LEAD Public Schools

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), schools across the LEAD Public Schools network celebrated the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans through special events and activities. By focusing on the history, culture, and achievement of Hispanic Americans, LEAD Public Schools is not only developing our scholars to be ready for college and ready for life, we are also honoring the culture and heritage of many of our students and staff.

Below are a just a few of the many ways our schools have honored Hispanic Heritage Month this year:

LEAD Academy and LEAD Cameron Host Hispanic Heritage Month Festival
This month, the LEAD Academy/Cameron campus invited students, staff, families, and community members to participate in a Hispanic Heritage Month Festival. The event included authentic food, traditional Hispanic attire, music, dancing, and student projects.

LEAD Cameron also celebrated with a Spirit Week the week before Fall Break:

• Monday: Jersey Day. Students wore their favorite jerseys to honor the popular sports in Hispanic countries.
• Tuesday: Vaquero Day. Students dressed like cowgirls and cowboys.
• Wednesday: Culture Day. Students honored their culture however they decided to!
• Thursday: Flag Day. Students wore the colors of any Latin American flag.  

LEAD Neely’s Bend Hosts Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Week
Students and staff at LEAD Neely’s Bend honored Hispanic Heritage Month in a unique way with a Spirit Week:

• Monday: Flag Day. Students wore the colors of any Latin American flag.
• Tuesday: Jersey Day. Students wore their favorite futbol (soccer) or beisbol (baseball) jerseys to honor the popular sports in Hispanic countries.
• Wednesday: Artists and Athletes. Students wore shirts to represent their favorite Hispanic artist, singer, or athlete.
• Thursday: Flowers and Skulls Day. Students represented the Dia De Los Muertos Celebration with flowers, skulls, or any bright colors.
• Friday: LatinX in Action. Students wore red clothing. 

As part of Spirit Week, Neely’s Bend held a special pep rally. Students led cheers, performed step routines, and presented cultural dances.

LEAD Southeast Middle Hosts Spirit Week and Culture Rally

LEAD Southeast Middle students participated in a spirit week to honor and learn about different Hispanic nations. 

• Monday: Wear Red and Green Students were encouraged to wear colors that represented the Mexican flag, as well as the national bird of Guatemala.
• Tuesday: Wear Blue Students wore blue in honor of the colors of El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
• Wednesday: Dia Del Caribe Students wore red, white, and blue to represent the Hispanic Caribbean nations of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
• Thursday: Dia de las flores Students wore pink and purple in honor of Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador.

During a special culture rally, students and teachers learned about different countries’ cultures, as well as performed dances and songs.

Additionally, they had fun events sprinkled throughout the month: morning announcements, karaoke at lunch, bingo board competition, food incentives from multiple cultures, and themed Crew olympics.

LEAD Southeast High Holds Spirit Week and Daylong Celebration 

LEAD Southeast High students participated in a Hispanic Heritage spirit week:

• Monday: Flaunt the Flag. Students wore the colors of any Latin American flag.
• Tuesday – Wear it Like a Western. Students wore flannel and cowboy boots.
• Wednesday: Rep ‘Em Wednesday. Students wore jerseys representing their favorite sports teams.
• Thursday: Traditional Threads. Students wore traditional attire of any Latin American country.
• Friday: Be Iconic. Students dressed like famous Latin American icons.

LEAD Southeast High also hosted a full-day celebration for Hispanic Heritage Month. Students created crafts – including fiesta flowers and bracelets – made snacks, ate lunch from community food trucks, took dance lessons, played games, sang karaoke, played trivia, watched movies, played in a soccer tournament, and held a special assembly complete with a fashion show, dances, and music.