On  Friday, January 16th, for the second year, Orchard School hosted Sheryl Garner to help celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Each year, Ms Garner has chosen one phrase, spoken by Dr. King, on which to focus her teaching.  This year, student-study focused on, "We cannot walk alone."

This powerful sentence was spoken as part of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, when he spoke of the fact that all of our lives are inextricably intertwined and that each person's freedom is connected to the freedom of his or her neighbor.  Ms. Garner took this sentiment even further, helping students realize the power and potential that we share as a group, versus the strength of one individual.

Over the course of the day, Sheryl held workshops with students in grades K-5.  In each, the students learned how powerful and productive teamwork can be.  Ms. Garner used a simple demonstration.  During each workshop, one person was set up to make simple necklaces.  At another station, a group of people, in assembly-line fashion, was set up to make the same necklaces.  As much as the individual worker tried, the group working together was able to produce many more necklaces.  The activity proved a wonderful example of Dr. King's quote, printed on the necklace's pendant.

On the pendant, the five faces of historic freedom fighters surround Dr. King's quote: Leo Tolstoy, Mohandas Ghandi, Rosa Parks, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and President Barack Obama.  All of these faces led to the last: "Me!"  Ms. Garner told students briefly of each person's contribution to history and explained that, just as the team of necklace-makers was able to do much more work than one individual, so has our journey been through history: each of these historic people has led many, many people.  Each person has built on the ideas and actions of those before them and, over time, we are able to effect great change and make great progress toward peace and equality for all.

Sheryl McClung Garner is the owner and executive director of  Envision Learning Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She works with students in kindergarten through freshman year of college.  She also holds academic enrichment camps. 

Thank you, Sheryl, for sharing your knowledge of Dr. King and your enthusiasm for his message.  Thanks also to the Orchard School PTO (and especially co-president Monica Ostby) for sponsoring Sheryl.  It was a powerful and inspiring day!