News Room

Oak Knoll senior Madeline Sepe ’23 has been selected as the Oak Knoll Women in Sports Award recipient. She will represent Oak Knoll at the National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD) celebration in February — sponsored by the Women’s Sports Foundation.

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child Alumna, Ashley Simpson Esq. ’03, has been appointed to serve on the new Board of Trustees of the Holy Child Network of Schools. “Oak Knoll has had such a strong impact on my life,” said Simpson, a “lifer” who attended Oak Knoll from kindergarten to grade 12. “Serving on the Board is definitely not something that I would say no to. It’s a very special institution and I’m glad to serve.”

Three panelists with very different journeys into the medical profession answered questions about their education and career path during Friday’s Career Day Assembly. Kathleen Conway ’15, Danielle Williams ’15, and Margaret Magovern ’15 collectively represent three important tiers of the health care profession — registered nurse, physician assistant, and medical doctor respectively.

It seems that school’s have been teaching the sciences in a certain order dating back to the launching of Sputnik and the cold war period, but Oak Knoll has decided to re-order that sequence in a way that makes more sense for students of today. We sat down with Upper School science teacher Jeff Yuhas to learn the rationale behind this decision. Mr. Yuhas also explains the benefits of teaching science in an all-girls school.

While some may see the third Monday in January – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – as simply a day off from work or school, an increasing number of socially conscious individuals are celebrating MLK Jr. Day as a day of service. Such was the case with a group of Oak Knoll families who gathered at the school last Monday to assemble lunch bags for Bridges Outreach.

Throughout the month, students will be keeping daily kindness journals. Each day, they will be challenged to perform an intentional act of kindness such as contacting a relative, writing to a sibling, and creating poems or artwork. Each day, they will also note ways in which they deserve kindness themselves, and what they are grateful for.

The Holy Child Network of Schools, of which Oak Knoll is a member, periodically request member schools to submit faculty profiles for their main website. We were excited to offer them this submission as it spotlights a fascinating career trajectory.  Here’s our Q&A session with Oak Knoll Upper School Theology Teacher, Sharon Gutkowski.

For this, our last podcast of the calendar year, we thought it would be fun to take you on an audio journey through December at Oak Knoll school of the Holy Child.

The very soul of Christmas is the gift of love embodied in the birth of the Holy Child Jesus. In that spirit, each year, Oak Knoll students enter the holiday season participating in a variety of service and outreach projects.

Oak Knoll’s fall student-athletes fought hard on and off the field, serving the community while winning several county, sectional, and invitational tournaments contests.

While the World Cup is underway in Qatar, Summit, NJ, is experiencing its own international gathering. Seven Spanish exchange students and their chaperones are visiting Oak Knoll for two weeks. They hail from the Sant Ignasi school in Barcelona. The students will be living with their Oak Knoll host students through December 7 and attending classes and school events throughout their time in Summit.

Poet Mary Gilliland ’69 was recently awarded the Codhill Press Pauline Uchmanowicz Poetry Award for her collection of themed poems entitled The Devil’s Fools which was released on November 1, 2022. According to her publisher, “The title of Mary Gilliland’s new poetry collection is slyly ironic, suggesting our misperceptions of life’s blessings and tragedies is apt to make us seem so. These poems shed light and bring joy where we might otherwise despair or slog through life unaware.”

In this episode of The Happy Kids Project we learn about The Writing Center at Oak Knoll–a truly distinctive peer to peer service in the Upper School. Oak Knoll’s Writing Center provides a unique opportunity for middle and high school students to take on leadership roles while supporting their peers. Hear how the Writing Center increases student confidence, leadership skills, and academic excellence in a safe and supportive space.

Patricia Mechael ’92, Ph.D. MHS dreamed of becoming a children’s book author when she was young – and she also wanted to help people. Now, Mechael’s two dreams have become a reality this October when her book The Antidotes: Pollution Solution, (Bold Story Press) co-written with her 10-year-old son Gabriel, published. The book, written during the COVID-19 pandemic, is about a group of kids – ironically – who stop a future pandemic.

Juniors spent a day off campus this week attending the annual College Counseling Retreat. This milestone marks the official beginning of their search for a best fit college or university. The day began with an interactive glimpse into the selection process for a fictional Oak Knoll University. 

Seven members of the Class of 2023 from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child continued their commitment to athletic competition at the collegiate level by signing National Letters of Intent, or in the case of the Ivy League institutions, committed to the admissions process, on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 (also known as National Signing Day.)

It was the summer after her graduation from Georgetown University. She was all set to enjoy a few months off and then start her professional career at a new job in Boston. She finally had some time to schedule corrective surgery for a Brain AVM that had been plaguing her with terrible migraines since the age of seven. Everything was about to change.

The last place most folks would want their phone to be flaunted is in church. Recently, though, Oak Knoll students in grade nine have been encouraged to use them conspicuously in the chapel. What’s more surprising is that they are encouraged to do so by their theology teacher.

Students stepped away from their academic studies this week to participate in Oak Knoll’s annual Service Day. Though it is a day devoted to learning about and performing service acts, more broadly it is a day to remind students that being in service is a mindset that should be ever present rather than an activity that is performed for others.

Last week, the Upper School held an induction ceremony for our student council members. One by one they approached the podium to address their peers and offered their hopes and goals for the year. Their comments certainly reflect one of the pillars in our recent strategic plan, that Oak Knoll is a community of People with Purpose.

The entire grade 10 class traveled to Center City Philadelphia on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, for a visit to the shrine of Sr. Cornelia Connelly — founder of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus — located in the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. Oak Knoll is one of 9 schools across the United States and 13 overseas as part of the Holy Child Network of Schools.

Eighteen seniors at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit earned AP Scholar, and AP Scholar with Honors for their performance on Advanced Placement tests, the College Board has announced. In addition, two students were also named as Commended Students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program based on their 2021 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Tests (PSAT/NMSQT).

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has established strategic partnerships with Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania to ensure the entire senior class enters higher education with enhanced leadership confidence and students in grades 10-12 have the option of earning a certificate in Social Entrepreneurship.

The Oak Knoll Parents’ Association is proud to announce that the school’s cherished holiday shopping event, the 29th annual Royal Boutique, will take place on the Oak Knoll Campus from November 3-5, 2022 in the Tisdall Hall Gymnasium located at 83 Ashland Road in Summit, NJ.

Oak Knoll’s exceptional college counseling program mentors students through the college search and application process in a purposeful way, guiding students toward finding the colleges and universities that will be the best academic and community fit for each individual.

