Students across all three divisions learned about and honored the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by engaging in a variety of activities both on MLK Day and throughout the month.
In Lower School, students rotated through various activities and special programming focusing on reflection, art, service, and action planning. Students worked in multi-age groups and 5th graders acted as assistant teachers. They read and reflected on the book The Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson. For their service project, students created bags of toiletries from the donated items from Lower School families and wrote cards to include with the bags that were then donated to Circle of Giving. (Watch the 5th grade EJB team video to learn more about the service project!) Singing has long been a form of social justice movements, so in Gathering, students and faculty sang “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around,” an historical protest song, and “If You’re Out There,” a modern empowerment anthem by John Legend. The Lower School community worked on a collaborative visual arts project—a large-scale 3D flower that was installed in the main lobby. Finally, groups discussed how individuals and communities can plan to take action to make positive change in the world, then made empowerment posters that reflected messages of affirmation and action. Later that week, Lower Schoolers took their handmade protest signs and marched from the Lower School, down the Granolithic, entered the West Collecting Room, marched the entire length of Main Hall, exiting the East Collecting Room, and ending at the Meeting House for their weekly Meeting for Worship. Although many Upper School students and faculty were in classes, they paused to line Main Hall to cheer on the Lower Schoolers. Enjoy the photos here and here.
In Middle School, students studied Dr. King’s legacy throughout the month of January. In 6th grade, students engaged in learning experiences to understand the importance of service within the Quaker community and to learn about the historical factors that have caused economic inequities in the areas served by various organizations. They hosted Executive Director Richona McKnight from CityTeam in Chester, who spoke about the organization’s mission to “restore lives and rebuild communities through innovative programs that provide food, shelter, clothing, training, and spiritual transformation.” Additionally, Cory Long, Executive Director of the Making a Change Group (MACG), shared how MACG supports individuals and families in Chester, PA, and surrounding municipalities in their pursuit of positive change. After hearing from these impactful leaders, many 6th graders were inspired to continue their service work, which they undertook in February. Seventh graders explored the interdependence of the Westtown community by asking questions such as, “How do we impact others, and how do they impact us?” This inquiry involved learning more about the Civil Rights Movement, reaching out to people beyond their usual “circle of concern,” and understanding how their signature 7th-grade service program, Think, Care, Act, connects to both their Westtown community and external communities. Eighth graders focused on the work of individual activists while learning about sustainable solutions to injustice and violence in our world. This work ultimately aims to create the Beloved Community, where “injustice ceases, and love prevails.”
In the Upper School, students gathered in advisory groups for discussion on Dr. King’s teachings, and enjoyed a special Community Collection, an assembly, and workshops. The Assembly featured “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” poetry recitations by students Nia Foote ’25, Liana Jimenez ’25, Tiantong Hu ’26, and Mari Villa ’27, a snippet of Dr. King’s speech “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop,” and a virtual tour of Dr. King’s life in the Sweet Auburn District of Atlanta, Georgia. The remainder of the day included two workshops. The first asked students and faculty to discuss quotes and queries based on Dr. King’s speeches and writings. Conversations were rich, and some advisors shared that students continued these conversations throughout the week in the halls, dorms, and dining hall. The second workshop involved the creation of dream boards inspired by Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. These boards helped groups to continue the conversations that started before lunch. Students were able to hone in on their personal dreams and individual responsibilities to our community.
