Julia Szymanski and Cara Dolan ’24
How much could one school change in the span of forty-one years? Mr. Cardell, Oak Knoll’s resident art teacher, has seen it all. He has taught in three different art rooms, has seen the upper level of Grace Hall transition from the dormitory rooms of the Holy Child Sisters to the classrooms students learn in today, and has observed students gain confidence and independence. But while the interior design of this school may have changed, the framework of our values has remained the same. This year’s newest physics teacher, Mr. Yuhas, can attest to the fact that faith, wisdom, and service are still heavily present in our culture today.
Mr. Yuhas and Mr. Cardell see Oak Knoll through very different lenses. However, despite these differences, they both note the remarkable sense of community they have seen among students, and have participated in themselves. Mr. Yuhas had previously viewed Oak Knoll as a high-stress “pressure cooker” while teaching at Morristown Beard. He does not deny that this pressure exists, but in the past nine months, he has been amazed by the support that the faculty and students offer each other. Mr. Cardell has also been a long time recipient of this support. Through his forty-one years teaching here, Mr. Cardell has seen the community grow –the student body almost doubling and the campus expanding — but says that the great bond between the people never wavers. Cardell attributes his love for Oak Knoll mostly to the bright and talented students. He views the student body as Tiffany’s Jewelry: Each student is a unique gem, together uniting to create a beautiful mosaic.
Mr. Cardell and Mr. Yuhas can agree on one thing. They both believe students stress too much due to their workload and lack of time for activities that they personally enjoy. “I wish students would take courses they want to take, rather than courses they think they should take,” says Yuhas. Similarly, Mr. Cardell wishes students could take time to think about what’s best for themselves, not just dwell on their SAT scores or GPA. “Read, write poetry, draw if you want! Do something really worthwhile.” Cardell believes in a balance of genuine enjoyment of life and a responsibility for one’s future. While school is a place to learn and prepare for the world beyond high school, it should also be a time for personal growth. Both teachers advise students to try new things and explore their passions through the extensive opportunities Oak Knoll has to offer.
Another common theme throughout the interviews was the recognition of student independence. Cardell mentioned that the student body has progressively become more involved and influential in school life than when he first started teaching. Running general homeroom, speaking at graduation and continuously working with the administration on the uniform and academic policies are among some of the notable changes. Yuhas admits that he was a bit nervous about his first time teaching at an all-girls school, but now he understands that it isn’t very different from co-ed education. A difference he has noticed, however, is the sense of empowerment Oak Knoll lends to its students.
While Mr. Cardell has been here forty years longer than Mr. Yuhas, they still have similar views of the school. They both recognize the exceptionality of our students and both wish to create long lasting memories, whether it be witnessing a student art project being commemorated or disturbing Mr. Oxford’s English class. Oak Knoll’s foundational principles of faith, wisdom and service are continually being practiced and preserved; this dynamic fosters a strong bond among students, staff, administration, and alumni, no matter how long they’ve been a part of this community.