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From the Director:
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 | | Susan with our Graduate, Stefanie Donellan |
Friday, December 21st, was Stephanie Donellan's Graduation Day! It was also the shortest day of the year, the last day of school in 2012, and pouring rain. We had a cheerful ceremony with a slide show of Stefanie's Oak Hill memories, followed by a party with family members and an astounding Big Pink Cake. Stef, an Oak Hill student since 2004, has been a loyal, lovely and central smiling force in our community. We will miss her and her family, but we know that they will visit us and stay in touch.
Not the same as graduation, but related, we have two staff members to congratulate.
Elena Romero, Laurel class teacher, is off this week for her marriage and honeymoon over the holiday vacation. She is the final 2011-12 Oak Hill bride, joining Tin Fan, Allison Arons, and Ashley Mancera. Their happiness has infected our campus all year.
Secondly, Michael Breard, our Assistant Director, was recently voted "Most Valuable Oarsman 2012" by the Marin Rowing Association Masters Men's Team. For those of you who don't know, Michael is a nationally competitive team rower. He travels to the annual culminating event on the Charles River in Boston every year with his team. On the few occasions when they don't come in first, they are a fraction of a second away in the final race. If we held a similar competition at Oak Hill, Michael would also probably win Most Valuable Team Player.
It has been a week since we were all reeling from the tragedy in Newtown. As if it didn't hit home enough for all parents with kids in school (as well as everyone else), we had to hear about the shooter's autism. Personally, I reacted to that like the shooter having another medical condition, maybe asthma; so shall we alarm the world about those with asthma? More to the point, knowing that we all need a response to that unfortunate link, I shared with staff the New York Times editorial headlined, "Don't Blame Autism for Newtown." You too can read the piece, if you haven't already.
If you're unsure what - or how much - to say to your children about this traumatic event, The Matrix Parent Network newsletter offered the resources from Parents Place and the Fred Rogers Company. They suggested that we please be gentle with ourselves and with others, remembering that being supportive in a community is one way to model compassion to your children.
Matrix also included a paragraph on the difficulties of parenting children with disabilities and ways to take care of ourselves over the holidays. I highly recommend their list of ideas, for everyone.
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Stefanie Graduates!
We held our Winter Commencement on Friday and celebrated Stefanie's eight years at Oak Hill. Stefanie and her family have been an integral part of the Oak Hill community, and a force behind the growth and development of our school. Stefanie will be missed! You can read her commencement speech here.
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Home Depot Returns! A Big Volunteer Work Day: December 27th
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We are hosting Home Depot volunteers, and Oak Hill parents too, for a Work Day to finish the outdoor stage, the walking path, and the garden's side gate on December 27th. Home Depot will also be installing kitchen storage and a dishwasher on that day.
They will come back to install a new stove and a washer/dryer in February 2013. Their appliances and supplies are all gifts, as well as their labor for construction, plumbing and installation.
This is very exciting! We need to show them our appreciation by helping with the labor from any parents and friends who can drop by for a couple hour shift. If you can, e-mail Michael Breard, mbreard@myoakhill.org, or Garden teacher Arriel Adler , aadler@myoakhill.org, to sign up.
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Save the Date for our Spring Fundraiser: April 26
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Save the Date!
For our spring fundraiser
Friday, April 26, 2013
Mill Valley Community Center
STAND UP!
for kids with autism
GET DOWN!
with Olive & The Dirty Martini's
LAUGH OUT LOUD!
with Mark Pitta
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Holiday Scenes From Oak Hill
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Dillon sings the Twelve Days of Christmas
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Jane prepares a holiday gift.
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Mikey's beading.
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Luke relaxing at Youth in Arts
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Hannah at Youth in Arts
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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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December 27:
Volunteer Work Day at Oak Hill (see article to the left)
January 7: First day of school after the break
January 21: Martin Luther King Day. No School
February 18-22: February Break. No School
April 26: Spring Fundraiser
July 9-August 2: Summer Session (never too early to plan summer vacations around the school calendar!)
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