Oak Knoll School Blog

We recently caught up with Megan Murphy, the Executive Director of the National Coalition of Girls’ Schools after she visited the Oak Knoll School campus earlier this fall. Here, she talks about issues facing girls’ schools, her hope for empowering girls’ voices and girls' school misconceptions.

Admissions season is upon us for eighth-grade students looking to choose your future high school home. It is natural to be excited (and maybe a little nervous!!) when venturing off to meet new people, explore new spaces and learn new concepts. Here at Oak Knoll, we’ve gathered a few tips and tricks to prepare for your upcoming visit day!

If you’re an educator or have been near an educational institution over the last few years, you’ve most likely heard the phrase ‘Growth Mindset.’ It seems to be the new buzz word as of late. But what exactly does it mean? And why is it so important? And if you don’t have one, how do you get one?

When I taught middle school, one of my colleagues periodically mentioned facilitating Harkness discussions in her senior class. I never thought to inquire more (my middle schoolers kept me busy!), but I was intrigued by the details she provided when she talked about it. After I returned to teaching high school seniors, I saw that the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools was offering a workshop on how to facilitate Harkness discussions and decided it was time to learn about this method of teaching. I signed up and, on a cold winter day, went to The Lawrenceville School to learn about the Harkness method.

Warm summer days and September have quickly come and gone, leaving us with crisp fall weather and back-to-school activities. Now that you and your family have settled into the back-to-school and extracurricular routine, it’s time to begin thinking about getting ready for kindergarten and next steps!

Student-athletes may feel a sense of insecurity or self-doubt when they step on the field or the court. It may be jitters associated with playing in a big game, playing a new position or simply returning to the field after the off-season. They may feel pressure from parents or coaches to "be the best" or play perfectly, but that pressure often takes over and leaves the player ineffective and overwhelmed with low self-esteem. Instead of sweeping that anxiety under the rug, it's important to tackle it head-on. Read below for five strategies for student-athletes so they can boost self-confidence.

There are so many wonderful activities happening this fall right in our backyard! See below for our list of some of the top things to do in Summit, NJ this fall, and make sure to bookmark this page as we add events throughout the season.

One of the most exhilarating and unifying moments of the 20th century was the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. During several hot July days in 1969, people all over the world were glued to a television or radio anxiously following the astronauts’ progress to outer space and awaiting Commander Neil Armstrong’s first words as he stepped onto the moon. Willing to put aside global tensions for a bit, we became citizens of the world as we watched Armstrong and fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin, gleeful and childlike, bouncing and driving along the dusty and hilly and mysterious lunar surface.

Parents get ready; it’s almost time for your child to go back-to-school! For many, this can be a stressful time. Transitions at any age are an adjustment and the earlier you can start preparing your child for the change in routine, environment, workload, friends, etc., the less stress there is for everyone.

As parents and educators, our focus is to protect children, to shield them from distress and to create environments that foster their growth and development. While we usually manage to navigate the day-to-day situations and stressors that children face without too much difficulty, we are often at loss when faced with having to talk to children about death. How much do we tell them? Will they be able to understand? Will they get too upset? What if they show no emotion? When do we seek outside support?