Welcome to One Spark Academy!
Where it only takes one spark to ignite a child’s desire to learn…
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What is One Spark Academy? Watch our video to learn more.
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Latest News
Generosity Fundraising Campaign through December 31 Winter Recess December 25 - January 16, 2018 Next Art Trek Day January 11: Click for more info! Next Sport’s Academy Day: Click here for more info!
Physical Location
The Thousand Oaks Teen Center: 1375 E. Janss Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
Mailing Address
501-I S. Reino Rd. #296, Newbury Park, CA 91320
Inspired Learning
One Spark Academy is a unique learning center, where students can experience their education in a relaxed, supportive setting. Our classes are small and our instructors attentive, and each day allows time for inspiration and reflection. Flexible scheduling helps families address their child’s and family’s needs. At One Spark, we know everyone learns best when actively engaged in the process of learning.
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When children are active participants in their learning, what they learn becomes more relevant. Making learning relevant to the world around us is vital, as is providing a context-driven course of study. Context-driven lessons and activities allow students to recall and utilize what they know already, and apply that prior knowledge to new experiences. Thus, the learning and practice of basic, fundamental skills become part of the process, not the goal itself. As children and teens mature, they work toward the goal of being confident, participatory, socially responsible, and independent life-long learners. One Spark Academy provides an inclusive, flexible educational experience that combines current educational research, common sense, and attention to various needs and learning styles to move each child forward. Many of our courses involve interdisciplinary, project-based activities. Our educators incorporate the latest educational resources and online programs and find what works best for each learner while using as much or as little of a child’s homeschool course of study as each family desires. And, a dynamic, responsive learning environment is only possible when the student to adult ratio is dramatically lowered, so our small classroom size ranges from 5 to 16 participants, dependent on the subject and the needs of our participants in each class. We aim to help our students be inspired and engaged in their learning, putting them on a path to success in tomorrow’s world!
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Social and Emotional Growth
The philosophy of One Spark Academy is based on the belief that children and teens should be actively involved in their learning, and that children learn best if the needs of the whole child are addressed. Quite simply, focusing on the whole child means we recognize that a child’s growth is about more than academics. It means a learning environment should be a safe place in which to take risks, ask questions, be playful and active, and engage with others. And, it means that social and emotional needs are considered daily.
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Think about this: can you concentrate when you are upset? Can you enjoy taking risks when you are afraid of what others think? And, how can one get to a place of self-confidence without authentic interactions in which to trust?
If we as adults cannot do such things, imagine how academically stunted children may be if faced with emotional and social roadblocks daily. Thus, in a whole child environment, safety, nurturing, humor and enthusiasm create the fundamental foundation for academic excellence, enthusiasm for learning, and creative thinking. Communication skills are modeled and, in some courses, explicitly taught. The impact of positive interpersonal relationships amongst peers and adults in the learning environment cannot be understated. It is through positive, collaborative and respectful interactions that children learn best.
We also believe that we truly learn about ourselves when faced with conflict. Conflict and struggle, both external and internal, are not experiences to be avoided (unless, of course, the conflict is a matter of physical or psychological safety, or is harming one’s emotional health), but rather embraced. OSA students are encouraged to search for the lesson when faced with conflict, to communicate effectively through the conflict, to reflect upon their place in the conflict, and to absorb the opportunity that now exists for growth. Each time an obstacle is successfully overcome, the learner grows internally stronger, more flexible in thinking and ability, and more adept to face both positive and negative experiences in the real world with humility, confidence, optimism, and integrity.
We practice many of these skills during daily Circle, which takes place M-TH from 10:30-10:45. During Circle, students practice empathy, turn-taking, mindfulness, and interpersonal communication while addressing various topics. Daily practice in Circle is a springboard for effective communication throughout the day, with family and peers outside of school, and with all others in a student’s ever-expanding community.
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Health and Wellness
A whole child education must ensure that the environment truly promotes good health. We as an educational community can’t afford to ignore the quality of food we are asking children to put into their bodies, and we need everyone’s help and understanding to create a system where healthy eating is not only valued but looked forward to. A healthy environment must also include attention to safety and mindfulness.
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When it comes to food, we believe that a school or program that promotes whole child education should not be doing so unless there is an authentic and dedicated effort to ensure that wholesome nutrition is valued by all members of the community. After all, there are few things more instrumental in determining our health, wellness, and stamina than the fuel we put into our bodies. We take this commitment very seriously; it is our intent to try and “walk the walk” when it comes to nutrition. How can we expect children to develop healthy habits, or understand the importance of moderation in snacks and treats, if there is no group with whom to practice? (To read more, please see the essay on The Case for Healthy Lunch.)
Further, our students’ physical wellness is addressed through downtime, playtime, and physical activity. We also ensure that they practice being mindful regarding their learning. As part of the Participant Agreement, we ask students to “unplug” from their devices while on site, and instead focus on themselves, their learning, and their engagement with one another. The adults on site actively engage with our students as well. We truly care about them and are glad to see them happy and healthy. Mutual care, respect, and kindness are qualities we encourage daily from all members of our community.
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Nature Connection
At One Spark Academy, we take our outdoor time seriously! Mother Nature is an excellent teacher and provides her lessons free of charge. Throughout the year, we offer local hikes and field trips, so our lungs can breathe deeply, our hearts can grow a bit stronger, and our senses can be filled with pleasures. Each Spring, we also offer a week-long adventure, either in the local mountains, Yosemite, or Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.
show more show lessWe partner with NatureBridge to bring our students the most awesome, hands-on, and memorable experiences possible. Our annual adventures are unplugged from the indoor world so that we can plug into the natural, outdoor world. As one of our community partners, the folks at NatureBridge promote the idea of nurturing kids’ independence and self-reliance, while examining the importance of our interdependence with one another and the world around us.
Community Involvement
The classroom and the home must share common values for the educational process to be highly rewarding, which is why we hope our partnerships with homeschool families will be symbiotic. Parents are integral in our planning for students, and we appreciate the opportunity to communicate about their child’s goals, needs, and interests. Beyond our current families, we value the relationship we have with the broader community.
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Our alumni and prospective families are always welcome at our community events; many remain actively involved with OSA. It’s common to see an alumnus joining us for a field trip or even our annual outdoor adventure! In addition, we welcome and honor the relationships we have with other “like-minded” organizations around our community, such as NatureBridge, Art Trek, the Ventura BioCenter, the Conejo Recreation and Park District, and of course the Thousand Oaks Teen Center! Our connections with our growing community are based on inclusivity, positivity, and ethical decision-making. After all, we are invested in more than just whole child education. We are inspired by the idea of whole selves, whole families, whole communities, and perhaps one day, a “whole” world.
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