Parent Engagement Committee
Family Fun Night
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
6 – 8 pm
...
Come see the beautiful and informative boards created by homerooms featuring influential and famous Pittsburgh African Americans! Enjoy a night full of family fun of dancing with Roland Ford’s exciting line dancing event! Stay for some delicious food and comradery  with students, teachers, and community members!

SPORTS SECTION

BASKETBALL SEASON ENDS FOR THE BOYS -D’Shaun Thomas      It is with a lot of sadness that I write of the boy’s basketball season being over.  We played hard all year and we were all upset that we didn’t make playoffs.  Our overall record was 4 and 5.  Many of our losses were close.  Due to sickness, we were down a few players during those games too.  Coach Leemhuis is a really good coach.  He didn’t get mad that we lost.  He’d always say that we just need to try harder the next time.  The team will miss the 8th graders who were Thomas Simmons, Jermaine Jackson, Rashod Allen, Ameer Colemen, Noor El-Hajomar, Raykwon Thomas, and myself.  We learned a lot this season, but the most important thing was to work as a team and never give up.  Good luck to next year’s team.

SWIMMING TO SUCCESS! -Shyree Hamilton           The swimming team is going strong and working hard for the championship meet coming up on January 28th.  Currently, swimmers are working to improve their times for events in order to qualify.  The team is made up of awesome swimmers Jeffery Edders, Dustin Hanovick, Tyree Searcy, Chris Malicki, Jamal BigStaff, Joel Casey, Hannah Hanovick, Angel Rodgers, Shylynn Harfield, and Aria Adams-Thorpe.  The manager is Neveah Best.  The team participates in many events including the 50 freestyle, 50 breaststoke, 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 100 relay, 100 individual medley, 200 freestyle, and 200 relay.  50 means the swimmers must go down and back in the pool.  Coach Outten has great wisdom.  She said, “players must have patience.  We did not have a swimmer who could do breaststoke or butterfly at the beginning of the season.  Now we have four!” GOOD LUCK AT THE CHAMPTIONSHIP!

Lady Patriots Wrap Up Season -Alexus Harris The girls’ basketball team had a great season!  Their record was 4 to 5.  The members of the lady patriots are Dinasia, Talaya, Taija, Savanna, Zeena, Arianah, Neema, Kaniesha, Antronice, Destanee, Ronnae, and Tychae.  Six of the 13 players are 8th graders that will be missed by the other students, teachers, and coaches.  The head coach, Mr. D’Angelo wants to thank every player and Coach Askew for a great season.  He also wants to give special thanks to all of the 8th graders.  Antronice: “Thanks for coming in and playing hard when you were needed.” Savanna: “You got 100% at all times.  I hope you keep learning how to be part of the team. Tychae: “You made a lot of improvement towards the end of the season.” Arianah: “I am proud of how you got through the end of the season, ‘1, 2 go!’” Diana: “Your heart hustle will be missed.  I remember when you were a young 6th grade student who couldn’t dribble the ball!  Now, I hear people coming out of the crowd asking who #5 is!” Talaya: “Thanks for leading our team this year.  You can be as good as you want to be, but you have to want it and work hard!  Keep your head up!”

 

 The Patriot Post

        Pittsburgh Arsenal 6-8 Student Newsletter

Volume 1 Issue 5

Celebrating Black History Month

-Talaya Caldwell

As an African American female, I take pride in celebrating my ancestors during the month of February.  While we have celebrated Black History Month for as long as I can remember, I don’t know too many details on why we actually have a special month.   I found out that “Black History Month is a month set aside to learn, honor, and celebrate the achievements of black men and women throughout history” and other great information.

“The origins of Black History Month can be traced back to a man named Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950). Woodson, the son of former slaves, was an amazing man in his own right. Since his family was too poor to send him to school as a child, he taught himself the basics of a school education. At age 20, Woodson was finally able to attend high school, which he completed in just two years.  He then went on to earn a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Chicago. In 1912, Woodson became only the second African American to earn a doctorate from Harvard University.  He used his hard-earned education to teach.

In 1915, Woodson traveled to Chicago to participate in a three-week celebration of the 50th anniversary of the end of slavery. This trip had an impact on him.  The excitement and enthusiasm generated by the events inspired Woodson to continue the study of black history year-round. Before leaving Chicago, Woodson and four others created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) on September 9, 1915. The following year, the ASNLH began publication of the Journal of Negro History.

Woodson realized that most textbooks at the time ignored the history and achievements of blacks. Thus, in addition to the journal, he wanted to find a way to encourage interest and study of black history. In 1926, Woodson promoted the idea of a "Negro History Week," which was to be held during the second week of February. Woodson originally chose the second week of February to celebrate Negro History Week because the week included the birthdays of two important men: President Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14).  The idea caught on quickly and Negro History Week was soon celebrated around the United States. With a high demand for study materials, the ASNLH began to produce pictures, posters, and lesson plans to help teachers bring Negro History Week into schools. In 1937, the ASNLH also began producing the Negro History Bulletin, which focused on an annual theme for Negro History Week.

In 1976, the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Negro History Week and the bicentennial of the United States' independence, Black History Week was expanded to Black History Month. Ever since then, Black History Month has been celebrated in February around the country.  Dr. Woodson often said that he hoped the time would come when Negro History Week would be unnecessary; when all Americans would willingly recognize the contributions of Black Americans as a legitimate and integral part of the history of this country. Dr. Woodson's outstanding historical research influenced others to carry on his work.” (‘NAACP’ http://www.naacp.org/pages/naacp-history-Carter-G.-Woodson and ’about education’ (http://history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/p/blackhistorymonth.htm.)

                Learning about Woodson was inspiring to me because it is important to know our history and who originated black history month.  Like Woodson, I hope there comes a day that more people are inspired to bring out more important history that needs to be known about.  We all need to work together to make our country the best it can be!

Arsenal Swim Team

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SWIM TEAM

We are so proud of the hard work and dedication from the team and Mrs. Outten