School district honors winning teams in 41st Black History Bee

In the 41st annual Black History Bee for San Bernardino City Unified School District students, the top prizes went to teams from Juanita B. Jones, Muscoy, E. Neal Roberts and Thompson elementary schools; Paakuma’ K-8 School; and Del Vallejo and Shandin Hills middle schools.

In the event, held Feb. 24 at Indian Springs High School, teams of two students competed in a spelling bee-like competition, demonstrating their knowledge of Black and African American history and culture, including local historical figures.

During some rounds, students were also asked to either identify or recite stanzas from the works of famous Africanamerican poets.

Winning teams in the thirdand fourth-grade division are Kenia Sandoval and Solei’ Lockett of Jones Elementary School, first place; Tamel Belton and Ezekiel Corona of Muscoy Elementary School, second; and Jaceer Gray and Malachi Arlington of Thompson Elementary School, third.

In the fifth- and sixth-grade division, winners are Javier Torres-martinez and Kevin Ortizramirez

of Jones Elementary School, first; Ayden Martinez and Javon Wilson of Jones Elementary School, second; and Joi Avery and Faith Kemp-stallworth of Roberts Elementary School, third.

Middle school winners are Winter Williams and Faith Manago of Paakuma’ K-8 School, first; Liam Harris and Kaylee Bush of Paakuma’ K-8 School,

second; and My Asia Boyd and Zha’raea Jackson of Del Vallejo and Shandin Hills middle schools, third.

For 41 years, the Delta Rho Chapter of National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc. has sponsored the Black History Bee for San Bernardino City Unified School District elementary and middle school students. This year, for the first time, the school district’s Department of Equity and Targeted Student Achievement partnered with the Delta Rho Chapter to sponsor the Black History Bee, according to a news release.

“We are grateful to the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., Delta Rho Chapter, and to the individual ladies of the organization for keeping the bee going in San Bernardino,” Wil Greer, Equity and Targeted Student Achievement director, said in the news release. “Over the past 41 years, they have educated generations of students on the richness of Black history. We are proud to sponsor and partner with them in this very important endeavor.”

For information on the services and support offered by the San Bernardino City Unified School District’s Department of Equity and Targeted Student Achievement, go to sbcusd.com/departments/educational-services-division and select Equity and Targeted Student Achievement from the list at the left.

For information about the Delta Rho Chapter of National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa Inc., go to sites.google.com/view/nspdkdeltarho/home.

COURTESY OF THE SAN BERNARDINO CITY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT Solei’ Lockett and Kenia Sandoval of Juanita B. Jones Elementary School, first-place winners in the third- and fourth-grade division, compete in the San Bernardino City Unified School District’s 41st annual Black History Bee, held Feb. 24at Indian Springs High School in San Bernardino.