Five Oaks Academy welcomed one of our newest members of the Five Oaks Academy faculty, Matt Lehman, back from a summer training experience in Ohio. Matt Lehman officially joined our school community this spring, and is working alongside Emily Gagne in mentoring our adolescent middle school students. Matt became acquainted with the middle school students before summer vacation through mentoring in lessons and work, attending and helping with graduation, and participating in the construction of the garden house.

Matt spent the summer engrossed in the Orientation to Adolescence Studies in Cleveland, Ohio through the North American Montessori Teacher Association (NAMTA) training. His studies included a two-week stay at the Hershey Montessori Farm School as well as four weeks of course study at Montessori High School at University Circle in affiliation with Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.

While the whole experience was memorable, the learning opportunities at the farm school resonate with Matt the most. As a Farm School, the children are responsible for all tasks, duties, and chores that keep a working farm running. The farm is home to cows, pigs, and chickens; the students are responsible for all daily chores and maintenance including collecting eggs, feeding animals, and cleaning stalls. The Hershey Montessori Farm School at the Huntsburg Campus serves adolescents ages 12 to 15 years. The Huntsburg Campus has a working farm, residential house, program barns, bio-shelter, and classroom buildings. The program also includes a boarding option for families who wish for their children to reside on campus. Matt is eager to develop new experiences for the Middle School students from lessons and experiences he gained over the summer.

Will Baur, graduate of Five Oaks Academy’s Middle School Program and founding student at Five Oaks Academy, Inc., attended Duke’s Regional Summer Program at Appalachian State University.  Duke offers a variety of summer programs for students who qualify in their Duke Talent Identification Program (T.I.P).

Students qualify in the 7th grade if recommended by MAP results, to take the SAT and/or ACT.

The summer camp focus is on different types of study and qualifying students attend workshops paired with their academic excellence.

Will attended “America and the World: Challenges and Opportunities” for a three week study.  Upon leaving the course, Duke Professors wrote:  “Will was a good addition to the classroom.  He was well respected by his instructors and peers and contributed to a supportive learning environment for all.  When Will participated in debates/discussions, he captured many important points that were being overlooked.  He was very analytically driven, and processed information with great  depth.  He typically brought a voice of objectivity, which was greatly appreciated.  In his final project, he showed good creative writing ability and gave analysis with policy recommendations.  It is clear that Will has a real excitement for learning new things and being challenged in an opportunity to grow intellectually.”

Juliet Jacob, seven year veteran of Five Oaks Academy, raised funds and purchased a sign for the Five Oaks Academy campus as a part of her graduation project.  She raised more than $2,000 through her efforts of fundraising events held at the school.  The events she planned, organized, and and managed included catering special events,  hosting hot dog sales for campus-wide events, babysitting for evening parent education events, teaching a hula-hooping studio for after school students, and holding a Valentine’s Day dance for students.

With the help of Russ Morin, her teacher of six years,  and Laura Baur, school owner,  Juliet created a design for the sign which stands at the entrance of Five Oaks Academy.  When asked about her project, Juliet said,  “It was tough work getting it installed in the ground but the end result is great. I am proud to be a graduate of Five Oaks Academy.”

Graduating eighth grade students of Five Oaks Academy plan and propose ideas for graduation projects.  These projects are designed for the students to have the opportunity and experience of giving back to the school through a community service effort.  Other projects include an arbor for the entrance of the nature trail and a promotional video.

The Creative Art Program launched by Ms. Jill will give students an opportunity to explore different artistic mediums and to create process-oriented art.  The exploration will give students valuable time to be creative and to be imaginative.

Research shows that American creativity is declining.  This trait is invaluable in fostering problem-solving skills and thinking outside the box.  By stimulating our students with open-ended activities that are more process oriented, their creativity will be of great value during their years of education and beyond into adulthood as they enter the workforce.  The students work with recycled and found materials among a variety of traditional art materials and techniques to create imaginative artworks.  This program is separate but complementary to the Art History Program.  The Creativity Program alternates with Art History month.