CARNIVAL FUN FOR ALL EAGLES PARTICIPATE IN GATOR

Oak Leaf lets
Oak Hall School Engaging Minds. Building Character Gainesville, Florida
Some of our Oak Hall students who ran the UF Gator Gallop
November  Vol. V No. 
Emily and Iliana Wiechmann
EAGLES PARTICIPATE IN GATOR GALLOP
Over seventy students from our Lower School,
plus several from other divisions of Oak Hall and
their running chaperones, who included parents and
grandparents, turned out in force at the University of
Florida’s Gator Gallop on Friday, Nov. 2.
Natalie Carr, Katie Grace Olinger
and Katie Ringdahl
Several of our students finished in the top fifty at
the end of the two mile race!
CARNIVAL FUN FOR ALL
Our formerly rained-out Carnival made a great
come-back during the school day on Wednesday,
Oct. 17.
All the children in our lower school took turns,
by grade to ‘dip for ducks,’ kick a soccer ball into a
goal, hop in a sack race, jump on the bounce-house
or shoot some hoops -- amongst many other games
-- which our amazing Oak Hall parents put together.
This effort was led by our awesome
Aimee Oelrich, a team of home room parents and
grandparents and other volunteers, all of whom made
sure our kids delighted in every Carnival moment.
Thank you!
Pictured far right: David Hunt and Ethan
McCain watch as Zander Rembert scoops ducks.
LaVonne Rembert and Ron Blake assist.
Above: Conor Monahan shows off
his painted tattoo.
“We even had some preschool ‘runners’ compete
in their strollers!” said Mrs. Pam Green. Mrs. Green
was excited about the participation level and the
increased emphasis on physical fitness.
Coach Mac and Mrs. Truitt Oliver led everyone
in stretches before the race. Thanks are extended to all
our families who participated. It was great fun for all!
2
November 
A Newsletter for the Oak Hall Community
IN MEMORY OF ROGER NUBERN AND SEBASTIAN FERRERO
Excerpts from David Gehler’s Farewell to Roger
Nubern, delivered at the “Celebration of Life”
Service, in the Cofrin Theater on Thursday,
October 11, 2007.
We are here today in one of Roger’s
houses. And what’s beautiful about
a house like this is that anything is
possible. When we hear The Lord’s
Prayer, it is a sacred house. When we
watch a Shakespeare play, it’s a magical
house. When we see and listen to the River
of Rhythm, it’s a sacred house and a magical house, too. It’s a
mystical place. We suspend our disbelief in sacred and magical
houses. We do more than suspend our disbelief. We believe. And
Roger Nubern knew how to make believers of us all. In ourselves,
in each other, in the worlds he imagined.
Think of all the worlds he imagined and brought to our school:
Urband Grüv, Band of the Hand, Willie Green Blues Band, the
Talons, Flight, River of Rhythm, the Pep Band, just to name a few.
Alums testified to the valuable lessons “Nubes” taught them, such
as, “If you’re going to hit a wrong note, do it with confidence,
pride, and courage.” Nubern was a courageous teacher. Of the
chief virtues, courage may be the most important, because it
SINCE YOU ASKED...PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
If you have a question about your child’s progress, any Teacher
or Administrator is accessible via e-mail by using the first letter of
their first name and the last name @oakhall.org. For Example:
Evelyn Smith’s e-mail is [email protected].
Each division has an open-door policy. Please give our
teachers at least 24 hours to respond to an e-mail or phone
message, as they are often teaching, grading homework,
preparing lessons, or caring for their own families.
LOWER SCHOOL
Parents can contact Debbie Fleming at 332-1452 to make
an appointment. Debbie coordinates with the teacher’s schedule.
However, you can also set up a conference on an individual
basis. Lower school teachers have a policy of two Parent-Teacher
conferences a year with each family, and will also meet with
parents at any time to discuss concerns.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
If you would like a conference with a specific teacher, please
e-mail or use Edline. If you have a concern with more than one
class, please e-mail your child’s advisor and grade team leader
(Julie Black-6th, Maria Randell-7th and Angie Clark-8th).
