Click the link below to enjoy the Fall 2023 edition of Five Oaks Academy’s Digital Newsletter, Under the Canopy.

Fall 2023 – Under The Canopy Digital Newsletter

Join us Friday, September 8, 2023 from 8:30am – 9:30am for Montessori Parents in Action (MPIA). Dr. Caitlin McLear (VIVE Greenville) and the Five Oaks Academy Core Curriculum Council Teachers will present “Stress: Transitions Workshop”.

Visit our Linktree to register to attend: https://linktr.ee/fiveoaksacademy

Welcome (or welcome back) to Five Oaks Academy for the 2023-2024 Academic Year!

Please note some important dates coming up:
New to School/Class Orientation Days are August 10 and 11.
All Students return on August 14.

Also on August 14, there will be a Back to School Social and PTO Meeting from 8:45am – 10:00am.

All FOA Students and their families are invited to attend this fun back-to-school event!  Admission is free to families and is being sponsored by FOA and the FOA PTO!  Make plans to join us on August 3 at Discovery Island Water Park in Simpsonville!

This year the students at Five Oaks have had the opportunity to participate in several South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) activities. We had 5 students go to the Spelling Bee, representing 3rd – 8th grades. Upper Elementary and Middle School each provided a team to compete in the Battle of the Books competition. Lastly, we are very proud to report we had 30 students go to the Music Festival in Columbia to perform before judges. These activities are such a valuable part of their experience here at Five Oaks to promote self-confidence, public speaking, and competition between other schools.

Congratulations to our Five Oaks Academy Middle School students chosen to attend the 2023 South Carolina Governor’s School for Arts and Humanities Summer Program.

SCGSAH Arts Odyssey Summer Program is a highly competitive one-week arts-immersive overnight summer program for students in 6-8 grades who want to explore Creative Writing, Drama, Music, or Visual Arts. While students focus on one art area, they experience the other art areas through guest lectures, activities, and performances.

Way to go, Sophia Hammer (Drama), Magdalene Cox (Visual Arts), Emma Smith (Visual Arts), and Jonathan Thompson (Creative Writing & Drama)!

Save the Date for our first-ever FOA Harvest Hustle 5K and Fun Run on October 29, 2023!  More details coming soon!

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Ms. Catherine Haskell at catherine@fiveoaksacademy.com.

Congratulations to FOA Eighth Grade Students, Coleson Davenport, and Sophia Malave, for earning bronze medals in the National Spanish Exam Awards.  Earning bronze medals means they both placed above 75% of the national average (Sophia obtained this in the bilingual category).  The National Spanish Exam (NSE) is an online, standardized assessment competition for Grades 6 -12, given voluntarily by about 4,000 middle and high school teachers throughout the United States, to measure the performance (interpretive communication) and achievement of students who are studying Spanish as a second language.

Dear FOA Family,

The end of each school year is always a busy and stimulating time and this year’s end has been exceptionally full.  We passed our new S.C. Independent School Association (SCISA) accreditation process for Academics, Montessori, and STEAM on April 24th and our academy has kept an exciting pace ever since then.  Our first World’s Fair was a celebratory event for the community, academics, the ARTS, and for student engagement.  Each class prepared songs from their cultural studies and developed their STEAM projects.  My favorite part of the performances was seeing the excitement from our students.  Uniting science and education, as Dr. Montessori did, in our own World’s Fair seemed the most appropriate way for us to start our 20th-year celebration.   The blending of interests and talents that take place every day at Five Oaks Academy was on full display at this event.

Our Guest Artist reception on May 9 features FOA Mural Artist, Jean Wilson Freeman, as well as local artist, Allison Ford.  This was another community event celebrating art and fellowship WYFF4 News featured the event on their news segments throughout that day and recognized FOA’s commitment to creativity and the arts.

Our year will end with our meaningful graduation ceremonies reflecting years of guidance, growth, and love.  This year, we will be adding our National Spanish Exam awards to the Lower and Upper Elementary ceremonies in recognition of our outstanding program and to celebrate the academic achievements of our students.  Since this is our 20th year of graduation ceremonies you would think we would have mastered the art of saying goodbye.  However, each year and each ceremony brings many memories and accomplishments to mind for each student and for us.  We watch these students grow and develop into world citizens who carry the torch of our mission with them wherever they go.

Five Oaks Academy opens minds to the world and enlightens individuals on a journey to discover their true potential.  We wish each graduate continued joy as they follow their hearts and their minds to the next stage of their lives.  It is a privilege to be a part of this miraculous process of growing and learning.

Here’s to our many celebrations and successes and to our community of students, parents, and educators who make this all possible!  Happy 20 years of Five Oaks Academy!

With gratitude,

Ms. Kathleen

Congratulations to our 2023 Eighth Grade Graduates!

Katie Heisey – Former Reading Interventionist and Sign Language Instructor – Katie had a beautiful son in April and will not be returning to FOA as we make new changes to our Reading Program to incorporate more internal Montessori method and structure.

