Black History Month Celebrations at HSA McKinley Park!

In celebration of Black History Month, we would like to take this opportunity to salute, honor, and highlight our staff who make such tremendous contributions to the success of our school:

Ms. Benita Johnson- Reading Specialist
Ms. Muna Yusuf- SPED Case Manager
Ms. Samantha Martin- 5th Grade Math Teacher
Ms. Khayla Banks-2nd Grade Teacher
Ms. Motade Erinle- HS DL Teacher
Ms. Chloe Dukes-Art Teacher
Coach Tommie- Character Education Teacher
Ms. Lisa Young-Paraprofessional
Ms. Brewer- School Nurse
Ms. Kayla Metcalf- Middle School Science Teacher
Ms. Eboni Brownlee- In-house Sub
Mr. Tim McGraw- Security
Ms. Jule Malone - In-house Sub
Ms. Florine James-SPED Teacher

We appreciate you all so much!

K-5 Assembly

We celebrated Black History Month with our K-5 students through an incredible assembly filled with student and staff talent!

A special recognition goes out to our HSA school band, Maya Caref, our talented 4th graders, the newly formed Staff Gospel Choir, and our amazing Black Student Union for making this event truly memorable.

This assembly featured:

-The birth of our Staff Gospel Choir, led by Ms. Martin, who delivered a powerful performance of Melodies from Heaven.

-Maya Caref moving the audience with a beautiful rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing.

-Our school band performing I'll Be There by The Jackson 5 and Sticky by Tyler, the Creator.

-Ms. Kolevska’s 4th graders singing a heartfelt version of Lean on Me.

-BSU students and Ms. Martin reciting a heartfelt poem.

-A special recognition for our BSU students by club moderators Coach Tommie and Ms. Metcalf.

It was a fantastic assembly, and we sincerely thank everyone who contributed to making it such a success!

Jesse White Tumblers Assemblies

As we continue celebrating this month’s events, we had the privilege of hosting The Jesse White Tumblers for both our middle and high school students!

This annual assembly is always a student favorite. Their high-energy, interactive performance leaves a lasting impression, and we are proud to showcase this incredible group.

This year was extra special because we had our very own student, 6th grader- Brandon Bryant Jr., who is part of the JW Tumbler team, perform for the middle school show! Seeing one of our own in action was truly inspiring.

We hope to continue this partnership and encourage any students interested in joining The Jesse White Tumblers to explore this opportunity. Many of their current members are retiring, and they are looking for new volunteers to carry on their legacy!

Click the link below for more information:

JWT INFO

BSU Family Freedom Dinner

To close out Black History Month, our Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a Family Freedom Dinner, bringing together families from our school community for an evening of great food, entertainment, and art.

Guests had the opportunity to bid on beautiful student-created artwork while enjoying incredible performances.

This year, we focused on ensuring that our families experienced the joy and connection that our students feel during these events. Celebrations like these are vital to strengthening our school community and honoring our shared history.

Thank you to everyone who joined us! Stay tuned for more family events—we look forward to celebrating together again soon!

CYSP FAMILY SKATE NIGHT

We wrapped up Black History Month with our CYSP Family Skate Night on February 24th! Now an annual event, this special night brought together over 100 participants for an exciting experience centered around the rich tradition of roller skating in Black culture.

Roller skating holds a significant place within Black culture, serving as a space for self-expression and community building. During the Civil Rights era, when Black people often faced segregation at roller rinks, dedicated "Soul Nights" or "Rhythm Nights" emerged, allowing them to skate freely and cultivate a unique subculture. These gatherings became safe spaces for Black communities to unite, celebrate, and express themselves through movement and music.

Black roller skaters also developed distinct dance styles, heavily influenced by funk, soul, and R&B music, further shaping the roller skating culture.

Today, the legacy of these traditions continues, and we love seeing our families embrace this history, enjoy themselves, and make lasting memories on the rink. This is a celebration we look forward to every year!