Members of the Oak Knoll School community, friends, family, distinguished guests, and a live streaming audience joined Head of School Jennifer G. Landis for a long-awaited Installation Mass on the beautiful, albeit somewhat chilly, Oak Knoll School campus on Friday, September 30, 2022. The celebration had been delayed due to COVID. Chair of the Board […]

The spiritual start of the school year was celebrated by students, faculty, and staff in the Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing Arts during the school’s annual Mass of the Holy Spirit, on Tuesday, September 20, 2022. In a fashion reminiscent of Founder Cornelia Connelly who once said, “Be yourself only make that self […]

A trip to rural Preston County, West Virginia – prone to steady poverty and heavy flooding – reinforced the importance of helping those in need for Mary Kate Bolster ’23 of Madison.  Bolster, a parishioner of Saint Patrick’s Parish in Chatham and member of their Youth Ministry Program, recently returned from the Appalachia Help Weeks […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child’s varsity field hockey team was named the No. 2-ranked in the nation when Max Field Hockey announced its preseason national Top 25 rankings earlier this week.

Two Oak Knoll rising juniors Liandra Taylor ’24 of Newark and Nesa Shamdasani ’24 of Little Falls learned the ins and outs of how to become affective leaders this summer through the annual Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference held June 24-26, 2022, at Kean University. Taylor was selected as Oak Knoll’s HOBY Conference primary tenth grade representative. 

Jennifer G. Landis, Head of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, was appointed to the governing Board of Directors of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools.

Oak Knoll’s Creative Arts Director Will Cardell recently earned the Outstanding Educator Award from the University of Chicago. Cardell was nominated for the award by recent Oak Knoll graduate and his former art student, Elizabeth Eck ’22 of Summit, who will be attending the University of Chicago this fall. The Outstanding Educator Award recognizes educators […]

The Oak Knoll Spring Track and Field team sprinted toward a strong finish to their season this month, but not before setting new personal and team records, including the largest number of students (60) to join the OKS Spring Track and Field team to date.  Spring Track and Field excelled both on an individual and […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child was honored for the school’s 25-year partnership to help end homelessness on June 15, 2022, during the Bridges Outreach Impact Night.  Bridges Outreach is a nonprofit organization with locations in Newark and Summit, NJ, focused on ending homelessness. Bridges works with individuals experiencing homelessness through street outreach and […]

Oak Knoll School’s spring athletes recently wrapped up their 2021-22 spring sports season, but not before attaining several career achievements, personal bests, and shattering school records. Teams and athletes excelled in Divisional Championships, County Tournaments, Prep Tournaments and State Tournaments in addition to the NJSIAA Tournament of and Meet of Champions. Oak Knoll athletes also […]

The 38 members of the Class of 2026 came together on campus to celebrate their transition from eighth grade to high school through prayers, songs, scripture readings, poems, and poignant reflections from several students on Thursday, June 9, during Oak Knoll’s annual Moving-up Ceremony. “Throughout our journey as a class in seventh and eighth grade […]

Fifty-nine Oak Knoll students were graduated from the all-girls’ Upper School on Sunday, June 12, 2022, during an outdoor graduation ceremony among family, friends, faculty and staff held at the school’s Summit campus.  Head of School Jennifer G. Landis handed students their diplomas and Janet Pearce ’22, Class of 2022 Valedictorian, delivered the class address.  […]

The final day of Oak Knoll’s academic school year concluded June 10, 2022, during a busy, in-person celebration recognizing many students at the school’s annual Upper School Awards Ceremony. Students in grades 7-12 were celebrated for outstanding achievement across all departments including academics, the performing and creative arts, world language, athletics, computer science, music, English, […]

Oak Knoll School recognized more than 70 outstanding athletes during the school’s senior athlete awards dinner held on June 6, 2022, in the Aileen Maury Dining Hall.  Athletics bestowed The Women in Sports Award to Katelyn Glory ’22 of Randolph, The Kelly E. Durkin Award to Betsy Keenan ’22 of Summit, the Scholar-Athlete Award to […]

Oak Knoll School’s (19-4) No. 1-ranked lacrosse team in the NJ.com Top 20 triumphed over Princeton Day School for an 11-8 win on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in the Tournament of Champions quarterfinal matchup. The scene is now set for the two-time defending Tournament of Champions Royals to join Moorestown as the only lacrosse program […]

Eighth-grade soccer, basketball, and lacrosse player Gaelle Jones ’26, of Maplewood, earned the Royal Athlete Award Monday, May 23, 2022, during Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child’s Middle School Sports Award celebration held on campus for students and coaches and parents.

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child senior Aria Alva ’22 of Summit, sang in a chorus concert on Saturday, May 14, 2022, as part of the Summit Arts Festival in downtown Summit. The Summit Art Festival celebrates the power of expression through the fine arts and includes performances through music, art, theatre, and dance. The […]

During the last general homeroom of the Upper School 2021-22 academic year, World Language teacher Victoria Burmeister announced that five Upper School students earned placements in The National Latin Exam.  The NLE is a test given annually to Latin students across the United States and around the world and is an opportunity for students to […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child senior and Chatham resident Sarah McManus ’22 has been named Oak Knoll School Scholar-Athlete of the Year. McManus will be recognized during Oak Knoll’s Senior Athlete Awards Dinner on June 6.  McManus, who will be attending the University of Notre Dame in the fall, is a member of Oak Knoll School’s Cum […]

Oak Knoll students heard a story of inspiration with an extra dose of motivation on Monday, May 16, 2022, as they listened to the life story of McKenzie Coan, a Paralympic gold medalist swimmer, writer, and motivational speaker. Coan spoke to students, parents, and faculty and staff about her life’s journey with the sport of […]

Several student-athletes from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child are featured on the June 2022 cover of Sports Illustrated Magazine! Field hockey player and Summit resident Caitlin Ann Geoghegan ’24 is even included in the cover story honoring the 50th anniversary of Title IX and how it has shaped the modern sports landscape.  The […]

Oak Knoll School administrators, members of the athletics staff, school counselors, and a sports psychologist gathered in the Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing Arts on campus last week to discuss mental health and student-athletes. 

