Friday, November 13, 2026
All five Roosevelt schools celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a diverse collection of classroom lessons, activities and cultural showcases across the district.
The highlight across the district was Roosevelt High School’s Oct. 29 event, themed “Somos: Our Stories, Our Culture, Our Future,” which featured students dressed in various vibrant cultural attire and paying homage to many of the Hispanic American heroes that have made the demographic proud. They largely did so through song and dance. Roosevelt High School’s Chamber Strings and Select Choir also accompanied the fellow performing artists.
The Roosevelt Union Free School District made it a priority to embrace and explore Hispanic and Latino traditions. Superintendent Shawn Wightman and Roosevelt High School Principal Keith Saunders remarked during the high school event about the talent of the students and the admirable cultural pride many of them have, along with much of the wider community of Roosevelt.
In addition to the student performances, guests also heard from motivational speaker Kelly Ureña, the first vice president of the Long Island Latino Teachers Association, who shared remarks highlighting the importance of identity, culture and community.
The event was made possible through the efforts of numerous staff members and the district’s English as a New Language, world language, music and art departments.
At the elementary level, students participated in classroom lessons and activities designed to introduce them to Hispanic and Latino history and influential figures. Washington Rose Elementary School, for example, hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month Spirit Week, which included Famous Hispanic Person Day.
Students dressed as influential Hispanic figures, recognizing their accomplishments and the lasting impact they have made across various fields. Through these schoolwide celebrations, Roosevelt students had opportunities to learn about different cultures, recognize the diversity within their own community, and appreciate the stories and traditions that help shape it.
