News

We are seeking nominations for the annual Changemaker Awards, honoring Live Oak graduates who model empathy and responsibility, demonstrate the capacity to create change in the community, and inspire action in others. The Alumni Changemaker Award recognizes alums who are at least 25 years old, while the Young Alumni Changemaker Award is open to junior and senior high school students. Self-nominations are accepted. All nominations are due by Friday, December 6, 2024. 

Live Oak recently recognized three student-athletes with the Fall Student-Athlete Spotlight. Eighth graders Gibson Eberhart and Mikaela Ho, who participated on the Live Oak cross country team this year, and Olivia Ardila, who participated on the Live Oak volleyball team, were recognized for their hard work and leadership skills in the classroom and in athletics. Read below for interviews with each student-athlete. 

Graffiti has been a form of self expression for thousands of years, with examples dating back to cave paintings, hieroglyphics, and typography. Over time, graffiti has evolved into a celebrated art form, making its mark in pop culture and contemporary art, with street art now displayed in museums and galleries around the world.

The Lightning volleyball season concluded in exciting fashion with both seventh grade JV teams squaring off against one another in the playoff semifinals, followed by the seventh grade White squad playing for the SFAL championship. Read below for the final results of the season. 

Fifth graders are currently in the middle of a math unit focused on adding and subtracting fractions. Throughout this unit, students learn both how to use visual models and more abstract strategies to add and subtract fractions with unlike denominators. Students build off of strategies they learned in fourth grade to deepen their understanding and support their movement away from such models. But for now, these visual representations of parts of wholes are supportive to all stages of understanding.

Each year, the entire Live Oak community comes together to make a significant impact on the teaching and learning that takes place on Mariposa. We're excited to announce that Wednesday, November 20 marks Live Oak’s Day of Giving. This year, we're combining our Day of Giving with our Phone-A-Thon to amplify our efforts and reach our ambitious goal of $1 million for the Live Oak Fund. Read all about Day of Giving below. 

In eighth grade humanities, we just wrapped up our first unit in which we set out to answer our year-long throughlines: How do we navigate change and shape it towards justice? and How does my learning help us to impact our world? As Learning for Justice says, “If young people are to make the vision of a just and peaceful world a reality, we must give them the tools to build a strong, multiracial, inclusive democracy—and those tools include an honest and comprehensive history of the United States,” which guides our eighth grade humanities curriculum. 

Though none of our Live Oak students are old enough to vote (yet), most are well aware of the upcoming election. They’ve seen mailboxes stuffed with postcards, noticed the campaign volunteers outside the market, and heard the advertising on TV. Some have joined their families in advocacy for a particular candidate or cause. Others have witnessed hotly debated topics at family gatherings. The election has risen as a topic of conversation in our studies of current events, social studies lessons, writing lessons, debate club, math class, and in the recess yard. Their curiosity leads to their learning. 

The Lightning seventh grade JV White volleyball team remained undefeated with a pair of wins this past week over Gateway and Friends. Meanwhile, the seventh grade JV Green squad has been putting together a solid season of its own, improving to 4-1 after defeating KIPP Bayview this past Tuesday. 

The sixth grade Timeline Project is designed to strengthen our students' math skills, encourage reflection on their past experiences, and inspire goal-setting for the future. By creating a timeline spanning 20 years, students apply mathematical concepts by adding and subtracting positive and negative integers. They learn to calculate time gaps, organize data, and represent it graphically.

Live Oak's Neurodiverse Learner Affinity Group had its kickoff meeting last week and wanted to share with the school community that October is BOTH National ADHD and Dyslexia Awareness Month. Dyslexia is a neurological condition caused by a different wiring of the brain. Dyslexia does not have a cure and individuals with this condition must learn alternative strategies for reading. Research shows that individuals with dyslexia are neither more nor less intelligent than the general population, and some believe the way individuals with dyslexia think can actually be an asset to achieving success.

