WINTER 2025
THE RED OAKS REVIEW
The weather was frightful, but The Harvest Festival brought warmth, laughter, and community.
SEE PAGE 6
Uniting two campuses is no small feat, but our Lower and Middle School Directors make it seamless!
SEE PAGE 10
THE START OF A NEW DAY
Ever wondered what mornings are like at The Red Oaks School? Get a behind-the-scenes look at the buzz, warm smiles, and bustle of our morning drop-off!
SEE PAGE 8
THE RED OAKS SCHOOL
Cutler Campus
PreK-Grade 4
Middle School
Grade 5-8
(973) 539-7853
www.redoaksschool.org
MANAGING EDITOR AND PUBLISHER
Chris Weaver
EDITORS
Patty Giordano, Fran Sonneborn, Mike Allegra, Jenna Buesser
WRITERS
Mike Allegra, Fran Sonneborn
CONSULTING
ART DIRECTOR
Jesper Goransson
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Jenna Buesser, Joy Glenn, Eleanor Priest
The Red Oaks School holistically develops each child’s gifts by inspiring personal and intellectual growth, graduating high-achieving students who are happy, confident, resilient, and ready for the challenges ahead. Our diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment supports international mindedness in students and strengthens them as empathetic future global citizens and leaders.
FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL
FROM THE DESK OF CHRIS WEAVER
Dear Red Oaks Community,
12/4/2024
Nothing happens in a school without a lot of people working together. This is particularly true at a place like Red Oaks, where we are deliberately small and tight knit. Small means connection and care. It means understanding each child, and it means a strong partnership with each family.
One of the paradoxes of community is the way that needing each other’s help actually makes us stronger. As you look through these pages you will see this theme echoed again and again. At Red Oaks we need the work of the Parent Association and the Board of Trustees, and we need the contribution of volunteers to run each event, to put up tents at the Harvest Festival, to serve and cook turkey and mashed potatoes at our Thanksgiving lunch, and to support our basketball team, who last night just won their first game.
Because we cannot do any of these things alone, the collaborative efforts of our community are rewarded with a deeper sense of purpose, belonging, and responsibility. And, the impact on our students is more lasting, more impactful, and more resonant.
This is a particularly important year for Red Oaks. As we take stock of the foundations that make this school so special, so essential, so vibrant, we are also looking ahead. We are committed to strengthening our exceptionally robust academic program, expanding our extracurricular offerings, and growing our reach.
And, we’ll do all of this together.
With joy and gratitude,
NEWS FROM OUR CAMPUSES
ALL SCHOOL
El Día de los Muertos at the Morris Museum: A Vibrant, Heartfelt Celebration
Huge shoutout to Sra. Claudia and Sra. Martha for organizing The Red Oaks School’s participation in the “El Día de los Muertos” celebration at the Morris Museum! This event was a beautiful blend of culture, community, and creativity, bringing everyone together in a memorable way.
Our Lower and Upper Elementary students in Ms.
Srujana’s art classes crafted iconic cempasúchil—the Aztec name for the marigold flower native to Mexico.Their cheerful, colorful creations added vibrance to the event. Early Childhood teacher Ms. Rachel also contributed, bringing flowers from her own garden to further enhance the display’s beauty. Meanwhile, in music classes, Ms. Melissa
taught all of the lower school a lively rendition of “Un Poco Loco,” which added a joyful, musical layer to the festivities.
The event’s centerpiece was the ofrendas (altar displays), featuring 7th and 8th grade students’ handcrafted Alebrijes—fantastical, colorful creatures that brought playfulness and meaning to the exhibits. Photos and mementos
honoring loved ones created a deeply moving atmosphere that touched everyone in attendance.
The turnout was incredible, with parents, students, teachers, and staff coming together to celebrate.There was a real sense of connection and joy as Sra. Claudia led the community, along with a Mariachi group, in spirited performances of
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
“Cielito Lindo” and “Un Poco Loco.”
