All-school information

Football State Championship shirts/sweatshirts

Congratulations to the football team on their back-to-back state titles. Championship gear is now available to order online. Deadline for orders will be Monday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m.Online Order Form - hollandhallfootball.com

3A State Championship recap video

Click here to watch the highlights from the OSSAA 3A state championship game.

Early dismissal/childcare for Friday, Dec. 17

School dismisses at noon Friday, Dec. 17, if students don't have make-up finals.The Extended Day Program is offering childcare on the start of Winter Break on Friday from 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in both the Primary School and Middle School. To allow for proper staffing please email Debbie Almohandis at dalmohandis@hollandhall.org if your child will be using aftercare.

Tulsa Ballet's 'The Nutcracker'

Enjoy a classic story with a whole new look with the premiere of Tulsa Ballet's "The Nutcracker" at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Opening night is Friday, December 10, and some tickets are still available. Order your discounted tickets online by using our Holland Hall code G22NUT28SHH and enjoy an enchanting evening at the ballet.

Mark your calendar for the Parents’ Association Book Club!

The second annual Parent’s Association Book Club meeting date is set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 3, in the Upper School Library. We are thrilled to have author Sasha Martin join us in our discussion of her memoir "Life from Scratch."About the Book:Over the course of 195 weeks, food writer and blogger Sasha Martin set out to cook — and eat — a meal from every country in the world. As cooking unlocked the memories of her rough-and-tumble childhood and the loss and heartbreak that came with it, Martin became more determined than ever to find peace and elevate her life through the prism of food and world cultures. From the tiny, makeshift kitchen of her eccentric, creative mother, to a string of foster homes, to the house in Tulsa, from which she launched her own cooking adventure, Martin's heartfelt, brutally honest memoir reveals the power of cooking to bond, to empower, and to heal —and celebrates the simple truth that happiness is created from within.About the Author:Sasha Martin is an award-winning author, poet, and blogger who spent almost four years cooking her way around the world. Her debut, "Life From Scratch, A Memoir of Food, Family, and Forgiveness," was published by National Geographic and translated into multiple languages. The memoir was a book club pick and best book of the year selection in O Magazine, People Magazine, and Good Reads. Her work has been featured many places, including NPR (Travel with Rick Steves), Food & Wine Magazine, Boston Globe, AFAR and Food52. Her website, Global Table Adventure, is a go-to hub for foodies around the world. Her original poetry has been commissioned by Gilcrease museum and other non profits, and her readings are praised for their honest look at food systems, childhood trauma, and — above all — resilience in the face of adversity."Life from Scratch" is a perfect read to get started over Winter Break. Consider buying local to support Tulsa’s independent bookstores. A number of copies have been reserved through Magic City Books for pickup or delivery. Click here to purchase your copy. Hard copies and digital downloads are also available through the Tulsa City-County Library or wherever books are sold. Given supply chain issues it’s possible certain booksellers are out of stock, but copies are available through used bookstores such as Abebooks.com.

From the Head of School: Masks are optional

Masks are optional for all students and faculty, whatever their vaccination status, at this time.

Order your Charlie Brown books for holiday gifts

Coach Charlie Brown has documented his life and his 56 years at Holland Hall in a new book. All proceeds from the book will be donated to the Charlie Brown Endowment for Financial Aid."Consider this book your opportunity to spend time in conversation with Coach Brown as he tells stories of his determined life journey that reveals what I believe to be his greatest gift — his ability to build relationships and positively influence young men," University of Tulsa standout and Buffalo Bills (NFL) Offensive Lineman Jerry Ostroski, Jr. wrote for the back of the book.Order your copy for $20 — $25 shipped — at hollandhall.org/cbbookTo give to the Charlie Brown Endowment for Financial Aid, go to hollandhall.org/charliebrown

