The Million Minutes Challenge
Giving Tuesday Recap: A Joy-Filled Day of Generosity
This Giving Tuesday, our community showed up in an extraordinary way — and we’re still celebrating! What began as an invitation to “Play It Forward” turned into a memorable day overflowing with joy, generosity, and gratitude.
After tracking our students' progress throughout November for The Million Minutes Challenge (see below!), the final tally was an incredible 1,649,920 minutes of tech-free time. We were so proud of their efforts!
By surpassing our goal of 1.5 million minutes, a $25,000 match was unlocked heading into Giving Tuesday. Supporters from across The Oaks community stepped in to double their impact, and the results were inspiring. Throughout the day, gifts poured in to help fund The Ready, Set, Play List, our wishlist of new indoor and outdoor recess activities and a day-long excursion for middle school students.
And then came one of two thrilling moments of the day.
Our supporters’ generosity helped us meet our Giving Tuesday goal and maximize the match. The best part? Another donor was inspired to offer up a second match of $15,000, opening up additional items to the list, including resurfacing our basketball courts at the lower schools.
Then, for the second time on Giving Tuesday, our supporters crushed our goal. By the end of the day, Oaks supporters raised $58,158, bringing the total to $98,158.
Every gift, from $25 to $500 and beyond, helped check off all the items on our list, giving our students so many reasons to celebrate. Thank you for supporting our mission, cheering on our students, and helping them have more joyful play and meaningful experiences at The Oaks Academy.
Kicking Off Our Tech-Free Challenge
Last year, we launched the 1 Million Minutes Challenge, a month-long initiative encouraging students to trade screen time for enriching activities like reading, sports, art, and play. Families and friends rallied behind our students’ tech-free goals, and thanks to their generosity, we upgraded both Lower School playgrounds, and construction began on the new Martindale-Brightwood athletic and multipurpose facility. (See our one-year update here!)
We’re grateful for the impact already made and excited for this year’s challenge.
This Year’s Goal: 1.5 Million Minutes
Throughout November, students are committing to reach 1.5 million minutes of tech-free time. Each minute logged helps build healthy habits with technology and stronger relationships with each other. And every gift will support hands-on learning environments that spark creativity and promote physical well-being. At the same time, every gift will expand hands-on learning experiences that inspire creativity and strengthen physical well-being for our students.
What Supporter Gifts Will Fund
This year’s donations will help us purchase:
- Outdoor recess additions (Think gaga ball pits and soccer goals!)
- Indoor recess activities (Who wants to gather around a sensory table or play new board games?)
- An exciting day-long excursion for our middle school students (Let's get off campus for outdoor team-building fun!)
Why Tech-Free?
This challenge reflects our commitment to support the holistic development of each student. We see the impact that screen time can have on young minds, and we want to champion activities that are joyful, meaningful, and connection-building.
The inaugural challenge created lasting moments for many Oaks families. Oaks parents Tchad and Danielle Blair shared how the experience sparked a new family tradition:
We hosted game nights at our home, inviting our extended family to join in. It’s been great to see the children become more independent in deciding how to use their tech-free time.
Inspired by the creativity and growth they saw in their daughters, the Blairs have made tech-free play a regular rhythm in their home.
The Excitement Is Spreading
Interest in our tech-free challenge and in The Oaks Academy’s approach is growing beyond our school community. Oaks Middle School Head of School Laura Grammar recently sat down with WISH-TV’s Cody Adams to share what makes our educational philosophy distinctive and impactful for students.
Our holistic approach helps students flourish relationally and emotionally alongside their academic growth, unlocking their full potential. As more families consider the role technology plays in their children’s lives, we’re grateful to support meaningful conversations at home during this challenge and throughout the school year.
Tracking Our Progress
You can follow our students’ progress towards 1.5 million minutes on social media and on campus. Be sure to check the trackers in the lobbies of the lower schools, next to the office at the Early Education Center, and in the Commons at the middle school!
Families are invited to share stories, photos, and ideas throughout the challenge by emailing techfree@theoaksacademy.org. We’d love to feature your contributions in our weekly updates and on social media to inspire the entire Oaks community.
Our students are eager to see the collective totals grow each week, and we can’t wait to watch them rise to the challenge.
Let ’s work together to inspire imagination, creativity, and movement this November!
Support our students
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The Million Minutes Challenge: Kicking Off Our Tech-Free Challenge
Join The Oaks Academy’s Million Minutes Challenge! This November, students are working toward 1.5 million minutes of tech-free time — building healthy habits, creativity, and connection while raising support for new playground and recess additions.