Letters to the Community

April 2, 2021

This week has easily been the happiest and most exciting one on campus in over a year! Having our students back on site has been indescribably wonderful. Seeing children once again engaged in the classrooms and also enjoying outdoor learning with their teachers fills my heart with joy. It was equally joyous to see our happy parents in the pick-up and drop-off lines. The campus has come back to life once again, which fits perfectly with the beauty and promise of Spring.

Monday felt to everyone like the first day of a new school year, and the smiles and laughter that accompanied people seeing each other in person for the first time in a long while was so uplifting. We are also glad we are able to provide an Oak Hill virtual education to our families who have chosen to continue distance learning for the time being. I am ever so grateful to be able to offer that choice and am looking forward to the days when everyone will be able to return to campus. The Oak Hill spirit is alive and well! Have a wonderful weekend.

Sincerely,

John O'Brien, Head of School

March 19, 2021

The joyful anticipation of seeing so many more students on campus beginning March 29 is palpable for all of us! As this is our last week of the highly successful Camp pods program, I want to take a moment to give my warmest thanks to Camp Director Daria Kadrova, Assistant Director Mira Springer, all of our Camp instructors and aides, our students, and the rest of my colleagues for doing such a fantastic job of keeping one another safe and healthy since last September. This certainly bodes well for our return to campus in ten days.

Please remember to read through the Back to School Guide that was sent out electronically last week. We ask that everyone pay particular attention to the Travel guidelines (and attendant links to the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education).

Have a wonderful Spring Break. See you soon!

Sincerely,

John O'Brien, Head of School

March 12, 2021

Dear Members of the Oak Hill Community,

Our excitement continues to grow as we move closer to March 29! Please be sure to read our Back to School Guide. It is filled with guidelines (please note the travel policy) and other helpful information related to our students’ return to campus. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

John O'Brien, Head of School

March 5, 2021

Dear Members of the Oak Hill Community,

The recent days of sun and warmer temperatures are hopefully a harbinger of an early Spring!

While we await the new season, we continue to focus our time and energy on preparations for a return to campus on March 29. My colleagues and I are working on a myriad of details to ensure a smooth return for everyone. We anticipate having our Back-to-School Guide completed in time to share with everyone on March 12. This comprehensive guide will cover all the topics, details, and guidelines that families will need to know prior to the return.

As I have mentioned previously, one of the critically important steps in this process is vaccination access for faculty and staff. Beginning today, many of us will receive the second dose of the Moderna vaccine! Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

John O'Brien, Head of School

February 26, 2021

Dear Members of the Oak Hill Community,

The Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority released an update to the Ready Schools, Safe Learners document (RSSL) on February 19, 2021. Within this document are over 160 requirements which schools must meet in order to return to on-site learning. In addition, there are recommendations for us to consider regarding best practices as we continue to navigate this ever-evolving environment.

One of the largest hurdles Oak Hill faces is a requirement to provide 35 square feet of space per room occupant. Preparing to meet this metric has required a reconfiguration of academic facilities, classroom setup, and schedules. We are pleased to share that we have completed an intensive planning process and we are confident we will fully meet these requirements. Additionally, I had previously written that access to vaccinations for my colleagues was another critical component of our planning. I’m pleased to report that by March 7, all faculty and staff will have had the opportunity to receive a second dose of the Moderna vaccine.

Lower School

We are excited to announce that we are projecting a return date of March 29, 2021 to full-time, on-site instruction for grades Kindergarten to 5th.

Our on-site Winter Camp program will be discontinued on March 22nd, 2021, for Spring Break. You will receive an email from our office to register your student(s) to participate in on-site instruction. Please respond to this request promptly.

Upper School

We are equally excited to announce that we are projecting a return date of March 29, 2021 to hybrid instruction for Middle School and High School students.

While our goal is to return our Middle and High School students to full-time on-site instruction, we are currently unable to due to the 35 square feet per occupant requirement. These students will return to a variable schedule which will allow us to meet the RSSL requirements for square footage. In order to finalize this schedule we must know which students will be participating in on-site education. You will be receiving an email link to register your student for on-site instruction. Please respond to this request promptly. Oak Hill will distribute the specific schedule no later than March 12, 2021.

Those families opting to continue with fully remote instruction have the option to do so. You can identify this choice in each of the email links.

Additional communications will be shared between now and March 29 to keep everyone updated on our planning and status. Details of what families can expect as we return to on-site learning will also be shared. These communications will include requirements on check in/check out procedures, schedules, mask requirements, lunch details, Covid testing, etc. Our next return to campus communication will be sent no later than March 12, 2021.

We acknowledge and appreciate that a shift to on-site learning will require adjustment for our students, families, and faculty. Most of all, we are excitedly looking forward to having our students back on campus in a safe, healthy, and academically enriching and rewarding environment. Thank you for your patience, understanding, and support with this process.

Sincerely,

John O'Brien, Head of School