Student Life
A school’s culture shapes a child as much as its curriculum. At OCCA, student life is designed to be calm, warm, and purposeful—supporting strong learning, healthy belonging, and the formation of character.
Culture Built on Virtue
OCCA’s classical model is more than a set of books or subjects, it is a way of forming students. We aim to cultivate habits that strengthen both learning and community: attention, respect, responsibility, perseverance, and self-control.
This is what culture looks like at OCCA: clear expectations, consistent routines, and adults who model the virtues we ask students to practice. In daily school life, that can be as simple as students greeting adults respectfully, practicing orderly transitions, and being coached to correct work with care and persistence. The result is a campus environment where students can focus, grow, and experience the joy of doing meaningful work well.The result is a campus environment where students can focus, grow, and experience the joy of doing meaningful work well.
Known, Challenged, Supported
Students thrive when they feel known and when expectations are clear. OCCA’s community structures are designed to encourage healthy belonging—students learn what it means to contribute, to lead, and to care for others.
Mentorship and guidance
Adults who coach students in habits and responsibility
Shared routines
Especially in the early grades, predictable morning routines and classroom rhythms help students settle quickly, focus, and grow in confidence
Meaningful recognition
Celebrating effort, virtue, and improvement across all grade levels
House System: A Community Within Our Community
At OCCA’s Upper School, the House System builds community by bringing students together beyond their usual classes and established friend groups. Students belong to one of four Houses, each named for an exemplary historical figure and representing a distinct core virtue. Through shared traditions, leadership opportunities, and friendly competition, students form new connections, strengthen school spirit, and discover what makes every House exceptional in its own unique way.
Our Upper School Houses
Cato
Stands for the virtue of Temperance.
Churchill
Stands for the virtue of Fortitude.
Douglass
Stands for the virtue of Justice.
Washington
Stands for the virtue of Prudence.
Clubs and Enrichment
Students learn best when they can explore interests, practice skills, and contribute to the school community. Clubs and enrichment opportunities vary by grade level and campus and are designed to support curiosity, responsibility, and healthy friendships.
- Academic Clubs
- Art Enrichment
- Service Opportunities
- Interest Clubs
The Arts Matter
A classical education forms the whole person, including an appreciation for beauty and the discipline required to create it. Through visual art and music experiences, students practice skill, attention, and meaningful expression.
Athletics at OCCA
Athletics supports perseverance, teamwork, and healthy habits. Whether through organized teams or campus-based physical education, students learn to strive, improve, and contribute to something larger than themselves.
Offerings vary by grade level and season. The Eagles hub includes the most current information.
Traditions That Shape a School
Some of the most formative moments in a student’s life happen outside a textbook—shared events, celebrations, and community rhythms that create belonging. OCCA’s traditions are designed to strengthen community and remind students that learning is meaningful and shared.
- Community gatherings and celebrations
- Academic showcases
- Service events and school-wide initiatives
- Family events that strengthen partnership