Press Release: Oak Knoll Upper School Gives Back During Annual Service Day

From Heather Burchfield, Communications Assistant at Oak Knoll Upper School:

Summit, NJ – Oct. 12, 2011 – “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.' Hungry not only for bread—but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing—but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a home of bricks—but homeless because of rejection. Give the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you.” - Mother Teresa

It was in this spirit of both Mother Teresa and Cornelia Connelly that the Upper School participated in its annual Service Day on October 26, spending the day at various sites around Summit and the surrounding area doing community service.

“As a Catholic, Holy Child school, Oak Knoll takes a whole school day when each of us gets to go out of the school to make our own difference—in many different ways,” said Rachael Edelson ’12. “Today is a day for us to think about the virtue of justice and how that virtue can be applied in our own lives.”

Students, faculty, and staff utilized their various talents to serve the community, some performing song and dance at The Connelly Center for Education in Manhattan and others sorting eye glasses at New Eyes for the Needy in Millburn. Many groups gave back locally in Summit by making lunches and sorting clothes at Bridges, preparing pink ribbons for next year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month at Susan G. Komen, and delivering food through Meals on Wheels at Sage Eldercare.

“We as an Oak Knoll community simply do service, since we have been brought up and raised in a community to ‘just do it,’” said Elizabeth Sullivan '12 calling on this year's Upper School theme.

Other students went as far as The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless in Elizabeth, the Community Foodbank of New Jersey in Hillside, and the Sacred Heart School in Jersey City.

“The virtue of solidarity calls us to try to help our neighbors around the world and to try to make decisions that will benefit the common good instead of making self-centered decisions,” said Lauren Flannery '13.

Oak Knoll has been participating in Service Day since 2002. But service is something that OakKnoll’s students pride themselves on doing year-round, even during their winter, spring, and summer breaks.

“Oak Knoll girls do service because they know that it is the right thing to do,” Elizabeth said. “Not only do we help the people we are working with, but we also help ourselves through service.”

Upon their return from their sites, the students continued their service by participating in workshops related to their experiences. For example, students who worked for the day at the Veterans Hospital in Lyons spent the afternoon making Christmas cards to send to the veterans thanking them for their service to the country. Other students wrote letters to the children at Sacred Heart School, made journals for children at the Elizabeth Coalition for the Homeless, and made nametags and friendship bracelets for patients of Operation Smile when they get out of surgery.

"For me, Service Day is what a Holy Child School is all about—students and teachers/administrators working together to respond to the needs of others—not for 'community service hours', but because it's our Christian responsibility to be our brother's—and our sister's —keepers. And in true Holy Child spirit, we do it with joy and zeal,” said Mrs. Nonie Murphy, Upper School theology teacher and community service coordinator.

While Service Day is an annual event, it particularly fits in well with this year's overall school theme, “Actions, Not Words,” a saying of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus’ foundress Cornelia Connelly.

“All of us did this today by not just promising to participate in a service activity but actually going out and serving others,” said Courtney Beacham '13.

***

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child is an independent Catholic school enrolling boys and girls in kindergarten through grade six; and young women only in grades seven through 12.  For more information about Oak Knoll, please visit www.oakknoll.org or call 908-522-8109.