The Upper School endeavors to develop mature students, capable of making and acting upon responsible choices, which enrich their own lives and contribute to the lives of others.
Our student support team includes a number of faculty, staff and students including, the principal, deans, college counselors, a part-time consulting psychologist, homeroom teachers, advisors and senior peer leaders (for grades 7, 8 and 9). These team members lead a number of formal and informal supportive services/programs, including guidance classes, academic advisement, emotional support services and disciplinary reviews.
Guidance Program
Students in grades seven through 12 meet once a cycle in scheduled group guidance classes with our guidance counselors. The program strives to help the students make the best possible adjustments to their classes and to realize the highest possible achievement of their aptitudes. In these classes, students participate in activities focused on values clarification, decision making, career and college planning, peer relationships, test-taking strategies, school-related concerns, and grade-level needs.
The guidance program
provides college counseling for all students. As early as the ninth grade,
students are preparing for college placement with the courses they take within
the curriculum at Oak Knoll. Each spring students and their parents meet with members
of the student support team to plan their academic program. These one-on-one
conferences provide opportunity to discuss test results, achievement, and plan
for the college application. In the ninth grade, students take ACTs EXPLORE
test and in the tenth grade, they take both the PSAT and the PLAN exams.
The counselors also offer individual counseling to all students; encouraging students to make appointments during the year.
Academic support and advisement is provided to all grades throughout the year and includes:
- Directed meetings with parents, grade-level meetings with students, departmental meetings with student groups and individual student meetings.
- Advisory program
- Peer tutors
- Focus meetings/behavior checklists
- Progress reports/report cards
- Parent conferences
- Study skills classes (Grades 7 and 8)
- Guidance classes
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College counseling – individual and group