If the “Cap” Fits – If the “Cap” Fits is a signature editorial feature aimed to highlight the exciting experiences of Oak Knoll School seniors as they step out of the classroom during the month of May before graduation to complete a Capstone Project. As the final “cap” to their high school experience, Capstones allow […]

Nearly 30 students were recognized on Thursday, April 21, 2022, for their leadership, outstanding achievement, and dedication to the creative arts at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child during the school’s 29th annual Arts Recognition Ceremony. Student arts leaders, faculty advisors, directors, administrators, and parents gathered in the Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing […]

Twenty-two members of the Class of 2022 and three members of the junior class were inducted into the World Language Honor Society on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, in recognition of their dedication and achievements while studying French, Latin, and Spanish all four years while at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child. Verónika Zavaleta-Tejeda, Upper […]

Students in Oak Knoll School’s Upper School concluded its last of four HOPE Committee (Helping Other People Everywhere) fundraisers recently for the 2021-22 academic school year.  While dressing comfortably during a recent dress-down day, students gave back to those in need and raised $1,334.50 for three nonprofit organizations.  Each HOPE fundraiser typically serves four different charities […]

Meg Zucker, founder and president of Don’t Hide It Flaunt It (DHIFI), delivered messages of empathy, respect, and empowerment while sharing her experiences of living with Ectrodactyly, during a special Upper School assembly on Thursday, April 7, 2022, in the Mary Mother Campion Center for the Performing Arts.  Ectrodactyly is a genetic condition that results […]

Oak Knoll’s winter track and field season concluded, but not before elevating the program to new heights.   OKS athletes finished their winter season by shattering school and personal records and attaining career-high achievements. The spotlight on the sport has recently expanded the spring season as a record number of 60 athletes have recently joined the […]

Six seniors and seven juniors were recognized for their academic excellence and inducted into Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society on Friday, March 11, 2022, in the Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing Arts. Inductees and their families gathered for a small reception in the Aileen Maury […]

Oak Knoll School’s French I class virtually performed in the skit “Matières, matières … !” – a French script written by Upper School World Language Teacher Irina Posso-Campana and co-directed by Oak Knoll junior Viera Pulver ’23 of Summit – in the student festival “Première Scène” from the Cultural Center of Lycée Francais de New York. Oak Knoll […]

Oak Knoll School’s 13-member fencing team closed out their winter season recently, but not before reaching several impressive milestones for the program.  For the first time in the school’s history, three students from the same season have qualified for the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) Fencing Championships.  Team co-captain Lauren Pacicco ’22 (Foil) was […]

For the fourth consecutive year, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding girls’ access to AP Computer Science. The award acknowledges 1,020 schools for their work toward equal gender representation during the 2020-21 school year. Oak Knoll is one of only 61 […]

Six Oak Knoll School photographers and one writer have been recognized in the 2022 Regional Scholastic High School Art and Writing Competition, presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. This is the largest competition for high school students to showcase their visual and written creative projects. Oak Knoll’s all-girls middle and high […]

The flag of the United States of America and New Jersey’s state flag were ordered to fly at half-staff today to honor the passing of Judge Barbara A. Curran, the first woman to serve in all three branches of New Jersey government and mother of Oak Knoll School alumna Katie Curran Darcy ’92, OKS Special […]

Eleven Oak Knoll School student-athletes (eight juniors and three seniors) were recently named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School National Academic Squad. The student-athletes are recognized for having a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0 and Scholars of Distinction are recognized for receiving a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.9 out of 4.0.  […]

Through thoughtful and imaginative drawings and paintings, a group of Oak Knoll seniors created unique memories of kindness and understanding for children from Africa.  Through the Memory Project – a global project where American art students exchange artwork with children from different countries – five seniors in the Oak Knoll Honors Portfolio class drew portraits […]

While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is typically a day off school for many children, students at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, NJ, dedicated their day away from school to help those in need in their community. Oak Knoll students spent time on Monday, January 17, 2022, making more than […]

Oak Knoll School’s field hockey team finished their fall season full of motivation and camaraderie as four OKS juniors out of only 136 student-athletes nationwide were named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association’s (NFHCA) High School All-American and All-Region team.  Lea Good ’23 (midfielder) of Chatham was named All-American, second-team; Emma Ramsey ’23 (forward) […]

Giving back to those most in need occurs year-round within the Oak Knoll School community and as Thanksgiving approaches, students are putting their “Actions, not words,” into motion to feed the hungry while learning about the importance of gratitude.  With nearly 200,000 New Jersey children facing hunger each day, Oak Knoll’s students in both the […]

Students in Oak Knoll School’s Upper School dressed comfortably while helping others during Oak Knoll School’s annual Service Day on Thursday, October 28, and at the same time, raised $1,256 to benefit three nonprofits in need. Oak Knoll’s Service Day fell on the same day as the school’s first of four HOPE Committee (Helping Other […]

Seven members of the Class of 2022 from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child continued their commitment to athletic competition at the collegiate level by signing National Letters of Intent, or in the case of the Ivy League institutions, committed to the admissions process, on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. Athletics Director Kelly Childs complimented […]

Oak Knoll’s field hockey team (No. 2) won the Union County Tournament title, beating Kent Place (No. 9) 7-2 on October 23, 2021 in Chatham. This marks the second year in a row in which Oak Knoll School (16-3) has defeated Kent Place (13-3) in the tournament final. Oak Knoll’s Head Field Hockey Coach, Ali […]

Oak Knoll School students put their classes on hold Thursday, October 28, 2021, and instead served the community on and off campus to support area nonprofits — many of which are still short staffed due to COVID — during the school’s nearly 20-year tradition of helping others and communities in need during their annual Service […]

Oak Knoll School’s fall sports teams are not only focused on winning their games and matches this fall – they’re also dedicated to a greater purpose – giving back and serving those in need around them.  

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child’s girls’ cross country team won the Union County Conference Mountain Division Championship on Thursday, October 14, 2021, at Oak Ridge Park in Clark, New Jersey. This marks the second time the Royals’ cross country team has won their division since 2018. This year, the Royals faced and defeated […]

The Oak Knoll Parents’ Association is proud to announce the school’s cherished holiday shopping event, the annual Royal Boutique, will return to its campus for its 28th year in Summit from November 11-13, 2021. After switching to a virtual format last year due to the pandemic, the annual shopping extravaganza will now be back in […]

For the first time since October 2019, the entire Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child community in the Upper and Lower schools gathered on the school turf field Friday, October 15, 2021, proudly displaying their school colors to honor Founders’ Day – the anniversary of the founding of the Society of the Holy Child […]

Seniors in Oak Knoll School’s Theology 12 class recently took a deeper dive into what it means to be a Catholic in the 21st Century and, to bolster their coursework, welcomed Bishop Elias Lorenzo, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, to Grace Hall Chapel, Friday, October 1, 2021. Bishop Elias shared his knowledge and […]

Nineteen seniors at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit, New Jersey, earned AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honors and AP Scholar with Distinction for their performance on Advanced Placement tests, the College Board has announced.

