Sixteen children sat cross-legged on the floor of Kimberlee Malmberg’s third-grade classroom. On a dry erase board next to her were six words written in green marker: love, nonviolence, justice, freedom, brotherhood, equality.
“Do these words sound like Rockford right now?” she asked.
The children mumbled “no” in unison.
“Do you think that we, as third-graders, could help. try to bring some of these things to our city?” Malmberg said. “Absolutely.”
Students in Molly Murray's kindergarten class particpate in floor time on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2016 at King Elementary in Rockford. Throughout the school students spent a little time each day learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. leading up to his birthday.
First-grade teacher Fany Valdez talks with student Jocelin Mendoza (second from left) on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, about her assignment to write her version of "I have a dream" in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Zy'Aria Johnson talks with a classmate during Molly Murray's kindergarten class on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School.
In the week leading up to Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, which is celebrated Monday, children at King Elementary in Rockford spent a little time each day learning about their school's namesake. The school at 1306 S. Court St. teaches kindergartners through fifth-graders in both English and Spanish. It was built in 1972 for $501,000 to replace Montague School. On Sept. 30, 1973, the school opened and was dedicated to the civil rights activist, who was assassinated in Memphis on April 4, 1968.
"A lot of them didn't realize that their school was named after the person we were reading about," said Fany Valdez, who teaches a bilingual first-grade class. "We took a tour around the school to see all the places his name is written, and they thought it was so cool."
On Thursday, Valdez's students watched a video and read a book about King. Earlier in the week, they wrote letters thanking him for all he had done.
Kindergartener Belinda Gama-Mendoza says the pledge of allegiance on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School.
Third-grader La'Zareia Smith shoots a basketball during Dave Carroll's P.E. class on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School.
Nancy Marvell, school nurse at King Elementary, tends to first grader Dandre Adams on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017, after his chapped lip started bleeding. Marvell said she sees everything from stomachaches to headaches on a daily basis.
Alejandra Murillo participates in the 'count by 10s song' during Molly Murray's kindergarten class on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School.
Third-grader Miqua'janque Huey writes her letter to Martin Luther King Jr. on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School.
Down the hall, Malmberg's class did the same.
"Thank you for bringing peace to America," wrote Josh Perkins.
"I love your dream," wrote Miqua'janque Huey. "Now that white and black people can go to school I love it."
Whether it was said in English or Spanish, to third-graders or first-graders, King's message of nonviolence rang through the halls last week. In a city that had 27 homicides in 2016, teachers drove home the message that guns and violence are not the way to solve problems.
"Even though this happened a long time ago, it's still so applicable today," Malmberg said.
Kayli Plotner: 815-987-1391; kplotner@rrstar.com; @kayplot
First-grader Joan Escobar writes his version of "I have a dream" on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School.
Members of Whitney Riley's third grade class cheer on their classmates during a basketball drill in Dave Carroll's P.E. class on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School.
Erieon Thompson prepares to raise his hand during Molly Murray's kindergarten class on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School.
Children arrive for school on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at King Elementary School. The school was named after the civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in 1973.