NEW ROCHELLE, NY — In partnership with the Westchester Alliance of Black School Educators (WABSE) and the New Rochelle Black History Month Committee (NRBHMC), the City School District of New Rochelle is hosting the sixth annual district-wide Black History Spoken Word and Art Exhibit on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at New Rochelle High School,’s Whitney M. Young Auditorium and Rotunda. The exhibit, along with student performances, is part of a day-long celebration and will commemorate the life, work and legacy of Harriet Tubman by celebrating themes of freedom, perseverance and tenacity. All staff in the City of New Rochelle School District is invited to facilitate, and all students are eligible to participate.
The theme of freedom serves as an entry point for educators in the District to teach students about the enduring legacy of slavery, both in our society and throughout the world. WABSE chose to commemorate Harriet Tubman after a new photo of the freedom fighter was discovered and the New York Times released a multimedia article on the Underground Railroad. The Times article aims to provide its readers with a deeper understanding of a complex American hero.
As students explore this year’s themes and the life and accomplishments of Harriet Tubman, they are encouraged to express their understandings through written, visual and performing arts. Suggested literature from schools and local libraries may provide interested participants with inspiration. Students may create original works in the form of speeches, poetry, song, dance or any media for visual arts.
Students are expected to submit work that meets the Common Core State Standards for English language arts, which include clear and coherent writing, descriptive details, and appropriate and relevant facts. All speeches, poems and performances will be vetted prior to the show.
All art work should contain the student’s name, school, grade, name of teacher, and classroom. Visual art should be on paper with a maximum dimension of 18 inches in width and 24 inches in height. Art submitted by students will be displayed in the rotunda outside of the Whitney M. Young Auditorium on Saturday, February 10, 2018.
Inquiries and work should be submitted to Shelli Owens at sowens@nredlearn.org. The deadline for performance proposals is Friday, January 19, 2018. All art work must be submitted by Monday, February 5, 2018. For more information, please call 914-576-4401.