During the first quarter of fourth grade, in math, we explore different forms of measurement: liters, kilograms, inches, and centimeters. As part of our measurement exploration, students embarked on a design challenge. Partners were given the task of creating a “wearable” for their partner. Each child identified something they wanted created for them to wear at the “Wearables Design Fair.” 

Live Oak’s cross country team competed in its second meet of the season last Tuesday at McLaren Park and came away with top team finishes in all four divisions. In the 7/8 Girls division, the Lightning earned the top spot after placing five of the top seven individual finishers. Live Oak was led by Shoshi K.’s first place finish of 8:51.28. On the 7/8 Boys side, Nate S. led the Lightning with his top finish of 7:59.09, while the team had five runners finish in the top 10. The Lightning claimed a first place finish in the 5/6 Boys division behind second and third place finishes, respectively, from Kenji S. and Theo S. In the tightest team finish of the day, Live Oak edged The San Francisco School by just one point in the final team point totals. Sierra P. and Mia A. took first and second, respectively, while three other Lightning runners finished in the top 10.

Our application for entry into the following school year typically goes live on September 1. An email announcement to the eager beavers in the pool would be sent, and, like clockwork, a family would reach out to me.

“Dear Mo: 

I hope you’re doing well. Our family is experiencing financial hardship and we would like to request an application fee waiver. We hope to attend Live Oak next year!”

Ryan Jenkins is the co-founder of Wonderful Idea Co., a design studio focused on STEAM education. He’s a former educator and tinkerer at The Exploratorium and Tinkering School in San Francisco and has prototyped projects at Maker Faires, science museums, schools and libraries around the world. Ryan is coming out with a new book, The Tinkering Workshop, that gives tinkerers an invitation to start messing around with everyday materials, get inspired by a collection of artists and explore ideas related to art, science and technology. 

Last month, the sixth grade visited Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. We used an inquiry-based approach before and after our adventure in order to process our individual and collective experiences. In preparation for the trip, students composed a “Creature Wishlist” — a list of 12 creatures they hoped to see during their hikes in the Big Sur River Valley. This activity allowed them to build multiple skills, including independent exploration, and phylogenetic organization, while building a discernment for search engine query results.

The annual Fall Gear Swap will take place Thursday, October 24 and Friday, October 25 during Parent/Teacher Conferences so you literally can't miss it! Drop off out-grown sports clothing/gear and Live Oak branded fits in a bag labeled "GEAR SWAP" at the front desk anytime between October 14-23 (or just add to the pile when you come in for your conference). No need to drop something to take something–take anything you'd like! We'd love for everything to find a new home. Anything left at the end of the Swap will be donated. Questions? Email Cathleen Brady (Anna ‘29, Lillian ‘29, Florence ‘26) at cathleenbrady@gmail.com.

Live Oak's volleyball and cross country teams are just getting underway with another competitive season. Read some of the results for both teams from this past week! 

We loved connecting with members of our Pride Affinity group last month at our 1st First Friday Social! Our upcoming First Friday Social is next week, Friday, October 4 from 7:45 to 9am. Drop off the kids at school and meet us in the courtyard between Live Oak and Magic Donuts. Start your day off on a prideful note and swing by! Contact Kim Higuchi (Kalin ‘30), khinsf@mac.com, or Rachel Garlin (JJ ‘31, Theo ‘27, Nate ‘25), rgarlin@gmail.com, with any questions.

Join us on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Chinese American International School for an enlightening evening with Eve Rodsky, bestselling author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space: Reclaim Your Creative Life in a Too-Busy World. In her groundbreaking work, Rodsky revolutionizes how families divide responsibilities and create spaces for personal fulfillment, all while fostering a collaborative home environment where everyone—parents and children alike—can thrive.

