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A Students’ View of Martin Luther King, Jr Day of Service at Rectory
Robert Oakes, Associate Director of Communications

Students in Mr. Oakes’ writing elective acted as reporters last month on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. What follows are articles from our roving reporters, Kinaya B. ‘25, Samantha F. ‘26, and Chloe L. ‘27.

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Each year on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, while other schools have a day off, Rectory School has a day on. In the spirit of service embodied by Dr. King, Rectory students and faculty fan out across campus and throughout the local community to perform acts of service. Whether caring for animals, cleaning public places, clearing brush, washing fire trucks, decorating cupcakes, baking cookies, making crafts, collecting food for the hungry, playing music for the elderly, making blankets for the ill, or writing thank-you cards to veterans, students find many ways to put love into action.

For their service project, students in my writing elective acted as reporters that day, observing activities and interviewing participants so that they may share original news and opinion pieces about the event. What follows are articles from our roving reporters, Kinaya B. ‘25, Samantha F. ‘26, and Chloe L. ‘27.


MLK Day of Service Spreads Hope, Love, and Kindness
By Kinaya B. ‘25

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is celebrated across the United States to spread love, peace, and the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is a day on which many remember spending time off from school and relaxing at home. However, at Rectory, that idea is changed into a day of love, kindness, and service, something the holiday is about at its core.

At Rectory, we started the day of service by hearing from a speaker named Corey Olds '84, an alumnus who told stories about Dr. King and shed light on his achievements. Afterward, the students, alongside the faculty, were split up and started their service for the day. Some went off campus to play music at nursing homes. Some cleaned up around the other communities. Others created baked goods for elders or cards for people bound to their homes or for veterans. Some even helped in the community around Rectory and on the Rectory campus.

Students found it pleasant to be able to do such impactful service. Sofia A. '25, one of the many Rectory students who participated in the soup kitchen assistance, said it best: “It is a great opportunity that most people do not have, being able to help others around you.” 

Many faculty members spoke about how, when they were a kid, all they did on MLK Day was to have a day off. Even Mr. Williams, the current Head of School, said MLK Day, for him as a kid, “was just a day to eat cereal at home.” However, he and many other faculty members wish they had the kind of opportunity that Rectory students have that would have helped them learn more about such a day. And collectively, they find it comforting that students can now do such service activities that they could not do. 

These opportunities do not just give the students a chance to learn and grow. They also help instill the idea of having hope, love, and kindness as an everyday experience. This is something that benefits not only today’s students, but the people around them and future generations as well.


MLK Day: A Day Off or a Day of Service?
By Samantha F. ‘26

Students at Rectory don’t have the day off for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. But is this a good thing? You may think it’s horrible to be in school during a holiday, but I may be able to change your mind. Sure, having a day off from school or work is fantastic, but what do you learn? Many young people barely know about MLK’s work and dedication to equality and equity. But because of how we honor the day here at Rectory, our students do.

Rectory wants children to have a good connection to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Mr. Williams, Head of School, recently told about how he went to an MLK Day celebration in Washington, DC, years ago and was inspired by what he saw there, so he brought it back to Rectory, and in 2010, Rectory had its first day of service.

We have many activities on MLK Day. One activity is painting tiles. Another is making Valentine's Day cards, and another is baking cookies. Now, you may ask, “What does that have to do with MLK?” Well, it’s not about the activity itself. It’s about the joy that it spreads throughout the community.

There are many other things we do. We have groups go to elderly homes and sing. Our swim team cleans at the YMCA. Here at school, we make key chains and bake for Meals on Wheels. We also bake cookies and sell them at break, and the money is given to the Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG), which helps people in need. Personally, I think that going to the animal shelter is the best activity. Students get to go to a nearby animal shelter and help out by cleaning and feeding the animals. Many of these activities may seem unrelated to MLK, but his message was to do good and give back to the community, which we definitely did that day.

Some may argue that going to school on MLK Day is like being in school during Christmas. Yes, they both are holidays, but they are different. MLK Day is a way to honor a fantastic man and what he and many others fought for. MLK Day gives children the opportunity to learn about MLK himself and try doing service for the community. It’s very beneficial not just to the students but to the families as well. And don’t forget about teachers! And that’s not all! It also benefits the outside community and everyone in and around the school community. At Rectory, everyone who steps onto campus, whether the Head of School or the newest student, does service activities. This teaches the kids to respect each other and their surroundings. It benefits the community by cleaning it and bringing smiles to everyone around.


MLK Day of Service Makes a Great School Even Better
By Chloe L. ‘27

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an inspirational man, and he still is. He did many righteous things for our community. We celebrate his sacrifice and boldness to make this world a better place. Here at Rectory School, one way we celebrate MLK is by doing service work. 

Rectory School takes pride in celebrating MLK with service activities that everyone in our community can participate in. One amazing thing we do is to clean out spaces we use almost daily. This means less work for the cleaning staff, so they can relax and go home too.

One of my favorite services was dog treat making. I love dogs, and donating to dog shelters for snacks and food is adorable. Another heartwarming one was painting tiles. Donating cup tiles makes sense, so no more water marks on your table. 

Rectory School is an exciting place. Kids come here from around the world and learn different perspectives on everything. I've made unforgettable memories already and have only been here for five months! One thing about Rectory School that people need to be made aware of is its impact on the community surrounding our school and inside of it, too. MLK Day of Service makes a great school even better!

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