Are field trips and experiential trips really meaningful?

Pony Express Museum (In the Old Days)

When I think back to my elementary, middle, and high school days, I don’t truly remember the day-to-day academics, the units studied, or the tests taken… but, what I do remember are the field trips I experienced. I remember my trip to the zoo in first grade, the journey to Fort Osage in 3^rd Grade, the Pony Express Museum in 7^th Grade, and our Senior Trip in High School. When I compare what Oakhill’s students experience to my experiences, there is NO comparison! From the time our students are in Preschool, we strive to create experiences off campus that will tie in with our curriculum – bringing various aspects of the curriculum to life.

2014 Omaha Zoo Fieldtrip

Since Spring Break, our students have been afforded the opportunity to be enriched with various trips. Our 3^rd Grade students spent an entire day (7:00 am – 5:45 pm) at the Omaha Zoo. Each and every minute of the trip was scheduled to allow ample time to explore what the students had been studying! Our Kindergarten students spent last Friday at the Paul Mesner Puppet Show. Our 7^th and 8^th Graders left at 5:45 am on Monday, April 14^th to spend the day in Northern Arkansas at the Crystal Bridges Art Museum. When they returned at 7:30 pm that night, they had enjoyed more than “just” the art museum, but had enjoyed one another.

In another week, our 5^th and 6^th Grade students head to Washington D.C. for a 4 day/3 night adventure while our 7^th and 8^th Graders travel to the Florida Keys for a 5 day/4 night excursion! I have been on both trips… and, I cannot say enough about how the students benefit from this travel – the independence, the responsibility, the learning, the exposure… they truly “grow up” on this trip! The Washington, D.C. group experiences all the great things the city has to offer: monuments, memorials, museums, Arlington Cemetery, the White House, the Capitol Building, Mt. Vernon, and so much more! The Florida Keys group experiences the Keys from Miami to Key West, all the great sites of Key West including the southernmost point, the Hemingway Home, and Smather’s Beach, the turtle hospital, and the main attraction – SeaCamp! SeaCamp is like nothing I have ever experienced – on the boat, snorkeling, wading, dissecting squid, swimming with sharks, and so much more! When the students return from the trips, they have truly changed, AND, they have memories that will last a lifetime!

Oakhill Takes on Hermann, MO

From pumpkin patches to Kaleidoscope; from 18^th and Vine to Hermann, MO; from Discovery Center to Union Station; and from the Zoo to Steamboat Arabia – each and every trip is impactful! Our students are truly lucky!

Check out this link... It gives more information about the Heifer Experience, our Middle School trip this coming October – Senora is taking the group back to Heifer International’s Overnight experience in Perry, Arkansas. 

Check out photos from our last trip to Heifer!

Travel makes one wiser and more appreciative!

All Snow and No Play?

Snow days… what do you visualize when you hear the words snow day?

Here on the Oakhill snow day has multiple meanings. It can mean the inability to have a normal school day due to inclement weather OR it can mean a great day for sledding! As you can see in some of these pictures, our students truly enjoy a “snow day”! I do love a great snow… finding the right hill, grabbing a fast sled, and hitting the slopes!

We have been fortunate to have a PE coach who appreciates the snow. Coach Speer is actually unhappy when I call a true snow day… she likes being here, on the hill, watching the children’s eyes light up as they race down the snow on their sleds. She and Coach Scheidecker and Coach Beckham had a fun-filled few days on the Oakhill slope!

Sledding is just one reason we look forward to winter at Oakhill Day School!
(Click on the link to see more photos of winter fun!)

There aren’t many great sledding snows in a given season, so when we do have one, we HAVE to take advantage of it! And, there is nothing better than sledding with all your friends! 

Choices, Choices, Choices

As my family begins to look at High School options for my 8^th Grade son Brady, I enter each tour, each visit, and each discussion with a whole new perspective on the admissions process. Instead of Head of School, I am parent, educator, consumer… this gives me a different set of eyes and a new way to look at what “the right fit” truly is!

