All three divisions of LA students continued the school’s celebration of Black History Month with a series of activities and events in the second week of February. The Upper School’s Black Student Alliance made presentations at two assemblies in the Lower School on Feb. 10, joining students in the Early Childhood Program in Lower Snowdon before presenting to Grades 1-5 in the Berry Performing Arts Center.
BSA members Gbemi Olarewaju ’23, Zackary Dort ’23 and Naomi Valcourt ’24 began the day sharing the book Have You Filled a Bucket Today? with students in the Early Childhood Program in Lower Snowdon. They also enjoyed a little dance party and left the youngsters with the message to be kind. BSA members Cherice Clarke ’23 and Xavier Hinds ’23 joined their affinity group peers and shared an interactive presentation later in the morning with students in Grades 1-5 in the Berry Performing Arts Center during which they explored key questions about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s message of inclusion and equality. They also invited the Lower School students to decorate a hand with symbols, words and pictures reflecting Dr. King’s message and the meaning of Black History Month to include on a unity tree in their classrooms.
Lower School parents are sharing books with students in their classrooms this month. Last week, Dr. Louisa Essandoh, mother of Benjamin Pius Atakora ’34, joined Mrs. Molloy’s first grade class and read Mae Among the Stars, a book about Mae Jemison.
In the Middle School, students Carly Jones ’27, Olivia Taylor ‘27 and Chelsea Hunter ’28 shared a presentation at last week’s division meeting. Students watched a video on the origins of Black History month that addressed the question: What is Black history? They also reviewed the LA DEIB Mission Statement and discussed the meaning of microaggressions.
The BSA is sponsoring two upcoming events featuring LA alumni: a Black-Owned Business Expo on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Berry Performing Arts Center and Roads to Success: A Discussion with LA Black Alumni on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 1:35 p.m. in the PAC.