1.SG Caught Up in the Latin Whirlwind

To commemorate 12 October 1492, the day Spanish ships arrived at Abya Yala — the territory we know today as America — 1. Slovanské gymnázium held its LATIN AMERICAN WEEK; between 9 and 13 October, a week full of activities planned by the Spanish teachers with the support of a team of students and the school administration.

On the first day, SEMANA LATINA surprised students with Latin music and colorful decorations at the school entrance. Smiles were everywhere, and the dancing and rhythm were infectious even in the early morning hours. Thank you to the teachers present and the group of students who supported the activity.

Chocolate Day was amazing — in Spanish and IT classes we presented the chocolate-making process FROM BEAN TO BAR. Students from different classes got to taste different cocoa beans for the first time and learn about the history, process, plantations, transport, and marketing of chocolate around the world.

It was a magical experience making PIÑATAS. Making our piñatas, working together in groups, the satisfaction of the finished results, and the suspense of wondering what they contained, was meaningful for many of our students. We ended the day by breaking the PIÑATAS and sharing the sweets.

Alena, a Czech woman who has been working in communities in Colombia for about 20 years, came to visit the school. Her experience was shared across several classes, and the students' interest was clear from the questions they kept asking. That's how we experienced our SOLIDARITY DAY. Thank you to the students and teachers who supported this project by buying ARAHUACOS products.

We ended the week with a festival of food and Latin American music. The arrival of Mariachis (a Mexican music group) undoubtedly brought joy to students, teachers, passersby, and even students from neighboring schools.

We hope to continue developing these activities, which help us get to know different cultures, share knowledge, and learn from one another.

MSc. Arturo Ochoa