One Spark Academy

One Spark Academy A learning center for 6th-8th grade homeschool and independent study students.

One Spark Academy is a learning center for 6th-8th grade independent study or homeschool students, with some classes appropriate for 9th-12th grade. Our creative and experienced education team believes that students should receive more than quality core academics and/or enrichment. We believe that students should also be excited about learning, and feel safe, respected, and cared for in their "cla

ssroom". Our approach to connection, health, wellness, and life balance will create breathing room for students’ family time, personal interests, and passions. Classrooms that are limited in size ensure more attention, focus, and a sense of calm. Teachers have time to provide frequent feedback, so students get more of what they need and can take ownership in their education. Our whole child experience includes time for everyone to enjoy a healthy lunch together – an important part of our day. Our passion is creating positive educational experiences for our students, and helping each student find their spark.

Our first week is almost a wrap, and it’s been great getting back into our groove! There were new students to meet, mann...
08/28/2026

Our first week is almost a wrap, and it’s been great getting back into our groove! There were new students to meet, manners to practice, metaphors to learn in English, algorithms to use in math, movie clips to watch in Film Studies, and lunches to prepare in Food Fascination! Guest teacher Harrison Scheer* lead our new Mock Trial course, Tracker Rob was back for Wilderness Skills, and Art Trek returned for ceramics. Despite it being a hot 🥵 week and the AC being out in one room, we stayed cool and productive, and had a blast.

*Harrison is a former student of Lori’s who is now a trial lawyer, and is thrilled to teach Mock Trial. He joins former CVUSD Open Classroom classmates Melanie (now a lead OSA educator), Evan (now an OSA guitar teacher), and two OSA grads (Ari from Art Trek, and Dorian) who are all working or volunteering with OSA this Session! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

We’re back! It’s been a busy week as we get the campus ready for another wonderful year of learning. After the YMCA host...
08/20/2026

We’re back! It’s been a busy week as we get the campus ready for another wonderful year of learning. After the YMCA hosted a successful summer camp, we had the week to move back into one of the classrooms, reorganize, clean, reset all the rooms, and refresh garden beds. But many hands make light work as parents and students offered their time and joyful participation. We also hosted our Welcome Back Picnic on Tuesday evening, where we enjoyed delicious food brought by families, plenty of good conversation, and some competition in the Gaga Pit. ❤️

Classes start on Monday, August 24, and we’re looking forward to welcoming back new and returning students! 📚 ✏️ 💡

Happy End-of-Summer! OSA took a long summer nap since the YMCA held a fabulous camp at the Conejo site. In just a week, ...
08/09/2026

Happy End-of-Summer! OSA took a long summer nap since the YMCA held a fabulous camp at the Conejo site. In just a week, we’ll be back on site and getting the place ready to welcome back learners as we start our 16th year. 😊

We hope to add a math assistant or math intern this year. If you’re interested (or know someone who is), it’s about 15 hours/wk working with students in small groups or one-on-one to support their learning. More info is here: https://www.onesparkacademy.org/employment/

After a busy and late night celebrating our grads, some of the OSA staff showed up early this morning to break down an e...
06/06/2026

After a busy and late night celebrating our grads, some of the OSA staff showed up early this morning to break down an entire classroom and combine it into another room.

This summer, the YMCA is moving back in to run a fabulous summer program! This will be the first time since 2019 that they have run a summer program there. That’s meant some extra work for us as they take over two of the buildings we use, but we also welcome the opportunity to share the space!

Our students next year will benefit from the upgrades the YMCA has made to the property since March, something we didn’t expect when the campus closed down in 2021 and when we moved in. Hopefully, this is the start of a wonderful new and mutually beneficial journey. 😊

Last night was AMAZING! Huge congratulations to our OSA Class of 2026, who launched last night to a theme of “Walk the R...
06/06/2026

Last night was AMAZING! Huge congratulations to our OSA Class of 2026, who launched last night to a theme of “Walk the Red Carpet.” Parents outdid themselves putting together the decor, a photo booth, karaoke, a delicious dessert bar (ice cream sundaes and cupcakes), and beautiful gifts to take home. The kids showed up dressed to impress, and brought their heartfelt gratitude to share in emotional speeches— something we ask all grads to give. Wow, their speeches were incredible. It was hard not to cry.

