2007-2008 Academy Profile and Course of Study

Board of Directors Tayloe Stansbury Board Chair Chris Owen Headmaster John Rose Secretary Alicia Owen Teaching Parent Libby Mayer Teaching Parent Annie Rose Teaching Parent Cindy Stansbury Teaching Parent Location Foxworthy Baptist Church 1774 Foxworthy Avenue San Jose, CA 95124 Phone Main: (408) 355-4935 Fax: (408) 317-0381 Mailing Address 4960 Almaden Expy. Suite #254 San Jose, CA 95118

Our Mission Live Oak Academy provides Christian and classical educational programs for homeschooling families. Most of our classes meet two days a week. Working alongside parents in a loving, Christ-centered community, we provide students with an excellent education, helping them grow into wise, creative, and mature adults. Our Classical Philosophy In calling ourselves “classical,” we mean that we find sound guidance in the ancient educational practices of the Trivium and Quadrivium, as adapted and interpreted by Christians of the Middle Ages, and as more recently described by Dorothy Sayers (“The Lost Tools of Learning”) and Douglas Wilson (Recovering the Lost Tools of Learning). The Trivium characterizes three stages of student development. In the Grammar stage, students acquire solid factual foundations. Next, in the Logic stage, students learn sound reasoning and critical thinking skills. Finally, during the Rhetoric stage, students develop their abilities to express themselves with clarity and confidence. We also rely on classic texts, those Great Books which have proven their usefulness to many generations. C. S. Lewis recommends “the reading of old books,” as a pleasant and effective way to benefit from the best teachers in other ages, especially within the Christian Church. We agree. In the end, we find that classically educated students are well prepared to embrace the past, to discern the present, and to shape the future. To read more: http://liveoakacademy.org/about/educationalphilosophy.html Our Christian Foundation Live Oak Academy was founded in prayer; it is directed by Christians, operates according to Christian principles, and seeks to further the purposes of Jesus Christ in the lives of the students we teach. We aspire to a vital and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, as revealed authoritatively in the canonical Scriptures, and as proclaimed in all ages by His Body the Church. Our board and our teachers give personal assent to the Nicene Creed, which for centuries has provided a common claim for all the major branches of the Christian faith. To read more: http://liveoakacademy.org/about/confessionoffaith.html

Academics

The Academy exists to educate students through a reliable core of substantial subjects, including grammar, mathematics, logic, rhetoric, philosophy, history, Latin, English literature, writing, various sciences, physical education and music. All high school classes are taught at the college preparatory level. We aim to challenge our students, and we expect them to take vigorous responsibility for their studies.

Faculty

Our classes are taught by gifted teachers, who are eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for learning with their students. These include parent teachers who are highly educated or possess professional skills in their particular subjects. Other teachers are hired for their specialties.

Enrollment and Class Size

Recognizing the value of small classes, the Academy aims to structure its class size to average a teacher/student ratio of one to twelve (1:12). The current enrollment numbers are 120 students total, comprising 60 lower division, 20 middle division, and 40 high school students.

Course of Study

In Elementary School (grades 1-6), young minds receive their first formal training. Our program focuses on the stage of learning described in the Trivium as the Grammar Stage. For a comprehensive list of subjects covered in Lower School, see our website (liveoakacademy.org/classes). All curricula are chosen by the Academy and posted on the website. Formal instruction is given two days per week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) on the Academy campus. Our dedicated faculty members plan the weekly lessons, while parents supervise class work that is done at home on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The Secondary School (grades 7-12) is college preparatory in that the majority of our texts are at the high school or college levels. Many college preparatory requirements are taught during the middle school years, such as Latin I, Latin II, Algebra I, World Literature, and History. During these years, students receive instruction at the Academy two to two-and-one-half days per week, depending on course load. Academy students spend more than half of their time doing independent study at home under the guidance of their parents.

Latin III, IV and AP Virgil are taught in grades 9, 10, and 11. Geometry, Algebra II, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus and Calculus are taught in grades 9 through 12.

A three-year comprehensive program in World History, Literature, and Geography begins in grade 7 and culminates in grade 9. During these three years, students read, study and discuss high school classical literature, which is designed to correlate with their World History studies.

As they move from the Logic Stage to the Rhetoric Stage of the Trivium, more and more critical writing is required in preparation for success in college. The AP Language and Literature tests may be taken at the end of grade 11. In grade 10, our students may study United States History and Government at the AP or Honors levels concurrently with American Literature.

Our grade 7 Biology class is designed to prepare students for AP Biology offered as part of our high school program. Grade 8 Earth Science is taught from a high school text. Our grade 9 Physical Science class is designed to prepare students for AP Chemistry and AP Physics, offered in grades 11 and 12.

During grades 11 and 12, four semesters of Intellectual History (Western Civilization) focus on a mature “reading of old books.” Students are introduced to great teachers of the Christian Church in every age, such as Athanasius, Anselm, and Lewis. Students also learn to exercise discernment as they gain wisdom from outstanding philosophers, like Plato, who stand outside the Christian tradition. Finally, these older students learn to examine the claims of enemies of the faith, such as Nietzsche and Rousseau. In the end, they will be better equipped to take part in today’s cultural disputes. In Peter’s words (I Peter 3), they will be “prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks for a reason” why there is hope in Christ.

Throughout the curriculum, at each suitable grade level, Academy students study logic, Christian studies, fine arts (including art, choir or drama), and rhetoric (including public speaking, argumentation and debate).

Facilities

We have been blessed with the relationship we enjoy with Foxworthy Baptist Church. Our location is easily accessed from Highways 85 and 17. Our students enjoy spacious classrooms and a large outdoor recreation area, including a basketball court.

Fine Arts

Our purpose in teaching fine arts is to foster in our students a love for what is good, true and beautiful, as befits a classical Christian and liberal arts education. Participation in the fine arts is encouraged at Live Oak, where students learn to read music and give praise and worship to God through song. An Elementary Choir for grades 1-6, and a Classic Choir for grades 7-12 is open to all skill levels. Concert performances are scheduled during the year. Art and drama enrichment classes are also offered throughout the year. The Academy provides musical theater and drama opportunities for students ages 7 through 18. Our two annual Open Houses afford all students the opportunity to give class presentations on stage before Live Oak family and friends.

ISP

All Live Oak Academy students are homeschooled students. As such, each family is responsible to ensure they comply with state compulsory education requirements by filing an R-4 affidavit with the Santa Clara County Board of Education, or by enrolling in a qualified Independent Study Program (ISP). For the convenience of our Academy families, we offer an Independent Study Program that maintains attendance and other required records. Academy families may enroll in the Independent Study Program for an annual fee. The annual fee covers the administrative cost of maintaining the records and ensuring compliance with State of California laws.

HSLDA Membership

We require the families of Live Oak Academy students to have current membership in the Home School Legal Defense Association so that they are aware of the appropriate legal requirements. A special 15% group discount is available to Academy families.

Admissions Procedures for 2007-2008

Applications for admission to Live Oak in fall of 2007 are available now and must be submitted with an application fee by the early application deadline. Families will be contacted for interviews and acceptance will be determined by late May, 2007. To secure enrollment, accepted students must submit a Class Enrollment Form and a deposit of 5% of the first semester tuition within 30 days of acceptance. All deposits are non-refundable, but will apply toward tuition.