In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, students gathered with their Pals to discuss and brainstorm the dreams they have for their friends, family, and community. They then worked together to write these dreams on rainbow rays streaming out of clouds that will get displayed around campus.
In addition, Grade 5 students shared a presentation about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to their classmates discussing his passion for justice, freedom, and democracy. They found connections to our Portrait of a Graduate theme and noticed that he was the ultimate Empathetic Upstander. One student noted that "his tireless work seeking justice and equality for all makes him one of the most important change makers."
Students, faculty, and staff will also be honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's vision for "The Beloved Community" as described by The King Center. Students will share actionable commitments toward their community through an art installation put together by faculty, staff, and parent volunteers. Educators and staff will contribute the "seeds of change" they are committed to planting in our classrooms so that our students can pursue their commitments, embody the Portrait of a Derby Graduate, and honor Dr. King's legacy. The art installation will be displayed in the school's Brown Art Gallery in February.