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Nelson Mandela Elementary Celebrates His 100th Birthday

Nelson Mandela Elementary is celebrating what would be their namesake’s 100th birthday with a week of events honoring his legacy.

The week kicked off yesterday with a screening of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” at Film Streams. 

In addition to honoring Mandela, Dr. Susan Toohey, Head of School, says this week’s events also recognize the schools’ achievements since it opened three years ago. 

Today, kids at the year round school, are visiting the Florence Branch of the Omaha Public Library for Mandela Storytime.  Toohey says kids will enjoy Mandela-inspired storytelling and crafts.  Here she talks about Friday’s events.

"And then on Friday at 11 we are going to have an all-school assembly to celebrate his birthday, but also to highlight a couple of fun things we are going to do.  One is working with an artist-in-residence.  Every class was able to paint a life sized meerkat, which is our mascot.  And each of those meerkats were customized for each of the classrooms, with all their personal elements in there.  So we will be revealing the meerkats on that day.”

Toohey says the week’s finale is a community-wide “Mandela Fest” in Miller Park from 1-4.  The day features music, African dancing/drumming, face painting, bounce houses, and more.