Upper St. Clair celebrates African American history
The Upper St. Clair High School Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a month-long celebration commemorating African American history.
Students participate in activities during a celebration of African American history sponsored by the Upper St. Clair High School Black Student Union.
The Upper St. Clair High School Black Student Union (BSU) hosted a month-long celebration that included a school-wide trivia contest, performances and a leadership workshop to commemorate and celebrate Black history throughout February.
The BSU is sponsored by high school teachers Daniela Buccilli, English, and Cephus Moore, world language. The sponsors shared how endearing it was to see BSU student leaders grow in their sense of school spirit and belonging throughout the celebration.
“As the student body at-large grew in their knowledge and appreciation of their history of the United States, the month-long celebration found its greatest goals,” Buccilli said.
Under the theme, “Lift Every Voice: Celebrating African American Contributions,” a weekly trivia contest challenged students to identify several African American historical and contemporary figures. The contest, which yielded more than 1,000 responses, highlighted individuals who have made significant contributions in the areas of math, science, English, social studies and the arts.
The BSUs from Upper St. Clair and Mt. Lebanon high schools joined together to attend a sold-out matinee performance of “Step Afrika!” at the Byham Theater. The performers integrated songs, storytelling, humor and audience participation. The live performance was a blend of percussive dance styles as practiced by historically African American college fraternities and sororities; traditional West and Southern African dances; and an array of contemporary dance and art forms into a cohesive, compelling artistic experience.
“The dancers invigorated and captivated the audience with their technique, agility and pure energy,” Moore said.
Upper St. Clair welcomed students from Chartiers Valley High School for a joint in-school learning experience, “USC BSU: Building Student Unity.” Throughout the day, students participated in a variety of unity-building exercises.
“This was a personal development and leadership workshop in which individuals reflected upon, journaled about, and discussed their personal life experiences,” Moore said. “In addition, students fostered student unity by defining core values for the group, creating a personal mission statement, and by making a personal commitment to themselves and their community.”
USC senior Patrick Pinchinat described the Building Student Unity field trip as an amazing experience.
“I was able to meet so many new people from all over the world and hear about their upbringings, struggles, passions and desires. The group was diverse in terms of age, gender, race, and religion, which allowed for interesting discussions on how certain demographics intersect,” Pinchinat said. “Our space was open and honest, which allowed us to connect deeply with one another. The purpose of this field trip was to make us feel seen, heard, and celebrated, which I believe was accomplished.”
The teachers find that these opportunities to bring together students from different schools help to enhance and enrich the learning experience for all students.
“The benefits and values embedded in meeting peers from other schools include the promotion of cultural exchange and a sense of belonging to the wider world of Pittsburgh,” Buccilli, said. “Additionally, it can create opportunities for collaboration and the sharing of ideas that enhance educational experiences for all involved.”
The Upper St. Clair High School Performing Arts Department celebrated African American contributions to music. The Jazz Ensemble performed in the theater lobby alongside a table that featured information about African American contributions to music as well as information about different genres of music. In addition, the Pantheon Choir performed the hymn and poem titled, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” for the high school morning announcements.