In February, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) commemorated Black History Month by highlighting the achievements and contributions of African Americans to U.S. History. Students engaged in several activities, including studying various facets of Black history, learning about important historical figures, hosting guest speakers, organizing wax museums, and exploring the contributions of African Americans with special needs. Below is a brief recap of some of the activities.

 

Anderson-Livsey ES:

• Anderson-Livsey Elementary School celebrated Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and paid tribute to the Black Greek Lettered organizations, also known as the Divine 9. Students learned about HBCUs and honored their graduates.

Baggett ES:

• Baggett Elementary School held the school’s first-ever Black History Month program. It featured a living wax museum where children personified historical figures, performances by the Baggett Dance/Step Team, Steel Drums Band, and individual theatrical productions. More than 300 people attended, including Gwinnett County Board of Education Member Dr. Tarece Johnson-Morgan. 

Dacula ES:

• Dacula Elementary School held a schoolwide art contest open to students in grades k-5, inviting them to create a work of art around the theme, What Does Black History Mean to You? Students created and displayed beautiful 2-dimensional pieces like collages, drawings, and paintings throughout the school, as well as artistic expressions like photography and poetry.

Harmony ES:

• Harmony Elementary celebrated Black History Month among all grade levels. Students participated in learning about prominent African American figures who helped change the world. Students in grades 2-5 used Online Research Libraries to create individual posters about the historical contributions of African-Americans and displayed them for people to enjoy. In Harmony Elementary's Art Department, students were introduced to African American artists, which they were required to study and use as inspiration for their own artwork. They got to study artists like Beverly Buchanan, Romare Bearden, and Alma Thomas. In addition, Harmony Elementary’s School Counselor set up a Black History Artifacts Museum in a hallway highlighting African Americans' inventions. 

Hopkins ES:

• Hopkins Elementary started its mornings with a special announcement about famous African-Americans and their contributors to Black History and culture. Similarly, staff decorated their doors and dressed up for spirit days throughout the month. Some of those days included HBCU Day, African Traditional Attire Day, and Diaspora Day. Students also participated in some fun student-based activities, like Be Like Martin Day, "I Am" Day - Poems, and Double Dutch Day, to name a few. 

Minor ES:

• Minor Elementary School is the proud home of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing program for elementary-level students. To honor its students and support Black History Month, the school highlighted the contributions of Deaf or hard-of-hearing African Americans. Students created a series of posters and digital art highlighting athletes, celebrities, academics, and many other influential individuals and displayed them throughout the school.

Riverside ES:

• Riverside Elementary School kicked off each morning with its daily broadcasts, incorporating mini-lessons on Black History Month. These lessons spotlighted African Americans, both historical and contemporary, who have made significant contributions to history. The series began with John Lewis, a pivotal figure in the Civil Rights movement. Following the morning broadcasts, teachers utilized these mini-lessons as catalysts for classroom discussions, seamlessly integrating them into their lesson plans.

Bay Creek MS:

• Bay Creek Middle Schools’ multicultural committee kicked off the month-long celebration with a College T-shirts Day. Students and staff were asked to wear their favorite college t-shirts to encourage students to pursue education beyond high school. Other events and activities included a Black History Month poster and door decorating contest, a poetry writing contest, and daily trivia about influential African-Americans. Students also watched the Jackie Robinson Stage Play at the Aurora Theatre and attended family movie night, where students and families watched the film, Jesse Owens.

Crews MS:

• Crews Middle students visited the Atlanta History Center and participated in several school-based events, including an African food festival and an HBCU College Fair. The school also hosted guest speakers who discussed their experiences at HBCUs and Black Greek Lettered Organizations.

Hull MS:

• Hull Elementary School Language Arts teachers encouraged students to write essays on “Shifting the Cultural Change: Respectful, Honorable, Responsible” to get students thinking and researching about African American History Month. Students also participated in a Soul Food Day and learned about the roots and relationship between food and the African-American community.

Pinckneyville MS:

• At Pickneyville Middle School, an inspirational video was played during the morning announcements showcasing contributions African Americans have made in music, art, and other areas throughout history. Students interviewed Historic African American figures and experienced Virtual Museum Fields at the Center for Civil and Human Rights and the National Museum of African History and Culture. They reflected on these virtual trips during Social Studies class. The Black History Month celebration concluded with virtual student performances and guest speakers. 

Richards MS:

• At Richards Middle School, students participated in several activities, including creating a living museum and engaging in drama, music, poetry performances, and a door-decorating contest. The school also hosted a wellness and parent center information table, science presentations, food vendors, a Black history contest, and a Poetry Slam about African American history and contributions.

Berkmar HS:

• At Berkmar High School, the Black Student Union (BSU) held a Day of Excellence Seminar to showcase and celebrate the achievements that strong Black role models have accomplished despite the difficulties and challenges of history. The BSU took advantage of this event to recognize a few of Berkmar High’s African American faculty members for their academic achievements.

Brookwood HS:

• At Brookwood High School, nearly two dozen dancers celebrated black culture and its influence on dance by performing at the school, the Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center, and Crews Middle School. The group's production featured HBCU-style Stroll, Hip Hop, Step, and Majorette dances.

Duluth HS:

• Students at Duluth High School worked on short videos that featured staff, alumni, and students discussing African American historical figures, present influencers, and their own experiences at HBCUs and in their careers.

Grayson HS:

• Grayson High School used the expression of art to tell the story of Black Entertainment and Culture through its original play, Legacy Echoes. The play walks spectators through “museum exhibits” that focus on pivotal moments in Black television, films, stage plays, and musicals. 

Gwinnett Schools of Mathematics, Science, and Technology (GSMST):

• Former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams visited the school after accepting an invitation from GSMST’s Black Student Union. Abrams engaged students and attendees in a discussion of various issues affecting the Black community.

McClure HS:

• Duluth City Council Member Shenee Johnson Holloway was a guest speaker at McClure Health Science High School as part of the school’s guest speaker series in celebration of Black History Month. In addition, the National Art Honor Society created a mural at the school highlighting the theme “African Americans in the Arts.”

Seckinger HS:

• At Seckinger High School, students decorated classroom doors with book covers or characters from their favorite works of Black literature. The media center featured displays of books by Black authors and historical African Americans. The school also hosted “Dinner and a Movie” featuring the film “A Raisin in the Sun.”

Shiloh HS and MS:

• Shiloh High School and Shiloh Middle School joined forces during Black History Month to create a program that included presentations from student groups from six of the seven schools in the Shiloh cluster. The presentations included a fashion show, The Shiloh Cluster Musical Ensemble, the Shiloh Middle Step Team, and the Anderson-Livsey Step Team, and Chorus.

Gwinnett Online Campus (GOC):

• Gwinnett Online Campus’ Student Leadership Team planned a Black History Month Showcase for all students in grades K-12. Students were invited to present their knowledge of historic African Americans and participate in mini-lessons throughout the month to learn about the experiences and history of African Americans.

View images of how GCPS Schools commemorated Black History Month.