Field Trips

Oakwood High School students traveled over Spring Break to the beautiful country of Spain. They toured Madrid, Toledo, Córdoba, Sevilla, and Granada, visiting many places of historical significance and learning about the heritage of the different regions. As they toured the country they were able to soak in Spain's natural beauty, practice their Spanish and enjoy traditional cuisine. The trip was a tremendous opportunity to learn about Spain, submerge themselves into the Spanish culture, and delve into life in this incredible country. The students came home very happy and full of stories of their adventures.

On Saturday, March 2nd, eight Oakwood High School students (comprising three teams) traveled to Roseville to compete in the annual CodeWars computer programming contest. For three hours, the teams competed against 180 students from all over northern California in attempting to solve a collection of 29 problems of varying difficulties. All three teams coded impressively, and thrived in this exciting and competitive environment. Special congratulations to the team of Shayan Daijavad, Kate Jackson, and Konark Vinod, who finished 4th in the Novice division.

Monday, February 25th Junior and Senior Advisory classes journeyed to the Monterey Bay Conference Center to attend the Leon Panetta Student Lecture Series. This year's theme Checks and Balances – Will Our Democracy Survive? provided the topic of our lecture The Mueller Investigation, the Law and the Presidency. This annual event has become a highly anticipated tradition at Oakwood and one that delivers enduring memories for all involved. The experience serves as a catalyst for deep conversation and in turn generates new perspectives. Click "Read More" for details.

The Oakwood High School AP Spanish class took a field trip with Doña Alvarez to Mission San Juan Bautista to see a performance of la Virgen del Tepeyak in Spanish. The musical presents the story of Juan Diego and the origin of the Virgin of Gudalupe. Through this story, Spanish students were able to see the mix of Aztec and Catholic traditions. Witnessing the music, costumes, and dance was especially powerful in the setting inside the walls of Mission San Juan Bautista, which was built in 1797. It was a bright and colorful experience that enriched their lives and helped to build their Spanish vocabulary and knowledge of the culture.

On Thursday, November 16 Don Leach's Intro to Linguistics class took a field trip to the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS). At MIIS Oakwood students were able to explore different careers and opportunities that are available to people who study linguistics.

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.

On Monday, March 26 a group of seniors went to Monterey to attend The Panetta Institute's 2018 Lecture Series. The theme for this session was "Global Crisis and the American Dream — America First or America as a World Leader?" Students were able to participate in a panel discussion with former U.S. Ambassador to Russia and Stanford professor, Michael McFaul; former secretary of defense for policy, Michèle Flournoy; and Pulitzer Prize writer and political commentator George Will. The conversation was moderated by Leon Panetta, who served as Secretary of Defense and Director of the CIA. Seniors Claire Murphy and Jeff Ruster represented Oakwood well by asking questions about U.S. foreign policy with North Korea and about the Vietnam War that initiated engaging responses from the panelists. Interactions like these demonstrate that Oakwood students are preparing to become future leaders in our communities and the nation!

On Saturday, March 3, nine Oakwood students traveled to Roseville to compete in the annual CodeWars computer programming contest, sponsored by HP. The students competed in teams of three against over 200 other students from nearly 80 schools. The problem set was extremely challenging this year, but the students were undaunted and already look forward to returning in 2019!

A group of Oakwood High School juniors and seniors from Economics, Immigration Policy, and Government classes attended the Leon Panetta Lecture Series in Monterey. They heard from U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte and Chris Dodd on the topic of "The Economy and the American Dream – Impact of Debt, Growth, Immigration and Tax Cuts." The discussion focused on the link between the American Dream and economic opportunity. Prior to the lectures, students had the opportunity to participate in a lively discussion with the speakers and other students from the Central Coast and Northern California.

A select few Oakwood high school juniors and seniors attended the Startup Grind Global Conference in Redwood City on February 13 and 14. They were able to attend a wide range of sessions on topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Augmented Reality, and CryptoCurrency. They also got to hear exciting new ideas showcased by various startup companies.

On Saturday, December 2, Eshika J. and Maddy H. attended the Girls Teaching Girls to Code event at Stanford University. In teams of 4, they worked to solve 5 different computer science-related puzzles, which included recursion, binary, and programming. It was a great opportunity to meet and collaborate with other girls from the Bay Area who are also passionate about computer science.

Oakwood middle school and high school Fiber Arts classes visited the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, where they viewed and discussed its 40th Anniversary Exhibit. The exhibit highlighted a variety of quilts, weavings and other fiber art pieces from their permanent collection. After a guided tour, students had the unique opportunity to work with the museum's Artists in Residence – a collaborative duo known as RoCoCo – who guided the students with experimentation with printmaking techniques on textiles.

Madame de Bree's upper level French class took a field trip to the San Francisco Opera to watch the production of Manon. It captured French music, language, literature, history and social movement beautifully and was truly an authentic cultural experience for these students.

Oakwood High School Linguistics students spent the day in Monterey meeting with several individuals at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. Soon after arriving, the group sat down with Lama Ranjous, a graduate student in International Policy and Development program, to discuss the role of language and cultural competence in her work and studies. The group also met with Thor Sawin, a professor of teaching English and second languages. They wrapped up the day with a Q&A session with Holly Mikkelson, a professor of Translation and Interpretation. Everyone who attended went home that evening inspired by the words of the individuals at the Middlebury Institute.