You may have noticed that there has been quite a bit of activity at the Oak School site. Construction is definitely underway! On Friday, November 22nd we invited the public to join us for a Progress Update Tour. Several community members and former students of Oak School came out to see how much progress had been made. One former student sent us this email which was a reminder of how much this project means to so many people:
Oak Street Elementary School @ 1000 Oak Street...
Most amazing day yesterday! The neighborhood grade school that I attended is being turned into Senior Apartments by a wonderful nonprofit group committed to green operating and building practices. They invited all alumni to an open house for a "walk thru"... The original brick building dates back to 1898 - no I did not attend it back then!It was surreal to say the least...
As I walked up the steps and entered the big front doors, (funny they still seemed big...), I was transported back in time! Memories flooded back and I was overwhelmed. I attended K-6th grade in this building...Seven years! From the tender age of 5 until I started Jr. High School across town at age 12..My 1st day of school, my 1st teacher, my 1st friends that didn't live on my block - you know = Real world stuff!!! I had to be responsible for my actions, be tested to see how I compared to others - to my Peers...I would be expected to be in charge of my every move everyday from here on out...To follow the rules - hey wait...I had to find out what the rules were first...The Kindergarten Room was the 1st door on the right as you came up the stairs from the front door. As I walked thru the door way and looked up at the transom window I paused and ran my hand over the wood on the door frame knowing I had touched that same wood many times before. A feeling swept over me - one of home and comfort... As I entered that room after so many years (60 to be exact), I was moved to tears - happy tears. I thought of my life's journey and that it really started here where I learned to be a person separate from my family doing my "job" - learning, growing, developing, making choices...
I reminisced about where things were in the room - the coloring tables, the piano, the place we had circle time to listen to magical stories and sing wonderful songs, the place we laid our rugs at nap time ( I remember laying there looking up at the tall ceiling thinking this is the best place ever!)...
After a full tour and many more memories from each grade I was asked to share, along with other Alumni, some memories of Oak Street Elementary and my days spent there, for a video that would be added to their web site. I was happy to convey what was in my heart about a place that had such meaning for me...I was asked to leave my name and info on a guest sign-up sheet and as I wrote my name I said "It's amazing to write my name in the very place that I learned to write so many years ago"...
Oak Street Elementary - you will forever be a part of who I am, and I will forever be a part of what you become - Happy new purpose old friend!
By Marilyn Golden Loukes