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From the Director:
|  Wow what a week! Last Saturday we hosted Team Depot, an incredibly energetic group of Home Depot San Rafael employees who spent the entire day at Oak Hill, starting at 6 AM. With sustenance provided by Oak Hill teachers and students, they completely refurbished our garden, with new plants, an extended perimeter, a new fence, fruit trees, and bulbs for early spring blooming. The front door is now adorned with ceramic planters, as well as each classroom; the front hill as a labyrinth path and, soon, a small wooden stage will be added. The Oak Hill teacher sitting on the far left in the photo below is Arriel Adler, the Oak Hill staff member who managed to make this happen. She will now be teaching a garden curriculum to students in the new "classroom."
On Sunday we were featured in the Marin Independent Journal on a full page advertisement sponsored by United Market. On Tuesday, I took a personal day to make phone calls to swing states to get out the vote, and on Wednesday I came back for Harvest Dinner Day! For many, it was a celebration week. We all loved seeing you. at Harvest Dinner. The kids were amazing in their capacity to manage the union of their worlds all in one room with a whole lot of fantastic food. They cooked and decorated during the day and managed remarkably well throughout the evening. Some students, like  these bowlers, went off campus with teachers and friends between school and dinner time.
Other activities this week included short trips up our hill to the garden and farm program of Cedars of Marin, an amazing program for adults with developmental disabilities. Matt will tell you about this neighboring organic Eden.
Photos below will also show you our resident song leader Dillon Castleton, leading our Bridge Club kids on their now regular visit to Redwood High, as well as a mixed group of students singing together on a sunny day back at Oak Hill.
Last but not least, our new website is up, and we debuted our new logo at Harvest Dinner. For those of you who haven't seen it yet, I proudly present Oak Hill School:
 Like I said, WOW! |
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Building Relationships With Adult Services
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As part of our far-reaching goal to prepare our students for the transition from school to adult living, Oak Hill is working to strengthen our relationship with programs across the Bay Area that provide vocational, educational, and residential services to adults with developmental disabilities. Towards that end, Lori and the Giant Redwoods hiked up the hill above  our campus to visit the Cedars of Marin. Cedars provides job training, residential placement, social connections, and inspiration to people across Marin County. The Redwoods toured the textile facility, produce garden, and animal farm, guided along the way by Cedars  clients. Not only is this Cedars campus located adjacent to the Sunny Hills property, but our very own Michael Breard serves on the Cedars Board of Directors. Check out the Cedars website:  On Tuesday, Michael Breard, Matt Poynter, Kevin Skidmore, and parent Michelle Ash toured the Millbrae campus of San Mateo's Community Gatepath. Community Gatepath is an expansive organization that provides a variety of adult services related to vocational development. Depending on the needs of an individual client, they help develop job skills in one of their own facilities, at a job-site with a group of people, or by collaborating with the Department of Rehabilitation to find independent jobs that match a client's profile. Check out their website: www.gatepath.org
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Scenes from Oak Hill
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 | Dillon plays guitar and sings for a student gathering behind the Giant Redwood's classroom
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 | Derrick, Ben and Katie having a good time at the Redwood Bridge Club
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 | Dillon plays for members of the Redwood Bridge Club as Janie looks on
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 | | Seth and Ian communicate with the language of music |
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Transition Committee Soiree, all parents invited to dinner at Piatti in Mill Valley, hosted by Transition Committee Chair, Lucie Alexander
November 29th at 6 PM
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Oak Hill School...
Where relationships are the gateway to social, emotional, and intellectual growth in children with autism and other developmental differences.
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Oak Hill School
300 Sunny Hills Drive
Building #6
San Anselmo, CA 94960
Front office: 415-457-7601
Fax: 415-457-7620
Any photographs of Oak Hill students included in this newsletter are used with the permission of parents or guardians. |
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Upcoming Events
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November 12 Veteran's Day: No School
November 21-23 Thanksgiving Break: No School
November 29:
Transition Meeting Piatti's in Mill Valley 6PM
November 26 and December 17
James Henry Drumming Workshop
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