Rayitos de Sol Celebrates Latinx Heritage Month- year round!
Each year, the United States observes Latinx Heritage Month from September 15 - October 15th, to celebrate the culture, history, and achievements of Latinx leaders, change-makers, and community members. While this month brings awareness to the importance of celebrating identity and culture, the team at Rayitos de Sol is working to make this appreciation a year long occurrence!
Juana Rodriguez Vazquez, Director of Rayitos de Sol says,
“At Rayitos we don’t just celebrate our community for a month, we celebrate our identities year round! We believe it is important for children to see their language and culture appreciated and uplifted everyday, and for all children to learn how to celebrate cultures outside of their own.”
In order to observe Latinx Heritage Month, teachers focused the students' literacy work and practice around books incorporating important Latinx Leaders.
Using ‘Lil’ Libros’, a company that publishes children's books that celebrate multicultural voices and stories, the children have learned about artist Frida Kahlo and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta, by reading “Counting with/ Contando con, Frida”, and “The life of/ La vida de Dolores”by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein.
In addition to literacy work, students have been taking part in lots of activities inside and outside of the classroom that create spaces to learn, grow and celebrate their culture. Activities include: learning how to make tortillas and pan dulce (sweet bread), playing Lotería, and practicing traditional Mexican folk dances.
Assistant Teacher, Isamar Lara says,
“It is really important for students to take part in activities where they can celebrate their culture in their education and everyday lives. It is important to love a culture that is different from your own and celebrate them equally because we are all different…it makes us more sensitive and increases our ability to understand why people may do things differently.”
Assistant teacher Jamie Thompson- Ostorga adds,
“ This program is really unique because it has children learn about the world around them, as well as highlights cultural differences that are not always celebrated in other educational settings. For me, my kids are from two different cultures and we have always tried to incorporate traditions from both and emphasize the importance of togetherness.”
This past week, participants of Rayitos took part in a special Halloween Party and ‘Trunk-or-Treat’ event at the center. They will also celebrate Día de los Muertos with a sugar skull decoration party and have already made decorations for the classroom.
Isamar shares,
“We made ‘papel picado’ with the students to prepare for Día de los Muertos and to hang in the classroom. I think the kids really loved that! Then we unfolded them they were so excited!”
In addition to culturally relevant activities, students are also practicing their linguistic skills and making amazing progress in both languages.
Jamie Thompson-Ostorga, assistant teacher says,
“It is incredible to see how quickly children are learning both Spanish and English,“ “Since they are learning both languages at the same time, their vocabulary is doubling in order to express their needs.”
Juana adds,
“We had one parent tell us that she noticed that her child says. ‘más’ when asking for more food at home. It is so exciting to see the Spanish skills developing, especially with students who speak English at home. I am really looking forward to seeing how all of the children's language skills continue to grow.”
As the winter months begin, students will continue to partake in activities designed to learn both English and Spanish, and the center will be welcoming new students!
With an award from the Maine Association for Young Children, Rayitos de Sol is offering one full scholarship for a child ages 1-5, available for a family in the area working for wreath season.
If you, or someone you know would be interested in applying or would like more information, please call (207) 598-9167 or email: (rayitos@manomaine.org).
Interested in supporting Rayitos de Sol? Please donate today!
