Summer Session

While the school year is over, summer session is in full swing and our young heroes are having the time of their lives. River Oak Academy takes a holistic approach to summer session. Learners are growing in areas of social emotional learning skills as well as S.T.E.A.M. We are all learning and having fun at the same time.

Learning to Do

• Ms. Gina is teaching everyone how to get creative with clay.

• Through Nailed it DIY heroes are learning how to use a variety of tools to build and paint things like a shelf, chalkboard frame, and picture holders.

• Ms. Dinah has enhanced everyone's love for music by creating an ROA band. She is helping everyone perform the song, Waka Waka by Shakira. With Ms. Dinah's help learners enjoyed making their own tambourines.

• Mr Paul patiently taught our learners and Guides when and how to give CPR.

• Italian cooking lessons with Diana offered learners the opportunity to cook pasta from scratch. Yum!

• The Children’s Business Fair’s very own Fairway Fibers came to share her expertise with our Learners. They all dyed their own wool with specially made acid dyes.

• The heroes enjoyed the Pringles Ringle, an engineering challenge in which a ring must be created using only Pringles chips, no tape or glue allowed!

Learning to Be

• Playing the Chocolate River Game promoted teamwork.

• Learners participated in Empathy Yoga and partnered up for some poses supporting each other.

• Sabrina from Extreme Exotics introduced us to some of her reptile friends. Learners got up close and personal with snakes, a turtle, a skink, a bearded dragon, and more.

• Tree Hill Nature Center was an adventure amongst the trees. We made some friends with goats and turtles.

• At Marineland we got to meet some smart and friendly dolphins.

• At Washington Oaks Gardens State Park learners played in the water and sand amongst crabs and other sea life. They showed empathy when fellow travelers got injured. Everyone was ok, but our heroes decided they would like to visit a different beach next time.

• Through water play our learners realized the need for safety and respect, and together made the decision to implement a couple of rules in order to make it fun for all.

• Our heroes played the Positivity Game. A sheet of paper was taped on to everyone’s back. Each person wrote a positive word or phrase for each and everyone of their fellow travelers and stuck it onto their backs. We value the need to learn to love ourselves first so we can fully open ourselves to love others.

• At My Gym each week team building, kindness, and sportsmanship continue to be the main focus.

• Dr. Emily spoke to the learners about healthy eating, discussing how food is medicine. Eating whole foods improves health and prevents diseases.

• A dentist gave a powerful talk about the importance of oral health. The learners enjoyed this hands on presentation as they each got their own mouth model. They were guided in an activity where they removed a cavity and filled it.

Learn to Learn

• The socratic discussions continue in summer session. We have had deep conversations about empathy, teamwork, love, and healthy eating.

• During summer learners continue to enjoy D.E.A.R. (drop everything and read) as well as Hero Reader.

• Learners have collaborated on the creation of their contract and discussed how to hold each other accountable.

All good things must come to an end.

While we are all sad that our summer camp must come to an end, we are looking forward to the 2021-2022 school year when we can go back to school, and these heroes can continue to reach higher and be the best they can be.