Southside Elementary School celebrated Hispanic heritage and culture at the third annual Noche De La Hispanidad on Friday.
About 300 people, including students and their families, attended the Hispanic Heritage Night, according to Desi Moose, school counselor.
The evening began with refreshments in the school cafeteria and guests got a chance to mingle or visit booths for organizations such as Camp War Eagle, Dogwood Literacy Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Panther Health and Wellness Clinic. Students and parents then made their way into the school gym for a program, which included traditional dances, student performances and inspirational speeches. The entire program was conducted in Spanish.
Hispanic Heritage Night is designed to celebrate students and their parents, Moose said. Students are very excited to sing for their parents in Spanish and be a part of the event, she said.
"The main goal (of Noche De La Hispanidad) is to help our Hispanic heritage families feel more welcome in the school and to have a day they can just come and feel at ease, and feel like they are a part of the school," Moose said. "We feel like they are (part of the school) but we want them to feel that way as well."
More parents attend Hispanic Heritage Night than almost any other school event, Moose said. About a third of the school's 660 third- and fourth-grade students have Hispanic heritage, she said.
A certain percentage of those parents don't speak English, which makes it difficult for them to feel they are part of other events for parents.
"Sometimes it's really overwhelming when you walk in and no one speaks your language," Moose said.
Since the school started hosting Hispanic Heritage Night, there has been an overall increase in Hispanic parent participation, Moose said. She sees this as a sign that the event is succeeding in making parents feel more comfortable at the school.
General News on 11/15/2017