National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month

September 15 marks the start of National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month, a time our district and schools recognize the contributions, achievements, histories, and celebrate the many diverse cultures of people of Hispanic or Latinx ancestry who come from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month is observed September 15 through October 15. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. The theme for 2023 is Latinos: Driving Prosperity, Power, and Progress in America.

Did you know that scholars that identify as Hispanic/Latinx make up 33.4%* of our total scholar demographic? According to the 2022 US Census, Hispanic and Latinx Americans represent 16.9% of our Federal Way Community.

In Federal Way Public Schools, we want our schools to be a mirror of our community – a place where every scholar has a sense of belonging and can be seen, valued, and heard. Our scholars benefit from learning about and celebrating all cultures.

Celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month with FWPS and help us share how our schools are recognizing Hispanic and Latinx heritage with academics, art projects, school clubs and celebrations, and more. Be sure to tag @FWPS210 or email photos to socialmedia@fwps.org.

View additional recognitions in the FWPS Cultural & Religious Calendar here: www.fwps.org/culturalcalendar 

FWHS Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Authors and Figures for National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month

It’s National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month! Many schools in our district are celebrating by creating recommended booklists and displays in their libraries. At Federal Way High School, students can find recommended books alongside images of legendary Hispanic figures to honor their legacies and contributions to our nation.

This year, we celebrate labor and civil rights leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, who fought for farmworker rights and advocated for labor laws reforms; as well as multiple Grammy award winner Celia Cruz from Cuba, who, according to NPR, “brought Afro-Cuban music to the world stage;” or 15-time MLB All-Star and first Latino to be inducted to the Hall of Fame Roberto Clemente, who also built an impeccable legacy off the field as a strong advocate for “equitable treatment of Latin baseball players” and had an immense passion for helping the underprivileged and marginalized” community; or poet, journalist, and editor Julia de Burgos, also from Puerto Rico, whose main literary themes centered around feminism, social justice, blackness, and migration, and who worked tirelessly to eradicate injustice; among many others.

These individuals are just a few examples of the countless Hispanic and Latinx figures who have made an impact to our country. 

Students at Federal Way High School are excited about this celebration. Junior Aylin shared, "I think it's good for people to know about the Hispanic culture and where our stories and our ancestors come from."  

Senior Yahya added, "I love cultural celebrations. The fact that this is celebrating heritage, it brings up people who are of that heritage, and those of us outside of that culture, to learn about them. This is a very diverse school and there are a lot of teachers and students who would appreciate this. It's good to see this going on, hopefully [it will continue] after I graduate."

Federal Way High School staff are committed to our goal for scholars to see themselves reflected in their school and learning. Showcasing these books celebrates our diversity and promotes inclusion. Swing by the FWHS library to read up and appreciate the rich history and culture of Hispanic and Latinx communities. Happy National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month! 

Internet Academy Teachers Incorporate Hispanic-Themed Lessons 

National Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and honor the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx individuals. Across the district, schools are incorporating Hispanic-themed lessons into their teachings, and Internet Academy is no exception. Students of all grade levels are engaging in daily lessons that include virtual museum tours, reading books by Latinx authors, history, cultural and geography lessons, and much more.

(2022) Finding Pictures: Latina/Latino Graphic Art & Artists. [Video] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/webcast-10476/.

In Ms. McLauchlin's Kindergarten class, scholars are learning about Latin American countries and influential Hispanic figures in our nation. Ms. McLauchlin has also been reading books by Hispanic authors such as Meg Medina, Junot Diaz, and Juana Martinez-Neal to her students. 

CTE Teacher, Ms. Hamilton has been incorporating information about Latinx graphic art and artists in her Art Appreciation, Graphic Design, and Visual Communications classes. In addition, Ms. Hamilton created a virtual sharing board for students and families to share their Hispanic heritage, including images, recipes, stories, and more. 

Throughout the month, Ms. Hamilton's class will be engaging in an activity where they research and analyze the work of five artists of the Mexican Revolution, create artwork using contemporary events and the style of one of the artists studied, and find connections between how the artists were influenced by Mexico's history, political figures, and original artwork. 

Math and Korean teacher Dongsun Ball is highlighting the work and contributions of Latino mathematicians, including Bolivian Jaime Escalante, Mexican American Ruth Gonzalez, and Argentinian Alberto Pedro Calderón.

Smithsonian National Museum of American Latino: Making History Together 

Meanwhile, English teacher, Ms. Anderson has been taking students on virtual museum tours to learn more about Hispanic history and culture, including the Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum, Museum of Latin American Art, Google Arts & Culture Latino Cultures in the US, and the Frida Kahlo Museum.

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) 

 Frida Kahlo Museum

It's wonderful to see how our schools celebrate the rich history and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx individuals in various subjects and grade levels.