The Arrow Fall 2020

President’s Paragraph

Hello from the President’s Office at Oak Hill Academy. When our students departed campus for Spring Break on March 6, 2020, “COVID-19” was associated with a different continent, far away and unfamiliar. Slow forward to October 2020 and the term is now all too familiar, ingrained in our vernacular—along with coronavirus, N-95, mask mandate, social distancing, mitigation, etc. Between the time our students left for Spring Break 2020 and the time campus re-opened in August we were required to teach classes and award credit remotely, graduate (and celebrate) virtually, pack all belongings from our dormitories one room at a time, and unveil well-considered plans for re-opening OHA for in person instruction. Whew! What an incredible six-month stretch. Without question, the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 affected our school in nearly every way imaginable. How can we keep students safe? How can we keep adults safe? How can we teach students face to face while keeping students and faculty safe? How can we feed students and faculty and staff with limited capacity in the dining hall? How can we limit exposure to “the outside world”? How can we offer athletic programs? How can we test for COVID in Mouth of Wilson? How can we in any way cultivate a sense of community if we are all wearing masks? What about communicating with OHA stakeholders like parents, alumni, the Board of Trustees? How can I answer questions with any level of certainly when instructions from the federal government differ from those of the state government? And those guidelines very well may differ from what is provided by the CDC; which may vary in degree from the Virginia Department of Education, which is likely different than …. Well, you get my point. In the midst of all of this anxiety and indecision, as the world was shouting for certainty in an

uncertain world, the parents of our students spoke loud and clear. They and their children wanted what we have always provided here on “The Hill.” So, on August 22, 2020, Oak Hill Academy opened “in person,” with students on campus. We planned for and created our own family-like bubble, right here in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. With the adopted theme of TOGETHER, we donned our masks, worked hard to create solutions, and now our students are going to school in person every day. Of course it’s not easy, but nothing of importance ever comes without hard work. Perspective is always helpful at significant moments in our lives. I remind our community often that our little school in the mountains of southwestern Virginia has endured many obstacles in her proud legacy. Founded in 1878, Oak Hill Academy weathered Civil War Reconstruction, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, the Vietnam War and civil unrest of the 1960’s, and September 11 (2001). Yet here we stand. We are buoyed by the knowledge that our values and mission are timeless, and our calling to serve our students and our school is from above. May God bless us in our important work here at OHA. And, may God continue to bless Oak Hill Academy. My best, Michael D. Groves, Ph.D. President

Follow Dr. Groves on Twitter @DrGrovesOHA.