THIS IS WHY WE DO THIS...
This summer has been a whirlwind. Shawn and I were just talking yesterday commenting about how it was only April when we sat down with our Nicole, our long time Love City family member and new school administrator and Dr Kathy our Academic Dean to reflect on the past school year and strategize how we were going to leap forward with our educators and put in place additional resources we learned we needed. We came up with an organizational chart, and wrote job descriptions posting them on Indeed, looking for an elevation of skills so we could bring our community the best educators and administrators. Within the span of 3 months, we added 6 additional educators, 5 additional administrators bringing top level skills and experience and hired 3 additional people from the neighborhood to round out the school team. Our administrative team then had a little over a month to put together comprehensive training for our educators, teaching them how we do school, helping them unlearn techniques that we feel are actually detrimental to learning and fostering a community and environment that helps our children feel safe, loved and ready to learn. It was a monumental feat. It doesn’t feel like that was only April, it feels like that was 2 years ago.
The new org chart for Mighty Oak Academy we set up in April.
Our educators started training right after our July 4 holiday break. While they were learning out philosophy of discipline, different teaching techniques, and the culture of our neighborhood, Shawn and his team were busy making improvements on the Mackin building where our school is located. They added multiple layers of sound proofing to the ballroom, which would house two classrooms this year instead of the one last year. They prepped and oversaw the re-installation of new windows in each classroom in the basement. An improvement that not only brought light into once dark basement classrooms, but reversed decades of fear and separation from when the windows were bricked up in the 60s due to riots and protests around segregation. They painted new murals on the outside of the building, portraits of great lovers of community throughout generations, Nelson Mandela, MLK Jr., Mother Theresa, Harriet Tubman, and Albert Einstein. We got new desks and chairs for each classroom and finally last week our teachers were able to get into their rooms and set them up to get ready for school.
New windows going in the basement of the Mackin building.
We ended training with a retreat. We took the entire education staff out to the Earth and Spirit center off Newberg Rd for a day long retreat. We had time for mediation, mindfulness as well as some team building exercises on their 27-acre property full of nature trails. It was a great way to recenter after weeks of preparation and training, preparing out minds and spirits to receive all the children in our care this coming week.
This year before school starts we had a meet your teacher night this past Thursday. The teachers worked to get their rooms ready, the building was cleaned and everyone was excited to see all our new students. The evening exceeded our expectations! 80% of our students came to meet their teacher and see their newly updated classrooms. There was even a line waiting at the front door for us to open. Shawn sat at the reception desk so he could welcome and say hi to each family. I roamed the school, answering questions and taking pictures. Everyone had huge smiles on their faces and were just excited to be there. After the evening was over Shawn and I were talking with our team. “That is why we do this,” he told them. “all the long days, all the frustrations, all the preparations, all the hard work, it’s for nights like this, when we get to be a part of the community and share love and see everyone come together, that is why we do this.” It was such a beautiful evening of everyone coming together, of anticipation of a new school year, all the excitement and nerves (of both kids and adults) and just being eager to learn and share gifts, to see old friends and make new ones. It was a beautiful picture of the kingdom of heaven.
Families lined up to check in for Meet your Teacher night.
Then on Sunday we hosted a community back to school bash in the parking lot at St Cecilia. Over 20 different organizations from around the community came together in the parking lot to throw a party for the neighborhood. Shawn had arranged it so that each organization brought a different school supply to the event. One table had notebooks, one table had crayons, one table had glue sticks, etc. Kids picked up their bags at the front gate and went to each table, trick or treating for school supplies so to speak. We had bouncy houses, frozen lemonade, ice cream, hamburgers and hot dogs, sidewalk chalk games, kettle corn, cotton candy, and even River City Drum corp came by to put on a performance. It was a great outpouring of love in the neighborhood. Most of our students from Mighty Oak Academy came as well as a lot of our neighbors. Between the meet your teacher night on Thursday and the community back to school bash on Sunday, the team was exhausted but excited to be in the kingdom of heaven working together and ready to greet all the kids on Wednesday when school starts! This for sure is why we do this!
Families enjoying the back to school bash in the St Cecilia parking lot.
This coming Sundaycome join us for a community back to school party! We will have musich, school supplies, and lots of fun!
CLASSROOM SCHOOL SUPPLY NEEDS...
We do need help with specific school supplies for our classrooms to get ready for school. We have set up an Amazon wishlist to make sending supplies easy. Just click on the link below to select items from the list and they will be shipped directly to the school.
Mighty Oak Academy Supplies Wishlist
MIGHTY OAK IS HIRING!
We are finishing out our special area offerings and are looking for a part time music teacher. The position would be about 15 hours a week and would teach music to grades 3 - 7.
If you know anyone who would be a good fit, please send them our way, we are actively interviewing for this position. You can find the job posting on Indeed by searching Mighty Oak Academy.
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.
Please consider partnering financially with Love City. We are looking for sponsors for students at Mighty Oak Academy as well as partners to help fund construction of our new preschool. Click the button below to donate today.