October 23, 2009 Vol. 5, No. 7
 
   
 

Lower Schoolers Celebrate Diwali Holiday

  
  The wonderful diversity of religious experiences and traditions of the OES community was highlighted Monday in Lower School Chapel. A number of students shared the Diwali traditions of their families. These traditions include dances, prayers, songs and decorations. Diwali, the Hindu festival that celebrates light and good fortune, takes place all over India, with regional variations. It signifies the renewal of life and heralds the approach of winter and the beginning of the sowing season. See more photos.
Students perform the stick dance, known as the Dandiya.		  
 
 
 
A sixth-grader serves lunch at Fishes & Loaves.

MS Students Offer
Help to Community

Middle School students spent Tuesday morning helping out in the community and learning about other people's lives. They served food to senior citizens and homeless people, fixed bikes that will be given away to children, tended homeless animals, and pulled ivy. See photos of students serving lunch at Loaves & Fishes and fixing bicycles at the Washington County Bicycle Transportation Coalition.

  
 
 
 

Drop Everything,
Except the Books

The all-school Drop Everything And Read (DEAR) time on Thursday demonstrated that it's not only important WHAT you read but also with WHOM you read. Students from all three divisions mixed it up to create multi-age reading groups. It was difficult to tell who enjoyed it more, the older students or the younger ones. See more photos.
An Upper School student reads with first-graders.		  
 
 
 

Answer the Call for OES Fund

The OES Fund Phonathon is coming! Volunteers will be calling fellow parents from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. If you can volunteer to make calls, please contact Margarett Kahl. Short training sessions both nights at 5:30 p.m. and a light supper will be included. Can’t volunteer but want to help? Please make your leadership or participation gift or pledge now. Every gift has impact as we strive to increase financial support to the OES operating budget and raise parent participation rates.

 
 
 
 

Last Chance to Order Wreaths

Today is the official end of the OES Christmas Wreath and Holiday Greens Sale, but the online store will still be accepting orders through Monday. You can buy wreaths and greenery, poinsettias, and holiday mailers, with a percentage of the price going to support experiential education and guest speakers across all divisions. Thank you in advance for your support! You may order here.

  
 
 
 

About This Newsletter
The Aardvark is a weekly online newsletter for the OES community. You may email editor to submit information. If you know of a grandparent who would like to receive this newsletter, please send an email address for the grandparent(s).