In the Middle With You

In our final episode of the year on In the Middle With You, we’re taking a moment to reflect, share gratitude, and walk down memory lane together. Thank you for listening, supporting, and being part of this community throughout the school year, we are so grateful for you! As we prepare for next year, we’d love your feedback. Please take a moment to visit the Parent Axis pages and complete our surv...

As the year ends, Tammy Kuku and Gaia Altshuler take a moment to share the reminder that how we finish the year is just as important as how we start. The episode includes tangible ideas you can implement in your home and family over the last few weeks of school. Hosted by: Gaia Altshuler - Social Emotional Counselor Tammy Kuku - Vice Principal Editing and Engineering by: Tyler Erickson - Education...

As we head into the final stretch of the school year, we want to make sure you feel prepared, supported, and ready to finish strong. In this episode of In the Middle With You , we're walking alongside you through everything you need to know to wrap up the year. Open up your calendar and get ready to add all the necessary dates! Hosted by: Gaia Altshuler - Social Emotional Counselor Tammy Kuku - Vi...

This week, Tammy and Gaia are joined by Oaks Christian High School student Vyan , who shares how he has personally lived out our school’s mission statement: “Minds for Leadership, Hearts for Service.” From inspiration to action, Vyan talks about the initiative he has created and how our middle school students will have the opportunity to be part of it as well. Plus, as always, we’ll share a few im...

Tammy and Gaia are joining you today for a thoughtful conversation about the value of community and the role we each play when those around us experience hardship and grief. In this episode, we invite you into the same conversations we’ve been having with our students: reflecting on how we care for one another, show up with compassion, and walk alongside others during difficult seasons. As we head...

Tammy and Gaia talk to brand new Oaks Christian Lions to hear what has them excited about next year! Hosted by: Gaia Altshuler - Social Emotional Counselor Tammy Kuku - Vice Principal Editing and Engineering by: Tyler Erickson - Educational Technologist

Tammy and Gaia are joined by Mr. and Mrs. McDonough for a special episode of In the Middle With You ! As we celebrate our Welcome to the Pride event and prepare to welcome new Lions to campus next school year, this conversation highlights the heart of the Oaks Christian community through the perspective of two of our parents. The McDonough's share what makes this community so special, the relation...

This week on In the Middle With You, we open the conversation around one of the most powerful tools parents have: their words. The way we speak to our children shapes far more than just a moment, it influences who they believe they are becoming. In this episode, we explore the powerful role your words play in the life of your child and how intentional language can shape their head, heart, hands, a...

It’s the final academic push of the year, and around campus our students know what that means: it’s time to “lock in.” In this week’s episode of In the Middle With You , Tammy and Gaia sit down with EJ Edinburgh , one of our academic tutors, to talk about how students can finish the year strong. EJ shares practical strategies to help middle schoolers stay focused, manage their workload, and build...

In this new episode of In the Middle With You , Tammy and Gaia sit down with Mr. Mo, our Spiritual Life Director, to talk about one of the most meaningful rhythms in the life of Oaks Christian School: 40 Days of Prayer . This recurring tradition has become a cornerstone of our community, shaping the spiritual life of our students, faculty, and families. Mr. Mo shares the heart behind 40 Days of Pr...

This week on In the Middle With You , Tammy and Gaia dive into a question so many parents are asking: what is going on with middle school behavior?! We unpack what’s actually happening in the middle school brain, how kids are learning to navigate an increasingly complex social world, and how to tell the difference between mean moments and truly harmful patterns. We know how hard it can be to watch...

This week, In the Middle With You is honored to welcome a very special guest: Dr. Connie Horton , Vice Chancellor of the RISE Institute at Pepperdine University. Dr. Horton joins us to break down the building blocks of resiliency and why nurturing resilience in children now is one of the greatest gifts we can give them—setting the foundation for healthy, grounded young adults in the future. This c...

