Fort Bend Independent School District NEWS RELEASE FROM COMMUNITY RELATIONS Keryn Miles, Communications Specialist keryn.miles@fortbendisd.com    281.634.1100

**  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  **

Fort Bend ISD Celebrates Black History Month

FORT BEND ISD ― Fort Bend ISD students and staff celebrated Black History Month with various programs and activities honoring the history, teaching, and achievements of African Americans to the American culture. The Lake Olympia Middle School Choir, for instance, took part in a ribbon-cutting ceremony dedicating the Freedom Tree Park Observation Deck and Outdoor Classroom in Lake Olympia. The event was hosted by The City of Missouri City’s Parks and Recreation Department. The Freedom Tree is a large live oak where, in 1865, African Americans in the area first heard of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Hightower High School’s Theatre Arts Department presented the play, Fences, which is part of August Wilson’s epic cycle focusing on African American life in the 20^th century. The cast also appeared on Great Day Houston to promote the play. Clements High School’s Black Heritage Organization joined Dulles High School’s Black Cultural Awareness Organization in presenting a program of cultural dances, songs and poetry readings. Burton Elementary School’s program, “The Year of the Entertainer,” celebrated the lives of Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jackson, and Blue Ridge Elementary School also honored Michael Jackson with their “This is It!” Black History Month program.

Pictured at Burton Elementary School are students Lauren Gill, Donovan Williams, Gabriel Sandoval and Andrea Earls with staff members Gwendolen Chenier, Tahida Williams, and Tikisha Santiago.

The cast from Hightower High School’s production of the play, Fences, visited with Debra Duncan on Great Day Houston to promote the play.

Blue Ridge Elementary School cheerleaders performed to a Temptations song in tribute to entertainer Michael Jackson during their program titled, "This is It!"

Clements High School students Christopher Johnson and Cameron Bell recited a poem written by poet and playwright, Langston Hughes.

The Lake Olympia Middle School Choir is shown performing at Freedom Tree Park located in Lake Olympia. Also pictured are the marking and actual "Freedom Tree" on Misty Hollow Drive.

printer friendly