Colorful displays, the rhythm of dancing feet and music invited the community into the courtyard during lunch Friday, Oct. 10, as students gathered to enjoy the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. The annual event, organized by Hermanas Unidas and teachers from the World Language Department, allowed students to experience Hispanic and Latin American cultures through crafts, educational posters and a variety of foods.
The celebration featured a fashion show, a dance lesson, interactive games and informational presentations designed by Archer’s Spanish students. Senior Serenity Jones and her classmates created a matching game where players paired Spanish movie titles with their corresponding English movie posters.
“A bunch of different people did [the game], and a lot of the middle schoolers came and did it and got candy,” Jones said. “It was a fun time to see everyone have fun and contribute to the community.”
Hermanas Unidas club members also brought foods from different Hispanic cultures. Full tables of rice and beans, guacamole and chips, paletas and flan were available for students to enjoy as they moved from station to station. Sixth grader Virginia Ashford-Davis said the food was one of her favorite parts of the celebration.
“I really liked it. It was a really nice celebration and there was so much good food,” Ashford-Davias said. “I also had this pudding that had a little cinnamon chip that was so good. If I could, I’d eat it every day of my life.”
During the event, there was a fashion show that featured Quinceañera dresses and traditional embroidered shirts. While some students taught a popular line dance called “Caballo Dorado,” there were also opportunities to learn about different Spanish-speaking countries. Sixth grader Anika Dave said she enjoyed the celebration more than learning in a classroom.
“We can walk around with our friends and learn … about other cultures and traditions,” Dave said, “It’s a better way to remember the information.”
Although students enjoyed sampling food and dancing to upbeat music, Jones hoped the celebration would inspire students to continue exploring beyond the event.
“I hope that [students] were able to learn about different cultures and try different things at home,” Jones said. “For example, I know there was a bread recipe that was presented … that’d be super cool if they got that and tried it at home, or just be creative and create some of the embroidery and research a little bit more about it and the culture.”
Hermanas Unidas Executive Board member Sarah Mzoughi (’28) helped organize the festival, participated in the fashion show, and served horchata and soda throughout lunch. She said while the event was fun, they couldn’t have done it without all the student and faculty support.
“It really made me happy to see [students] email me and say, ‘Hey, how can I help?’ and to see all those names in the sign-up sheet to bring food and to volunteer,” Mzoughi said. “[I’m] proud to see other girls find their community.”
Mzoughi said these events help to build connection and visibility for students who are not always represented. After weeks of planning, seeing students share pride in their heritage made the effort worth it, she said.
“It shows that there is a community there for you, and it also lets people have that opportunity to learn about other cultures, without having to seek it out,” Mzoughi said. “It’s a reminder that different types of people exist and that their cultures are beautiful, and that we should respect and find importance in them.”
Ms. Geffen • Oct 20, 2025 at 8:40 am
Thank you for writing about the festival in this beautiful, detailed article, Maia! I really enjoyed reading about so many different students’ experiences and perspectives – from 6th – 12th – both those who were preparing and presenting and new students who had to chance to attend (and taste!) for the very first time. Great job!