This celebration marked the culmination of an interdisciplinary project for our 8th grade students, blending Language Arts and Spanish studies.Their exploration of “El Día de los Muertos” traditions, expressed through their Alebrijes, brought the culture to life for everyone.
A massive thank you goes out to Sra. Claudia and Sra. Martha for creating this special experience.Your dedication and passion have enriched our students’ understanding and strengthened our community ties.This festive event was packed—standing room only! It was a true testament to the strength and vibrancy of our Red Oaks community.
ALL SCHOOL Red Oaks Welcomes New Faculty
The Red Oaks School has a well-deserved reputation for hiring talented and devoted faculty.The new full-time teachers for 2024-25 are certainly no exception; all three possess the skills, background, and talent to reflect the school’s commitment to educating the whole child.
Lower Elementary Teacher Athena Decker hadn’t initially planned to pursue
a career in the classroom. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Community Studies, she worked in magazine publication, on the staff of Sports Illustrated, InStyle, and People. She found little personal satisfaction in the field, however. So she went back to school, earned a Master’s in Early Elementary Education at Bank Street College, and found her true calling. Athena taught at the Dalton School and the Washington Market School—both in Manhattan— before settling in at DwightEnglewood School as a lead kindergarten teacher. But Red Oaks is the place where Athena sees herself for the long term. “I feel at home
here,” she says. “The school gives us the freedom to build a classroom community to accommodate all different types of learning styles. And the kids are wonderful; I love how they treat each other.”
“I discovered I had a way with kids early on,” says Denis Fleming, Red Oaks’s new Middle School Physical Education and Health teacher. At age 15, he began working at summer camps as a counselor. He was a natural, and it wasn’t long before his abilities were recognized and rewarded.The teen was soon promoted to the role of Sports Specialist, charged with designing an athletic curriculum that was healthy, challenging, accessible to children of all skill levels, and, of course, fun. Denis received so much personal satisfaction from the work, he decided to pursue teaching Phys-Ed as a career. He graduated Keene State College in New Hampshire with a BS in Phys-Ed, Grades K-12, and was snapped up by Red Oaks shortly afterwards. “I think this school is a great fit for me,” he says. “I love the Red Oaks Community. Chris and Noga and everyone on the staff have been kind and helpful. I’m really blessed to be here.”
Early Childhood Teacher
Rachel Rojcewicz was exposed to Montessori learning much younger than most children. Her mother was a trained Montessori instructor and, in lieu of daycare, would often bring the weeks-old Rachel to class, cradling the wee one in her arms while keeping her young charges on task. “So Montessori came
From L to R: Rachel Rojcewicz, Denis Fleming, Athena Decker.
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
New Faces: Dawn Lau & Sarah Whitman
Dawn Lau is no stranger to Red Oaks.The founder of the Dawn Lau Dance Company, her association with the school began as the director and choreographer of the Middle School spring musicals—Matilda in 2023 and Seussical in 2024.This year, Dawn takes on a larger role, serving as a Middle School maternity leave replacement, teaching drama, dance, scene writing, and improvisational acting for the growing Red Oaks theatre program. “I love working with the Red Oaks students,” Dawn notes. “Drama is such a valuable tool in developing social and emotional learning skills and these kids are always willing to invest themselves in a performance.”
Sarah Whitman, a registered yoga instructor with more than 500 hours of training, works full-time at Yoga on Pine, a studio for adult classes in Morristown. For 2023-24 she was hired to teach one yoga class a week for the Red Oaks Afterschool Enrichment Program.The class proved so popular, Sarah was asked if she’d be interested in increasing her workload from one class to six.“Just tell me when to show up and I’ll be there,” she replied. Sarah now teaches Cutler students in grades 1-4.“They are such great kids,” She beams.“Many of my students have told me that they find yoga to be a great way to relax after a full day of school.They appreciate the mindful aspects of it, but we can get a little goofy, too, if need be. Their enthusiasm is just so wonderful to see.”
