Student Life
What’s it like to go to school here?
In a boarding school environment, students wake up at school, eat (most) meals at school, and do everything together with classmates. But Oak Hill Academy is about more than just academics — it’s a close-knit community focused on having fun and educating the whole self — body, mind, and soul.
Not Always on Campus!
Off-campus activities are offered regularly throughout the year to promote social interaction, cultural exposure, and fun! They might be trips to movies, bowling, restaurants, coffee shops, nail salons, plays, or guest lectures. And many students also join in trips for community service activities like the local Backpack Ministry, assisting at the local elementary school, Habitat for Humanity, SPCA, and Girls, Inc. (to name a few!).
Clubs and Activities
There are more than 40 on-campus clubs to participate in, including Debate Club, Emerging Leaders, Youth Group, Astronomy Club, Chess Club, E-gaming Club, and more. Additional clubs spring up each year according to student interests, so if you’ve got an idea for a new one, let us know!
Warrior Wednesdays
Every Wednesday night here on The Hill is abuzz with activity, with students, faculty, and staff coming together for Warrior Wednesday. Each week students choose from a unique and ever-changing list of activities to try out—from cooking class to corn hole. It’s not only a chance to get out of the dorms and connect with your community, but also to explore different hobbies and learn new skills. Our focus on connection and community-building—and fun!—is just one thing that makes Oak Hill special.
Sports and Athletics
We offer a full range of athletic outlets, from formal athletics teams such as wrestling, tennis, soccer, equestrian, volleyball, and, of course, basketball, to informal team sports like flag football and 3-on-3 basketball. Students can participate in other physical activities like hiking, cheer, dance, biking, trail rides on horseback, and water-related activities. There also are clubs for paintball, fishing, and skiing and snowboarding. A variety of intramural sports are offered, including kickball and dodgeball.
Enjoying the Arts
The Arts are alive on The Hill! Students also find their passions outside of class with a strong visual art program that exhibits students’ work in the local community, opportunities to perform music, and a Theatre Club. We have classes like guitar, drawing, and painting, and lots of art-related clubs students can join, with everything from books and baking to a student newspaper.
Be Your Best You
At Oak Hill Academy, we’re invested in helping students discover new levels of success – not just academically, but holistically.
Oak Hill offers a very inclusive environment where all students feel accepted. The teachers and administrators do a great job helping each student find their niche and guide them in being the best person they can be.
The Environmental Literacy Initiative
The Environmental Literacy Initiative (ELI) helps students develop a deeper understanding of ecology, meteorology, astronomy, and other biological and environmental studies through experiential learning and service. Events and projects like tagging fish for national science databases, implementing a weather station on campus, and tracking annual monarch butterfly migrations give students a chance to practice hands-on learning outside of the classroom.
Hanging Out at the Campus Store
Wedged between the end of the school day and the start of after-school activities is usually a stop at the Alumni Campus Store. The store serves as a hub, similar to a student union on a college campus. Students gather under a covered porch for conversation, banter, and snacks. Inside, there are pictures and signatures of alumni surrounding stools and cafe tables. A big spot for OHA community, the campus store is the heartbeat of the student body.
Do students wear school uniforms?
Yes, during the academic day, students wear “School Dress” — navy or khaki pants, shorts, plaid skirts, polo shirts, and pullovers. Students wear their own “relaxed” clothing (e.g., jeans, sweats, and T-shirts) during non-academic hours, and wear “Sunday Dress” (jackets and ties for boys, skirts and sweaters for girls) for worship attendance and special functions. All school uniform items (including shoes and a winter coat) are purchased during the admissions process and are distributed on campus during orientation.
What do we do on weekends?
Some Saturdays have a half-day of classes (which leaves space for longer breaks for students to travel home between semesters). When not in Saturday classes, students relax in the dorms; engage in on-campus activities like flag football, paintball, and pool tournaments; participate in and cheer on classmates at athletic events; hang out together during campus socials; or go “off hill” on special activity trips for volunteering, environmental field work, movies, or other activities in the community. On Sunday we have church attendance in the morning, and the afternoon is free to rest and prepare for the week to come.
A Typical School Day on The Hill
7:00 a.m. – Hit snooze and then head to the shower to get ready for the day
8:00 a.m. – Gather for breakfast in school uniform
8:30 a.m. – Morning assembly
8:45 a.m. – Classes begin
12:20 p.m. – First lunchtime in the dining hall
12:55 p.m. – Afternoon classes
3:35 p.m. – Head back to the dorms to change before practice (for your sport, music group, school play, etc.) or meet with teachers for extra help
4:00 p.m. – Meet up with friends for a quick snack at the campus store
4:30 p.m. – Head to the soccer field for an ultimate Frisbee game with Mr. Butt(or to a local restaurant for and early dinner, or tennis, or the barn for a trail ride, etc.)
6:00 p.m. – Dinner in the dining hall
7:00 p.m. – Catch a volleyball game or basketball game in the gym
8:30 p.m. – Quiet hours — everybody returns to their dorms for some downtime to settle in for the night — cooking, laundry, showers, or whatever they like to do to unwind, followed by Study Time — Individual, approved group study, or sign up for Peer Tutoring in dining hall
10:30 p.m. – Lights out for underclassmen! Zzzzzz…
10:30 p.m. – Lights out for Seniors!