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Black History Night Celebrates Unity, Community and Peace
Meramec Elementary’s annual Black History Night celebration was another multi-faceted event this year, commemorating African-American history and culture through a variety of ways. The Feb. 16 event was themed “Unity, Community, and Peace” based on the book, “Painting for Peace in Ferguson” by local author Carol Swartout Klein. Art Teacher Beth Williams worked with students on the lessons surrounding the book earlier this year, and Librarian Jeri Lynn Palmer hosted Klein for presentations with each class.
Black History Night began with a Gallery Walk showcasing the students’ artwork inspired by African-American artists. Additionally, PTO Black History Committee Chairs Leslie Christian Wilson and Bella Keough organized student art based on Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech.
In the gym, the Meramec students and staff treated the community to several performances, including an original play written by Meramec Fifth-Grade Teacher Yorba Johnson, which took the audience on a journey through African-American history. Additionally, students performed grade-level and school-wide songs they learned in music class. Actors, singers, instrumentalists and a tumbler all worked with Teachers Megan Hutson, Yorba Johnson and Randi Shanker before school to perfect the play and their performances as soloists.
The Mustang Steppers, under the direction of Educational Technologist Tarita Rhimes, brought down the house with their student-led steps. The final song of the night, “If You’re Out There,” called on Meramec students to be the future of unity, community and peace in the world.
Black History Night began with a Gallery Walk showcasing the students’ artwork inspired by African-American artists. Additionally, PTO Black History Committee Chairs Leslie Christian Wilson and Bella Keough organized student art based on Martin Luther King Jr.'s “I Have a Dream” speech.
In the gym, the Meramec students and staff treated the community to several performances, including an original play written by Meramec Fifth-Grade Teacher Yorba Johnson, which took the audience on a journey through African-American history. Additionally, students performed grade-level and school-wide songs they learned in music class. Actors, singers, instrumentalists and a tumbler all worked with Teachers Megan Hutson, Yorba Johnson and Randi Shanker before school to perfect the play and their performances as soloists.
The Mustang Steppers, under the direction of Educational Technologist Tarita Rhimes, brought down the house with their student-led steps. The final song of the night, “If You’re Out There,” called on Meramec students to be the future of unity, community and peace in the world.
The evening concluded with a treat of bread pudding provided by the Meramec PTO.