The best years of my life were spent at this middle school. It's even better than the high school. The teachers are friendly, enthusiastic and they encourage having pride for their students.
Part of this pride comes from the way the school is set up. The 7th and 8th graders are divided into three different groups, (the Adventurers, Voyagers and Seekers for the seventh graders and the Mavericks, Challengers and Explorers for the eighth graders.) It's hilarious to see students always bickering with their friends on which team is the best. These teams bond together through field trips and field days. The program for this school is really amazing and bring interest to the students.
If you're lucky enough to be in the music program, enjoy every second of it. Mr. Taylor and Mr. Meyer are indescribable by words in how much they truly care for students and their talent in educating them in music. It's nowhere that great in high school. At Oak, it just has a glimmering, unadulterated shine to it. The auxiliary team is great as well.
The staff is also amazing. While many students at the high school have no clue who the administrative people are, the principal and vice principal at Oak, (Mr. Gray and Mr. Topalian, respectively,) can always be seen surveying the sidewalks before school to make sure students are safe. They stop to greet students with a genuine smile as they rush to school and are very dedicated to their jobs. Also, they're both just really cool guys.
The memories I made at this school were so precious that I sometimes find myself tearing up when I walk past it again.
As a downside, Oak Avenue lacks a good program of honors classes and clubs, and I hear a lot about students doing drugs and sex, though obviously, not the majority of them. A lot of the students are crazy during junior high, but they mellow out as they go to the high school. Dances are kind of lame at Oak, but if you have your ID card, it's free, so why not?
Other brief good points I'd like to bring up is the great art program by an amazing art teacher, (Ms. Lee) and lots of fun and random activities during extra-long lunches, (like dodgeball games and music advocating school events.)
If only the high school was this good, I'd never want to leave. read more