The Neurodiverse Learner Affinity Group aims to provide a community space for families with neurodiverse learners. The intention for this group is to continue developing in partnership with both families and students with a vision toward being a positive and affirming environment where families can make connections and find support in one another as they navigate the joys and challenges of raising neurodiverse learners. The first Zoom meeting of the year will be held on October 9 at 5pm. All are welcome. Contact Leecia Welch (Fifer ‘24, Renly ‘27), lwelch@childrensrights.org, with any questions about the group.

Each year, Live Oak administrators and resource specialists host Roundtable conversations at the school. Parents/guardians and Live Oak staff discuss the developmental characteristics of children at a particular age and stage as they relate to the Live Oak academic program. This is also an opportunity for parents to use each other as resources, consulting with one another about what they are experiencing or hearing at home. 

Now that the school year is in full swing, kindergartners have been learning about and having discussions around the people in our community. Besides classroom teachers, what are the other jobs needed in a school? Who are the workers at Live Oak School, and how do people at Live Oak School help each other? How do people’s jobs help the school and what tools do people use to perform their work effectively? 

Come enjoy a meal in the Grand Hall like your students do everyday--trays and all! On Thursday, September 26 from 6:30-8pm, we are inviting all parents and guardians with a new Live Oak student to spend time with one another over a meal. This is an adult-only event. It is for anyone with a new Live Oak student–even parents/guardians who have another student at Live Oak–as well as trustees, administrators, and PGA leads. When you RSVP, please email Database and Events Manager Lily Panetta, lily_panetta@liveoaksf.org, a photo of a happy moment with your family. We'll use this as an opportunity to get to know you better! You can also reach out to Lily with any questions.

At Live Oak, we strive to provide opportunities to support and enrich our entire community. We believe that the engagement and learning should not stop with our students in the classroom, but extend to our parents and guardians as well. With this in mind, Live Oak seeks to offer events that deepen alignment with our values and support families through the holistic experience of raising young people. 

Since the start of the year, our fifth graders have embarked on an exploration of identity and social justice. We've delved into the "Big 8" axes of privilege and oppression, reflecting on how race, ethnicity, class, ability, age, religion, gender, and sexual orientation shape our experiences. As students created personalized "Circles of Me" charts, they boldly and thoughtfully claimed parts of their identity, like "sibling," "bilingual," "anxious," and "dog lover." 

Join Conexiones, the LatinX Affinity group, on Sunday, September 29 in the Grand Hall from 2-5pm for a “Bienvenidos” event to kick off the new school year!  We will have food, music, entertainment, games and fun for the whole family!

We are excited to continue expanding our service work this year with the development of the Changemaker Program, which is aimed at supporting student leadership and service opportunities within and outside the school walls by developing robust community relationships and establishing a new weekly middle school Service Lab class. Live Oak students have long applied their skills and passions toward service work, and this year we are continuing to integrate service into our curriculum in both lower and middle school, digging into exploring our individual and collective WHYs and refining our approach to service with a “listen to learn” attitude, intending to uplift the work that the community is already doing. 

One of the core values at Live Oak is knowing students well; that means everyone is able to bring all of themselves, their history, and their identity into our community. In honor of this value, the Parent & Guardian Association and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee invite you to our fourth annual Around the Live Oak World, an all school event in appreciation of the rich cultures and family traditions at our school. Please join us on the Live Oak Rooftop on Sunday, October 6 from 1-4pm for a cross-community potluck featuring music, crafts, games, clothes, stories, and food celebrating the diversity of families, cultures, and identities at Live Oak. 

Now that we are back to school, it’s time for family photos! Live Oak parent photographers return to take photos of our families for the digital photo wall. You can download free digital copies for holiday cards, too! 

We are excited to welcome a group of talented and passionate educators to Live Oak this fall. We invite you to read more about our incoming faculty and staff. 

Welcome to a new school year at Live Oak! We hope you are as excited to start the year as we are to have you joining our community this fall. The information found on this page is intended to reinforce and supplement that which you received via email over the last few months. While the Blackbaud Portal is going to be your main communications hub moving forward, this can be a resource to help you get on track for a joyful and successful school year. 