Seventh and eighth-grade Oak Knoll students learned how to push their boundaries, step out of their comfort zones and take risks during the school’s four-day EmpowHER program September 9-14, 2021

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, Oak Knoll formalized a grassroots service program, now known as the school’s annual Service Day – where, for the past 20 years, students have dedicated a day of service to those in their communities instead of attending classes. Today, the school partners with more than a dozen organizations during its annual Service Day.

For the past two years, the pandemic may have halted efforts to travel to Guatemala, however this didn’t stop Olivia O’Malley ’22 of Summit, NJ, from doing what she can from home to help impoverished children in need.  

Melissa Miller has joined Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child as Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ). Miller brings steep experience in DEIJ, admissions, special events, and donor relations from Newark Academy where she most recently served as the school’s Assistant Director of Admissions.

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child’s varsity top-seeded (No. 1) lacrosse team was recently named the NJ.com girls lacrosse Team of the Year in the state and in the NJ.com Stars and Stripes Conference. The Royals won the school’s third-ever Tournament of Champions title on Saturday, June 19, 2021, with a 10-9 win over […]

This summer, children may not only be battling the “summer slide” – or loss of learning during the summer months – but now also a COVID slide, or gaps in academic growth due to pandemic learning disruptions from last year.  Whether it is reading a favorite book, visiting a museum, or taking a virtual tour […]

Before clinching the school’s third-ever Tournament of Champions title last week, Oak Knoll School’s varsity lacrosse team spent time together off the field– this time to help two boys in need who are battling disease and sports injury. For the third year in a row, the OKS lacrosse team partnered with the Casey Powell World Lacrosse […]

Oak Knoll School’s top-seeded (No. 1) varsity lacrosse team completed the 2021 season, culminating with its third-ever Tournament of Champions title on Saturday, June 19, 2021, with an impressive 10-9 win over Moorestown (No. 3). The Royals roared back with an impressive four straight goals after the half to take the lead and secure the […]

Oak Knoll has announced Jennifer G. Landis will assume the role of Head of School effective July 1, 2021. She becomes the sixth official Head in the school’s 97-year history. Landis, Oak Knoll’s Associate Head of School, succeeds Timothy J. Saburn, who previously announced his retirement after 16 years as Head of School.  “It is […]

The final day of Oak Knoll’s academic school year concluded June 11, 2021, via a jammed-packed, in-person celebration recognizing many students at the annual Upper School Awards Ceremony. Students in grades 7-12 were celebrated for outstanding achievement across all departments including academics, the performing and creative arts, world language, athletics, computer science, music, English, history, […]

After spending May guidance classes discussing U.S civil rights, equity, and race, Oak Knoll Upper School students in grades 7-10 pieced together two poems – using words, lines, or phrases from more than 150 OKS submissions – all reflective of justice, peace, and compassion for all. During the final student homeroom of the school year […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child is going BIG as we wind down the 2020-21 school year, sending messages of gratitude and thanking loved ones, friends, and colleagues near and far. Tomorrow on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, the OKS Office of Advancement is set to honor the end of another successful school year with […]

Eighth-grade field hockey and lacrosse player Lilly Venezia ’25, of North Caldwell, earned the Royal Athlete Award Tuesday, May 25, 2021, during Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child’s Middle School Sports Award celebration held on campus for students and coaches and virtually for parents.  The Royal Athlete Award is given annually as the highest […]

Oak Knoll faculty and staff were seizing knights, pawns and bishops on Tuesday, May 25, during the sixth annual faculty vs. student chess tournament: “Picking Up the Pieces.” Upper School History teacher, and the tournament’s moderator, Grace Fidler, took first place during the tournament via a mix of in-person, on-campus faculty and students gathered socially […]

When Rachel Ford ’09 of South Orange, NJ, was 5, she dreamed of becoming a heart surgeon. When she was 10, she wanted to be a hematologist, and as a teenager, she carried around a physician’s pocket drug reference card in her purse. A career in medicine was always on Ford’s mind, throughout high school […]

Oak Knoll School’s award-winning lacrosse team (ranked No. 1) hit the ground running on Saturday, May 22, 2021, defeating Summit (No. 2) 11-5 and claiming the Union County Tournament title for the first time since 2017. The last New Jersey team to hold Summit to five goals or fewer was Ridgewood in a 7-4 decision […]

169 athletes kept track of how far they walked, ran, or their other form of physical activities for the second year in a row, all to benefit families in their community who suffered financial losses because of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Oak Knoll School came together in spirit and in movement and wrapped up its second […]

Oak Knoll School’s Upper School yearbook Aquila and Lower School yearbook Oak Leaves were both recently recognized as award-winning yearbooks by Jostens, the leading producer of yearbooks and student-created content. Oak Knoll’s Aquila and Oak Leaves earned Josten’s 2021 National Yearbook Program of Excellence award at the Bronze Level. Jostens’ National Yearbook Program of Excellence […]

Nineteen members of Oak Knoll School’s Class of 2022 were commissioned during Mass on Thursday, May 13, 2021, as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. The celebration was held in the OKS Grace Hall Chapel and via Zoom for parents.  The celebration for the newly commissioned Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion concluded the junior’s Eucharistic preparation […]

Oak Knoll Upper School students finished strong with another act of service to others during the school’s final HOPE Committee (Helping Other People Everywhere) fundraiser of the academic school year.  Oak Knoll’s HOPE Committee raised $ 1,131.75 for four nonprofits by organizing a dress down day where students, faculty and staff contributed $5 to dress […]

If the “Cap” Fits – If the “Cap” Fits is a signature editorial feature aimed to highlight the exciting experiences of Oak Knoll School seniors as they step out of the classroom during the month of May before graduation to complete a Capstone Project. As the final “cap” to their high school experience, Capstones allow seniors to independently explore different areas of interest to them, whether it is academic, creative, career or service-oriented and students are challenged to demonstrate their passion for discovery beyond the limits of the curriculum.