Week 3 of our Friendship Series is here and we’re continuing to center the voices that matter most—our students. In today’s episode, we invite parents to get curious about their child’s inner world, especially when it comes to friendships. We lean into a topic that can feel tender, but we do so with a hope-filled lens—because growth often starts with curiosity, not control. You’ll hear real perspe...

This week on In the Middle With You , we continue our friendship series with a twist—sharing unfiltered feedback directly from middle school students . We break down key themes from the data we gathered to give parents real insight into what friendships are actually like at this age. Our goal is to offer tangible takeaways that help strengthen parent–child relationships as kids navigate one of the...

In the Middle With You is back for a new semester! Hosts Gaia Altshuler and Tammy Kuku share exciting updates and kick off the highly anticipated Friendship Series . This week, they explore the character traits that make a good friend and invite listeners to shift the question from “Why doesn’t anyone want to be my friend?” to the more meaningful “Am I being a good friend?” A thoughtful, encouragi...

As we wrap up an incredible semester, we want to say a heartfelt thank you for journeying with us. In this episode, we share a few of our favorite moments from the past months: those highlights that reminded us why we love walking alongside our middle school community. We also look ahead to what’s coming in the new semester and offer a few reflections to help you step into the break with peace, in...

This week on In the Middle With You , Gaia and Tammy dive into the beautiful and meaningful concept of a “thin place:" those moments or spaces where the distance between the everyday and the sacred feels just a little closer. We explore what a thin place is, why this idea matters so much during the busyness of December, and how we’re intentionally cultivating thin places at Oaks Christian to suppo...

This week on In the Middle With You , we’re talking about something that becomes surprisingly powerful as we step into December: routine . With school events, holiday plans, concerts, sports, travel, and end-of-year pressures piling up, our schedules are busier than ever—and that’s exactly why simple, predictable rhythms matter so much. We share how these gentle, flexible routines don’t restrict t...

This week on In the Middle With You , we’re joined by a very special guest: Jade Molina! In honor of Thanksgiving, we dive deep into all things gratitude : how it strengthens our physical health, supports our mental well-being, and nurtures our spiritual life. Jade brings wisdom and practical insights you won’t want to miss. And be sure to stick around until the end; a few of our amazing students...

This week, we’re kicking things off with a few exciting announcements so you don’t miss any of the holiday happenings at Oaks Christian! Then, we dive into the mid-semester shift — that time of year when visits to our offices tend to pick up. Gaia and Tammy unpack what might be behind that, share ways you can support your child at home, and explain what we’re doing here at school to help every stu...

This week, we’re diving into the start of the holiday season and everything that comes with it! Between school events, family gatherings, and a calendar that’s bursting at the seams, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Tammy and Gaia talk about how to navigate the busyness with intention—offering practical tips to help you manage your child’s emotions and set your family up for success this season. Spe...

This week we’re joined by special guests Holly Exler and Jen Voss , two incredible Oaks Christian staff members whose unique expertise helps our community thrive. Together, we dive into how to set the brain up for success—covering everything from the essential nutrition our brains need to practical study tips that boost focus and productivity. Whether you’re a parent looking to support your child’...

This week, hosts Tammy Kuku and Gaia Altshuler unpack how cultural pressures and expectations can fuel perfectionism and impact your child's emotional health. They explore how to shift from perfection to healthy striving, finding our true identity in Christ , and share simple tools to help your child embrace growth over perfection. Hosted by: Gaia Altshuler - Social Emotional Counselor Tammy Kuku...

In this episode, we’re taking a moment to reflect on all we’ve accomplished in Quarter 1 of the school year! Join us for an insightful conversation with our very own Kim Newman, Learning Specialist , as we dive into all things academic. Together, we explore key questions like: What do grades really represent? How can we use them as a tool for growth? And how can parents best celebrate and support...

This week on In The Middle With You , Tammy and Gaia keep it short and sweet with a special Fall Break message. We pause to echo the importance of connection and family time, and we hope you find space for both during the time ahead. Enjoy the break, soak in the extra time, and we look forward to seeing you back on Monday! Hosted by: Gaia Altshuler - Social Emotional Counselor Tammy Kuku - Vice Pr...