During the month of February, Whitefield celebrated Black History Month with two special chapel programs that served to inspire and unite our community.
Middle and Upper Schools
On February 8, Middle and Upper School faculty and staff were treated to several uplifting performances by our Whitefield Gospel Ensemble. Click here to view a clip of one of their songs.
The guest speaker was Chief Master Sergeant Chuck Miller, United States Air Force, Retired. Chief Miller spoke about the power of bridges, specifically how they are more effective at uniting humanity rather than walls of division. He also spoke about how God uses imperfect people to create a more perfect community.
Lower School
On February 23, Lower School chapel focused on the theme "You Can Make History," which was also the theme of their month-long Black History Month celebration. Students performed a skit showcasing numerous African-Americans who made history through creativity, athleticism, engineering, and the arts. They then heard from two young women who recently made history themselves: Samara Huggins ('17), who won the 2017 National Poetry Out Loud Competition, and Jasmine Stewart, the first African-American winner of Master Chef Junior (season five).
Via video, Samara shared a piece of spoken word encouraging students to make history by painting the world with joy and making it a better place. Jasmine shared her inspirational story of being eliminated in one of the final rounds of Master Chef Junior, having the opportunity to come back on the show, and ultimately being crowned champion. She encouraged students to adopt the WSB philosophy that helped her to succeed both on the show and in her personal life:
She also encouraged the students to start thinking about the legacy they want to leave at Whitefield and throughout their lives and to live each day with that in mind.
At the conclusion of the chapel, the winners of the fourth-grade Black History Month essay contest were announced. Following their field trip to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical Site in January, students were asked to reflect on their visit and write an essay on the following topic: "As we go through life, it is important to 'leave a mark on history.' Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., left a positive legacy on history because of his work with the Civil Rights Movement. In your essay, include specific examples of how Dr. King was able to create change and leave a mark on history." Parents from the Black History Month committee read and judged these essays based on organization, grammar, content and style.
The 2018 winners were Caryssa Snyder, Madison Shaw, and John Durden. Each student each received a certificate and a $50 gift card.
Middle and Upper Schools
On February 8, Middle and Upper School faculty and staff were treated to several uplifting performances by our Whitefield Gospel Ensemble. Click here to view a clip of one of their songs.
The guest speaker was Chief Master Sergeant Chuck Miller, United States Air Force, Retired. Chief Miller spoke about the power of bridges, specifically how they are more effective at uniting humanity rather than walls of division. He also spoke about how God uses imperfect people to create a more perfect community.
Lower School
On February 23, Lower School chapel focused on the theme "You Can Make History," which was also the theme of their month-long Black History Month celebration. Students performed a skit showcasing numerous African-Americans who made history through creativity, athleticism, engineering, and the arts. They then heard from two young women who recently made history themselves: Samara Huggins ('17), who won the 2017 National Poetry Out Loud Competition, and Jasmine Stewart, the first African-American winner of Master Chef Junior (season five).
Via video, Samara shared a piece of spoken word encouraging students to make history by painting the world with joy and making it a better place. Jasmine shared her inspirational story of being eliminated in one of the final rounds of Master Chef Junior, having the opportunity to come back on the show, and ultimately being crowned champion. She encouraged students to adopt the WSB philosophy that helped her to succeed both on the show and in her personal life:
W - Work hard and find your passion
S - Stay true to you
B - Block out the haters
She also encouraged the students to start thinking about the legacy they want to leave at Whitefield and throughout their lives and to live each day with that in mind.
At the conclusion of the chapel, the winners of the fourth-grade Black History Month essay contest were announced. Following their field trip to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical Site in January, students were asked to reflect on their visit and write an essay on the following topic: "As we go through life, it is important to 'leave a mark on history.' Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., left a positive legacy on history because of his work with the Civil Rights Movement. In your essay, include specific examples of how Dr. King was able to create change and leave a mark on history." Parents from the Black History Month committee read and judged these essays based on organization, grammar, content and style.
The 2018 winners were Caryssa Snyder, Madison Shaw, and John Durden. Each student each received a certificate and a $50 gift card.