Creativity in Love
This year, Mighty Oak Academy has started several new after school clubs including, gardening, Dungeons and Dragons, Mighty Makers, and Threadheads. Each of these clubs is meant to introduce our students to new experiences and help them discover passions they did not know they possessed. While it is exciting watching the kids develop numerous new skills, one skill that has been particularly fun to see awakened is the creativity of the students.
To be totally honest, I still do not fully understand Dungeons and Dragons well enough to explain to you. I do know that it is a game where creativity thrives. Students are given adventures through stories led by the “Dungeon Master”, in these adventures students decide what their characters attempt to do, and then roll a dice to determine if their actions were successful. They do not control what the adventure throws at their characters, but they do get full creative license over how their character responds to the situation. They are even able to create their own characters and as they begin to understand the game better, they will be the ones dreaming up the adventures as the Dungeon Masters. While I may never fully understand Dungeons and Dragons, I do know that it provides a playground for our students' imaginations.
A group of students learning to play Dungeons and Dragons
Mighty Makers is another club that allows students to really show off what they can dream up. Mighty Makers primary purpose is to teach workshop and handyman skills to the students and involve them with helping fix things that need repaired in the community. The craft of woodworking also allows room for lots of creative ideas. My favorite example of this is with one of our middle school girls, Madison, who is a part of the club. The students were building their own toolboxes and were given a few different options of how to finish the tops of their totes, they could round the edges, square it off, or make a shape. Madison asked if she could cut a wedge out of hers, our teacher Mr. Martin had no problem with letting her do that, leaving her tool box with what looked like two mountain peaks. Once it was all put together, Madison went and drew the face of a cat on the side of it using the cut she had made as the ears. Who could have thought of that when seeing a piece of wood?
Madisons toolbox that she designed to look like a cat.
Threadheads is our newest after school club. It was started this spring semester, and allows students to design their own t-shirt. It equips them to come up with an idea, mock it up, price it, and market their design. When we asked the kids to come up with some ideas that related to Mighty Oak Academy, I was not expecting one of our fifth graders, Kemet, to say pineapples. After having been around the Mackin building, where the school is located, for seven years now pineapples are not what I think of when I see it. But to our students, pineapples are the first and last things they see at Mighty Oak everyday. Two decorative pineapples flank the stairs that the kids walk up in the morning to enter the building. After working on a design and helping Kemet polish up her work, we also discovered that pineapples were a sign of hospitality in Hawaiian culture, leading to the naming of the design “Hospitality x Kemet”. Over the next month, we will be polishing up the rest of the designs from Threadheads and releasing them for pre-order, keep an eye out for more information so you can order your own student designed shirts and help support Mighty Oak!
A sneak peek of Hospitality by Kemet. Stay tuned for the release to preorder next month!
Seeing the creativity of the students is encouraging because it is the result of providing an environment of Love and trust. Love is a catalyst for creativity, removing the fear of having our work judged and providing inspiration to create more. The fact that our students have been willing to show off their creativity around us is proof that they know they are loved and that they are confident that their work will never be judged, but used to help teach and edify the community more.
1,000 at $25 a month…
We only have two weeks left in our 1,000 for $25 campaign. Huge thank you to all who have joined in so far!
It costs $13,500 a year for each student to attend the school. Our long term goal is to increase our sustainability activities to help offset some of that cost, such as the fish fry, St C's Tees and a new pre-school which will operate as both a preschool and a daycare. While we work to build these sustainability efforts we are seeking neighbors to come along side the school to help support students attending.
Our students have great potential and we want to help them see all their dreams come true! 1,000 neighbors giving $25 a month will help cover the costs for more than 20 of our students. Please consider joining this effort by clicking the button below to donate today!
Come join us this Friday at the Fish Fry…
This Friday we will be selling fish from 11am - 7:30pm.
Come join us for some fish or BBQ, we would to see you!
2519 St Cecilia St
11:00 - 7:30pm
We've started a new semester at Mighty Oak Academy and can always use supplies. If you are interested in helping, please click the link below to either donate, or click here to see our Amazon list for specific supplies that are needed.
If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.