Primary School News

Holiday parties/activities

The Primary School is buzzing with holiday excitement! Each grade level is planning unique and special activities for the students. Please check your child’s grade level PSL page for specific details. Here is a quick summary of remaining events:Early PreK will celebrate with a simple classroom party on Wednesday, December 15, at 9:30 a.m. Parents are invited.PreK will have a holiday lunch on Wednesday, December 15. This event is for students only.Junior Kindergarten plans on holding its annual Breakfast with Santa on Wednesday, December 15. Parents are invited to come and help serve breakfast.First Grade is excited to bring back the annual holiday program. The program will be in the Primary School gym on Thursday, December 16, at 12:30 p.m. Parents are asked to enter and exit through the PS gym doors. That afternoon, the first-graders will continue their celebration with a classroom party for students only.Second Grade will be having a student-only event on Friday, December 17. The students will be making an ornament and enjoying a cookie.Third Grade will take their annual field trip to Iron Gate on Thursday, December 16. There will be a small classroom party for students only on Friday, December 17.Thank you for your donations for the many community service projects being done this month in the Primary School. This is an exciting season for the kids.

Middle School News

Middle School Holiday Spirit Week

Monday, December 13 - HOLIDAY COLORS DAYTuesday, December 14 - HOLIDAY SWEATER DAYWednesday, December 15 - HOLIDAY SOCK/ACCESSORY DAYThursday, December 16 - HOLIDAY MOVIE DAYFriday, December 17 - DUTCH/HOLIDAY PAJAMA DAY

B.E.A.R. Night

B.E.A.R. Night for 4th grade has been postponed until January 6.

Upper School / College Counseling

Final exams, projects, and papers in US

Parent, this exact information is posted on The Commons on PSL for students. In order to help your students keep track of exam week, we wanted to share the details with you, as well!Generally during exam week: if a student has a seated exam or is required to be present for an assessment, they should check in by 8:45 a.m. We will ring the bell at 8:45 a.m. in the Commons to give directions about the exam that day. Students are free to come and go that week, outside of required assessment times. If a student would like to meet with a teacher, they should be sure to set that up in advance, as teachers have some required meetings and such throughout the week. Students must be in uniform during exams. Remember: the temperatures vary in the buildings, so students are advised to bring layers. It is a good idea to bring a water bottle, calculator (for math/science exams), extra batteries, and extra writing utensils.Exam week plans: Every final assessment is due on the day of the final exam this year, with the sole exception of presentations. If a presentation factors in to the final 20% assessment, those may be done prior to exam week. If students have a written portion of the presentation that they must submit, they should submit those before dead days. If they need to do the actual presentations on dead days, that is fine!Students who are doubled up in a subject: you will take the second exam at 9 am or 1 pm on a day established by the department chair, taking into account the student's exam schedule.Everyone must sit for 1 hour. Students may leave after that, as they finish, and they must leave the US building and patios to head to the Tandy in order to minimize noise for other testers. All exams start at 9 a.m. and end at 11 a.m. or they start at 1 pm and end at 3 p.m.Monday, December 137:45 a.m. - Breakfast for everyone in the Commons9 a.m. - Math Exam12 - 12:50 p.m. - Optional PEP presentation with a visiting speaker in the Lecture Center for extra credit on the examTuesday, December 149 a.m. - Social Studies Exam (Global Issues: Tandy; AP Human Geography: Old Refectory, which is the hallway at the top of the US gym)1 p.m. - Conflict examsWednesday, December 159 a.m. - World Language Exam1 p.m. - Technology / ReligionThursday, December 169 a.m. - Science12-12:50 p.m. - Optional Physics and Honors Physics presentation with a visiting speaker in the Lecture Center for extra credit on the exam1 p.m. - Conflict examsFriday December 179 a.m. - English1 p.m. - Make up exams (if a student has been ill, for example)Locations of exams will be determined in the next few weeks by department chairs and we will publish locations on The Commons on PSL and on the pillars in the Barnard Commons. Many of our seated exams will take place in the Tandy cafeteria area, the Self Conference room (in the Tandy), and the Old Refectory (which is the hallway at the top of the US Gym. Extended time testing takes place in the library.One other note: ALL exams and final projects must be submitted by 3 p.m. on Friday, December 17. If there are extenuating circumstances in the lives of students (illness, for example) during exam week, students may receive an Incomplete and take their exams up on our return in January. No exams will be given during the Christmas break.