Over the past few years, we have chosen to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. with service. Each class found some way to be of service for a portion of the holiday or at other times close to the holiday. For instance two years in a row, Ms. Shaffer's class (which graduated last spring) worked at the Bonner Community Food Bank prior to the service day, since it is closed that day. They thoroughly enjoyed stocking boxes and shelves and commented on how rewarding it felt to be of service. When the weather cooperated, other classes have shoveled out the driveways of senior citizens or the parking lot of the Sandpoint Senior Center. Still other classes have played board games with residents at assisted living homes or presented songs and verses to them. Each year for the past few years, older classes have helped at the Panhandle Animal Shelter. One year one of our kindergarten classes also went to the animal shelter to deliver catnip cat toys that they had made.
This year our service will have to look different, because we cannot visit many of these places. We will find other ways to be of service: the teachers will be discussing ideas this week, such as holding a food drive, writing cards to the residents in assisted living or nursing homes, and yes, if it snows, shoveling snow. If you have any ideas of ways we can be of service, please contact me.
Traditionally, our eighth grade class has offered a Martin Luther Kind, Jr assembly. As part of the history curriculum in eighth grade, the students study the civil rights movement. Anyone who was here last year will remember the stirring presentation of "I Have a Dream" speech that the eighth grade presented both at assembly and at an evening assembly. This year, however, we cannot gather in an assembly, so we will find other age-appropriate ways to honor Dr. martin Luther King, Jr.
It is good to remember as the entire world faces the challenges of these times this quote by Dr. King. "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stand in comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." My experience of our school community is that each one of us is discovering new ways to be flexible, to take on new tasks, to resolve conflicts, and in this case, to discover new ways to honor Dr. King and the work which he began that so urgently needs to be continued.
Submitted by Julie McCallan
Artwork created by our 2020 8th grade graduates last year.