About White Oak Middle School
White Oak Middle School is a diverse school with students representing many races and religions coming together to learn. Diversity is our strength.
Our mascot is the Wildcat. Our colors are blue and white.
History of the School
White Oak opened in 1962 as a junior high school. White Oak was changed into an intermediate school with grades seven and eight in 1984, and then became a middle school when the sixth grade was added in 1990. There are currently two teams at each grade level: Maple and Poplar in the sixth grade, Oak and Willow in the seventh grade, and Palm and Pine at the eighth grade level. Our school colors were brown and gold, rather that the blue and white colors that we have today.
White Oak has had eight principals: Hilleary C. Rockwell (1962-1976), Frederick R. Cialli (1976-1977), Dr. John R. Schneider (1977-1990), Dr. Steven G. Seleznow (1990-1992), Durinda Yates (1992-1997), Jeanette E. Dixon (August 1977-2001) and Dr. Carol McVeigh Dahlberg (2001-2007). Ms. Virginia de los Santos is our current principal.
Renovations and Leadership
White Oak was renovated in 1993 and rededicated in 1994. The school won the Excellence in Education Award under the leadership of Dr. Schneider in 1989. White Oak's core values of respect, growth, cooperation and quality were added during the principalship of Dr. Seleznow. White Oak became a block scheduled school in 1995 under the leadership of Ms. Yates. Many new programs that recognize students were started by Ms. Dixon, including the Wildcat of the Month Awards and the Eighth Grade Promotion Ceremony. In addition, the block schedule was extended to ninety minutes with the APEX advisory period under her leadership.
About the Northeast Consortium Cluster
White Oak is one of five middle schools that are a part of the Northeast Consortium. The Northeast Consortium began as a response to student assignment issues. As a result, the three high schools were affiliated into a consortium to serve the attendance and educational interests of all the students populating the northeast area.
How the Consortium Works
A departure from the traditional student assignment practice, student attendance at the three high schools is not restricted by an inflexible boundary. Instead, students and their parents participate in a practice known as "preferred choice" in which each 8th grade student ranks his/her order of preference for a high school from among the three choices. Each of the schools offers an outstanding comprehensive high school program for every student as well as a distinctive "Signature Program". The signature program is a common theme that runs throughout the entire school curriculum, such as technology, sciences, or the arts.