“WHAT’S IN A NAME?” 
New Elementary School Needs a Name

Contributed by Nora Feldman, Youth Arts Editor 

Nancy Oda, principal of the yet un-named new elementary school located on what once was a police station site at 11411 Tiara Street in North Hollywood, is looking for name suggestions for her new school. 

The new elementary school is slated to open July 2005, to ease over-crowding at Fair Avenue Elementary, Victory Boulevard Elementary, Lankershim Elementary and Oxnard Elementary.  For the time being, the new school will be on a year-round schedule allowing Oxnard Elementary to return to a traditional calendar school year in the fall. 

Principal Oda has had a life long love of the arts, both the performing arts and fine arts.

She was trained by Arts Inc. to be an arts advocate and served on the Bella Lewitsky Board of Directors, among others. On the grass roots level, Nancy has embedded arts through the Performing Tree, Galef Institute, the Getty, Arts Prototype and the Los Angeles Opera in the Schools. Most recently, she sponsored a field trip for her staff to see a production at the LA City Opera.  

Mrs. Oda has purchased supplies in support of the arts for the new elementary school.  The list includes art prints, pastels, music books, CD’s, song bells, auto harps, and last but not least, a brand new piano!   She also hopes to hire a music teacher, and in the not so distant future, add an art teacher, drama teacher and dance teacher as well. 

The new school site, a diamond in the rough, has a lovely outdoor staging area - - nicknamed the mini-North Hollywood Bowl.  She plans beautification for the area.  Students and the community will be able to picnic outside while they enjoy al fresco concerts and performances.  In addition, Mrs. Oda would very much like to have art by local artists on display at her school.   

Nancy Oda strongly believes in the creative expression of the individual, and that all students deserve a world class education enhanced by the arts.   She feels the arts are a universal language, helping to bridge the gap for English language learners; crossing  all cultural divides. She also feels that a school is made up of more than the teachers, students and parents.  At her new school, the entire community will be involved, including her school board representative Julie Korenstein, politicians, neighbors and neighboring businesses.  Being in close proximity to the NoHo Arts District, she hopes to also involve local artists and performers in partnering with her to bring the arts to her students. Everyone can help; everyone in the greater community is key to the students’ development.  

Nancy Oda has big dreams for her school.  She fully intends to provide students with a world class education and in doing so, hopes to open to them a window to the world. 

Here are some ways you can contribute to this new school.  

You can help by suggesting a name for the new school - - it should be someone living or dead who has contributed to the arts - - literary arts, fine arts or performing arts.

Please e-mail her with your nominee, background on your nominee and why you feel strongly the new elementary school near the NoHo Arts District should carry the name.

The deadline for suggested names is April 5, 2005. 

Also, if you are a local artist who would like to be involved at the school, or you are a local business or individual who would like to contribute in any way to the school, please contact Nancy Oda as well. 

Nancy Oda can be reached at  nko9105@lausd.k12.ca.us