Experience a Day at Mountain Oak School

twins Located in Prescott, Arizona, Mountain Oak School is a public charter school that is run by a community of people who are committed to the principles of Waldorf education. We have found that this time-tested teaching style provides our students with a well-rounded academic education, while cultivating creativity, human values, self-determination and responsibility.

• Grades K-8
• Structured Thematic Teaching
• Spanish, Music, Handwork, Art, Woodwork, Movement Education

Walk Through the Grades - READ MORE!

Main subject areas include writing, reading, math, music, arts, geography, history and science. Special subject teachers supplement main lessons with foreign languages; movement education; handwork (knitting, sewing, needlework); gardening; woodworking; chorus; music theory and performance; and other areas.

Each month on the third Thursday is "Walk Through the Grades." If you would like the opportunity to walk through the grades and observe a portion of Main Lesson, please RSVP to the office by Wednesday afternoon. This observation is for adults only, if you need support with childcare during your walk, please inform the office prior to your visit.

Administration

Teachers

Teacher bios are coming soon!!!

Teacher Qualifications

Federal law allows you to ask for certain information about your child’s classroom teacher. You have the right to know the following:

Whether the Arizona Department of Education has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
Whether the Arizona Department of Education has decided that the teacher can teach in a classroom without being licensed or qualified under state regulations because of special circumstances.
The teacher’s college major, whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of the degrees.
Teachers’ aides’ or similar paraprofessionals’ qualifications. Link to AZ

Teacher resumes are available in the "Our Faculty and Staff" binder in the Parent Lending Library in the office.

Parent Association

The Parent Association acts as a conduit for, and facilitator of, parent participation in our Mountain Oak School community. Active parent participation is integral to the well-being of the school. Mountain Oak School flourishes when the children’s education and development are nurtured both at home and at school. With this in mind, the Parent Association encourages and supports activities and communication among parents, teachers and administration.

Garden Program
Mountain Oak School has wonderful gardening program and now that Mountain Oak School has settled into its new site, the parent association and the faculty have formed a garden and grounds committee to develop the 3.8 acres into lovely space for Mountain Oak students to enjoy.

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In 2011, the entire community of Mountain Oak School came together and created a school garden under the guidance of local farmers Carol Bigham and Sunshine Reilly at Burnin' Daylight Farm in Chino Valley. Students planted peas, radishes, arugula, potatoes, flowers, salad greens, sunflowers, herbs, tomatoes, cucumbers and watermelon.

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Much of the harvest from the Mountain Oak School garden at Burnin' Daylight Farm was sold at the Prescott Farmers Market and went to the purchase of two large apple trees, which are at the new Mountain Oak School site. Also many perennial flowers and herbs were also dug out of the school garden at Burnin’ Daylight Farm and transplanted into garden boxes that are set around the new school grounds.

So far this academic year, the 2011-12 third-grade class taught by Ms. Ross planted garlic in November. With the help of parent volunteers, soil was brought from Burnin’ Daylight Farm, a raised bed spiral was created and garlic grown at the previous school garden was lovingly planted in the spiral. As part of the Waldorf inspired traditions, the garlic spiral was covered with straw and pine boughs and used in the Winter Garden event at the end of the Fall 2011 semester.

Through the ongoing support of parents and the active participation of the faculty, the school garden continues to be a vital and magical component of the curriculum and programing at Mountain Oak School. To learn more about the garden also check the section Our Garden under the Community tab on this website.

Lunch Program
Our school strongly encourages salads, sandwiches, fruits, nuts and simple sugar-free natural juices or purified water as snacks and lunches.

In addition, our newsletter provides information about the important role healthy foods has in the physical as well as cognitive development of the child and our school provides resources and periodic guest speakers for parent education on the topic of nutrition and the child.

Lunch and snack are brought from home and are eaten at the designated snack and lunch times. We encourage foods to be of a wholesome and nutritious nature. Any food that contains artificial dyes, preservatives, colors, added sugars, corn syrup, or artificial sweeteners are discouraged. Candy, gum, and caffeinated or carbonated beverages are not to be brought to school.

Parents/Guardians are responsible for sending a hot lunch in appropriate containers if they prefer this option for their child. Microwave ovens are not used in classrooms. Lunch boxes and other food containers are to be leak proof, free of advertisements, athletes, rock stars, cartoon characters, and other media images.

Lunches can be ordered at school on a monthly basis. Vendors vary from year to year. The order form is on the website and attached to The Tuesday. Orders and payment must be turned in by the deadline in the third week of the month preceding. There are no refunds for any reason, including a child’s absence from school. This is a fundraiser run by teachers and parent volunteers. Parents from each participating class tally the children’s orders, and order the food from the restaurant. On their day each week, the volunteers pick the food up, and distribute it to the classrooms. Proceeds are split between participating classes.

The 11-12 school year will have these offerings: New Frontiers will continue to offer their fresh salads; Robeks Juice, located out Willow Creek Rd. in the Fry’s shopping center, is making delicious smoothies; El Charro on Montezuma downtown is delivering their popular burritos and taquitos; and, the very loved Mama Edda’s Pizza will continue as the Friday fare. Remember to still pack a snack on the days a child has ordered lunch.

AfterCare
Mountain Oak School’s after school care will be offered when our new site is licensed by Arizona Department of Health Services, sometime this fall.

Mountain Oak School provides after school care for kindergarten students until 3:00 pm through our KinderCare program and for grades students until 2:00 pm on early release Wednesdays. No after school care services are provided after 3:00 pm.

KinderCare
This program runs from noon to 2:45 pm. If you are interested in signing up, fill out both sides of the Contract and both sides of the Emergency Information Card and return to the school office as soon as possible and no later than the day before the student is to start. NOTE: This program depends on sufficient enrollment to run, and is pending state licensing as of August 2011.

Our policies play a critical role in helping every student achieve the highest level of academic success and providing a safe, respectful environment for all members of the Mountain Oak School community.

It’s important for every member of the school community to read and understand current policies. DOWNLOAD the School Handbook.

Mountain Oak School works hard to keep our learning environment productive and safe. Please feel free to contact us if you have questions or comments on school policies.

Media Policy

This is an edited excerpt from the Parents' Handbook. Some details have been left out which are addressed in the Handbook.

The passivity inherent in watching television or playing video games is increasingly recognized by educators and parents as counterproductive to the process of learning and growth in the young child. Waldorf education has long been in the forefront of the movement against excessive "screen time"; we are pleased that other professionals now voice the same opinion.

Regular School Hours

Kindergarten
M-F - 8:15 am - 12:00 pm
Student will be considered absent a full day if student arrives after 8:50 am or leaves before 11:30 am. Parents must bring their tardy child to the office for a late pass.