All WJCC schools will observe African American History month through various classroom and school-based activities. Here are a few highlights of the wonderful activities that will take place in our schools.
Elementary Schools
Clara Byrd Baker – Clara Byrd Baker is hosting a Kindness Week along with Mix it Up Day in February. We are springboarding with MLK Day to begin the conversation about acceptance of all people. For African American History Month specifically, the librarian will have books pulled for classroom teachers to use as read alouds; and, the school network BNN will highlight a famous African American each day.
D.J. Montague – Fourth graders doing biography writings on various famous African Americans. The bulletin board by the cafeteria will feature famous African Americans. Represent African Americans by showcasing music and quotes on our daily morning news throughout the month of February.
J. Blaine Blayton – Throughout the month, teachers will lead African American history discussions during their morning meetings. There will also be African American history facts announced on Monday- Thursday’s morning announcements. On Fridays there will be a trivia question and rewards for the winners.
James River – Across grade level, the Physical Education classes will discuss famous African American’s in sports. The Kindergarten, First, and Second grade classes are studying the African American Spiritual. Fourth grade is studying children’s literature awards, including Coretta Scott King’s awards. The 5th graders will be studying the quilts from the small African American town of Gee’s Bend, Alabama. They will learn about the culture and history of the town, the significance of the quilt making, and, of course, pattern. Students will apply their own quilt pattern around a self-portrait they will make in Art. Books by AA authors and illustrators will be displayed in convenient locations. There will be an AA History Month bulletin board.
Laurel Lane – Laurel Lane will have daily trivia questions about notable African Americans on the school news as a competition, many classes already have projects in the works or displays up, and the Multicultural Engagement Advocate has added resources to the MEA page in the school’s OneNote.
Matoaka – This year for African American History Month Matoaka is doing a few things. We will have a display case in the front hallway to showcase accomplishments and literature of and by people who are African American. We will also be announcing a daily fact over the morning announcements pertaining to African American individuals in history. As MEA, I will also be encouraging teachers to highlight African American History Month in their classrooms. Resources will be provided to teachers to incorporate into lessons.
Matthew Whaley – Matthew Whaley teachers will participate in African American history lessons throughout the classrooms. Some examples include Timelines Freebies (created by Teaching Second Grade) featuring Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson, Ruby Bridges, and Jessie Owens. Another grade will engage in writing their own, “I have a Dream Speech.” The school will feature a famous Black American bulletin board and DIY black history month banners.
Norge – Norge Elementary will have a book display in the front entry way of the Media Center. There will also be presentations from fifth graders on the Thursday morning Beep Beep News in Feb. of people they selected to report on. They selected Sojourner Truth, Frederick Jones, Patricia Cowings and Otis Boykin.
Stonehouse – A Kwanzaa Display is being set up and students will learn about the principles of Kwanzaa. MEA Kimberly Hundley will serve as a resource for classes to share on the celebration. Though a December event, it involves an event originated in Africa and celebrated among many African Americans. Students will learn about African instruments on Read Across America Day in recognition of the book…Woodhopoe Willie
Middle Schools Activities
Berkeley – School Assembly – “A Century of Black Life, History, and Culture” for students to showcase their talent and strengths while highlighting the importance of African American history and culture. This activity will also allow 7th grade history students to compare and contrast current events. Classroom lesson plans will be provided to teachers to include African American history education seamlessly into the classroom curriculum. On this day facts will be announced on the daily news. Berkeley students will engage in daily trivia and a weekly newsletter will highlight various components of African American life, history and culture. Students will also be given the opportunity to engage with the #MoreThanAStereotype campaign
Lois Hornsby Middle School – Theme “The First” – Music generated by African Americans will be played in main entrance each day; African American history questions are included in Monday’s daily game plan warm-up (answers will be collected on Friday by homeroom teacher); answers will be collected and a winner will be drawn during 6th grade lunch); Each morning a short bio of a historical or present day African American will be read by a student; A school employee will be honored on the main hallway bulletin board.; The honorees will be interviewed, and each interview will be played on Fridays Hawk’s News; Posters of historical figures are hung throughout the school. (ex. Science, inventors, singers, actors, etc.); Display case will present biography literature, Bio of Cheer Leading Coach Carter; Links will be sent out to Hornsby Staff to apply in all core class and related arts; African American Educational time aside the Bio Pick displayed on the bulletin board; Notable African Americans door decorations of a historical figure; Media Center display African American books on top of book shelves; PowerPoint of Historical figures will be viewed on the main Hallway Television; African American History themed bulletin board in the cafeteria; Door Decorating Contest – 1 winner per grade level; The Media Center is featuring a Black History Month display, encouraging students to check out and read African American Biographies; links and resources will be emailed to staff on activities that apply in core classes.
Toano Middle School – Each morning students will learn about historical African Americans during morning announcements. The bulletin board in the cafeteria will have a African American History theme for the month. The school is hosting an African American door decorating contest and will have one winner per grade level. The Media Center will feather a display and encourage students to check out and read African American biographies. The MEA will provide teachers African American History Month lesson plans that can be implemented during AEP.
High Schools
Lafayette – African American History assembly – keynote Tuskegee Airman and guest choir VSU and Lafayette talent; African American history word search as an activity in the cafeteria (2/4 – 2/8); African American history theatre presented by the movie club – after school (Glory, Roots, Redtails); African American history family feud in the cafeteria.
Warhill – School-wide assembly featuring West African storytelling, dance and drum performances; school-wide African American History project – “What Does Diversity and Inclusion Mean to Me?”; students can submit entries ranging from visual and performing arts to literary pieces to represent what diversity and inclusion mean to them in their lives. Entries will be showcased at the school-wide assembly and on the English/Language Arts hallway; Daily morning announcements highlighting an African American History Fact of the Day (Diversity Club and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honors Society collaboration); and Two “Thankful Thursday” responses via 1st Block classes (Diversity Club)
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