Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Throughout the month of February, schools in St. John the Baptist Parish have been celebrating Black History Month.

Daily readings at LaPlace Elementary School have highlighted inventors, athletes and other famous African-Americans. The school kicked off Black History Month with speakers Natalie Robottom, former parish president, and Courtney Baloney, CEO of Treasures of Life Funeral Services. More than 450 umbrellas were given to students to participate in a decorating contest highlighting black history. The umbrellas were then used in a second line at the school. A step show, soul food luncheon and door-decorating contest rounded out the month of events.

“I learned about Jackie Robinson and Rosa Parks,” LES seventh-grader Trendarius Blackwell said. “Parks was a middle-aged black woman who thought whites and blacks should get along and be equal. Parks was known in black history for how she refused to move to a different seat after sitting in a white person’s spot.”

Talented music students at the St. John STEM Magnet High School were tasked with researching influential musicians. Scott Joplin, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Fats Domino, Ella Fitzgerald and Etta James were among the subjects. The students then put together a program featuring songs by the artists.

Among the activities at East St. John High was a food truck project that had students research African-American entrepreneurs and inventors and create a 3D truck to display at the school.

All this week, West St. John High School is celebrating Black History Spirit Week. Theme days include “Do it for the Culture,” “#staywoke,” “Celebrating African-American History in Film” and “Historically Black Colleges and Universities.” A full day of activities on Thursday will include an art gallery walk featuring a modern take on civil rights posters and other art by students, a scientific table features scientists and engineers, genealogy of family names in Edgard, a scavenger hunt, spoken word and literature prepared by students, a “Who’s Who in Black History” through living wax figures, a skit and information about African-American strides in math and medicine.

The celebration has even extended to the community. Last week, the East St. John High choir and Interact Club and the John L. Ory Magnet School choir performed at the St. John the Baptist Parish Library’s Black History Month Program.

Taye Drake, an eighth-grader in John L. Ory’s choir who participated in the event, said that the lessons taught during Black History Month have shown that black history isn’t just for African-Americans but for all Americans.

“It’s for all of us,” Drake said. “There is a lot to learn, and we can all benefit from it.”

As we wind down the final week before the Mardi Gras holiday, there’s still time to celebrate Black History Month with our students.

On Thursday, Garyville-Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School’s Head Start through second-graders will present their program at 9 a.m. Third- through eighth-graders will perform at 11 a.m. West St. John High School will present an Interactive Black History Program at 1:30 p.m. LaPlace Elementary School will present its Black History Program at 8:15 a.m. on Friday.

Jennifer Boquet is communications specialist for St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools. She can be reached at jboquet@stjohn.k12.la.us.