The Joseph Sibilly Elementary School held its Black and VI History Month Program, titled, "From Africa, to the Caribbean via America" on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at the school. Students of all grades took center stage to pay tribute to Black, African American and Virgin Islands History in song, poem and dance.
Kindergarteners donned in creative spider cutout headpieces opened the program with a storytelling skit of the traditional folkloric tale of Anansi the Spider. The school's first graders then exhibited their Virgin Islands pride by showcasing their knowledge of historical Virgin Islanders. The 6 and 7 year olds recited one-liners about notable Virgin Islanders to include, Ariel Melchoir, Earl B. Ottley, David Hamilton Jackson, Myrah Keating Smith and Jeanette Rouse. Ms. Malvar's first grade class then came after and sang and upbeat tune, "He Had A Dream," a tribute to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ms. Ledee's second grade class wore handcrafted paper necklaces depicting a Black and non-Black hand interlocked with a red heart atop. They also sang a song in honor of Dr. King and his fight for racial equality. Showcasing diversity in Black History, Ms. Gibbons and Ms. Hendricks' third grade classes came together a recited the Harlem Renaissance treasure, Hey, Black Child by Countee Cullen.
The fourth graders in Ms. Baker and Ms. Hodge's classes performed a skit and poem, Stand Up, which told the story of Rosa Parks' resistance to move toward the back of the bus after a tiresome day. The scene of the skit was set on a bus and female student dressed in character played the late Ms. Parks. Mrs. Donadelle's computer class followed up with a cool hip-hop dance routine in honor of the 44th president, Barack Obama.
Ms. Warner and Ms. Moore's 5th grade classes recited poems Too Black and We Will Rise followed by a Virgin Islands traditional 7-step quadrille dance performance. A highlight of the program was female students from Ms. Prince and Ms. Ryan-Smith's sixth grade class' dance tribute performance to strong and impactful African American women to Pray for Me by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar off of the Disney/Marvel's critically-acclaimed movie Black Panther soundtrack. The dance included each student delivering a monologue of the woman they were representing, to include Mary McLeod Bethune, Condoleeza Rice, Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama.
Sibilly's new music teacher Mr. Barr and his talented music students delighted the audience with a rendition of Angels Watching Over Me on their recorders. Mr. Smith's choir class ended the event in song with two performances of Free at Last and Teacher, Teach Me Black History.
Principal Durant closed out the event thanking parents and guests for attending and congratulated the students, faculty and staff for putting on a wonderful show.