pretty naturally to me,” Rachel says with a smile. Predictably, Rachel decided to follow her mother’s career path. After earning her BA from Barnard College and an M.Ed. in Montessori Education from Loyola University, Rachel was soon hired as the lead Primary Years Teacher at the St. Martin’s School, a small Montessori in Bridgewater. It was a nice job, but Rachel always had her eye on Red Oaks. “I was well aware of the school’s reputation,” she says. “Red Oaks does a great job balancing the intellectual rigor that children need with a warm, supportive environment where each child is seen as an individual. I knew it was a place where I could grow as a teacher, so when a position opened up, I leapt at the chance.” She has no regrets, and neither do her three children, Ned (third grade), Lucy (first grade), and Rose (preschool) are all Red Oaks students. “They love it here, and so do I.”
Fairview
and Frost Valley Trips
Strengthen Student Bonds
At the start of the school year, Red Oaks students forged friendships in the great outdoors. Cutler’s third and fourth graders spent the day at the Fairview Lakes YMCA in Newton, and the middle schoolers journeyed to the Catskill Mountains to camp for three days at the Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville, NY.
The Fairview Lakes trip, chaperoned by Cutler’s Upper El teachers, was packed with team-building
activities including a trust fall, races, and canoeing on the Delaware River. The highlight of the day, however, was when the students were divided into small groups to cooperatively build shelters out of tree limbs. The finished structure needed to be large enough to house the entire team as well as be sturdy enough to withstand the shoving of Fairview Lakes counselors. Every group passed with flying colors.
The Middle School’s annual three-day, cellphonefree excursion to Frost Valley had a similarly stuffed itinerary, designed to foster cooperation among the students. Despite the persistent rainfall, none of the outdoor activities were cancelled. “The kids were wet and happy,” notes Middle School Director Noga Beer, who, along with the rest of the Middle School population, was soaked through. “But it wasn’t cold,
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
so we forged ahead with what we had planned.”
The days were filled with hikes, ziplines, and indoor rockclimbing, as well as various trust exercises such as the Flying Squirrel, where a student is belted into a harness and hoisted into the air by their teammates.The nights played host to campfires and tractor rides. “It was a great trip, and it brought the kids closer together,” Noga says. “No matter where I looked, our kids were smiling.”
ALL SCHOOL Harvest Festival
The weather may have been wet, but The Red Oaks School’s spirits weren’t dampened in the slightest for the annual Harvest Festival. The eagerly anticipated free event, run by the school’s Parent Association and organized by parents Karla Gabre and Michelle Trujillo , attracted hundreds of happy guests from all segments of the School Community: students, parents, faculty, staff, and alumni.
There was a great deal to offer (even if much of the offerings needed to be moved inside Cutler). Kids painted pumpkins and played games; adults caught up with friends and browsed premier Red Oaks-branded merchandise; and everyone gorged themselves on cider donuts, pretzels, and other foodstuffs. Head of School
COMMUNITY & CONNECTION
Chris Weaver mixed and mingled among the crowd (he also demonstrated his impressive hosting skills by setting up a couple of party tents to shield the crowd from the elements).
Terrific music was also on deck. As in past years, a four-piece bluegrass band provided a lively soundtrack to reflect the carefree vibe of the occasion. There was also a new musical performance; eighth graders Ellis Finkel (guitar and vocals) and Alex Doyle (piano) showed off their skills for the impressed guests.
A View From The Porch
THE RED OAKS SCHOOL MAKES THE MOST OF EACH MORNING.
BY MIKE ALLEGRA
Under normal circumstances, Cutler Campus is a sunny, joyful, and inviting destination. At 7:35 a.m. on a gray, frosty Monday morning, however, the place presents a different vibe. Windows dark, doors locked tight, the building appears to lie in a petulant slumber, unwilling to face the workweek, and unprepared for the throng of students due to arrive in half an hour.
A lot, however, can happen in half an hour.
