Shady Oak Primary School

Information may not be reliable

Shady Oak Christian School is a child-centered program with both a Preschool and a Primary School. Shady Oak accepts children who turn 3 before December 31 through 3rd grade. We have a school year program that starts the Tuesday after Labor Day and concludes before Memorial Day. There are also a variety of summer programs that are described in detail elsewhere in this site.

Shady Oak Christian School exists to preserve childhood in the lives of boys and girls through developmentally appropriate education designed to meet their social, emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual needs.

At Shady Ok Christian School, we believe that the development of children is a continuous, predictable process that is influenced by all of the events they experience, at school, at home, and in their neighborhoods, and that learning of all kinds results from an interaction between the child and his/her environment. In all age groups, children have daily opportunities for learning with hands-on materials. Children are given many opportunities to choose their own activities and to explore their own interests. We value wonder and the continual development of curiosity. Jean Piaget, Maria Montessori and Lev Vygotsky are educational theorists who have greatly influenced our program planning.

Participating in the outdoors, on our natural-habitat playgrounds, is a key part of our program. Although the school has primary responsibility for the childrens academic training, the support and cooperation of parents and others outside the school are necessary in creating an environment in which children can reach their full potential.

We believe that we are preparing children for life. Therefore, much emphasis is placed on making good choices, not for rewards, but for the intrinsic value of doing the right thing. Working toward self-regulation is foundational to success in our program.

Shady Oak was re-accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in spring 2009. For more than 20 years, families have relied on NAEYC Accreditation to ensure the quality of education and care provided in programs for young children. This accreditation is awarded for five years. During that period, we submit annual reports documenting that we maintain compliance with the NAEYC program standards. All NAEYC-Accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits by skilled and reliable NAEYC program assessors to ensure that we continue to meet the standards. Visit naeyc.org for more information about this distinctive mark of quality.

Shady Oak is known locally, throughout Texas, and the U.S. for its natural playscape playground. In 2003, Rusty Keeler, nationally-known playground consultant, worked with us to create a wonder-ful outdoor space that attracts adults as well as children. Visitors from all over the Houston area, including local college students, have come to tour and study the components of a play environment for the soul. Our Preschool playground is the only Texas playground featured in Rustys beautiful book, Natural Playscapes (Exchange Press, 2008). Our Primary School playground is also designed and built with features that inspire wonder, creativity, and deep appreciation of Gods world.