PLANNING AHEAD
We are actively planning for the unknown variables which lie ahead for the 2020-21 academic year, based on mandates from local and state authorities, along with guidance from the Texas Private School Association. As long as it is determined we can safely do so, Oak Hill Academy is committed to remaining open to serve our students. Our re-entry plan allows for flexibility and prioritizes the health and safety of our families. See our comprehensive re-entry plan and learn more in our July 17 email to the Oak Hill community. 

We have formed two committees to help in our ongoing planning efforts. First, our Covid Health and Safety Task Force will assist with all health and sanitation protocols, guidelines and ordinances. We have also appointed a Distance Learning Committee to fine tune our distance learning curriculum, gather feedback from families and staff, and implement additional measures for a whole-child approach to learning should we need to close the campus again in the future. In addition, our teachers are receiving  training and have been certified as Google Classroom instructors.

ADMISSIONS
Our admissions office is in full operation and is conducting virtual and in-person tours on campus. Please complete an inquiry form or contact our Director of Admissions Linda Wachel via email or 214-353-8804 x106 for more information or to schedule a tour. See our Admissions page for more details about how we have adapted our admissions process to meet summer and social distancing requirements.

Enrollment will be limited to allow for appropriate social distancing in the classroom and recommended health and safety protocols to keep all our Oak Hill family safe.

COMMUNICATIONS
See message from our Executive Director October 21, 2020

RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES

Learning Ally
Offering over 80,000 audio-book titles, which can be great help for students with print and reading challenges or for listening entertainment on long car trips. Email Kathleen Jenison to request setup for your free account.

Oak Hill Subscriptions
For students who completed first through fifth grades at Oak Hill for the 2019-20 school year, the following online resources are available for summer skills practice. Our student may either use their Oak Hill Google logins or the QR code that they received to use for eLearning to scan and access their various accounts for these resources.

• Kids A-Z – Reading app with leveled reading resources
• Think Central – Online math exercises that correlate to our math curriculum
• Keyboarding Without Tears – Web-based keyboarding program where students can practice their keyboarding skills

Perot Museum – Amaze Your Brain at Home
Watch your favorite concepts from the museum come to life. Join in for  fun ways to explore nature and science at home and in your backyard – all while using the most common household objects and supplies. From space to sports to weather, you will amaze your brain!

Virtual Trips, Museums and Webcams throughout the World
Take a trip around the world – while staying home! Trek the Canadian Arctic, visit the San Diego Zoo, take a flight over Bermuda, stroll the Great Wall of China, and go on an African safari – all at the click of your computer mouse.

Harry Potter Digital Escape Room
First thing’s first! A mysterious panel appears and a moving picture begins on the nearby wall. Watch as facts are presented. You may need to pay close attention for clues that with help you throughout. Created by JK Rowling to encourage a love of reading.

Khan Academy
Providing sample schedules and math exercises by grade, Khan Academy is a nonprofit dedicated to helping ensure students keep learning amidst the school closures. Khan Academy offers free, self-paced, interactive content–exercises, videos and articles–for students in every grade and in most major subject areas. Also offers SAT practice.

Junior Library Guild
Looking for activities and resources to keep students engaged? As the collection-development partner for school and public libraries across the nation, JLG offers free resources to help keep students’ brains busy and blossoming. Create a free account.

We Are Teachers
This growing list of over 350 online learning resources offers a wealth of online resources for all ages of students, parents and teachers.

COVID-related

• Texas Education Agency (TEA): list of free resources available to students, staff and communities in dealing with the COVID crisis
• TEA: At-Home Resources for Students with Disabilities
• Dallas County Health and Human Services
• CDC: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

DISTANCE LEARNING – MARCH THROUGH MAY 2020

While we changed how we operated as a school community, Oak Hill continued to serve its students by providing high quality, daily instruction through distance learning. Although the physical campus was closed, our office remained fully operational (in a virtual capacity).

We developed a comprehensive plan for distance learning. Teachers utilized online tools to deliver students’ e-learning assignments and continue providing the differentiated multi-sensory learning approach that makes Oak Hill Academy so unique. In addition, our support staff provided activities for social skills, motor lab, library and physical education in order to keep our students’ minds and bodies engaged. Some specific examples are highlighted below.

• Streamlined digital approach with accessibility tools for a variety of student needs
• Usage of tools such as Google Classroom, Google Sites and Zoom teleconferencing, Learning Ally, Discovery Education, Kami and Brain Pop
• Parent technology support and training sessions, as well as one-one-one (virtual) parent coaching
• Access to free online learning tools that support students in subjects such as reading, history, science and math
•  Digital reading logs and work tracking tools
• Faculty members remained highly engaged with their students through digital office hours and daily virtual face-to-face classroom interactions.

Social Skills Newsletters
One of the hallmarks of an Oak Hill education involves our social skills program, and we want to make sure you still have access to resources and activities during the eLearning period and through the summer. This is a fun opportunity to work on skills in an organic way…and the kids might even teach you a thing or two!

In order to ensure their continued social-emotional development, parents received a weekly Social Skills Newsletter during any periods of campus closure offering activities, videos and tips per division. The activities will span the entire school population (from preschool through high school). If you would like additional information or archived newsletters, please contact Social Skills Coordinator and Assistant Director Nicole DeVoss.

Tips for Home Use During School Closure
See the informative email from Nicole DeVoss, our Assistant Director and Social Skills Coordinator, regarding home ideas and tips during the school closure.

Notice of Non-Discrimination
Based on receipt of federal financial assistance through a Paycheck Protection Program loan administered through the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under the CAREs Act, the School acknowledges its obligation to prohibit discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, citizenship status, genetic information, handicap or disability in admissions, access, employment, tuition assistance, educational policies, or other school administered student and employee programs and activities. Questions regarding the School’s compliance with the application and administration of the School’s nondiscrimination policies should be directed to Nicole DeVoss, Assistant Director, ndevoss@oakhillacademy.org, 214-353-8804, 9407 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75220 or Cricket Burton, Business Manager, cburton@oakhillacademy.org, 214-353-8804 ext. 103, 9407 Midway Road, Dallas, Texas 75220 or to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or to the SBA. Please refer to the School’s SBA Non-Discrimination Compliance Policy on the School’s website for information on how to file complaints with OCR or the SBA. This notice will remain in effect until the School has satisfied and paid off the SBA Paycheck Protection Loan. See the full policy.