The first signs of life arrive in the form of Early Childhood co-teachers, longtime besties, and consummate morning people Eva Wengler and Maggy Taylor. They exchange warm greetings in the autumnal chill and punch in the security code on Cutler’s side door. Once inside, they get right down to prepping for the coming school day.
Eva and Maggy enjoy a brief moment of quiet before the side door beeps, signaling the arrival of Coach Rebecca and Ms. Spring’s young son, CJ, an Early Childhood 3-year-old from their classroom.The side door beeps open again. Receptionist Bonni Leone says her hellos and fires up the computer in the front office. She reviews the voicemails, reads the emails, and watches the time.
By 7:45, the trickle of faculty and staff entering via the side door transforms into a wave. Time is short. Tasks need to be completed. Art Teacher Srujana Ambadipudi retrieves a container of student-made tissue paper flowers, part of a multi-school project for an upcoming art installation at the Morris Museum. Coach Rebecca lays out gym mats. Staffers hustle up the stairs to their offices on the third floor. As the rising sun begins to chase away the morning chill, the inside of Cutler is alive with warm light. Happy chatter fills the halls. Teachers talk shop and compare weekends.
It isn’t long before faculty and staff are settled in and ready. Also ready is the line of cars now formed at Cutler’s stately front entrance. Bonni, eyes still on the clock, takes her place by the door. Next to the door is the gong.
The gong is Red Oaks’s quirky method to let everyone in Cutler know that The School Day Has Begun. The gong isn’t large, maybe ten inches in diameter, but it makes a big noise. At precisely 8:05, Bonni whaps it three times.
The response is positively Pavlovian. A small coterie of faculty—Maggy, Srujana, Spanish Teacher Martha
Trevino and Elementary Teacher Fendy Ling—head outside with wide smiles and outstretched arms. Their job is to open car doors, unbuckle car seats, and offer words of welcome to the kids in the moments before they head inside.
The work is efficient, but not rushed or perfunctory. The greeters know each child by name. They know their personalities. They know what to say or do to coax out a smile.
The smiles don’t need much coaxing. Despite the lingering chill, the early hour, and the fact that it’s Monday, the children are enthusiastic beyond words. They want to be at school. They know what awaits them inside. And their philosophy seems to be: Why walk when you can skip or run or leap?
Why indeed.
The number of Red Oaks students from the Maplewood area is large enough to justify a school bus. Each morning this bus collects the Maplewood kids from a central location. It drops off the Middle Schoolers first (as their day begins earlier than the Lower School’s) then delivers the younger kids to Cutler. Assistant to the Head of School Patty Giordano is responsible for happily herding the bus riders to the door.
The greeting teachers work in shifts. After about ten minutes, the first group is tagged out and replaced. Lower Elementary Teacher Ashley Marrone, brings a new wave of enthusiasm to the proceedings. “Lookin’ good!” she calls out. “Love those glasses!” Her words do not go unappreciated. Lower Elementary Teacher Athena Decker accepts a few hugs and can’t help but marvel at Red Oaks’s daily ritual. “When I taught in New York, the kids just showed up outside my classroom door and I didn’t know how they got there,” she laughs. “This is a better way for kids to start the day. It’s a great way for all of us to start the day.”
Her sentiment is shared by Head of School Chris Weaver, who also takes his place on the porch. “This introduction to the school day really matters,” he says. “It’s warm and cozy and sets the right tone. It’s a kind of promise to the kids that says, ‘We’re all here for you.’”
Soon 8:30 comes and the line of cars ends as quickly as it started. The teachers return to their classrooms. They collect any remaining stragglers in the hall. It’s time for school to begin.
It’s going to be a great day.
TWO CAMPUSES AS ONE The Lower and Middle schools find pleasure in partnership
BY MIKE ALLEGRA
Each Thursday, Lower School Director Sera Capriotti and Middle School Director Noga Beer meet for a meeting of the minds. The two colleagues and friends have a lot in common. Both boast long tenures at Red Oaks (Noga began teaching here in 2000; Sera in 2009). Both have made innumerable contributions as the school grew and evolved into its enviable model of Montessori and International Baccalaureate education. In the Fall of 2023, Sera became Lower School Director, and Noga became Middle School Director. Although Sera and Noga are relatively new to their positions, they approach their responsibilities with great leadership, creativity, and zeal.
