that the learning process matters, that who they are and what they care about matters to others.” Te new Lower School building was designed
to support this OES approach to learning while creating spaces, proximities, and vistas to support the work that the teachers do every day to guide students. Trough the layout and design of the building, Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School teachers, who work closely together in teams, departments, and learning groups, will be better positioned to see the continuum of learning that happens in the Lower School, and to see the bigger picture of the Pre-K to grade 12 curriculum at work. “We want to provide students with experiences that help them create new understanding. We want to encourage students to collaborate and connect with each other, across classes and even grades,” said Lowell. “We designed spaces for students to commit to a demonstration, presentation, performance, or exhibition of their understanding and wanted to give children a space that is intentionally designed for them.”
GROUNDBREAKING: MAY 29, 2015 I
n front of a large crowd of students, parents, employees, alumni, and community members, Oregon Episcopal School broke ground on Friday, May 29 for the new Lower School building. Te morning event kicked off with a welcome by Head of School Mo Copeland. “I feel honored to have been given the opportunity to lead this school at such a momentous time,” said Copeland. “For the past 50 years, students, teachers, parents, and friends created inspired educational moments in these buildings for our youngest students, which has been a wonderful gift. I am pleased to honor all those who have worked to create this amazing school, and make a new commitment to the future of Oregon Episcopal School.” Aardy, the school’s aardvark mascot, presented school leaders with
ceremonial shovels to start the event officially. Tis building is one of the largest construction projects OES has undertaken in its 146-year history. Slated to open in September 2016, the 45,000-square-foot building will house 350 prekindergarten through fifth-grade students.
A well-designed program takes advantage of the permeability of a well-designed building to support the development of our students’ Essential Competencies: I Explore, I Create, I Connect, I Commit. Students learn by exploring the world around them and discover that knowledge seldom follows discrete boundaries among the disciplines. When they create, they realize that inspiration comes from making connections in unexpected ways; they learn that what they commit to matters in important ways to the people in their lives.
A VISION IN THE MAKING For the past several years, the Board of Trustees and administrative team have been imagining a new Lower School, and working very hard to see it become a reality. Te entire effort is one of the largest building projects in the school’s 146-year history. Current OES families are benefiting from the vision and philanthropy of generations who preceded them. Now we have an opportunity as a community of learners to imagine not only a new Lower School, but also work together to make it happen so the next generations of Aardvarks will be able to acquire a love of learning they will take with them into the world beyond OES.
Summer 2015 9
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