Christmas Cheer!

As the Christmas season approaches there are several opportunities at The Oaks for us to celebrate together.

• Coffee Bar – Fridays, December 12 & 19 [7:30–8:20am] The Oaks Ambassadors are excited to announce that The Oaks Coffee Bar will be open before school each Friday in December. Come purchase a snack and a drink to enjoy while you sing Christmas carols!
• Caroling in the Great Hall – Fridays, December 12 & 19 [7:45–8:15am] The Music Department is hosting a special time of Christmas Caroling in the Great Hall each Friday morning in December. Come join in the singing!
• Christmas Socks, Tie, & Hair Bow Days – Fridays, December 12 & 19
  All students are welcome to wear their Christmas socks each Friday in December with their formal uniforms. While Christmas socks are fun and appropriate for these days, students should still wear their formal uniform. Christmas themed socks and tights are the only variation for these days.
• Staff Ugly Christmas Sweater Competition – Monday, December 15
  Then Monday, December 15 staff are encouraged to wear their ugly Christmas sweaters and students will have the opportunity to vote on who has the best ugly Christmas sweater this year.
• All School Christmas Lunch – Wednesday, December 17
  There will be an all school Christmas lunch on Wednesday, December 17 in the Great Hall. The regular Friday pizza lunch will occur on Wednesday this week as a special treat after Tuesday night's Christmas concert. 
• Early Release & Extended Christmas Cantabile – Friday, December 19 [12pm Cantabile; 12:30pm Release] Going into the Christmas Break, there will be an extended Christmas Cantabile and early release on Friday, December 19. Cantabile will begin at 12pm with dismissal at 12:30pm.

UGM Christmas Toy Drive – Donations due by Mon., Dec. 15

The Oaks Ambassadors are hosting a toy drive this Christmas season for Union Gospel Mission. Donation boxes are available in the east hall of the main building for your new or gently used toys.

UGM Christmas Toy Drive Flyer

Christmas Concert at The Fox – Tues., Dec. 16 [6:45pm] *All K–12th grade students are required to participate in both the day's rehearsal and the evening's concert.

REHEARSAL DETAILS
Please Read Carefully & Respond Accordingly

During the school day on Tuesday, December 16, the entire student body will be rehearsing at The Fox Theater for that evening's concert. Below is pertinent information for the day's rehearsal. Please read this information carefully and respond accordingly.

ATTIRE: Students are to be in uniform. Formal uniforms are not required for the rehearsal.

DAY OF CONTACT: Parents needing to contact their child or their child's teacher on the day of the rehearsal are asked to please contact Mrs. Anya Schnell via text or phone. She will be The Oaks point person at The Fox theater for the rehearsal day. The school office will be staffed that day and ready to assist you in contacting Anya.

WHAT TO BRING: Students should bring the following items and nothing extra (no backpacks, textbooks, lunch boxes, etc.)

• Car Seat - If your child requires a car seat and will be riding home with someone other than the person who dropped them off, please leave a clearly labeled car seat with your child at drop-off.
• Instruments - Students who are playing an instrument in the concert will need to bring their instrument with them to rehearsal and leave it at The Fox until the evening's performance. Instruments should be clearly labeled.
• School Supplies - Secondary students will receive instructions from their teachers on what study items to bring. Grammar students' materials will be provided for them by their teachers. Please do not bring backpacks, etc.
  
• Snacks - If you would like to help provide community snacks for the day since students will not be having lunch at the Fox this year, please sign up on the Christmas Concert At The Fox Sign-up.
  *Please sign up by Friday, December 12 so we can plan accordingly and supplement as needed. Thank you!

DROP-OFF [8:30 AM]

• All students will enter through Doors A & B (see attachment). Parents may pull up to the curb along 1st Ave. or Sprague Ave. to drop off your child. Oaks staff will escort students into the theater. The rehearsal day is a shortened day, therefore being prompt so that rehearsing can begin right away is a blessing to all.
• Participating Junior Kindergarten students and their parent or guardian will arrive at 9am and enter through Door A, along Sprague Ave (see attachment), to meet up with their teacher, Mrs. Kondryszyn (further details for Junior Kindergarten are in the Grammar section below).

PICK-UP [1:00pm]

• K–5th grade only carpools - exit SE doors, Door B (see attachment)
• Mixed & 6–12th grade only carpools - exit NE doors, Door A (see attachment)
  
• When arriving for pick-up, please roll down your window and alert the staff members on the curb so that they can send your child(ren) to your car. If your child(ren) have not checked out yet, you may be asked to circle the block. Please do not park and wait. These steps will aid in making pick-up more efficient and timely.

Each student will check out with an Oaks staff member and exit at the predetermined door. It is extremely important that this process is organized so that every student is accounted for. The information you provided on the transportation registration determines where your child will be picked up at the end of the rehearsal. 

Christmas at The Fox: Rehearsal Transportation
Christmas at The Fox: Rehearsal Transportation – Jr K
*optional for JrK (details in Grammar section)

Please note that student drivers must bring money to park in a nearby public lot (no metered parking permitted). The theater's west parking lot is NOT available for student parking.

CONCERT INFORMATION

The Oaks is excited to host our annual Christmas concert at The Fox Theater once again! Friends and family are invited to this once-a-year free gift to the greater Spokane area on Tuesday, December 16. Seating is first come, first served.

6:45pm - Concert begins
* Photography and videography are NOT permitted during the program. Arrangements have been made with The Fox Theater and professional photographer(s). These photographs and videos will be made available to families afterwards. Please refrain from taking photos or videos during the concert.

Live Stream - The concert will be live streamed via The Oaks Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.

