American Latino Culture Celebrated During National Hispanic Heritage Month
10/18/2022
American Latino culture is celebrated during National Hispanic Heritage Month
Wylie ISD students and staff recently learned about various aspects of Latino culture for National Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM).
HHM is a time to celebrate and learn about the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community. HHM takes place annually from Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
The month also celebrates the independence days of several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico and Chile.
Aligning with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS), Wylie ISD students from kindergarten to high school, sampled Latino heritage in an assortment of different lessons throughout the district.
Students at Bush Elementary celebrated Día de la Independencia de Mexico (and other Latin American countries). Students and teachers were invited to dress in cultural attire. One student even brought a Mexican flag that was used as a backdrop for photos.
The Watkins Wranglers created a Hispanic Heritage Board to explain the significance of various ethnic and/or cultural celebrations in the local community. To honor the celebration, all Watkins students were invited to dress in clothing to honor Hispanic heritage.
Wylie High School displayed papel picado and important key figures with Latin American heritage in their hallways.
Teachers and students at Akin Elementary celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by “wearing clothing to represent their Hispanic Heritage.”
Wylie ISD’s own Mrs. Sandra Pineda-Hernandez shared the culture and geography of her home country, Colombia, with sixth grade social studies students at Harrison Intermediate.
Members of Wylie East’s Spanish Club created paper flowers to display at the choir concert Oct. 18.
The Wylie East choral program’s Fall Concert, "Remember Me: Dia De Los Muertos,” is Oct. 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the WEHS Auditorium.
This unique, culturally-rich concert partners choral students not only with each other, but with the Spanish Honor Society and Diversity Club.
“[The concert will] present a meaningful, connected choral experience to concertgoers that not only celebrates the diversity within our program, but the beautiful stories of the music we share and the cultures they represent,” WEHS Choir Director Mrs. Ashley Dame said.
In addition to their many musical standards, choral students also learned extramusical skills through study of English/Language Arts, languages other than English, history, geography, and more.
“We have thoroughly enjoyed going more in-depth into the music we perform as well as learning more about the significance of this holiday and the cultures who celebrate it,” Mrs. Dame said. “We look forward to honoring the practice of remembering loved ones.”