Celebrating Black History Month at NHA® Schools
NHA Communications TeamNHA Communications Team
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February is Black History Month, and scholars at all National Heritage Academies (NHA) schools celebrated and learned about Black pioneers, culture, and history. These celebrations included student performance, family involvement, and plenty of fun. Check out how schools celebrated!
Achieve Charter Academy, River City Scholars
Staff members went all out in decorating their doors with Black history figures and themes to celebrate Black History Month. At Achieve Charter Academy, classes went around and completed a scavenger hunt, searching for various facts that were found on doors throughout the school.
Aspire Charter Academy
Scholars at Aspire Charter Academy prepared a Celebration of the Past Living Museum. Scholars presented themselves as famous people or historical figures and shared their research with families. Small minority-owned businesses were also at the event, connecting families with their community.
Center Line Preparatory Academy
Center Line Preparatory Academy scholars and families gathered for the third annual Black History Month Assembly, which hosted a variety of engaging performances. The school’s youngest scholars marched in an ABC’s of Black History Parade with each letter of the alphabet representing a different contribution to Black history and culture. Third, fourth, and fifth graders performed a Shabooyah Roll Call with select students representing important figures in Black history and reading poems. One middle school student performed a jazz number before middle and high school students put on an original skit in which prominent Black figures met with Harriet Tubman to show the impact she had. The assembly concluded with a Divine Nine Step Show, featuring historically Black fraternities and sororities dancing – even some Center Line staff members performed.
Detroit Premier Academy
Detroit Premier Academy hosted its annual Black History Program for scholars and their families. The school’s dance and cheerleading teams performed for the crowd before visiting various stations that included face painting, an African jewelry showcase, African drum performances, and African head wrapping.
At Detroit Premier’s annual Black History Month Program, scholars were able to participate in face painting, an African jewelry showcase, African drum performances, and African head wrapping.
Fortis Academy
Scholars at Fortis Academy celebrated National African American Parent Involvement Day on Feb. 10. Families visited the school and attended an assembly where parents spoke about their careers and community involvement. The school also had a Black History Month Door Decorating Contest and families voted on their favorites during lunch.
Knapp Charter Academy
Knapp Charter Academy hosted a Black History Wax Museum to celebrate the important contributions of African Americans in history. Scholars each choose a historical figure to research and represent. Scholars created informative displays and even dressed up like their subject before presenting in front of peers and families.
Legacy Charter Academy
Scholars and families gathered for Legacy Charter Academy’s action-packed Black History Night. Scholars performed a Langston Hughes poetry reading, sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and performed Aretha Franklin and Jackson 5 songs. Legacy’s cheer team put on a show for the crowd before families were able to see the various Black History projects scholars completed. Earlier in the school day, Divine Nine community members came to speak with scholars about their experience in African American fraternities and sororities before performing for students.
Divine Nine community members came to speak with scholars about their experience in African American fraternities and sororities before performing for students at Legacy Charter Academy.
North Dayton School of Discovery
Scholars at the North Dayton School of Discovery attended a Black History Month Program that displayed connection to their community and celebrated Black culture and history. Tommy Owens served as the keynote speaker, reminding scholars that no matter where they are from, they can become whoever they aspire to be. Spoken word artist Ralph Farley performed one of his poems, and the school honored Nicole Stephens and Vonida Thompson for their leadership in the community. Scholars also performed poems and dances to close out the event.
Oakside Prep Academy
Oakside Prep Academy hosted a Black Business Expo, welcoming in local Black-owned community businesses to share resources with the scholars and their families. The greater community was engaged, and several vendors sold out of the products they brought. While families interacted with local business owners, students presented a living wax museum and scholars’ art was on display.
Orion Academy
Orion Academy held its Young, Black, and Gifted program where students put on a show. Scholars sang songs and read poetry before an African dance group put on a show and performed on the drums. Eighth-grade students also put on a Harlem Renaissance Museum for the school. They filled the space with music while presenting their reports and replica artwork to the school community.
Orion Academy held its Young, Black, and Gifted program where students put on a show. Scholars sang songs and read poetry before an African dance group put on a show and performed on the drums.
Pinnacle Academy
Pinnacle Academy scholars took part in a wax museum, stepping in the shoes of their Black role models. Students researched and presented on their subjects during an event open to families and community members. During Specials instruction, scholars made biopoems and digital biographies, reflecting the lives and impact of their figures. Student art adorned the halls as they were inspired by influential Black artists.
Pinnacle Academy students researched and presented on Black history subjects for a living wax museum during an event open to families and community members.
Prevail Academy
Prevail Academy music teacher Melody Brooks brought in a few colleagues to put on a Black History Month Concert for scholars. Brooks belted out tunes and played trumpet while Emani Barber played bass, Kevin Christian was on the piano, Will Daniels played percussion, and Ackeem Salmon was on the harp. Black History education was woven into the performance as well.
Prevail music teacher Melody Brooks brought in a few colleagues to perform at the school’s Black History Month Concert. Performers include (from left to right): Ackeem Salmon, Kevin Christian, Melody Brooks, Will Daniels, and Emani Barber.
Stambaugh Charter Academy
Scholars were front and center at Stambaugh Charter Academy’s Black History Month Fashion Show. The school partnered with Communities In Schools to host the event, and scholars served the show as models. Each student modeled different influential figures, such as civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, with their outfits. The show was open to the public and was free of charge, giving the community an opportunity to interact with this excellent showcase.
Timberland Charter Academy
Timberland Charter Academy hosted the 11th annual Taste of Soul event to celebrate Black History Month. This year’s event highlighted Motown Records, where students read Motown poetry. They also performed the classic Motown tunes of Diana Ross, The Supremes, and The Jackson 5. Praise dancers also performed to African American gospel music. The evening concluded with an authentic soul food dinner.
