November 6, 2009 Vol. 5, No. 9
 
   
 
Students examine the gumboot chiton with teacher Rob Orr, right.

Ecologists
Encounter
Giant Chiton

Last weekend, students in teacher Rob Orr's Marine Ecology class took their studies to the Oregon Coast, where they found a gumboot chiton. "It’s a really impressive critter—the first one I’ve seen, and I’ve been doing the trip for five years now," Rob said. The students slept in yurts, took two classes at Hatfield Marine Science Center, explored tidepools, and toured Oregon Oyster Farms.

  
 
 
 

 
 

Chicos y Chicas Celebrate Day of the Dead

Spanish-language students celebrated El Dia de los Muertos—the Day of the Dead—this week by painting cards and creating altars. Fourth-graders Jack M. and Savannah B., in photo at right, said the Mexican holiday honors ancestors and includes sugary treats and marigolds. Children in grades one to three created an altar, at left, that included sweet treats. Shown below it are second-graders Paige M., Colby N., and Anya B.

  
 
 
   
 

Pizza for Soccer Heroes

The Middle School Division I boys' soccer team celebrated its winning season with a pizza feed on Wednesday. The boys came very close to winning the league as they battled Riverdale, the eventual league winner, to a standstill in the semifinal game. After two extra five-minute periods in drenching rain, the game was decided on penalty kicks. Way to go, guys!

  
 
 
 

X-Country

Go Varun! Go Ellie!

Varun I. '10 and Ellie M. '11 will represent OES on Saturday at the state varsity cross country meet at Lane Community College in Eugene.

  
 

MS Team Wins District Meet

The Middle School girls' cross country team placed first in the district, edging out Catlin Gabel by one point. The boys placed third. Catherine L. '15, shown at left, was third in the state in the champs division. Other OES runners at the Middle School state meet were Cameron S. '16, Michael M. '15, and Max S. '16.

Eighth-graders Hannah J., Matt H., Jack R., Austin L., Will C., John S., Molly K., Kevin H., and John C. went out for cross-country all three years!

 
 
 
 

Invite Your Friends to Learn About the Upper School

  
  Do you have friends, business associates, neighbors, or perhaps someone in your family who is interested in learning about the OES Upper School? If so, please invite them to attend a program for prospective students and their parents from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, November 22. Visitors can sample mini-classes, ask questions of a student panel, tour the school, and talk with faculty to learn about the rich experience offered in the Upper School.  
 
 
 

Authors to Attend OES Book Fair November 17–19

  
  New and classic titles for readers of all ages will be available for sale November 17–19 at the annual book fair sponsored by Friends of the OES Libraries (FOESL). The fair will include book signings by author Julie Richardson (Rustic Fruit Desserts) from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. November 17, and by Diane Morgan (The New Thanksgiving Table) and Judy Nedry (An Unholy Alliance) from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. November 18. Find lists of book recommendations, pre-order forms, student charge forms and other info on the book fair web page.  
 

Support Reading at Vose Elementary and Transitional School
At this year's book fair, you can purchase books for students at Vose Elementary School and the Community Transitional School. This book drive is part of the Echoes program, spearheaded by OES junior Estelle B. to celebrate the love of reading and writing. Echoes is a school-wide, yearlong celebration that will include writing contests and workshops to recognize and engage students who are passionate about the beauty of the written word.

 
 
 
 

Where's Aardy? He's Getting Ready for a Party!

  
 

Aardy the Aardvark has been snuffling around campus lately getting ready for his debut appearance at 7:45 a.m. Monday in the Lower School library. The colorful creature was made by Admissions associate Emily Pritchard and painted by children in her summer camp. With his groovy, psychedelic colors, he was a natural to become the mascot of this year’s OES Auction, with the theme “Age of Aquarius,” and he will make a number of special appearances leading up to auction night, when he hopes to be adopted into someone's home.
Aardy wearing his "Age of Aquarius" hat.		  
 
 
 

Books & Breakfast: Counting Coup Author to Speak

  
  Portland author Larry Colton, who wrote Counting Coup, will tell his story of traveling as a journalist to the Crow Indian reservation in Montana where he followed a suspenseful, girls’ high school basketball season in which the players faced the challenges of fierce competition while dealing with alcoholism, broken families, and racial conflict. Larry is a popular speaker and a founding leader of Wordstock, Portland’s annual literary festival. It is not necessary to have read the book in order to participate in the author talk and discussion from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. next Thursday in the OES Dining Hall.  
 
 
 

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