Wild Oak Independent School

Wild Oak is will resume our regularly scheduled school day on Friday, 10/11. Aftercare Programs will resume on Monday, 10/14.

There are simply no words to describe the devastation, shock, and heartache we are experiencing as a community.

As we navigate the loss, fear, and unknown while taking care of ourselves, families, and community, Wild Oak appears structurally unharmed. We are not anticipating a long-term school delay and do believe that once the power and state mandated operational systems get restored we will be able to re-open safely.

Attached are some resources to support our children through this crisis. Re-establishing safety and security, which starts with our basic needs, people, and homes, is the first step. We are witnessing our neighborhoods and community working together to restore this to our area and communicating this to our children is a great way to help them. In the words of Mr. Rogers- "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"

Helping Children Affected By Natural Disasters Natural disasters can be scary for adults and kids. Our experts share mental wellness skills you can use with your child that can help them begin to recover.

Do you have an adventurous 3-5year old child who would love to play in the mud and build friendships this summer?
Our Seedling Summer camp has 2 open spaces! Reach out to [email protected] to find out more information!

Wild Oak is a portal to a magical world
When you enter you set foot
Into a world of authentic and free childhood
A world of acceptance of who you are
Of who we can be together
A world where WE includes trees and salamanders
A world where the morning sun sparkles diamonds in the water
A world where birds are heart music
And mushrooms hold forest secrets...

~Tricia Kyzer- Founding Teacher

It is tour season here on campus! While we are hosting tours for all grades all summer long, I have a special invite for our Seedling classes! Parents and children ages 3years-5years are invited to step into our classrooms and fields to explore what Wild Oak has to offer. Our group tours are limited to 4 families at a time and require an RSVP.
Interested in seeing what we have to offer?
RSVP here: https://forms.gle/ibhUnm3w72bMFwNm7
Do these tour dates/times not work for you?
Email [email protected] to schedule a tour that works best for you!

Did you know Wild Oak Independent School sits on 46 acres of trails, creeks, meadows, and fields?

Every day our students get to utilize these outdoor spaces!
Daily explorations into the 🌿wild🌿 can have the most magical effect on our day to day lives.
Here are a few things we've noticed in our students over the past few years:
-Resilience and Adaptability
-Real-World Learning
-Enhanced Sensory Stimulation
-Social Skills and Teamwork
-Creativity and Imagination
-Mental Health Benefits
-Improved Learning Outcomes

We are currently enrolling for the 2024/2025 school year. Set up a tour today to see what these could mean for your children!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 828-620-1091

🌊🎉 Wild Oak's End of School Tradition: Water Day! 🎉🌊

What an amazing day we had celebrating the end of the school year with our beloved Water Day tradition! Our preschoolers had a blast playing in water beads, water tables, and splash pads. 💦

The excitement didn't stop there—our elementary schoolers took over the field with a giant slip and slide, sprinklers, and a thrilling water balloon "dunk tank" that included our teachers and some of the oldest students! 🌈💧

It's hard to believe there's just one more day left in the school year. Time flies when you're having fun!

Here's to a fantastic finish and a wonderful summer ahead! ☀️🌼

Only 3 spots left in our Seedling group tour for June 4th! (that's TOMORROW!)
Join us @ 9:30 AM to learn about our Seedling classes and how your child could fit in here!

RSVP required and can be done so here: https://forms.gle/UJw5RbB3pZttQkCf9

Wild Oak Roots Camp is running a ✨BRING A FRIEND DEAL✨

We are offering a 10% discount on your current registration as well as 10% off your referee's registration!

*Both you and your referee must enroll in order to receive the discount.

Please go to our website https://wildoakschool.org/home/summer-camps/
or Email: [email protected]
for more information.

📚🌳 While we're proud of the growth our students showed on their MAP tests, a Wild Oak education can't be fully measured by standardized tests—nor is that our goal.

For example: lichen, lizards, and Lady Slippers. Our students are outside in the woods every day, exploring the 40 acres that Wild Oak calls home. Our Seedlings students can tell you that an Oak tree comes from an acorn and a fern unfolds from a fiddlehead. They know the best salamander habitat is at Mushroom Creek, and they can show you how to get there.

Our elementary students have practiced identifying Eastern Tent caterpillars by their webs and Carolina Wrens by their call. They'll explain that if you want to hit the millipede "jackpot," you should look in moist places with dead Oak Tree leaves. Our oldest students can tell you about the water quality of our streams based on the macroinvertebrates they've found there. Just ask a 4th/5th grader to take you to the spot in the woods where the Pink Lady Slippers grow, or ask them about the Blue Stain fungus on trees and how it got there. They know the answers, although these questions will never be on a standardized test.

📚✨ This week our elementary students finished up their standardized MAP testing. And, while we're so proud of them and the growth they showed on their scores, there is so much learning that happened this year that can't possibly be shown by a standardized test.

For example, Mrs. Amy Jo, our Afterschool Director, shared a great social-emotional breakthrough from our Aftercare program. Every day, the kids participate in a Group Huddle where they take turns sharing their feelings or any specific support they need from the group. We've learned information ranging from silly and laughable, like baby chicks having mohawks, to heartfelt, sad, and difficult topics like the passing of close relations (family, friends, animals). They listen, talk, process, and go on to play with each other. ❤️

Only a few spots left!
Wild Oak Independent School Seedlings (ages 3-5) is hosting group tours for the 2024/2025 school year.
Join us May 30th or June 4th @9:30am for a group tour!
RSVP is required and can be done so here: https://forms.gle/sXzSzAwcXvYhA4XD6

🌟 Today's post spotlights our daring 2nd/3rd graders at Wild Oak School! 🏞️ Last week, they embarked on an epic hiking field trip to Little Bradley Falls, expanding on their unit on how water shapes our world from the "Mountains to Sea".