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
Achieve Charter Academy, River City Scholars
Staff members went all out in decorating their doors with Black history figures and themes to celebrate Black History Month. At Achieve Charter Academy, classes went around and completed a scavenger hunt, searching for various facts that were found on doors throughout the school.
Aspire Charter Academy
Scholars at Aspire Charter Academy prepared a Celebration of the Past Living Museum. Scholars presented themselves as famous people or historical figures and shared their research with families. Small minority-owned businesses were also at the event, connecting families with their community.
Center Line Preparatory Academy
Center Line Preparatory Academy scholars and families gathered for the third annual Black History Month Assembly, which hosted a variety of engaging performances. The school’s youngest scholars marched in an ABC’s of Black History Parade with each letter of the alphabet representing a different contribution to Black history and culture. Third, fourth, and fifth graders performed a Shabooyah Roll Call with select students representing important figures in Black history and reading poems. One middle school student performed a jazz number before middle and high school students put on an original skit in which prominent Black figures met with Harriet Tubman to show the impact she had. The assembly concluded with a Divine Nine Step Show, featuring historically Black fraternities and sororities dancing – even some Center Line staff members performed.
Detroit Premier Academy
Detroit Premier Academy hosted its annual Black History Program for scholars and their families. The school’s dance and cheerleading teams performed for the crowd before visiting various stations that included face painting, an African jewelry showcase, African drum performances, and African head wrapping.
At Detroit Premier’s annual Black History Month Program, scholars were able to participate in face painting, an African jewelry showcase, African drum performances, and African head wrapping.
Fortis Academy
Scholars at Fortis Academy celebrated National African American Parent Involvement Day on Feb. 10. Families visited the school and attended an assembly where parents spoke about their careers and community involvement. The school also had a Black History Month Door Decorating Contest and families voted on their favorites during lunch.
Knapp Charter Academy
Knapp Charter Academy hosted a Black History Wax Museum to celebrate the important contributions of African Americans in history. Scholars each choose a historical figure to research and represent. Scholars created informative displays and even dressed up like their subject before presenting in front of peers and families.
Legacy Charter Academy
Scholars and families gathered for Legacy Charter Academy’s action-packed Black History Night. Scholars performed a Langston Hughes poetry reading, sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and performed Aretha Franklin and Jackson 5 songs. Legacy’s cheer team put on a show for the crowd before families were able to see the various Black History projects scholars completed. Earlier in the school day, Divine Nine community members came to speak with scholars about their experience in African American fraternities and sororities before performing for students.
Divine Nine community members came to speak with scholars about their experience in African American fraternities and sororities before performing for students at Legacy Charter Academy.
North Dayton School of Discovery
Scholars at the North Dayton School of Discovery attended a Black History Month Program that displayed connection to their community and celebrated Black culture and history. Tommy Owens served as the keynote speaker, reminding scholars that no matter where they are from, they can become whoever they aspire to be. Spoken word artist Ralph Farley performed one of his poems, and the school honored Nicole Stephens and Vonida Thompson for their leadership in the community. Scholars also performed poems and dances to close out the event.
Oakside Prep Academy
Oakside Prep Academy hosted a Black Business Expo, welcoming in local Black-owned community businesses to share resources with the scholars and their families. The greater community was engaged, and several vendors sold out of the products they brought. While families interacted with local business owners, students presented a living wax museum and scholars’ art was on display.
Orion Academy
Orion Academy held its Young, Black, and Gifted program where students put on a show. Scholars sang songs and read poetry before an African dance group put on a show and performed on the drums. Eighth-grade students also put on a Harlem Renaissance Museum for the school. They filled the space with music while presenting their reports and replica artwork to the school community.
Orion Academy held its Young, Black, and Gifted program where students put on a show. Scholars sang songs and read poetry before an African dance group put on a show and performed on the drums.
Pinnacle Academy
Pinnacle Academy scholars took part in a wax museum, stepping in the shoes of their Black role models. Students researched and presented on their subjects during an event open to families and community members. During Specials instruction, scholars made biopoems and digital biographies, reflecting the lives and impact of their figures. Student art adorned the halls as they were inspired by influential Black artists.
Pinnacle Academy students researched and presented on Black history subjects for a living wax museum during an event open to families and community members.
Prevail Academy
Prevail Academy music teacher Melody Brooks brought in a few colleagues to put on a Black History Month Concert for scholars. Brooks belted out tunes and played trumpet while Emani Barber played bass, Kevin Christian was on the piano, Will Daniels played percussion, and Ackeem Salmon was on the harp. Black History education was woven into the performance as well.
Prevail music teacher Melody Brooks brought in a few colleagues to perform at the school’s Black History Month Concert. Performers include (from left to right): Ackeem Salmon, Kevin Christian, Melody Brooks, Will Daniels, and Emani Barber.
Stambaugh Charter Academy
Scholars were front and center at Stambaugh Charter Academy’s Black History Month Fashion Show. The school partnered with Communities In Schools to host the event, and scholars served the show as models. Each student modeled different influential figures, such as civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, with their outfits. The show was open to the public and was free of charge, giving the community an opportunity to interact with this excellent showcase.
Timberland Charter Academy
Timberland Charter Academy hosted the 11th annual Taste of Soul event to celebrate Black History Month. This year’s event highlighted Motown Records, where students read Motown poetry. They also performed the classic Motown tunes of Diana Ross, The Supremes, and The Jackson 5. Praise dancers also performed to African American gospel music. The evening concluded with an authentic soul food dinner.
About National Heritage Academies
National Heritage Academies (NHA®) is a network of more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools across nine states, serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.