Nearly a dozen Oak Knoll Upper School students gave up their lunch period on campus last month to help assemble approximately 100 bagged lunches for Bridges Outreach. The lunches (each including a sandwich, piece of fruit, granola bar, cheese stick and a water bottle) were distributed to the housing insecure in New York City.  Bridges […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child recently named long-time Summit Police Chief Robert Weck as the school’s Director of Security. Weck, a resident of Hilltop City, arrives to campus after working for 31 years with the Summit Police Department, including the last nine years as Chief of Police. Weck succeeds current Director of Security […]

Seventy members of Oak Knoll’s Class of 2021 transitioned to alumnae during their induction into the Oak Knoll Alumnae/i Association on Friday, April 30, 2021. Transitions Day, which recognizes the last day of academic classes for the senior class, was held both in the Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing Arts for faculty, staff […]

In perfect sync for April’s National Poetry Month, a poem written by Oak Knoll School sophomore Viera Pulver ’23 was recently selected as a “JUST POETRY!!!” national winner in the 23rd annual National High School Poetry Contest. Pulver’s poem “Manipulated Euphoria” – experimental both in content and form – is one of 25 entries to be […]

Thirty seven members of the Class of 2021 and one member of the junior class were inducted into the World Language Honor Society on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, in recognition of their dedication and achievements while studying French, Latin and Spanish all four years while at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child. Verónika Zavaleta-Tejeda, […]

Nearly 30 Upper School students were recognized on Thursday, April 15, 2021, for their leadership, outstanding achievement and dedication to the creative arts at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child during the school’s 28th annual Arts Recognition Ceremony. Student arts leaders, faculty advisors and directors, and administrators gathered in the Mother Mary Campion Center […]

Oak Knoll School photographers have been recognized in the 2021 Regional Scholastic High School Art and Writing Competition, presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. This is the largest competition for high school students to showcase their visual and written creative projects. Oak Knoll junior and seniors earned Gold Key, Silver Key […]

While finding a COVID-19 vaccine appointment this year has been a burdensome task for most, for Samantha Werres Melworm ’98 of Clinton, NJ, there is nothing to it. Melworm, a fourth grade teacher in Scotch Plains-Fanwood, has been unselfishly stepping up to the plate to help colleagues, friends and her fellow Oak Knoll community members […]

Oak Knoll eighth graders learned that one person’s trash may be another person’s treasure. During the school’s remote learning session last spring, Creative Arts Director, Will Cardell, challenged his students to create “artworks by necessity.” Without traditional art supplies at home, last year’s eighth graders were given a project called “Got Junk? Call 1-800-ART-SCULPT” and […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child senior Emma Gamboa ’21 of Landing, NJ, recently committed to continuing her academics and athletics career at Army West Point in the fall. At West Point, Gamboa plans to pursue STEM as a potential area of study.  While at Oak Knoll, Gamboa ran cross country and played basketball […]

A recent article written by Talia Nochumson, Ed.D., Chair of Oak Knoll School’s Computer Science Department and Technology Integration Specialist, said about two-thirds of U.S. elementary school teachers (K-5) surveyed felt supported by their administration for using Twitter as a tool for learning.  Nochumson’s research, recently published in the CITE Journal –  Contemporary Issues in […]

In a joint online and in-person ceremony in the Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing Arts, seven Oak Knoll School seniors and six juniors were recognized for their academic excellence and were inducted into Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child chapter of the Cum Laude Society on Thursday, March 18, 2021.  Students were […]

A French script written by Oak Knoll sophomore Viera Pulver ’23 of Summit recently won Jury’s special mention for best original script for “En attendant Babar” in the student festival “Première Scène” – from the Cultural Center of Lycée Francais de New York.

Fifteen Oak Knoll School student athletes (eight seniors and seven juniors) were recently named to the National Field Hockey Coaches Association High School National Academic Squad. 

Eagerly anticipating the warmer spring months ahead, Oak Knoll students were busy at work recently and organized another H.O.P.E. Committee (Helping Other People Everywhere) fundraiser of the school year while helping to serve nonprofits in need.

Amy (Burnham) Mucha ’90 authored a children’s book that was published by Beaming Books on February 2, 2021. After Oak Knoll, she went on to Kenyon College, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in English Literature. Oak Knoll recently caught up with Mucha to discuss her new book, her love of writing […]

Oak Knoll senior Heather O’Hern ’21 from Westfield, was recently named as a finalist in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. O’Hern, who was among nearly 15,000 semi-finalists last fall based on PSAT scores during her junior year, is now in the running to become an official Merit Scholar designee, by the National Merit […]

Despite the snow that caused Oak Knoll to shorten its schedule during the first week of February, the H.O.P.E. Committee (Helping Other People Everywhere) was still busy at work fundraising to serve nonprofits in need. Oak Knoll School students enjoyed dress down day Friday, February 5, 2021, raising $914 to benefit The Human Needs Food […]

Two Oak Knoll School seniors are honoring Black History Month with drawings they crafted inspired by National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman’s inauguration poem “The Hill We Climb.”

Oak Knoll’s Upper School HOPE Committee kicked off the New Year by organizing two HOPE Committee collection drives, gathering items to benefit two area nonprofits.

Twenty-five members of the Class of 2021 made history at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child Wednesday, February 10, 2021, becoming the largest group to date to be commissioned as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion during Mass held in the Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing Arts.

Former Oak Knoll School students and other guests talked about their athletic and professional careers while offering advice to current OKS student athletes on Monday, February 1, during the third annual Women in Sports Leadership panel event via Zoom.

A new program at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child kicked off this week in the hopes to help empower future generations of female changemakers.

Timothy J. Saburn, Head of Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, is one of three recipients of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools’ 2020 Service Award.

Oak Knoll senior athlete Katherine Whelan ’21 earned the 2021 Women in Sports Award and represented Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child on February 3, 2021 in the statewide virtual celebration of the 35th anniversary of National Girls & Women in Sport Day (NGWSD).

For the third-consecutive year, Oak Knoll has earned the College Board AP Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding girls’ access to AP Computer Science.

As the famous civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Everyone can be great, because everybody can serve.” The Oak Knoll community took this creed to heart this past week as they celebrated Dr. King’s life through service to others and by learning about his legacy.

Oak Knoll history teacher John Petito recently earned the 2019 James McBride Teaching Award from the Jonathan D. Krist Foundation for guiding students through socially distanced learning by understanding the past history of pandemics.

Despite the uncertainty of a normal fall sports season, the Oak Knoll soccer team finished their season with gusto (6-8-1) with seven of their players recently named Union County Conference All-Stars. The teams were selected by the coaches from the Union County conference. Oak Knoll varsity forward Katherine Whelan ’21 was named to the All-Union […]

Oak Knoll’s field hockey team, ranked No. 1 in the country, continues to bring in the postseason accolades.

