Return to Headlines
WEST ORANGE, NJ - The West Orange School district concluded their celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month on Oct. 14 as Mt. Pleasant Elementary School held a Hispanic Heritage Day featuring dance, crafts, and special presentations in all classes.
Organized by teacher Kristina Moyet and staff, students were treated to Hispanic culture by professional dancers Frank and Rosa from the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Montclair. In each classroom, a variety of educational, artistic, and musical lessons continued throughout the day:
Read-aloud and crafts from the following Hispanic stories/texts:
Kindergarten- Isabel and Her Colores by Alexandra Allessandri
1st: Carmella Full of Wishes by Matt de la Pena
2nd: Islandborn ny Junot Diaz
3rd: Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez Neal
4th: Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
5th: Dinner on Domingos by Alexandra Katona
Math Activities:
Kindergarten- Counting 1-10 Sombrero
1st: Counting 11-20 Sombrero
2nd: Addition and Subtraction Fact Family Tacos
3rd: Mexican Symbols Count, Tally, Graph
4th: Multiplication and Division Fact Family Tacos
5th: Multiplication and Division Fact Family Tacos
Science Activities:
K/1: Ellen Ochoa Bio
2/3: Mario Molina BIo
4/5: Severo Ochoa BIo
Social Studies:
Kindergarten- Mexico Country Study
1st: Peru Country Study
2nd: Cuba Country Study
3rd: Ecuador Country Study
4th: Argentina Country Study
5th: Puerto Rico Country Study
All School Activities included:
Mexican Loteria
Arthur Murray Cultural Dance Presentation
Student led Presentations:
Rafael Jean Baptiste-Mario Molina
Davian Espina-Frida Kahlo
Alexander Blanco- Lin Manuel Miranda
Cecilia Nalupta- Nancy Lopez
Joel Nsaih- Frida Kahlo
Helena Gadant- Celia Cruz
Chase Dirden- Celia Cruz
Alex Archer-Diana Trujillo
Carlos Diaz-Mario Hinojosa
Kylie Williams-Gloria Estefan
Alexis Rocourt- Selena
Staff Presentations:
Mrs. Ferrera (Art Teacher)- Frida Kahlo Guided Drawing
Mrs. Moyet (ESL Teacher) -Cuban Culture
Mrs. Perez (3rd grade Teacher)- Mexican Culture
Ms. Batista (Spanish Teacher)- Dominican Republic Culture
Natalia Japaz (Wendy Japaz's daughter)-Argentina Culture
"As a Cuban-American, it was important to me to highlight and celebrate Hispanic culture at Mt. Pleasant. With that in mind, I planned a day-long cultural celebration highlighting the influences, impact, and beauty of Hispanic cultures represented in our community to close out the end of Hispanic Heritage Month," said Moyet.
SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM HISPANIC HERITAGE DAY AT MT. PLEASANT HERE.
Mt. Pleasant Conga line
Event organizer/teacher Kristina Moyet in class
Frank and Rosa from Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Montclair
