Ahead of the Thanksgiving break, students, staff, and families at two elementary schools held after-hours celebrations to highlight the positive contributions of Puerto Rican culture for the Holyoke community—and to say “thank you” for all the great things that have happened during the school year so far.
In late November, Lawrence School held its first annual “Puerto Rico Family Night” celebration with dancing, food, and crafts. Guests enjoyed the debut performance of Peck Middle School’s traditional dance club under the direction of FACE coordinator Rey Figueroa. Donned in colorful skirts and traditional hats, the dancers engaged the audience with choreography that made use of the entire cafeteria space. “It was exciting for our younger students to see the way older students celebrate their heritage,” Principal Katie Bourque explained.“Our school community is stronger because of the cultures our students and families bring to the table.”
At the end of the dance performance, Lawrence staff served a catered Puerto Rican dinner from El Chinchorro Boricua before setting up a variety of craft projects for students to make and take home.
During McMahon School’s event in late November, students in the Beyond The Bell after school program invited their families to celebrate their accomplishments with Puerto Rican flair during their family showcase,“Celebrating Gratitude and Puerto Rican Flair.” Student projects were on display across the cafeteria, featuring tie-ins to seasonal themes including the life cycle of pumpkins, essays on gratitude, and research on Puerto Rican culture.
“Families got to walk through student displays, enjoy a delicious Puerto Rican dinner, and cheer on the kids as they performed their bomba and plena dance,” said McMahon FACE coordinator Vanessa Aponte. “It was a joyful afternoon filled with learning, culture, and community, and our students were so proud to show off their work.”