The Long Beach Public Schools have been honoring Black History Month in numerous ways these past few weeks. The district kicked off its events early this year, beginning with lessons focused on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January. More activities followed and many are still underway.

Throughout the buildings, students learned about Dr. King’s legacy and discussed his famous speech. The schools paid homage to his leadership and impact by showcasing pictures and quotes.

Long Beach High School’s African American Club developed a 2021 Black History Virtual Festival that provided opportunities to celebrate Black History Month throughout February. This year’s theme is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity” and the club shared a set of educational resources. They invited peers to take part in a virtual exhibition at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, watch a Black History Makers video, join book discussions and poetry readings, witness the art of step dancing with Dance Afrika, code a Langston Hughes Poem and much more. They also spotlighted the Long Beach Public Library’s “Movin’ to Motown” exercise class and National African American Read-In with Professor Anissa Moore. Many of the other activities noted were sponsored by libraries in surrounding communities as well as media outlets.

High school students also created a collage of Historically Black Colleges that is displayed outside the counseling center and posted inspirational messages and images in the library and commons area. The Book Club, in collaboration with Director of Literacy Dr. Lorraine Radice, sponsored a virtual visit with “Dear Martin” author Nic Stone. Long Beach Middle School students participated in a Google Meet session with Janae Marks, author of “A Soft Place to Land” and “From the Desk of Zoe Washington.”

Other Middle School highlights include bulletin boards filled with information on Black authors, historical figures, artists, entertainers, innovators and athletes. Students are working on research projects that collectively form a “Periodic Table of Black History.” This week, they will view a PTA-sponsored assembly presented by Squeaky Clean that focuses on the Civil Rights Movement.

Kindergarten classes at West Elementary School celebrated the Lunar New Year with lessons and activities. Students explored the festival’s origin and traditions through various hands-on projects led by teachers Anne LaPenna, Michelle Spreckels and Chelsea Way.

This Lunar New Year, which represents the year of the Ox, took place on Feb. 12. Leading up to the day, students created and exchanged red envelopes that were filled with tokens to symbolize prosperity and happiness. Classes discussed the significance of the tokens, which are given in even numbers for good luck, as well as the meaning of the holiday.  They also decorated paper lanterns while learning about the Lantern Festival, which takes place on the 15th day of the lunar calendar’s first month, and dressed in red to symbolize happiness, wealth, and good fortune.

Ms. Spreckels’ classroom featured a “museum” of artifacts from China. Items included a fan, a parasol, scroll writing, silk scarves and authentic decorations. Students learned the phrase “Gung hay fat choy,” which conveys wishes for a happy new year, and enjoyed traditional Chinese music. 

Long Beach High School is proud to announce that seven students had their photography selected for a juried exhibition presented by the Art Guild titled “My 20/20 World.” Their work is featured in an online show that is on display until March 10.

Erick Cisneros, Ariana Cruz, Adrianna Flores, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Liliana Parlakian, Ana Ramirez and Hannah Ramirez were recognized for their respective entries: “Point of View,” “Lonely Soul,” “Sunshine,” “A New Day,” “Hidden Rainbow,” “Red Climax” and “Leaves.” Additionally, a piece by photography teacher Lorraine Levchenko titled “Inside” is included in the show.

The Art Guild accepted portraits, landscapes, photojournalism, macro photography and composite pieces from photographers and artists in high school and beyond. This year’s theme encouraged participants to share creativity that they discovered through the challenges of the pandemic.

 

Several Long Beach schools celebrated P.S. I Love You Day as a way to encourage kindness and caring. An assortment of activities and projects focused on thoughtfulness toward others and helped to connect students and staff members. Many participants wore purple in support of the program’s mission.

At Long Beach High School, the Student Organization coordinated P.S. I Love You Day efforts on Feb. 11 and 12. Members arrived early in the morning and decorated the building, placed notes on every desk and filled the commons area with displays of positive affirmations. Additionally, carnations were available for students to purchase for others.

The Middle School organized numerous initiatives over the two days as well. A welcoming committee provided positive statements, purple ribbons and uplifting messages to those entering the building. Students wrote kind notes that were affixed to lockers and doors and also composed letters to special people in their lives. Additionally, they shared characteristics that define good friends and combined their responses to create a “caring quilt” displayed in the hallway.

Lido and the Pre-K Center observed Kindness Week, which culminated with P.S. I Love You Day. Students decorated kindness rocks in a project sponsored by the Pre-K and Lido PTAs and completed “I Love My Selfie” posters. Students and staff members also shared hearts with words of encouragement. The other buildings hold lessons and activities throughout the year that take different forms, but encompass the same underlying messages of love, compassion and positive mindsets.