- Art
- Lower School
- Spiritual Life
- Upper School
This week at Oak Knoll was a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of love, resilience, and action as we came together to honor two extraordinary visionaries — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Holy Child founder, Cornelia Connelly. Through creativity, collaboration, and heartfelt performances, students brought history and values to life, taking part in meaningful experiences that reflected our shared commitment to inclusion, justice, and community.
The highlight of the Lower School assembly on Tuesday, January 14, was a captivating play performed by grade 6 that chronicled the early life and later civil rights work undertaken by this pivotal figure in US history. In addition to some of the well-known facts about Dr. King’s life and teachings, the play highlighted lesser-known relationships in his childhood and college years torn apart by bigotry and fear.
In a testament to their creativity and leadership, grade six not only performed the play but also researched, wrote, edited, cast, and staged it for the entire Lower School audience. “This is something they felt very strongly about,” explained Lower School Drama Teacher Eileen Dean. “They collaborated as a class to find the moments that they felt were most impactful in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shares his birthday on January 15 with Society of the Holy Child Jesus founder Cornelia Connelly. Although the whole school would meet on Wednesday, January 15, to celebrate Connelly in an annual prayer service, grade three students took to the stage in advance of that prayer service to share a timeline of her life’s milestones. Each student read a highlight of her life’s journey while displaying an illustration they had created depicting the event.
The Upper School convened for a special MLK Jr. assembly on Thursday, January 16. Attendees were treated to a spectacular tribute entitled “King’s Dream,” performed by the professional touring company Key Arts Productions. This unique multimedia experience combined insightful commentary, robust video projections, and vibrant musical performances to immerse the audience in the spirit of the civil rights movement. Their performance had the crowd clapping exuberantly along with the music, holding hands, and swaying to the beat while witnessing archival imagery from King’s life and times.
“Key Arts Productions has captivated audiences at numerous independent schools across New Jersey and the East Coast,” explained Melissa Miller, Oak Knoll’s Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice. “We are thrilled to share this enriching experience with our community as part of our ongoing journey to deepen our understanding of history and foster a culture of inclusion and respect.”
Upper School Division Head Laura Hollenbaugh closed the assembly with a short reflection. She drew a poignant connection between King and Connelly and their dual commitment to action and a loving approach to those around us. She shared a line from King’s 1967 writing, Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?, where King declares, “I have decided to stick with love.”
“We leave this assembly, inspired by the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, and anchored here at Oak Knoll to Cornelia Connelly’s vision and teachings,” she said. “Let us, too, decide to stick with love...and prove it, diligently and daily, through our actions, keeping in mind that, as Dr. King said, love is not only the answer to the challenges of the past but also guides us today and lights the path forward.”
These are wise words to all in the Oak Knoll community as we cross the threshold into our next 100 years as a school with love in our hearts and purpose in our stride.
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