Celebrating Black History Month in Atlanta Public Schools

Students at Burgess Peterson performed a skit about Benjamin Banneker in 2012.

Students at Burgess Peterson performed a skit about Benjamin Banneker in 2012.

APS schools and students are celebrating Black History Month!  I’ve reached out to our principals and below are a few highlights for the month:

Gideons Elementary School has planned a school wide Black History program along with “A Taste of Soul” Event for the entire staff and parents. Festivities will begin at 9:00am, Friday, February 20.  Gideons is located at 897 Welch St., SW  30310.  To learn more, call 404-802-7700.

Students at Scott Elementary School will celebrate African Americans of the past, present and future with a spoken word and musical performance.  Students will lead a panel discussion about the Civil Rights Movement.  The event will take place at 12:30pm, February 26, in the school gym.  Scott Elementary is located at 1752 Hollywood Road, Atlanta, GA.  Call 404-802-7000 for more details.

Students at Bolton Academy will celebrate Black History Month during two student assemblies, Thursday, Feb. 26 at 9:00am and later that morning at 10:15am. Bolton Academy is located at 2268 Adams Dr., NW.  Call 404-802-8350 for details.

North Atlanta High School will host their Black History Month program February 26 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm.  The event will include performances by the Fine Arts Department at NAHS and speakers who will speak on the importance and impact of Black History. North Atlanta High School is located at 4111 Northside Pkwy., NW, 30327. To learn more, call 404-802-4700.

South Atlanta High School theater students will perform excerpts from “The Colored Museum” Thursday, Feb. 26 and Friday, Feb. 27.  Monologues, songs and other original dramatic pieces will also be performed. South Atlanta High School is located at 800 Hutchens Rd., SE, 30354. Call 404-802-5000 for more details.

Students at Usher-Collier Elementary School will celebrate Black History Month with a short skit from students on peace and non-violence and performances by the cheer squad and dance team. The event will take place at 9:30am, Friday, February 27, in the school gym. Usher is located at 631 Harwell Road NW, Atlanta, GA. Call 404-802-5700 for more details.

Kimberly Elementary School will present a Live Wax Museum on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 from 8:30 – 10:30 AM in the Media Center. Located at 3090 McMurray Dr., SW  30311, additional information is available at 404-802-7600.

Atlanta Public Schools is also honoring four African Americans who have made significant strides in Public Education with public service announcements. Bazoline Estelle Usher, Atlanta’s first black female supervisor of Negro Schools, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays the first black board member and first black president of the Atlanta Board of Education, Dr. Alonzo A. Crim the first black superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools and Dr. Meria J. Carstarphen the second black female and youngest superintendent of Atlanta Public Schools will be highlighted during the month of February on 90.1 WABE, V-103 and WAOK-1380.

Dr. Joseph Lowery attended a 2012 dedication ceremony at D.M. Therrell Educational Complex where the  auditorium was named in his honor.

Dr. Joseph Lowery attended a 2012 dedication ceremony at D.M. Therrell Educational Complex where the auditorium was named in his honor.

Named after Civil Rights icon Rev. Joseph E. Lowery, the Joseph E. Lowery Lecture Series on Civic Engagement lecture series was created by the Atlanta Board of Education in honor of Rev. Lowery’s 80th birthday.  The event exposes APS high school seniors to prominent business and community leaders to dialog about the importance of civic engagement.  The 14th Annual Joseph E. Lowery Lecture Series on Civic Engagement is scheduled for Monday, February 23, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at D.M. Therrell High School.

Tune into Comcast’s APS channel 22 during February to view the district’s question and answer session with students from Corretta Scott King Middle and High Schools, Washington High School and Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School with the producers and stars of the motion picture ‘SELMA.’  Moderated by Monica Pearson, I was honored to sit on this panel to talk about my hometown of Selma, Alabama and how its citizens changed history during the 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery.  Tune in and listen to the fantastic questions posed by our students and the insight from the panel.

Additional Black History Month Events in APS:

Young Middle School:  Annual program on February 19, 3116 Benjamin E. Mays Dr., SW, 30311, 404-802-5900

Hope-Hill Elementary: Thursday, February 19 at, 112 Boulevard, NE, 30312, 404-802-7450

Deerwood Academy: Screening of the student-made film, “Our Journey”, takes place on Tuesday, February 24 at 5:00. This coincides with a Black History art exhibit. 3070 Fairburn Rd., 30331, 404-802-3300

Cleveland Ave. Elementary: Program held in gymnasium on Thursday, February 26 at 9 a.m., 2672 Old Hapeville Rd., SW 30315, 404-802-8400

Hutchinson Elementary School: “Reconnecting Our Roots” program to be held in school gymnasium on Tuesday, February 24 at 6 p.m., 650 Cleveland Ave., SW, 30315, 404-802-7650

Fickett Elementary: Students perform a play written by fifth grade teacher Rhonda Jackson on Wednesday, February 25 at 6:00 p.m., 3935 Rux Rd., SW, 30331, 404-802-7850

Price Middle School: Annual program to be held in cafeteria on February 26th, at 6 p.m., 1670 Benjamin W. Bickers Dr., SW, 30354, 404-802-6300

Whitefoord Elementary: Program on Friday, February 27 at 9:00 a.m., 35 Whitefoord Ave., NE, 30317, 404-802-6900

Parkside Elementary: Annual program on Friday, February 27 at 9:00 a.m. in the gym, 685 Mercer St., SE, 30312, 404-802-4100

Bunche Middle School: Annual program on Friday, February 27 at 9:30 a.m. 2250 Perry Blvd, NW, Atlanta, GA 30331, 404-802-6700

Gideons Elementary: First performance on Friday, February 20 at 9:00 a.m. in the school’s gymnasium. 897 Welch St., SW, 30310, 404-802-7700

Gideons Elementary: Second performance to be held at Carver School of Arts on Tuesday, February 24 at 6:00 p.m., 55 McDonough Blvd., SE 30315, 404-802-4400

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