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On February 25, 130 Manhattan Star Academy staff, students, and family members logged online to see the school’s Black History Month assembly. The 40-minute event was a culmination of hard work at both Manhattan Star Academy's upper and lower schools.
“As the idea was coming together for the assembly, the goal was to create something that was interactive and a performance for our families and students to really see themselves in, and to share what they were learning about the contributions of African Americans throughout history,” said Meryl Williams, Music Therapist at Manhattan Star Academy.
The performances, which required close collaboration between Manhattan Star Academy staff and students, were all pre-recorded. Williams, who has video editing experience, then polished the recording so that each student would shine. On the day of the assembly, staff, students, and their families could enjoy watching their incredible work pay off.
For everyone involved, seeing the students shine was invaluable.
“I took out of it this overwhelming sense of community,” said Ariel Smart, Teacher/Special Educator. "I’ve heard parents singing Meryl’s praises because of the sense of feeling like you belong and that our kids are able to do things, regardless of their levels of support.”
The importance of creating opportunities for Manhattan Star Academy students to learn creatively is core to the school’s values.
“I'm always trying to create opportunities that parallel those that a neurotypical child would have,” said Williams. “Any time we can highlight our students doing something that’s special, and really wonderful, and showcasing their talents, it’s something we have to do.”