The Literacy Council of Dan McCarty Middle School, in coordination with Operation Success hosted a Hispanic Heritage Family Literacy Fiesta on October 10, 2007. Through the hard work of teachers, the Literacy Council/Operation Success, parent volunteers and students, families were treated to an array of entertainment, food, decorations, book fair, and resources for their children.

The school cafeteria transformed into a fiesta, complete with piñatas created both in the classrooms and at home, traditional dress, traditional dances, and presentations of “Wax Museum” characters from history. In the “Wax Museum”, students have researched an historical figure, and the student dresses as the historical figure, answering questions about “their” lives. Teacher Teresa Sullivan shared how she incorporated research and reference skills with student strategic actions of selective highlighting and power notes to help her students determine essential information and to synthesize that information into a coherent report. Ms. Sullivan shared that her students had increased 20% on the district benchmark test in the area of research and reference.

Students also researched and performed traditional Mexican dances, in traditional dress. Ms. Marianna Puno and her assistant, Olga Mark, were instrumental in coordinating efforts between school and home to create the traditional costumes and highly decorated piñatas. “We want to make school an inviting place for parents,” she shared. Kevin Garbers, science teacher and literacy council member, emceed the event.

In conjunction with the school book fair coordinated by Media Specialist Pete Previte, Reading Coach Margie Lewis, Principal Kerry Padrick, and members of the Literacy Council presented books to each family to build their home libraries. Families learned how to walk through paper to discover how they are a bridge to learning. To top off the night, families were treated to a traditional dinner of arroyo con pollo, and a huge assortment of desserts donated by parents, teachers and Publix.

The Hispanic Heritage Family Literacy Fiesta certainly was a successful event for all involved. Students, teachers, parents and administrators came together to celebrate and learn from one another. Over 200 family and community members attended, and look forward to more celebrations to come.