This year's theme for Black History Month is "At the Crossroads of Freedom and Equality: The Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington." Each Lynchburg City School has specific events planned to celebrate this month.
Some highlights from around the division include:
E. C. Glass High School
FEBRUARY 6: The E. C. Glass Jazz Band is performing at noon in Cheatham Dining Hall as part of Randolph Colleges Black History Month celebration on February 6th.
ALL MONTH: History classes have made posters honoring prominent African Americans. Posters are displayed in the halls.
Heritage High School
ALL MONTH: Daily announcements recognizing our diversity at HHS – over 36 countries represented in student population.
Attention being drawn to the flags that hang in our cafeteria that represent the countries of our students.
Brotherhood Banner hanging in Media Center.
Displays set up in our Media Center highlighting various country books in recognition of our cultural diversity and also notable African American achievements
TBD: Brotherhood type song to be sung on Pioneer Spotlight by members of our faculty later in the month.
Amelia Pride Center
Science (E. Humphrey, Teacher): As a cumulative science project, five science classes will produce a timeline of famous African-American scientists and inventors. Each student will research a scientist and produce a final document to add to the timeline.
This timeline will be displayed in the classroom
Art (E. Humphrey, Teacher): Some students have produced a PowerPoint about a black artist. We are going to make a bulletin board... WE HAVE A DREAM. We will also do a project using doves to symbolize peace.
MID-FEBRUARY: Mr. Bill Austin will coordinate a daily trivia game, "Who Am I?" The trivia game will challenge students to identify African Americans, past and present, who have made positive historical contributions to this country and the world. Students who successfully solve a riddle will receive educational rewards and a photo opportunity with Mr. Austin.
Linkhorne Middle School
ALL MONTH: Random Acts of Kindness. A list of RAOK will be distributed to teachers, who will choose activities to do with their homerooms/classes beginning February 14th. Classes will document their RAOK in writing, pictures, or videos so that at the end of four weeks, we will have a "journal" of how we have created brotherhood and celebrated diversity--which is the spirit of the Black History/Brotherhood Month message.
FEBRUARY 20: PTO will host the Harlem Superstars at 6:30 p.m. The Superstars travel the country promoting the message of the importance of education through the game of exciting show time basketball. The public is welcome to attend this event and can obtain tickets for $7 in advance or $8 at the door.
Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School for Innovation
ALL MONTH: Dunbar is broadcasting African American Achievements each morning this month, having a door decorating contest, media center display all month.
FEBRUARY 28: "Freedom to Equality" presentation, 9:45 a.m., Carl Anderson Performing Arts
Sandusky Middle
ALL MONTH: 8th Grade art students are studying the Harlem Renaissance and famous black artists including: Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, William H. Johnson and Allan Rohan Crite.
Collecting and sharing “Great Deeds of Diversity” ideas.
Teachers are receiving a daily text from the NAACP, which provides information for discussion.
Teachers are using the Discovery Channel's Forum Video on "What is Racism" to stimulate classroom discussion.
Ms. Purvis' and Mrs. Davis' enrichment classes are reading a novel called "Seedfolks." The story is about how a neighborhood that is rich in diversity came together as a community to build a garden.
Bedford Hills Elementary
FEBRUARY 8: Assembly titled "Unsung Heroes." The school has invited and received confirmation from close to 30 leaders in the community who are African-American. They don't necessarily hold a prestigious position, but rather hold themselves to high expectations and live as a role model in their community. Bedford Hills will spotlight each person on its daily morning show, have students introduce them to the whole school on Friday. Following the assembly, they will go into a classroom to read a book to the students. Some of these heroes are also parents of our BHS students. They are our everyday heroes.
Dearington Elementary School for Innovation
FEBRUARY 6: Multicultural Kickoff Assembly 9:30 a.m.- Highlighting various cultures- African American History, Africa, Arab, China, and Ireland
FEBRUARY 11-28: SGA Valentine Heart Sale Begins- Proceeds will benefit the Leukemia Society
FEBRUARY 12: Spanish Carnaval Assembly 2:30 p.m.
FEBRUARY 14: Muffins with Moms- 9:15 a.m.
FEBRUARY 15: SGA Valentines Dance- 3:30-4:45 p.m.
FEBRUARY 19: "I Have a Dream, What's Yours?" Assembly- 9:30 a.m.- Students and staff will share their dreams and we will watch a movie about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
FEBRUARY 26: SGA/Chorus visits area nursing homes to sing 10:00-11:30 a.m., Brotherhood/Sisterhood Assembly-SGA/Chorus and violins perform and Readers Theatre presented on George Washington Carver- 2:30 and 6:00 p.m.
ALL MONTH: On DESI News, students will share about the lives of famous people of different cultures who have made great contributions to mankind.
Paul Munro Elementary:
FEBRUARY 14: Assembly Program "Leaps and Bounds," African American Dance Troupe
R. S. Payne Elementary
ALL MONTH: Special “Who Am I” slides on morning news show; Special focus in art and music classes; African American Read-In; Door decorating contest, with judging taking place by February 28th; Special focus on books authored by black Americans during library time, with read alouds.
FEBRUARY 22: Brotherhood/Sister-hood Luncheon (Reschedule date of February 25 if necessary), 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. in the lounge.
Sheffield Elementary
FEBRUARY 15: LU Praise Choir to perform at assembly, 9:30 a.m.
William Marvin Bass Elementary
FEBRUARY 6: Black History Month Speaker - Rev. Carl Hutcherson, 2:30 p.m.
FEBRUARY 15: Pre-K and 1st grade Black History Program, 2:30 p.m.