Our School Blog
The Arts at the Heart of Learning
At Blue Oak, the arts are not an “extra”; they are deeply woven into how students learn, think, and grow. Whether through music, movement, visual art, or real-world connections, our students are developing creativity, confidence, resilience, and a sense of purpose....
Why Small Schools Make a Big Difference: A Look Inside Blue Oak’s Middle School
As the academic year winds down and summer peeks around the corner, Blue Oak School is already looking ahead—with open applications for the 2025–2026 school year and a robust lineup of summer programs. At the heart of this forward-looking momentum is Blue Oak’s...
Best Private School Pedagogy–Blue Oak School’s BreakAway! Program
By: Jon Fulk, Head of School, Blue Oak School BreakAway! is a cornerstone program at Blue Oak School, pioneered by our founding faculty and the founding Head of School, Scott Duyan, who introduced the concept from his prior tenure at Catlin Gabel School in Portland,...
How Can Blue Oak School Prepare My Child for Success in Secondary School?
As parents, we all want our children to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally as they transition into secondary school. At Blue Oak School, our mission is to cultivate curious, confident, and compassionate learners who are well-prepared for the challenges and...
Beyond Academics: What Should I Look for in Middle Schools?
As a parent, choosing the right middle school for your child can feel overwhelming. While academics are an essential factor, the middle school years represent so much more than academic growth. These years mark a significant time in social, emotional, and personal...
Small Class Sizes, Big Opportunities: Benefits of Private Elementary Schools Near Me
At Blue Oak School in Napa, we fervently believe that children thrive in an environment where they feel seen, heard, and valued. One of the key ways we ensure that this happens at Blue Oak is by having a “small class size”. Though our target class size is between 18...
Best Private Middle School: Building Dreams
Blue Oak Middle School's Finishing Touches We are thrilled to announce that we are in the final construction phase of our brand-new middle school building! The end of June marked the official goodbye to our days on the Hayes Street campus as we successfully packed up...
The Flourishing Blue Oak Spanish Program: A Year of Growth and Engagement
The Blue Oak Spanish program continues to thrive, demonstrating significant growth and expansion. Each grade, Transitional Kindergarten through 8th Grade at Blue Oak School participates in four Spanish classes per grade each week, reflecting our commitment to...
Fifth Graders – Core Principles: Build from a Foundation
One of our Core Principles at Blue Oak School is building from a foundation. Building on their foundation of literacy and research skills this year, fifth graders participated in an Argument and Advocacy Reading Workshop Unit. This unit aims to support our fifth...
Mock Congress Project in 8th-Grade Humanities
At Blue Oak, aligned with one of our Core Principles, students learn to inquire. Recently, the 8th-grade humanities teacher at Blue Oak introduced students to the federal government: its formation, the three branches, and how they check and balance each other. Along...