Nine members of the Oak Knoll School community recently took part in the 2020 National Association of Independent Schools’s People of Color Conference – the flagship of the NAIS commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning and organizational development. The mission of the virtual, four-day PoCC conference, from November 30 to December 4, 2020, […]

This month, the Oak Knoll community is making Christmas spirits bright for neighboring children and families in need. For the past month, both the Lower and Upper schools have been busy dedicating time to organizing special Christmas service programs that are sure to bring a little extra holiday magic to others. In the Lower School, […]

Oak Knoll School’s Athletics Department moderated a virtual panel discussion on Monday evening where a panel of five experts discussed the definitions, signs, symptoms, and treatments for eating disorders and disordered eating. “There is an increased obsession among our culture lately with size, weight, diet and exercise,” said Dr. Melissa Maskery, Ed.D., Oak Knoll’s Assistant […]

Ten OKS seniors and seven members of the junior class are fostering skills and gaining confidence to become effective leaders of today in a globalized world.

Oak Knoll’s Field Hockey team (NJ.com’s No. 1 seed) dominated the NJSIAA Central East E Championship last weekend, winning over long-time, local rival Kent Place (NJ.com’s no. 2 seed) in a 3-0 victory in Chatham. Despite a cancelled state group tournament and Tournament of Champions due to COVID-19, the Royals maintained an impressive winning streak […]

Oak Knoll School junior Paula Sefia ’22 channeled her coding skills earlier this month and seized first place in Kent Place’s first-ever Hackathon, designed to inspire students, especially girls, to work collaboratively and improve their programming skills by building a functional product in one day. The focus of the Hackathon was to “hack” or develop […]

Giving back to those most in need occurs year round within the Oak Knoll School community and Thanksgiving is no exception. This Thanksgiving the Upper School collected donations and raised $500 for the Pierre Toussaint Food Pantry located in Newark, NJ – one of 20 MEND member food pantries within the (M)eeting (E)ssential (N)eeds With […]

Oak Knoll’s tennis team recently defeated longstanding rival Kent Place in the girls’ NJSIAA Regional Tennis Championships (Central East Region Group E) seizing the title for the first time since 1999.

Eleven members of the Class of 2021 from Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child continued their commitment to athletic competition at the collegiate level by signing National Letters of Intent, or in the case of the Ivy League institutions, committed to the admissions process, on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. Athletics Director Kelly Childs complimented […]

Despite the rain last Friday, Oak Knoll Upper School students were upbeat, dressed comfortably and ready to serve the needs of the less fortunate. Last week, the Oak Knoll HOPE Committee (Helping Other People Everywhere) held its first HOPE week raising $ 1,173 for those in need by organizing a special day where students, faculty […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child alumna Molly Duffy ’10 spoke about her experiences as a Data Scientist at the popular social media platform Instagram.

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has made the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping easier than ever before as the school brings their largest fundraising event online, in its first-ever, week-long Virtual Royal Boutique. Starting November 30 and running through December 5, 2020, Oak Knoll’s Virtual Royal Boutique, sponsored by the Oak Knoll […]

The Oak Knoll School halls were buzzing today, bringing to life the phrase of their school’s founder Cornelia Connelly, “Actions, not words,” on Thursday, October 21, 2020, continuing a nearly 20-year tradition of helping others, during their annual Service Day. This year, Oak Knoll School’s Good Samaritan Service Day focused on their neighbors in need […]

The Oak Knoll field hockey team is rallying for a win against children’s cancer this fall, by raising funds for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The Royals are participating in The Parkway Run & Walk: Virtual Edition, where teams are challenged to run 6,546 miles this fall in honor of the 6,546 CHOP oncology patients […]

The Oak Knoll JV and Varsity soccer teams are running toward another goal this fall – this time to raise funds and awareness for The Welles Remy Crowther Charitable Trust during the Royals’ Red Bandanna 5K on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, during soccer practice.

Twenty-five seniors at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child earned AP Scholar and AP Scholar with Honor awards for their performance on Advanced Placement tests, the College Board has announced.

Oak Knoll senior and Berkeley Heights resident Isabella Henry ’21 was one of 16 area teenagers who helped raise $20,000 to aid health care workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic at Overlook Hospital. This year, Henry is returning to her volunteer position at the Overlook Foundation Junior Board as the 2020-21 co-chair.

Oak Knoll School junior and longtime squash enthusiast Alysa Ali ’22 of Watchung, recently earned the 2019-2020 US Squash Scholar Athlete Award from US Squash, the only national governing body and membership organization for the sport in the United States.

Students, faculty and staff gathered at a distance in Grace Hall Chapel and via Zoom across campus, to officially greet the new school year during the school’s annual Mass of the Holy Spirit, on Tuesday, September 22, 2020. During the spiritual celebration, Father Larry Evans of St. Francis Assisi Parish in Ridgefield Park, NJ, rallied […]

The spark that led Jeanne Horsey ’90 – mother to McCormick Horsey ’20 and Sadie Horsey ’21 – into the health profession, first flickered while working as a volunteer EMT during high school. Even after college, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing, the flame remained lit as Horsey continued her volunteer EMT work in Harding, NJ, to help those in need.

Two members of Oak Knoll’s Class of 2020 – Keelin Schlageter ’20 and Aine Maseker ’20 – were named to the 2020 Under Armour Senior All-American Lacrosse Team.

Oak Knoll School junior Haley Meehan ’22, of Morristown, was part of a three-person team named NJ Students of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

With so much uncertainty surrounding reopening schools in the fall, one thing is clear: Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child in Summit is ready for anything. After investing more than $600,000 in hygiene and facilities upgrades, Oak Knoll announced its full reopening plan for the 2020-21 academic school year nearly four months after Gov. […]

Aria Alva ’22 a rising Oak Knoll Junior from Summit, recently earned The Hugh O’Brian nationwide leadership award from the Hugh O’Brian Youth mission (HOBY) – a national organization that inspires and prepares future young leaders for a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation. Alva is one of nearly 300 teenagers from around the […]

Olivia O’Malley ’22 turned 16 this month, but instead of collecting the usual presents from family and friends, she asked them to help her raise money for those in need. O’Malley raised nearly $9,000, ran and organized a half marathon – all to benefit School the World, a nonprofit that fights extreme poverty by bringing education to the world’s poorest children.

Dr. Krystina Padkowsky Woods ’98 — an infectious disease physician, hospital epidemiologist, and medical director for Infection Prevention at Mount Sinai West — spent years learning how to treat infections like sepsis, malaria, hepatitis and HIV. But when the newest infectious disease and respiratory pathogen – COVID-19 – slammed her hospital in New York City this spring, it caught most in the medical field by surprise.

