ACS students focused on the significant contributions of African Americans to American history and culture throughout February as part of Black History Month. In the elementary grades, each class studied a different African American, from civil rights activist Ruby Bridges (Kindergarten) and inventor George Washington Carver (2nd grade) to educator and advisor to presidents Booker T. Washington (3rd grade) and abolitionist and Underground Railroad “conductor” Harriet Tubman (4th grade).
This week, 7th grade students in Mrs. Hopwood’s Language Arts class have been presenting multi-media reports and oral presentations based on their study and research over the past several weeks on distinguished African-Americans including Louis Armstrong, Michael Jordan, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President Barack Obama, and Jackie Robinson.
Last Friday, Pastor Jonathan Leath of Destiny Church in Moorestown, NJ talked about “Dreaming in Difficult Times” as the featured speaker at the 6th-12th grade chapel last Friday. With Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech as a reference point, Pastor Heath used the life of Biblical hero Joseph to identify key actions students should follow to pursue the dreams that God has for their lives. The message was — DON’T GIVE UP and DON’T SLACK UP (off) as you work hard and do your best for the Lord. DON’T PUT UP with other people’s sin. On the flip side, the students were challenged to SPEAK UP for what is right, GET UP when you stumble, and SURRENDER UP to Christ and His will.
