October 2, 2020


Dear Oakcrest Parents,

I hope that the year is beginning well for you. It is delightful to see the girls here. Know that the students, faculty and staff are grateful to be together. Our room parents have made calls to reach out to personally welcome all of our new families. I will be calling all families to touch base with you personally by the end of this semester. I am edified by the words of gratitude and encouragement from our parents and students. One mother was moved to tears when she received a call from a room parent. She said that she expected special care from Oakcrest but was grateful to see it happening in small details such as personal phone calls. 

At the new parent orientations in early September, I suggested that spouses sit down to have a discussion of what goals they hope to achieve this year. Each school year brings a fresh opportunity to begin again. St. Josemaría Escriva wrote in his book Christ is Passing By: "Conversion is the task of a moment; sanctification is the work of a lifetime. The divine seed of charity, which God has sown in our souls, wants to grow, to express itself in action, to yield results which continually coincide with what God wants. Therefore, we must be ready to begin again, to find again - in new situations - the light and the stimulus of our first conversion." Maybe your family situation has changed since last year. Perhaps you are helping an older relative who needs more care, or maybe you are welcoming a new baby into your home. Perhaps your teenager is pushing boundaries and maybe adjustments need to be made to ensure a happy homelife. Best professional practices involve setting concrete short and long term goals to complete projects. Your family is one of your most worthwhile"projects". Perhaps you and your spouse can bring out your calendar and mark down some of these opportunities to meet your family goals involving spiritual growth, strengthening your marriage and improving your parenting skills.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or ideas at tcollins@oackrest.org.

Warm regards,

Terri Collins
Director of Parent Support
Family Enrichment
The Journey Through Adolescence
Learn more at 2 Demo Dates:
October 10 at 7:00 pm
October 18 at 2:00 pm
Using the case study method and led by trained moderators who are also parents, this course allows couples to analyze and discuss cases involving real-life family scenarios. It is ideal for parents who have children in grades 6 to 10. The Journey Through Adolescence course fosters deeper communication between husband and wife on important family issues. Parents will gain a deeper understanding of their teenage children and improve parenting skills.
Fathers Club Speaker
Stephen Gabriel
A Father's Guide to Virtue
Wednesday, October 7
Join us in Walsh Hall or via Zoom for the first Fathers Club Reception and Presentation, "A Father's Guide to Virtue". We will be joined by author and Oakcrest alumnae parent, Stephen Gabriel, who will talk about his most recent book, "The Indispensable Dad: A Guide to Cultivating Family Happiness, Virtue, and Success."

Read Mr. Gabriel's biography here.
Yuma Prep
Yuma Prep is a monthly leadership seminar where students learn from an impressive array of women professionals about their daily work and how they discovered their passion in life. The program begins October 10. Learn more and Register now.
Ann Dolin's Presentation at 9th Grade Orientation
We are sharing the presentation from Ann Dolin, M.Ed. of Educational Connections Tutoring and Test Prep
9th Grade Know How: Time Management for Freshmen
Monthly Morning of Recollection for Women
Saturday, October 10
Morning of Recollection for Women on Saturday, October 10 from 10 am to 12 noon. Mass follows for those who wish to attend. This is an in-person event! No need to register, just come to the Oakcrest chapel for the morning to unplug and partake in a "spiritual spa"!
Save the Date!
Two sessions! An RSVP form will open up soon.

  • 2 pm session will be livestreamed only, no seating available.
  • 7 pm session will have limited seating with a livestream. A wine and cheese reception will also be offered.