St. Charles Parish Schools celebrate Black History Month

Thelezia Folse

Tyler Wilson high-fives Schoeffner students during a Black History Month presentation.

St. Charles Parish Schools joined together this month to celebrate Black History Month with plays, dances, speeches and special guests.

At Ethel Schoeffner Elementary School, two members of Young Audiences of Louisiana, Terrence Morgan and Tyler Wilson, came to add a few dance steps to the students’ repertoire and discuss the meaning of dance in African American history.

“The performance showed how dance has led to certain events in our history and how it is a major part of our culture,” said Valerie Keller with Schoeffner Elementary. “Even though dance was a major part of the black culture, it transcended to all other cultures.

“The performance also showed the positive force that dance can have on a nation because the kids truly came together - all classes, all races, all colors.”

Keller said that all of the students had the chance to participate in the program and seemed to really enjoy it.

At R.J. Vial Elementary, students put on a play about African American history and had a guest speaker, Adella Gautier, also known as Adela Adela the Storyteller.

Other schools throughout the parish have also held Black History Month events throughout February, including A.A. Songy Kindergarten Center, Luling Elementary, New Sarpy Elementary, St. Rose Elementary, Lakewood Elementary, Norco Elementary K-3, Albert Cammon Middle, J.B. Martin Middle, Harry Hurst Middle, R.K. Smith Middle, and both Hahnville and Destrehan high schools.