🎨🕯️🌼 In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, students at Charles D. Owen Middle School came together for a vibrant Day of the Dead afterschool celebration hosted by the Global Arts Club and the Hispanic Heritage Club.
The event invited students to explore Hispanic cultures through art, music, food, and creative expression. Participants tried Mexican buñuelos and extra spicy Sour Patch Kids, made sugar skull masks, created colorful art displays, and discussed how Día de los Muertos is celebrated in different parts of the world.
Spanish teacher Erin Smith said the collaboration between the two clubs helped students “explore an element of their culture a little deeper” while also helping others “connect with the people that it’s representing.”
“We wanted to show that celebrations of death can be joyful, focused on remembrance and positivity rather than sadness,” she said.
Art teacher Patti Lloyd said students enjoyed trying new foods and expressing culture through art. Several students like Anderson and Naomi, both in eighth grade, proudly displayed projects inspired by their heritage, including artwork featuring El Salvador’s national bird, the torogoz.
“We’ve been cutting marigolds out of paper and making decorations to get everything ready,” Anderson said. “It’s been really fun.”