Motes-Boyd Story
Mandi Motes and Matt Boyd recently joined the Oak Hill community when their daughter Ama enrolled in first grade. They share what stood out during their search, what made Oak Hill feel like the right fit, and how their daughter has experienced learning and belonging in her first year.
Q: Tell us how you discovered Oak Hill and what led you to enroll at the school.
A: Ama was in early childhood at a different school and one of her classmates in a multi-age kindergarten left for Oak Hill. I spoke to the mom about what her experience was, and she said that her child was “soaring,” at Oak Hill. I could not get past the word soaring. So, we looked into it from there and did our tour. We were especially looking for a strong academic program. When we got to Oak Hill and saw the academics, the whole child approach, and the outdoor component, we were sold.
Q: What are some things that Oak Hill does differently than other schools?
A: We came from the Waldorf school, so there were some shared components with Oak Hill that you don’t see at most schools. Something that really stood out for me is the attention and thoughtfulness put into the physical space in the classrooms. There is natural lighting and a thoughtfulness towards the well-being of the child. There’s also a real diversity of programs at Oak Hill and a big focus on experiential learning. It’s pretty amazing.
Q: Has Ama shown specific interest in a specific program or class?
A: She really has been enjoying learning Mandarin, which I think is a beautiful addition for the school.
Q: How would you describe Oak Hill to a prospective family?
A: Matt: It’s the best school that we could find!
Mandi: I go back to the balance of academics with the outdoor natural world component. That’s what really stands out for us. We just knew it was right when we did the tour and then when Ama did the visit day. She came home and knew it was the right school for her. She kept talking about a united friendship at Oak Hill, which is a very interesting phrase that she's used repeatedly.
Mandi: I go back to the balance of academics with the outdoor natural world component. That’s what really stands out for us. We just knew it was right when we did the tour and then when Ama did the visit day. She came home and knew it was the right school for her. She kept talking about a united friendship at Oak Hill, which is a very interesting phrase that she's used repeatedly.
Q: Has there been a moment when you felt that Ama was especially supported by the Oak Hill community?
A: It feels like continuous nurturing from every staff member that we've interacted with. It feels like all of the faculty in all of their roles are part of an essential team that supports each other to make it all possible.
Q: One of the core elements of Oak Hill’s mission is experiential learning. How do you see that tenant in Ama’s experience at the school?
A: Ama’s class is raising baby salmon right now. There's a tank and they watch them hatch from eggs. They’re going to release them this Friday. I think that's a great example of bringing those living components into the classroom where you can see the whole cycle within your own classroom.
Q: Mandi, as a landscape architect, what did you first think of Oak Hill’s 72-acre campus?
A: What a terrific place to learn. You can't unsee the campus… It really is striking. There are so many opportunities to be outside, even just moving between classes.
Q: What would you share about Oak Hill with a prospective family considering the school?
A: There's a very clear caring energy and it feels like people bring out the best in each other at Oak Hill. I would certainly recommend any prospective families apply to the school and get a tour of campus.
Oak Hill also should be on their radar because it’s a really good community asset for people to plug into in different ways. There are different events that happen here. It's a great location and a great campus. So, even if they're not going to send their child here, it's still a really neat place to be able to experience and engage with.
Located on 72 wooded acres in Eugene, Oregon, Oak Hill School is an independent, secular (non-religious) private school welcoming pre-K to 8th grade students.