We also enjoyed a montage of photos of all grads, from babies to now, and dined on a delectable feast from Mr. Ardi’s Catering (braised short ribs, chicken, potatoes…. soooo good). There were countless hugs and joyful moments, then some tears shed as we said goodbye to our beautiful students, including a family who is moving away.

If there’s one thing we love about OSA, it’s the fact that there’s just a lot of love to go around. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Imaginession 2026 was so much fun! Although our academic year officially ended this past Friday, every year we offer a c...
06/04/2026

Imaginession 2026 was so much fun! Although our academic year officially ended this past Friday, every year we offer a creative short program as a transition into summer. Over three days, students drummed, acted out in musical theatre, mixed secret formulas, practiced comedy improv, built birdhouses, cooked up deee-licious snacks, 3-D printed, learned macramé, discovered the science of bubbles, designed chainmail bracelets, arranged sun-prints, and played together during recess breaks. It was an awesome way to welcome in some new students to OSA for next year, too. Happy summer, everyone! 😎

HUZZAH! Under a dramatic backdrop reminiscent of the stormy seas that would claim a ship, our talented actors performed ...
05/29/2026

HUZZAH! Under a dramatic backdrop reminiscent of the stormy seas that would claim a ship, our talented actors performed Twelfth Night, a Shakespearean comedy about mistaken identity, love triangles, and using disguise to trick one’s beloved. While the actual play is centered on twins Viola and Sebastian who are shipwrecked in Illyria, Directors Jenni and Melanie masterfully twisted and gender-swapped the script, to make things work best for their cast of eight girls and one boy.

Their hysterically funny version had twins named Sadie and Vincent, the Duchess Orianna (instead of Duke Orsino), and Lord Oliver (instead of Countess Olivia). Toby Belch, the town drunk in the original, became Lady Aunt Tonya, masterfully portrayed by student Jade, who elicited roars of laughter when she passed out mid-scene.

Vincent as “Viola” befriends his beloved Orianna, who is in love with the Lord Oliver, who is the subject of trickery by his drunken Aunt who tries to embarrass Oliver’s servant Malvolio by convincing her that Oliver loves her yellow socks, and well, things get complicated. Complications further arise as Oliver falls for Viola, leading to a chaotic mix-up that is resolved by multiple marriages and a happy ending! Except for Malvolio, who is deemed a lunatic and locked away. All’s well that ends well, for most everyone!

HUGE thanks to Directors Jenni and Melanie, our guitar teacher Evan Joffred for providing the background music, the parents who helped with the stage decor and costumes, and of course an incredibly funny, talented, and dedicated group of actors.
🎭

Twenty of us spent a glorious day on Santa Cruz Island this past weekend. Wow! Even after more than ten trips out there,...
05/27/2026

Twenty of us spent a glorious day on Santa Cruz Island this past weekend. Wow! Even after more than ten trips out there, the island always feels newly spectacular. No trash cans on the island mean that it’s clean, since everyone packs out their own trash. We saw five super cute island foxes, all completely oblivious to our presence. We hiked up to Cavern Point for lunch with a view, then down through a trail sided by chalky white diatomaceous earth. We also lucked out with smooth seas, and a lot of common dolphin sightings on the way home. Despite the fire burning on Santa Rosa Island, the air quality was good and the weather ideal for adventuring. A GREAT time was had by all.😍

On May 15, OSA hosted our annual Talent Show and it was just wonderful! Congratulations to all the participants for thei...
05/24/2026

On May 15, OSA hosted our annual Talent Show and it was just wonderful! Congratulations to all the participants for their courage and preparation. It’s not easy to get up in front of a crowd of 60+ people. 😬 We also had some very talented bakers make delicious goodies (we made $133 on the bake sale!). Huge thanks to Evan Joffred, our guitar teacher, for his help with sound and for leading a lovely sing-a-long at the end. 👏👏👏👏

05/24/2026

This past week, our Mapping the World students pushed to finish their maps a few days earlier than their projected final day, due to a conflict in scheduling with their charter school’s graduation (which impacted five Mapping students). The mood in the room as they wrapped things up was incredible— so focused, so relaxed. These students have probably been my hardest working group in all the years I’ve taught this course. When I pulled their final maps off the table to prepare for presenting the first and final map comparisons, I started to cry. 😢 Just love these kids so much.

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Thousand Oaks, CA
91360

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