Latinx Heritage Month Door Decorations

By Mila Ellis, Maddie Obertello, Tselmeg Orgilmunkh, and Audrey Tugade, Print News Editor, Print Sports Editor, Print Arts Editor, and Print Feature Editor

   While walking through the school, students and staff are not the only faces in the halls. From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Acalanes' classroom doors feature notable figures in Latine history to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month.

   The U.S. federal government officially recognizes the month as National Hispanic Heritage Month. However, many people have started to use the term Latine as a gender inclusive substitute. Either way, the month aims to celebrate the diverse culture and the contributions of people with roots in Spanish-speaking countries. 

   “It's important to bring the contributions and influences that Hispanic people have made that are often forgotten. It is more than just the history; it's also about celebrating the people who have been here since before we were a country,” Spanish 4 Honors teacher Monika Voellm said. 

Blueprint Photo/Audrey Tugade

    Throughout the month, Acalanes hosts various lunchtime activities and events to celebrate Latine heritage. Decorating doors creatively is a core tradition of the celebration. 

   “It's for classes to kind of bond and learn about different cultures, and it's also so that we can have some cool decorations at school, while having a purpose behind it,” Diversity Board Head and junior Sophia Hwang said.

   Door decorations offer participants the opportunity to get involved and learn about important figures, while promoting diversity on campus. 

   “In our school, it's good to have awareness about issues in the Latino community and share the culture with everyone who might not know about it,” Latinos Unidos Club Secretary and sophomore Ella Garofolo said. "I think it contributes because it helps you learn about influential Latinos that you might not have heard about in the past and their contributions to the world.”

   Some students and teachers decorated their doors with figures corresponding to their class subjects. 

   “We wanted to do something math-related or science-related because we wanted to give it to Mr. Buchel,” sophomore Shelley Khan* said. “So, we chose Ellen Ochoa, who was the first Hispanic woman in space.”

   Honoring prominent figures in various cultures can build a sense of belonging. The door decorations are part of a broader effort to foster inclusivity and community at Acalanes.

   “I think in general, providing an opportunity for visibility for our students to see themselves honored and reflected for who they are is valuable,” math and engineering teacher Misha Buchel said. “That's true for all of our various heritage months that we have. I think it's a valuable piece for people to hopefully have a sense that they're being seen.”

   Acknowledging the effort students put into creating the decorations to uplift their peers can instill a sense of pride and appreciation.

   “When I walk through the halls and see how much time people put into them, it makes me feel proud to be a part of a community that cares about Latino heritage,” Latinos Unidos Club President and senior Everest Tomasello said.

Although leadership and certain classes decorate some doors, many hope to see a greater school-wide participation to encourage inclusivity.

   “I would love to see [decorations] on most doors. It would be really cool if all classes could take a couple of minutes from their day and help to make one,” Hwang said.

*Blueprint would like to acknowledge that Shelley Khan is related to Eliza Khan, a member of the Blueprint staff