DeSoto ISD Bilingual, ESL, and LOTE families gather for a Cinco de Mayo Celebration
On May 5, the parents and families of students in the Bilingual, English as a Second Language (ESL) & Languages Other Than English (LOTE) Programs at the Cockrell Hill and Frank Moates Elementary campuses gathered to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with songs, presentations, and dances that commemorated this cultural day of remembrance.
Held at the Cockrell Hill Elementary campus, this culture-rich evening also included examples of student learning in addition to their study about Cinco de Mayo. PreKindergarten students danced and sang “Cielito Lindo” while the kindergarten students performed a 5 de Mayo dance complete with traditional attire to the song “La Raspa”. Second-grade students sang “La Bamba” while the teacher played the guitar. Frank Moates Elementary early childhood students shared student music videos and students in the third to fifth grades showcased their student-generated alphabet or (SGA) T-shirts.
The (SGA) t-shirts were developed as a component of the Gomez and Gomez Dual Language Immersion program used in DeSoto ISD. Students use unique words from their own, unique vocabulary and associate it with their assigned letters and incorporate the vocabulary-related pictures, words, and sentences. This activity is done twice a year once in the fall and another one in the spring.
In addition to the student showcase, parents also gained information about the TELPAS exam and other programs within the district Bilingual, ESL, and LOTE programs led by Dr. Helena Castanon-Vargas.
Though Cinco de Mayo is often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day which is celebrated in September, it commemorates the Mexican victory over the French forces of Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. French Emperor Napoleon III wanted to claim Mexican territory and sent his troops to force Mexico's President Benito Juárez and the government out of Veracruz. The attempt failed although the Mexican army was outnumbered and Mexico retained its independence.
The family celebration of Cinco de Mayo is one of the many opportunities for parent and community engagement in DeSoto ISD. Learn more about the district’s bilingual & emergent learning programs at www.desotoisd.org.