“What I love most about Oli is all the different activities we get to do.”
I recently followed Eve, an Oliverian senior, around for a day to experience firsthand what it is like to be an Oli student. What a gift for me! I may be a little biased, but I found the teachers truly passionate about their subject matter, their approach to teaching refreshing, and the small class sizes ideal for experiential learning. At Oli, it’s all about hands-on learning.
It was a Thursday, which during the winter quarter is a shorter, more compressed day designed to accommodate one-on-one Team Lead time, as well as all school Campus Stewardship. I met Eve bright and early at her dorm, where students were getting ready for the day. Before heading to the academic building, Bixby’s dorm parent Yondr-pouched cell phones to put them away for the academic day. Students were then driven to the academic building to eat breakfast. They do have the option to walk, and many do, but this particular morning was very cold and snowy, and everyone opted for the warm ride.
During a delicious, made-from-scratch BREAKFAST, Eve had the opportunity to pull aside our nurse to touch base about a medication question before beginning TEAM LEAD TIME. The goal of this block is to complete individual Wellness and Support Plans for Quarter Three. The exercise began with reflection questions and then moved on to setting academic, emotional, social, and physical goals. Students concluded by creating a daily schedule to support healthy, balanced living.
The first class of the day was BOWL & BASKET, so Eve and I walked down the hill to the cozy Stewardship workshop. There, students are learning to carve a small wooden bowl from wood harvested on the property. I was impressed by the teacher’s careful attention to technique and safety, as well as the collection of authentic wood-carving tools. I even had the chance to begin creating a bowl myself.
It’s worth noting that our core college-preparatory curriculum—Humanities, Math, Science, and Foreign Language—is supplemented by our Pillars: Outdoor Adventure, Stewardship, and Arts & Music. A student’s schedule might move from a stewardship class like Bowl & Basket to Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, or Spanish. Oliverian’s program blends rigorous traditional, didactic instruction in core subjects with experiential, applied learning through real-world projects, fostering deeper understanding, critical thinking, and a genuine love of learning.
Eve’s final class before lunch was BRITISH LITERATURE and History, held in the academic building. The course explores British history and literature from medieval to modern times and, on this day, focused on Emma by Jane Austen. During the discussion, Eve knitted—a calm, rhythmic, and even meditative practice that helps her regulate emotions and maintain focus.
After Brit Lit, the school broke for LUNCH. Oliverian is fortunate to have an exceptionally talented chef who prepares meals entirely from scratch—including homemade mayonnaise! Meals always include a variety of options to accommodate different tastes and dietary needs, and on dessert days, one might assume the treats came straight from a French patisserie.
Between lunch and her next class, Eve spent time relaxing and completing work in the student lounge, a popular space for reading, studying, and socializing between classes.
E Block was truly delightful. This quarter, PHYSICAL SCIENCE is integrating science and history. During class, students explored archaeology and carbon dating as tools for understanding the past. Teaching is a collaborative effort, with both a humanities teacher and a physical science teacher leading the course. Students then began painting a story of their choice from their Quarter Two science studies onto pottery, inspired by ancient cave drawings. I couldn’t help but wonder—will they carbon-date their creations?
After E Block, the entire student body participated in CAMPUS STEWARDSHIP. Students were divided into groups to complete campus chores and improvement projects. Eve was assigned to the student center, where tasks included dusting, wiping surfaces, and sweeping. The teamwork was heartening—and accompanied by plenty of joyful chuckles.
Next came Crew Time. CREW is a 45-minute advisory block that meets three times per week and includes a student’s counselor, two academic advisors, and a small group of peers. During this time, students check in on academic, social-emotional, physical, and life-skills goals. Afterward, they can participate in activities such as Animal Care, outdoor exercise on the Boston–Montreal Trail, leadership meetings, yearbook, and more.
COMMUNITY MEETING followed before free time. The entire school gathered in the meeting house for a moment of mindfulness, followed by shared wisdom, announcements, and appreciations from students and staff. During this meeting, three senior student ambassadors were announced—students selected to serve as a voice for the student body. The gathering concluded with the student-coined “Great Unpouching,” when phones are returned and students head off to after-school activities.
Eve chose to return to her dorm for a break from the paparazzi (aka me), so I sampled a few of the AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES offered that day: Learning Lab, board games in the library, hot cocoa in Bixby, a music jam session, and a bonfire with guitar outside. On other days, offerings might include a Climbing Club trip to an indoor rock wall or Hiking Club. There are always several options, though Learning Lab is mandatory for students who are falling behind academically or in community commitments.
Then came DINNER, which—once again—did not disappoint. After dinner, students typically return to their dorms, and at 8 p.m. every Thursday, dorm parents lead a group activity. That evening’s DORM ACTIVITY involved writing notes. One dorm focused on thank-you notes, addressing envelopes to be mailed. Eve’s dorm parent baked cookies, while other dorms played group games once their cards were finished. It was a wonderful way to strengthen community while also practicing a life skill—properly formatting an envelope was new to many—and enjoying some playful time together.
The evening wound down with DORM CURFEW at 9 p.m. and LIGHTS OUT at 10 p.m. As for me, I was exhausted from the full day yet deeply rejuvenated by the Oli community and all this special place has to offer. Thank you, Eve, for letting me tag along.
— Liz Verney, Director of Marketing & Development
