• Header with green and yellow and red type spelling out Black History Month in rows overlaid by the words Language & Literatur

    Throughout the month of February, students across the district will be learning about the achievements, contributions and efforts of African Americans to the fields of language and literature, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), arts and music, and social studies and political science. This first full week, Feb. 5-9, we're focusing on language and literature. 

  • Grover Cleveland Elementary School

    Kindergartners at Grover Cleveland celebrated Black History Month this week by reading a book about astronaut Mae Jamison and then illustrating and writing about what they want to be when they grow up. Shoot for the stars!

    Pictures of student drawings answering the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" One chose cop, one vet.Photo of Grover Cleveland kindergartners holding paper astronaut helmets to their faces.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Lincoln Elementary School

    Colorful bulletin board with a construction-paper-made picture of Harriet Tubman surrounded by quotes of student dreams.Our Pre-Kindergarten kiddos learned about an important quote attributed to Harriet Tubman - "Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars, to change the world" - and then shared their own dreams on a colorful bulletin board.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Eagle's Nest Program of Academic Distinction

    Students at Eagle's Nest Program of Academic Distinction performed a rendition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "What is Your Life's Blueprint" speech to high school students. Watch below.

     

    Harding Elementary School

    For this first full week of Black History Month focusing on language and literature, students in Ms. Gallocher's fifth grade class studied author and poet Maya Angelou. 
     
    A collage of student work that brings together colorful squares forming a portrait of Maya Angelou and a quote.A boy and girl sit at desks, creating artwork that shows a portrait of Maya Angelo and words in a quote.
     
    Perry Elementary School
     
    Ms. Shreeve's 2nd-4th grade class at Perry has been reading/discussing the changemakers and trailblazers represented on the door in the picture at left.
     
    Door with pink lettering spelling the word love and red lettering spelling the word everyone, along with photos of Black

    The door reads "Lead like Harriet, invent like George, dream like Martin, write like Maya, play like Jackie, shoot for the stars like Mae, learn like Ruby and challenge like Rosa."

     

    Diehl Elementary School

    Diehl Elementary School was the beneficiary of a collection of anti-racist books through a program called Conscious Kids. Here, students in Meghan Ore's class browse through the books during center time in the library.

    Photo of three students reading books in Diehl's library.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Edison Elementary School

    Fifth-graders listened to “What a Wonderful World”, “Stand by Me”, and “Lean on Me” and drew the images that came to mind. They also discussed having a positive mindset and seeing the beauty of the world around us, and that sometimes we need someone to help us out and sometimes we can help others out. 

    Child's drawing with the words "What a Wonderful World," "Stand By Me," and "Lean on Me" decorated with flowers, house and mo

     

    Jefferson Elementary School

    Amanda Hertel's second-graders chose the poet, author, and activist, Amanda Gorman, to learn and talk about.  The class watched her recite and discuss her original poem, "Talking Gets Us There," and then watched her at the 2020 inauguration as she read her poem "The Hill We Climb."  They discussed her bravery at such a young age to discuss her beliefs and stand up for herself, while helping to change the world for the better.  
     
    The class went on to read "Change Sings," the children's book Gorman wrote, and then created their own guitars and wrote how they would work to change the world for the better on them.
     

    Picture of two paper guitars colored and decorated by second-grade students at Jefferson.

    Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School

    Students learned about Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to attend formerly whites-only William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana, by reading "The Story of Ruby Bridges" by Dr. Robert Coles.

    Three smiling students, one boy, two girls, holding up construction paper cutouts of Ruby Bridges.At William Frantz, Ruby attended an empty classroom. Some parents refused to let their children go to the integrated school. The children who did attend were separated from her classroom. But Ruby made friends. Her teacher, Mrs. Henry, and a psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Coles, were very supportive of the little girl's efforts. People from around the country sent Ruby letters. Some donated money and assistance to the Bridges family. The determined Ruby Bridges did not miss a day of school that year. 

    Students wrote what it means to be brave and persevere, just like Ruby Bridges.

     

     

    Patrick J. DiPaolo Student Success Center at Emerson-Gridley

    Boy and girl sitting at a desk in front of plate of two cracked eggs, one brown, one white. Shells are different, yolk same.The Emerson-Gridley kindergarten, first and second-graders got together to kick off Black History Month. The first influential person that we spoke about was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
     
    Dr. King was chosen to represent this week's focus of language and literature because of his spoken word. Dr. King practiced and preached that words are more powerful than our fists, and that all people should be treated equally no matter what they look like on the outside. 
     
    The K-2 students listened to the story "Martin's Big Words" by Doreen Rappaport and then completed an experiment using one brown egg and one white egg. The students were quick to observe that the eggs looked different on the outside, however when we cracked them open, they looked the same on the inside. This is exactly what Dr. King wanted the whole world to see: that everyone should be treated equally!
     

    Strong Vincent Middle School

    Strong Vincent students put the finishing touches on a Black History month trivia bulletin board.Mrs. Wayt and her students created a Black History Month interactive bulletin board with trivia.  
    This creative display will be enjoyed by all students throughout the month of February.
     
    Woodrow Wilson Middle School
     
    Each student in Ms. Carolus's seventh-grade class selected an influential historical figure to research and created either an essay, graphic, or resume. 
     
     
    A student-created worksheet with biographical information and facts about Diana Ross.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    Check back soon for more examples of student work!