One of the many things that sets the Oak Hill Academy experience apart from other schools is the international culture our student body has to offer. Our students and their families aren’t from our neighborhood- they’re from around the world.
That’s why we’re intentional in our efforts to include parents and families in the life of the school. We meet monthly with our Parents’ Association through Zoom. On a weekly basis, we communicate to update schedules and announce events. We send newsletters and reminders regularly. And we always make ourselves available to hear from our families.
But Parents’ Day is perhaps the most important opportunity to host our families on campus so that they can experience firsthand what life on The Hill is like for their students. We enjoyed this year’s Fall Parents’ Day on September 21st. We schedule two such weekends each year, one of just a handful of in-person opportunities for students to visit with families on campus. Our spring Parents’ Day is longer and includes a sit-down formal dinner, our spring play, an equestrian showcase, family games in Turner Gymnasium, and several presentations.
Our fall Parents’ Day is shorter and less formal. In keeping with our theme to build community, our fall Parents’ Day begins on Thursday evening with a family-style picnic at the Hough Dorm Pavilion, where we sit and casually engage with our families in a beautiful location overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. The entire school is there enjoying time together. Lawn games break out after dinner, parents get to know one another, and the food is second to none. thanks to our amazing dining staff.
The next morning begins with breakfast in our cafeteria, followed by homeroom, where families get to experience for themselves what it’s like to begin the day at Oak Hill Academy. After homeroom, it’s off to school, where families visit classrooms alongside their students. We strategically schedule our fall Parents’ Day to occur near the interim of the first academic quarter. By then, teachers know their students, and they have established some groundwork in their studies, which allows for informed parent/teacher conferences. Then it’s off to lunch, where families can sit together before heading off campus for a long weekend.
Each activity during Parents’ Weekend serves to strengthen our connection to our students, and our community environment as a whole. We delight in the opportunity to welcome families to campus to experience Oak Hill Academy for themselves. Thanks for visiting!