The Ohana Institute in Walton County, Florida, celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with activities that immersed students in Hispanic culture. Instead of traditional classroom work, students from kindergarten to high school engaged in maracas, salsa dancing, and authentic Latin cuisine. Upper-level Spanish students performed popular songs translated into Spanish, providing an engaging language lesson.
Student Jeshua Gonzalez expressed pride in seeing his heritage celebrated, emphasizing a sense of unity among varied cultures. School leaders, including founder Lettye Burgtorf, highlighted the importance of exposing students to diverse languages and traditions to foster empathy.
The celebration included high school students presenting research on various Latin American countries, and older students reflected on lessons learned from completing the historic pilgrimage of El Camino de Santiago in Spain. Spanish teacher Elizabeth Miller connected the journey to themes of community and perseverance.
The cultural education at Ohana Institute will continue beyond Hispanic Heritage Month, with plans for students to travel to a sister school in Nicaragua next February for immersive language and cultural experiences.
