Mighty Oak Moments (pt 2)…
Mighty Oak Academy has been an amazing place to teach, and my memories of the school are rich with love & learning.
Since I taught 1st grade and then became a math teacher for 6th-9th, I have two wonderful memories that I must share. Around Thanksgiving, I had the joy of creating turkey hats with my 1st graders. We wore the hats to lunch and it was so much fun to see them be so creative with their turkey designs. The other memory I have to share is when 6th through 9th went to the Walking Bridge. Learning doesn't just happen in the classroom: it is in the world around us. The students measured distance, and it was great to see the curiosity on their faces as we looked to the river below.
Teacher- Ms. Leo
I arrived at Mighty Oak Academy in January as the new first grade teacher. Being an experienced educator, I have tried lots and lots of things in a never-ending effort to settle on a finalized list of what works vs. what doesn't. While, deep down, I know that I am working towards the unobtainable, I have found that providing children with access to musical instruments and lessons on how to play them is and will always be firmly placed in my "what works" category.
Being that this is one of the few things I know to work well for children from all walks of life, I wasn't surprised to see music quickly become a part of the identity of our class. While all the students made rapid progress in their musical abilities, there's one little girl, Coraline, who took to music in a way that I will never forget. The first time I heard her freely exploring different notes and rhythms on the piano, I stopped what I was doing immediately. I walked over to her and said, "that's really awesome, Coraline. Do you take piano lessons?" That question was met with a very nonchalant, "no, but I have a keyboard at home that I play with sometimes."
From this instance to the end of the school year, Coraline learned how to make chords, how to write melodies, how to write and record original music in Logic Pro (professional music studio software), created a heartbreakingly beautiful cover of Billie Eilish's Song of the Year Grammy winning "What Was I Made For?", and ended the year with several original compositions to her name. Dear reader, I don't know if this needs to be said, but this is not normal. The rate she is progressing as a musician is incredible.
I use Coraline's story to help me explain why a child-centered approach to education is so important. In a traditional learning environment, Coraline may have never figured out that she is passionate about piano or had the freedom to grow her abilities. With this freedom to pursue her interests and the love and support we offer at Mighty Oak Academy, Coraline has already bloomed into a real deal musician as a 1st grader. It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Coraline brought a Grammy of her own back to Portland one day.
Head of School- Michael Newton
Merriment Moving!!!
Merriment will be closed for the time being while we move to the Saint Cecilia Campus. If you would still like to make a donation, please call (502) 930-9006 to arrange a time to drop off.
Fish Fry Open!!!
The Fish Fry is OPEN! We look forward to seeing you so you can get your fix of fish, churched up tots, or whatever else is calling your name! Don’t forget to grab some fresh local produce when you stop by.
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.