Jeannette students work on Black History Month projects
The colors red, yellow and green — symbolizing pride and unity during Black History Month — are taking over Jeannette City School District as officials have a slate of unique learning opportunities planned.
“We have a lot of multicultural kids here,” said Kiaira Jackson, school liaison. “It’s important for them to know their background and the others in school to know.”
Jackson has been leading the effort to expand this year on typical lessons and projects about Black history and important figures. McKee Elementary students are preparing presentations for a showcase next week. Eighth graders at the Junior/Senior High will be portraying people such as author and activist Maya Angelou and Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater, during a “wax museum” in the high school gym.
In addition, educational posters about various figures are hung throughout the school buildings and information about Black figures are included in the morning announcements. Of about 950 students in the district, 14% are Black and nearly 20% are two or more races, according to state data.
“Our entire social studies department is focusing on Black History Month,” said Josh Testa, principal for grades 10 through 12.
The lessons are a way to show students that Black people have made important impacts in every aspect of society, said Jim Raible, elementary principal. Younger students tend to gravitate toward sports figures, he said.
“This kind of exposes them to people that have been historical figures” in fields such as science, technology and civil rights, he said.
Students are excited at the prospect of ditching their daily uniforms for themed dress down days next week, school officials said. Director of education Shelley Muto said the district always has Black History Month lessons, but Jackson has pushed it to another level this year.
“I wanted to bring more awareness to the community,” Jackson said. “We are a very unique school.”
She plans to expand the events next year.
“That’s kind of all of our vision,” Jackson said.
Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
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