Those lazy, hazy days of summer are looking a bit different this time of year for many New Jersey area children. School is almost out for the summer, but due to COVID-19, many area day camps have closed due to health and state-wide restrictions. Oak Knoll School, however, has implemented a variety of online day […]

Growing up, Joan Paster remembers playing school with her two younger sisters where she naturally gravitated toward playing the role of teacher. It was during those carefree days of make-believe that Paster’s love for the classroom was born and then further cemented in graduate school at Vanderbilt University. While in pursuit of her master’s degree in history, Paster became a teaching assistant — thus changing the trajectory of her career. There, Paster realized she was happiest spending her days interacting with students in the classroom. Now, after a dedicated career as an educator, 30 years of which were spent at Oak Knoll School, Paster will retire after the 2019-20 school year.

The final day of Oak Knoll’s unprecedented virtual spring semester due to COVID-19, concluded June 5, 2020, via a live YouTube video recognizing dozens of students at the annual Upper School Awards Ceremony. Students were celebrated for achievement in academics, the performing and creative arts, athletics and more. Addressing fellow students, parents, faculty, staff and […]

More than 30 students were recognized for leadership, outstanding achievement and dedication to the performing and creative arts at Oak Knoll through the 27th annual Arts Recognition Ceremony.

At 34 weeks pregnant with her third child, Dr. Susan Schmidt Gomes ’01 felt guilty when she wasn’t able to help treat COVID-19 patients in New York City. Before becoming a pediatric intensive care physician at St. Christopher’s Hospital in Philadelphia, Gomes spent years in medical school learning how to treat ARDS — Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome – one of the main complications associated with COVID-19.

Many members of the Oak Knoll School Class of 2020 were getting ready to trade the classroom for the real world this month, but COVID-19 had other plans.

Jodie De Jesus ’21 and Nora Quinn ’21 have each seen first-hand how much time and compassion that health care workers dedicate to their patients. So, with COVID-19 still prevalent in area hospitals, the classmates didn’t hesitate to mobilize their own way of giving back.

Cynthea Traverso’s Honors Engineering class was looking forward to designing, building and testing the strength of balsa wood bridges in class in March, but COVID-19 had other plans.

Sixteen members of the Class of 2020 were inducted into the Foreign Language Honor Society on Tuesday, April 28, 2020, in recognition of their dedication and achievements while studying French, Latin and Spanish all four years while at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child.

It was planned well before the spread of COVID-19, but now, more important than ever. From April 21-24, 2020, the Oak Knoll School community celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week in a virtual, campus-wide effort to support various aspects of well-being.

Since Oak Knoll turned to remote learning in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, student-athletes on campus – and throughout much of the country – continue to lament the loss of their spring seasons. Now, nearly a month after Oak Knoll spring athletes last gathered on the field together, one team has found a way […]

In an unprecedented online ceremony, six seniors and six juniors were recognized for their academic excellence by being inducted into Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society on Friday, April 17, 2020.

Laura Steenberg ’05 was always the Oak Knoll classmate that others could count on. She tended to scraped knees, helped when classmates needed to go to the nurse’s office and lent a listening ear, always with a smile on her face.

In response to the financial impact COVID-19 has had across the globe, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child on Saturday announced the establishment of an Emergency Fund for families who are in financial distress.

Olivia Gasser ’14 is thankful for her college internship while at Georgetown University where for one summer, she worked with adult patients in the ICU unit at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York City. Gasser, a pediatric ICU nurse now at New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell in NYC, was told last week that her unit, which treats pediatric ICU patients, was converting into a full adult ICU unit to treat those with COVID-19. Gasser is now one of the nurses on the frontlines treating adult COVID-19 patients 3 days a week.

As the global COVID-19 pandemic swiftly began to infiltrate our region in early March, Oak Knoll School, like others around the state, turned to an emergency distance learning model for the first time in the school’s 95-year history.

New Jersey’s social distancing orders are keeping all groups at home these days, but that hasn’t stopped Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child from pitching in to help those fighting COVID-19 on the frontlines.

Kate Treanor ’14 was halfway through her first undergraduate degree as an English Literature major at Holy Cross College when her father became sick and hospitalized from a rare form of pneumonia. After witnessing the life-saving care the medical team and nurses from Brigham and Woman’s Hospital in Boston performed, Treanor changed career paths to become a nurse.

When Ali Sumas Good ’95, Oak Knoll’s varsity field hockey coach, and her family heard rumblings about a widespread virus beginning to wreak havoc in New Jersey, they immediately sprang into action.

Ghislaine Smith ’08, a third year OB/GYN resident at Saint Barnabas Hospital, said that as the coronavirus continues to spread throughout the country, New Jersey is running out of essential supplies and ventilators.

High school sports around the state and country may have come to a halt because of COVID-19, but the Oak Knoll lacrosse team is still busy at work preparing for a win unlike any other. For the second year in a row, the lacrosse team is partnering with the Casey Powell World Lacrosse Foundation (CPWLF), […]

Oak Knoll alumna Alicia Romeo ’90, M.D., a psychiatrist with the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina, isn’t a novice when it comes to helping patients cope with stress and anxiety. As a former Yale School of Medicine faculty member who worked with patients in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Shooting in 2012, Romeo is experienced in helping people exposed to trauma.

As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools for her children, Katie Curran Darcy ’92 sprang into action, searching for ways to help those around her.

Oak Knoll senior Olivia Gaston ’20, of Morristown, recently earned a Certificate of Achievement by the Northern New Jersey Committee of the Princeton Prize in Race Relations for her efforts to advance racial equity. One of seven recipients in the state to earn the certificate, Ms. Gaston was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants […]

Oak Knoll students organized a sleep-in and raised nearly $6,000 so that others don’t have to “sleep out” on the streets during the 2020 Covenant House Sleep Out: Student Edition. The event raised critical funds needed to combat teen homelessness. This is the third-consecutive year that the Oak Knoll fundraiser has benefited the Covenant House […]

Amid the rapid spread of the novel COVID-19 virus, Oak Knoll School kicked off its move to a distance learning schedule on Monday, March 23, 2020. Oak Knoll joined the unprecedented virtual learning movement that hundreds of schools in the state and thousands across the country have quickly adopted. Before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy […]

For the first time this summer, high school-aged students will be able to sharpen their skills and enroll in online classes as part of a brand new signature component of Oak Knoll School’s Summer Scholars program. Registration is now live for Oak Knoll’s Summer Scholars, a coeducational program that consists of 10 on-campus classes in […]

Oak Knoll senior Celia Peri ’20, of Chester, recently qualified to compete at the state level of the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) – the first time an Oak Knoll student has qualified to compete at the state level. FBLA is the high school division of Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda, Inc., […]

