Kindergarten opens

A new private kindergarten is opening in La Grande, one waking up the echoes of a once-prominent Catholic school.

A new full-day kindergarten program is being added at the Marian Academy of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. The addition will complement the academy’s preschool program, which began operating a year ago.

Marian, should it continue expanding, would represent in a sense the rebirth of Sacred Heart Academy, an old Catholic school in La Grande for students in grades 1-12 that opened in 1894 and operated 36 years.

“This (the early years of the Marian Academy) is a rejuvenation of Sacred Heart Academy,’’ Agoha said.

Marian Academy classes start Aug. 31. The academy’s kindergarten and preschool will operate Monday through Thursday. Kindergarten classes will run from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and preschool classes from 8 to 11 a.m.

Sacred Heart Academy was located close to where Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church is today. The academy closed in May 1930 following its final commencement exercise, at which eight high school seniors received diplomas. A fire on Jan. 31, 1932, destroyed the academy’s then vacant building.

Today’s Marian Academy is in the basement of Our Lady of the Valley, the same site where Sunday school classes are taught.

The Marian Academy is a nondenominational school that provides a Bible-based education.

“We teach about the morality of Christ. We will never teach students anything that is contrary to the Gospels,’’ Agoha said.

The school’s teachers will not emphasize Catholic philosophy and traditions.

“There will not be a general indoctrination of Catholicism. Children are directed toward Christian beliefs,’’ Agoha said.

Prayers and the Ten Commandments are among the Bible-based subjects children will be taught.

The Marian Academy’s preschool is for those age 3 1/2 to 4. The kindergarten is for children who will be 5 by Sept. 1.

The Marian Academy has a capacity of 10 preschoolers and 10 kindergartners.

Louise Weeks is the Marian Academy’s kindergarten teacher. Weeks taught preschool at the Marian Academy in 2008-09. She graduated from EOU in 1996 with an education degree and worked as a substitute teacher in Union County before joining the Marian Academy.

Weeks enjoys working with young children because of what they teach her. Weeks said she sometimes asks children how they solved a problem. Their answers often surprise her.

“They explain that they worked through the problem in in a way I would not have thought of,’’ Weeks said.

Ninetta Armstrong is the Marian Academy’s preschool teacher. Armstrong has an education degree from Oregon State University and has taught preschool in La Grande for the past 15 years. She has taught preschool in La Grande for most of the past 20 years.

She is drawn to the openness of children. “They are always so loving and accepting and want to learn,’’ Armstrong said. “The kids are not afraid to try something new.’’

A key to successfully teaching children is being willing to change direction at any time.

“You absolutely have to be flexible,’’ Armstrong said.

Having a routine is important, she said, but when things do not go according to plan “you have to go in the direction kids lead you.’’

Parents interested in registering their children for preschool or kindergarten at The Marian Academy should call Our Lady of the Valley at 963-7341.