Montclair Schools Honor Dr. Martin Luther

Montclair Schools Honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Posted on 01/17/2017

The 28th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship Breakfast was held on Mon., January 16, at the George Inness Annex of Montclair High School. Students from the middle schools read essays reflecting on Dr. King’s perspective on the world today.

Several of Montclair’s schools held assemblies on Fri., Jan. 13 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. including Watchung and Hillside while others hosted service activities on Monday, where students and community members paid tribute to the civil rights activist with a variety of inspiring and educational activities during their “Day On” of service.

Glenfield Middle School celebrated King with an assembly, “Give Peace a Chance.” The morning began with a slide show by resource room teacher Margaret Whitsett followed by a very personal presentation by special guest Rabbi Israel Dresner, who recounted the time he spent with Dr. King. Glenield’s own Dan Gill also spoke to the audience as did student Wade Merritt. There was a combined music and dance performance of “Give Peace a Chance,” and a musical performance of “Life Every Voice and Sing.” Students also came on stage for a live art project.

Buzz Aldrin students and parents were fully engaged and motivated as they interacted with the residents at Gates Manor in singing songs such as This Little Light of Mine and We Shall Overcome. They also listened to a poem about MLK and played about five games of bingo. At the Wally Choice, Buzz Students were playing bingo as well with the residents who talked about the olden days. Other students worked collecting canned goods.

Past, present, and future Hillside student volunteers and their parents took part in an MLK Day Food Drive at Acme Supermarket. All donations were divided between the Salvation Army and Toni's Kitchen. Volunteers also assembled toiletry kits that will be included in Toni's Kitchen backpack program.

For their “Day On,” Northeast students watched a three-minute looped video biography on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Guest Speaker Kuae Mattox read some short books and facilitated a discussion on community-building. And there was an artwork activity featuring messages of love and peace, facilitated by Co-PTA president Jennipher Kennedy.

At Bradford, doors were open for students and families, and students created messages to servicemen and women, made paper flowers for the local nursing home, created messages of peace and made soup for Toni’s Kitchen.

The Charles H. Bullock School held a variety of activities for students to express themselves and their vision of peace creatively. Participants also had the opportunity to watch a short film on Dr. King.

Renaissance Middle School held its first “Day On.” Students and families had the opportunity to tour and learn about Toni's Kitchen, and participate in activities there, including filling backpacks.

For their service project, Watchung students assembled packets at the fire station and then handed information to houses in Montclair and checked who needed smoke alarms for the firemen to install.

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