ACPS is a true melting pot. We have students from 118 different countries who speak 120 different languages and bring a diversity of cultures, academic backgrounds and socio-economic circumstances — and that is an incredible asset to our community.
Today through October 15, we’re recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs September 15 to October 15 and honors the contributions of Hispanic Americans to our culture and the long and important presence of Hispanic and Latino Americans in America.
This year, we ask students and staff what makes them most proud of their Hispanic Heritage. Enjoy these highlights of what some of them had to say:
Dayana Bonilla, T.C. Williams, Grade 12
Heisel Hernandez, T.C. Williams, Grade 10
Kenneth, Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School, Grade 4
Carla, Ferdinand T. Day Elementary School, Grade 4
Mr. Onelio Aguilar, T.C. Graduate Class of 2010 and current T.C. English teacher, International Academy
Resources for Families
We want to be sure that all are aware of the resources available to our Spanish-speaking community, including:
- Spanish Facebook
- Spanish Twitter @ACPSespanol
- School Newsletters with content in Spanish (for those with a high percentage of Spanish-speaking families)
- Bilingual English-Spanish Parent liaisons
- Resources available in print and on our website in Spanish, along with Amharic and Arabic
And, in order to support communication between schools, students and families, ACPS’s language access services, covering more than 100 languages, include:
- telephone interpretation (through the Language Line)
- face-to-face interpretation
- written translation services
For more information
Contact the Office of EL Services, Translation and Interpretation services at 703-619-8347 or the Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Center at 703-619-8055.
About Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Week was first proclaimed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968. The commemorative week was expanded to cover a 30-day period from September 15 to October 15 by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It was enacted into law the same year.
September 15 was selected as the start date because it is the anniversary of the declaration of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence days on September 16, September 18, and September 21, respectively.