"From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow." - Aeschylus
Curriculum Details
The Oak Hill Acorns day will include three parts: Free Play, Formal Instruction, and Naps.
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Free Play
"Free Play" will be guided time of exploration, imagination, and play. Students will have in-class table time and outside free-time, in Oak Hill's large backyard playground. A student's academic and behavioral competencies will be developed organically during Free Play, ensuring they are provided healthy social and spatial boundaries in which to create and simply enjoy these precious years of being a young child. |
Formal Instruction
"Formal Instruction" will be based on the classical and Christian nature of Oak Hill but will be adapted for age-appropriate and developmentally-kind tasks, assignments, and instruction. Students will be formally instructed in four areas: "SSMM." This means Story, Song, Memory, and Mathematics. Memory will include basic and age-appropriate instruction in Latin. These four foundational disciplines are necessary for development at any age, but they are most especially potent in these younger years. These four disciplines (SSMM) set the firmest foundation for future growth intellectually, linguistically, socially, spiritually, and emotionally. |
Naps
Each day the Acorns will divide their time between three places: the outside playground, the Activity Room, and the Nap Room. The Nap Room will be a room that is kept dark and quiet, where Acorns will, in accordance with age and parental requests, take a morning and/or afternoon nap. The room will be outfitted with proper and age-appropriate bedding, rocking chairs, as well as sound machines and 24-hour front-desk monitors and cameras. There will be clear and non-negotiable access restrictions to the Nap Room during school hours. |
Daily Schedule
Below is a sample schedule. Minor adjustments pending. Final schedule coming soon.
8:30 Promptus (with the whole school)
8:45 Morning Routine in the Activity Room
9:00 Mathematics in the Activity Room
9:30 Table Time + Snacks in the Activity Room
10:00 Free-Play Outside on the Outside Playground
10:30 Story (2yo+3yo) in the Activity Room or Outside / Nap (< 2yo) in the Nap Room
11:00 Song in the Activity Room
11:00 Table Time in the Activity Room
11:30 Lunch in the Activity Room or Outside
12:00 Memory in the Activity Room
12:30 Mathematics Centers in the Activity Room
1:00 Nap in the Nap Room (all)
1:30 Free-Play Outside on the Outside Playground
2:00 Story + Snack in the Activity Room
2:30 Stewardship Time (cleanup and closing Doxology)
2:45 Carpool
8:30 Promptus (with the whole school)
8:45 Morning Routine in the Activity Room
9:00 Mathematics in the Activity Room
9:30 Table Time + Snacks in the Activity Room
10:00 Free-Play Outside on the Outside Playground
10:30 Story (2yo+3yo) in the Activity Room or Outside / Nap (< 2yo) in the Nap Room
11:00 Song in the Activity Room
11:00 Table Time in the Activity Room
11:30 Lunch in the Activity Room or Outside
12:00 Memory in the Activity Room
12:30 Mathematics Centers in the Activity Room
1:00 Nap in the Nap Room (all)
1:30 Free-Play Outside on the Outside Playground
2:00 Story + Snack in the Activity Room
2:30 Stewardship Time (cleanup and closing Doxology)
2:45 Carpool
Child Safety
We take parent leadership and involvement very seriously, as a divine mandate, and we treat child safety with the utmost care, as if each child was our own. This includes monitoring systems (cameras) in our Acorn areas, clear program protocol and procedures, as well as federal background checks, training, and ongoing assessments of all Oak Hill employees, especially those looking after the youngest and most vulnerable. We have an open-door policy for Oak Hill parents, to come and enjoy time with their children at any point of the day, so long as it does not disrupt the classroom or provide unaccompanied access to other children. We encourage parents to visit during the more informal times of the day so as to minimize disruption in classroom instruction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the school year schedule? The school calendar will be the same as the rest of the school. You can see that calendar here.
Will the students have homework to complete for SSMM? Students will not be given homework. However, if parents would like some structure at home or some things to work on at home, parents may request additional resources, and we are happy to provide further direction. We encourage parents have a vision of how they want their children formed, and then to be purposeful in forming their children in those arts, habits, or abilities.
Will Acorns be required to wear a uniform? Acorns will have a required dress code, but it will not be as formal as the other Oak Hill students. It will be age-appropriate and comfortable for the activities they will be participating in each day. A list of items (e.g. change of clothes, snacks, toys, etc.) will be provided to parents before the start of school.
What if my child misses class one day? Parents are the primary educators of their children, and this especially means in the little years. While we do not encourage students to miss more than 15% of their registered class days in a semester, we understand that parents must make the best decision for their family and their child during weekdays. We encourage parents to set a routine for their families and their children, including daily schedules, regular attention to friendships, and the structured development of the whole child. This is why the Acorns exist. If a student attends the Acorns two or three days, we encourage parents to have a plan for the "off days" or for days the child misses due to family needs or sickness. Our instructors and Program Director will work with parents to ensure the child is maturing well.
Will my child receive grades? Acorns will not receive grades, in the traditional sense, but there will be regular assessments so that instructors and the Program Director may more regularly provide feedback to parents on how students are doing in the program. We want to ensure none of our children are becoming nuts (cue laugh track). The quarterly assessments will be spelled out further in the Orientation Packet given to parents prior to the start of the school year.
Will the students have homework to complete for SSMM? Students will not be given homework. However, if parents would like some structure at home or some things to work on at home, parents may request additional resources, and we are happy to provide further direction. We encourage parents have a vision of how they want their children formed, and then to be purposeful in forming their children in those arts, habits, or abilities.
Will Acorns be required to wear a uniform? Acorns will have a required dress code, but it will not be as formal as the other Oak Hill students. It will be age-appropriate and comfortable for the activities they will be participating in each day. A list of items (e.g. change of clothes, snacks, toys, etc.) will be provided to parents before the start of school.
What if my child misses class one day? Parents are the primary educators of their children, and this especially means in the little years. While we do not encourage students to miss more than 15% of their registered class days in a semester, we understand that parents must make the best decision for their family and their child during weekdays. We encourage parents to set a routine for their families and their children, including daily schedules, regular attention to friendships, and the structured development of the whole child. This is why the Acorns exist. If a student attends the Acorns two or three days, we encourage parents to have a plan for the "off days" or for days the child misses due to family needs or sickness. Our instructors and Program Director will work with parents to ensure the child is maturing well.
Will my child receive grades? Acorns will not receive grades, in the traditional sense, but there will be regular assessments so that instructors and the Program Director may more regularly provide feedback to parents on how students are doing in the program. We want to ensure none of our children are becoming nuts (cue laugh track). The quarterly assessments will be spelled out further in the Orientation Packet given to parents prior to the start of the school year.
Got Questions? Email Brian.Daigle@OakHillClassical.org or contact us.