CDE Field Trips - 10/15/24: Clear Creek Students and Community Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month at Clear Creek

Clear Creek Students and Community Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Students and staff from Clear Creek Middle and High School recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month in partnership with Mountain Youth Network. The goal was to raise cultural awareness and highlight the diverse backgrounds of students, staff, and volunteers. The celebration featured displays showcasing Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, and Colombia, and some of the cities, food, flags, and famous figures of each country.

Led by Clear Creek’s Multilingual Learner Coordinator Melinda Gordon, Clear Creek paraprofessional Ana Maria Terry, and MYN Manager Rose Morris, students researched and created tri-fold displays in the school’s library and cafeteria. The collaboration between the school district and MYN is part of a broader racial equity initiative that supports cultural awareness and builds connections within the community.

Organizers invited Roberto Paniagua Morales, Bilingual Communications Manager from the Colorado Department of Education, to speak about his Puerto Rican heritage. He shared his personal experiences growing up in Puerto Rico and transitioning to life in Colorado. This gave students the opportunity to learn about Puerto Rican culture and traditions through firsthand experience and insights.

The event also featured The Pulsera Project, which offered handmade bracelets crafted by Central American artisans. Proceeds from the sales support Guatemalan and Nicaraguan communities and tied the celebration to a larger global effort.