Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Susie Pickering

Oak Lane Day School

137 Stenton Ave, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Phone: 610-825-1055

Fax: 610-825-9288

Email: spickering@oaklanedayschool.org

Community Scholarship Recipients for 2007-2008

Oak Lane Day School is committed to providing educational opportunities for students of merit. To support this commitment the school offers a Community Scholarship Program for children in Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grades. The scholarship covers 75% of the school's annual tuition through the Sixth Grade. Children who demonstrate strong academic achievement, good citizenship, and extracurricular involvement are encouraged to apply. The application process includes interviews with the family, visits to the school, and teacher recommendations.

Two children were chosen to receive scholarships for next year. They are Lauren Holman and Milahn Shurelds, both of Philadelphia. Lauren will be entering the Third Grade and Milahn, the Fourth. During a welcoming ceremony at Oak Lane, both girls were presented with scholarship certificates, and they and their parents had an opportunity to meet and talk with teachers and administrators. Allen Garner, Oak Lane's second/third grade vertical teacher enthusiastically greeted the girls both of whom had visited in her classroom earlier in the year, giving to each congratulatory hugs and heartfelt praise, which elicited surprised delight from Lauren's father, Barry. “Are all the teachers that happy to see the kids?” he asked. Mrs. Garner is known for her exuberant personality, but the response of the Oak Lane faculty was unanimous: Yes. The community is so close-knit; it feels like family.

Lauren and Milahn bring with them strong academic ability as well as varied interests and talents. Lauren enjoys reading, computer activities, and jumping rope. She is also very busy with teaching her 4-year-old sister to read, fly a kite, and ride a bike. During her visit to Oak Lane, Lauren was especially interested in the second/third grade study of China. Milahn takes piano and gymnastic lessons and loves double-dutch. She is looking forward to being challenged in Math when she starts at Oak Lane in the fall.

Polite and good-natured, eager and friendly, both Milahn and Lauren will be excellent new members to their respective grades. During the welcoming ceremony, Head of School Karl Welsh remarked on Oak Lane students' excitement when new kids come to school, "In a small community, new personalities bring wonderful new opportunities for learning, growth, and friendship." Oak Lane Day School warmly welcomes Lauren, Milahn, and their families into its family and wishes them great success and happiness.

Oak Lane Day School Information

An independent elementary school, founded in 1916 and located in Blue Bell, Oak Lane Day School serves a diverse population of boys and girls. Oak Lane honors each child's unique individuality while fostering intellectual, creative, academic, and personal growth within a diverse community of active, engaged learners. Small class sizes and an atmosphere that encourages children to develop their academic and social skills are priorities at Oak Lane, where learning is a meaningful and joyous pursuit. Oak Lane's country-like property of 30 acres along Butler Pike and Stenton Avenue boasts a stream, pond, woods, meadows, and specimen trees as well as athletic fields and playgrounds.

Oak Lane Day School is accredited by the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), and is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) and the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools (ADVIS).