Hillside celebrated the 100th birthday of Ms. Esther Long on February 28, 2025 with a beautiful ceremony in our cafeteria including our 3rd graders who have been learning about the Berwyn School Fight in Social Studies. Ms. Long is the last living African American community member who, along with her family, peacefully protested over racial segregation of schools in the Tredyffrin Easttown School District in 1932.
Our 100-year-old guest of honor was a rock-star, arriving in a white limousine to applause from the audience of 3rd graders and their HES teachers, teachers from around the District, members of the TE School Board, and a representative from the state senator’s office! Students read a poem, presented Ms. Long with gifts, while staff members spoke on the historical efforts that her family contributed to help improve educational access in our school district. To quote Ms. Long at the conclusion of the celebration today, “I received so much love today, I have to put some in the freezer.”
What a gift to all of us to be part of history in meeting and celebrating this amazing individual’s 100 years of life! Seeing so many scholars wearing purple to honor Ms. Long was inspiring. Our students will continue to learn about the past to make a better future.
