Student Highlight: Jhaloni Stamper portrays Ruby Bridges as students read about civil rights icon

MLK would like to highlight our student, Jhaloni Stamper, for her role in portraying the iconic Ruby Bridges in honor of her impact in the civil rights movement.

At only 6 years old, Ruby Bridges was the youngest of students chosen to integrate into an all white school in New Orleans, Louisiana in November of 1960. Her name became known nationwide and her story has been told ever since.

MLK proudly participates in the “Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day” which began in 2018. Our students are taught about the importance of Ruby and her role in desegregation of schools in our country. The Fort Wayne Urban League, Allen County Public Library and Martin Luther King Montessori School have partnered to enlighten students about the importance of Ruby Bridges and her story.

MLK’s staff chose Jhaloni Stamper to portray Ruby Bridges due to her strong personality and similar characteristics as the civil rights activist. Accompanied by her parents Jhaloni marched into her school, red carpet style, in her interpretation of what Ms. Bridges wore as she entered William Frantz Elementary School 63 years ago. The library read “Ruby Bridges Goes to School,” which has been listed as a banned book in various schools around the country, and gifted every child in our school with a copy of the book. WANE 15 came out to capture it all. The Fort Wayne Urban League’s press release stated, “The student and her family embrace everything about what it truly means to love and accept others regardless of race & Fort Wayne Urban League is excited to see her walk the red carpet!”

We at MLK would like to thank Jhaloni for her bravery and her family for their support.

Ventriloquist Winston Pearson Performs With Purpose

Pastor, husband, father of seven, saxophone player and….ventriloquist? Winston Pearson is all of the above. He started ventriloquism during covid, saying with a laugh, “I never thought I would be playing with puppets in my 40’s.” Pearson visits MLK Montessori School once a month to perform for students while teaching about emotions as well as black history. 

When Greg Andrews, a grandparent of an MLK student came to Pastor Pearson with a request for mentors at MLK, Winston knew he wanted to bring his family of puppets to the children. His ventriloquism is a ministry that seeks to accomplish a special goal- shaping the future. Pearson says, “Ministering and mentoring young people guarantees great futures. If you want to shape the future, you shape the children.You have the power to make sure the future looks a certain way.”

The children look forward to his visits and learn important lessons along the way. Pearson believes children respond so well because they still have the gift of imagination. “Children have not lost their imagination. Imagination is God’s gift to help them see who they can be in the future.” 

Pearson’s performances have a very special purpose: to teach children about dealing with their emotions. The topics range from handling frustration properly to understanding and naming what emotions they are truly feeling. Pearson says, “Children learn how to compress their emotions. If we can get to them now, they can live an authentic life.” This is important at MLK and other schools due to the emotional and mental impact the pandemic has left on children. Schools across the world are seeing an increased need for social and emotional skills training for young children. 

In addition, Pearson uses his puppets to teach black history at MLK. The school has intentionally decided that black history month is every month. This includes everything from class lessons and school-wide activities to Pearson’s visits. The puppets have taught about MLK, Rosa Parks, Alfred L. Kralle, inventor of the ice cream scoop and Lonnie Johnson, inventor of the super soaker. As for his own legacy, Pearson hopes that it will be “Teaching people how to reach their dreams without compromising who they are. You can be who God created you to be and you don’t have to compromise that.”

Pastor Pearson is enthusiastic when describing his work at the school. “I finally found a school that encourages a child to learn at the rate they are supposed to, lets them be who they are supposed to be and teaches them how to use their emotions the right way. MLK is a very unique and involved school.” 

To book Pastor Winston Pearson for a performance, find him on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, winstonpearson260@gmail.com or 260-267-2937. 

Dr. McKinney, PHD Visits MLK

Dr. McKinney, PHD visited MLK to talk to teachers about STEM camp’s biology lessons. She was excited to hear how students were learning hands-on about the stages of development of chicks and ducks from egg to hatch to feeding, heating and watering. She talked about how students learn through building on foundations of knowledge, called scaffolding. She gave teachers STEM related biology lessons including how to extract DNA from a strawberry. Dr. McKinney is a teacher and Chair of her department at the Center for Academic Success at Nebraska.

Volunteer Center Premieres Reader Videos

The Volunteer Center has partnered with MLK Montessori School to offer online book readings for students. Families may access the videos anytime at Children's books - YouTube.

This is a free service to instill early literacy skills in children at home and beyond the classroom. Early literacy is shown to give students an early advantage in academic success.

Winter Recess Means Indoor Fun

As winter temps plummet, it’s time for MLK Montessori School students to enjoy the benefits of indoor recess. The children of Room 105 are staying toasty inside while enjoying exercise, yoga, the ring toss and the balance beam.