One of the advisors will coordinate with teachers and set a date
and time.
Eighth graders hold their own student-led conferences in a
proactive role to build self confidence. This is a positive program
enables all the others. Roger’s teaching, his example, were not
just music lessons.
And he made us believers not just here, in this house. Roger
and Donna hosted some of the most magical Tiki parties from
which music radiated. From guitars, banjos, saxophones, flutes,
trombones, tubas, bass fiddles, hammer dulcimers, and mandolins
to kazoos, congas, bongos, conch shells and digireedos. There
was Roger directing all of it, a little make-believe here, a little skit
there, a little magic everywhere.
Sebastian Ferrero, one of our three year olds in Ms. Erika
Wilson’s preschool class, tragically passed away on October 10,
2007. Sebastian had nicknamed himself ‘Diego,’
after his beloved “Go Diego Go” cartoon
character who saves animals.
“Sebastian would light up our classroom
with his animated sweetness,” said Ms.
Wilson.
Parents of Ms. Wilson’s Preschool
Class have made a donation to name
the new playground of the Early
Childhood Learning Center, in his
memory–“Sebastian’s Playground.”
in which all eighth graders and their parents are encouraged to
participate.
UPPER SCHOOL
Please send an e-mail to the teacher and arrange the
conference.
SOME TIPS
w Remember in parent-teacher conferences, we are all on the
same side in the interest of your child.
w Each conference is an opportunity to check your child’s
progress and give the teachers a chance to get to know you as
parents.
w Both parents and teachers provide insights on the child and
discuss the changing dynamics at home and school. Ultimately
the sharing of information, wisdom and guidance is of benefit
to the student.
w Parents should view the teacher conferences as part of a
process serving the whole child rather than addressing only a
single problem, such as a test grade.
w Conferences which relate to private or confidential issues
about a student should not be initiated in a public forum such
as a grocery store. This also respects the privacy of our teachers
and their lives outside school.
w Teachers in the MS and US are usually on campus
immediately after last period, 3-3:30 p.m. Teachers appreciate
knowing you are coming so they can pull up grades, or prevent
a scheduling conflict with another parent.
Capital Campaign Update
EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING CENTER TO BE COMPLETED IN DECEMBER
The Early Childhood Learning
Center (ECLC) is going well, and we
expect to open on time and on budget! As
you can see when you drive on campus,
there is much more to this project than
just the building. We have expanded our
Lower School circle to increase parking,
added the required retention pond and
included covered walkways to shield
our young students from the elements.
Additional faculty parking is located
behind the new building, and there will
be a new preschool playground. Stay
tuned for an announcement about a
grand opening in the weeks ahead!
Now that the ECLC is nearing
completion, I have been asked about
what lies ahead. There are three projects
left on our Master Plan that will be
addressed before we take a break from
the construction.
●
A new Lower School Media Center.
●
The renovation of the PJ Manson
Center will create much needed space
for performances and rainy days.
●
New tennis courts are planned for
the space next to the Lower School P.E.
field.
Each of these enhancements has
already received generous contributions
from members of the Oak Hall School
family, and I want to thank them for their
support — Alex and Michelle Reece
and Rick Parent for their gifts to the
ECLC, the Faisal family for their gift to
the future Lower School Media Center,
and the Olinger family for their gift to
the renovation of the PJ Manson center.
Thanks also to Joy Parker for all her
efforts on behalf of the tennis courts.
We are excited about the
opportunities these projects provide our
students!
