U-46 Celebrates Black History Month
Feb. 25 keynote speech to focus on resilience
ELGIN - As part of School District U-46 events celebrating Black History Month, an educator and community leader will challenge and inspire U-46 families toward excellence during a virtual event that will also honor more than 100 students. Teachers and school leaders across the District are also creating special activities and events while acknowledging that we cannot limit Black history lessons and celebrations to the month of February.
“While we strive for equity and inclusiveness every day, it is still important to focus on the contributions and accomplishments of Black Americans during this month,” said U-46 Superintendent Tony Sanders. “We are also proud to recognize the academic excellence, dedication and accomplishment of our African-American students.”
The free event, being held virtually at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, is open to all members of the U-46 community. During the program, U-46 will be honoring African-American students who are excelling in 6th, 8th, and 12th grades as well as students who participated in a November forum about their experiences as Black students in U-46. These outstanding student leaders have been invited to participate with their families.
Brittany Barber, the 2019 recipient of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award in the City of Elgin, will offer a keynote address
entitled "Resilience Personified: Celebrating Black Excellence, Fortitude and Culture” as part of the event. Those interested in attending should register at http://bit.ly/BHMU46.
School-based Black History Month events include the following:
| School |
Activity |
Date |
| Abbott Middle School |
Student council members are filming administrators, staff, and students sharing facts related to Black History Month to send to students digitally. |
Varies |
| Century Oaks Elementary School |
Community members invited to read aloud to students books either written by African-American authors or about notable African-American figures or events. |
Feb. 15 |
| Clinton Elementary |
Teachers in all grade levels have deliberately pulled materials, within their curriculum, that highlight Black authors, characters, and experiences. They will be using these curricular choices to have important, age appropriate conversations with students about African American experiences and achievements in the United States for the month of February.
Mr. Miquelon is highlighting an important event or person each day in their daily announcements to celebrate the achievements of African Americans throughout history. |
varies |
| Creekside Elementary School |
Students throughout the school are engaging in historical, cultural, literary and socio-political learning in honor of Black History Month. They will gather for a virtual community celebration during the last week of February to share thoughts and hear from other students, staff, and family members. |
Tuesday, February 23rd, 6:30-7:30pm via zoom |
| Heritage Elementary School |
Heritage students participating in a variety of classroom-based activities which will be shared during school virtual meetings later in the month. |
Varies |
| Hilltop Elementary |
As part of a "Many Stories, Stories Matter" event, 6th graders are inviting local Black community members to Zoom session to share their story |
Varies |
Fox Meadow Elementary |
Intermediate students in music class are studying African-American spirituals, making connections to history, such as slavery and the Civil War.
Students in the primary grades will sing songs and read books about Martin Luther King, Jr. and will focus on the Civil Rights Movement.
All grades will discuss the Black Lives Matter movement and how it connects to previous periods in history.
African-American role models are also being highlighted during school-wide morning announcements, and Principal Gold is reading a book or highlighting a musician related to Black History Month as part of his weekly family e-newsletter. |
Varies |
| Ronald D. O’Neal Elementary |
Students will learn about famous Black artists. |
Throughout month |
| South Elgin High School |
Physical education teacher Stephanie Katzenberger is tying fitness challenges to historic events, such as the 54-mile Selma to Birmingham March, or places, such as the 70,000 steps it would take to walk from South Elgin to Chicago’s DuSable Museum of African American History |
Throughout month |
| Streamwood High School |
As part of a “One Book, One Community” effort many students and staff are reading “Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You” by Jason Reynolds. The author will then speak at a virtual presentation open to the community |
Thursday, March 18 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. |
###
School District U-46 serves families in 11 communities: Bartlett, Elgin, Hanover Park, South Elgin, Streamwood and Wayne, as well as portions of Carol Stream, Hoffman Estates, St. Charles, Schaumburg, and West Chicago. In total, the District encompasses 90 square miles within the Fox River Valley, approximately 45 minutes west of downtown Chicago, and includes communities within Cook, DuPage and Kane counties. More than 37,000 pre-K through twelfth graders attend the 57 District schools and programs. To learn more, Visit the U-46 website, or like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
