🌟 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting Las Palmas Middle School teacher Melody Gonzalez! 🌟 What significance does Hispanic Heritage Month hold for you? Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to honor all the Hispanics that contribute to our diverse country. Our language, culture, dances, music, food, traditions, and more help make this country beautiful. Hispanic Heritage Month is more than a celebration, it’s a recognition of the generations that paved the way so we can have the opportunity we have today. This is a time to remember how diverse we all are in the Hispanic community and how beautiful that is. What is a beloved custom or element of your heritage? A beloved custom that I hold dear to my heart is remembering and celebrating our loved ones who have passed during Dia de Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a beautiful tradition that occurs once a year. During this time, we set up altars and add pictures of our deceased loved ones. We include their favorite food, favorite items, water and anything that they loved when they were here on this earth to honor and remember them. We make delicious Pib (a type of tamal from Yucatan) to eat while we share our favorite memories of those who have passed. How do you honor your heritage in your everyday life? My family is from Merida, Yucatan and I am very proud of my Mexican roots. Spanish with a mix of Mayan was my first language and it still plays a significant role in my life. Knowing a different language is beautiful and something to be proud of. I share with my students the importance of being proud of where they came from and who they are, because who we are is what makes us unique! (fb)

Dr. Katanic, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Dr. Paredes, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, visited Grovecenter Elementary to see innovative learning in action. Keep soaring, Eagles! (fb)