Gallery • 13 Photos

Edith Orta

Everyone is getting involved in the celebration.

Colton, CA—On October 14th, Colton High School honored its Hispanic heritage with performances of traditional hispanic music, dances, and dessert at its second annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. Performances were held in front of the Cafetorium. 

“Felt like bringing more interest into Hispanic Heritage month by performing music and giving back to the community,” said Angel Macias, CHS senior.

Grupo Los del Cero Cinco, a local Colton group made up of Colton High students, played original songs. They also covered classics like “La Chona” by Los Tucanes de Tijuana, which drew students onto the Cafetorium courtyard to dance and bring each other together as a school community.

“It feels good to perform in front of the school and my friends because it’s my only chance,” said senior Ulysses Aguilar, who played bass for the local grupo.

The grupo also covered romantic music like Ariel Camacho’s “Me Gustas Mucho.” Students sang along with the last song of the day, which was supported with massive applause from the appreciative crowd.

After Grupo Los del Cero Cinco, Colton’s Dance Club took over the stage to perform a line dance to the Spanish language version of Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Achy Breaky Heart.” During the dance, the club members called other students to join them for the dance. Even staff members, like counselors Myrna Cardenas and Daisy Ruiz, as well as teachers like Alexandra Medina joined the fun.

Freshman Briana Carreon, a member of the Dance Club, enjoyed performing at the event because it reminded her of family gatherings. “A lot of my family, they usually do these dances,” she said. However, prior to this event, she didn’t really participate in them. “Before this, I didn’t really know how to do it,” she said, “but with the whole team and everything, they taught me how to do it.”

Students who witnessed the dance performance described the dance team as giving an “entertaining performance and understood the assignment.”

Along with the performances, ASB set up a table serving cups of hispanic candy. The offerings included watermelon candy and other gummies coated in chamoy and Tajin. Students that ate the candy remarked that it was like something that would be served at a child’s birthday party. 

Students played lotería at a table hosted by several Spanish teachers, including Maria Cisneros, Rosenda Gonzales, and Evelyn Lopez. There was also a giant interactive poster placed outside the old cafeteria for students to write messages honoring their Hispanic heritage.

After the lunchtime festivities, Grupo del Cero Cinco toured the campus to serenade classes with a final performance.