please contact me for a virtual learning contract.  I will enroll students prior to the first day of classes as soon as I receive their completed contracts. Also, please note that our policy for awarding honors credit for online classes is as follows: honors credit and quality points will be awarded only to online classes that are substantially similar to classes taught at Oakwood.  Please see the student handbook for further details.
  • Oakwood Upper School looks forward to its ninth year of Off-Campus Education week during the first semester. The educational trips will be held at the end of October/first of November.  We asked students to select their Off-Campus Education choices in the spring, and international trips have already been booked.  If your child signed up for a domestic trip and has changed his/her choice, or if he/she is new to Oakwood and has not chosen a trip yet, please see the attached brochure and let me know your child's choice by September 1.  If you have a question about any of the trips listed, please don't hesitate to contact me.
  • Our advisory program continues to be a strong part of our Upper School.  Each morning, your child will interact with his/her advisor and advisory group discussing character, academic integrity, college planning, as well as short- and long-range individual goals.  At the end of the last school year, advisors at each grade level developed curriculum for their advisories. Each month, advisors lead advisory groups in discussions on topics such as bullying, public persona, and academic survival skills. For example, juniors will spend September working on updating and using Naviance to aid in the beginning of the college application/search process. The 15 minutes between 8:20-8:35 is an integral part of your child's education, and I urge each parent to ensure that your child arrives at school well before the 8:20 start time of our advisory program.
  • Please note that the Upper School Supply List for 2017-2018 is short and listed below:  In the past, this list has caused some confusion for parents.  Very few teachers will require students to have particular supplies (a 1-inch binder, a pack of notecards, etc). If a particular supply is REQUIRED, it will be provided by the teacher (for example, if a teacher requires a student to have graphing paper or a particular type of binder, it will be provided). However, by the time a student is in the Upper School, most faculty ask that students begin developing their own system of organization and note taking.  Therefore, students will be able to choose if they wish to purchase a binder and paper for note taking, or take notes on their computer.  Please talk with your child about what supplies he/she may wish to have and plan accordingly. No teacher will require your student to have a particular type of supply without supplying it (binder, type of paper, markers, note cards etc) but your child may want to have these supplies as it fits in with their style of learning. 
Required US supplies:
* Students taking Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Advanced Functions & Modeling, Statistics, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB, Physical Science, Chemistry, and Physics are required to purchase a graphing calculator such as the TI 83, 84, and 89 collections or any other graphing calculators that connect to the internet are not recommended, as they cannot be used on standardized tests.

* Upper School dance students will need to purchase tan or nude colored jazz dance shoes. Due to the multi-purpose use of the stage, jazz shoes are required to be worn by all students for safety reasons. Jazz shoes can be slip on or lace up and can be purchased online at www.discountdance.com, or from the local dance supply store, At Barre, located in Arlington Village in Greenville. Dancers will wear the jazz shoes during dance class and during performances. For additional information please contact, Dance Instructor, Cherita Lytle at [email protected]
The summer break from school is a special time as it allows all of us to experience some much needed rest and relaxation, yet I am looking forward to August 24th, opening day for our 22nd  year, when our school community comes together again. Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer break!
 
Sincerely,

Upper School Division Coordinator
8th to 12th Grades

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Important Dates to Note:

Wednesday, August 23:  Back-to-School night 4:30-6:00
Thursday, Aug. 24: First day of school
Thursday, Sept. 7:  US Open House 6:30-8:00


Our Upper School Promise:  
The Oakwood Upper School integrates a challenging college preparatory curriculum with individual and collaborative leadership and real world experiences for independence and success in college and beyond to make a difference in the world.
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