Oakwood third grade students learned about the "White Table" tradition of setting a small table with a white cloth and one chair in a common dining area to honor our veterans – especially MIAs and POWs – to remind us of their sacrifices and the impact on their families. They respectfully set a "white table" on campus today to serve as a visual reminder to our student body. Students were invited to add the name and photo of a military family or friend who has served, or is presently serving, to their display. To learn more about this tradition and the meaning of each item on the table, you can visit the website of Margot Raven, author of children's book, America's White Table, which Oakwood third grade students read in class.

Dia de los Muertos – the Day of the Dead – is a holiday celebrated on November 2nd throughout Latin America. Day of the Dead altars, also known as ofrendas (offerings), are constructed and adorned to remember, honor and please the dead, and are a central symbol of the Dia de los Muertos in Mexico. Seňora Alvarez's Spanish 2, 3 and 4 classes created an altar and learned all about the symbolism of each item displayed. Students had the opportunity to honor a deceased loved one and a Hispanic celebrity by placing their photo on the altar and sharing a little about them with the class.

Oakwood seventh grade students recently spent three days on Catalina Island. The trip was hosted by the Catalina Environmental Leadership Program and offered students the opportunity to experience the beauty of the Chanel Islands and to apply the many concepts covered throughout their science curriculum. The unique ecosystems that surround the island made for ideal hands-on learning for our students.

Oakwood fourth and fifth grade students celebrated the Middle Ages and Renaissance time periods with a day full of hands-on, enriching, and educational activities. Students, faculty, and parent volunteers donned period-specific attire from elaborate gowns to pirate and knight costumes. Games and activities included archery, Shakespeare recitations, and jousting. Students learned all about falconry and were able to see and interact with falcons and owls. A medieval weaponry expert held demonstrations and students were able to handle weaponry and even try on some knight's armor. A guest speaker talked to them about how children lived in that time period and how they got their food and clothing. After a grand feast, the celebration concluded with a May Pole Dance by our very own fourth grade students and recorder performance by our incredible fifth graders. Thank you to all of the volunteers who made this event possible.

The original design and artwork of Oakwood High School freshman, Noah Chin, was selected by a committee comprised of members from the Library, Culture, and Arts Commission (LCAC), the City of Morgan Hill City Council, and Leadership Morgan Hill for the "Art and Inspiration" project. The project aims to beautify existing cityscape and encourage community pride, by using utility boxes and transforming them into inspiring works of art. Noah's creative and impressive artwork titled, "What You Think You Become," can be seen on the corner of Hale Avenue & Llagas Road and will be a long-term installation of Morgan Hill. Drive by and check it out! Congratulations and thank you for sharing your talent to beautify and inspire our town, Noah.

Did you know that Oakwood students can now take a shuttle to school? Oakwood has partnered with Kidz Jet Shuttle Service to provide transportation to and from Oakwood for students in Los Gatos and San Jose. Kindergarten through high school students are utilizing this service and loving it. This alternative transportation is helping to keep the air clean while providing an opportunity to grow the Oakwood community.

Keeping with Oakwood tradition, Oakwood High School students kicked off the year with their High School Adventure. Students and faculty embarked on an amazing experience whitewater rafting on the South Fork of the American River. It was an adventure indeed, with moments of sheer excitement paddling through roaring rapids and making wonderful memories with friends. Talented Oakwood Sophomore Narmina Khan wore a camera throughout the day and then compiled a video of the day's adventures.

Last Saturday, at the CCS Track and Field Semi-Finals Meet, Maryam Moghaddami was presented with the Elgie Bellagio Sportsmanship Award. The award is given to an MTAL athlete displaying exemplary sportsmanship. Elgie was a long time MTAL commissioner and the award is named in his honor.

This year, representatives from the Stevenson School Track & Field had the honor of awarding the Elgie Bellagio Sportsmanship Award. The team noted Maryam's constant positive support of her competitors, her appreciation of the fact that their efforts make her better, and her encouragement for them to improve. All of the athletes were happy and their pleasure is evident in their smiles. This was a successful end to the Track and Field season, indeed.

National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced this year's National Merit Scholarship winners. Oakwood Senior Claire Murphy has been selected as a recipient for this prestigious award. Merit Scholar designees were chosen from a talent pool of more than 15,000 outstanding finalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations, Claire!

A Groundbreaking Ceremony was held to commemorate and officially launch the Spreading Our Roots: Oakwood School Campus Expansion project on Thursday, May 10th as part of our Spring Open House and Art Show. All students and their families were invited to join us as we marked this special moment.

The event started with a few words from our Head of School Michelle Helvey, who shared what the school and this project meant to her and why the expansion was necessary, followed by remarks from Larry Kent of Kent Construction, who built the Oakwood high school building and is completing this important project for us. Ted Helvey spoke next about the history of our school and campus and how it belongs to all of us. The administration, along with some honored guests and students, donned hard hats and shovels and ceremoniously broke ground, while confetti cannons showered participants with colorful confetti. Attendees were given Spreading Our Roots: Oakwood School Campus Expansion seed packets at mementos of this historic celebration. Oakwood high school student Ashwin Viswesvaran took photos and videos of the event and we will share his finished compilation as soon as it is ready.

This campaign will be the first of its kind for Oakwood, and will mirror what other independent, not-for-profit schools employ to fundraise for projects of this magnitude. As we ramp up our fundraising efforts to complete Oakwood's new liberal arts building, gymnasium, and playfields, ultimately advancing our school's ability to provide enhanced hands-on learning opportunities and expanded extracurricular offerings for our current students as well as sustaining this excellence decades into the future, we will look to our entire community for support.

On Monday, August 28, Oakwood middle school students and their teachers headed out on their Oakwood Adventures, a day of team-building activities.

Nikhita G. was a guest columnist in the latest issue of Morgan Hill Life in which she shares her experience with type 1 diabetes and her efforts to increase funding for research. In just a few weeks she will be one of five Bay Area teens headed to Washington D.C. to meet with their two U.S. senators and at least one member of Congress to talk about renewing $150 million in federal funding to find a cure for the disease.

Nikhita is part of Oakwood's speech and debate team and has been a recipient of awards for her public speaking. It's wonderful to see her taking those skills to make a positive change in the world. We wish her and fellow members of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation the best as they travel to D.C. to address congress.