All-School Information

From the Head of School: Masks are optional

Beginning Nov. 1, masks are optional for all students and faculty, whatever their vaccination status. Because background infection rates have dropped, this move is in line with our current policy. Changes could be coming to our mask policy, however. Read Head of School JP Culley's entire letter to the community here.

Uniform news

We know some parents have had a hard time finding uniforms because of supply chain issues or long shipping times. If you have trouble finding shirts, know that your child can wear a plain shirt without a logo for now.Also, please remember that we have an awesome resource on campus in the Dutch Exchange, which is run by a parent volunteer. The Exchange is usually open once a month — but will be open on Nov. 10 and Nov. 17 or by appointment by emailing news@hollandhall.org. Parents can also ask about visiting the Exchange at the front desk of the Tandy.The shortage also means we need your gently used uniforms. The Dutch Exchange has plenty of red Middle School shirts and khaki pants, but could use outwear and Primary School uniforms. A collection bin will be in front of the Tandy on Wednesday, Nov. 3.

Once upon a time ....

... before there were student IDs, before there were fancy scanners, this was how you bought your lunch at Holland Hall.If you remember those days fondly — or if you're intrigued by this ancient technology — you need to get your tickets to Dutch Divine, where the Alumni Association is celebrating Dutch days gone by.​This night of gourmet food, fine wines and music — all provided by alumni — runs from 6-11 p.m. on Nov. 6. Current families, as well as alumni and alumni parents, are invited!The event starts at 6 p.m. and tickets are $125 with a special rate for faculty or young alumni. Sponsorships are available to honor your favorite alumna/alumnus, faculty member or class. All proceeds benefit the Alumni Fund for Financial Aid.This year's menu is Cafeteria Chic, in honor of its new location at the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Dining and Wellness Center. Local restaurant owner and chef Justin Thompson '98, Juniper chef Myles McClanahan '98, and current parent Kate Atkinson are preparing a 5-course dinner guaranteed to make you forget those baked potatoes and nutty bars from way back when.Wines are provided by wineries with local ties — Darms Lane, 32 Winds and Downward Dog — and Nicholas Foster '10 and his band will serenade the crowd hanging out in the "Commons."AND IT'S FREE DRESS! So get creative, and just like in high school, you'll see a little bit of everything.Tickets and sponsorships: https://hollandhall.wufoo.com/forms/q2nk2zg19fnzuy/Cheers!

Upper School dance concert set

The Upper School Dance Ensemble presents "Legacy, Part 1" on Wednesday Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. in the Branch Theatre of the Walter Arts Center.In honor of Holland Hall's centennial year, the Upper School students are taking a look back and presenting dances from their past. Please join us for this trip down memory lane, choreographed by 7th-12th Grade Dance Faculty Tyne Shillingford '03.

Picture retakes

Picture retakes and primary school class groups will be taken Monday, Nov. 1, by JostensPix. If you would like a retake for your student, all they need to do is go to the camera in their branch on the morning of Nov. 1. No paperwork is required. You may wish to communicate with their teacher or advisor to ensure they go to the camera.If your student missed picture day on Sept. 23, please make sure they get their photo taken. These photos will be used in the 2022 yearbook and be available for purchase.

All-School Calendar

• Nov. 1: Picture Retake Day and Primary School Groups photos
• Nov. 2: MS Parents' Association meeting
• Nov. 3: US Dance concert
• Nov. 4: Evening Parent Conferences
• Nov. 5: No classes for Parent Conferences
• Nov. 5: Varsity football vs. Inola
• Nov. 6: Dutch Divine dinner presented by Alumni Association
• Nov. 9: 6th-12th grade Choir Concert
• Nov. 10: PS Parents' Association meeting
• Nov. 15-17: ERB CTP testing for 6th-8th grades
• Nov. 18: US Parents' Association meeting
• Nov. 23: Grandparents and Special Friends' Day (half-day of classes)
• Nov. 24-28: No school

Primary School News

Halloween parade

Thanks to all of the Primary School parents who joined us for the parade and table-treating today! Happy Halloween!

A reminder for the pick-up line

Please remember that the inside lane — next to the Penguin — is reserved for third-grade parents.Third-grade parents, please remember to yield to the other lanes, who are going around you to get to the PS drive and the EPK circle drive.Thank you!

Interested in Holland Hall wrestling?

If your Primary School student would like to try wrestling, our new coach Travis Goldsworthy wants to know about it!Check out this link. 

