Throughout the month of February, Minnetonka Public Schools joins other districts, organizations, communities and individuals across the country in celebrating Black History Month. From presentations about Black leaders to art displays and student-led interviews, schools across the District have found dynamic ways for students to engage with and celebrate Black history. 

“We are celebrating Black History Month with people and moments in Black history that changed the world,” said David Wicklund, Assistant Principal at Clear Springs Elementary. “We will recognize the month through daily morning announcements, sharing children's literature in classrooms and having Nothando Zulu, master storyteller from Black Storytellers Alliance, visit our classrooms virtually again this year.”

Elementary schools across the District, as well as Tonka Online classrooms, will be sharing and connecting with these resources.

“During the month of February, we hope that our students will gain a greater understanding of the central role that Black Americans have played in U.S. history,” said Laura Nelson, Assistant Principal at Excelsior Elementary. “We will recognize and celebrate artists, athletes, musicians, scientists, civil rights activists and many more individuals.”  

“We also want our students to continue to see and understand how everyone belongs in our school, and that, as a school community, we celebrate the backgrounds and contributions of everyone in our school and others throughout history,” said Jenny Van Aalsburg, Assistant Principal at Minnewashta Elementary.

Each school will also have unique opportunities for students to participate and celebrate throughout the month. At Minnewashta, fourth grade Spanish Immersion students will be creating video presentations about Black leaders to be shared with students in all grades. 

Middle school students at MME, MMW and in Tonka Online full e-learning are also engaging with Black history through a combination of staff-facilitated and student-led activities. Morning announcement segments highlighting Black history will be shared by both students and staff. At MMW, the Women of Color student group has created newsletters highlighting Black leaders that will be posted around the school building. 

Minnetonka High School is continuing its student-led morning announcement series with students interviewing Black leaders from Minnesota. Members of the MHS Student Belonging Committee have organized interviews spotlighting local community members who have had a great impact and who have left a legacy. These segments will air throughout the month of February. Additionally, students from the MHS Art Department have worked to create an art show featuring portraits of people of color who have influenced the world. Each portrait has a QR code next to it that can be scanned to learn more about the people in the paintings.