With courage and enthusiasm, they conquered two creek crossings, listened to the secrets of the forest, and marveled at the stunning waterfall. "Best field trip ever" was the unanimous verdict from our adventurous students!

Stay tuned for more tales of outdoor exploration from Wild Oak School! 🌊🌲

🌟 Today's spotlight shines on our adventurous K/1 class at Wild Oak School! 🏞️ Last week, they embarked on an epic Challenge Hike to conquer Glassy Mountain, and what an adventure it was! We trekked, we chatted, and we played "Rockety, Rock, Rock, Rock" - a fun science game exploring rock formations along the way.

Despite the challenges, our resilient K/1 students persevered, hiking over 4 miles in total - no small feat for our young explorers! And just when their energy was starting to wane, we reached the summit, basking in the breathtaking views. 🌄

But the excitement didn't end there! After the hike, we were greeted by the friendly goats of , where our students had the joy of petting them and sharing stories. 🐐💬 It was the perfect end to a perfect day of adventure and exploration.

🌟 Today's shines a spotlight on our incredible 4th/5th grade class at Wild Oak School! 🌳 These inspiring students have embarked on an extraordinary journey over the past few months, raising funds for a truly special field trip. Through their hard work and dedication, they organized Parent's Night Out events, baked for Muffin Monday, excelled in a read-a-thon, and manned carnival booths at our inaugural "Family Fun Run". Their commitment and initiative have surpassed all expectations, and we couldn't be prouder! 🎉

Their efforts culminated in a remarkable 3-day, 2-night overnight adventure to . This immersive experience challenged each of them to step outside their comfort zones, whether it was their first time away from home or trying new foods. They embraced new opportunities, from identifying salamanders and macroinvertebrates to swimming in mountain rivers and creating art with natural materials. Their encounters with wildlife were nothing short of awe-inspiring, spotting elk, wild turkeys, Eastern Water Snakes, millipedes, and a myriad of fascinating creatures.

We hope that their time at The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont will be a core memory of their time at Wild Oak School, shaping their growth and understanding of the world around them. 🏞️🌿

We are now enrolling elementary students in 2nd-5th grade! Spaces are limited.
Please visit our website to apply:
https://wildoakschool.org/home/admissions/lower-middle-forms/

🌟 Wisdom from Wild Oak after our first-ever Family Fun Run this past Saturday! 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Remember: You have to run your own race. 🏁 Don't get caught up in first or last, and don't ever give up. 🏅
💪 YOU CAN DO IT! 💪

If you have any additional lessons you learned from Saturday or photos from the event, send them our way!

🌳

Does your preschooler love being outdoors and exploring nature? Join us March 17th for a Seedling tour!

Hello interested community!

Wild Oak Independent School Seedlings (ages 3-5) is hosting group tours for the 2024/2025 school year.
Join us April 3rd, 10th, or 17 @9:30am for a group tour!

RSVP is required and can be done so here: https://forms.gle/KKaZyFuRrTfuwaKFA

Join our Wild Community!
Wild Oak Roots Camp is a unique summer camp experience where rising 1st - rising 5th graders can Get Rooted on 46-acres of woodland, creeks, and fields!
https://wildoakschool.org/home/summer-camps/

🌊 A big shoutout to RiverLink for an amazing on-site field trip today! Leah truly sparked excitement among our students with the Stormwater and Land Use lesson. She guided them through understanding how water navigates our environment and interacts with the land. Our students delved into various land uses and brainstormed solutions to manage stormwater. To top it off, we'll reinforce our learning with an active game. This experience was the perfect complement to our "Mountains to Sea" unit for our K/1 and 2nd/3rd classes! 🌳🌊 🌟

🌱🌞We're hiring a Lead Outdoor Adventure Teacher for our Seedling Program! 🌱🌞

🌞🌑 How did we spend the Solar Eclipse today? 🌞🌑

After school, our Wild Oak students gathered together to watch this awe-inspiring celestial event through their eclipse glasses. As the moon passed in front of the sun, we couldn't help but notice the cooler temperature and the fascinating shadows cast by the eclipse. Even though we weren't in the path of totality, it was an incredible experience for students and teachers alike! 🌌✨ 🌳🔭

🐠🎉 Much anticipated announcement from our Elementary Students: We have Guppy fish-- and they have names!

Yesterday, our 1st-grade students took charge and embarked on an exciting mission: naming our school guppy fish! They polled all the students and teachers at recess to gather opinions. 📊✏️

After tallying up the results, they graphed their findings - a hands-on lesson in organizing, representing, and interpreting data, meeting the North Carolina 1st-grade math standard in a way that truly matters to them (and the whole school too!) 📈👩‍🏫👨‍🏫

The enthusiasm and dedication our students put into this project are truly inspiring. Without further ado, we're thrilled to introduce you to our beloved guppy fish with their newly crowned names! Sprite, Firestream, and Shortcake! 🌟 🌳🐟

🥰 Reunited and it feels so good! 🥰

We were thrilled to welcome back our amazing Oak students after Spring Break! Just seeing all those smiling faces back on campus today was enough to light up the whole school. But let's be real, the excitement levels went through the roof when they saw each other again! 😄🌟