At Oakhurst, standards come alive for students by connecting learning to real-world issues and needs. Our classrooms are alive with discovery, inquiry, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. We maintain high expectations in order to bring out the best in all students and cultivate a culture of high achievement.
EL Education is an effective framework for implementing the Georgia Standards of Excellence. Georgia joined with 47 other states to develop the set of Common Core standards for K-12 in English language arts and mathematics. The Georgia Standards of Excellence are inclusive of the Common Core standards and provide a consistent framework to prepare students for success in college and the 21st century workplace. These Common Core standards represent a logical next step from the Georgia Performance Standards in math and ELA. (https://www.georgiastandards.org/Common-Core/Pages/default.aspx)
After an extensive curriculum evaluation process, City Schools of Decatur adopted the ARC Core Curriculum with planned implementation in the 2021-22 school year. ARC Core® is a K–12 high-quality curriculum designed to accelerate learning, dramatically improving outcomes for both students and teachers.
Oakhurst teachers and students use the standards and curriculum developed by the Georgia Department of Education for comprehensive and cohesive mathematics instruction. The recently updated standards, curriculum map, and instructional resources are designed to help learners achieve a balance among concepts, skills, and problem solving.
EL Education is an instructional model adopted by all K-2 schools in the City Schools of Decatur. EL is a proven model for comprehensive school reform. It emphasizes learning by doing with a particular focus on character growth, service learning, adventure, teamwork, reflection and literacy. The EL framework is organized around five Key Dimensions: curriculum, instruction, assessment, culture & character, and leadership. It affects every aspect of how we “do” school.
LEARNING EXPEDITIONS
One of EL’s flagship structures is the Learning Expedition. An expedition is an in-depth, interdisciplinary plan of study with lessons making real-world connections. Open-ended, thought provoking guiding questions help guide the learning process. Students reflect on these questions and recognize their deepening understanding of a topic or concept.
Expeditions provide opportunities for students to do authentic work for an authentic audience. This real-world connection provides motivation for students and presents opportunities for service learning. Expeditions draw together personal experiences and intellectual growth to promote self-discovery and construct knowledge.
Special areas (Spanish, Art, Music, and Physical Education) are authentically integrated into expeditions. Students demonstrate their learning in final products, which are presented to a real-world audience when possible. Oakhurst’s EL Showcase/Celebration of Learning Night offers families a chance to be guided through the learning process leading up to the final product.
An opportunity to learn about how your child is doing within the classroom and how you can support your child at home
Teachers will set up one conference with you during first semester during the week of September 11th.
Teachers will set up a conference with you during the second semester during the week of February 19th.
Additionally, you are encouraged to set up a conference with your child’s teacher whenever you have a concern. Please wait until after the 1st six weeks of school to allow the teacher time to get to know your child.
Students tell the story of their own learning journey when they present a portfolio of work to family members. A variety of subject areas are represented in this reflective 10-15 minute discussion, allowing family members to learn about progress toward academic goals and habits of scholarship.
Teachers may assign homework that extends and applies the lessons of the regular school day or addresses basic skill practice that needs to be strengthened, such as, reading fluency and math fluency practice. Homework should be designed to reinforce skills taught or to give students opportunities for application of class learning.
Students in grades K-5 not performing or maintaining academic grade level skills may qualify for support services through the Early Intervention Program (EIP). The purpose of the program is to help those students obtain the necessary skills to be at grade level in the shortest amount of time. EIP teachers collaborate with the classroom teachers and work in small groups with students to address their individual needs.
City Schools of Decatur provides special education programs utilizing a continuum of delivery models to all students who meet the eligibility requirements as mandated by federal and state laws.
The elementary gifted program is called LINKS. This name symbolizes the extra links or connections that a gifted student needs to make the chain of their educational experiences meaningful. Under the Georgia Board of Education rule 160-4-2-.38, a gifted student is one “who demonstrates a high degree of intellectual and/or creative ability (ies), exhibits an exceptionally high degree of motivation, and/or excels in specific academic fields, and who needs special instruction and/or ancillary services to achieve at levels commensurate with his or her abilities.” The program goals for the intervention program for gifted-identified students are:
Students will demonstrate continuous academic progress in identified areas of strength.
Students will develop higher order thinking, research, problem-solving and organizational skills through creatively productive work in areas of their interest.
For additional information about the gifted intervention program and process for eligibility, please see CSD GIFTED SERVICES.
RtI is a flexible process of providing timely assistance based on each learner’s level of need. This process is managed within a four-tiered pyramid of support. Students with emerging difficulties in school are given support through Tier I. If that help is not sufficient, students are provided with additional supplemental support in Tier II. RTI teams may also determine that students who do not respond sufficiently to the Tier I and Tier II interventions receive even more intensive support at Tier III. Students who continue to demonstrate limited response to intervention in Tier III may be referred for a formal evaluation to determine if they qualify for special education services or gifted services in Tier IV. ***This information is from the CSD Pupil Progression Plan.
Our Library/Media Center is open daily for student use. The mission of the Media Center is to build a learning community of effective users of ideas and information. Our media center is an integral part of the educational program at Oakhurst. We are fully automated with a collection of over 12,000 items available to students, staff and families. Please contact Erin Guerrieri, eguerrieri@csdecatur.net with questions or comments. Be sure to check out our Media Center page on the Oakhurst website.
All students have a minimum of thirty minutes of recess everyday. Please remind students to dress appropriately for open recess play. Inside unstructured time will take the place of outdoor recess due to weather or at the direction of the principal or designee for security reasons. Based on CSD Board policy, the principal has the authority to monitor unstructured break time and make adjustments should individual student safety or school safety be of concern. Recess will not be taken away as a punishment. However, if a student is being unsafe on the playground, a logical consequence might be to walk with the teacher and review class agreements. Movement and play are critical parts of early childhood development. However, as a crew we recognize the importance of this time, and we do our very best to protect it for our students.
Be sure to check out our Special Area pages on the Oakhurst website.
Our specials teachers collaborate with classroom teachers to integrate their lessons with what is happening within the classrooms. Each specials area has a specific set of standards; however the teachers look to make meaningful connections between the various disciplines.
All students will have art instruction once a week for 60 minutes
All students will have music instruction once a week for 60 minutes
All students will have Spanish instruction once a week for 60 minutes
All students will have PE instruction once a week for 60 minutes
All students will have a game based Reading/Math Enrichment instruction once a week for 60 minutes
Students currently use Chromebooks, with access to their Google Classroom at some points during the instructional week. Student login credentials are shared through your child's teacher. Tech support and solutions can be found through the district's Information Services Department.