Students in North Region Celebrate Día de los Muertos

Students at three Juvenile Court and Community School campuses in the North Region created elaborate altars in celebration of Día de los Muertos.

This meaningful tradition, which has its roots in Mexican Indigenous culture, honors and celebrates the lives of loved ones who have passed.

“It’s something we believe in as Mexicans and Hispanics. That it’s a day for our ancestors and loved ones, their spirit, to come back for a day with us,” said Alyssa, a sophomore at North County Tech Academy. 

Alyssa and her classmates decorated a corner of the classroom with black canvas, skulls, marigolds, drawings, photos, candles, cards, and personal stories. 

“The process of creating the altars provided an opportunity for our students to engage creatively and culturally,” said Principal Oscar Felix. “It was a great opportunity to integrate our instructional focus by developing language and literacy skills through this project.”

Felix added that by participating in this project, students had the chance to engage with culturally relevant, complex texts, learn and transfer culturally significant vocabulary, practice annotating through description and sequencing, and participate in academic oracy by utilizing discussion norms and talk moves.

Students were encouraged to incorporate essential elements of a traditional altar, such as photos of loved ones who have passed away, candles, marigolds, the traditional bread and sugar skulls, and more. 

Briana, a freshman at Innovations Academy of Empowerment, helped decorate her school’s altar and said it was her first time celebrating Día de los Muertos.

“I enjoyed learning about it,” she said. “I never really knew how to celebrate it, and it was nice.”