Who We Are

Who We Are

Strong Oaks Academy is a Christian Homeschool Co-op, serving the greater NKY area families.

Strong Oaks Academy is not a drop-off program. As part of our mission, we support one another through our classes and events. We encourage enrichment opportunities and ultimately strive to make an eternal difference through serving those around us. To help make Strong Oaks Academy as successful as it can be, we depend upon our members to fulfill commitments to our group. This includes teaching classes and/or coordinating events.

Our Mission Statement

The mission of this homeschool co-op is to provide affordable, quality, fun-filled academic classes to children while encouraging homeschool Moms in the Christian homeschool community.

Statement of Faith

Please take notice of our statement of faith. We ask that all of our members personally agree and adhere to the following:

We believe that our foremost asset in our educational effort is Christ. We believe that the Godhead exists eternally in three persons – Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit – and that these three are one God. We believe the Bible is God’s only infallible, inspired Word God. We believe that God has created man in His image, male and female, and has made salvation possible for sinful man by faith alone in Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son. We believe marriage is a covenantal union between a man and a woman, which is God-ordained, and publicly declared. We believe we are born either male or female as God ordained.

Purpose

  • To glorify God in all we do. 1 Corinthians 10:31 states, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
  • To promote a Biblical worldview.
  • To provide Biblically consistent academic support in a Christian environment.
  • To raise lifelong learners.
  • To challenge children academically, physically, and spiritually.
  • To instill a joy of learning in children.
  • To encourage the homeschooling experience. Hebrews 10:24, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”
  • To provide fellowship and friendships for the children and parents.

Educational Philosopy

We are striving to raise lifelong learners. Therefore, we want to emphasize the “learning process over the product.” We want the children to be allowed to create, evaluate, experiment, make choices, and take risks.

Our younger grades (K-4th) do not have any homework. At this age, we seek to make co-op a fun place to come meet new friends and learn new things.

As students enter 5th grade we begin to offer a mix of classes. Some with homework and some without. As always, our class descriptions should make you aware of the requirements for each class. This allows you to choose the best fit for your family.

By 7th grade, almost all classes are graded and will require homework.

Our high school classes are all graded and have higher homework expectations to help you provide an adequate transcript for your students as they approach college. Most of our high school classes are able to count as a “credit” for your student’s diploma.

When did SOA begin?

Strong Oaks Academy was started in 2008 by Deb Herich at Grace Fellowship in Florence, KY.

Where does SOA meet?

Strong Oaks Academy meets at Lakeside Christian Church in Hebron, KY every Tuesday, for 30 weeks during the school year.

What does SOA offer their members?

  • Educational & Fun Classes (classes fees are required)
  • A Community for Moms
  • Field Trips
  • Christmas Party
  • Family Picnic (end-of-year celebration)
  • High School Graduation Ceremony
  • High School Prom

Does SOA hold regular meetings?

Strong Oaks Academy holds a mandatory annual meeting at the beginning of each school year. To minimize distractions and enable a large distribution of information, children are NOT allowed at the Annual meeting. Nursing babies are the only exception.

A Typical Day at SOA

Although students’ and moms’ schedules will vary depending on the classes each year, a typical day follows a general routine.

Families begin entering the front entrance at Lakeside Christian Church (Hebron Campus) parking area between 8:00 and 8:15 a.m., well before their first period. The set-up crew has already created the front desk area, snack table, and printer area for the day.

At 8:20 am promptly we begin our morning announcements. This is our time to come together as one big family for the Director to share any news & updates, the current week’s kiddos’ birthday, and prayer to begin our day.

Now the building springs to life with students and parents welcoming each other. Amid the hustle and bustle, moms of nursery through kindergartners, take their little ones to their classrooms as the older children and other moms head to their first-period classrooms.

Once in the classroom, students put on their name tags, find their seats and get out their homework or materials for the class. Then they are free to socialize with friends and classmates for a few minutes before class starts. Similarly, teachers prepare for their classes or socialize with other moms until the first hour officially begins at 8:30 a.m.

OUR TUESDAY SCHEDULE:

8:20   Announcements

8:30-9:20  1st Hour

9:25-10:15  2nd Hour

10:20-11:10  3rd Hour

11:15-12:05  4th Hour

12:10-12:20  Clean Up

During each class hour, our board members are taking attendance at the beginning of each class, monitor the halls and front door, and make sure everyone has all of the supplies they need for a lesson in class. But most importantly, to our students, the board is monitoring our snack table in between classes for our students as they munch throughout the day.

Once the fourth hour ends at 12:05, the hallways crowd with students and moms helping move tables back to their original locations, taking supply bins and projects to their cars or to the storage closet, sharing a few laughs, and saying goodbye until next week. Teenagers congregate in small groups to talk for as long as they can before they have to leave while their younger siblings run around to let out some energy before getting in the car for the drive home. Moms make plans for weekday play dates, say goodbye to friends, and gather their kids for departure.

The last to leave are the cleanup committee and a member(or two) of the Board. Together they conduct a final walkthrough to ensure the rooms are in good order and to look for any forgotten belongings to be placed in Lost and Found. Then they turn off the lights and lock up.

At the end of the day, the signs have been put away and families have left for their homes, or a meet-up at the park until we all meet again next week.