Oak Hill School Newsletter

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Oak Hill News

April 29, 2014

From the Director...

In reference to the season of holidays, specifically Passover, I was reading a list on the Friendship Circle blog,

10 Freedoms That Special Needs Parents Should Have.

Actually, I think that this list applies to all parents. The list includes freedom from technology (give yourself an hour a day without any), freedom of multi-tasking etc. I recommend them all, but the one that really hit home for me was Freedom from the Indoors.

Specifically, "Take a walk through a nature area where there's less visual cutter, and re-think your priorities." And that reminded me of this photo taken on a recent Buckeyes Class walk at Phoenix Lake. Our students seem to thrive outdoors. We take walks on the schools abundant trails and in nearby natural areas daily; however, this suggestion is for parents: don't forget to get outdoors for yourselves, as well as for your kids.

WE STOOD UP!

You heard SO much last month about the gala event held March 28th; perhaps you're wondering how it went, as a fundraiser a well as a fun party. We did very well, surpassing our $100,000 goal. The surprising star event of the gala evening was the response to Michael Breard's Fund-A-Need appeal, where 46 party-goers raised their numbers in support of Arts Education and Technology at Oak Hill, bringing in $57,100 for that cause! Their incredible generosity will finish paying the bill support for this year's arts education and much of next year's too. We'll be able to fund our wish list for technology in the classrooms. too. Thanks must go to Kathleen Hahn, our veteran volunteer Oak Hill event producer, and to party planner Kim Biss, as well as to the tireless Oak Hill team of Joy Leighton, Arriel Adler, Michael Breard and Mike Reilly. Thanks go as well to all of our parents who volunteered to register, set up, donate wine and raffle dough. Our Sponsors and In-Kind Donors, and our Contributors and Fund-a-Need Supporters make the whole party possible as well as terrifically fun! It was indeed a night of Fine Wine and Belly Laughs, thanks to comedians Maureen Langan and Johnny Steele. We're all thrilled and already planning for next year!

What Do We Fund with Arts Education?

Good question! This year we invited Youth in Arts back, and they send us Oak Hill veteran Creative Arts Specialist Lizzie Domash and Visual Artist Gabrielle Gamboa. The Oak Hill prep teens attended Autistry Studios and worked with Drama Therapist Liz McDonough. James Henry

came in for several sessions with drumming, and recently we have hosted drumming classes with Mika Scott . Mika brings his special adapted buckets that work perfectly for our chorus of drummers. Thanks to Travis Cahan's family, Dillon Castleton continues her weekly singing groups that continue to be very popular with kids and teachers alike.

The Garden is Going!

Our Garden Teacher, Arriel Adler, organized two garden days Easter weekend, and community supporters showed up to help prepare the beds and create a new garden space in front of the Redwood classroom. Thanks to neighbor and board member Nicole Simonoff , and neighbors Kelly Day and Mark Sheff, all of whom brought their kids, we were ready on Monday to start planting with students. Here are photos to give you an idea of how it begins in the spring. You will surely be seeing updates as the season progresses.

Easter Weekend Garden Volunteers: Friends of Oak Hill Kelly and Natalie Day, board member Nicole Simonoff with Leo and Rosie Simonoff and neighbors Mark and Barrett Sheff .

MARIN HUMAN RACE!!!!!!!

We're literally off and running.Teachers, administrators, kids, parents, dogs, and babies are all invited to join us on May 10th, 8 - 11:30 AM, for walking, running, strolling, and having fun together with our community, raising money from our friends while we're at it. For example, check out teacher Ashley Mancera's page if you want to get the idea and be inspired . And as of today's writing we have reached over half of our $12,000 goal. We intend to make it!

You too can make a page to send to your friends. Just click on (http://www.marinhumanrace.org/individualsignup) and come walk with us, send friends to your teacher's page, or just support your team yourself from home. We're hoping to get EVERYONE involved. in some way! But the best of all would be to get our community TO THE WALK. Stay tuned - Michael Breard will be in touch soon. Click here for schedule of events

Every Picture Tells a Story....

Dancin with Dillon

Goodbye Party for OT intern Rafael Garcia (Rafi) - Havin Fun.

Earth Day Dance Party

Buckeyes Artwork purchased by a lucky guest at Stand Up! event.

Oak Hill School...
Where relationships are the gateway to social, emotional, and intellectual growth in children with autism and other developmental differences.

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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