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Oakbrook Preparatory School

School Overview:

School Notes:

• Oakbrook Preparatory School is an independent, interdenominational, Christian school providing a Christ-centered education for children from preschool through twelfth grade. A Board of Directors governs the school. A school director, under the authority of the Board, manages the day-to-day operations. Oakbrook is organized into three schools. Oakbrook Preschool K4 through K5 ( Primary Building) Oakbrook Preparatory Lower School Grades 1-2 (Primary Building) Grades 3-5 (Gym Building) Oakbrook Preparatory Upper School (Main Building & Gym Building) Middle School - Grades 6-8 High School - Grades 9-12
• Oakbrook began with a large vision and a small school called The Village School. The Village School began with the purpose of teaching children ideas that matter. Children are thinkers who thrive on a diet of challenging ideas and questions. This philosophical approach has worked for over one hundred years in England and forms one of the cornerstones of The Village School. Rosemary Moore founded The Village School in 1992 with 18 students in the basement of a church, although no affiliation with a particular church guided the school's direction or growth. Her vision was to create a cross-cultural school where children from various denominations were united by their willingness to work and to learn.
• Oakbrook Preparatory School is an independent Christian School. The school is not affiliated with any church or denomination. Teachers and administrators represent a variety of Christian beliefs. Those beliefs affect the way they treat children and the example they set for children. Chapel lessons, based on the Old and New Testaments, emphasize character development and service to mankind. Oakbrook Preparatory School provides Biblical teaching. K4 -5th grades have chapel once a week and daily devotions. Grades 6th through 8th have chapel once a week, daily devotions, and a religious studies class; and high school students have a daily devotion, a weekly chapel and are required one unit of religious studies for graduation. It is our belief that students will best achieve their goals through a relationship with Jesus Christ. The desirable outcome of knowing Christ and knowing how to study is a life in which an individual uses his God-given talents and abilities to serve others. Like its predecessors in England, Oakbrook has five basic rules of conduct that are inspired by Scriptural teachings: Respect those in authority. -Romans 13:1,2 Honor others above yourself. -Philippians 2:4 Practice self-control. -Galatians 5:22 Do all things in a proper and orderly manner. -1 Corinthians 14:40 Guard what comes out of your mouth. -Psalm 19:14
• Founded on the educational philosophy of British educator Charlotte Mason… Oakbrook views each child as an individual spirit to be kindled rather than a vessel to be filled -a person endowed by God with uniqueness. The Oakbrook educational experience seeks to be a joyous adventure and celebration of life, as well as a solid preparation for living. Her academic emphasis was to put children in touch with nature and classics in literature, art, and music. Miss Mason's approach was to offer a classical, broad-based curriculum to all children, regardless of economic or social background. The children of farmers and shopkeepers were taught the same wide curriculum as the young lords in the manor, and they were expected to achieve as well. This philosophy has proven successful for more than a century. Miss Mason's work is founded in scripture. She saw God as the supreme educator of all mankind. Her academic emphases were to put children in touch with nature and classics in literature, art, and music. Charlotte Mason accomplished this by presenting great works of literature to children. Nine to twelve year-olds in her schools in England still study three Shakespearean plays a year.
• The curriculum at Oakbrook also matches the goals set forth by former U.S. Secretary William J. Bennett in his report, James Madison Elementary School. Student enrichment is ensured by following the guidelines of the Core Knowledge Curriculum developed under the direction of Professor E.D. Hirsch, Jr., who first explained the meaning of cultural literacy to the nation. A structured syllabus is used at each development level with emphasis on a wide curriculum. We see the elementary schools as a time for sampling and experimenting. The three R's are fully developed by their application to a wide range of studies.
• When Mrs. Moore founded the school, she never intended for the school to continue beyond grade five. Due to the tremendous support and insistence from parents, it was decided that the Village School would become a true college preparatory school and continue through grade 12. Changing the structure of the school brought about a need to change the name of the school as well. The 2001-2002 school year was a year of transition. The Village School remained the name used for our preschool through fifth grade students, while our middle school students adopted the name Oakbrook. Beginning in August 2002, the name Oakbrook Preparatory School was adopted for all students in grades one through 12 at our main campus, and Oakbrook Preschool was adopted for K-4 through K-5 at our Covenant campus.
• The year 2005 brought many changes to Oakbrook. Six outstanding students became Oakbrook's first graduating class. The group averaged 1230 on their SAT's, received scholarship offers in excess of $150,000,and participated in independent study projects that kindled their imaginations and provided them with the motivation, leadership skills, and discipline to be successful in college and in their careers. Among them were a National Merit Scholar, A National Commended Scholar, and two Palmetto Scholarship recipients. Trips to Ireland, Charleston, or local retreats to Windy Gap and Awanita were other highlights of a year filled with enrichment opportunities. At the end of the year, Oakbrook's founder, Rosemary Moore, retired from her post as Director and was given the honorary title of Director Emeritus. Steven Smith accepted the position of School Director with plans to build on the foundation that Mrs. Moore has established. 2006 brought more changes to Oakbrook. As of 2006-07, due to the support of our "Unification Project" by our school families and donors, all of the Oakbrook family is housed on the same campus. As of May 2008, Oakbrook's alumni number 58. This year 18 more names will be added to that list. We look forward to the experiences yet to come.
• Profile last updated: 05/03/2009

In the News:

• iRecycle holds 5k in Spartanburg (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)
  posted on November 20, 2009 at 08:34:19 am
  Published: Friday, November 20, 2009 at 3:15 a.m. Last Modified: Thursday, November 19, 2009 at 8:46 p.m.
• Teen is walking tall again (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)
  posted on November 10, 2009 at 12:23:26 pm
  Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 at 3:15 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, November 9, 2009 at 9:34 p.m. Mackenzie Mathis appreciates a lot these days.
• Local students participate in SCISSA (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)
  posted on November 3, 2009 at 10:19:29 pm
  Published: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 4:57 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 4:57 p.m. Student leaders elected by members of the South Carolina Independent Schools Student Association held their Fall Conference in the House of Representatives chambers at the State House.
• Reading program begins at Pacolet Elementary (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)
  posted on November 3, 2009 at 12:34:33 pm
  Published: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 3:15 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, November 2, 2009 at 8:38 p.m. Three-year-old students at Pacolet Elementary School are reading a different book each month for the 2009-2010 school year.
• Wofford salutes 20th year after fall of Berlin Wall (Spartanburg Herald-Journal)
  posted on October 12, 2009 at 07:23:46 am
  Paul Doerster, 80, stands beside two sections of the former Berlin Wall at Menzel in Spartanburg. It has been 20 years since the wall fell. “I’m not very often moved to tears, but at that very moment I was,” he said of the historic event.

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