After-school enrichment classes

Ballet/Contemporary I-II After School Enrichment Class ~ Session 2Come join Ms. Allison for Session 2 of the basics of ballet and contemporary technique. For eight weeks, the class will do stretching, barre work, center floor exercises, and choreography. Explore other dance movements including contemporary floor work, rolls, and fun conditioning exercises. If this is your first time, come and join the fun! A performance for parents is set for Dec. 15.When: 3:15-4:15 p.m. Wednesdays through Dec. 15 (no class 11/24-Thanksgiving Break)Special date: Holiday Showcase - Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.Who: PreK-3rdWhere: Primary School Multi-purpose RoomFee: ProratedTo register: dalmohandis@hollandhall.org Ms. Ariel’s Art Studio ~ Session 2

Calling all young artists! Learn about line, balance, perspective, and color theory. Join Ms. Ariel for lessons on using oil pastels, marker, and colored pencils while creating harvest, Thanksgiving, and holiday drawings.When: 3:15-4:15 p.m. Wednesdays, Nov. 3 through Dec. 15 (no class 11/24-Thanksgiving Break)Who: K-3rd gradeWhere: Primary School Art RoomFee: ProratedTo register:dalmohandis@hollandhall.org

Middle School News

MS students visiting TU

Monday, Nov. 22, all students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades will travel to the University of Tulsa with their teachers to participate in a full day of STEM challenge activities. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students and we are excited to be able to attend. T-Shirts and lunch will be provided. More information can be found here. We will travel by bus, departing Holland Hall campus at 8:30 a.m. and we will return to Holland Hall by 3:10 p.m. 7th and 8th grade students will not have sports practices that day, all students will need to be be picked up at 3:10 p.m. or go to after care. 

MS Parents' Association Meeting

You are invited to the last Middle School Parents' Association Meeting of 2021!Join school counselors Ryan Myers and Cassie Gray for a conversation about ways you can support your student and care for yourself while parenting middle-schoolers.Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. onlineMS PA meeting information:Meeting IDmeet.google.com/xxa-xbax-ditPhone Numbers+1 669-221-2939PIN: 922 276 019#

Comments are coming

You should be able to view comments that your child's teachers have written on Nov. 2 by logging into the parent portal. gotohh.org/parentportal.

Middle School Fall Conference Lunch for Teachers and Staff

The Middle School Parents' Association is hosting a fall conference lunch for the hard working Middle School Faculty and Staff. We are providing a pasta lunch from Napa Flats but need help with extras like dessert, paper goods, drinks and snacks to stock the teachers' lounge. If you are interested in helping out please sign up on the Sign Up Genius listed below.https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080845aaa628a0fa7-fall1

Parent and advisor conferences set

There will be no school on Nov. 5 for parent/advisor conferences. Be watching for more information.

Standardized Test: Nov. 15-17

After two years of not providing standardized testing to our students due to COVID, we are resuming this yearly practice this fall. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 will be completing the ERB Comprehensive (CTP5) assessmentonline.As you may remember, we had been using the ACT Aspire assessment online for several years prior to 2020. As with so many things in the recent past, we have taken a close look at the instrument, the reporting mechanism and the benefit for our families and have decided to return to ERB. We confidently used ERB Comprehensive for many years and believe it is the right fit for our students at this time.TESTING DATES:November 15 - Students will be completing a tutorial so they are familiar with the testing format. They will take the Quantitative subtest in the morning. Following this test, student schedules will resume as normal.November 16 - Students will take the Mathematics 1, Mathematics 2, and Verbal Reasoning subtests in the morning. Following these tests, student schedules will resume as normal.November 17 - Students will take the Writing Concepts, Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary and Writing Mechanics subtests. The Vocabulary and Writing Mechanics subtests are quite short therefore four subtests can be managed well. These tests will also be administeredin the morning. Following these tests, student schedules will resume as normal.Adequate stretch and bathroom breaks are built into the testing schedule, as well as, a recess time on November 16 and 17.HOW YOU CAN HELP:

1. Make sure your student gets adequate sleep.
2. Make sure your student eats breakfast in the morning.
3. Make sure your student has a fully charged iPad each day.

Upper School / College Counseling

Comments and Conferences scheduled

Families will receive their comments electronically through the parent portal this year. They will be posted on the afternoon of Tuesday, Nov. 2. Holland Hall will send you an email to let you know they are available in the portal. Please be sure to log in and read those comments with valuable feedback for your child that teachers have worked hard to produce.Later that week, the evening of Thursday, Nov. 4 and all day Friday, Nov. 5, we will will have family conferences. So, please be on the look out for communication from your child's advisor about how to sign up. There will be no classes on Friday, Nov. 5.

Junior Parent College Chat

Junior Parents, College Counseling is in the final stretch with seniors and we look forward to working with your junior student in the spring semester! Please plan to join us for an overview of college counseling and what will take place from now until college application season ends for your student. Some of these things involve you, so you'll not want to miss this informative, and hopefully fun, meeting. We'll meet in-person only.Monday, Nov. 8, 20216-7 p.m.Upper School - Lecture Center

Get your yearbook ad

Parents, honor your senior with a yearbook ad.A Holland Hall tradition, these ads are available in a variety of sizes/prices. Contracts are due no later than Nov. 15. Once you've completed the contract, you will be directed to a site for payment. Once payment is received, you will receive a receipt from Ad Manager Emma Gardenhire '22 with ad preparation information.https://hollandhall.wufoo.com/forms/q190lbd401g113v/

ATHLETICS

Charlie Brown books are in!

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

Good luck to cross country!

The cross country team is headed to the state championship on Saturday in Edmond.You can catch them at Edmond Santa Fe High School, 1901 W. 15th St., Edmond, 73013

Go Dutch

The undefeated Dutch football team is headed to Verdigris tonight.You can watch the livestream at gotohh.org/stream starting at 6:50 p.m.