Covington-Harper and Bel Air Elementary Schools, and Graham Park Middle School use their morning announcements to celebrate Black History Month. The activities involve encouraging students to read about historical Black figures and sharing facts about their significant contributions.
Covington-Harper Elementary students were given access to audiobooks through Canvas. The books included "The Secret Garden of George Washington Carver" by Gene Barretta, "When Martin Luther King Jr. wore Roller Skates" by Mark Andrew Weakland, and "Brave Ballerina, The Story of Janet Collins" by Michelle Meadows. On the morning announcements, guest teachers read a clue about a famous Black American. Students submitted their answers, then they were eligible to win a gift card from Chick-Fil-A.
Bel Air Elementary Principal Antoinette McDonald used her school's morning announcements to share personal history about her grandmother. Dorothea Lee Evans Parker not only served her community as a school crossing guard and a cub scout den mother, but she also made history when she became the first African American Deputy Sheriff in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania.
Graham Park Middle has been using their morning announcements to connect with their school community all school year. During the month of February, student anchors share facts and videos about historical Black Americans and events in Black history.
Throughout the school year, the virtual setting has provided the opportunity to invite guests to their morning announcements. Speakers have included a biologist and pre-medical student from Howard University, and the chief of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Native American tribe. In November, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Milford Beagle Jr. joined the morning program to share information about growth mindset and character traits for success. To celebrate Black History Month, local artists Delores Bumbrey and Anthony J. Silver, Dr. Ayanna McCray, pediatrician, and Poet Laureate of Prince William County Kim Miller have joined the program.
"It is important for all students to experience and be exposed to culture and careers. Our guest speakers have lived experience as well as rich educational backgrounds. As a result of being in the virtual environment, guest speakers are more accessible and flexible," Principal Maria Ramadane explained.
Teachers
are
highlighting
Black
History
by
incorporating
it
into
lessons.
Jan
Dicus
Green,
a
visual
arts
teacher
at
Graham
Park,
focused
on
Harlem
Renaissance
artists
throughout
the
month
in
her
lessons.
Shannon
Anthony,
sixth-grade
language
arts
teacher,
is
promoting
the
book
"Black
Brother,
Black
Brother"
by
Jewell
Parker
Rhodes
to
her
students.
Graham
Park
School
Librarian
Monica
Abrams
is
sharing
books
by
African
American
authors.
"Genesis
Begins
Again"
by
Alicia
Williams
and
"Before
Ever
After"
by
Jacqueline
Woodson
were
available
for
curbside
pick-up,
while
Jewell
Parker
Rhodes'
"Ghost
Boys"
and
Nikki
Grimes'
"Garvey's
Choice"
were
eBooks
provided
to
students.
A
school-wide
writing
prompt
will
continue
the
learning.
Starting
with
the
phrase
"Because
of
them
we
can,"
students
wrote
about
an
African
American
that
has
made
or
is
making
an
impact
in
math,
science,
language
arts,
social
studies,
and
encore
class
subjects.
The
writings
will
be
shared
in
an
upcoming
edition
of
"The
Lion's
Roar"
the
school's
library
newsletter.
"As educators, we recognize the power of exposing students to rich diverse experiences. I am confident that the variety of activities will spark a desire to learn more. We live in a diverse world and it is that diversity that makes Graham Park such a special place," Ramadane shared.