Oakwood Middle School's FIRST Tech Challenge team, Build-A-Bot #18247, competed in a qualifier tournament on January 15th at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara. Against a field of mostly high school teams, Oakwood's 7th and 8th-grade students reached the elimination rounds, captained an alliance, and competed in the semifinals of the robot game. Additionally, judges assessed their efforts this season, and the team was awarded the "Motivate" award for excellence in community outreach and embodying FIRST's ideal of Gracious Professionalism. The team was a finalist for other awards as well.

Oakwood School proudly celebrated Homecoming 2022 with spirit week, daily lunchtime games for high school students, a pep rally, and exciting basketball games. Students from preschool to high school dressed up to show their school spirit each day.

The high school held its first annual HOCO Games which included a wheelbarrow race, scavenger hunt, and balloon pop. The games culminated on Friday when the Middle School and High School came together for the Homecoming Pep Rally that featured our cheer team, a trivia game, shoutouts to students who participate in Oakwood extracurricular activities, and a fast-paced relay race.

Oakwood School faculty and staff enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at the PSA-Sponsored Staff Appreciation Holiday Luncheon held at the beautiful Eagle Ridge Golf Club Grand Ballroom on Friday, December 15. Each table had its own uniquely-themed centerpiece donated by generous members of our PSA. The ballroom also featured beautiful Christmas trees to set the holiday mood. The faculty and staff at Oakwood School would like to thank the PSA Hospitality Coordinators and all of the families that donated items and volunteered their time for this incredible event for Oakwood Staff. We are truly thankful for the entire Oakwood Community!

Oakwood School high school senior Sahej Sidhu has been awarded the 2021 Citizen Award from the Santa Clara County Medical Association for her incredible work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year Sahej was very involved in helping the community and the health care workers during the shelter in place and thereafter with the Covid-19 surges. She started a community outreach program to gather personal protective equipment (PPE) for front-line workers during the first months of the Covid epidemic. This program procured over 1000 gloves, 1000+ masks, 500 face shields, 1000 hospital isolation gowns, along with hand sanitizers and Clorox wipes; these PPE items were distributed across Santa Clara county. We are incredibly proud of Sahej. She is an inspirational young woman who is genuinely dedicated to serving her community and making it a better place.

Oakwood School celebrates high school student Noah Chin for earning a perfect score on a college-level Advanced Placement® (AP®) Exam in spring 2021. Noah was one of only one of 46 students in the world to earn every point possible on the AP 3-D Art and Design Exam. "AP courses and exams are college-level, requiring great focus and persistence among participating students," said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement Program. Noah is an incredibly talented and passionate student, and we are proud of his incredible accomplishment.

Oakwood School middle school students in the Harmonettes and Harmonics performing groups lit up the stage on November 11 and 12. The night included an energetic set of songs and dances. Under the musical direction of Mr. Sotelo and Mrs. Blanchard, the students sang solos and songs in two-part harmony. Some of the lively dances were choreographed by High School sophomore Mikaela Minoza and Mrs. Carrillo, and members of the two groups collaborated on them. The Harmonettes and Harmonics put on an outstanding performance that left the audience singing all the way home.

On November 13, Oakwood School hosted an Open House for prospective students and their families as well as current Oakwood families who wanted to preview all the opportunities ahead. The day was a wonderful showcase of all Oakwood has to offer, with classroom demonstrations, student performances, and student-led campus tours. This event, the first on-campus Open House in nearly two years, was a true celebration for our school community. We were thrilled to welcome current and future Oakwood families to campus for this special day.

Oakwood will host one more Open House this school year–mark your calendar for Saturday, March 5, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Contact admissions@oakwoodway.org to RSVP.

Thanks & Giving is an Oakwood School community service project that encompasses our educational goal of being community contributors through respect, service, cooperation, and good citizenship.

Oakwood School is proud to announce that our Boys Varsity Cross Country team has been selected as recipients of the 2021 Fall Season Scholastic Championship Team Award with a cumulative GPA of 3.764. This award, given by the Central Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation, is given to the five teams from schools from throughout the entire Central Coast Section, with the highest GPAs taken from Varsity athletes competing for that sport during the season.

Oakwood School buzzed with excitement for the first High School production of the year, "Fools." There was excitement in the hallways, excitement in classrooms, and most importantly-excitement backstage!

Oakwood High School cross country participated in the PCAL Cross Country Championship Meet held on October 30. Over 700 runners raced on the challenging course at Toro Park, and the Oakwood runners rose to the challenge!

Oakwood 5th-grade students were the first class to perform for an audience in the Gwendolyn Riches Liberal Arts Theatre this school year! In their productions of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," the students brought to life brief vignettes spanning Valentine's Day to Beethoven Day. Both casts did an excellent job putting their personalities on display, making each one a special treat! Families and friends were delighted to see them perform live! Special thanks to Sandra Perryman, Anna Gorski, Emily Shem-Tov, Julie Singh, Mai Nguyen, William Kabelac, Matthew Morgan, Mahesh and Kamala, April Verbeek, and Karen Aldada for volunteering to help students; thank you so much for helping our show be a total success!

Oakwood High School honored Senior Student-Athletes from Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball, and Co-Ed Cross Country at the Fall Senior Night celebration before the Girls Varsity Volleyball game against Pac Point High School last week.

Oakwood School's fourth and fifth-grade students celebrated the Middle Ages last week with a day full of hands-on, enriching, and educational activities at Oakwood's annual Medieval/Renaissance Faire. Students, faculty, and parent volunteers donned period-specific attire from elaborate gowns to pirate and knight costumes.

Oakwood High School is proud to announce that three of our seniors have earned the distinction of Commended Students in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program: Aiden Huang, Mara Roldan, and Pandora Shi. Less than 2% of all U.S. high school students are recognized by the prestigious National Merit Scholarship Corporation with a "Letter of Commendation" for their academic success. This recognition is an honor for these students and for Oakwood School. These three young people have demonstrated outstanding intellectual prowess, and we are proud of their success.