Gina and I are fortunate to have three children in Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child's coed pre-K to grade 6 Lower School. We were drawn to the school originally because of its focus on the whole child; we think it is very important, particularly in these times, that children are given the opportunity to be children – have fun, make friends, live a stress-free life, and become educated in mind and spirit in the Catholic tradition.

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! 

Developing empathy in children is imperative to ensure we are promoting good, responsible citizenry. Studies show that children start to show genuine empathy - understanding how other people feel - around 2 years of age. To help foster values of charitable giving, families must find ways to teach kids about giving back and make it FUN.

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.