Bring on Maycember! In a Nutshell

Celebrate is the only word that comes to mind right now! April was full of celebratory events - a season to remember!

• We held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Welcome Project
• Our “Oakhill in Bloom” Auction was a huge success AND we raised $172,000.00 during Fund a Need
• Brady (my son) was married in Dallas - an incredible weekend from start to finish
• Brooke (my daughter) started a new job at Children’s Mercy in Government Relations
• Oakhill won the Kindest School in Kansas City Award
• All of our nominated teachers/staff WON an award at the Northland Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Banquet - congrats to Michele Cole, Jaci Ebert, Abby Pavlisin, and Shelby Robinson

And…

I just made it home from the 7th and 8th grade Grand Canyon/Sedona Experiential trip, which was incredible! What a fantastic four days - incredible vistas and activities, engaged chaperones, and amazing kiddos! The students made memories that will last a lifetime - exploring at Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, hiking the South Kaibab Trail at the South Rim, rafting on the Colorado River, viewing 11 condors flying overhead at Navajo Bridge, enjoying views of the Grand Canyon from the Watch Tower, visiting Sunset Crater and Montezuma’s Castle, and shopping at trading posts and National Park Visitor’s Centers! I was so proud of the students … their Oakhill Lifeskills were on display everywhere we went! I can’t believe these kiddos are all grown up - right in front of our eyes over the last several years!

This time of year is bittersweet; we have spent all year bringing our mission to life - building relationships, learning from one another (and together), and creating memories! And, now it is time to transition to the next grade, next division, or next chapter. Our 8th graders are heading to High School, our 3rd graders are heading to a new building, our Kindergarten students are almost “graders”, and our Pretoddlers aren’t going to be the littlest people at Oakhill anymore! These final days of the school year are filled with transition and fun, yet they also bring a bit of apprehension. The end of a school year closes the door on one year and prepares to open the door to another; August will bring new teachers, new friendships, new classrooms, and new opportunities!

I am a firm believer that change is good … change is necessary … change cultivates growth AND all things happen for a reason! I will keep you informed of facilities, program, and personnel updates throughout the next weeks and months, but I do want to take this opportunity to share a few updates regarding faculty and staff. 

Director of Maintenance and Facilities

I want to welcome Hunter Parker to our team … to lead this department starting on May 11. Hunter is not a stranger to Oakhill - back in the day, he helped coach and was a PE assistant; therefore, he knows this community well. Hunter is excited about this new career path - a HUGE role … with HUGE expectations! He will lead the maintenance team while overseeing the cleaning crews and outside vendors. Hunter can do a bit of everything from electrical to HVAC, from painting to carpentry, and from set up to tear down - whatever it takes to keep the campus looking good and running smoothly! 

Pretoddler Lead Teacher

With Kathy Clark’s retirement, I want to welcome Rebekah Burrow to our Pretoddler classroom. Rebekah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Child Development from Columbia College. She has worked with young children for the past 12 years, with her latest role at Country Club Christian Church. Rebekah believes in meeting children where they are - helping them feel confident to grow into the person they are meant to be. She is thrilled to work with our youngest children and sees one of her greatest strengths as an early childhood educator to make families feel safe and confident when leaving their child at school. She loves to work closely with parents to ensure their child is getting all of the love, care, and support they need at such a pivotal time in their development. 

Kindergarten

Laura Roberts will join our team this August! Laura holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Missouri Western and a Master's Degree in Education from Northwest Missouri State University. Laura has taught Kindergarten for 5 years, Prekindergarten for 2 years, and Toddlers for 3 years. Laura loves being a Kindergarten teacher - to build those important relationships and help students set an optimistic outlook on the future ahead - she recognizes the importance and uniqueness of the Kindergarten age and stage! 

Library Specialist

Stephanie Youngblood will move from Prekindergarten Assistant to Library Specialist for the entire campus next year! She is SO excited for this new role and can’t wait to bring her passion for literacy to the students, faculty, families, and volunteers. Stephanie will bring back a robust parent/grandparent volunteer program in the library spaces; our very own “Ms. Frizzle” will bring books to life! Stephanie cannot wait to share the magic of books - of libraries - of stories - with the entire school community! 

4th Grade

Julie Knight will be leaving Oakhill next year to prioritize family and health; I want to thank Julie for her time at Oakhill - we are grateful to have crossed educational paths. At this time, I am interviewing for this position for the next school year; the perfect teacher is waiting to be invited on the proverbial Oakhill bus! I will keep you updated!

3rd-5th Grade Science

With Jaci Ebert stepping into her new role as Director of Auxiliary Programs & Community Life, Nichole James will be transitioning from 5th Grade Communication Arts and Social Studies to the Science Lab. Nichole is excited to create an educational environment where students feel encouraged to explore, inquire, and think critically; she is also looking forward to collaborating with the Science Department initiatives, such as the Living Lab, recycling, and more. She will be able to spread her passion beyond the 5th grade classroom - making scientific connections along the way! Interviews are underway to find the perfect fit for 5th Grade. 

Lola Heintz, who is not only an amazing educator but also an equally amazing person, has been quite the utility player in her first year at Oakhill - working on the Advancement Team, subbing in classrooms, overseeing volunteerism, and so much more. She even stepped into the 4th grade classroom to fulfill a long-term substitute position - bringing confidence, continuity, and creativity to the classroom. Life tends to throw curve balls at times - Lola and her husband will be moving at the end of May … just far enough that a commute is virtually impossible! I will miss Lola … she has a bright future ahead, and I can only hope we cross paths again in the future! 

I will miss those stepping off of the Oakhill bus. I am excited to see teachers energized as they change seats on the bus, and I can't wait to see brand new faculty and staff bring new ideas and perspectives as they jump on the bus. I realize change is hard, yet when you have 80 employees, things happen due to reasons and seasons. Please know that changing seats on the bus (or adding new bus riders) creates opportunities and fresh perspectives - it is ultimately great for programs, departments, and professional growth and development. Excellent teachers can truly teach anything … content is important, but instructional artistry is where the magic happens! It is my job to make sure each person finds the right seat, embraces the right decisions, and realizes just how important they are … or have been … to Oakhill! 

April was full of celebrations! May will be no different … Maycember is here! I am grateful for your trust, appreciative of your questions, and my door is always open (literally and figuratively)! Reach out anytime!

Enjoy this exciting season of Oakhill,

Suzanne