Shining a light on Greenhill’s diverse community, leaders of the Latin Student Union (LSU) brought together all ages to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 4. Through the cross-divisional breakfast and a presentation to the Upper School student body, the LSU worked to connect all people of Latin heritage and educate the student body on their culture.
“We wanted to do this to celebrate and honor the contributions that Hispanic and Latino people have made to this country,” senior Vicky Cisneros said.
Starting the day with a Latin themed breakfast, the LSU saw a large attendance. With 80 students in attendance, sophomore Valentina Rojas says it was a success.
“It built community and was a chance for our Latinos at Greenhill to bond over experiences and culture,” Rojas said. “Many parents also hope their kids will get to grow up alongside this celebration.”
The attendees ranged from pre-K students to seniors. With this wide range of students, the event was made to cater towards all ages, bringing together the overall Latino Greenhill community.
Additionally, the breakfast consisted of numerous activities, spanning from coloring pictures to playing Loteria, a traditional Mexican board game.
In addition to the bonding activities, students and faculty received treats from different Latino communities. The LSU members each brought dishes from their own cultures.
“It is really exciting to break bread together and talk about the importance of celebrating our culture, heritage and traditions,” Upper School Spanish teacher Stephanie Almanza said.
The LSU shared plates of Cuban pastelitos, Mexican pan dulce and an assortment of candy and teas, showing off students’ diverse heritages through the foods.
“This school is a melting pot, and there are a lot of different people here,” junior Hazel Goes-Young said. “We should be able to learn about these cultures and learn about these differences that exist within our society.”
At the breakfast, the LSU also shared remarks about the celebration, showing the history and importance of Hispanic Heritage Month. Cisneros started with an informative speech, followed by a series of activities highlighting Latin figures.
“We just wanted it to be a super fun event, especially for the little kids,” Cisneros said. “I just wanted people to recognize the time because we deserve it.”
The excitement shared in the breakfast did not end there, as the LSU also taught the Upper School student body about this celebration at an Upper School assembly on Oct. 4.
“We had a presentation about what Hispanic Heritage Month is, the history of it and Latin pioneers,” Rojas said. “Then, we made a Kahoot to engage with the Upper School, making sure the importance stays in their minds.”
To plan for this celebration, Cisneros says the LSU worked especially hard to ensure success.
“I think we started planning a month in advance because I knew I wanted something really big for Hispanic Heritage Month,” Cisneros said.
The LSU team, sponsored by Almanza and Debate Coach Rodrigo Paramo, used little help from faculty. However, Cisneros did work with parent volunteers to help organize the large-scale breakfast.
“Although we are present and attend meetings, the [LSU] girls have really taken the lead,” Almanza said. “My role is really just to support and jump in whenever I am needed.”
Goes-Young says the overall success of the day brought attention to Hispanic Heritage Month and the diverse Greenhill community.
“If we do not celebrate these differences, it really impacts the kids who do not see the same representations in everyday life,” Goes-Young said. “They deserve to see these beautiful cultures.”
