Oak Knoll School Blog

As I write this blog, we are midway through celebrating 2018 Computer Science Education Week. Nationally there are workshops, webinars, coding challenges, and all kinds of events geared at getting kids interested in computer science and computational thinking. Many articles have been written about the need to get the next generation of students interested in computer science as they will be competing with robots and artificial intelligence for jobs, and that without understanding computing this next generation will fall behind. We are all searching for that one activity that will set off the light bulb for our students, granting them access to a new world of understanding.

Winter is coming and the temperature is dropping. In an effort to battle the cold weather blues, we've provided you with a list of our favorite things to do with children in the Summit, NJ area this winter. This list will be updated as we hear of more events throughout the season! Have an event you think should be included in our list? Email the details to communications@oakknoll.org for consideration.

Every so often, it’s interesting to see another perspective. We are pretty sure that this response that the technology department received was not intended to be a "REPLY-ALL," but it sure does provide a lot of insight for the coming holiday season. We will be using our @OKSTECH twitter account to follow companies and retweet deals as we get them, so stay tuned.

Concussions have been a hot topic within the last couple of years, and rightfully so. It seems there are stories in the news almost every day about another professional athlete entering the concussion protocol and undergoing evaluation and treatment. But professional athletes aren’t the only ones suffering from this serious condition – young children and high school student-athletes are just as susceptible to brain-related injuries. It can happen at any age, to boys or girls, and just as likely to occur on the playground as well as the football field.

It's that time of year again when ghosts, goblins, princesses and action heroes will be on a quest for the most candy on All Hallows' Eve. As adults, many of us have fond memories of trick-or-treating with our parents and pals when we were younger. Back then, we didn't think about our parents' worries as we left the house in costume, taking candy from our neighbors and friends. Sure, we checked to be sure we didn't accept any unwrapped candy at the end of the night, but that was likely the biggest concern. But now? There are so many worries. Please use our guide to ensure your child has a happy, safe and enjoyable Halloween.

During the fall season, many people like to settle into the cooler weather by getting into the Halloween spirit. This may mean watching scary movies, going to haunted houses and hayrides, or dressing up in spooky costumes. But there is something else lurking all year ‘round that may scare you: cybersecurity. We’ve all read horror stories of people losing information, devices or, even their identities. With October being National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s a good time to remember that there are many things we can do to protect ourselves and belay those fears. This month serves as a reminder that there are ways to stay safe and private when working online.

When teaching students about Christopher Columbus in 2018, it’s important to take many different perspectives into consideration. Students – even those in elementary school – are capable of understanding different perspectives. Students must be encouraged, in an age-appropriate way, to research and develop their own opinions about this part of our history.

There are so many things to look forward to at the start of fall – pumpkin spice-everything, sweatshirts, candy corn (if you’re into that), apple cider doughnuts, apple picking and so much more. But one thing no one looks forward to is sneezing, coughing, sore throats and fevers. That's right – the start of fall is also the unfortunate start of flu season. 

Ohhhhhh school mornings are crazy. You've got to get them up, dressed, fed and out the door all before you've likely had your first cup of coffee. And, if that isn't enough, you also need to remember their backpack, snack, school project and your car keys. Are we missing anything? Shoes?

To help you navigate the tough mornings ahead and streamline your process, check out our biggest tips below:

Teachers spend quite a bit of time with students throughout the week. Many are with them before school, during and after school, depending on the activities and needs of each child. The job of a teacher is never easy, and it’s never truly done – even after high school. As we head into the first full week of school this year, we asked teachers of children in grades K-12 to weigh in on what they wished parents knew about the work they do and insight they bring. Let us know what you think in the comments below!