Sera and Noga are simply sympatico.
Today’s discussion focuses on Spirit Day, an all-school event on the Cutler Campus where middle school students team up with early childhood and elementary students. Together they sing songs, play games, and cooperate on teambuilding exercises.
The matching t-shirts have arrived, Noga says. The photography has been arranged. The itinerary is set. Arts Coordinator Tim Waters has rehearsed the welcome songs with the children.
And, most importantly, Red Oaks students of all ages are looking forward to the day’s events.
This is Red Oaks’s second Spirit Day; the first was inaugurated in October 2023 and was an experiment of sorts. At the time, Sera and Noga weren’t certain that this exercise in intercampus collaboration was going to work out as well as they hoped.
“There was a question lingering in the back of our minds,” Noga admits. “We didn’t know if the Middle Schoolers would be ‘too cool’ to work with the younger kids.”
“But then we saw the older students’ best selves come out,” Sera declares. “We saw seventh and eighth grade boys getting down on their knees to dance with the kindergarteners.”
“The ‘too cool’ kids showed their ‘uncool’ selves. And it was wonderful!” Noga laughs.
Sera pulls out her phone to show off dozens of photos and videos from the event, revealing a rich portfolio of smiling faces and joyful cooperation. “Look at that,” she says, smiling wide. “Isn’t that the sweetest thing? That was when Noga and I thought ‘We need to give these kids more opportunities to interact.’”
The genesis of this desire to interact can be traced back to the founding of the Middle School. When the second campus
began to take shape—first in embryo at The Columbian Club and, later, at its state-of-the-art facility on Speedwell Avenue— both Sera and Noga noticed a slight yet-growing disconnect. Lower and Middle School faculty members didn’t mingle often. Students from each campus rarely visited each other. The two campuses were only a mile apart, but at times that distance seemed oddly insurmountable.
When Noga and Sera rose to become the directors of their respective campuses, they committed themselves to bridging this gap.
The success of Spirit Day 2023 led to the formation of “Two Campuses, One School” a program led by Sera and Noga to design events that cater to the entire Red Oaks student body. Arrangements for more intercampus celebrations were quickly created for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year, including The Winter Performing Arts Showcase, a Field Day, Earth Day, and a Mexico Day.
For 2024-25, Sera and Noga have upped the ante. In addition to reprising the events held the previous year, the duo is arranging new all-school adventures. “The two campuses will meet at least once a month,” Noga says. “At least.”
One notable addition to the Two Campus, One School
itinerary is the addition of Campfire Assemblies, to be held via Zoom. These don’t include actual campfires, as the meetings will be held indoors (in Cutler’s Enrichment Room and the Middle School’s Dining Hall). Despite the absence of an open flame, the campfire camaraderie is still present. At September’s assembly, the students chatted, joked, sang songs, and, as is the case with every Zoom meeting, reminded each other that they were on mute.
It is at this point in the meeting that Sera gets an idea. “What about an actual campfire?”
“The Middle School used to do that when we were at The Columbian Club,” says Noga. “We met outside Willow Hall.”
“How many students can Willow Hall accommodate?” Sera asks.
“Outside there’s enough room for everyone.”
At that, the duo begins to brainstorm, their words growing more enthusiastic with each passing moment. The spring would be a great time for the campfire, they decide. Details are considered. Tasks to make it happen are divvied up between the two.
The conversation continues. And with each passing moment, the bonds between the campuses grow ever stronger.
Heart OF
The Red Oaks Parent Association Finds Room to Grow
By Mike Allegra
On a Friday morning in early September, the Middle School dining hall played host to the school’s annual Welcome Back Breakfast. It was a joyful gathering, where more than 50 parents munched pastries, sipped bottomless cups of coffee, and rekindled friendships that were briefly interrupted by the long summer break.
