EnCompass Academy

1025 81st Ave.
Oakland, CA 94621 (Map & Directions)
510-879-0207
Minh-Tram Nguyen, Principal
tram.nguyen@ousd.k12.ca.us

EnCompass Academy honors the mind, body, emotions, and spirit of the whole child. Our vision of an educated child is one with an active, reflective, and disciplined mind; a healthy and physically-fit body; a centered spirit; and just, caring, and courageous self-conduct. The program is developed around the EnCompass Life Spiral elements of: the cultivation of Self, the guidance and support of Family, the engagement with Communities, and the rootedness in Ancestors and ancestral heritage. We believe that all children are good and deserve guidance to make appropriate choices.

EnCompass Academy opened in 2004 after three years in design by a diverse team of educators and east Oakland parents. In 2005, we moved from portable classrooms located on the edge of Webster Academy into a brand-new 81st Avenue campus, co-located with ACORN Woodland Elementary. We serve K-4 students in 2006, and will grow to 260 K-5 students in 2007-2008.

OUR COMMUNITY

• The majority of our students are Latino and African American.

• We have a culturally diverse staff.

• 89% of our students receive free /reduced lunch.

• 60% are English Language Learners.

• 78% of students in our inaugural year entered EnCompass at Kindergarten reading level.

• 89% of family members rated us “good” or “great.”

OUR CULTURE

We have high and consistent expectations for students to be their best, in and out of the classrooms. Small classes allow for students to be “known” by peers and adults: The Principal knows every child by name, the Office Manager (a founding parent) is a supportive and caring resource for children, families, and staff. Our custodian helps Kinders with their lunches. Teachers for the “Mind-Body Connections” and “Build Your Brain” (both classes unique to our school) work with students in their enrichment classes, supervise recess and school-wide transitions, and staff the afterschool program.

This integrated approach and school-wide commitment to all children as our own support homeroom teachers “teach to the whole child”. We are able to provide frequent feedback about positive changes a child is making and can quickly recognize and redirect children’s emerging patterns of negative behavior before they become habits. This subtle strategy creates consistency and a level of predictability that is crucial in supporting our high-needs students to transform and thrive as scholars and community members.

OUR PROGRAM

A balanced literacy framework integrates thematic Science and Social Studies content into culturally relevant, standards-based, and engaging studies. We actively monitor student progress and adapt instruction using to meet individual learning needs.

Daily classroom Morning Meetings build a culture of care and respect to set the foundation for learning. Often students who make transgressions are able speak truthfully about their choices and take action to make amends. Teachers encourage students to practice forgiveness and model compassion for each other.

• After School Scholars: Academic enrichment, Spanish, Arts, and Yoga.

• Build Your Brain Class: Uses literacy and science to build critical thinking skills.

• Mind-Body Connections Class: English Language Development and Physical Education standards are met through this innovative class that teaches yoga, body awareness, ancestral history, speaking & listening skills, as well as community-building and social skills.

• Music and Community: Oakland Youth Chorus’ Latin Percussion and Zimbabwean Dance classes provide cultural literacy through music.

• Looping: Students stay with the same teacher and classmates for 2 years.

• Newcomers program provides intensive support to students new to the U.S.

YOUR DONATIONS WILL HELP US PROVIDE

• Wellness and Family Programs Coordinator

• Expeditionary Learning Coach

• A higher adult-to-children ratio in classrooms

• Extended Field Studies

• Music instruction to all students