Celebrating Black History Month in Ritenour Schools
Ritenour students and staff celebrated Black excellence with creative learning experiences throughout February as part of Black History Month. In addition to classroom activities, below are some highlights of events, projects, and speakers from each Ritenour building.
Buder Elementary second- and fifth-grade students rocked a packed house in the school gym on Feb. 26, singing during their Tribute to Stevie Wonder for their peers and families as a culminating activity for Black History Month.
Iveland Elementary’s annual schoolwide Black History performances for families engaged each grade level that showcased music and culture from different periods of Black history during the last century. Students performed on Feb. 19 in front of a packed house in Ritenour Auditorium for family and friends.
Kratz Elementary’s third-graders presented a Harlem Renaissance concert for their peers and families on Feb. 24. The concert celebrated the famous change-makers of this time period by singing, dancing and playing instruments to inspirational songs.
Marion Elementary fifth-graders brought Black history to life with their Living History Museum. They presented their projects with 2-minute speeches about the famous trailblazers they researched. After every grade level visited their Living History Museum and learned about famous African Americans, the fifth-graders showcased their projects during an evening event for their families.
Marvin Elementary’s daily Black history engagement not only included daily facts about influential African Americans and hearing music by popular artists, but also a special schoolwide project called Biography Bottles. Each class focused on a different African American trailblazer that engaged students in writing biographies and turning 2-liter bottles into statue representations. The projects were on display during parent-teacher conferences.
Wyland Elementary’s Black History Month assembly on Feb. 27 featured a powerful celebration of culture, legacy and excellence with the theme, "The is Sky the Limit!" Student speakers inspired their peers portraying Hidden Figures and Tuskegee Airmen.
Hoech Middle School students worked on a schoolwide Black History Month artifact project that depicted notable African Americans and historical events during the last 100 years. Students worked on these projects with classmates throughout February and then presented projects and performed during Black History Artifacts Showcase.
Ritenour Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society filled the hallways with inspirational quotes from prominent Black leaders to remind students they are future changemakers and trailblazers. Students started each school day in February listening to music by prominent Black artists and could call into the office naming the title and artist for small prizes.
Husky Academy students were inspired by three Ritenour High School alumni who spoke to students as part of the academy’s Black Excellence series. Each alum candidly shared the ups and downs of becoming successful in their careers and life lessons that helped them grow as individuals to make a positive impact on others. Speakers included: Jalen Hinton, a 2012 graduate and a stand-up comedian and content creator; India Gibbs-Harris, a 2012 graduate and community leader in the St. Louis area; Emyzra “Mann” McGruder, a 2018 graduate and former Lindenwood football player who is building a music career.
Ritenour High School’s Game Changers commemorated Black History Month by hosting a successful vendor fair for local black-owned businesses on Feb. 26. Businesses run by Ritenour students, alumni, staff and community members participated in the fair. The evening event also included outstanding performances by the RHS Jazz Band and Vocal Flex.
