The Red Oaks School

As a former Early Childhood teacher for many years at the Red Oaks School and now the After School Coordinator, I consider it to be my home away from home. The staff is very friendly, and nurturing, and supports children in their social, emotional, and developmental growth. The after-school program offers many opportunities for children to socialize and play in a relaxed atmosphere as well as take part in fun and engaging enrichment classes from certified instructors. Furthermore, The Red Oaks School is a family-oriented community offering events throughout the school year for parents and children alike and our door is always open! Come check us out by scheduling a tour.

I am a former school parent. My son attended Red Oaks all the way from Grade 1 to Grade 8. We could not be happier with how the school has helped shape him as a person, a student and a good human being. We chose the school way back in 2013 based on just one visit in fact we did not even bother visiting other schools after that based on that one experience. What struck me was the warm and nurturing nature of the teachers, and how easily our son gravitated towards them and the various items in the classroom. He was so engaged in interacting with them and answering their questions that he probably did not realize that it was an interview! Despite the school being a good half hour away from where we live, we did not mind the drive for all those years because it provided him an excellent academic education, a safe, warm, social, and positive environment where he could learn, bloom and grow at his own pace. The reason we never opted for public school was that he was initially a shy child, and we felt he would get lost in a big classroom. Red Oaks provided the right-sized classroom environment for him, with a good, healthy student-to-teacher ratio. Not only did he learn great writing and math skills, a love for languages (English and Spanish both), history, and science, but he also dabbled in art, music, and sports. I felt like it made him a well-rounded person because he had the space, and the right amount of nudging by the teachers, who took the time and effort to get to know each child well. By the time he left the school, he was very comfortable presenting a paper or slideshow in front of a class, raising his hand and participating in class discussions, and performing in plays before an entire audience all with his own drive and motivation, and gentle encouragement by the teachers. It prepared him for a bigger high school as was evident in how easily he fit into his current school. In addition, the principals and teachers were very approachable and available to talk to the parents if there were any issues of concern. The staff too was very kind and supportive during the very stressful high school application process, and generally through the years. As parents, we found the community quite diverse and tight-knit and over the years we got to know many families, some of whom we are still in touch with. Overall, we have been very happy with every aspect of the school, including how they handled teaching during the pandemic my son had virtual school only for 3 months. After that he had the option to attend in person, which he did since he did not enjoy learning via Zoom. But they continued to offer Zoom as well as in-person teaching, which I thought they managed to set up very quickly and efficiently over the summer. It was a great transition coming from a Montessori preschool to Red Oaks for elementary school, and then adapting to the rigorous IB curriculum for middle school. Both approaches worked well in our case. While we were initially apprehensive about middle school and the level of organization expected, our son grew leaps and bounds through experiences such as Frost Valley weekend, Model UN, the linguistics project, and the 8th-grade capstone project. He learned to use his locker, change classrooms, and become more organized with his time and homework. As parents, our motto has always been to slowly let go, like a kite, gauging the wind and other elements, as opposed to letting a child fly away like a bird, without being prepared. I am glad that we found a school and a community that supports our parenting philosophy and reinforces it, by letting the child lead the way into shaping his own future instead of forcing their beliefs and opinions onto him.

I am the parent of two bi-cultural children currently enrolled in the Elementary program at Red Oaks School. They are exposed to a supportive and enriching environment that challenges them, yet allows them room to flourish at their own pace. The curriculum includes language arts (Teachers College Reading and Writing Project), math (Singapore), science/STEAM program, social studies, history, Spanish, music, and art. The teachers and school administration have been very attentive to student needs, COVID protocols, and clear communication. I am happy and proud to be a parent of Red Oaks, and cannot think of a better place to educate a child.

The Red Oaks School is a dream school for children. The teachers and administration truly care about each child's emotional and educational development. My husband and I have such trust in the school. The teachers are outstanding. Our child is in primary and we could not be happier with our child's experience at Red Oaks.

We first visited Red Oaks when my son was in second grade and were impressed with the quality of education. The dedication and passion of the faculty and administration is truly encouraging. The class size provides an opportunity for greater in- depth learning. The environment is warm and nurturing, yet academically challenging. The structure of the school helps to navigate through the difficult middle school year in a dependable setting. As a parent of a recent 8th grade graduate, I couldn`t be happier to have chosen Red Oaks for my child.

As the Director of Admissions, a parent of Red Oaks Alumni and the mother of three grown children, I can honestly say that investing early-on in their education at Red Oaks (as in, the Early Childhood classroom, Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary) was the smartest decision I made for my kids. They were well-grounded in math skills, reading and writing skills, and their own personal development. Their self-confidence, self-motivation, and ability to problem-solve has served them well through high school, college, grad school and law school. Quite simply put, invest on the front-end and your children will do well anywhere they go in life!

I love the Red Oaks School. My children have grown so much there. The academics are excellent. The teachers are extremely involved and caring. The curriculum is very engaging. My children are always talking about what they're doing in school. They look forward to going every day. Plus there is a strong emphasis on social skills: treating others with empathy and negotiating problems with other kids in a constructive way. The head of the school is very knowledgeable about educational research and trends and implements them in a way that makes sense. The administration is very thoughtful about what they do. The student body is very diverse. I couldn't be happier with the school!

Our children have been attending the Red Oaks School for 6 years, starting from pre-school. We have had some of the most outstanding teachers. They are not only very well versed in subjects and methodology, but are extremely dedicated and attentive to the individual needs of the children. Whenever there are any issues at all, the teachers let us know immediately so that we can attend to them before any problems develop. The curriculum is truly engaging so that my son enjoys learning. He learned to read at age three (without any pressure) and is doing advanced math for his age through the school's Singapore Math curriculum. The math is excellent, well structured so that the children really try to master their lessons. Reading and creative writing are emphasized. In 3rd grade, my son has learned chemistry and electronics. He has taken apart and put together machines and has learned about atoms, etc. The art and music teachers have also been excellent. In art, the children have learned about great artists and their social and historical influences. In music, the children actively learn to play different instruments and to perform together. Red Oaks is run by the former head of the American Montessori Society, who is genuinely concerned about education and extremely knowledgeable about the latest research in education and child development. While academics are highly focused, the school is devoted to developing the "overall" child - as healthy, creative, inquisitive, and productive individuals. The teachers are the single most important part of a child's education. The School's Head has over the years worked to recruit great teachers. The school also listens to the parents. Unlike other schools - both private and public - communication with the parents is important and welcomed. We know, because we have had our children enrolled in other schools. We had lived in NYC before. When we moved to NJ we were concerned that we would see a drop in the quality of education. When we found the Red Oaks School, we were thrilled to find a school with such an excellent and devoted staff. In fact, we are more pleased with quality of Red Oaks, which is far less bureaucratic and uncaring than the private school our children attended in the NYC.