Nearly 94% of CCSA students and 72% of Chester’s population identify as black. While our teachers and leaders incorporate black history in their lessons all year, February features an extra special opportunity to celebrate black culture, heroes, and pride. In every grade and in every subject, we provide our students with an honest and accurate depiction of black history - from the injustices to the victories and everything in between. Below are just a few of the engaging events that took place around the school this Black History Month:           

• Mrs. Watt’s included a “This day in black history” segment in her daily morning announcements.
• Student Government hosted a Black History Month door decorating contest. Each class came up with the concept and worked on their designs together. The winner from each floor will receive a prize in the form of a pizza party.
• February 17 was “black history/pride attire” day and students and teachers alike took advantage of the opportunity to honor their history with empowering t-shirts and cultural garb.
• 9th & 10th grade students took a field trip to Lantern Theater Company to see a live performance of The Royale by Marco Ramirez, a play based on true events in the life of the first African-American heavyweight champion.
• February 24th was “Black Heroes” day. Students in all grades participated by dressing up as leaders such as Misty Copeland, Barack Obama, and even Mrs. Watts!
• Select high school students who have auditioned for our new voice elective performed songs of slavery and freedom for their younger classmates.
• The middle school theater class celebrated the history of Motown in a fun, musical performance for the elementary grades.
• Our kindergartens put on a Black History recital for their parents and peers. Led by music teacher Frank Hosking, our youngest scholars memorized the lyrics to 7 songs, including some about Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Now, more than ever, representation matters. Our teachers and leadership team are consistently finding new ways to incorporate culturally diverse and inclusive material in their classrooms and around school. We empower our students to celebrate their culture and history and use their comprehensive knowledge of the past to shape not only their own futures, but that of their community. In the words of Maya Angelou, “If you don't know where you've come from, you don't know where you're going.”