On Friday, October 4, Leesburg Elementary hosted its fifth annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. Leesburg families with Hispanic roots brought in a wide-variety of traditional foods, drinks, and desserts to share together in a lively convivio (fellowship) in the school cafeteria to celebrate their heritage with other parents, students, and staff members.
The evening began with a bilingual staff member sharing her story of developing as an English language learner herself by reading with her parents each night. Then the students had the opportunity to read a book with their parents. All attendees left with a packet of family-centered literacy activities.
Prior to the event, students in Leesburg Elementary School’s English Language Learners program studied many aspects of Hispanic culture and history during Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15).
One fourth-grade parent expressed her thanks and said, “Desde la Noche de Herencia Hispana, empecé a leer con mi hijo todas las tardes” (Ever since the Hispanic Heritage Night, I began to read with my son every evening). Many other parents have also expressed their appreciation for the encouragement and tools provided to read with their children at home.
