A group of Westminster students perform El Baile de las Cintas, or the dance of the ribbons, at the City’s Fall Festival Culture Night on Sept. 24 honoring Hispanic Heritage Month. (Westminster School District) 
Westminster students perform traditional baile folklorico routines at the City’s Fall Festival Culture Night on Sept. 24 honoring Hispanic Heritage Month. (Westminster School District) 
More than 100 Westminster School District students recently took to the stage at the City of Westminster’s annual Fall Festival to share dances, music and traditions as part of the community’s Culture Night celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.
Students from the district’s Spanish Dual Language Immersion programs at Meairs, Finley, and Willmore elementary schools as well as Warner and Stacey middle schools, performed Baile Folklorico, a medley of traditional Mexican folk dances set to Mariachi music. For the students, the Fall Festival performance offered an opportunity to put their bilingual and biliteracy skills into practice while learning more about the history and cultures connected to their community.
Among the performances was El Baile de las Cintas, or the dance of the ribbons, a traditional dance where students weaved colorful ribbons together as they moved in coordinated patterns.
“One of our greatest strengths as a district is the diversity of our students and families,” said Superintendent Gunn Marie Hansen, Ph.D. “When students see their culture, language and traditions celebrated both in school and throughout the community, they know they belong. That sense of belonging helps our students thrive.”
The Fall Festival performance was part of Westminster School District’s recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, observed annually from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15. The celebration recognizes the history, cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States. The observance, first recognized as a 31-day celebration in 1988, coincides with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American countries.
DeMille Elementary School students also took part in the festivities as they wore traditional Vietnamese attire to share cultural traditions and dances that honor the Vietnamese community during their Fall Festival performance. This followed the school’s recent Mid-Autumn Festival, which aims to bring families and school staff together through cultural activities and performances.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- New Orange County school data reveals that school sites identified more than 32,000 students experiencing housing instability during the 2024-25 school year, compared with 6,321 people counted during the county’s 2026 Point in Time Count.
- Approximately 160 language professionals from California and across the country gathered to strengthen family engagement and learn how to utilize emerging technologies for multilingual support at OCDE’s 10th annual Interpreters and Translators Conference.
- A new 10-episode podcast and video series from the Orange County Business Council and OCDE is helping families learn how to best support their children’s educational success with discussions featuring experts on topics including college preparation and financial aid.
- In the latest FutureCurrent podcast episode, Project Tomorrow CEO Julie Evans speaks with County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean and educator Lainie Rowell about the importance of student voice in artificial intelligence and what skills will prepare them for an evolving future.
- CBS Los Angeles recently visited Brea Olinda High School for its Class Act series, placing a spotlight on the school’s award-winning show choir, athletics and other extracurricular programs.
- Fullerton-based artist and illustrator recently created a mural in memory of Anaheim student Mia Leah Mejia, who died in March 2025. The mural was completed with support from Anaheim City Councilmembers and Anaheim Community Services as part of Suicide Prevention Month.
- A new California law will allow college graduates with the Emergency Career Substitute Teaching Permit to teach in a single classroom for up to 70 days, an expansion on the previous amount of days allowed for substitute teaching in K-12 schools.
- School districts statewide are set to receive dedicated funding for career technical education programs due to a new law recently signed by Gov. Newsom. The measure seeks to provide more resources for learning opportunities connecting students with hands-on learning and career pathways.
- A student at Los Angeles Unified School District’s Franklin High School suffered a fatal injury on campus Wednesday. Mental health officials were present at the school Thursday to support those affected.
- As California prepares for a historic El Niño this winter, EdSource explores how some school districts with older campuses are preparing to face the heavier rain, flooding and strong winds that leave older structures particularly vulnerable.
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