Check out this VIDEO of many of the ways our learners celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

At CM we believe in learning about the "why" behind the day, and we spend time immersed in learning opportunities that center around Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.  

This video (put together by our own Michael Sylvester!) shows some of the ways learners celebrated the day and honored Dr. King's important work and legacy throughout the week before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day on Monday, January 20, 2025.  

The following week, teens from Community Montessori participated in the annual Beloved Day of Service, honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr through acts of service to self, family, school, and community.  

Rooted in Dr. King’s vision of a “beloved community,” this initiative extends the celebration of MLK Day into meaningful service opportunities. Teens choose from various volunteer efforts including on-campus projects, independent service plans, and partnerships with local organizations. 

This year’s Day of Service included partnerships with the following organizations: 

• New Albany White Flag Shelter: teens prepared meals for the soup kitchen and assisted with cleaning various spaces
• New Albany Public Library: Volunteers sorted items in the food pantry and cleaned toys in the children’s area
• St. Marks Clothing & Food Pantry: Teens sorted clothing donations, cleaned various spaces, and assisted with sorting and preparing food
• St. Paul’s Soup Kitchen: Volunteers cleaned and sanitized tables and chairs
• Floyd County YMCA: Teens cleaned, sorted and organized as needed. 
• Jeffersonville Public Library: Volunteers helped clean, sort, and organize library materials. 
• Hope Southern Indiana: Teens helped folks sign in and gather groceries as well as assisted with sorting and shelving items in the food pantry

In addition to these partnerships, some teens created individual service plans to carry out projects approved by their advisors, and others participated in service projects on the school’s campus including meal preparation, supporting the CM Food Pantry, and other tasks.  

Each year, Community Montessori seeks to expand partnerships with local organizations, focusing on supporting places with limited resources. Service is an integral part of the school’s philosophy, with students regularly participating in initiatives such as “Random Acts of Kindness” on campus and building philanthropy portfolios. These experiences cultivate a lifelong commitment to service and giving back.