Eleanor Holmes Norton, Chancellor Ferebee and DHES Principal Masi Preston

by Cesse Ip

On March 24th Dorothy Height Elementary School welcomed Congresswomen Eleanor Homes Norton and DCPS Chancellor Lewis Ferebee to help them celebrate Women’s History Month on the school’s namesake’s birthday.

"At DC Public Schools, we aim for equity and joyful learning experiences so students can reach their highest potential. As we celebrate Dorothy Height Day of Service with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, I am proud to see students learning from strong female leaders who represent all that they can achieve through excellence and service. They're creating HERstory every day," said Ferebee.

Dorothy Irene Height was an African American and Women’s rights activist who lived in Washington DC. She worked to integrate the YWCA facilities nationwide, became the fourth president of the National Council of Negro Women, and received the Citizens Medal Award in 1989 and a Congressional Gold Medal in 2004.

Students meet with Eleanor Holmes Norton

The students at Dorothy Height Elementary School had a short assembly that featured opening remarks from the school’s principal Masi Preston, DCPS Chancellor Ferebee, and performances by students including spoken word, a choir performance, and readings about Dorothy Height in English, Amharic and Spanish.

After the assembly, fifth graders got to meet Congresswoman Norton in a smaller setting and ask her questions.

Pre-K 4 students got to spend time with the Congresswoman.

She told them that she started out just the same as the students – as a product of DCPS. She went to Monroe Elementary School, Banneker Junior High School, and Dunbar. Then she told the kids she worked very hard to go to college and eventually became a law professor at Georgetown School of Law.

One student asked what job she would want to have if she were not a Congresswoman, and she responded that she can’t imagine doing anything else. That serving the people of Washington DC was a great honor and she felt very proud to represent people like the students of Dorothy Height Elementary School.