The independent private school admissions office is always evolving… at Oakhill, in the Midwest, and across the Nation. Although each school differs in recruitment methods and admissions processes, our goals remain the same – to attract great students, great families, and true partners in education.

Our Admissions office at Oakhill is a busy one. Leah, our Admissions Director is busy fielding phone calls, walk-in and scheduled tours, student visits, and more... all to gear up for Oakhill's Open House on November 23^rd from 10:00 a.m. - Noon. Last year’s Open House was our first one-day, weekend Open House event and was a huge success – more families than guides to show all of the anxious prospective families around! Now that's a wonderful problem to have. This year, we anticipate another successful event. Our four 8^th grade Ambassadors, along with many additional administrators and Oakhill parents, will lead tours throughout day. Prospective families will enjoy traversing through the campus, meeting teachers, asking questions, hearing how Oakhill stands apart from its competition. Most importantly, we hope that everyone will see/feel what our school is all about because deciding on a school for your child is one of the most important decisions you'll make!

We are doing our very best to promote this event, an event we consider the kick off to the admissions season… through a billboard, postcards, advertisements, and more. We hope you will take a look at your friends, neighbors, business colleagues, and the like to see who you know that would benefit from an Oakhill education. Invite them to our Open House, let us know you are talking with them, help us share the Oakhill Story!

Tis the Season… for Oakhill admissions! Together, we grow!

Suzanne

Let's Get to Know Mrs. Holloway!

Who is ready for another Q & A? Let's get to know Mrs. Holloway!

Q: what do you do at Oakhill? 

I am Mrs. Tenner's assistant in pre-k.

Q: what educational institution did you come from or what is your background? Last teaching experiences? What made you drawn to Oakhill? 

I received my Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from UMKC and worked as an in-home daycare throughout high school and college.  This is my first year as a teacher but my  seventh year at Oakhill as a parent.  Both of my daughters (Lauren, age 8 and Allie age 6) have attended Oakhill since they were 2 years old.  Oakhill has been such an important part of our family for the past six years.  I've spent a lot of time volunteering here and now I am thrilled to get the opportunity to work here.

Q: what are your "other" gifts, talents, interests that you bring to Oakhill? 
I have a big heart.  I genuinely care about each of the students and I want them to feel special and loved when they walk through the doors of our school.

Q: what are you enjoying most about your new position and Oakhill? 

I am enjoying being a part of an amazing faculty with people from all different backgrounds, interests and talents who all have a common goal: to love, teach and help their students be all that they can be! 

Q: What have the students taught you so far? 

The students have taught me how to laugh, have fun and about being flexible!

Q: What do you want parents to know about you?  

I believe so much in our school.  There is no better place to drop your children off for the day in such a loving, nurturing environment where they are given the opportunity to grow and succeed.

Q: what do you like to do in your spare time? 

I love going to the gym to workout, running, and spending time with my family.

It's Another Q & A Day!

Meet Mrs. Leah Hyatt

Q: Welcome to Oakhill Leah! Can you tell me a little about your educational journey?

A:  Sure! After graduating from UMKC,  I became a teaching  assistant at Pembroke Hill, teaching Prekindergarten.  The next year, I was hired at Oakhill Day School as a five day Prekindergarten teacher. After getting married, and having our first daughter I went to a three day Prekindergarten position. I finished my teaching career at Oakhill in 2000 after the birth of our second child.  It was a bittersweet parting.  I was sad to say good-bye to all the students, parents, and staff who had been so close to me for the last six years, but happy to become a stay at home Mom.  For the last fourteen years that has been my “job.” Staying at home was a blast and I loved every minute of it! I loved helping at our children’s elementary school and spent several years as hospitality chair, where I made sure the teachers were treated to fabulous lunches and treats! Our oldest daughter is two years away from heading off to college (Ole Miss anyone?) and I felt it was the right time to head back to my teaching career. How lucky was I that Oakhill had an opening (and that they wanted me back)!  It is strange to walk through the halls of this school and almost feel as if I have never been gone. Although the technology has changed, the children are just as smart, cute, and enthusiastic as ever. The school has never looked better, and I am thrilled to be a part of Oakhill Day School again!

