Hispanic Heritage Month at iPrep
By Camila Visbal, sophomore, iPrep Academy
By Camila Visbal, sophomore, iPrep Academy
From September 15th through October 15th most schools celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. According to the website National Hispanic Heritage Month created by the United States Library of Congress this month targets ancestors who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. This year, Ms. Colon, who is the iPrep Middle School History Teacher, has a Global Leaders Class that creates and performs activities for not only the elementary students, but for our school as a whole.
The same website about the National Hispanic Heritage Month also talks about the reason as to why this month is celebrated between the middle of September and October. The month begins on September 15th because it is the anniversary of independence for Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Along with this, Mexico celebrates their independence on September 16th, and Chile celebrates on September 18th. Within these 30 days, Dia de la Raza, also known as Day of the Races or Race day is celebrated on October 12th. The title stands for a community that is linked together by cultural ties. |
Ms. Gonzalez and Ms. Colon
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The National Today website, an informational website that “ keeps track of fun holidays and special moments on the cultural calendar” described this day as the time of “cultural fusion of indigenous America and Spanish heritage. The day is generally observed as a national holiday in Spanish countries and in Spanish communities.” Other countries such as Costa Rica and Venezuela changed the name to Dia de las Culturas and Dia de la Resistencia Indígena, but all of these still translate to Race day in English.
Here at iPrep, there are many activities planned for all students and faculty. Ms. Colon’s Global Leaders class on October 13th, 2022, planned a wax museum style presentation where the students will dress up as important and iconic figures in Hispanic culture. In addition to dressing up, the famous peoples’ biographies will be shared with the Lower and Upper Academy. This year, students from Social Studies and Global Leaders and students from the high school’s Career Research and Decision will dress the parts. The presentations will teach the history of Hispanics and have them learn about cultures they didn’t know about before.
The different activities for Hispanic Heritage span over three to four weeks. On September 29th, the middle school students will host a luncheon where they present menus based on their assigned country and bring food for their classmates. Throughout the entire school, there will be a door or window decorating contest, beginning September 15 and judged on October 12th. Moreover, the National English Honor Society is planning a Hispanic Heritage Read In, sometime between September 26 to October 7 for the Lower Academy students. Additionally, on October 14th, the Lower Academy will participate in a parade, wearing outfits and accessories that properly represent a Hispanic country.
The faculty and staff of iPrep have planned their festivities as well with a Pot Luck luncheon on October 12 and a PTSA sponsored breakfast on October 16th.
When at iPrep, there will be activities for every holiday and celebration you can think of, but Hispanic Heritage Month certainly has many fun activities and celebrations.
The different activities for Hispanic Heritage span over three to four weeks. On September 29th, the middle school students will host a luncheon where they present menus based on their assigned country and bring food for their classmates. Throughout the entire school, there will be a door or window decorating contest, beginning September 15 and judged on October 12th. Moreover, the National English Honor Society is planning a Hispanic Heritage Read In, sometime between September 26 to October 7 for the Lower Academy students. Additionally, on October 14th, the Lower Academy will participate in a parade, wearing outfits and accessories that properly represent a Hispanic country.
The faculty and staff of iPrep have planned their festivities as well with a Pot Luck luncheon on October 12 and a PTSA sponsored breakfast on October 16th.
When at iPrep, there will be activities for every holiday and celebration you can think of, but Hispanic Heritage Month certainly has many fun activities and celebrations.
Works Cited
Highsmith, Carol M., and Ester Hernandez. “2021.” National Hispanic American Heritage Month 2021, https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/. Accessed 14 September 2022.
TOP Worldwide, LLC. “DíA DE LA RAZA - October 12, 2022.” National Today, https://nationaltoday.com/dia-de-la-raza/. Accessed 14 September 2022.
Ms. Colon
Ms. Muller
Highsmith, Carol M., and Ester Hernandez. “2021.” National Hispanic American Heritage Month 2021, https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/about/. Accessed 14 September 2022.
TOP Worldwide, LLC. “DíA DE LA RAZA - October 12, 2022.” National Today, https://nationaltoday.com/dia-de-la-raza/. Accessed 14 September 2022.
Ms. Colon
Ms. Muller