Whether you view it virtually or you have the chance to see it in person, now is the perfect time to visit Mrs. Centeno’s colorful and festive Spanish classroom located in Ogden Hall. This semester, all of her students, whether attending class in-person or online, are busy learning the Spanish language and a whole lot more. October is Hispanic Heritage Month and everyone is geared up to celebrate!

 

 

This year, Mrs. Centeno had to think outside the box and find creative ways to make this global event exciting and engaging for her students in Spanish I, Spanish III, and ESL. As their main project, students were charged with choosing, researching, and presenting some of the most iconic artists, athletes, actors, scientists, writers, and politicians with Latino heritage. In-person learners created colorful posters illustrating the story behind their personality to go along with their live presentations, while online students prepared an in-depth slide show followed by a rigorous question and answer session with their peers via Zoom.

 

 

For example, both Conner Biddiscombe ’22 and Maddie Devine ’24 covered actress Rita Moreno of West Side Story fame, Juan Carlos Garcia Perez ’22 chose scientist Mario J. Molina who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his role in noting the threat to the Earth’s ozone layer, and Yiwen Fiona Ji ’22 conducted her research on infamous Spanish painter Salvadore Dali. Other famous figures included Academy Award-winning film director Alfonso Cuarón,  Mexican painter and influencer Frida Kahlo, and Supreme Court Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic member of the nation’s highest court, among others

 

 

Mrs. Centeno is also exploring other fun ways for her students to celebrate, including a virtual Hispanic food party with Chef Andy, recipe sharing, and virtual sessions with SKS alumni of Hispanic heritage. On Friday, October 9, she and her students will participate in “Salsa Under the Stars” – a virtual event organized by Safe Harbours of the Hudson in Newburgh, New York. “I hope all of my students can join this online event, listen to great music, and dance along with the Mexican folklore dancers who will be performing during the event,” explained Mrs. Centeno. “It’s the next best thing to celebrating Hispanic culture with all of my students and the rest of the community in person.”