Oak Grove Seniors Continue a
Tradition of International Service
Beginning in early childhood, Oak Grove students understand they are part of something bigger than their classrooms, and that we all share responsibility for our global community. Nowhere is this better expressed than in the annual month-long senior trip to India. For the past 16 years, Oak Grove seniors have spent the end of December and the majority of January visiting Oak Grove’s sister schools in India as well as traveling to cities and rural communities.
Preparation and follow-up for the trip is incorporated into the student’s interdisciplinary English and World Cultures courses, and is a culminating rite of passage for Oak Grove secondary students. A community service project is also a fundamental part of this trip’s purpose. During the year, seniors work diligently to earn $1,000 through sales and events in order to fund School in a Box – a comprehensive educational program that provides elementary school children in India an education for an entire year.
Past graduates of Oak Grove describe the lasting effects of their travel experience in India, especially focusing on the sense of gratitude they continue to carry with them, the awareness of taking nothing for granted, and the desire to live more simply. They write that, “…helping others is the best way to put our own problems into perspective; we have a lot to learn from each other and in many ways, all people are the same.”
The current seniors will present their experiences at India Night – Friday, February 24th at 7:00PM in Oak Grove’s student center. The program is free and open to the public. Founded in 1975 by J. Krishnamurti, Oak Grove School offers progressive, college-prep high school, junior high, elementary, and early childhood programs, as well as afterschool classes and summer camps. For more information visit www.oakgroveschool.com or call (805) 646-8236.
