Blue Oak School is located in the town of Napa, situated at the base of the Napa Valley and surrounded by the beauty of Northern California’s wine country.
The School first opened its doors to children in kindergarten to fourth grade in the fall of 2002. By 2005, the School had expanded to provide an educational opportunity of the highest quality to students from kindergarten through eighth grade and is now comprised of two campuses – a Lower School campus and a Middle School campus. Both campuses complement and reinforce the School’s program and mission around education, sustainability, environmental awareness and community building. Facilities on both Blue Oak School campuses are available for use by community organizations. For information, contact Selene Hensler.
Lower School Campus
1436 Polk Street, Napa
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The Lower School was established in the old Washington Primary School building, a cherished educational monument located at the corner of Polk and Seminary streets in downtown Napa. Originally constructed in 1909 as an elementary school, the building was converted to county offices in the 1950s and ultimately abandoned in the early 1990s. Blue Oak School purchased the property in March, 2000 and immediately began the planning and renovation process.
The Lower School’s building design blends the past with the modern. The original portion of the structure houses renovated classrooms that accommodate students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Adjacent to the 12,800 square foot historic section is a new 6,100 square foot library and multipurpose building that provide community interface. The adjoining sections share architectural design elements consistent with the building’s original historic heritage.
The renovated and expanded areas of the Lower School campus are a testament to Blue Oak School’s commitment to sustainability and the environment. The School offers a safe, vibrant, non-toxic environment with sustainable elements that teach children respect for the environment each day. Original wood flooring has been lovingly repaired and restored and carpeting is made of recycled material. A geothermal HVAC system, one of the first of its kind in an educational building in California, provides heating and air conditioning. As a result of this planning and construction, students learn deep respect for environmental responsibility simply by walking through the front door.
In keeping with the School’s commitment to community and sustainability, common spaces and classroom furniture promote collaboration and interaction among children and lead to community building. “Green” design not only respects the environment, but also teaches the students about their responsibilities as stewards of the Earth and the possibilities of sustainable solutions to human needs.
Middle School Campus
1272 Hayes Street, Napa
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In September 2005, Blue Oak School opened its Middle School campus on Hayes Street. Established to provide a seamless instructional program to currently enrolled families and to welcome new students to the School, the Middle School serves students in grades six through eight.
Unlike Blue Oak's Lower School on Polk Street, the Hayes Street Plaza required relatively minor changes to transform it into today's beautiful Middle School campus, complete with "green" design elements that continue to inform students of their role as stewards of the environment. The Middle School campus includes dedicated spaces for science labs, a library, art studio, multipurpose/music room and five open-designed classrooms, as well as administrative offices. Wireless technology supports the integration of laptop computers into the classroom. As at the Lower School campus, the Middle School continues to build a school community that instills in our students a sense of pride in and responsibility to the neighborhoods in which we live.