Once the event was well underway, Head of School Chris Weaver called for attention. He expressed his gratitude for the robust turnout—no small feat considering the hour—and spoke to the parents about how they could play an active role in the life of the school.
“Our Parent Association,” he said, “is the heart of Red Oaks.” His statement was not hyperbole. Each year, members of the Parent Association volunteer their time and talents to run
a wide spectrum of school events. The Family Soccer Day, Moms’ Night Out, and the Ice Skating Party are only a few of the more prominent social occasions. But even a casual look at the PA’s itinerary reveals a jam-packed schedule of dances, coffees, trips, socials, potlucks, bingo nights, and more.
Every Red Oaks parent is a member of the Parent Association. There are no fees or membership dues. Unlike PAs at many other schools, the Red Oaks Parent Association does not fundraise. The organization is entirely financed through the school’s operating budget; its sole purpose is to build and strengthen the School Community.
At the Welcome Back Breakfast, Chris introduced the new Parent Association co-chairs, Radhika Garg and Adrienne Himmelberger, both second year parents and both committed
THE School
to full-time careers. Considering the number of events the PA coordinates, it would appear as if there wouldn’t be enough hours in the day for Radhika and Adrienne to provide the necessary leadership for the co-chair jobs—and there aren’t, really. For 2024-25, however, the PA and the Red Oaks administration have worked together to restructure the co-chair role.
“In the past, the co-chairs handled the details for most Parent Association events,” Radhika explains. “This year we wanted to expand and democratize the process. We wanted to give more parents more opportunities to take on leadership roles if they have the time and the desire.”
The new co-chairs put their plan into practice with the Harvest Festival. Historically, the Harvest Festival was the cochairs’ baby; they handled all the details. This year, however, the responsibility was turned over to two other interested parents. “Karla Gabre and Michelle Trujillo did most of the heavy lifting,” Radhika says. “And they did an amazing job with it. They owned that event. That’s what Adrienne and I want to continue to do,” Radhika explains. “We want to build
more enthusiasm and offer more opportunities for parents to take ownership of events.”
With so many parents in new leadership roles, a new position, a Parent Association Liaison, was deemed necessary. This post would provide PA volunteers support and guidance as needed. The role became an extension of Outreach Coordinator Ilana Radcliffe’s job description. It was a good fit; a current parent and former PA co-chair, Ilana understands the parent group inside and out.
“Red Oaks has always had an incredibly active Parent Association,” Ilana says. “But this year the enthusiasm has exploded. The first General PA Meeting was packed! And just about everyone there was asking about how they could contribute. Some could only volunteer a little bit of their time, but that’s okay. The part they play, no matter how large or small, helps our School Community feel like a family.”
For more information about the Red Oaks Parent Association, please visit the school’s website at www. redoaksschool.org/parents.
BOARD BITS
True Commitment
Red Oaks has grown in stature and prestige; the Board is a big reason why.
When Fred Douglas was asked to join the Montessori Children’s House’s Board of Trustees in 1998, there wasn’t much of a board to speak of.
“There were only five of us,” he says. “We were all educated, caring people. We were parents and actively involved in the school. But whatever backgrounds we had outside the Board was coincidental and haphazard.”
Not that any of this occurred to Fred at the time. It was the first time he had been on a school board, and he freely admits that he had no idea what he was doing. “I wasn’t even sure of what a board did,” he says with a laugh.
That said, Fred did bring something to the group the other members lacked, a background in education. Fred had served the Parsippany public school system as a teacher for 19 years and was then nine years into what would become a 34-year tenure as a guidance counselor. This experience would come in handy when addressing the Board’s first and most critical priority—finding a new Head of School.
