Black History Month Celebration
 

On Friday, February 9th, the Parents’ Association and Cultural Connections co-sponsored a Black History Month Celebration at 2:30 P.M.  The program began in the auditorium with  two guest speakers, Miss Chioma Isiadinso, founder of EXPARTUS LLC and the Honorable Hakeem Jeffries, New York State Assemblyman from the 57th Assembly District.  Both of our guest speakers spoke to the students about “never giving up” and “always having confidence in themselves.”  Their talks were followed by our own African Dancers doing their interpretation of a “Freedom Dance.”

 The second part of the program involved the presentation of the awards for the Essay and Poetry Contest sponsored by the Parents’ Association.  Over 70 students submitted poems and essays.  The judges were part of a Parents’ Association subcommittee which met and decided on the winners.

 Essay Contest

“If I had listened, I wouldn’t have gotten this far.”

Grand Prize - Aisha Crowley
1st Runner Up - Shanequa Nurse
2nd Runner Up  - Kwabena Atuah
3rd Runner Up - Naa Shorme Aidoo
4th Runner Up - Nijah Barley
5th Runner Up - Chiamaka Agbasionwe

Poetry Contest

  “Freedom Dance”

Grand Prize - Brittany Walker
1st Runner Up - Christopher Bax
2nd Runner Up -  Cassandra Mugno
3rd Runner Up - O’Nysha Thomas
4th Runner Up - Zahir McNeill
 5th Runner Up - Rahim Vassell

Aisha Crowley, Brittany Walker, Christopher Bax and Cassandra Mugno read their work.  

Following the assembly, everyone was invited to the cafeteria where the Parents’ Association had prepared a feast of ethnic foods.  First, all the honored guests and the finalists in the writing contests were introduced to the crowd and  walked the RED CARPET to a variety of songs played by a DJ.  The food was delicious and the music made the event a real celebration.  Thanks to the Parents’ Association and the members of the Cultural Connections Club for a wonderful afternoon.