BLACK HISTORY MONTH RECOGNIZED ACROSS THE WEST ORANGE PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Black History Month is recognized across the West Orange School District through a variety of classroom activities, events, and special programs in all schools, including the annual Black History Month Dinner, sponsored by the Student Council, held at West Orange High School on February 7th

Following are some activities conducted to commemorate Black History Month. At the Elementary School level, age specific activities will be conducted.  At Gregory Elementary School, a school-wide assembly will be held with presentations from each class.  Hazel Elementary School Kindergarten students will learn about Louis Armstrong, listen to "What a Wonderful World," and identify the themes in the song.  They will also listen to a story about Rosa Parks. 

Mt. Pleasant Elementary School 1st grade students will listen to “Story of Ruby Bridges” by Robert Coles, watch a video, complete a character analysis and compare and contrast Ruby’s school with Mt. Pleasant using a Venn diagram.  Pleasantdale Elementary School 2nd grade students will research an African-American using the World Book website.  Redwood Elementary School 3rd grade students will discuss the meaning of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s speech, “I Have A Dream.”  Students will write a speech about their personal dreams for the world/society. St. Cloud Elementary School 4th grade students will read a portion of the “I Have a Dream” speech, and create an acrostic poem using the word DREAM. Washington Elementary School 5th grade students will write an essay comparing and contrasting the educational views of W.E.B Dubois and Booker T. Washington, and write a report, or present a project on a famous African-American person.

At the middle school level, Edison 6th grade students will analyze poems such as: “Mother to Son, A Dream Deferred, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Let America be America Again, and Madam and her Madam.” Edison students will participate in a Martin Luther King Essay Contest, and investigate the growth of slavery, its' impact and abolition movements.  

Across the curriculum at Liberty Middle School special activities will take place including a study of African-American inventors and scientists through poster creation, Power Point/Prezi presentations, and construction of a Civil Rights mural incorporating timelines, activists, scientists. Art classes will participate in the “Scholastic: What Are You Doing For Others?”  Art contest.

Roosevelt Middle School will explore Black History in America with viewing of portions of the mini series “Roots” by Alex Haley, followed by discussions comparing what was written in “My Furthest Black Person” to the movie.

Students will examine the contributions and accomplishments of African Kingdoms (Nubia, Axum, Mali, Ghana, Songhai), and will analyze the importance of several of the leaders of the African Kingdoms (Mansa Musa, Ezana, Sonni Ali).  They will also examine the changes made in America through athletics, and recognize accomplishments of African-American athletes and their roles in society.

At West Orange High School, students will analyze short stories by prominent African-American authors and dramatic works that feature African-American characters.  Students will also study the contributions of African-Americans during World War II and their segregation in fighting units.

The Jazz Band and Boys and Girls Steps Teams will perform at schools across the district and the National Art Honors Society created decorations for the Black History Month Dinner.