Live Oak is excited to welcome AJ Viola as its new Director of Finance. AJ brings extensive and diverse experience in the nonprofit and for-profit finance industries over the last two decades, leading operations and finance functions at healthtech and real estate companies.

Congratulations to Amelia, Ellis O., Gabi and Tao, who are the recipients of the Eighth Grade Student-Athlete of the Year Award. This award goes to the eighth graders who exhibited the highest level of performance as student-athletes and demonstrated the values of teamwork, work ethic, leadership, and commitment on multiple sports teams throughout the school year. They represented Live Oak in a way that epitomizes what it means to be a student-athlete.

The school year in seventh grade math ends with the Tiny House project. This project brings the seventh graders into the ChangeMaker Lab to create and build tiny houses.

The traditions of Live Oak reinforce the values that give meaning and purpose to our school community. Please join us at 10am on Wednesday, June 5, on Mariposa Street for Live Oak’s Step Up and Graduation Ceremony and participate in our tradition of reflection, celebration, and appreciation.

Genevieve put home two goals and Noe was rock solid in the goal for the varsity girls, while the team displayed great passing throughout the match en route to a narrow 3-2 win over CAIS in the first round of the futsal playoffs earlier this week. The girls advanced to the semifinals where they play SF Friends at 5pm on Thursday afternoon. Read the rest of the futsal playoff results below.

Each grade has been hard at work over the last few weeks putting together their hard copy versions of Acorn Stories. Since the school’s inception, Live Oak students have been publishing selected polished writing pieces that represent their exemplary work for the year.

Want to get rid of out-grown sports clothing/gear and Live Oak branded fits? Want to pick up some "new" sports clothing/gear and LOS branded fits? You're in luck; the LOS Gear Swap is happening again: Monday May 13-Friday May 17!

The futsal regular season came to a close this week as the Lightning won five of their six matches and secured three playoff berths in the process. 

On Friday, May 3, Live Oak will participate in the annual Bike and Roll to School Day. Sponsored by SF Bicycle Coalition and SF Safe Routes to School, this event encourages hundreds of San Francisco students to bike, scoot and skateboard to school. Join one of our route leaders or bike on your own to help us make 2024 Live Oak's biggest year! Find group meeting points here.

Fourth-grade science is all about studying systems to help others. Throughout April, students explored energy by defining what energy is, identifying different forms of energy, and understanding ways energy is transferred. They also investigated electricity by experimenting with ways to create electrical circuits. They were tasked with designing a chain reaction machine that utilizes energy transfers and conversions. 

Grandparents and Special Friends Day provides an opportunity for our students to showcase all the things they love about their school with people they love. We hold this tradition to give very special members of our community a chance to experience their loved ones' school days. This year, we will welcome our Grandparents and Special Friends for a special assembly, classroom visits, performances, art, and more on Friday, May 10 from 8:30-11:30am. 

 

As February blossomed into March, sixth grade students engaged in a Current Events Inquiry project connecting the head, heart, and hands. While building research skills and awareness of global issues, they honed their creative writing and sparked their sense of agency through hands-on action in their daily lives and communities.

The kindergarten classes spent 26 days focusing on the building blocks of our language – the alphabet! Each day focused on a different letter. Teachers worked to bring the letters and their sounds to life using a multi-sensory approach. The goal was to present this work in a way that was both engaging and provided multiple entry points for a variety of learners.

In Algebra 1, we cover various types of functions – linear, quadratic, absolute value, rational, radical, and more. We utilize many resources, including our interactive notebooks and various digital tools such as Desmos to visualize our functions and compare them. In class, students learned about the three forms of quadratic functions. In groups, students received one function of each form; they explored all details of vertex form, standard form, and factored form. They created a display of all the calculations and graphs they found.

Happy Spring! The large amount of rain now means there's lots of work to do in the Potrero Hill Learning Garden! We will be weeding, pruning, and have a spring craft on Saturday, March 30. Coffee and small snacks provided. Sign up for one of our two shifts through the link. 

