Our Lower School students look forward to several traditional events throughout the year.
Halloween Parade
The Lower School celebrates Halloween in a big way! Students and teachers don costumes and parade around the campus on their way to a spooky assembly in the gymnasium.
Christmas Concert
One of the most cherished Holy Child traditions is the Christmas Concert. Children in grades 1 to 6 join in a chorus of Christmas carols while a live tableau of the Nativity is enacted on stage. Kindergarten children participate in their own Christmas pageant in the Chapel of Bonaventura Hall.
Spring Arts Festival
The Spring Arts Festival celebrates all the arts at Oak Knoll: music, dance, art and creative dramatics. In an evening performance, students in grades 3 – 6 sing, dance, play Orff instruments and perform in one act plays. A display of student artwork follows the performance.
Spirit Walk
School spirit abounds during the Spirit Walk as students walk laps around Memorial Field track as a student fundraiser for the school. Moms and dads join in the exciting celebration, typically held in the spring.
Field Trips
As an extension of the curriculum, field trips are scheduled for each class throughout the year. Students have visited the New York Tenement Museum and Sandy Hook, sailed on the Clearwater up the Hudson River, attended plays at the Paper Mill Playhouse and visited the Buehler Challenger Science Center.
Hat Day
A traditional French custom is to wear creative chapeaux on the Feast of St. Catherine Labore in November. The Lower School children don all sorts of hats on a day in May as a tribute to a former student who passed away – and dearly loved Hat Day.
Shakespeare
Sixth graders, during their final trimester of school embark on the study of William Shakespeare, his life and elements of his plays. The culminating activity of this study is the enactment of scenes from a Shakespearean comedy or tragedy. Students in full costume perform outside on the patio before an audience of parents and underclassmen. Always a highlight of the sixth grade year!
May Crowning
Students in fourth grade participate in a traditional May Crowning with flowers of the statue of the Blessed Mother in Bonaventura Chapel. What is not traditional is that students plan the entire prayer service themselves. From the choosing of Scripture readings, prayers and musical performance, to the actual making of rosaries and the wreath of flowers, the fourth graders devote themselves to this endeavor. They invite their parents pray with them at the May Crowning and enjoy their company at the reception they prepared also.
Kindergarten Pageant
Kindergarten children tell the story of the birth of Christ for their parents through their own Christmas Pageant held in Bonaventura Chapel. The Holy Family, Shepherds, Angels, Kings and Pages endearingly proclaim this blessed event with the sweetness that only young children possess.
Family Mass
Parents and students in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade come together to celebrate Mass as a worshipping community on a Sunday in November. After mass families have a time to mingle over refreshments served in the dining hall.
Field Day
On Field Day the entire Lower School participates in a variety of games that encourage teamwork and lots of laughter. The students begin Field Day with the recitation of the Olympic creed and the rousing call “To let the games begin!”
Varsity Sports Awards
Prior to the start of Field Day we recognize grade 5 and 6 varsity players for their participation in each season. We present special awards for outstanding defense, offense, spirit and most valuable player. At this time we also grant the Outstanding Athlete of the Year to a worthy male and female athlete.