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Oak Knoll School Blog

Prepare for Thanksgiving with a Gratitude Week

Posted by Chris Starr on Nov 2, 2022 12:10:18 PM

Gratitude is an emotion we should express throughout the year. The days leading up to Thanksgiving, though, are an excellent opportunity to reinforce the practice of giving thanks and schedule some fun activities with your children to promote gratitude. Here are some suggestions for holding a “Gratitude Week” prior to Thanksgiving to dedicate one activity per day to remind kids of the many blessings and people that surround and support them.

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Topics: faith, parenting, thanksgiving, activities with kids, things to do, family, Community

2021 Tech Gift Guide for Kids

Posted by Laura Perillo on Nov 23, 2021 7:44:21 PM

Attention, attention! In the middle of a bustling morning sorting through the news of the day in Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child's Marketing and Communications Office, a top-secret letter (with teeny-tiny handwriting!) magically appeared on our printer! It looks as though once again our office has intercepted a message from Bernard, the Chief Technology Elf at the North Pole, which was intended for Santa Claus! 

We are so excited to share what the elf factory has brewing up at the North Pole right now – The best technology gifts of 2021. Gear up for Black Friday shopping!

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Topics: technology, christmas, students, parenting

How to Talk to Your Teenagers about Harmful Effects of Social Media

Posted by Laura Perillo on Oct 22, 2021 4:11:41 PM

The rumors are true – the teenage years are indeed filled with the inevitable messy rooms, empty kitchen cabinets, refrigerators and smelly shoes laying around the house. However, aside from the normal teenage happenings in households across the country, parents should be aware of recent statistics uncovered about teenagers and social media. 

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Topics: technology, parenting, social and emotional learning, mental health, social media

Tips on Navigating Back-to-School Anxiety

Posted by Laura Perillo on Sep 3, 2021 4:13:30 PM

September is here and it’s hard to believe that means the first day of school is quickly approaching. Many of us are trying to soak in these last hot and hazy days of summer, while at the same time, laser-focused on getting everything done on time for our children so they’re well-prepared for the start of the 2021-22 school year.

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Topics: back-to-school, parenting, wellness, social and emotional learning

Tips for Keeping Kids Safe This Summer

Posted by Robert Weck on Jun 5, 2021 7:53:57 PM

New Jersey’s weather has warmed up in recent weeks and the lazy and longer days of summer are on the horizon. This is certainly a relief after COVID-19 shut-downs and precautions left many of us feeling stir-crazy.

However, as schools here in our own state and across the country dismiss children for summer break, more children will be out and about attending summer camps, at town swimming pools, riding bikes, or walking around with their friends. 

Now is a prime opportunity for parents, adults, and caregivers to review safety tips with children. 

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Topics: parenting, tips, summer, safety

Prioritizing Mental Health in An Uncertain COVID World

Posted by Dr. Jennifer Butler-Sweeney, Ph.D. on May 21, 2021 1:46:16 PM

As we make progress moving forward during what has been an unprecedented year, we continue to see students struggle with so many facets of mental health and stress management. These concerns pre-existed the pandemic on many levels. However, as parents and educators, we are grappling with the multi-faceted impact of COVID-19 on various aspects of adolescent development and functioning – and as such – continue the need to see our students and their struggles through this complex lens. 

So, how do we help our students prioritize their mental health through this experience that is unique and eludes our understanding? While it is useful to engage in conversation that helps our teens understand the deleterious ways COVID-19 has exacerbated what was already a delicate balance of academic, social, and extracurricular pursuits, we are trying to move on from this discourse into a more future-oriented, affirming place. 

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Topics: parenting, mental health

Podcast: Addressing Social and Emotional Needs During COVID-19

Posted by Meghan Hodgin on Apr 22, 2021 4:46:08 PM

In episode 10 of the Academically Speaking podcast, Laura Perillo — Oak Knoll's Marketing Content Strategist — sat down with Dr. Jennifer Butler-Sweeney, Upper School psychologist, who talks about tactics parents can use to address the social and emotional impact of COVID-19 on middle and high school students. This is the second in Oak Knoll's special four-part parenting series, Parenting During the Pandemic.

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Topics: high school, elementary school, parenting, middle school, social and emotional learning, mental health, development, podcast

Podcast: Parenting During the Pandemic Part I - Mental Health

Posted by Meghan Hodgin on Mar 10, 2021 5:44:22 PM

In episode 9 of the Academically Speaking podcast, Laura Perillo — Oak Knoll's Marketing Content Strategist — sat down with Melissa Nelson, Oak Knoll's Lower School Guidance Counselor, who talks about the pandemic's impact on the mental health of our youngest learners and how parents can support their child during this time. This is the first in Oak Knoll's special four-part parenting series, Parenting During the Pandemic. 

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Topics: parenting, mental health, COVID-19

The Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Snow Days

Posted by Laura Perillo on Jan 28, 2021 9:34:39 AM

What would childhood be like if you’ve never put a spoon under your pillow, flushed ice cubes down the toilet or put on your pajamas inside out the night before a winter snowstorm?

A true milestone of growing up is the ever-so-coveted snow day – the gift that all children angst for each winter when that first hint of snow is detected in the forecast. 

While skipping school for the day is the most immediate and best part of a snow day for most children, there are many other hidden mental and physical health benefits associated with snow days. Considering our current pandemic situation, snow days are more important now than ever before.

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Topics: high school, elementary school, parenting, middle school, social and emotional learning, mental health

Tips for Helping Your Child Navigate Changes in Learning Environment

Posted by Laura Perillo on Jan 13, 2021 11:15:39 AM

With the New Year here (finally!) and school back underway after the holidays, the toggle between children learning in-person (full or half-day) to learning virtually from home can be stressful and confusing for families. 

While we’d all like to get back to pre-COVID days, unfortunately, the virus is still hanging around. As a result, it has caused many schools to pivot back-and-forth between teaching children in the classroom and virtually at home with little notice. 

With the school juggle this year still very volatile, we have some helpful tips for families to help ease your children into this new way of learning.

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Topics: high school, elementary school, parenting, middle school, tips, COVID-19, virtual learning

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