On Friday, Oct. 11, Archie Williams leadership programs hosted a lunchtime event by the Senior Tree, aiming to cultivate community-wide appreciation for Hispanic Heritage Month through food, games, and music. Associated Student Body (ASB) and Peer Resource (PR) ran various interactive activities and games for students, ranging from hopscotch to board games. The leadership groups also provided traditional Hispanic foods, including rice pudding, horchata, an array of Mexican candy, and hibiscus tea.
The celebration featured a variety of inclusive and high-spirited activities. Games with ties to many Hispanic communities brought students of different ages and cultures together, providing them a fun, casual means of connecting. Junior and PR member Santiago Desruisseau attended the event and acknowledged its improved representation.
“In previous years, there have been events similar to this, but I feel like there hasn’t been anything truly authentic. This year, we have games from [a variety of] Latin countries, which hasn’t been the case in the past,” Santiago said.
Throughout the lunch period, students and teachers gathered in the quad, participating in the events taking place. Songs of Hispanic origin played on loudspeakers, inviting an array of students to dance and sing along to them, enjoying themselves and the celebration. Sophomore Gipsy Gregor felt optimistic about the impacts of the event and enjoyed the festivities.
“[An event that is] spreading the culture and knowledge about different backgrounds that are different from the majority of the school is a great event to have, and is very fun,” Gipsy said.
The lunch event allowed students to celebrate different cultures and identities. Spanish language teacher Erin Gilbert noticed the positive attention the event brought to Hispanic students at Archie Williams.
“It’s really important to have this event at our school because, first of all, demographically speaking, there are a lot fewer students that are of Hispanic Heritage year than students not, so it’s important to represent all different ethnicities and backgrounds, especially in our community and counting,” Gilbert said.
Archie Williams has a sizable community of individuals with Hispanic heritage, many of whom have chosen to join leadership classes at the school. During the lunchtime event, these students took charge, illuminating their cultural heritage or celebrating that of those around them.
“We have a group of solid students who identify as Hispanic or Latinx, sharing their culture with us today. They have different booths available, playing culturally authentic music and sharing food and drink from Spanish-speaking cultures,” Gilbert said.
The Hispanic Heritage Month lunch event expanded the school’s cultural awareness, bringing students together through games, music, and cultural food. Throughout the school year, students can expect leadership classes to host several more culturally celebratory events, with the next during Nov.
