Saint Peter High School hosted Hispanic/Latino Peoples Joy Day activities on Friday (Oct. 11) as part of a way for students in grades 9-12 to learn more about the diverse population that makes up our student body. This was the third event of its kind at SPHS in the last calendar year as Indigenous Peoples’ Joy Day (November 2023) and Black Peoples’ Joy Day (February 2024) were held last school year.
SPPS Equity Coordinator John Warren and SPHS Spanish instructor Vero Castillo-Clark, two of the organizers for Friday’s full-day of learning experiences about Hispanic/Latino culture and life, shared their thoughts on the memorable day”
(John Warren’s comments)
“What a beautiful day! It was truly a day full of JOY!
There were so many exceptional experiences on Friday. Our breakout sessions featured a rich variety of Hispanic and Latino cultural and educational experiences. Most importantly, several of our breakout sessions were presented by our Hispanic and Latino students. The opportunity for our students to celebrate their culture and communicate their pride with their peers was beyond invaluable.
I am so very honored to be a part of our Joy days. The energy, the huge smiles and the feeling of community is a profoundly emotional experience.
There are two ideas that communicate the essence of why we do this. JOY! and celebrating the humanity of everyone!
We are making a difference that creates a new path for all our children to be seen.”
(Vero Castillo-Clark’s comments)
“From the moment we received confirmation for 'Hispanic/Latino Joy Day,' my students Sofía Juantos, Briana Rocha, Merlin Martínez, and Cristina Ralios, along with me, began brainstorming ways to share Latino culture with the St. Peter community, particularly with our high school students. Throughout May 2024, our group focused on developing engaging themes and activities to promote our culture.
This included having Leilani Reyna design the event poster. We also considered incorporating traditional foods, with support from my students' moms, as well as activities centered around art, dance, and music. Additionally, we discussed inviting Latino speakers who have made a significant impact in our community.
Over the summer, we worked on reaching out to these speakers and refining the details. When school resumed, the students in the Native Spanish Speakers class began planning how to present their topics in a fun and interactive manner, ensuring that everyone could enjoy and participate in sharing the culture.
On Monday, Oct. 7, we visited South and North Elementary Schools to introduce younger students to a bit of our culture, with the goal of inspiring them and fostering pride in their roots.
As a teacher, my primary objective is for my students to feel proud of their culture, language, and heritage, while also giving other students the opportunity to learn about their classmates' cultures, thereby promoting better understanding among everyone.
On Friday, it was great to see my native speaker students overjoyed while sharing their culture, as well as watching the other students take part in their traditions and celebrate it with enthusiasm and respect. The energy throughout the day was infectious, creating a sense of unity and appreciation for the diverse backgrounds represented within our school community.”
Shown above and below are some photo highlights from Friday's festivities at SPHS. Special thanks to SPHS social studies teacher Mr. Clark and SPHS senior Braedon Dornfeld for sharing these photos!