 

As fifth graders anticipated their final trimester of lower school, they spent a day away from academics to focus on social-emotional learning. The fifth grade held the sixth annual SELFie Day (Social and Emotional Learning for Fifthies!), an in-house retreat to build community and construct understanding of the fundamentals of SEL: self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. 

The Children’s Education Initiative (TCEI) is making a transformative impact on Live Oak by awarding the school a $1.2 million multi-year grant to strengthen its Adjusted Tuition Program. This grant not only represents financial support, but also signifies a powerful collaboration aimed at broadening access to a Live Oak education. Live Oak is thrilled to announce its partnership with TCEI, a San Diego-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of education for socioeconomically disadvantaged children.

This week, we would like to highlight Family House, another very special community organization that Live Oak will be supporting on Family Service Night on Wednesday, March 20, at 6:30pm. Please click here to sign up to volunteer on Family Service Night as we create care bags for the babies and client families of Family House.    

The Live Oak Winter futsal season has concluded with 11 Lightning teams competing in the SF Rec and Park 2024 futsal league in conjunction with Live Oak’s Roots & Branches Program. Coach Paolo notes that this was the most participation from any school in San Francisco, and we are proud to have gotten that many kids out onto the courts this year. 

Recently, Live Oak hosted a screening of the documentary From Stigma to Strength: The Neurodiversity Project for middle school students. The screening was led by the film’s director, local high school senior Ivy Kilar, and Savion Saint-Prix, a 2022 Live Oak graduate and current high school sophomore who is one of the featured interviewees. Through the stories of several young adults, the film focuses on neurodiversity awareness, appreciation, and advocacy, and seeks to reduce the stigma that often surrounds neurodiversity.

In January, second graders began their physical science unit on forces and motion. Students were introduced to the scientific writing process by conducting hands-on experiments related to forces and motion. We laid the foundation by studying properties of materials and moved into concepts such as friction, gravity, aerodynamics, and momentum.

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Affinity Group Lunar New Year event on Sunday, March 3 has been canceled. Stay tuned for a new AAPI event later this Spring. But there are more affinity events coming up. The Arab American Affinity Group is having a potluck on March 2 from 2:30-4:30pm in the Grand Hall. And The Pride Affinity Group is hosting an event off campus on March 7. See the info below for more about those. Stay tuned as more affinity events get scheduled throughout the Spring and we hope to see you and your family join the celebrations!

SPEAK is thrilled to welcome two of the most respected experts on issues related to technology, education and children in the United States today. Please join us for a fireside chat with Jim Steyer (Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media) and Dr. Catherine Steiner-Adair (Clinical Psychologist and Author of The Big Disconnect) on Tuesday, March 19 at 7pm at Town School for Boys. 

 

Join us on Wednesday, March 6 for a conversation led by Middle School Learning Specialist Karen Olson about how we can best support our children with ADHD, both at school and at home. Learn how to partner with your child’s teacher to build school success and how to create a structured home life to help your child thrive within the family system, minimize stress, and cultivate more peace.

The 7th annual Black Joy Parade is coming back to Oakland on Sunday, February 25. As part of our annual tradition, Live Oak’s African American Affinity Network will have a contingent participating in the parade. If your family has members who identity as Black and/or African American* we'd love for you to walk with us!

The Live Oak varsity girls basketball team took on CAIS in the league championship last Friday and capped off an undefeated season in impressive style. The Lightning held a small lead heading into the half behind tenacious defense and timely offense. Amelia, Ella S., Magnolia and Zoe P. all put home big shots in the final quarter to help secure the victory, and the league title by a final of 21-9. 

Students in eighth grade have begun learning the skills of striking through a game called pickleball. This game combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis and is a great way to build hand-eye coordination. With teams of two players, students are also learning how to play in zones of the pickleball court and communicate with one another to call for the ball. This communication is a great skill to build and can apply to many other physical activities and team sports.

