By Charles Ogwo
What is in a name? To some people it means nothing. But to many people names mean a lot, especially in the corporate settings. The Redwood tree is regarded by many as a symbol of wisdom, safety, longevity and effective communication. Hence, the adoption of the name: Redwood by an infant, nursery and primary school located in Lagos.
Location and History: Redwood Academy is located at Ilamose Estate in Oke-Afa, a suburb in Ejigbo LCDA of Lagos State. The school is tucked in a serene environment off the busy Isolo-Egbe road. It was founded in August 2014 by an educationist with bias to Early Education. Its operations took off in the 2014/2015 academic session in September 2014, with 18 teaching and non-teaching staff and 22 pupils. The unique thing about its opening term was the fact that the school started with at least a pupil in every of its classes from crèche to primary 6.
Philosophy behind the School: Redwood Academy was started with the proprietress’ desire to lay a strong foundation for a life-long love of learning for the next generation. The school’s vision is to produce creative, innovative and enthusiastic lifelong learners while it strives to basically provide a child-proof, relaxed, fun and loving environment for learning devoid of stress and pressure while exposing its students to ‘education of the heart’ that emphasizes whole brain development and setting the children on the path of imaginative learning through the assistance of loving, sensitive and enlightened teachers. Redwood Academy’s value propositions are Excellence, Character and Integrity. The school prides itself as a citadel of learning that helps mold future leaders and ambassadors, who will stand for truth, justice and goodness and will shun societal vices with total conviction.
Type and curriculum: Redwood Academy is an early education institution with carefully designed programmes to respond to important stages of physical, emotional, social and intellectual growth and development of infants and children.
There are various classes to cater for the different age groups of the infants and children. These are the Crèche/ Daycare for pupils between 0-18 months age range; Play-Group for pupils aged between 18-24months; Nursery 1 class for pupils who are aged between 2-3years; Nursery2 class for pupils of ages 3-4years; Kindergarten for those aged between 4-5years and the Primary 1 to 6 classes. The Redwood Academy’s Curriculum is largely based on the Nigerian Educational Curriculum with a blend of British and Montessori Curricula. The experiment has resulted in an innovative curriculum, which takes into cognizance that education encompasses theory and practical demonstration of learning.
Staff: The school’s staff, both teaching and non-teaching, is made up of amiable, experienced and trained personnel headed by a seasoned educationalist, who is passionate about the upliftment of qualitative education to every Nigerian child. Every member of the team is readily and always available to discharge his/her duties for the holistic development of each pupil of the school.
Facilities: Redwood Academy has grown over the years in terms of facilities and infrastructure. The school is adequately equipped with latest Audio-visual Learning aids and facilities, which are expertly put in use by the staff in the teaching of the pupils. These are complimented by the appropriate developmental play equipment. Each of the 11 classrooms is air-conditioned to provide conducive atmosphere for learning. There is a stand-by generator to ensure un-interrupted power supply to the school
Redwood Academy’s management takes the issues of security of its pupils, staff and property highly. To this end, CCTV cameras are installed in almost all areas of the school compound and these technological gadgets are complimented by professionally trained personnel manning them and providing auxiliary security services.
There are air-conditioned school buses with God-fearing and well behaved drivers to shuttle the pupils each school day.
Edge(s) over others: Redwood scholars are molded to be undeterred by the blistering winds of disorientation and slippery surfaces of corruption to see only possibilities, the good in others and in their Nation. They are trained to be determined to achieve their highest potentials.
SCHOOL DETAILS:
Name: Redwood Academy (Infant, Nursery and Primary School)
Address: 5, Kayode Adebanji Street, Ilamose Estate, By Jakande Gate, Egbe Road, Oke-Afa, Isolo, Lagos
Type: Playgroup, Nursery, Kindergarten and Primary Schools
Contact: Mrs Elizabeth Dooter Ohaka, Director:
Tel: 08033229546.
E-mail: lizzemonline@yahoo.com
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/redwoodacademyng
