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From the Head of School
At Oak Grove, we often share moments of silence with our students, from preschool through 12th grade, as a whole community, in small groups, and individually. We begin, and sometimes end, assemblies, events, and meetings with silence. Silence is weaved through our learning and teaching practices, including academics, arts, and outdoor education. We trust the natural intelligence of children and believe that self-understanding is essential to the full expression of that intelligence. These things are at the core of our ethos as a school.
A moment of silence can be an act of remembrance, tribute, prayer, compassion; it may be a form of meditation and mindfulness. Often silence is found in relationship with nature, in deep academic attention, and in complex problem-solving.
According to scientific research, silence can assist us to concentrate, be more creative, achieve a higher level of awareness, cultivate more patience, provide a sense of calm, and encourage a higher level of learning and productivity.
It can be difficult to be still and silent. Bodies yawn, sneeze, or need to change positions. A moment of silence isn’t completely silent, just missing the sound of spoken words. As students grow more comfortable with the sound of silence, they may go to a personal center of inner peace, a deep stillness. Silence slows down the pace of life and removes us from everyday constraints. Sitting together, settling into communal silence, there can be a sense of the power and unity of our community.
As eloquently stated by alumna Juna Rosales Muller ‘2006 ...
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“But if I think back to my schooling at Oak Grove, silence speaks loudly to what Oak Grove tries to foster in its students. We were never really instructed in what to do with the silence. It was not time for prayer, although maybe some use it that way. It was not a time to “think about what you did.” Actually, it was more like ninja training than either of those. It cultivated our long-forgotten attention spans. The silence we held together worked. You didn’t have to believe anything for it to work, it still worked, in the sense that it honed our abilities to sit with ourselves, in a very practical way.”
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The Reflective Classroom
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A video about the newest building on the Oak Grove campus, made possible by Steve Worden, a long-time friend of the school who bequeathed his estate to benefit the school and the teachings of Krishnamurti. The building was completed in the Fall of 2019.
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Recent Article in Ojai Magazine
"Everyone at Oak Grove School says the word “space” a lot, because that’s what the students, teachers, staff and parents give each other, in all its forms: space to roam, think, learn, listen, let go and just be."
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Foundation Focus
View the most recent edition of Foundation Focus, published twice a year by the Foundation.
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You can also see archived versions here.
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From the Oak Grove
The 2019-2020 Annual Report
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So much more than just the financials, our Annual Report is a content-rich publication filled with updates from the Head of School and the Oak Grove School Board, along with articles by parents and staff, and news from the Krishnamurti Foundation of America.
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On Social Media
A recent sighting of a red-shouldered hawk. This species looks quite similar to the red-tailed hawk which frequently visits the campus.
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For those who live close to Oak Grove's campus ...
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Our weekly dialogue on Krishnamurti's teachings
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Join us in person, weekly on Tuesday, Thursday, or Friday.
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A mask is required to enter the campus. Check in at the Front Office for a health screening.
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Actuality & Ourselves
An online, in-depth program
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We often seem to find ourselves seeking something, a happier situation, a way to avoid unpleasant feelings or circumstances, an escape from boredom, or something that is deeper and lasting, Truth or Actuality itself. Yet, this search can seem to have no end. What we are seeking eludes us, something seems to be missing.
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Monday – Friday • 10:00am to 12:15pm (Pacific time)
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