Camp Live Oak is an annual tradition which brings together all members of the Live Oak

Community. Camp is a three-day, two-night trip which allows our students to pursue learning goals beyond the walls of our school. With the support of faculty, camp staff, and parents and guardians, students take on new challenges and reflect on another year of growth and learning.

The varsity girls continued their winning streak and capped off a 6-0 regular season with a big win against Gateway earlier this week. They will look forward to finding out their playoff matchup next week. Similarly, the varsity boys showed their resilience and turned up the pressure in the second half of their regular season finale against PHS, securing the 41-35 victory, a 5-1 regular season record, and the one seed going into playoff week. Read more about the rest of the final regular season results for Lightning basketball.

What does it mean to be part of a community? What do good community members do? These two questions often are at the center of our morning meetings, closing circles and many conversations in between in 1 West, as the cornerstone of our social studies and social emotional learning in first grade. Over the course of the year, first graders work to understand the qualities of a good friend, community member and changemaker, as well as developing a sense of identity and belonging.

Tao and Everett led the varsity boys on offense in a fast paced contest against Children’s Day School. Live Oak led going into the half behind some inspired play on defense. CDS made some timely shots down the stretch to earn the 53-45 victory. The varsity boys bounced back on Wednesday as they started fast against CAIS by playing strong defense which led to some transition buckets. The team built a commanding lead in the second half and never looked back en route to a 44-25 win. Read about more the results from a busy week of hoops action. 

Live Oak is proud to announce the three recipients for this year's Young Alumni Changemaker Award. The honor recognizes Live Oak alums who are current high school students showing exceptional engagement and a commitment toward positive work in their communities, while inspiring others to take action. This is the third year that Live Oak has awarded the Young Alumni Changemaker Award. It complements the tradition of the Alumni Changemaker Award, which is given to alumni who are changing the world through their professional work. Please read more about this year's honorees below. The group will be celebrated on the Mariposa campus on Changemaker Day, Friday, February 9. 

The fourth grade social studies curriculum includes an immersive trip to Metini/Fort Ross, providing students with a hands-on and enriching experience in California's history. These brave historians spent weeks preparing for the long expedition up the coast, and along with incredible parent volunteers, we immersed ourselves in the Fort Ross experience!

In third grade, we spend a lot of time focusing on communication and cooperation. Our favorite way to practice these skills is through team challenges. We started the year talking about what communication looks and sounds like.

To prepare for this year’s Week of Service, the middle school Green Team leaders have been brainstorming, creating, collaborating, designing, and teaching in lower and middle school classes. They worked with classroom teachers to develop projects and lessons related to the curriculum wherever possible, and to organize and support activities for each class that help make a healthy environment more accessible to all. 

Last week, the Boys JV Green team got off to a fast start in the early going at S.F. Friends. The S.F. Friends team was a strong opponent and found their groove on offense in the second half to help secure the win. The JV Green team bounced back this week and put forth their strongest performance of the season. Cayden, Justin, Leo and Nate led the team in scoring as many players chipped in on both offense and defense to help secure their first win of the season, a 37-7 decision over CAIS.

In the basketball teams’ busy return to action after Winter Break, the varsity girls defeated Children’s Day School 32-7 as Zoe P. led the team in scoring while the team played tenacious defense throughout. Sarah and Shaila both chipped in to extend the lead in the second half. Read about more recent basketball results.

We are thrilled to meet in person for the second time this year on Wednesday, March 20, at 6:30pm in the Grand Hall for Family Service Night! Join other Live Oak families for a fun evening working on projects that benefit local community organizations. 

In eighth grade science, students learned how Newton’s Law of Motion is applied in our everyday world. Whether it is dictating the design of a Formula One car, kicking a soccer ball, or a rock sitting in a park, Newton’s Laws illuminate how forces and motion make up key characteristics of the universe. Throughout the year, students have had a number of opportunities to process science concepts  in different ways.