East Alton Schools Celebrate Black History Month with Performances, Games, More

EAST ALTON - East Alton students learned about unity through several Black History Month activities.

On Feb. 25, 2026, the Black History Month celebrations concluded with an assembly at East Alton Middle School, where choir members sang songs and students performed a step routine. Fifth grade students at Eastwood Elementary completed a live museum project, and students across the district were encouraged to enter a poster contest. Angela Gray, the school social worker, and Karinsa Moline, the district’s music director, came together to organize the assembly.

“The big main theme was, let’s celebrate Black culture in America,” Moline said. “It’s just so fun. All of our faculty and staff and administration, even our custodians and our ladies in our lunchroom, everybody came and participated. Everybody was there for kids and to participate. That made it fun. I think the kids need to know that there’s joy and that we can be joyful together no matter your age.”

Moline and Gray noted that everyone in the school was involved, and it was a multigenerational effort to put together the Black History Month celebrations. They hope the kids remember “unity and togetherness” as the main takeaway.

“We had decorations all around the school and kids worked together to make Black History Month puzzle posters. Everybody had a little bit of investment, whether you’re a kindergartner or an eighth grader or even our oldest staff members,” Gray explained.

Gray was especially excited to welcome her 40+ Double Dutch Club, an organization for women over age 40 who enjoy playing nostalgic games and double-dutch jumping rope. The students were eager to learn.

Following the Black History Month assembly, Gray has also fielded a request from seventh graders to start a step team. She is eager to engage with these kids and help them pursue their interest in stepping.

Moline directed the choir through their performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” known as the Black National Anthem. To conclude the assembly, the entire school sang “This Little Light of Mine” together.

This experience was powerful for both students and staff members. Moline and Gray thanked the administration for being “very helpful and very supportive” of their Black History Month programming, and they look forward to an even bigger initiative next year.

“[I hope the students remember to have] love for everybody, regardless of who you are or what you look like or what you eat or what you wear or where you live,” Moline concluded. “We’re all human beings who deserve to love each other and create and be musicians and dancers together and celebrate art and culture together.”

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