Change: An Oak Grove Documentary

by Surya Pulipati ’24

For his senior Pathless Project, Surya Pulipati made a short documentary about changes at Oak Grove School including interviews with former and current teachers and administrators.

The film begins with an interview with David Moody, one of the very first teachers at Oak Grove, who explains:

“…it was clear to us that all we were doing was beginning the planting of a seed, with hopes it would grow into something much more.”

– Dr. David Moody

About the Filmmaker

During his time at Oak Grove, Surya grew into a creative powerhouse who wrote poetry, MC’d school events, and edited the school newspaper, all while hosting his own podcast (“Unsliced”…available on all platforms).  On the basketball court, Surya played with heart and snuck in some exciting three-point dazzlers! This fall, he’s off to Dodge College, the film school at  Chapman University here in Southern California, to pursue his dream of becoming a filmmaker. “This school has given me who I am, it has shown me who not to be and has more importantly shown me who I want to be,” Surya said during his graduation speech.

Recent Blog Posts:

How Much is Too Much – Technology

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At what age should children have a Smartphone? Should an 11-year-old watch PG-13 movies? When is a good time to introduce video games (my child is begging to play!)? How much time in front of a screen is too much?
High School Mini Projects

High School Mini Projects

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While the high school senior class is visiting our sister schools in India each year, the High School at Oak Grove dedicates two weeks to our "Mini Projects." Teachers lead small groups of students through an in-depth learning experiment into a craft, skill, or concept that piques the curiosities of both teachers and students. Examples have included: screen printing, song writing, sewing, cooking, screenwriting, ornamental mending, and improv.

Podcast Interview with Jodi Grass

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In Episode 23 “Education as a Vehicle for Social Change,” Founding Mothers Podcast host Emily Race and Head of School Jodi Grass discuss the freedom that Oak Grove’s teachers have to implement activities that foster personal and social growth, outdoor and travel experiences to prepare youth and parents for the transition to adulthood, how students can support their mental health, and the value of questioning one’s thoughts to develop compassion.