Richard H. Gehman
Headmaster
If you would like more information
about the Capital Campaign, please
contact Andrea Shirey, Director of
Development at 332-3609x224 or
[email protected]
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN NAMING OPPORTUNITIES
Endowed Chairs
$100,000
Upper School
Lower School
Foreign Language Lab
$25,000
Lower School Building
$250,000
College Counseling Room
$25,000
Media Center Lobby
$30,000
Front Entrance
$25,000
Media Center Conference Room
$25,000
Classroom (Grade/Subject of Choice)
$15,000
Media Center Circulation Desk
$15,000
Faculty Room
$15,000
Media Center Office
$15,000
Athletics
Media Center Meeting Room
$15,000
New Gymnasium
$2,000,000
Media Center Wall Stack (4)
$10,000
Football Field
$250,000
Media Center Student Art Display Hall
$10,000
Tennis Court Complex
$200,000
Media Center Computer Station (2)
$10,000
Football Field Lighting
$180,000
Media Center Student Tables (6)
$10,000
Baseball Field Lighting
$170,000
Media Center Book Stack (47)
$2,000
Upper Field Building
$150,000
Media Center Conference Room Chair (8) $2,000
Weight Training Center
$150,000
Media Center Bench (2)
$2,000
East Soccer Field
$75,000
Media Center Garden (2)
$1,500
Weight Training Center Locker Room
$50,000
Early Childhood Learning Center
Bleachers
$50,000
Early Childhood Learning Center Building $500,000
Performing Arts Center
ECLC Classroom (7)
$50,000
Theatre Lobby
$50,000
ECLC Multi-Purpose Room
$50,000
Strings Room
$50,000
ECLC Office
$25,000
Band Room
$50,000
ECLC Reception Area
$25,000
Choral Music
$50,000
ECLC Entry Portico
$20,000
Gallery
$50,000
ECLC Faculty Workroom
$20,000
Outside East Terrace
$25,000
ECLC Conference Room Table and Chairs $15,000
Faculty Office
$25,000
ECLC Covered Walkway
$15,000
Dressing Room (2)
$25,000
ECLC Pre-K Garden (4)
$10,000
Outside West Terrace
$20,000
ECLC Covered Play Area
$10,000
Hospitality Room
$10,000
ECLC Multi-Purpose Room Table
$5,000
Theatre Seat - “Theatre of Memory”
$350
ECLC Clinic
$5,000
Exterior Spaces
ECLC Central Corridor
$5,000
Plaza Fountain Green
$250,000
ECLC Exterior Benches
$2,000
Columns throughout School
$2,500
Middle School
Metal Benches
$1,500
Ford Center Classroom (2)
$50,000
Concrete Benches
$500
Ford Center Faculty Workroom
$25,000
If you have any questions about the above Naming Opportunities or the Capital Campaign,
please contact Andrea Shirey, Director of Development at [email protected] or (352) 332-3609 x 224.
OUR THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FRIENDS AND FAMILIES FOR THEIR GIFTS
David & MaryAnn Cofrin & Cofrin Family ................................ Cofrin Arts Center
Mohammad & Kazi Faisal ............................................................. Lower School Media Center
Al & Sharmilla Ford ...................................................................... The Ford Center for International and Cultural Studies
Asad & Humeraa Qamar ............................................................... Endowed Chair - In Honor of Mrs. Sofia &
Mr. Syed Zahoor Ahmad
The Olinger Family ....................................................................... PJ Manson Center Renovation
Steve & Gigi Roark ....................................................................... Middle School Science Lab
Jim & Pam Neff and the Neff Family ............................................ Middle School Science Lab
Alex & Michelle Reece .................................................................. ECLC Lobby
The C. Frederick and Aase Thompson Foundation ..................... Gymnasium Renovation
Rick Parent ................................................................................... ECLC Conference Room
The Parrish Family - In Memory of James M. Parrish ................. Upper School Science Classroom
David & Jill Stirt .......................................................................... Eagle Walk
Mrs. Wilson’s Preschool Class - In Memory of Sebastian Ferrero .... ECLC “Sebastian’s Playground”
A Newsletter for the Oak Hall Community
November 
PREPARING STUDENTS TO EXCEL AT LIFE
experience and personal knowledge of colleges
across the country. Penny Werner, Registrar,
rounds out the team by tracking the paperwork
for each student from application to decision.
