The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Honoring Dr. King Chapelle students participate in essay contest
By Kathleen Conat, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: January 24, 2008
Photo courtesy of Ypsilanti Schools
Erickson students Desiree Trim, Coryn Rose and Zoey Humes celebrate the variety of events held throughout Ypsilanti schools Friday and Monday. Erickson students participated in a sing-along that honored the great civil rights leader.
An assembly held at Chapelle Community School last Friday honored the memory and legacy Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in recognition of Monday's nationally observed holiday.
William Hayes, director of the Ypsilanti Area Youth Orchestra and the River Raisin Band and a retired Ypsilanti orchestral teacher, spoke briefly about famous African American musicians and their contributions before leading the children in the song "We Shall Overcome." Hayes provided piano accompaniment for the rest of the program, as well.
The fifth-grade classes of Jack Bauer and Jason Malloy recited a portion of King's "Speech from Detroit."
They then sang the "Negro National Anthem," led by Kimberly Minetee, a reading/academic support specialist at the school.
The first through third-grades sang "Down by the River," led by music teacher Brian Buckmaster.
A highlight of the event was a visit by Ruth Jordan, director of student services for the district, in the guise of Sojourner Truth. In character, Jordan gave Truth's "Ain't I a Woman?" speech, which was originally given in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio.
This was followed by Jennifer Puckett's class singing "the Dream," a song with special lyrics set to the music of "I Believe I Can Fly."
Fourth and fifth grade students then sang "I Have a Dream."
Another highlight of the event was Steven Dixon, an inclusion aide at Estabrook Elementary School and local orator, who delivered Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
Principal Joe Guillen announced the winners of the Martin Luther King Day contests for Chapelle. They are:
In collage: Linnea Lockridge, grade 4, won first place. Kamarie Billups, grade 4, took second place.
Computer Drawing: Makayla Blackmon, grade 2; Dyani Williams, grade 3; Olivia Pritchard, grade 4, and Terrell Jones, grade 5, all took first place. Marcus Chapman, grade 1; Deven Jones, grade 2; Marlin Talley, grade 3; Airica Moore, grade 4, and Jackson Touchberry, grade 5, all took second place awards. Kaylynn Wyly, grade 1; Jasmine Abron, grade 2; Aryn Chaney, grade 3; Tristan Rollins, grade 4, and Irac Chaney, grade 5, all took third place.
Essay: Chase Taylor, grade 4, and Katy Roberson, grade 5, took first place awards. Sheldon Underwood, grade 4, took second place.
Poetry: Thomas Jones, grade 3; and Jessica Wilson, grade 5 took first place honors. Toni Roy, grade 3, won second place.
Posters: Arsam Haroon, grade 3, and Kenneth Lilly, grade 4, won the first place honors. Katy Roberson, grade 5, took second place. Antanio Eccleston, grade 2; Sierra Baker, grade 3, and Azya Moore, grade 5, came away with third place awards.
Katy Roberson and Chase Taylor read their winning essays. Thomas Jones and Jessica Wilson followed with their winning poems.
Kathleen Conat is a longtime Ypsilanti resident and freelance writer for The Courier. She can be reached through editor@ypsilanticourier.com.
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