Addison Trail set to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month

From Sept. 11 to 15, Addison Trail will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month!

This will be the school’s seventh year recognizing this important month. See the schedule of events below.

Monday, Sept. 11

Before school – The Addison Trail Mariachi Club (pictured above, from a previous performance) will perform in the commons area as students and staff arrive at school.
Before school – Free conchas (a soft and sweet Mexican bread) will be available in the commons area for students and staff.

Tuesday, Sept. 12

6:30 p.m. – Addison Trail will host its first Padres Latinos en Acción (Latino Parents in Action) meeting of the 2023-24 school year. Through this group, Spanish-speaking parents/guardians increase their knowledge of the school system to help their children achieve at the highest level. The meeting topic on Sept. 12 will be “Familia y escuela … Los padres y maestros como formadores de resiliencia e inspiración en los hijos (Family and school … Parents and teachers as resilience trainers and inspiration in children)” and will be presented by Dr. Ferney Ramírez, a respected psychologist and coordinator of bilingual parent-education programs. Connect with Padres Latinos en Acción on Facebook (Addison Trail - Padres latinos en acción) and on Twitter (@ATpadreslatinos).
8 p.m. – District 88 stakeholders are invited to attend a movie night for a showing of “Under the Same Moon (La misma luna).” For more information about the film, go to https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796307/. The event is free, and popcorn, paletas (Mexican-style popsicles) and elotes (Mexican street corn) will be sold.

Thursday, Sept. 14

6:30 p.m. – The Addison Trail Varsity Boys Soccer Team (pictured above, from the Blue and White Community Night on Aug. 18) will compete against Victor J. Andrew High School. Tacos will be available to buy.

Friday, Sept. 15

Students and staff are encouraged to wear their Hispanic Heritage Month T-shirt (pictured above). This year’s theme is “Under la Misma Luna.”

Saturday, Sept. 16

4 to 7 p.m. – Addison Trail will host its ninth Kermes (Latino food festival), and all students, parents/guardians, alumni, staff, community members and friends are invited to attend! The event is sponsored by Addison Trail’s Interact Club and Padres Latinos en Acción (Latino Parents in Action) group and will take place at the school. Kermes will feature traditional Latino dishes, as well as live entertainment (music and dancers, pictured above from last year), raffles and games. Admission is free, and dinner tickets cost $7 each. Proceeds will go toward scholarships for Addison Trail students.

Other events will include

Decorating hallways, windows and display cases at the school (pictured above, from a previous year)
Playing cultural music during passing periods
Sharing facts and stories related to National Hispanic Heritage Month during passing periods

According to www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov, “Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept.15 to Oct. 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.” It began in 1968 and was originally observed as “Hispanic Heritage Week” under President Lyndon Johnson, but was later extended to a month during President Ronald Reagan’s term in 1988.

District 88 has about 50 languages and more than 30 countries represented among its families, and more than half of the nearly 2,000 students at Addison Trail speak more than one language. District 88’s core values include fostering an inclusive environment and a sense of belonging, where all students, staff and community members feel safe, valued, respected and welcome – regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.