黑料专区

Thank you to Lower School Colleagues Jonathan Edmonds, Sarah Gordon,听Doris Rodriguez-Graber, Lale帽a Garcia, and Amelia Jenison for sharing this reflection.

This past Wednesday, the听Lower School came together for our annual gathering to honor听the听Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and other听changemakers. Over听the听测别补谤蝉,听the听Lower School has built and evolved听the听traditions of this special moment to be together in community, to learn听the听rich history of听changemakers, and to inspire us to all stand up for听the听change听we believe in.

Before this year’s gathering, each Lower School classroom chose and learned about a special听changemaker听guest.听 This year’s guests included Malala Yousafzai, Autumn Peltier, Harvey Milk, and our own colleague, Lale帽a Garcia. Each classroom beautifully decorated a framed portrait of their guest to share.

After gathering with听the听song “We Shall Overcome” in English and Spanish, we began welcoming our听changemaker听guests. Each year听the听guests represent a wide variety of activists who have fought for racial, gender, and environmental justice and equality. We first honored Dr. King, and then named and welcomed together each classroom鈥檚 guests to bring their spirit and work into our space. Each grade level led us in singing freedom and justice songs including “We Shall Not Be Moved” and “Singing for Our Lives.” Then, together we read aloud a section of Dr. King鈥檚 historic “I Have a Dream” speech, and watched a film clip of Dr. King delivering this speech at听the听1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.听 We ended with more singing, as we left marching out, in听the听spirit of protests and demonstrations for听change!

After听the听Gathering, some classrooms had time for听the听children to reflect on their experience. Here is some of what they shared:

• “I felt happy when we all said ‘I have a听dream听today.’鈥�
• “I noticed that all听the听songs had emotion.”
• “All听the听songs had something about freedom in them.”
• “I liked when we all sang together as a community.”
• “I liked watching Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech.”
• “It was fun walking together.”
• “I liked seeing all听the听changemakers.”
• “I saw another class invited Malala Yousafzai. We learned about her too!”
• I liked sitting and singing and all听the听singing I heard. That march we did.
• I liked all of it!
• It was interesting that KB鈥檚听changemaker听was one of听the听KC teachers.
• I liked听the听speech on听the听screen. I liked听the听music at听the听beginning.
• I like听the听ending part when we marched.