Wednesday would have been the 100th birthday of former South African President Nelson Mandela. To celebrate his legacy, students at the elementary school in north that bears his name are hosting a number of community events this week.
It's also an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the school since it opened three years ago near 30th and Redick. The school accepts students based on whether they qualify for free or reduced-price lunch and live within a mile and a half of the school.
year around school is privately funded by the Lozier Foundation. The school has recess every 90 minutes and each student learns to play the violin. "There are some great research studies about attentiveness and language development by the playing of the violin," says Dr. Susan Toohey, head of the school.
The school uses the the Singapore Math curriculum and the Spalding Method for reading and language arts. Toohey says the school's mantra is based on a quote from Mandela. "Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world."
"We felt that really encapsulated everything that we were thinking we wanted the school to be." The school has been hosting a number of events all this week to honor Mandela's legacy.
The biggest one will be Saturday at Miller Park, across the street from the school at 30th and Redick. The Mandela Fest celebration will feature music, African dancing and drumming, food, face painting and bounce houses. It is free and open to the public from 1-4 p.m.