October 11, 2022, marks the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the International Day of the Girl (IDG). The United Nations General Assembly declared IDG as a day dedicated to recognizing and highlighting the rights and challenges of girls around the world. The theme for this year is “Our time is now - our rights, our future.”

While kids are still spending every minute soaking in these last few weeks of summer weather and vacation time, it’s a good idea to start to mentally prepare your kids to return to school in person in September. 

Here are tips on how to help mentally prepare your elementary, middle schooler and teenagers about returning to the classroom before that last day of Labor Day weekend arrives.

Summertime is well underway and children have been busy trading in their class time for pool time as schools around the country are on hiatus until late August/early September. 

Families are enjoying day trips, lighter schedules, vacations, quality time together, and plenty of outdoor fresh air. However, although children would probably much prefer to shelve their books and ignore practicing those basic math facts – they shouldn’t. 

Each fall, teachers wrestle with the inevitable “summer slide” – or summer learning loss where studies show there is significant knowledge loss in reading and math over summer break if children don’t practice these skills each day. 

Kelly Ross, Oak Knoll's Academic Support Counselor, said throughout the past year, schools and teachers have noticed a greater need for support of executive functioning skills – or self-regulation skills that are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully.

Ross offers the following advice for parents and families to help children avoid the summer slide and manageably prepare for the 2022-23 school year ahead.

While most schools and businesses have resumed close to normal schedules following the shutdowns of 2020, many students and adults are still dealing with post-pandemic mental health issues. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, but there are several ways that schools and parents can help raise awareness about mental health all year long. 

Since 1992, the month of May in the United States has celebrated Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month. May commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese person to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. (Most of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.)

One way we can teach children about Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, is through stories written from their unique identities, perspectives, and voices. 

Here are 10 powerful books you should read this year written by those of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent.

The middle and high school years can be challenging for teenagers and these past 24 pandemic-filled months have compounded regular school stresses now more than ever. It can be easy for students to get lost in the shuffle from class to class while, at the same time, trying to keep up with their homework, their grades, and extra-curricular activities. 

The unfolding and highly tense crisis between Ukraine and Russia currently affects nearly 44 million civilians. As parents everywhere search for ways to best discuss what’s happening with their children, a topic that might come up in conversation is how can families be empathetic and act to help those most affected by this conflict.

Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are required to stay and fight. Therefore, it’s women and children who are predominately on the humanitarian front line. Many women and children have had to flee their homes in a hurry to a safer space. 

Pope Francis has called for an end to the fighting in Ukraine, stating, "This is not just a military operation, but a war. The number of victims is increasing, as are the people fleeing, especially mothers and children."

Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day is on March 8, 2022. What better time than now to honor women by learning how you and your children can help Ukrainian women and their families in real time who are living in the middle of the conflict?

One important way you can honor Black History Month with your child is by amplifying Black voices and reading diverse stories. When reading literature about Black historical figures, consider who is telling that story. From Alice Walker to Amanda Gorman, we can celebrate and support Black authors by promoting more authentic storytelling that reflects real Black experiences, identities and voices.

The temperatures are cooler, there's snow on the ground, the holidays are behind us and you're thinking you missed out on applying to private school, right? WRONG! The reality is that families search for schools all year ’round. In the fall, some families find themselves so busy getting adjusted to new schedules and routines that it is often hard to find the time to look for schools. Families may begin eying their top choices at that time, but may wait until the winter — or even later — to actually make a decision. That can sometimes be to your benefit, as you take time to consider all options, but be careful to review the individual schools’ admissions processes and application deadlines well in advance because they are all different!

To help you on your way, be sure to review our list of the top things every family should know before applying to private school to ensure you don't miss a beat during the next admissions season.

Another memo to Santa was left on the Helpdesk printer this year. It seems Toy Town Industries is vying for Santa's business ahead of Black Friday again. We don't know why Santa's memos keep getting redirected to Oak Knoll, but we would be remiss if we did not share the scoop on this year's hottest educational toys as our very own 2019 Tech Gift Guide for Kids in time for Black Friday!