When searching for words to describe this week’s Black History Month celebrations, one comes to mind—pride. Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) students from each campus honored the past, celebrated the present and inspired the future in their own ways.
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Highpoint School students and staff collaborated to create a vibrant array of history and talents during their performing arts show on Wednesday. Student performances paid homage to prominent historical figures like boxing legend George Foreman and culinary pioneer Leah Chase. Program organizers also invited members of Black Greek letter organizations from local colleges to demonstrate their percussive dance styles and inspire students to seek higher education.
Staff closed the program with a fashion show, during which Principal Courtney Waters and her administrative team donned western wear. In her closing remarks, she left students with a challenge and decree.
“To my young people, what legacy will you leave? What impact will you have on society?” Waters asked. “I stand before you and decree that you will be great because you are already great! One day, your name will go across the screen, and some young person will honor your name for your contributions to this world.”
Along the 610 Loop, the halls of Academic and Behavior Schools East and West were filled with music from the slavery era to hip-hop heard on radios today. Life skill classes used the melodies to showcase history and express appreciation for artists who shaped music nationwide. Behavior students provided oral reports on influential members of the Black community and significant moments in Black history, such as the Jim Crow era and the Civil Rights Movement.
Superintendent James Colbert Jr. and HCDE’s Executive Leadership Team members also served as judges for the door-decorating contest at East. The displays allowed educators to express themselves and foster a positive environment for students to learn about Black culture.
In a stroke of genius, Fortis Academy students studied Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The book illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome trauma. On Friday, students were invited to participate in a therapeutic exercise where they could paint their own birdhouses, representing overcoming their addiction challenges.