Middle School BSU Leads Art Exploration with Community Partnership School

This week, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy welcomed 4th and 5th-grade students from Community Partnership School (CPS) to campus for a special visit to Perspectives of the Past: 250 Years of Black Artistic Legacy in Philadelphia in the Barbara Crawford Gallery.

During their visit, CPS students stepped into the role of “art detectives,” using a worksheet to identify three works in the gallery that reflected their school values of Curiosity, Courage, and Compassion. The activity encouraged students to look closely at the artwork, ask questions, and consider the stories and histories represented on the walls.

Members of SCH's Middle School Black Student Union (BSU) helped lead the experience, guiding conversations, answering questions, and supporting the younger students as they explored the exhibit. By stepping into these leadership roles, BSU students have created a welcoming environment where visitors feel comfortable sharing ideas and making connections.

The visit sparked thoughtful reflection amongst all of the students. In response to the prompt “This artwork connects to U.S. History because…” one CPS 5th grader wrote that the piece “shows unity and sticking together,” while another powerfully noted that “Black history is U.S. history.”

After exploring the gallery, the conversation continued over lunch as students shared their reactions to the exhibit, talked about their respective schools, and connected with one another.

The visit highlighted the power of partnership and the value of students learning from one another. Middle School BSU students stepped into leadership roles, helping create a welcoming space where younger students could ask questions, share ideas, and see themselves reflected in the stories represented in the artwork.

The idea of “unity and sticking together,” captured in one student’s reflection, is also what these visits are meant to model. By opening our campus, sharing our resources, and building relationships across schools, students experience firsthand how communities can support one another. Through the exhibit, CPS students explored how art can tell powerful histories of resilience, creativity, and community while reminding us that their stories are also part of the American narrative.

We are grateful to the Middle School BSU students who helped lead this experience!
Alexis DeBose, Noah Chapman, Nicholas Chapman, Genevieve Mitchell, Logan Conix, Leia Bynum, Uriel Gleaton, Isaac Spragan, Micha Feit, Classie Moses, Tay Griggs, True Golden, Jae Sessoms, Areiya Peel, Zoe Wylie, and Yusuf Stockman.