On Tuesday, February 17, the halls of Kettering Middle School became a celebration of school pride, national history, artistic expression, and 50 years of excellence as Kettering hosted the Creative Freedom Assembly.
The assembly was hosted in honor of the school being selected as a national winner of the Creative Freedom Campaign, a partnership between the Foundation for Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE) and Crayola Learning.
Kettering Middle School was one of only three schools selected throughout the nation.
As part of the national recognition, Kettering Middle School received a museum-quality replica of the Declaration of Independence along with original artworks on loan from FAPE. The original artworks included: Joel Grey’s The Statue of Liberty and Carrie Mae Weems’ Echoes For Marian.
Together, the exhibition invites students and community members to reflect on how freedom of expression has evolved since the creation of the Declaration of Independence and how artists have used that freedom to inspire change. The event brought together students, community members, artists, and government leaders to explore the theme “What Does It Mean to Be American?”
Amongst attending government leaders included Maryland First Lady Dawn Moore and County Executive Aisha Braveboy. The event’s keynote address was delivered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and FAPE Board member Eugene Robinson who shared insights on the intersection of journalism, art, and democracy.
“This morning's assembly was a historic moment for our school, because our students deserve to know that they have a voice, they have rights, and they have the opportunity to become anything they dream of," said Lakeishia Strother, Principal. “With this replica of the Declaration of Independence in our building, they will be reminded every single day that freedom, opportunity, and the power of their voice are not distant ideas—they are living promises. Promises they carry within them, promises they must protect, and promises they are destined to bring to life,” added Strother.
Following the assembly and student performances by the KMSSI Dance Team, students participated in a series of hands-on workshops led by Crayola, Crozier Fine Arts, and the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute.
The sessions focused on artistic freedom, civic identity, cultural expression, and art preservation.
"We are incredibly proud to bring this prestigious opportunity to the scholars of Kettering Middle School, " said James Wells, Manager of Education Content for Crayola. “It is our hope that through today’s program, students are inspired to explore the Declaration of Independence and find the confidence to build upon its legacy using their own unique voices. By participating in the Crayola workshops today, our students have already begun this journey—translating complex ideals into personal artifacts that represent what freedom means to them."
Event festivities were met with even greater enthusiasm as the school celebrates 50 years of service, a half-century milestone of educational excellence in Prince George’s County.