It's Q & A TIme!

There are so many new faces at the start of a new school year... Students, Parents, and Faculty. This year, I thought it would be fun to do a little Q & A with Mrs. McCanles to introduce our community to some of the new faculty faces.

Meet Mrs. Elaine Scheidecker

Q: What is your role at Oakhill? 

A: What I do at Oakhill is a variety of different things.  I help out with Coach Ziegler in PE.  I also help Coach Speer with 3rd grade PE. Another activity I do is teaching Preschool and Prekindergarten computer skills.  Another wonderful thing is working with the middle-school age with enrichment activities, and  in the Panther Power Place.  Lastly, I help in Kids' Club by opening every morning and working some afternoons after school. 

Q: What is your educational background? Last teaching experiences? What drew you to Oakhill? 

A: I have  a B.S. degree from Northwest Missouri State University and obtained my Master’s Degree from Baker University.  I also have gifted certification received from UMKC and Drury University.  I spent the last twenty-six years in Smithville teaching fourth grade, gifted education, and first grade.  I also helped with many clubs and activities.  I was drawn to Oakhill because of its amazing reputation for quality teaching.  I also heard wonderful things about the students and parents.  Everyone is so welcoming!

Q: What are your “other” gifts, talents, interests that you bring to Oakhill?  

A: I enjoy playing the piano and singing.  I have been the accompanist for school choir for many years. I have coached Fourth and Fifth graders in Math Contests... and I really enjoy sports.  

Q: What are you enjoying most about your new position at Oakhill?  

A: The best thing about being at Oakhill this year is getting to know all ages of students.  I am not just with one grade level, but working with two year olds all the way up to eighth graders.  It is a joy to be around all these ages.   One of the things I am enjoying at Oakhill is meeting all these new students, parents, and colleagues.  Everyone has been great.

Q: What have the students taught you so far?  

A: What I have learned from the students so far this year is that we are all a child at heart.  Also I have learned that the students at Oakhill are so polite. 

Q: What do you want parents to know about you?  

A: I want parents to know that I hope your students enjoy learning new things from me.  I have taught every grade from kindergarten through sixth grade.  I also want them to know that I am always approachable with new ideas or suggestions.  I will lend an ear or open the door to anyone.

Q: what do you like to do in your spare time?  

A: I fill my spare time with hanging out with my husband and sons (whenever my sons are home from college).  I also like attending any sporting activities they are involved in when they are close to home.    I also am on a worship team along with several other activities at church.  I love being with my friends and helping out other people.  

What is a signature event?

There are many things students look forward to in a given school year, but we have a few events that are truly signature! Our goal is for each school year to have SOMETHING the students really, really, really look forward to! The event has a reputation that precedes it!

In Kindergarten, it is the hatching of the chicks! They learned so much before the eggs arrived, during the week long wait in the incubator, and after the hatch! This is truly something special and an event no child will forget. Our older students still make the journey to the Kindergarten rooms during the hatching “season” to see the chicks!

What are some of Oakhill’s signature events? Here is a sampling…

Early Learners – Ms. Ferris and Mrs. Ely made sure the camping unit came to life with tents, flashlights, roasted hot dogs, and smores!

First Grade – Mrs. Manley and Mrs. Parrack bring Hawaii to Oakhill each winter – hula dancing, Hawaiian delights, and lava cakes!

Sixth Grade – Mrs. Newhouse leads the 6^th grade in the design and creation of a haunted house for all ages.

Eighth Grade – Mr. Feagles joins the newly graduated 8^th graders the last day of school on an afternoon adventure!

I haven’t listed all of our signature events – what do you believe are Oakhill’s signature events each year? I would love to have you share your thoughts… ask your students… see what stands out to you... each and every year!

Suzanne