The Ọmọladé Academy
Our School
Our Motto, Vision & Symbols
Mission
The Ọmọladé Academy’s mission is to ignite excellence in our scholars by providing a world-class holistic educational experience that amplifies scholars’ intellectual, leadership, and entrepreneurial talents to ensure they are competitive and bold change-makers in our global society.
Vision Statement
The Ọmọladé Academy's vision is to create a world-class K-5 learning model that goes beyond traditional education and positions all scholars to excel academically, thrive personally, and contribute meaningfully to society.
A Student-Led Tour of The Omolade Academy
Our Symbols
The name "Ọmọladé" (or-more-la-day) is derived from the Yoruba language, meaning "child is the crown." The cultures and languages of Yoruba are rich, diverse, and vibrant. Yoruba cultures span Nigeria, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia in West Africa.
It also plays a significant role in Afro-Brazilian, Caribbean, and North American religions (https://www.oriire.com/, EP 29, May 26, 2023, with Wale). “The Yoruba diaspora, a result of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and religious pilgrimages to Mecca, extends from Senegal to the Nile in Africa and North to South America” (https://africa.si.edu/exhibits/olowe/yoruba/yoruba.htm).
The Ọmọladé name reflects our belief that every child is royalty, deserving of a royal educational and school experience crowned with excellence, respect, love, joy, and the opportunity to thrive and shine.
Crest
- The Crown symbolizes the profound significance of Ọmọladé, drawing inspiration from the majestic crowns of royalty in Ghana, Nigeria, and other African countries. It unequivocally represents that our scholars are indeed royalty.
- Umoja, meaning "Unity" in Swahili, embodies the first principle of Kwanzaa. It symbolizes Family Unity, Intergenerational Unity, Community (local, national, and global) Unity, and Pan-African Unity.
- Stack of Books - The stack of books is more than just a symbol of knowledge. It's a testament to the depth and breadth of our innovative African-centered STREEAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Arts, and Mathematics) curricula approach. It represents our dedication to a rigorous, comprehensive, well-rounded education enriched with "our story," the arts, music, and languages.
- Change-makers - The globe with a light bulb symbolizes global citizenship, entrepreneurship, and innovation. It represents our commitment to teaching scholars about various cultures and global issues while fostering innovative thinking. By integrating creative problem-solving and entrepreneurship skills early, we prepare our scholars to contribute positively to the world.
- Graduation Cap - Excellence and Lifelong Learning - We instill a passion for learning from the earliest years, emphasizing that education is a thrilling, lifelong journey. The graduation cap fosters a sense of responsibility for African-centered excellence and joy. It symbolizes scholarship and academic excellence and the start of an exciting educational adventure, sparking curiosity and a love for learning among our scholars.
- The Green Oak Leaf Wreath: The wreath with green oak leaves is inspired by the Emancipation Oak Tree at Hampton University in Virginia, a historically Black University. Enslaved people gathered there in 1863 to hear the first Southern reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. Mary Peake, a free "Negro”, defied Virginia law to teach about twenty students under the oak tree in 1861. Today, the Emancipation Oak still stands on the Hampton University campus, symbolizing the promise of education for all, even in the face of adversity.
Core Values
Ọmọladé is a beautiful and meaningful word that represents the potential and promise of every child who walks through our doors. All of our scholars are royalty.
The Ọmọladé Academy is an affirming learning space where every scholar is gifted, talented, nourished, and loved daily.
The Ọmọladé Academy's core values are:
Umoja: Our unity is encapsulated in the Ubuntu philosophy, which means "I am because we are." This philosophy emphasizes the interconnectedness of all people and the importance of community over individualism.
I will serve and support Umoja through my commitment to fostering community and unity.
Royalty: Our royalty epitomizes prestige, cultural respect, and the maintenance of high standards.
I will govern myself with dignity and respect and uphold the high standards of our village communities and global society.
Excellence: Our excellence is our unwavering commitment to the highest standards, relentless improvement, and unparalleled quality in every endeavor.
I will strive for excellence in all my pursuits, continually seeking improvement and maintaining the highest quality in my work.
Culture: We honor and celebrate our rich cultural heritages, fostering an African-centered environment where our diversity is embraced and cultural traditions are preserved and respected.
I will actively participate in honoring and preserving our cultural heritages, embracing diversity, and respecting our traditions at all times.
Joy: We cultivate a joyful atmosphere where positivity, happiness, and an admiration for learning thrive, ensuring that every member of our village finds delight in their pursuits.
I will contribute to a joyful and positive atmosphere, finding and spreading happiness in learning and all my endeavors.
Love: Love is at the heart of our The Ọmọladé Academy, guiding our actions and interactions. We nurture a supportive, caring, and compassionate environment where every individual feels valued and respected.
I will embody love in all my actions and interactions at The Ọmọladé Academy, nurturing a supportive, caring, and compassionate environment where everyone feels valued and respected.
It is through these core values, in the spirit of Umoja (Unity) and Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), that we will strive to build and to maintain our community to make our Brother's and Sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.