Student Life

Oakwood is a vibrant, dynamic community, alive with the palpable enthusiasm and curiosity of its student body.  Our students engage in a myriad of activities outside of the classroom, be they athletic, artistic, or service-oriented.  Channeling their energy and pursuing their passions, Oakwood students become more themselves through a host of extracurricular activities, adding texture to the overall middle school experience.  Student-run clubs, music, theater, and dance performances, newspapers and blogs, radio programs, sports teams, and social/cultural awareness groups such as Girls Learn International and OSADD, all mark the Oakwood experience as one that encourages student voice and presence in the greater community.

Town Meeting

At least once weekly, the entire Oakwood Secondary School community gathers together in the gym for nearly an hour.  Led by the elected co-presidents of Student Council, this Town Meeting is at once forum, performance, in gathering, exhibition, and information session.  Community members from the Head of School to the newest 7th grader are welcome to wait patiently in line for the microphone.  Musical performances, club meeting announcements, spoken word op-ed pieces, dramatic readings, dance-offs, shout outs, green living tips, and celebrations showcase the diversity, creativity, and freedom of expression at the core of the Oakwood spirit.  Often, Town Meeting is a springboard for further discussions throughout the week.  Town Meeting is entertaining, provocative, and informative.  It is one vibrant manifestation of the Statement of Philosophy and of the passions that compose the Oakwood community.

In addition, middle school students gather monthly for a separate Town Meeting. This allows the middle school student council members the opportunity to lead their peers through conversations and agendas that are specific to the middle school experience. Furthermore, monthly grade level meetings provide time for detailed discussions and topics relating to each grade level.

Middle School Advisory Program

Oakwood School is dedicated to the social/emotional development of each student through the Advisory Program. Middle school advisory provides a safe place for students to discuss issues of relevance and develop connections with peers and faculty. A student's advisor serves as a caring guide and support through the academic, social, and emotional landscape of middle school. Through varied activities and discussions, students cultivate relationships and establish a practice of reflection about their lives and the world around them. Middle school students meet in advisory twice a week. 

Middle School Clubs

All students may propose and create their own clubs with a faculty sponsor. Many clubs are middle school-specific, while other clubs are open to the 7-12 community and provide a wonderful mentorship opportunity for the older students on campus. Some of the current clubs on campus for middle school include: Animal Rights, Art & Lit Magazine, Chess Club, Coding Club, Cultural Awareness, Debate, Dungeons and Dragons, Girls Learn International, JPL Competition Team, LA Family Housing, Mock Trial, Rainbow Alliance, Robotics, SAGE (Students for Gender Equality), Somos Unidos, STEAM Council, Student Government, The Banana (Middle School Newspaper), Theater Tech, and much more.