The Spanish Heritage class here at Cherry Hill High School West makes an effort each year to inform elementary and middle school students about Hispanic Heritage month by performing an interactive assembly.
This year about 50 students from the class joined together to prepare the assembly for students at James Johnson, Joyce Kilmer, Carusi, Clara Barton, Russell Knight, and Thomas Paine. The students in the class delighted the audience with Latin rhythms and dances. The dances included Bachata, Salsa, Flamenco, the Mexican dance, Meringue, and the Zumba.
A long with the dances, the audience was given important information about each dance through large powerpoint presentations shown by two students from the class. This part of the assembly gave the audience an idea of the culture behind Hispanic Heritage month.
The Bachata dance was performed as a skit that really caught the audience’s attention. The Flamenco executed a flawless stamping of feet and the flowing of skirts that got the audience excited. The crowd’s favorite was the class of Zumba. The class allowed the audience to join the students in dancing to “Hasta El Salga El Sol” by Don Omar. The class was under the direction of two very skilled students who have been dancing their whole life.
After performing at six different schools, the students of the Spanish Heritage class were exhausted, but they knew it was all worth it. Aaroon who is currently the president of the Latinos at West said about the assembly, “I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a smart and fun way to make people aware of Hispanic Heritage month.”
The elementary students had really enjoyed the whole experience. The principal at Johnson sent an email to Mrs. Rivas-Mintz truly thanking the class for all they had done. “I have never seen our students so engaged or excited. Many of the students identified this presentation as ‘the best assembly ever!’”
This presentation is just one of the many wonderful things the Spanish Heritage class has prepared for this school year.