A Hawk's Eye View: January 16, 2026
Dear Harding Academy Learning Community,
In support of our commitment to inclusive educational practices, we strive to create thoughtful opportunities that engage our entire Harding Academy community.
On Tuesday, we held our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Assembly to honor the legacy of Dr. King. The program featured a powerful video produced last year by Geddings Hempel ’25 and Ruaire Shaver ’25, along with moving recitations from Dr. King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. Representatives from the Bridge Builders Committee shared meaningful quotes from Dr. King and reflected on their personal significance, offering thoughtful insights. It was truly inspiring to see students from PreK through eighth grade engage so deeply and respectfully in honoring Dr. King’s message of justice, compassion, and hope.
As the assembly concluded, we reintroduced a community-wide challenge to commemorate MLK Day not as a day off, but as a day on—a meaningful time dedicated to service, learning, and reflection. This initiative was launched last year and was met with an overwhelming and inspiring response from our community, so we were excited to carry the challenge forward again this year. We invited students, faculty, and families to continue this tradition by participating in one or more of the following initiatives:
Service Initiatives
Dedicate part of your day to giving back to the community. This might include volunteering with a local organization, helping a neighbor, completing a special task for a family member, donating items, or writing a thoughtful note to someone who makes a difference—such as first responders, teachers, or community helpers.
Dedicate part of your day to giving back to the community. This might include volunteering with a local organization, helping a neighbor, completing a special task for a family member, donating items, or writing a thoughtful note to someone who makes a difference—such as first responders, teachers, or community helpers.
Learning Initiatives
Take time to deepen your understanding of Dr. King’s life, leadership, and the Civil Rights Movement. This could include watching a documentary, reading a book such as Martin’s Big Words, exploring age-appropriate articles or resources, or attending a local event honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
Take time to deepen your understanding of Dr. King’s life, leadership, and the Civil Rights Movement. This could include watching a documentary, reading a book such as Martin’s Big Words, exploring age-appropriate articles or resources, or attending a local event honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
Reflection Initiatives
Pause to reflect on what you’ve learned about Dr. King and how his message applies to your own life. Students might write a poem or journal entry, create a piece of artwork, make a list of ways they will show kindness and fairness to others, or set a personal goal for how they will stand up for what is right at school, at home, or on the playing field.
Pause to reflect on what you’ve learned about Dr. King and how his message applies to your own life. Students might write a poem or journal entry, create a piece of artwork, make a list of ways they will show kindness and fairness to others, or set a personal goal for how they will stand up for what is right at school, at home, or on the playing field.
Dr. King reminded us that “Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.” Through these initiatives, we hope our community continues to bring his words to life—not just on MLK Day, but throughout the year.
When you complete your initiative, please share your experience with us by emailing dixonk@hardingacademy.us or derrickb@hardingacademy.us. We look forward to celebrating the many ways our community is honoring Dr. King through meaningful action.
Sincerely,
Kristin Dixon and Brigida Derrick
Inspiring The Mind • Nurturing The Spirit