At the time, the Montessori Children’s House had been undergoing a crisis of leadership; the last several heads had cycled in and out of the job in quick succession, leaving the school’s reputation on shaky ground. MCH, the Board knew, needed to find a head of school who was not only an innovative professional, but an innovative professional with staying power.
With Fred’s assistance, Montessori Children’s House soon hired a legend.
The evolution of The Red Oaks School’s Board of Trustees in many ways begins with the hiring of Marilyn Stewart. An experienced teacher,
middle school director, development director, and education consultant, she had an intimate understanding of how an effective and proactive board could raise a school’s profile, bolster its enrollment, and drastically improve its fiscal health.
“Marilyn was the best person who could move us forward,” Fred notes. “She influenced us in everything we did from that point on. She trained us as Board members to better align our school with national and state models.”
For the next 25 years, Fred bore witness to this evolution. The Board steadily grew from five members to 16, with members joining the ranks of new subcommittees to address matters such as Marketing; Development; Finance; and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. There is even a Committee on Trustees, a group responsible for governance, as well as recruiting new Board members when a vacancy becomes available. Gone are the loosey goosey days of inviting people onto
Fred Douglas
Avinash Kothavale
Christine St. Peter Levinsohn
the Board with little consideration for their life experiences. These days, every potential new trustee is evaluated to see how their background and experiences can be utilized to best serve the school. Thus, 2023’s Board was well prepared to lead a search for Marilyn’s replacement. “I’ve been on this board for more than 26 years,” Fred says. “I have two proudest moments. The first was to hire Marilyn. The second was to hire our incredible new head of school, Chris Weaver.”
“There are a lot of needs on the Board, a lot of different roles to be filled,” explains Megan Clark, a Board member since 2021. “The school wants to get the most out of everyone. For example, Board member Avinash Kothavale has a medical background, so when issues came up regarding Covid, he was key to helping the school implement policies to ride out the storm and keep us safe. It is a wonderful way to serve.”
Christine St. Peter Levinsohn, another long standing Board member has found herself wearing all different kinds of hats over the years. From Development, to the Building Committee, she has done it all. “I even became certified as a jump rope speed and power judge when The Red Oaks School Lightning Bolts jump rope team competed in the Junior Olympics!”
Despite their varied personalities and careers, all members of the Board of Trustees share a familiar attribute: generosity. Trustees are unpaid volunteers. They dedicate their time, talents, and Annual Fund dollars because they believe in Red Oaks and want to do everything in their power to help the school thrive.
“Making a decision to serve on the board,” Christine says, “is a way to show gratitude for the wonderful educational experience that Red Oaks gave my daughter, Madeleine. It is rewarding to know our work on the Board helps sustain and grow this school we love.”
Luciano Retires from Board of Trustees
The Red Oaks School first found its way onto Susan Luciano’s radar many years ago when she attended her niece’s sixth birthday party. The birthday girl and her guests, all Red Oaks students, left a strong impression.
“I was delighted by the kids I met,” Susan recalls, still marveling at the memory. “They were smart and articulate and pleasant and good at talking to adults. And they all behaved this way in the chaos of a Chuck E. Cheese, which was amazing.”
Once the pizza party broke up, Susan remembered thinking, If I ever raise a child in New Jersey, this is the school I’d want to send her to.
Years later, in 2014, Susan was raising her fourth-grade daughter, Rose, in New Jersey. Red Oaks was where she sent her. “We both loved the place,” Susan says. “The atmosphere was just so welcoming.”
Susan distinguished herself as an active member of the Parent Association and a generous contributor to the Annual Fund; she was soon invited to join the Board. During her seven-year tenure, Susan served on the Executive Committee as Board Secretary. She was also a member of the Red Oaks Building Committee during the lengthy and complicated process of creating a new Middle School.
It was a rewarding journey. “I loved my time on the board,” Susan says. “My goal was to advocate for the whole school community. It wasn’t just about my child, it was about what was best for everyone. I wanted the school to grow and get better, but also preserve that certain something that was good for my niece and my daughter. I think the board has done an excellent job finding this balance.”