On January 26, Waterside held its annual assembly to honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. During the month leading up to the assembly, our students focused on Dr. King’s mission and how he had an impact on the lives of others during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. The result was each grade sharing what they learned in various interactive ways. 

The program was led by our kindergarten students sharing posters of key moments in Dr. King’s life. Our second-grade students created a modern dance piece to Mahalia Jackson’s version of “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” before displaying their work honoring the women important in Dr. King’s life. First-grade students chanted their dreams for a more just and equal future and our junior kindergarten class led the whole room in a rousing version of “This Little Light of Mine.” The third graders sang “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around” while displaying their protest posters inspired by students as young as nine years old who actively marched for civil rights. Finally, fourth and fifth graders recited sections of the “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” Speech that Dr. King delivered the night before he was killed, along with reflections on what the speech means. 

Interspersed among it all were video clips of fifth graders interviewing our youngest community members about what they know about Dr. King, contrasting with interviews with alumni sharing what they have learned about this inspiring man. From junior kindergarten well into adulthood, the lessons and dreams of Dr. King continue to resonate with the Waterside community.