Formed and Awakened: The Oakcrest School Podcast

"Formed and Awakened" hosted Kathryn (Kati) Krueger, Oakcrest's new executive director. Kati shared the significance of Oakcrest reaching this 50-year milestone and what the school is anticipating in the near future.

In this episode of Formed and Awakened, get to know Coach Pruskowski, longtime Oakcrest soccer coach and physical education teacher. Jen shares her passion for helping young women grow in strength, confidence, and resilience through movement and exercise and provides both technical and inspirational advice to keeping fit during summer vacation.

In this bonus episode of Formed and Awakened, Head of School Christie Keuchel reflects on the experiences and people who shaped her path to Oakcrest, the mentors and role models who inspired her vocation in education, and the unique qualities she sees in Oakcrest students today: young women who are taking on the project of her own education and development.

In this episode of Formed and Awakened, podcast hosts Elizabeth Bergin and Dr. Kat Hussman explore questions around dialogue with Oakcrest theology teacher, Joana Allen. What is dialogue? How do we open healthy and meaningful conversations with our daughters throughout adolescence? How do we encourage our daughters to engage in respectful dialogue with those they encounter? 

In this episode, podcast hosts Elizabeth Bergin and Dr. Kat Hussmann welcome Dr. Edwina Maksym, former Oakcrest faculty member and the namesake of the Edwina Maksym Senior Thesis Awards. Dr. Maksym explores one of the questions that serves as a foundational pillar toThe Teacher Institute, Oakcrest’s in-house program for professional development and faculty support: "What is a person?" In answering the question, she unpacks into the realities of individuality, vocation, freedom, and relationship with God that shape a Christian anthropological understanding of personhood. This episode offers language and tools to help us better understand our daughters and students as whole persons.

In this first episode, Dr. Kat Hussmann and Elizabeth Bergin introduce Formed and Awakened, Oakcrest’s newly updated podcast. They discuss the mission of the show, their roles at Oakcrest, the importance of parent partnership, and what it means to form and awaken young women as whole persons. This episode sets the stage for exploring the vital questions surrounding education, character, and the unique vocation of young women.

Listen to this powerful and inspiring conversation recorded live at Oakcrest School. In this special episode, you’ll hear from Ester Munt-Brooks and Dr. Arthur Brooks as they share their talk titled “Happiness Happens.”

To guide us in learning how to live that joy here and now, Oakcrest welcomed two incredible speakers, a husband and wife duo: Dr. Arthur Brooks—a Harvard professor, Ph.D., bestselling author, and renowned social scientist—and Mrs. Ester Munt Brooks—a Catholic educator and speaker with a passion for helping people deepen their faith and live it intentionally.

Together, they explore the different aspects of happiness and how we can create it in our everyday lives. This talk is inspired by a famous insight from St. Josemaría Escriva, who wrote, “I am every day more convinced that happiness in heaven is for those who know how to be happy on earth.”

Learning Specialist Maggie Musacchio shares her insight on how to approach the formation and development of executive functioning skills aligned with virtue. She provides practical tips for overcoming procrastination.

In this podcast, Head of School Christie Keuchel is joined by the Upper School Director of Mentoring, Mary Ann Messenger, and the Middle School Director of Mentoring, Jeannie Herrick. They discuss the Oakcrest mentoring program, which is the cornerstone of an Oakcrest education.

Learning Specialist Maggie Musacchio shares her tips and tricks for how to approach final exams. She provides study strategies and offers encouragement for both students and parents.