February is Black History Month. For the occasion, our morning assemblies have been filled with presentations on many of the notable contributions and accomplishments by members of the Black community.

In addition to this, students were invited to request songs by Black musicians. Some of the songs played were “Stand By Me” (Ben E. King), “The Promise” (Tracy Chapman), “My Baby Just Cares For Me” (Nina Simone), “Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You” (Lauryn Hill), “No Woman No Cry” (Bob Marley and the Wailers), “Isn’t She Lovely” (Stevie Wonder), and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” (Marvin Gaye). Students also sang “L.O.V.E.” by Nat King Cole.

And it doesn't end there! Last week, we welcomed Sonia Patenaude, a talented gospel and jazz singer from the area. Ms. Patenaude began by singing “Sometimes I Feel like a Motherless Child,” a negro-spiritual song first recorded by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in the 1870s. She followed this by reciting Maya Angelou’s poem “Caged Bird” and performing “Hymn To Freedom,” a song composed by Oscar Peterson in 1962 with lyrics by Harriette Hamilton. She ended her visit by reading the poem “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman, poet and activist. Watch her performance here.

Rachel W. and Mme Simard also played a four hand piano duet from the Rag-time composer Scott Joplin, who is known as the King of Ragtime.

This morning, professional Tap Dancer Justin Jackson performed for and spoke to our whole community about Black History Month, sharing many personal experiences.