Hoover High Hosts Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration

DMPS Commemorates MLK Day (photo: Library of Congress)

Des Moines Public Schools has several activities underway in commemoration of the upcoming Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

The school district will hold its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Monday, January 16 at Hoover High School, 4800 Aurora Avenue. The event, held at a different school each year, begins with a breakfast at 7:30 a.m. A program featuring the Hoover High School choir and drama departments will follow. Marcus McIntosh of KCCI-TV will give the opening and closing remarks. Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nancy Sebring and several students will also give remarks.

In addition, the Walnut Street School is holding a book drive in conjunction with the celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Books are being collected to support veterans, and will be donated to Central Iowa Shelter & Services, the Riverfront YMCA, and other locations where books are needed. Collection boxes are located in the lobby at 901 Walnut Street; books may be dropped off on or before Monday, January 16.

Finally, several DMPS students reflected on the life of Martin Luther King Jr. in their essays for the annual MLK Jr. Essay Contest sponsored by the Friends of the Forest Avenue Library and the Forest Avenue Brick Fund. Fourteen elementary and middle school students from Des Moines Public Schools were winners. They will be honored at the Forest Avenue Library at 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Each student will receive a certificate and a Target gift card.

Winners include:

• 1^st place, Elementary: Peyton Dueling, 3^rd grade, Jefferson Elementary School
• 2^nd place, Elementary: Steve Ragan, 3^rd grade, Jefferson Elementary School
• 3^rd place, Elementary: Chloe Grandberg, 3^rd grade, Jefferson Elementary School
• 3^rd place, Elementary: Pascal Patton-Imani, 2^nd grade, Walnut Street School
• 4^th place, Elementary: Jake Hubner, 2^nd grade, Walnut Street School
• 4^th place, Elementary: Taylor Huss, 3^rd grade, Jefferson Elementary School
• 1^st place, Middle School: Mitchell Albracht, 6^th grade, Merrill Middle School
• 1^st place, Middle School: Jada Alexander, 6^th grade, Merrill Middle School
• 2^nd place, Middle School: Jessica Bolten, 6^th grade, Merrill Middle School
• 2^nd place, Middle School: Ellie Konfrst, 6^th grade, Merrill Middle School
• 2^nd place, Middle School: Asmara Shan, 6^th grade, Merrill Middle School
• 3^rd place, Middle School: Savana Coldwell, 7^th grade, Brody Middle School
• 3^rd place, Middle School: Emily Weese, 7^th grade, Brody Middle School
• 4^th place, Middle School: Sean Anderson, 6^th grade, Merrill Middle School

REMINDER: There is no school for students on Monday in observation of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.