Academics at Oakbrook

Kindergarten at Oakbrook Preparatory School

A Private Christian Kindergarten in Spartanburg, SC
Help Your Child Grow, Explore, and Thrive

Choosing the right kindergarten is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your child.

Will they be nurtured and supported?
Will the curriculum meet their academic and emotional needs?
And will they love coming to school each day?

At Oakbrook Preparatory School, we understand these concerns. That’s why our kindergarten program offers a rich, experiential learning environment where children are known, loved, and encouraged to explore their God-given talents. From small classes that provide individualized attention to engaging activities like painting in the style of Renoir and acting out prairie life, our curriculum is designed to help each child thrive academically, socially, and spiritually.

Below, you’ll find a brief overview of kindergarten at OPS, including:

Learning Environment
Program Schedule
Curriculum & Safety Features
Meet a Teacher

We’re here to answer your questions.

As your child approaches kindergarten, you may have just as many questions as they do — and we’ll happily answer them all. Reach out to Admissions Director Amanda Ledbetter at (864) 587-2060 or at admissions@oakbrookprep.org.

A Learning Environment Rooted in Joy and Growth

At Oakbrook Preparatory School, we partner with parents to create a nurturing and engaging environment where children feel safe, supported, and inspired to explore. Influenced by the Charlotte Mason approach, our kindergarten program offers a rich “feast” of learning experiences — introducing children to a variety of subjects, ideas, and activities to spark their curiosity and cultivate a lifelong love of learning.

Our kindergartners thrive through:

Personalized Attention:

With a 12:1 student-teacher ratio, every child receives the individual care they need to grow academically and socially. Teachers take time to understand each student’s unique strengths and learning styles, ensuring they are both challenged and supported.

A Vibrant Campus:

Our 60-acre campus provides students with opportunities to explore and play, from a nature trail and garden boxes to spacious playgrounds and soccer fields. These outdoor spaces, paired with movement-based activities, give children the freedom to be kids while developing their motor skills and love for discovery.

Character Formation:

At OPS, we build strong habits and develop character through positive reinforcement. Your child will learn values like truthfulness, responsibility, and kindness by role-playing with puppets, listening to Bible stories, and beginning to understand Knights Honor, our school’s honor code. Teachers model the Fruits of the Spirit daily, cultivating an environment where students learn to treat others the way Jesus would.

Knights Honor

Is My Child Ready for Kindergarten?

At Oakbrook Preparatory School, we recognize that every child begins kindergarten with different skills and experiences, and we are here to meet them where they are. 

Before the school year begins, we conduct a 45-minute visit with incoming kindergarteners to identify their strengths and areas for growth, allowing us to create a tailored plan for their success. Whether it’s learning how to hold scissors, forming letters, or turning the pages of a book, our teachers provide personalized guidance and fine motor activities to ensure steady progress.

Our close partnership with parents includes parent-teacher conferences within the first nine weeks and regular communication to ensure each child is thriving. By the end of kindergarten, your child should be ready to confidently step into elementary school.

Learn More

An Engaging Kindergarten Program Schedule

Our full-day kindergarten program runs five days a week, from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Children enjoy learning core subjects, eating lunch with friends, and participating in enrichment classes and playtime.

Daily Schedule

What does a Day in the Life of a Kindergartner at OPS look like? Below is a sample schedule that will give you an idea of what your little learner will be learning each day.

Morning:

  • Circle Time & Character Ed
  • Language Arts
  • Recess
  • Math
  • Themed Studies
  • Lunch/Recess

Afternoon:

  • Special Activities: Music, Art, PE, Library, World Languages
  • Centers
  • Small Group Instruction

Extended Care

Our before and after school program provides children with an opportunity for extra play. Before and after a day full of learning, kids just want to play and that is exactly what our extended care gives them. Activities include outdoor play, snack time, crafts, and gymnasium activities.

  • 7:30 to 8:05 a.m. – free play
  • 3:10 to 6 p.m. – Knight Shift Program

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“Oakbrook is special to our family because our daughter loves and looks forward to going to school every day. The teachers and staff provide a caring and supportive environment that makes it easy for my daughter to feel happy and thrive in academics as well as deepens her Christian faith.”

Mary Guerrero, Lower School Parent

A Rich, Experiential Curriculum

You want a kindergarten program that offers more than child care — you want one that follows state standards and establishes a foundation for success. At Oakbrook Preparatory School, we do all of that and more. At the kindergarten level, core subject areas include:

  • Phonics
  • Penmanship
  • Guided Reading
  • Math
  • Themed Studies

Along with covering core subjects, children make their own butter on Prairie Day, march like the penguins they’re researching, paint like Monet during a study of ponds, and explore vocabulary through storytelling and writing. Every activity is designed to ignite wonder and connect learning to the world around them.

Technology in the Classroom

At OPS, technology is used strategically to complement and enhance learning. Interactive Promethean boards bring lessons to life, while tools like Chromebooks are integrated occasionally for specific projects, such as studying space or researching woodland animals.

A Caring, Connected Community

Through the Kindergarten Buddies program,  each kindergartener is paired with a high school senior who serves as a mentor, friend, and role model. These pairs do everything from decorating Christmas cookies together to cheering for one another at special events — all to teach the value of kindness and friendship. This unique tradition strengthens the OPS family, creating memories that last well beyond the school year.

A Safe Environment

We prioritize the emotional and physical safety of every child at OPS. Our secure campus includes age-appropriate classroom and playground designs, and our small class sizes ensure that teachers can closely monitor and care for each student. Background-checked staff, locked doors, a full-time security officer, and a welcoming atmosphere provide parents with peace of mind while their children thrive in a loving, Christ-centered environment.

Teacher Feature

Michelle Owens | Early Childhood Education | 29 years

“Teaching kindergarten at Oakbrook is like a little piece of Heaven on Earth! I have such fun with my students as I teach them about so many different topics and skills! I love being able to correlate God’s works and blessings as we learn about the wonders of space, how polar animals stay warm, or the life cycles of His many creations! Singing, dancing, and learning new skills keep us busy; seeing the smiles of success and accomplishment on my students’ faces is why I love coming to school every day! “

See for yourself!

The best way to get a sense of Oakbrook Preparatory School’s kindergarten program is to visit us in person. Schedule an on-campus tour and see first-hand why families choose us.

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