SMOS Celebrates Black History Month
Black History Month @ SMOS
Honoring 100 Years of Black History
Throughout the month of February, St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School will honor Black History Month with activities designed to be simple, meaningful, and educational for our students. These efforts reflect our commitment to celebrating the rich contributions of Black Americans and deepening our understanding of history, faith, and culture.
2026 marks the centennial celebration of Black History Month, honoring a century of recognizing the contributions and achievements of African Americans in history. Black History Month originated from the efforts of Dr. Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), founded in 1915. The first celebration was a week-long observance in February 1926, which later evolved into Black History Month in 1976.
The SMOS DEI Committee has been hard at work putting plans and activities together for this month-long celebration in tribute to this 100th anniversary. Here are some of the details…
Members of the SMOS Diversity Council will be researching and sharing important Black History facts in the following categories:
- Inventors
- Writers and Poets
- Pioneers
- Black Catholics
- Musicians
Starting the week of February 9, students will hear weekly highlights over the intercom as Diversity Council members spotlight notable individuals and contributions in each category.
The hallways in school and the cafeteria will begin to reflect this celebration as students and staff decorate with Black History displays.
A selection of Black History books will also be available for students to check out in the School Library, and for teachers to access for classroom discussions.
To conclude our celebration, the school is working toward a culminating assembly, with presentations aimed at highlighting the appreciation of Black history, culture, and contributions to society, which Black History Month is all about. More details are coming next week about these presentations for all of the school students. Stay tuned!
We look forward to this opportunity to honor Black History Month as a school community and to celebrate the voices, stories, and contributions that continue to shape our world.
In the absence of a dedicated Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion after the passing of Mr. Shorter, several school parents from the PTA DEI Committee have stepped forward this year to make sure that diversity efforts are still being addressed at the school. Parents Charley Knuckles Harper and Heidi Klosterman are currently running Diversity Council, ABAR, and No Place For Hate along with members of the school staff, and several other parents have been integral in planning and organizing the curriculum and activities for this year as well. We appreciate their dedication and commitment to keeping DEI at St. Margaret’s an important and unique priority.
