Hispanic Heritage Celebrated in Laurens County School District 55
October 30, 2024
Laurens County School District 55 (LCSD 55) held its first district-wide celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month. The National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) recognizes the influence and contributions of Hispanic people in the United States to its history, culture, and achievements.
LCSD 55 has a diverse population, with 830 students of Hispanic roots. The district is committed to welcoming individuals of other cultures. On September 24, 2024, the LCSD 55 front office staff participated in a professional development session on Harmonizing Cultural Diversity. The presenter was Lydia Carnesale, an Education Program Specialist at the United States Department of Education Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. Carnesale is Hispanic and drew from her educational, personal, and professional experiences to help the LCSD 55 Front Office staff members think of better ways to serve students and families of other cultures.
LCSD 55 also created and launched a month-long video series featuring Laurens 55 District High School (LDHS) students of Hispanic Heritage. The Influence, Meaning, Passion, Achievement, Character, Trajectory (IMPACT: 55) videos featured Alexandra Lazaro Peralta, Jonathan Adame-Reyes, Marixssa Garcia Mojica, Angel Andres-Andres, and Noelia Bravo. Additionally, the district created a special video called Celebrating Culture. These videos are on the district’s social media platforms and website and linked in the district’s newsletters.
LCSD 55 initiatives include a social media Hispanic Heritage campaign, a Hispanic Heritage Lunch Celebration (October 15), giveaways, and school displays. LDHS Digital Arts Teacher Candice Iusti and her students created displays for all the schools. LDHS Spanish Teacher Susan Youmans and her students created bulletin boards and the Dia De Los Muertos photo backdrop at LDHS.
Youmans is highly supportive of the district’s initiatives. “It is great that the district recognizes and appreciates the Hispanic students and their families. Many of my students are from Latino families. They get excited when they get to talk about their culture. Many of them helped put together the artwork in the LDHS Commons. They were very excited to be able to contribute to the day. Some that have been very quiet all semester began talking and opening up more in class. I thought it was a huge success.”
Ford Elementary School (FES) has the highest population of Hispanic students. FES staff members and parents are delighted with the initiative. Mirella Jones, FES Front Office Staff, stated, “I think it’s great our district celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month because we, Hispanics, have lots to share. We want other people to know our culture, our traditions, our food from the different countries where the students and staff come from.”
“The initiatives this year to celebrate the Hispanic community make us feel more welcomed. It is a way of telling how important our Hispanic students, staff, and families are to our district. It gives parents and families confidence and security to approach their children’s schools. Also, parents know that there will always be someone to help them,” added Jones.
Sandra Molina Batrez, FES Montessori School Assistant and parent of two LCSD 55 students, shared, “District 55 plays a crucial role in helping Hispanic students, staff, and families feel more welcome by implementing inclusive celebrations. By doing so, the district is creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. Creating a supportive environment can enhance educational experiences and strengthen community ties.”
She added, “I enjoyed listening to my daughters come home and very proudly say that our culture was mentioned in school! I am very happy and appreciative of District 55 for taking the initiative to have a district-wide celebration for our Hispanic students, staff, and families. It’s encouraging to see more events, educational programs, and recognition of the Hispanic community. This inclusion will help foster understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures. Although this is just the beginning, I am excited to see activities and events District 55 will include in the celebration of Hispanic Heritage throughout the year!”
Sanders Middle School (SMS) student Brittany Cruz Lopez and her parents, Senia and Chris Cruz, are pleased with the LCSD 55 Hispanic Heritage celebration. Mr. Cruz said, “This is a timely initiative with the growth of the Hispanic population in Laurens County in recent years. This is such a great initiative to make us feel welcome. It has also given other students in the district the chance to learn about a culture they may not be familiar with.”
Brittany said, “I think the effort to celebrate Hispanic Heritage is amazing because it helps students feel more welcome. Also, Hispanic students get a chance to represent their culture and also feel like they belong. I appreciate the wonderful people who make Hispanic Heritage a great celebration. I know that I will always have a home at Laurens School District 55.”
The district plans to offer the Harmonizing Cultural Diversity training to its staff members in the coming months. LCSD 55 also hopes to continue and expand its Hispanic Heritage celebration next year. The district welcomes suggestions on how to grow this initiative. Please feel free to contact Faye Colley, Laurens 55 Coordinator of Communications, at [email protected].
