ROYAL CITY — Royal Middle School students celebrated Hispanic Heritage Day Thursday with music, food and presentations about Hispanic cultures. 

“One (teacher) was teaching the importance of football and what that means for the Hispanic community,” said Principal Jerred Copenhaver. “One teacher was teaching them how to make tortillas, so the kids were making them this morning. I had another teacher teaching about the art history of Hispanic culture. Some other teachers were having kids do research on certain people and presenting on it.” 

In a school where about 80% of the student body is of Hispanic origin, Copenhaver said, the program was very popular. Students’ families were invited to take part as well, he said. 

“We’ve had quite a few parents here,” he said. “It was really neat to see the kids being able to hear music in their own language. We had the second and third graders some over for the morning concert as well.” 

Hugo’s Tacos of Royal City supplied lunch free for both students and parents, Copenhaver said, and there were 13 class rotations presenting various aspects of Hispanic culture. One of those was Theresa Piper’s class of seventh- and eighth-graders. 

“In my room we studied the Chicano Movement and Chicano rights during the 1960s, the civil rights movement that was happening in Southern California,” Piper said. “We talked about Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez … We even got as far as talking about the Zoot Suit (Riots) because we were talking about some important moments for Hispanic Americans in the United States.” 

Eighth-grader Leivy Calderon gave a presentation on the Chicano Movement and the strikes led by the United Farm Workers in the 1960s. 

“Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez had signs that said ‘Huelga!,’ which means “strike,” and they had a crow-looking bird for their sign,” she said. 

Piper’s students also learned about La Llorona, a ghost in Mexican folklore whose name translates as “The Crying Woman.” That story was familiar to some of the students already; they said their parents used to frighten them with it.

“Like, parents would say if you’re bad, then La Llorona will come and take you,” said Vanessa Miron, a seventh-grader.

“She was a beautiful young woman, and she married a man who had a higher status than her,” Miron explained. “Then he abandoned her and then he threatened to take her kids away – she had two – and she drowned them.”  

“She was cursed by God because of what she did to her kids,” Calderon said. “And to get to the gateway of heaven, she needs to find her kids first. That’s why she’s called the Weeping Woman.” 

On a less macabre note, Mrs. Fajardo’s class involved making tortillas, the students said. 

“I made mine so perfect,” seventh-grader Keisy Rodriguez said. “That was my first time, and they came out right.” 

“(It was my) second time,” said eighth-grader Zoe Beltran. “I did them with my mom before.” 

The day wasn’t all about lessons, however. There were two musical performances, one in the morning featuring 9-year-old Kataleya Garcia, Quincy. who played guitar and sang on horseback backed by a mariachi band, and another in the afternoon with norteño bands Paso Firme and Sagazz.  

“We’re going to get the kids dancing,” said Jose Barajas, an RMS parent who performed with both bands, as he was helping Sagazz set up. “I was surprised last year. There was tons of dancing. (We said) ‘Hey, shout out,’ and the kids just blew my ears out. My ears were ringing for hours. It was great.” 

“We’ll play some classics, some new music,” said Sagazz member Luis Zamudio. “Everyone can enjoy it all together.” 

“It’s been really amazing,” said RMS teacher Ben Orth. “Even a few of those folks (in the mariachi band) were teachers giving up a half-day to come in here and serve our community ... Great food, with Hugo's Tacos. It's just a celebration of a lot of kids in our community.” 

    Miguel Cabrerro and his dancing horse Perlina show some moves at Royal Middle School’s Hispanic Heritage Day on Thursday.
  

    Lunch at Royal Middle School’s Hispanic Heritage Day on Thursday was donated by Hugo’s Tacos of Royal City.
  

    Norteño band Sagazz performs at Royal Middle School’s Hispanic Heritage Day on Thursday.
  

    Royal Middle School students dance in the gym to norteño music by Sagazz, part of Hispanic Heritage Day on Thursday.