Sami Schroeder – Former Middle School Directress – “When my family and I moved to South Carolina six years ago, we didn’t know a single soul.  That quickly changed once I began working at Five Oaks Academy.  Here, I’ve made friends that have become family.  In kind, I have absolutely loved my Middle School students, every single one; they have brought me such joy and inspiration, and I have learned alongside my students for the past six years.  I will be joining the Upstate Homeschool Co-op as their Learning Differences Administrator, but it is with a bit of sorrow that I say goodbye to Five Oaks Academy and the dear community that’s helped this Midwesterner navigate the South.  Thank you to all of my students, families, friends, and colleagues; you’ve impacted my life in many ways.”  – Ms. Sami

Jennifer Amick – Community Relations Director and CARE Team Member – “One of my favorite things about Five Oaks has always been the strong sense of community. We work hard to build great relationships with our families, students, and staff, which makes our school feel like a second home. I’m excited to start a new role at Five Oaks in the 2023/2024 school year as the Community Relations Director after spending 22 years in the classroom. While I am thrilled about embarking on a new role, the Primary Program will always have a big piece of my heart, so I am grateful that I will also continue to be the Lead Primary Program Directress. Another new opportunity for me will be working alongside the C.A.R.E team as the Literacy Developer to assess the reading needs in the Primary and Lower Elementary Programs. I’m looking forward to working with the administration team, as well as the families, students, and staff at Five Oaks to further the school’s mission.” – Ms. Jennifer

Ashapurna Ganguli – Primary Directress – Ashapurna, a certified Primary Directress, returns to Five Oaks Academy as a full-time Primary Directess.  She led FOA’s Pre-Primary classroom for several years and she previously taught the Primary Program Science lessons.  We are so glad to have Ms. Asha back in a full-time capacity!

Eleanor Shull – CARE Team Member & LE2 Directress –  “I am looking forward to returning, after my maternity leave, and will continue to support the Lower Elementary 2 classroom.  I will also be taking on a new role in the C.A.R.E. program and I am thrilled to work with Jennifer and Andrea to develop a Montessori-based reading support program for the Lower Elementary program.  I can’t wait to integrate my love of working with children and my passion for teaching reading at Five Oaks Academy.” – Ms. Eleanor

Dawn Turner – Lead Primary 1 Directress – Dawn joined Five Oaks Academy in 2007 and currently serves as a Primary Directress in Primary 1. She holds an AMS certification in Primary from North American Montessori Center (NAMC). She taught previously at Montessori West.  Dawn will be taking on the new role as Lead Primary 1 Directress and will collaborate with Jennifer Amick, who will continue her role as the Primary Program Lead for both P1 and P2.  We are excited to have Ms. Dawn in this classroom leadership role!

Catherine Haskell – Lead Lower Elementary II Directress – “I am happy to share that I have accepted the Lead Lower Elementary Directress Position in Lower Elementary 2 beginning next school year.  While I will miss the LE1 team of teachers and students, I am excited to begin a new journey at Five Oaks Academy.” – Ms. Catherine

Kelly Gantt – Lower Elementary I Directress – “Being a part of the leadership at Five Oaks Academy is very fulfilling, but I realize that I need to find a balance between my personal and professional worlds.  It is so important to me that I am giving my best to both my family and my students!  With these considerations, I feel it is best that I step down from the LE2 Lead Directress role and follow my passion for teaching and guiding my students.”  – Ms. Kelly

Savannah Tolbert – Lower Elementary II Directress – Savannah, currently a Lower Elementary 2 Assistant Directress, is currently completing a Master of Education in Montessori Education from Lander University.  She will become a Lower Elementary 2 Directress for the 2023-2024 academic year.  We are excited for Ms. Savannah to take on this new role!

Jamilah Wilkes – Lead Upper Elementary Program Directress – For the 2023-2024 academic year, Jamilah will serve as Lead Upper Elementary Directress. Jamilah earned her Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education and Master of Elementary Education degree, both from USC Upstate. Jamilah is Montessori certified in Early Childhood Education from MTTI and has obtained her Masters +30  from Lander University with her Lower and Upper Elementary certifications.  Everyone loves Ms. Jamilah and we are proud to have her as part of our faculty!

Rachel Siglin – Middle School History Directress and Music Program Directress – We are excited to welcome Rachel to the Middle School classroom where she will be assuming the role of History Directress. She will continue to provide invaluable direction to the Classical FOA Music Program that has evolved during her two years with us.  Ms. Rachel will be a wonderful addition to the Middle School Teaching Team!

Valerie Full – Middle School Assistant Program Director – Valerie will assume an additional leadership role in the Middle School as Assistant Program Director.  She will continue her role as a Classroom Directress as well as STEAM Program Coordinator.

Sinead Kozub – Office Coordinator – After working as a substitute for the Front Office and also on several projects throughout the current school year, Sinead will join the Administrative Team for the 2023-2024 academic year specializing in After School Studios, Summer Programs, and Sycamore.  We are excited to welcome Sinead to the FOA Team!

Jessica Smith – Music Program Directress – Jessica Smith is thrilled to be joining the Five Oaks Academy family as a Music Program Directress. Jessica spent her young adult years singing and performing at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios Orlando. She now resides in Greenville with her husband, two-year-old son, and their two dogs. She teaches at the South Carolina Children’s Theatre and is getting ready to graduate with her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She is very passionate about music, children, and education, so naturally teaching music is her dream come true. She is looking forward to this wonderful opportunity.