Christmas Concert Flyer

STUDENT DETAILS (for concert)

WHAT TO BRING: Students should not bring anything with them to the concert. Parents, please keep your child's outerwear with you. Doors will open at 6pm and teachers will be there to receive your child beginning at 6:30pm. This is a great opportunity to take your child to the restroom and make sure he is ready, prior to the concert.

ARRIVAL [6:30 PM]

• Jr K–5th grade - designated seating in the auditorium (main floor)
• 6–12th grade - designated seating in balcony (upstairs)
  

DEPARTURE:

• K–5th grade - dismissed to parents from their seats in theatre
• 6–12th grade - dismissed to meet parents in lobby

ATTIRE: Students are to be in formal uniform.

UNIFORM REMINDERS: In preparation for the upcoming Christmas concert please evaluate your child's formal uniform to help ensure that all students will be ready for this beautiful program. Below are a few items to pay special attention to, for specific details please see the referenced page in the Uniform Policy. - Formal Uniform Chart (pg. 5)

• Jewelry - petite in nature & compliment the uniform (pg. 4)
• Belts - gentlemen must wear a belt (pg. 3)
• Tights/Socks - 6–12th grade ladies must wear black (or dark navy) footed tights or knee-highs; K–5th grade ladies must wear white footed tights or dress socks (either knee-highs or turn-cuff anklets) (pg. 5)
• Shoes - solid dark brown or black, dark-soled, leather or leather looking dress shoes, no boots or booties; ladies - 1" or less heel. (pg. 5)
• Accessories - ladies may wear small hair accessories that match uniform colors, no Christmas hair accessories
• Ties - gentlemen must wear the required white plaid tie or (7–12th) bow tie, no Christmas ties
• Personal Grooming - ladies' and gentlemen's hair should be clean and well groomed, worn in a traditional style; gentlemen's hair length should be short (pg. 4)

Students arriving out of uniform for the evening's concert will be required to make the necessary adjustments prior to the program's start. This information is being shared early to give families plenty of time to prepare.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY:
EQUIPMENT TRANSPORTATION & SNACK SIGN-UP

Help transporting equipment to and from the Fox Theater and/or providing community snacks for the rehearsal day would be greatly appreciated. Please sign up at the link below to volunteer.

Christmas Concert At The Fox Sign-up

Late Start  – Wed., Dec. 17 [9:30am]

There will be a late start, following the Christmas Concert on Wednesday, December 17. Classrooms will be open at 9:15am with classes beginning at 9:30am.

Lost & Found  – Thurs., Dec. 18
*Please label everything! We want you to be reunited with your items.

Lost & found items will be set out on Thursday. Please stop by to see if anything belongs to your family. All unclaimed items, except uniforms, will be donated at the end of the day. Thank you to all who come by the office to find missing belongings prior to them being placed out. We appreciate your help in keeping the lost & found pile low. 

Regular Uniform – Fri., Dec. 19

With the Christmas Concert taking place Tuesday and formal uniforms being worn that evening, Friday, December 19 will be a regular uniform day, formal uniforms are not required.

Office Closes Early – Fri., Dec. 19 [2pm]

Friday, December 19th the school office will be closing up for the Christmas break at 2pm.

Conservatory: Two Free Intro Lessons!
*Schedule Before Christmas

Do you know one thing many musicians have in common? They study piano before pursuing careers and fame with another instrument! What could you do with a foundation in piano? Between now and Christmas, all are welcome to take advantage of up to two free intro lessons in any instrument the Conservatory offers. For a complete list of lesson offerings visit The Oaks Conservatory website and then email Mr. Toph Parkin to schedule your free lesson(s).

Christmas Break - Dec. 22–Jan. 2

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. – Isaiah 9:6

Friday Pizza Lunch – Jan. Orders Due by Dec. 31

It's time to place your January Pizza Lunch Order through Events on Annasis. Orders are due by the last day of the month for the following month and will close after this time. 

January Pizza Lunch
Pizza Lunch – Weekly

Volunteer to Serve Friday Pizza Lunch

Those who are interested in helping with this endeavor please sign-up using the links below. Please contact Kristen Bailey with any questions.

December Pizza Lunch Volunteer Sign-up
January Pizza Lunch Volunteer Sign-up

School Office Reopens - Fri., Jan. 2 [11am–4pm]

The office will be open from 11am to 4pm, Friday, January 2. 

Classes Resume - Mon., Jan 5
*Cantabile [8:15am]

Classes resume Monday, January 5, beginning with Cantabile in the Great Hall at 8:15am

Picture Day Photos Available

Thank you to all who made picture day a great success! Thank you parents for taking time to make sure your child was in their formal uniform and looking their best. And thank you to the volunteers who helped run the day. All of your help is appreciated! These photos have been sent home with your child. If you placed an order, please be sure to check your child's backpack. Thank you!

Basketball Season: Come Cheer on Your Teams!

Come cheer on The Oaks high school basketball teams this season. The teams would love your support at any (or all) of the games. 

For the complete schedule please reference the Basketball page.

Wear your Oaks gear and get ready to cheer! Let's fill the gym with Oaks fans and root on our teams. GO OAKS!!!

Oaks Moms Basketball Opportunity

Calling all Oaks moms who enjoy basketball, or would simply appreciate a good workout! The Oaks high school ladies basketball team is small this year and the coaches had the idea to invite interested Oaks moms to join a practice or help with informal scrimmage sessions. It is an easy way to support these young female athletes, strengthen community, and enjoy some healthy activity at the same time. No pressure and no long term commitment needed. Come when you can and be part of something encouraging. For more information or to be added to the interest list please contact The Oaks Athletic Director, Mr. Colin Williams.