Great Oaks Charter School — NYC
The mission of Great Oaks – New York City (GO – NYC) is to prepare students in grades 6-8 for college success through high dosage tutoring and excellent teaching. GO – NYC is based on a model of high expectations, robust support, and the belief that every child can succeed. Special preference is given to English Language Learners (ELL) and students who reside in CSD 1, but all are welcome to apply for the 2018-19 school year.
Every student receives two hours of math and ELA tutoring every day, individually or in small groups up to four students. Students use Google Chromebooks in their daily math tutorial sessions and teachers incorporate technology in daily lessons, particularly in teaching valuable research skills.
Students at GO – NYC have access to a broad range of staffled extracurricular after school activities including clubs for art, computer coding, hip-hop dance, and chess. Competitive sports teams include basketball for boys and girls as well as boys lacrosse. Their partnership with Grand Street Settlement, a community organization on the Lower East Side, provides even more extracurricular opportunities for Great Oaks’ students.
Director of Operations Angel Piña outlined the three key factors that set GO – NYC apart from other schools in the area: unparalleled personalized instruction, commitment to community and family engagement, and high expectations for success in college and beyond.
“Every Great Oaks student receives two hours of smallgroup tutoring every day. Our tutors help students catch up if they have fallen behind academically and push students who have advanced skills to continue to excel. Great Oaks parents and guardians are essential members of our community,” continued Piña. “They can expect weekly updates on their children’s performance from teachers and tutors. We also invite them to a variety of school events, ranging from report card conferences to ceremonies to honor student success.
“Every student deserves a chance to succeed in college and beyond. We set the bar high for how our students perform academically and how they carry themselves. We have similarly high expectations for our tutors, teachers, and school leaders, and they work relentlessly to support our students. At Great Oaks, students and families can expect a rigorous charter school curriculum, a focused learning environment, and a team dedicated to success.”
Student success is measured via quarterly benchmark assessments that are aligned to NY State exams. Teachers and school leaders use these benchmark results to design their curriculum and determine when students need additional support. They constantly monitor the school’s success by surveying parents and guardians on a regular basis to gain their input on the school’s climate, staff, and leadership. The most impressive gauge of success, however, comes from the students themselves.
“I have come a long way since the 6th grade,” explains 7th grader Jonathan Robinson, “I like Great Oaks because it has shown me that I need to do good for myself. Last year I received C’s and D’s, but this year I am receiving A’s and B’s in all of my classes. This year I am just trying to do good to help better myself and I see the work everyone puts in to help me succeed, so now I want to put a smile on their faces.”
GO – NYC will be hosting open houses on March 6, 7, 13, 14 and 28 at 5:30 pm. For more information or to schedule a tour, call (212) 233-5152, email go-nyc@ greatoakscharter.org, or visit www.nyc.greatoakscharter.org.