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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage at Rockwood Elementary
During the evening of Thursday, September 20th, Rockwood Elementary opened its doors to hundreds of families for the fourth consecutive year to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.
The event, which began in 2014 with a small group of families who gathered at the school to celebrate Mexican Independence Day, has evolved into a celebration of Hispanic cultures and traditions. With outdoor games, piñatas, face painting, photo booths, door prizes, music, and traditional food, the event has become a Rockwood tradition that over 350 families and community members eagerly await each year.
“I love this day and I come every year with my family to this event,” said 8 year old Brisa Tellez, 3rd grade student at Rockwood Elementary. “I love it because it feels like a party, like a celebration. It also makes me feel very proud of my culture. Mexico and Hispanic cultures should be celebrated!” said Tellez while flapping the colorful skirts of her traditional Mexican dress.
Although for some individuals Hispanic Heritage Month might sound like a recently added festivity in the US, the observation actually began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon B. Johnson. It was later expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15, and that same year the festivity was enacted into law, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.
“I think it is important to celebrate different cultural backgrounds because this represents our students, it is who they are,” said Dr. Sheryl Barnett, Principal at Rockwood Elementary. “We talk to our students a lot about the United States being a melting pot where different cultures come and blend together, but at the same time we want them to honor and celebrate their own heritage because it is who they are.”
To make this festivity possible, community members, volunteers, and families all work together to make it a reality. From the door prizes donated by Rockwood neighbors, teachers and High School student volunteers who help serve food and play games with little ones, to the authentic Hispanic food cooked and donated by Rockwood families—everyone in the community collaborates and helps support the free event in their own way.
One individual who has been a volunteer since Hispanic Heritage celebration first started at Rockwood back in 2014, has been José Luis Torres, father of four students at the school. Torres, who is originally from Mexico, visits Rockwood Elementary each September and puts together a stand with educational information about Mexican Independence and brings authentic Mexican Hats—or sombreros, hand-made leather sandals, flags, and other regalia that students can try on and take pictures with.
“I am motivated to volunteer each year at the event because, first of all, I love to help the community in any way I can, and second, my roots and cultural background are Hispanic,” said José Luis Torres. “To me, it is very important to teach my children about their Hispanic heritage because these are roots that come with principles and values that have been passed down for generations and it makes me and my family feel proud of who we are.”
For María Hernández, mother of two students at Rockwood Elementary, the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month gives her a sense of belonging and safety. “As a parent, these types of event make us feel like we belong, we don’t feel excluded and we feel that there are no prejudices against us Latinos,” said Hernández. “On the contrary, Principal Barnett and all the school staff provide us with a lot of help and support, both for us and for our children. I think it is a wonderful thing that these kids are growing up in a multicultural environment as they celebrate both their family heritage as well as the American culture.”
And even after the piñatas are broken down and the sun has set for the evening, the happiness that Hispanic Heritage Month brings to these families will last on for much longer than just a day.
“I know our parents love the event, every year they have donated more, and more parents come out to help serve, clean up, and donate food,” said Dr. Barnett. “Even after the event is over, these families and students are happy for weeks afterwards and they come to the school to say ‘thank you, we had so much fun!’ It is really special to have that kind of response from them.”