Colonial School District schools join together in display of unity
Colonial School District schools join together in display of unity
Colonial School District schools celebrated unity and solidarity through Unity Walks, assemblies, and performances on Feb. 27.
Led by Plymouth Whitemarsh High School’s Black Cultural Awareness (BCA) club, the walk began several years ago and has become a district-wide celebration that occurs during Black History Month. On Friday, high school students walked around the parking lot in solidarity and then gathered in the gym and listened to a student performance of the Black National Anthem (“Lift Every Voice and Sing”) as well as a poetry reading by Colonial Middle School eighth-grader, Mars Massey.
Students Roman Horning and Micah Thompson led the PW assembly by introducing the different performers, and they also thanked local black business owners for their contributions to the community.
“BCA’s Unity Walk provides proof that our Colonial School District can come together on one day to show how we can walk alongside each other in unity and peace, despite our differences,” said Micah.
The Live and Direct step dance team also performed, and were followed by speaker Thomas Young, President and CEO of the World Trade Center Philadelphia and a Plymouth Whitemarsh High School graduate.
Mr. Young spoke to the students about his path to success, which started with some challenges during his high school and college years. Through the support he had from family and friends, he went on to have a professional basketball career in Germany and is now the leader of a nonprofit that helps regional businesses develop and manage international business activity.
“You have to be flexible in life, you have to be willing to take chances, you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone to be successful,” he said. “When you step outside of your comfort zone, you should understand that it’s you having growth.”
He spoke about the importance of unity, and how he is working to unify the region as it prepares for the semiquincentennial.
“Diversity doesn’t just go one way,” he said. “We have an opportunity to show off what we have as a country.”
He then challenged students to interact with someone they might not already know after they left the assembly.
“Get to know somebody in here that you did not know - you have no idea where that experience might lead,” he said.
Over at Colonial Middle School, assemblies for all three grades followed a similar format, with song, dance, poetry, and an inspirational address from Da’Rel Scott, a Colonial Middle School teacher, former NFL football player, and Plymouth Whitemarsh High School graduate.
He told students that he learned as a football player that strong teams are built on the power of unity, trust, and togetherness.
“No one makes it alone,” he said. “Unity means lifting each other up, not tearing each other down.”
Following Mr. Scott’s address, Assistant Principal Marla Spivey dismissed the students to their walk and challenged them to walk with someone they didn’t already know, as a way to embrace the theme of accepting differences and creating a sense of belonging.
Whitemarsh and Conshohocken elementary schools also held Unity Walks at their buildings on Feb. 27 to demonstrate their commitment to inclusive and equitable school communities. Other schools in the district scheduled their walks for different days.
