For over half a century, February has been recognized as Black History Month in the United States. For students in Battle Ground Public Schools, it’s a time to recognize and honor the many Black people throughout history who have shaped our nation and advocated for equal rights.

Black History Month Display at Battle Ground High School Students at Battle Ground High School put together displays in the library and around the school featuring Black people who accomplished great things in civil rights, science, athletics and more. One display challenged students to provide names for photographs and list their accomplishments. At Chief Umtuch Middle School, the school library featured books and artwork by Black authors and artists. And at Tukes Valley Primary, students gave a presentation on Black History Month as part of a schoolwide assembly.

Students involved in Prairie High School’s Black, Indigenous, People of Color (or BIPOC) Club created a display in the senior lounge and hosted games like Jeopardy: Black History Month Edition. They have also been working to gather videos from students of color sharing their experiences. The videos will be featured during morning announcements.

“That’s been one of our biggest projects, because there’s no other way we can reach a lot of people without the morning announcements,” said BIPOC Club President Spencer Norman, a sophomore. “And so we really wanted to integrate that.”

The BIPOC Club at Prairie operates within the larger Multicultural Club, which has grown to around 30 members this year and includes members of the recently reformed Latino Student Union. The goal is to ensure the club is welcoming to students of every culture or ethnicity, said Vice President O’Seanna Hopkins.

“We hope to have students who aren’t Black feel welcome to join,” Hopkins said. “Have an open heart and an open mind. Come in and just sit and listen. I think that would be a good experience.”

Their hope is that the club creates a path to better unity and understanding throughout the entire school. “It really helps to have this group and to be able to have those meetings and talk about things that need to be talked about,” said Hopkins.

Norman said joining the club and being part of leadership has helped him gain a greater understanding. ”It’s definitely made me open my eyes to be more understanding and know that not everything is racism or racist,” he said.

Students said they’re encouraged by the support school administrators have shown for their efforts and hope that those conversations will lead to a better environment for students of all colors and backgrounds at Prairie.

“Sometimes people just need more education to understand where I’m coming from,” Norman said. “And if they don’t listen to that, then it’s on them. But first we need to have these conversations.”

Chief Umtuch Middle

Battle Ground students celebrate Black History Month