With an ever-changing and increasingly complex
application process, our college counseling team
keeps our families up-to-date.
w Students benefit from the 15:1 student to
counselor ratio as well as the 20-30 colleges
from across the country that visit our school
each year. The value of the personal connections
made with admissions counselors cannot be
underestimated.
Jaimie Matthews Admissions Counselor at Davidson College visits with interested
Juniors and Seniors in the College Counseling room.
Oak Hall’s mission is to prepare students for the college
or university of their choice. This preparation extends beyond
rigorous academics to a college counseling program that
helps students and parents in every phase of the application
process.
In the junior year, each student is assigned a college
counselor to assist in the search process. The counselors
personally know and teach our students and suggest schools
which are good matches.
The experienced team of Richard Powell, Chris
Beckmann and David Gehler has a combined 27 years of
w Our students take a field-trip to both
a large public and small private school, to
compare campuses. This year juniors will visit
the University of Central Florida and Rollins
College.
w In January, an evening workshop is available to parents.
This includes presentations by two college admission officials.
w The College Counseling Room offers a large library
of catalogues, viewbooks, financial aid facts and test prep
material.
w All these counselors have membership in both the National
Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and
the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling
(SACAC).
DEVELOPMENT CORNER
By now you’ve seen this
familiar puzzle piece floating
around – either on a letter, a
postcard or maybe on a car as
you passed through campus.
Our 2007-2008 annual fund
drive Connecting the Pieces
is in full swing and has already
surpassed $65,000 from just
13 percent of our parents.
This is well ahead of last year’s
pace and is encouraging as we
work towards our $200,000
Andrea Shirey
goal and 100%
Director of Development
participation.
A special thank you to Ed & Lesley Myers
Alumni
(parents of Chris ‘09 and Ben ‘13) for serving as
our Annual Fund Chairs and taking a lead role in
securing gifts from all of our current families.
Of special note is our new Spirit of Philanthropy contest this
year. Please visit www.oakhall.org and click on Supporting OHS
to see which grades are in the lead and how the winning grades
will be rewarded. While on the web, take a moment to make your
annual fund gift online if you have not already done so.
I hope you will also take a close look at the Capital Campaign
insert and think about how your family can get involved in this
important initiative. Oak Hall is an excellent school, and we are
growing. The school’s needs are clearly visible; complete existing
and planned construction, build the endowment and ensure
that future generations of Oak Hall students are afforded even
better opportunities to learn and grow in a safe and nurturing
environment.
If you would like to get involved in the
Grandparents
philanthropic mission at OHS, I would
love to visit with you! I can be reached at
Friends &
Faculty
332-3609 x224 or [email protected].
Thank you for all you do for the school,
Paren
ts
and I look forward to meeting many of
you this year.

November/December Events
12-16
LS Fall Book Fair
14
LS Interim Reports Go Home
16-18
Upper School Drama Production,
“Check Please... and Check Please: Take 2”
21-25
Thanksgiving Holiday
12/1
SAT
12/5
Upper School Holiday Music Program
MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS TODAY!
Hoedown
at the
Corral
MEET OUR NEW FACULTY ONLINE
Get to know more about our new and talented faculty.
w Please log on to oakhall.org
w Click on Academics
w Introduction to New Faculty A-H, I-R, S-Z.
OLD 35 MM CAMERAS AT HOME?
Increasingly, students do not have access to 35 mm cameras with
manual controls for traditional darkroom photography classes. The
Fine Arts Department is asking for donations of old 35 mm cameras
to give to our students for use in photography classes. Please contact
Robert Ponzio at [email protected].
Saturday, February 2, 2008
at the Rembert Farm in Alachua, FL
Don’t wait! Make your reservations before
Friday, Dec. 14. Reservation forms are
available online and at all division offices.
8009 S.W. 14th Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32607
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Gainesville, FL
Permit No. 312