Hispanic Heritage Month at St. Victor: Celebrating Diversity Through Catholic Education

Our preschoolers charmed the community with the traditional Hat Dance, a joyful highlight of St. Victor School’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration.

At St. Victor School, we believe every culture is a gift to be shared. Our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration highlighted the diversity of our community through music, poetry, dance, food, and faith. By embracing the stories, food, music, and languages of many cultures, our students discover what it means to truly appreciate others and celebrate community. After all, Catholic means “universal” (click to learn more)—and our faith calls us to celebrate the richness of every culture as part of God’s family.

Last week, our campus came alive with the colors, rhythms, and flavors of Hispanic Heritage Month—a celebration of faith, family, and community that reminded us what it means to be a Charger. Students dressed in vibrant cultural attire or the bold colors of flags—red, yellow, blue, white, and green—providing a living mosaic and a powerful visual reminder of our diverse but connected community.

Our preschoolers delighted the audience with a joyful Hat Dance. Mr. Encarnacao, our middle school ELA teacher, brought literature to life by reciting Pablo Neruda’s Ode to My Socks in Spanish—showing students how poetry can cross both language and culture. Music filled the hall when Mrs. L, our music teacher, led the introductory and advanced ukulele classes in songs from Latin America, blending practice with passion in a way only young musicians can.

Beyond the stage, our students also explored the richness of Latin American traditions in their Music & Movement class. After watching videos of Mexican folklórico, they practiced mimicking the sweeping motion of the dresses using a parachute, discovering how the dancer’s footwork and fabric tell stories unique to each region. These hands-on lessons gave students a joyful way to connect movement with meaning.

And then came a moment of community at its finest. Thanks to the generosity of our parents, recess was transformed into a cultural feast, filled with treats made or purchased with care. This wasn’t just about food—it was about partnership. Catholic education is strengthened by the generosity of families, and at St. Victor, our parents model what it means to be Caring and Responsible Citizens, living out our Student Learning Expectations alongside their children. Their ongoing commitment is a testament to the strength of our Charger community.

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What It Means to be a Charger

At St. Victor, being a Charger is about seeing God’s presence in every culture, learning from every tradition, and celebrating the richness of our community. Hispanic Heritage Month gave our students the chance to live out our Student Learning Expectations:

• as Children of Faith, discovering God’s beauty in diversity

• as Lifelong Learners, exploring music, poetry, and traditions from Latin America

• as Caring and Responsible Citizens, building community alongside their families

Hispanic Heritage Month wasn’t just an assembly—it was a lesson in belonging. It reminded us that cultural celebrations are an essential part of Catholic education and that when we honor each other’s stories, we live our motto: Charger today. Leader tomorrow. Christ always.