PHS honors Hispanic Heritage Month with parade, music, candies

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month’s final day on Thursday, Poughkeepsie High School students paraded around each wing of the building, honoring the diverse cultures represented within the school community.

While the event was led by the Multicultural Club, music classes also joined in the fun, playing music for the parade on their instruments and adding to the festive atmosphere. 

Throughout the parade, the students distributed Hispanic candies, beads and flags to students and teachers who gathered to watch and show their support. Students in the parade also carried posters featuring various flags and meaningful phrases in English and Spanish.

“It was truly heartwarming to see how much the students enjoyed the celebration. Students proudly embraced their cultures by wearing quinceañera dresses and shirts representing their home countries, sharing their heritage with the PHS community,” Multicultural Club faculty advisers Ashalet Gooden and Celestine Henry said. “This celebration was a wonderful opportunity to honor diversity, promote cultural pride and create an environment where students felt seen, represented and celebrated. We are grateful to everyone who participated and helped make this event a success!”

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 each year. Schools around the Poughkeepsie City School District celebrated in various ways, including through culturally educational hallway displays and lessons, special spirit dress up days and assemblies, among other measures.