Please join FOA for the third Parent Artisan Series event of the year on February 11 at 6:00 pm.  This lively social evening will be hosted by Ms. Jill Plumley, Art History Teacher at Five Oaks Academy. She will guide you in creating a one of a kind masterpiece by giving simple, line by line, instruction on how to sketch using vine charcoal. She will then show you interesting techniques to add paint to your project. This class is for ALL skill levels from beginner to advanced. It will be a fun project so you donât want to miss out! Space is limited!  If you would like to attend this event, kindly respond by clicking on this Eventbrite link to register https://foa-artisanseries-art.eventbrite.com .
Mr. Dixon ended this fascinating presentation by advising the students that rather than memorizing specific facts,  it will benefit them more in the future to develop a good attitude, strong work ethic, and a willingness to learn new things. He shared a story about ScanSource’s decision to explore 3D printing. Everyone chosen for the exploratory team had to have an attitude of adaptability, flexibility, and willingness to teach themselves the necessary details. He also encouraged the students to pay attention in Physics class, since understanding physics unlocks the universe. The Middle School would like to thank Mr. Dixon and Mr. Bougie for their time, effort and information!
Five Oaks Academy parent, Missy Hammer, visited the Primary classes to share her knowledge about the traditions practiced during the Jewish religious celebration of Hanukkah.  Students learned that Hanukkah spans over 8 days,  the types of food that are a part of the celebration, the symbolism of the menorah, and the tradition of lighting a new branch of the menorah each night of Hanukkah. They also enjoyed learning  and singing the dreidel song.
Five Oaks Academy holds âStrengths Showsâ throughout the year that celebrate the individual strengths and talents of our students. Our students are given the opportunity to select a strength they possess to share with the entire FOA student body. We have had an array of acts over the years from singing and playing instruments to juggling, acting skits, karate skill demonstrations, magic shows, and entertaining dance routines. After they share their strengths, the performers are met with applause and appreciation from their peers. The Strengths Shows are a wonderful way for students to gain confidence and help them recognize the unique talents and skills they bring to our community.
We invite you to schedule a tour to see how Five Oaks Academy can unlock your childâs unique potential!
Thanksgiving Feasts are a wonderful tradition at Five Oaks Academy. Â While every programâs traditions vary, all of the classrooms take time to reflect on the many things that we are grateful for in our lives. Gratitude is an important part of our Grace and Courtesy curriculum at FOA. Additionally, research
Since pre-Columbian times, the Day of the Dead, also known as DĂa de Muertos, has been celebrated in Mexico and other Latin countries around the world. This is not a gruesome, scary, or sad ritual as the name may suggest; it is a beautiful day in which many Latin American countries happily remember their departed loved ones and celebrate their lives, much like when we go to a graveyard to leave flowers on a grave-site.
tudents learn about this special ritual and partake in the ceremonial Day of the Dead bread called pan de muerto, the traditional Mexican sweet bread that symbolizes a fraternal offering to the souls during this celebration.
Five Oaks Academy presents the second event in our 2015-16 Artisan Series: Cooking with Personal Chef Vince Bienish.  You will enjoy appetizers and drinks while creating your own Asian Chicken Wrap and Signature Cocktail, The Pink Pineapple, with Chef Vince as your guide. Chef Vince is a personal chef who works with many local farms for fresh farm to table ingredients. He will share some of his extensive culinary knowledge and provide helpful cooking tips. There is no charge for this event and it is open to the public. Please join us on November 12, 2015 from 6-7 p.m. Reserve your seat on Eventbrite at  http://tinyurl.com/o724ke2 by Monday, November 9.
Many of our Five Oaks Academy teachers and Administrators headed to Swansea, SC for the 15th Annual South Carolina Montessori Alliance (SCMA) Conference on October 23 and 24.  SCMA is a non-profit leadership organization of individuals representing public and private schools uniting together to enhance the growth of Montessori education in South Carolina. This year’s conference offered dynamic Montessori speakers, interactive workshops and opportunities to share ideas among colleagues. The primary focus of the conference was how to implement and grow STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) programs in our schools for all students, primary through adolescence. The teachers who attended the conference were inspired with many great ideas to share and implement in their classrooms. Five Oaks was pleased to be a sponsor of this year’s SCMA conference along with Lander University.
Five Oaks Academy is very proud that our own Kathleen Trewhella-Grant, FOA’s Executive Director, was asked to be a presenter at this year’s International Montessori Council Conference in Florida. She will present on “Why Happiness Matters”. It is so impressive that her class is at full capacity and registration has been closed.  Conferences are such an important way to grow and expand on best practice in Montessori as well as a way that FOA leaders show their commitment to being life-long learners. The Annual Fund graciously helps support these types of continuing education opportunities for teachers and administrators.
Students in Lower Elementary look forward to the Character Museum every year. Parents, grandparents, special guests and FOA students from other levels are invited to the classroom to view the Lower Elementary students dressed as their favorite character from children’s literature. The students prepare for this event through a homework project. This project is multi-faceted and has several goals. The students choose a character and are then asked to write a letter to their teacher as if the student was that character. They must then plan a costume to wear during the Character Museum, including a list of the things they will need and a picture of what the outfit will look like. The final step is to write a dialogue in the voice of their chosen character that they will share with their guests during the Character Museum. The students perform a Character Study by examining the qualities and characteristics that make up their chosen character, gain experience in writing letters, and take on the perspective of their character by writing their dialogue in first person.
This project utilizes skills such as critical thinking, analysis of information, application of knowledge, communication, and creativity. All of these skills will be needed to prepare students for the 21st Century workforce. Additionally, the students are asked before they begin the assignment, as they are in every homework assignment, to break it down into steps and plan when they will complete each step over a week’s time. This reinforces the time management aspect of our program that we work on everyday in our classrooms that will guide students throughout their life.  The Character Museum is an empowering experience as our students take ownership of their chosen character.
Montessori Mornings is an event held several times a year where students invite a parent or special guest to come and experience the Montessori classroom. This event gives the students an opportunity to share the lessons they are working on in the classroom with their loved ones.  It is amazing to see the pride and confidence the students exemplify as they demonstrate their lessons. Since many of the lessons involve hands-on materials that are specific to Montessori, it is an excellent way for parents and special guests to familiarize themselves with their children’s lessons and the materials.
