Kudos

I’ve been thinking about teachers who inspire bright children to achieve. For me the bottom line is this: The teachers at Oakwood are extremely intuitive, bright, talented and confident themselves, thus they are the perfect mentors for all of our bright children. Teachers here never take behavior problems personally, never label students, and they would never ever put down a child to make themselves appear smarter. They’re too smart for that. Best of all, they accept and honor each child’s individuality in such a way that not only does that child blossom, but the entire family blossoms as well. “Individual Education; Universal Growth.” You don’t have any idea what that means until your child attends Oakwood. Oakwood School is Fort Collins’ best kept secret.

Leslie Patton and Family

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Dear Vic and Phyllis,

Kory has navigated beautifully the teeming halls of junior high these first two weeks of school. While he is, by nature, a resilient kid, the wind in Kory’s sails during this critical journey definitely blows straight from Oakwood School. We can’t thank you enough for the foundation and gentle push you’ve provided our boy as he transitions from being an academically secure student at Oakwood to a soon-to-be teen testing his skills in a whole host of new junior high activities, both academic and extracurricular.

We particularly believe Oakwood’s strong emphasis on problem-solving as a skill to answer academic questions and, perhaps more importantly, questions of ethics, social responsibility and interpersonal relationships, will serve Kory throughout his life. Allowing Oakwood students to question and to discover answers that are not proscribed, not always predictable, gives each child a sense of self esteem and ownership of the learning process. Our conversations with Kory are richer because he has learned he has a viable, valued voice in any discussion. Thank you.

We all miss Oakwood School even while we are elated that Kory is making the transition with ease and confidence into another academic setting. Oakwood School truly feels like family and we consider you such. Thanks for providing a wonderful school experience for Kory and for all Oakwood students. Your contributions extend well beyond the families you serve to our community and to the generations of Oakwood students who will without doubt, make this world a better place!

In gratitude and support,

Melissa Katsimpalis, Parent of an Oakwood Alumnus

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Oakwood was a wonderful experience for me. I look back on my two years there and smile. I often wish I was still young enough to go there. I made fabulous friends and had amazing teachers. I would not change a thing about it.

Heather Hoffman, Oakwood School Alumna

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Vic,

I am thanking you and relaying to you my great appreciation and gratitude for your work in teaching and being there for Thomas and my family during the last two school years. …...the last two years for Thomas have definitely been a period where his character, his outlook and his attitude have been tried, tested and formed. Your strength, patience, wisdom, consistency and character have been a solid attribute for Thomas and his growth at such a vital time in his life.

I cannot express in words how valuable you have been to us and how thankful I am.

Kathryn

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Dear Vic and Oakwood Staff,

When I think back on the experiences of my children while at Oakwood, several things come to mind. First and perhaps foremost is the way the boys blossomed as individuals. Kris grew from a tentative, sensitive little boy, to a confident self-actualized young adolescent. He became almost unbearably joyful; smiling, joking, and conversing. He literally bounced around the house. Josh transformed from a first grader with a damaged spirit, a bruised self esteem manifested in explosive frustration, into a fifth grader who understands how to accept responsibility, respects others, and shows sensitivity to the feeling and needs of his family and peers.

It is difficult to express in so few statements our respect and gratitude for what you have meant in our lives. Thank you so much for using your gifts to help educate our children in very important aspects of life; those which many schools do not address.

Sincerely and affectionately,

Rhonda Hitchcock

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February 2003:

Oakwood gave me the idea that I could move at my own pace academically, and take knowledge for my own; in doing so I have sought our challenges whose rewards have made my education experience wonderfully rich.

Jeff Stout, Oakwood School Alumnus

November 2005:

Yesterday Jeff was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University! There are 32 students picked each year from the United States. Jeff is the first student from the University of Denver since the late 1970’s to receive this honor.

Joyously,

Edie and Randy (Jeff Stout’s Parents)

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Dear Prospective Parents:

I hope you will find my comments helpful when considering transferring your child into this school. We moved our son to Oakwood for fifth grade after the school year had begun. I know from experience that even thinking about changing schools can be very confusing and stressful, especially since you are most likely exploring this possibility because your student either is not happy, or is not performing as well as he/she is capable.

Our son, Jesse, had a mixed experience in a very good public elementary school from Kindergarten through third grade---some good teachers, some not so good. However, by fourth grade, we knew that something was wrong when our child said he didn’t like school and didn’t want to go. In what was an eye-opening experience for me, I spent a day in his classroom. I was appalled to find that most of the class time was spent on discipline of unruly students, routine book-keeping activities, moving back and forth between classrooms, and other non-educational activities. The level of classroom discussion was disrespectful, and information was dispensed by rote. All in all it was mind-numbing for a creative, bright child, and he was tuning out.

I called Vic Smith at Oakwood and was pleased to find that Jesse could visit for a day. Jesse was willing to try something different. The other children in the class welcomed him sincerely. Students in class responded intelligently and respectfully during general discussions, and private work was done at each student’s pace. Material was presented in ways that challenged the students to think and apply what they learned. The general atmosphere was one of lively inquiry and caring. By the end of the first day, Jesse said he was ready to start Oakwood the next day and did not want to go back to his public school. He immediately recognized the difference.

I would encourage you to let your child experience at least one day of school at Oakwood as a part of making this decision. Many children hesitate to try new things or are sad about leaving their friends. However, many children may not have ever experienced the difference between the atmosphere at Oakwood and their current classroom experience. Within the first few months of transferring to Oakwood, Jesse was once again a happy, inquisitive child who loved school and his new friends there. The level of his work had improved dramatically. He stayed through sixth grade and would have been happy to stay longer if he could have done so. However, he and most of the other students from that sixth grade class went on to Lesher together for the IB program, where he is an eager and accomplished student. He has maintained an A average and his teachers comment on his good attitude in class. I credit his two years of experience at Oakwood with this change in attitude. As his parents, we are grateful for the opportunity our son had to once again find joy in learning.

Michael and Diane Slater

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Vic,

I can’t tell you how much we are grateful for all you and Oakwood have done for Noah. He loves this school. That alone is enough. His confidence is restored. The influence you have had in his life is immeasurable and profound. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Glory and Will