North Marion Middle School showcases student art and community performances for Black History Month

North Marion Middle School celebrated Black History Month with an art contest, community dance performances and awards recognizing local contributors, school teacher Miss James said during a recorded segment.

Miss James said the program is the school's third annual African American History Month event and that faculty-run activities included an art contest that drew about 40 student volunteers and nine contest entries. "Each year, what we decided to do as a faculty, we came together and did an art contest for us with our students. Students volunteer about 40 students volunteer, and these are the 9 entries that were, selected and entered into our contest this year," Miss James said.

The contest produced three top winners. "Our first place winner is mister Bryce Howard, our eighth grade student here," Miss James said, describing the first-place entry as a hand-drawn representation of the Tuskegee Airmen. She described the second-place entry—by Miss Santiago—as a Ruby Bridges image that finished "in second place by 1 vote," and said the third-place winner submitted a pastel portrait of an African American female celebrating an Afro hairstyle.

Miss James said the evening's program also includes dancers from the Northside community joined by groups from Bellevue Middle, Howard Middle, Northmere High School and Vanguard High School, as well as youth dance groups from Immerse Church. The program will also present "a recognition award for our Northside Pride, significant people who are making a significant, tremendous contribution to our Northside community," Miss James said.

A host who introduced the segment praised the students' work and asked Miss James to describe the artwork on display. "But I would love for you to start with what's behind us, which is why I'm in awe already, with our incredibly talented students," the host said.

Miss James characterized the students' submissions as diverse in style and technique, noting one student's use of pastel colors was unique among entries. She described the first-place student, Bryce Howard, as a multi award-winning artist at the school and said faculty members are optimistic about his future.

Miss James concluded by reiterating the community focus of the event and the school's intent to honor people who have made long-standing contributions to the Northside community. "We're gonna, present our African American History Month, third annual program," she said.

The segment did not specify dates, times, or a formal list of award categories beyond the three top winners; those details were not provided in the recording.