Black History Month 2022 Highlights at the EMSB
Montreal, February 18, 2022- Rosemount High School under the direction of Spiritual Community Animator Vince Lacroce will be launching its second annual Black History Month Museum. This interactive and portable museum allows students to examine the history and contributions of the Black community. It includes music, videos, and a look at the importance of the civil rights movement highlighting activists such as Rosa Parks, Viola Desmond, Donovan Bailey, and Dr. Martin Luther King.
RHS Secondary IV and V
students will be trained as official museum guides and will help facilitate
tours of the museum for groups of students. The official launch of the museum
took place on February 11 at Nesbitt Elementary School in the school’s library
and will culminate with a day-long presentation in the Spiritual Community
Centre at Rosemount High School on February 22 Each museum visit will
include a Black History Month video tribute (https://vimeo.com/672358719 Password: VINCE)
from Mr. Lacroce, a motivational speech from the founder of Grove Campus, Mr.
Brandon Dawson-Jarvis, and a journey through the museum from the RHS Museum
student guides. Helping support the museum initiative with Mr. Lacroce is Andrew
D’Anna. The museum will be open every day at
lunch for those interested in learning more about the subject matter.
At
Pierre de Coubertin and Rosemount High School, Spiritual Community Animator Mr.
Lacroce will be launching the “Revolution Race.”
This event combines your favourite elements of the Amazing Race, a reality
television show, and a scavenger hunt, whereby groups of students will have to
complete various tasks and educational challenges throughout the school while
learning about the stories, experiences, and accomplishments of both Canadian
and American Black Heroes. The goal of this program is to have students
recognize the contributions of the Black community during the Civil Rights
movement, and in the realms of education, government, science, sports, and
music. The Revolution Race will culminate as teams journey through a labyrinth
while learning about the Underground Railroad.
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| Students from Rosemount High School participate in Black History Month. |
On Wednesday,
February 23 ( 9:45 am), students at Rosemount High
School will have a formal Black History Celebration in the school’s auditorium
with social distancing and Covid-19 protocols in place. Students will have an
opportunity to hear inspiring words from the bilingual community leader and
intercultural relations expert Linton Garner, founder of Montreal
Community Cares Foundation Denburk Reid, an Afro-Caribbean Dance tribute
from TVA’s Revolution reality Dance show Jamal Edem, former Rosemount
High School Alumnus Oliver Momerancy, and a musical rendition of Bill Wither’s
timeless classic “Lean on Me” from Secondary 5 student Daniela Dos Santos.
In honor of Black History Month, Spiritual
Animator Veronica D’Agata, invited Overture with the Arts to speak at Vincent
Massey Collegiate in Rosemount. The virtual presentation, “Tracking Black
Canada,” focused on the often-forgotten histories of early Black communities
across our country. Through their trademark entertainment style, they highlight
the contributions and achievements of these prominent residents in these
communities. Staff and students found it to be very engaging and interesting as
they learned more about our own Canadian Black history.
Through Ms. D’Agata’s class visits, the Grade
K to 2 students at John Caboto, Michelangelo, and Pierre Elliott Trudeau had
the opportunity to learn about Ruby Bridges, the brave little girl who advanced
the cause of civil rights in 1960 when she became the first African American
student to desegregate an all-white elementary school in the southern USA. Our
young students expressed how unfair segregation was and were so grateful to be
in a school where diversity and inclusion are welcomed.
The Grade 3 to 6 students had the
opportunity to learn about slavery and the Underground railroad through a
storybook based on the life of Henry “Box” Brown, who escaped slavery by
mailing himself to freedom. The students recognized the incredible courage and
determination this man and many others possessed to endure such an experience.
Ms. D’Agata explained that Black History
is a part of us all. It is about celebrating resilience, innovation, and
determination to work towards a more inclusive and diverse country. By learning
about the past, we open the door to the future.
To celebrate Black History Month, Cycle 1 students at East Hill had the pleasure of meeting Guédeline Desrosiers, an author of diverse backgrounds. (See photo above). She shared her passion for children's literature through her first album entitled "Lili Rose." The students then expressed their friendship with their classmates through an art activity. This workshop was a success!
