About Oakdale Academy

Mores ~ Veritas ~ Sapientia

Character. Truth. Wisdom.

These are the pillars of Oakdale Academy. These foundational pillars are constantly reinforced in the classroom, in performances and sporting competitions and with the partnership of our parents at home. 

Our Mission Statement: The Mission of Oakdale Academy is to instill Character, Truth, and Wisdom in our students in order to prepare them for a life of service to God, family, community and country through classical Christian education.

Our school motto is “Rigor with Joy.” We encourage all students to pursue their academics in a spirit of “Rigor with Joy,” as excellence does not come easily. The reward of hard work is a deep satisfaction that comes from knowing we have done all that we can with all that we have, to the glory of the Almighty God. 

Dr. Kenneth Calvert, former Headmaster at Hillsdale Academy, says:

“‘Joy’ as compared to ‘fun’ – the joy that comes with true accomplishment. To honor God with our very best efforts… This idea is found also in Aristotle’s definition of ‘happiness.’ Happiness is found in seeking excellence rather than pleasure alone.”

The Oakdale Academy Statement of Primary Doctrine reflects the purpose of this institution: to be a community of Christians dedicated to and united in educating our children in the Classical tradition. Oakdale holds a foundational commitment to advancing the unity of all Christians who hold to the eternal teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles as contained in the Holy Scriptures and taught by His Church since Pentecost. In commitment to Christian unity, we cultivate and nurture habits of prayer, worship, and scriptural study that a wide range of Christian believers can support without compromising distinctions. A primary purpose of Oakdale Academy is to support families in raising Christian children, and we recognize that parents hold the ultimate responsibility for faith formation according to the beliefs and traditions of their chosen denomination or church. In light of these considerations, we set forth the following Primary Doctrine which faculty, staff, parents, and students must uphold:

The Holy Trinity: There is one God existing in three divine persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

• Father Almighty: Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
• Lord Jesus Christ: The only begotten Son of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not made, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made, who for us men and our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man; and He was crucified, and suffered and was buried, and on the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end; He is the Way, Truth, and the Life, and no man comes to the Father but by Him.
• Holy Spirit: the Lord, the giver of life, who with the Father and Son is worshipped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets.

Holy Scripture: The written Word of God as contained in the Holy Bible and consisting of the Old and New Testaments; inspired by God Himself; profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness; perfectly consistent, authentic, and true; containing no formal errors or inner contradictions.

Sanctity of Human Life: Humans are fearfully and wonderfully created by God in His image, male and female; human life is therefore considered sacred in all its forms, regardless of age, health, or any other status, from conception to natural death. The incarnation of Christ demonstrated God’s love for humanity and His ascension into heaven elevated human dignity.

Traditional Christian Morality: Scripture provides the guidelines and standard for marriage (between one man and one woman), family, and all matters concerning relationships between the two sexes.

Christian Unity: It is the desire of Christ that His church be unified and thereby show the world God’s love.

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
Psalm 133: 1 (ESV)

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17 (ESV)

Oakdale Academy Honor Code

Oakdale Academy Students

Out of the desire to honor God, my family, my teachers, and Oakdale Academy, I endeavor to be honorable in character, honest in word and deed, and respectful to others. In humility and with integrity, I resolve to pursue a life of service to God, family, community, and country.

I commit to diligent study, patient reflection, and respect to all placed in authority over me. Together with fellow students, I am a steward of Oakdale Academy and commit myself to the pursuit of Truth, the love of the Good, and the cultivation of Beauty as I embrace the high calling of a liberal arts education.

Oakdale Academy Faculty and Staff

In answering God’s call to serve with honor at Oakdale Academy, I lead all students with integrity and intellectual honesty, and I endeavor to prepare them for a life of service to God, family, community, and country.

As one appointed to lead and guide, I demonstrate in my instruction and in virtuous living the love of the Good, the pursuit of Truth, and the cultivation of Beauty as essential foundations of the high calling of a liberal arts education.

Oakdale Academy Parents and Families

As a partner with Oakdale Academy, I strive honorably to support those who work in the lives of my children as we mutually seek to develop in them a life marked by virtue and dedication to the Lord.

United with Oakdale Academy, I steadfastly guide, mentor, and encourage my children in the pursuit of Truth, the love of the Good, the cultivation of Beauty, and the high calling of a liberal arts education so my family is prepared to serve God, family, community, and country.

 

Classical Christian education is a learning process in which teachers disciple students in the appreciation of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty using the Greco-Roman Trivium and Quadrivium to support a distinctly Christian worldview. This process aims to inspire students to develop a life characterized by intellectual and spiritual pursuits and a sense of wonder.

A group of parents visited Hillsdale Academy in Hillsdale, Michigan in May 2011 and came away with a vision for bringing that same model of academic excellence and solid foundation of classical education back to the metro Detroit area. They learned about the curriculum and saw firsthand why the Hillsdale Academy model was so successful in producing graduates that were intelligent, articulate, well-read and of great character.

