The Board of Education approves a resolution recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month

During their meeting on Sept. 11, the Montgomery County Board of Education once again approved an annual resolution recognizing Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS). Board members have approved the same resolution for approximately the last 30 years, with slight changes in wording each year, according to board member Dr. Judith Docca. "The wording is different every year. We try to highlight some portion of Latino history or Hispanic history in our country," Docca said.

Hispanic Heritage Month at Blair

Photo: Blair, home to a large Hispanic and Latino student body, is one of many schools across MCPS holding special events after the Board of Education approved Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month.

Blair, home to a large Hispanic and Latino student body, is one of many schools across MCPS holding special events after the Board of Education approved Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month. Photo courtesy of Audrey Haverland.

Recently, the Board altered the wording of the resolution to focus on Central America as well as South America. "Now that we have so many kids [in the county] that are from [Central America], it's important to remember that they're part of our personal history and culture as well," Docca explained. Nevertheless, the primary motivation for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month has remained the same. Among other reasons, MCPS stated in the resolution that it recognizes Latino-Americans' "strong commitment to family, faith, hard work and service" throughout the month.

MCPS leaves it up to each school to make decisions on specific school events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. "It would be up to individual schools to celebrate, but we do remind them that it's worth it to [recognize the month]," Docca said.

To recognize Hispanic Heritage Month on a countywide level this year, "[the Board and MCPS staff] went to the Montgomery Hispanic Gala," Docca said. At the gala, held Sept. 13 at the Fillmore Silver Spring, awards committee chair Karla Silvestre named Takoma Park Middle School principal Alicia Deeny Principal of the Year. Members of the committee also awarded scholarships totaling to $100,000 to 55 Latino graduates from MCPS during the event.

In the community, local cable channel County Cable Montgomery is also celebrating throughout the month by promoting Spanish language news shows, audio stories and other programming.

Throughout the month, Blair is hosting several school events to commemorate Hispanic history and contributions. Blair's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month also serves to recognize its Hispanic students, who make up approximately 32 percent of the student body, the largest out of all ethnic groups within the school. According to a calendar posted by Principal Renay Johnson, special events include a soccer tournament, InfoFlow programming focused on Hispanic heritage, a career panel, a talent show called ¡Fiesta Blair! and a show by speaker and comedian Ernie G.