Schools across Orange County joined communities around the world in honoring loved ones who’ve died by celebrating Día de los Muertos.
The two-day celebration, which is also known as Day of the Dead, is annually observed on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 in Mexico and other parts of Latin America.
The tradition calls for making an ofrenda — an altar that often features a photo of the person being remembered, candles, foods and items specific to them, marigolds, sugar skulls and papel picado, or colorful, perforated paper.
Local schools created lesson plans where cultural heritage and history were woven together, allowing students to both pay homage to their ancestors and develop an understanding of the rich tapestry of Mexican culture.
In the Santa Ana Unified School District, families were invited to participate in campus-wide celebrations by making paper flowers, writing letters and building altars.
Hundreds of people attended a festival at Westminster High School that included face painting and a cultural dance performance from the campus’ Club de Español.
Not too far away, elementary students from the Ocean View School District were invited to place photos of loved ones on altars where their peers and educators can pay their respects.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- Sunburst Youth Academy’s drill team secured two trophies at John F. Kennedy High School’s JROTC Drill and Ceremonies competition.
- Inside the Outdoors — administered by the Orange County Department of Education — led a group of 54 parents on a wildlife-filled adventure through Santiago Oaks Regional Park in Orange.
- A group of 25 children received their citizenship at a Halloween-themed ceremony at the Santa Ana Zoo on Monday.
- The Ocean View School District Board of Education will meet on Nov. 7 to further discuss possible outcomes for four of its campuses.
- The National Science Foundation has granted the University of California, Irvine, a $1.6 million, three-year grant to develop an inclusive high school environmental engineering curriculum focused on fostering systems thinking, community engagement, and climate change solutions.
- Woodshop students from Nicolas Junior High are about seven months away from completing their first tiny home, which the Fullerton School District intends to house a local family in need.
- On Tuesday, students from the Orange County School of the Arts showed their spirit by participating in the campus’ annual Halloween contest and flash mob dance.
- The Los Angeles Unified School District is now requiring students to complete an ethnic studies course to graduate high school.
- The Fullerton School District is inviting students and their families to explore innovative education techniques, engage in creative arts and crafts, and connect with their school community during a weekend block party.
- The Supreme Court justices sided with two San Diego-area parents after considering whether the 1st Amendment prevents public officials from blocking public critics on their personal social media accounts while discussing official business, according to the Los Angeles Times.
- According to the Washington Post’s latest analysis, homeschooling has emerged as America’s fastest-growing form of education, sustaining a significant increase since the pandemic’s onset despite expectations of a return to traditional schools.
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