In a Nutshell: Time Flies - Parenting, Summer Fun, Back to School

I am one happy Mom! Brooke came home to visit a couple of weekends ago (she actually came home for a concert, but I still got to see her); she is loving her time in DC this summer. I was able to spend 10 days with Brady the first weeks of June; he and I walked for a few days on the Camino de Santiago from St. Jean Pied a Port, France to Pamplona, Spain. We enjoyed quality time together, incredible food and drink, new friends from all over the world, and the serenity and beauty of the walk … ”the Way”! If you don’t know about the Camino, I encourage you to watch “The Way'' with Martin Sheen; he walked the entire journey from SJPP to Santiago - about 35 days of walking, thinking, reflecting, and enjoying the scenery and people. I am truly grateful for the time together!

As parents, “the days are long, but the years are short” (someone famous shared those profound words). In a blink of an eye, my infants became toddlers; my Kindergarteners turned into Middle Schoolers; my High Schoolers left for College (where Brooke remains); my college graduate (Brady) turned into an oil and gas banker! Taking your children with you on trips is a given until a certain age and time; I now cherish the trips and adventures we enjoy together - when my children became adults they had the choice to make time/take time for me (thank goodness they still do). Make time (at each stage and age) to carve out quality time … it is special in so many ways.

4th of July is only a few days away! How can that be? It seems as though summer has just begun, yet it is half over (is the glass half full or half empty?)! I enjoy the varied pace of summer at Oakhill - lots of kiddos having a blast, a slower pace internally, a time of renewal, recharging, and reimagining pieces and parts of the school’s calendar and to-do’s! We all have time to talk, discuss, debate, and really think about whatever the topic is at that moment! This time is a gift … one which we lean into!

Here are a few most recent highlights:

• Oakhill’s “fully charged” Summer Camp is thriving! It is nice to see familiar faces at summer - current students, past students, and all of our alumni who are assisting classes! Summer Camp not only fills a need for parents and students; providing a safe and fun relaxed atmosphere, but camp also allows our teachers and alumni to enjoy supplemental income during the summer months. A healthy summer program is very important to Oakhill’s overall financial health. This program would not be what it is without Taylor Clevenger’s vision and willingness to put in the work! And, a huge thank you to Jaci Ebert for leading the staff and making the day to day operations successful!

• Delaney Zimmermann has created a team of tutors for this summer to help keep skills sharp, fill in some gaps, and enrich during the “out of school” months. Tutoring supports our students, and it provides opportunities for our faculty and staff to stay engaged and do what they do best during the summer months. I am proud of this program, the people, and the partnership between parents, students and tutors. 

• The Mighty Oak Fund continues to grow! We are happy to report that (as of today) 48% of our families have given to the fund totaling $183,930.73 dollars! We have until the end of July to meet our fiscal year goal of $250,000.

Help us cross the finish line!

We will spend the next several weeks finalizing our plans and priorities for the 24/25 school year! The next time you hear from me, it will be “back to school” time! 

Time is precious … spend it wisely! Work hard! Play hard! Keep friendships alive and well! Take advantage of the long days of summer … don’t waste a single minute!

Go make some fun,

Suzanne