Gray Matters, February 2026

February Look Ahead: Black History Month, FiPA Events, and Family Engagement

Happy February! At the end of January we experienced a tough stretch of weather. I am grateful for folks’ understanding and patience as we navigated the extreme winter conditions. I, for one, am counting on February to be a smoother ride. 

The shortest month in our calendar is always one full of engagement. As I write about often, community and connection are core to the Capitol Hill Day School ethos. Thematically, February is a time in which these foundations are on full display. As I look forward to the month, here are a few things I am eagerly anticipating.

Throughout February, as has long been a tradition at Capitol Hill Day School, we are celebrating Black History. Most years we identify a school-wide theme or topic of study to help frame the month and create unity across the grades. This year, we will focus on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their contributions to the Black community and the country. If you have a direct connection to an HBCU that you would like to share or if you would like to learn more, please do not hesitate to contact Leslie Sinsay.

On February 8, FiPA is hosting a Sunday ice skating outing at the Canal Park Ice Rink. This popular event is sure to bring out an enthusiastic cross-section of our community. If you can attend, this could be a great opportunity for a Big Buddy Little Buddy meet up outside of school. As part of the fun, FiPA is asking participants to bring a new pair of socks to donate to one of our broader community partners, Sasha Bruce Youthwork. 

As I am sure you are well aware, Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the month. This year, with February 14 on a weekend, we will share the love at school on Thursday, February 12. Young children get very excited about this holiday. They do indeed love their classmates and teachers and relish the opportunity to share cards and other expressions of their affection. 

Our School’s newest tradition is scheduled for the end of the month. February 28 is the second annual Heritage and Roots Festival hosted by FiPA. Following up on the wonderful success of last year’s event, we will gather at Farren’s Stable from 2:00-5:00 p.m. to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community. Planned events include an opportunity to engage in Irish step dancing and to learn some Jujitsu. If you are interested in hosting a table, follow this link. 

We also hope you will join us for the following family engagement events this month: Coffee with Jason and the Board of Trustees on February 6, Upper Grades Office Hours on February 19, and Exploring Social Studies in the Early Childhood and Elementary Grades on February 26.

I believe with all my heart that Capitol Hill Day School is a beloved community. Several years ago I read the bell hooks book “All About Love”—a wonderful essay about the unparalleled significance of love in our lives. Much of hooks writing is reflective of what our community is at its best. Throughout the book, hooks implores readers to love as an action and to allow love to frame our communities. As hooks states, “To begin by always thinking of love as an action rather than a feeling is one way in which anyone using the word in this manner automatically assumes accountability and responsibility.”

Through daily interactions among children and adults at our school, I see clear evidence of the ways in which love is framing our community. February is a special month full of engagement. I hope you will join in the action.