On Friday, January 17, the students and staff of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School welcomed Governor Ned Lamont for an important discussion about leadership and education. In honor of the ensuing Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the visit was kicked off with a lively musical perfomance.
The student performers had been working on performance pieces through their music class and in partnership with Hartford Performs, in which students have been practicing African drumming, vocal performance and original music compositions. In addition to "Funga Alafia", which is a West African friendship song, students learned about the history of the gospel song "We Shall Overcome", and its relation to the civil rights movement and to the work of their school's namesake, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The students performed this impactful song in addition to an original piece written by the students, called "Calm Strokes" which was influenced by King's method of non-violent resistance to impact change.
Invited students included the MLK Student Council, a group of elected student representatives who act as a voice for their peers, organize school events, advocate for student needs, and promote a positive school culture. They serve as a mini-government within the school to help shape decision-making and community engagement at the middle school level.
The student musicians were playing as the Governor entered the beautiful MLK Campus auditorium. The musical performances were followed by a lively student-led Q&A with Governor Ned Lamont, Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, and School Principal Jasmin Hart.
The following is the list of questions for the Governor that the Student Council came up with:
How are you helping our world?
What can we do for the people who don't have the right to come to school (immigrants)?
How do you think the next president will change our city of Hartford?
When and why did you start thinking about becoming the governor?
What did you think you would be when you were little?
What do you do (like roles and responsibilities)?
What do you enjoy about being the governor?
What is your advice for getting a good career?
What schools did you go to?
What is something you've done that you are proud of?
What are your goals this year?
How long have you been in government?
What is part of your job that is really important to you?
How old were you when you got your first job and what was it?
How did you get to the position you are in today (What steps did you take)?
What can we do if we were to become governor?
At what age can you become governor?
What qualities do you like to see in people?
How do you respond to challenges?
What do you consider the difference between a job and a career?
How much money do you make each year and where does the money come from?
Do you think it is dangerous being the governor?
We are very proud of our MLK students and we thank Governor Lamont and his staff for their time and energy in participating in this engaging, educational experience.
About Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School
Diversity at a Glance
-25% multilingual learners
-Inclusive environment that values:
-Different languages and cultural backgrounds
-Equitable learning opportunities
-Respect for all students and families
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School is housed in the newly renovated historic 1922 building that was once home to Weaver High School.
-Students love to engage in academics and extracurricular activities and boast the title of 2023-2024 city basketball, flag football and co-ed track and soccer, champions.
-Our robotics team recently set a schoolwide record while competing against other schools in the state placing in the top 15 and earning a 130 high score.
-For the past three years, our 7th and 8th grade students have been participating in the Dynamic Careers in Aquaculture Program which focuses on the scientific, ecological, economic, and career aspects of the field of aquaculture. They get to collaborate with students from neighboring districts.
Enriching Experiences
• Multiple field trips and community partnerships
• After-school programming including:
• College and career exploration
• Mentorship programs
• Social-emotional learning
• Leadership development
Learn more here!
