Oregon Episcopal School

Middle School Fall Trip Recap

Last week, middle schoolers ventured around the region for their annual fall trips. 6th graders went to BB Camp on the Oregon Coast, 7th graders headed north to Mount St. Helens and the wilderness around it, and 8th graders stayed at Camp Westwind near Lincoln City on the coast. The trips are an integral part of our Middle School experience, as all of our students pushed their boundaries, built new connections, and learned new skills.

"The learning we do happens over shared meals, at evening campfires, and being in the outdoors with all the beauty and challenges it offers," said Head of Middle School Ann Sulzer. "We see students step into risks that range from the intellectual, to the social, to the physical. When students walk away from these trips, their learning about themselves is often in equal balance with the skills they have gained. It is such a privilege to have these opportunities, and we do everything we can to take advantage of these days away from campus."

Train with purpose. Compete at the highest level. Find your community.

Through Oregon Episcopal School Scholar’s Edge Program, ambitious fencers combine elite training at the Oregon Fencing Alliance with a rigorous, college-preparatory education. Train alongside coaches with a proven record of developing Olympians and world champions while living and learning on OES’s stunning Portland campus.

Through The Scholar’s Edge, join a boarding community that brings together driven students from around the world in a close-knit community filled with new experiences, lasting friendships, and opportunities to grow. Discover a place where you can pursue excellence on the strip, in the classroom, and in life. Learn more: www.oes.edu/fencing.

OES Homecoming 2026! Thank you to everyone who joined us for Homecoming on Friday! ⚽ 🏐 The annual all-school event brought together our entire community for food trucks, friends, fun, and awesome athletics!

"Homecoming is a great opportunity to gather together and makes everyone feel, no matter what division—Lower, Middle, or Upper—that we’re all part of one community," said Remi L. '29.

Thank you to everyone who joined us on campus, volunteered their time, and made this Homecoming 2026 another special one!

Varsity Volleyball beat Horizon Christian 3-1.
Varsity Boys Soccer tied Catlin Gabel 2-2.
Varsity Girls Soccer fell to Catlin Gabel 1-0.

Friday’s Homecoming festivities began with the Fall Pep Rally, where Aardvarks from lower, middle, and upper schools came together to hype up this year’s fall sports athletes ahead of Homecoming 2026.

Thank you to the Upper School Community Board (COBO) for hosting such an exciting event, to Aardy for making an appearance, to our pep band and Lower School cheerleading group, and to everyone for bringing the pep!

Full Homecoming recap coming soon!

Where will your child thrive?

Join us for Open House this November and experience OES in action. Meet the teachers who make learning come alive, hear from students and families, explore our classrooms, arts and athletic spaces, and discover the hands-on, inquiry-driven experience that helps students become confident, curious, engaged citizens of the world.

Lower School Open House
November 4 at 6 p.m. | Parents/Guardians Only | Pre-K–Grade 5

Middle & Upper School Open House
November 8 at 1 p.m. | Grades 6–12 | Students & Parents/Guardians Welcome

Come explore. Ask questions. Meet the community. Find your place at OES.

Register now: oes.edu/open-house.

Fall Trip Recap: 11th Grade Backpacking Trip

The culminating trip for the OES Experiential Education experience is the 11th Grade backpacking trip, and this year students ventured into the Washington wilderness for four days and three nights of hiking, camping, skill-building, and connection. Along the way, students challenged themselves and each other, supported one another, and used the knowledge and expertise they’ve picked up in previous experiential education adventures at OES. By the time each group completed the journey, students felt a deeper sense of connection and community than when they set out.

"There's no substitute for spending this much quality time together," said Assistant Director of Experiential Education & Director of Winterim Zach Taylor. "Doing hard things, like eating and sleeping outside, builds connection in a way that very few other things can. I’m so glad OES is prioritizing opportunities for students to get outside their comfort zones, get outside in general, and forge strong connections with each other."

The countdown to Homecoming 2026 is on! Day one of Spirit Week featured Middle Schoolers signing posters of encouragement for the Upper School soccer, volleyball, and cross country teams at lunch. Then, Upper Schoolers embraced their day one theme of “scholars and ballers” by dressing up and enjoying games at lunch.

We can’t wait to see you on Friday night! Games kick off at 4:15 p.m. Go Aardvarks!

Cassidy P. '27 brings energy, curiosity, and purpose to every experience at OES. Whether leading the varsity soccer team, co-founding the Social Entrepreneurship Club, competing in speech and debate, or researching innovative solutions to microplastic pollution, Cassidy embraces opportunities to learn, lead, and make an impact. Her passion for discovery even led to a state-level science award, a second-place finish in parliamentary debate, and being named a National Merit Semifinalist.

"We have a tight-knit community and a really good student-teacher ratio," Cassidy said. "I use office hours a lot and love being able to go to teachers with questions. I think that’s one of the ways I learn best, and we are so fortunate to have amazing teachers who make time for these deeper discussions." Read more about Cassidy in the latest OES Spotlight: https://www.oes.edu/board-posts/~board/aardvark-posts-content/post/oes-spotlight-cassidy-p-27.

This week in the dorms, boarding students kicked off the weekend with an unforgettable night at the Moda Center for a Weezer concert! Saturday was full of individual activities like taking the bus to explore the Hawthorne and Cedar Hills neighborhoods in Portland, and enjoying a relaxing afternoon in the dorms. On Sunday, Upper School Math Teacher Gowri Meda hosted a get-together to learn to make cuisine from her childhood: chana masala and roti. On Wednesday, a group of dorm students headed out to rock climb after dinner, and on Thursday, they celebrated September birthdays with a cheesecake party!

It was another jam-packed week of connection, adventure, and community in the OES dorms!