Upper School students were busy putting the needs of others before themselves recently as the HOPE Committee (Helping Other People Everywhere) raised more than $1,600 for those in need by organizing a special dress down day and bake sales before the school departed for spring break. The dress down day and bake sales were organized […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child announced Friday, March 13, 2020, the appointment of Kelly Dun, the school’s first Director of Enrollment Management. She will oversee student admission, financial aid and retention efforts, as well as manage the Admission Office’s three full-time staff. Ms. Dun brings nearly 30 years of experience in secondary education, […]

Oak Knoll senior Caroline Hall from New Providence, New Jersey, was recently named as a finalist in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Hall, who was among nearly 16,000 semifinalists last fall based on PSAT scores during her junior year, is now in the running to become an official Merit Scholar designee, by the […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child proudly presents the Upper School spring musical performance of Broadway’s Disney classic, “Beauty and the Beast.” The Mother Mary Campion Center for the Performing Arts sets the stage for Oak Knoll’s musical cast to portray the journey of a young, intelligent girl named Belle, who encounters the Beast […]

For the second consecutive year, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has earned the College Board AP® Computer Science Female Diversity Award for expanding girls’ access to AP Computer Science courses. Out of the 20,000 institutions that offer AP courses, Oak Knoll is one of just four schools in New Jersey and 36 in […]

The award-winning Oak Knoll Royals varsity field hockey team continues to dominate off the field as they recently scooped up a remarkable amount of postseason accolades. Eleven Royals were selected from more than 2,300 student-athletes in 270 high schools across the country and named to the 2019 Keith Waldman – Optimal Performance Associates/NFHCA High School […]

Two Oak Knoll eighth graders earned first and second place at the New Jersey School Consortium Annual Spelling Bee held at Delbarton School in December. Julia Syzmanski ’24, of Ridgewood, took first place; Rory Weldon ’24, of Summit, took second. At the Spelling Bee, Oak Knoll entered the competition with four students each on a […]

Oak Knoll senior two-sport athlete Aine Maseker ’20, of Madison, earned the 2020 Women in Sports Award and represented Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child on February 9, 2020 in the statewide celebration of the 34th anniversary of National Girls & Women in Sport Day (NGWSD) at Seton Hall University. The award recognizes top […]

The Oak Knoll Royals varsity ice hockey team won the inaugural Union County Girls’ Hockey Tournament title last week in an impressive 5-0 shutout victory vs. Summit. The Royals also topped Westfield and Kent Place in the Tournament. The Royals dominated on the ice during the upset as freshman stand-out goalie Emmalyn Lacz ’23, of […]

Oak Knoll School photographers and artists have been recognized in the 2020 Regional Scholastic High School Art and Writing Competition, presented by the nonprofit Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. This is the largest competition for high school students to showcase their visual and written creative projects. Oak Knoll’s all-girls’ middle and high school earned […]

Oak Knoll School senior and basketball standout Paige Morton ’20, from Summit, joined rare and historic company when she scored her 1,000th point Tuesday, January 21, 2020 at home versus the Royals’ cross-town rival, Kent Place. Morton, who will be continuing her basketball career at Princeton University next year, is now one of only eight […]

Oak Knoll juniors Mary Kate Vowells ’21 and Madeline Morton ’21, both of Chatham, earned a first place award at the 50th anniversary of the Mid-Atlantic Oireachtas Irish Dance Competition held in Philadelphia over Thanksgiving. The OKS juniors scored first place out of 71 teams in the Ladies 4-Hand 15 and over competition, with a […]

The popular image of bright-eyed children excitedly opening gifts under the tree on Christmas morning may not be the norm for those in need. That is why at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, giving back to the community – part of the school’s vital mission – is top of mind during Christmas as […]

Oak Knoll School senior and Chatham resident Julianna Feit ’20 recently earned a Gold Award from the Girl Scouts, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. The Gold Award is based around a well-researched and sustainable Take Action project. In order to earn her Gold Award Project, Feit completed more than 120 hours devoted […]

NJ.com recently released its 2019 Essex/Union Conference All-Stars field hockey post season honors and most notably the undefeated, Tournament of Champions-winning varsity Oak Knoll Royals field hockey program scooped up Team of the Year in addition to four other accolades. “What this team was able to accomplish this season was truly remarkable,” said Kelly Childs, […]

More than 175 middle school choral students gathered at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child Tuesday, November 19, 2019, for a collaborative workshop that ended with several spirited performances. Students from Oak Knoll, Frelinghuysen Middle School, Morris Plains Borough School, Newark Academy, the Delbarton School and the Peck School – which are members of […]

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has announced the selection of Kathryn McGroarty as the next Upper School Division Head. Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child has announced the selection of Kathryn McGroarty as the next Upper School Division Head.McGroarty is currently the Director of Educational Innovation at the Madeira School in McLean, […]

Oak Knoll’s varsity field hockey program captured the NJSIAA/Investors Bank Tournament of Champions title for the second time in three years and the third in school history on Friday, November 15, 2019, over fellow perennial powerhouse Eastern. The win also completed a perfect season and the team’s goal of avenging last year’s TOC loss to […]

Thirteen members of the Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child Class of 2020 confirmed their commitment to continue athletic competition at the collegiate level Wednesday, November 13, 2019, by signing early National Letters of Intent. The student-athletes officially signed letters of intent – or have become committed to the admissions process in the case […]

Oak Knoll’s varsity tennis team dedicated its 2019 season to raising awareness for melanoma and collected $500 to fund research for the disease in honor of the late Christopher Westdyk, brother of current and former members of the program. The effort was a teamwide initiative and specifically benefits the Melanoma Research Foundation, which has a […]

The entire Oak Knoll School community, continuing a nearly 20-year tradition, spent Thursday, October 24, 2019, serving local charitable organizations during the school’s annual Service Day. More than 325 Upper School students helped more than a dozen local organizations that support, among other things, the local homeless community, agricultural needs and educational efforts. “It’s really […]

Sharon Wood, the first North American woman to summit the world’s tallest mountain, spoke to students and faculty at Oak Knoll School Thursday, urging them to overcome the risks that prevent them from achieving their goals. Wood recounted to students in the afternoon, and in the evening to parents, how what she termed “anticipatory angst” […]

Fifteen seniors at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child earned AP Scholar and AP Scholar with Honor awards for their performance on Advanced Placement tests, the College Board has announced. In addition, several members of the Class of 2019 earned AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor and AP Scholar with Distinction awards. AP Scholar […]

Students and faculty at Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child collected 50 cases of bottled water as part of the City of Summit’s Clean Water Drive benefiting the residents of Newark. Newark residents who are serviced by the Pequannock treatment plant have been battling spiked levels of lead in their water since 2017. At […]