On Monday Sept. 29 and Tuesday Sept. 30, students, parents and faculty gathered for a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in the Blue Dungeon, which allowed volunteers to showcase their culture through lively displays.
“This event is so important to show the culture of Hispanic countries here in Miami, especially when there are a lot of kids with international backgrounds… This event is so complete because it shows different cultures, including the music, the flavors, and the rhythm. It’s very complete,” Hispanic Heritage Celebration volunteer Lauren Guinot said.
Each booth reflected a different country, featuring traditional food, decorations and interactive displays that highlighted the uniqueness of each culture. The atmosphere was lively, with Latin music setting the tone as students moved from booth to booth. Some offered samples of homemade dishes, others displayed colorful décor, and many encouraged participation through cultural activities like dominos. For example, the Honduras booth featured live parrots, where guests posed for photos against a backdrop.
“It’s extremely important to show my kids their heritage and where they come from and share a little bit of the fun that it is to be Venezuelan… while having fun, which is great,” Hispanic Heritage Celebration volunteer Veronica Quijadafranco said.
(Sara Fidler)
While the Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration gave volunteers an opportunity to teach their cultural heritage to both students and faculty, they were also able to represent the pride they have in their heritage.
“Heritage is something we should be proud of,” Quijadafranco said. “It makes me proud to show my culture to others who may not know abo
ut Venezuela. For my daughters, who already know a little, it reinforces that connection, and for others, it’s nice to learn.”
Students praised the celebration, saying it allowed them to broaden their perspectives and experience different cultures within their own school.
“Many of these countries I haven’t visited before, so I can like to get to know them before having to travel to them,” said sophomore Tomas Galoon.
The Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration remains a key event that highlights the diversity in our school community and provides an opportunity to learn from each other’s cultures.
