View Motion

WHEREAS: The Cambridge School Committee is committed to the ideals of social justice exemplified by the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and 

WHEREAS: The King Open School is named after the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and 

WHEREAS: The King Open School celebrated the legacy of Dr. King with a whole school assembly on Thursday, January 19 at 10 am in the King Open Auditorium, and this event was the first time that the entire King Open School was able to come together after COVID-19 restrictions.

WHEREAS: The theme of the King Open’s MLK Celebration was “Be The Dream: King Open Change Makers”, and 

WHEREAS: The MLK Celebration was organized by teachers May Petrov (5th Grade) and Aida Riggs (1st  Grade), and the celebration was the culmination of the classroom work done by MLK scholars who learned about the life of Dr. King,

WHEREAS: The King Open MLK Celebration included the following participants:

• MLK Celebration Organizers: May Petrov (5th Grade) & Ada Riggins (1St Grade)
• Ushers:  Jenan Fak, Henry Doan, Tsion Arega, Devin Depina, Sage Rivas-Amaya ( 5th Grade)
• Song: Lift Every Voice: Ms. Erika Agard & the ESL 4th-Grade students, 
• Welcome Address by Emcees: Cecelia Parker, Miles Barham, and Zaria Johnson (5th Grade)     
• Songs: We are King Open & Here We Are by the MLK Chorus of JK-5 students  & Family Members,
• MLK Portraits: digital portraits displayed by JK students
• Guest Speaker: Caroline Hunter, School Committee member & local hero 
• Movement Break: “I Believe in the Dream” 
• Song: I Lift My Voice: 5th-Grade students
• Letters to Dr. King and/or Mrs. King: 5th-Grade students
• Portuguese Song: 3rd and 4th-Grade students with Ola Teacher(s): Fabiane Noronha & Jonathan Horowitz
• Spoken Word Original Poem: Devonte Cooper, King Open Extended Day Teacher & King Open Alum
• Our Dreams: King Open Change Makers
• MLK Choir: Yonder Come Day, We Shall Overcome 
• Closing Remarks: Principal Williams

WHEREAS: The work of the following teachers in preparation of students for this wonderful program with special thanks:                                   

• 4th Grade Classroom teacher(s): Jessica Ober, Tawnie Hespler
• ESL Teacher: Ms. Erika Agard
• JK Classroom teacher(s): Matt Thoman & Annie Fox
• 5th Grade Classroom teacher(s): Ana Travassos, Shana Gargiulo & Isabela Pereira
• 1/2 Grade Classroom Teacher(s): Priya Zerai, Grace Bailly, Molly Camp, & Ada Riggins
• Art Display: by JK-5 King Open Students under the direction of  Art             
• Teacher  Kelley Mowers 
• Music support on Piano: Rania El-Kareh, CSUS Music Teacher
• Music Teacher: Jesse Jackson
• Musical Direction: Ada Riggins 

And be it, RESOLVED: That the Cambridge School Committee would like to go on record thanking and commending all King Open Community of students, teachers, and families for an exemplary program dedicated to the celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through art, song, letters, portraits, and videos in a true whole community celebration.