When the group reconvened on June 11, 2011, they were called to carry out God’s plan to bring Oakdale Academy to Waterford. All eight families voted unanimously to dedicate the time and resources to open Oakdale Academy in September 2011.

United in purpose, and through many challenges, God continued to show His faithfulness by providing a beautiful facility that we are purchasing, an incredible staff and students eager to learn and make new friends. The doors of Oakdale Academy opened on September 7, 2011, with offerings from Kindergarten through Grade 10. Each year thereafter brought grades 11 and 12 and, in 2013, a Junior Kindergarten program was added. Oakdale Academy presented its first graduating class in 2014. 

God remains faithful as we continue to seek His will in this incredible undertaking. To Him be the glory!

Did you know that when you refer a new family to Oakdale Academy, you can receive a $1,000 tuition credit after the new family completes their first semester at Oakdale?  Thank you for telling your friends and family about our amazing school!

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Grounded in our Primary Doctrine Statement, Oakdale Academy holds to Christian values and establishes parameters for acceptable behavior of its employees and volunteers.

Pursuant to our firm conviction and belief, all employees and volunteers are to conduct themselves accordingly with regard to their biological sex and all employees and volunteers shall:

• Dress in conformance with one’s biological sex;
• Use the restrooms, locker rooms, and changing facilities conforming to one’s biological sex;
• Abstain from all intimate sexual conduct outside the marital union of one man and one woman.
• Be in agreement and affirm Oakdale Academy’s Policy on Marriage, Family, and Sexuality as biblically sound.

Additionally, employees and volunteers shall refrain from the following practices as deemed antithetical to the Christian walk and faith:

• Cheating
• Stealing
• Excessive use of alcohol
• Gambling in excess
• Use of coarse and immoral language

Employees and volunteers should conduct themselves with a sense of respect for the authority of the school, vested in the Board and the Headmaster (and any other officials acting under their authority).

Failing to comply with these standards or others not listed but deemed to be antithetical to the Christian faith will subject the volunteer to removal and any employee(s) to potential disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.

The Mission of Oakdale Academy is one where we do not shy from our Christian faith, sincerely held religious beliefs, and values rooted in the Bible as God’s Word and delineated in our Primary Doctrine Statement. We wish to communicate to our community and the outside world in our speech and conduct, our religious nature. We are proud Members of the Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS).

We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. (Psalm 139.)

As a Christian school, Oakdale Academy freely highlights the religious and faithful character of all we do, as embodied in our Primary Doctrine Statement and Mission Statement.

This religious character is highlighted, but not limited to, the following practices:

• Regular prayer, including Bible studies and worship in the regular activities of the school;
• The conducting of and participation in special activities that include prayer, Bible studies, and worship both on the school campus as well as away from campus.
• The promotion of Oakdale Academy is a non-denominational entity bound by our Primary Doctrine Statement.
• The display of religious artwork and decorations are encouraged on campus that comply with the Primary Doctrine Statement, good taste, and decorum.
• The promotion of our religious character is promoted and highlighted through our teaching, policies, websites, brochures, logos, crest, tagline, social media, and other electronic and non-electronic means.

In order to preserve the function and integrity of Oakdale Academy as a Christian community, and to provide a biblical role model to Oakdale students and the broader community, it is imperative that all board members, employees, and volunteers of Oakdale Academy affirm and comply with this Policy on Marriage, Family, and Sexuality.

This Policy is in accordance with our Primary Doctrine Statement and Mission Statement and outlines certain fundamental elements of Christian faith and practice.

• We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male and female (Gen. 1:26-27). These two distinct, complementary biological sexes together reflect the image and nature of God. Rejection of one’s biological sex is a rejection of the image of God in that person.
• All students, staff, and volunteers of/at Oakdale Academy will be addressed and treated in accordance with their biological sex. Likewise, all employees, volunteers, and students will be expected to dress and act in accordance with their biological sex (Gen. 5:1). All employees, volunteers, and students are seen as being uniquely created to bear the image of God and to Glorify Him (II Cor. 3:18).
• We believe that the term “marriage” has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in Scripture (Gen. 2: 18-25). We believe that God intends that sexual intimacy only occur between a man and a woman who are married to each other (I Cor. 6:18, 7:2-5, Heb 13:4).
• We believe that any other form of sexual behavior outside that which is specifically delineated herein is immoral, sinful, and offensive to God (I Thes. 4:3-5, I Cor. 6:13).
• We believe that God offers redemption and restoration to all who confess and repent from their sin, seeking His mercy and forgiveness through Jesus Christ (Acts 3:19-21, Rom. 10-9-10, I Cor. 6:9-11).
• We believe that every person must be afforded compassion, love, kindness, respect, and dignity (Mark 12:28-31, Luke 6:31). Hateful and harassing behavior or attitudes directed toward any individual are to be repudiated and are not in accord with Scripture or the policies of Oakdale Academy.