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Students, families and friends filled the gymnasium at Alfred J. Gomes Elementary School for a lively after-school celebration marking the close of Hispanic Heritage Month.
The event, held as the national observance (Sept. 15–Oct. 15) wrapped up, featured nonstop music, dance, food and activities representing Spanish-speaking countries and cultures. Organizers described a full house as the community came together to mark the end of the month.
Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the histories, cultures and contributions of Americans with roots in Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. At Gomes, a Signature School for Language and Global Education that houses New Bedford Public Schools’ Spanish-English Dual Language program, the gathering aligned with the school’s focus on cultural responsiveness and multilingual learning.
The school shared details of the event in both English and Spanish, reflecting the bilingual character of the celebration: “Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep 15-Oct 15) had a grand finale at Gomes School-New Bedford as students, families and friends jammed the gymnasium after school for a celebration representing all Spanish-speaking countries and cultures with nonstop music, dance, food and fun.”
New Bedford has a sizable Hispanic and Latino population, and local schools and community groups regularly host events during the month. Gomes, located on South Second Street, has long incorporated cultural programs into its calendar, consistent with its mission of developing academically and linguistically proficient global citizens.
The packed gym and continuous program of music and dance underscored the strong family participation that often characterizes these school-based cultural observances.
All photos by New Bedford Public Schools:
