ATLANTA -- The Ron Clark Academy got an unbelievable Christmas gift from Oprah Winfrey Wednesday morning: a check for $365,000.
The students are on vacation this week. They got a call at home requesting them to come to school Wednesday morning for a special announcement.
When the students were assembled, the co-founders of the school, Kim Bearden and Ron Clark told them the story of a card he opened the day after Christmas, and how a piece of paper fell to the floor. That piece of paper was a check from Winfrey.
The news was a shocker for the students and faculty. The private school is only in it's second year of operation.
"She (Winfrey) said that she has been on our website," Ron told the kids. "She goes there to check out what we're doing. She loves the school. She loves the kids. She just loves our passion."
"Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh," exclaims 6th grade Richard Douglas about the check. "It's just a powerful moment in history. Not just our school, history period and I'm really grateful for all the experiences Mr. Clark puts before us!"
"This is such an amazing gift!" raves Osei Averill, a 7th grader.
"I've never felt like this before," says an excited Cameron Nesmith, who is in his first year at Ron Clark Academy as a fifth grade student.
Winfrey first met Clark years ago after he and former Cobb County teacher Kim Bearden won national Disney teacher awards and he went on her show. The appearance on Oprah gave national exposure to the energetic and hugely popular teaching methods Clark innovated while working in his small North Carolina hometown and honed while working in Harlem.
He and Bearden began the dream five years ago to open a private school for at-risk kids in metro Atlanta and transformed an old tent and awning factory into Ron Clark Academy located just south of Turner Field.
Clark told the kids Winfrey also called him this week and he had a big question for her.
"I said how did you come about deciding to send a check for $365,000?" Ron tells those gathered about his conversation with Winfrey. "And, she said, 'I was sitting on my couch and she said and I was thinking about who I wanted to send Christmas gifts to and I thought about you.' And, she said, 'I'm sending $1,000 for every day of the year."
Winfrey sent the money without even knowing of the song the students recently wrote called, "A letter to Obama" in which they tell the president-elect about some of the issues they think he should tackle in office.
After learning of the check, the sixth and seventh graders sang the song while a crew with Imagemaster recorded the performance. Clark and Bearden will send the recording to Winfrey in hopes she'll have the students on the show.
But, even without a trip to Chicago, Clark is thrilled with the gift from the talk show Queen.
"It's important because we have her validation. People will see that she has faith in us and we hope that others have faith in us, as well. We give scholarships to all of our students. We're a small school in a small factory trying to change the world. We need support. We're constantly fundraising and we depend on the community of Atlanta to have our backs," Clarks explains.
"I'm excited about the opportunity that the children have," shares Gloria Nesmith, who's son, Cameron, is a fifth grader at Ron Clark Academy. "Because of the funds that are provided,I'm sure every bit of it is going to enhance the experience that they get here at the Ron Clark Academy."
In these tough economic times, the spirit of the season shines through.
"This news is like Christmas to me!" Osei exclaims.
