Bellmore's youngest celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Bellmore School District students recently celebrated all they’ve learned in Spanish class at the annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta at the Charles A. Reinhard Early Childhood Center.

Spanish teacher Lisa Goldberg, who teaches the language to first- and second-graders, organized the festivities on May 5 and 6. By incorporating cultural activities into the students’ routine during the holiday, she said, students are able to celebrate their educational gains in an enjoyable way. The holiday commemorates the Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

During the celebration, students moved among four classrooms, each featuring different activities. They colored Mexican flags, sampled tortilla chips and salsa, played Spanish number bingo and read a story about a fictitious Mexican boy named Pedro, comparing their daily lives to his.

Donning vests decorated to resemble Mexican serape blankets, the students sang songs in Spanish during the fiesta. Bellmore parents volunteered at the celebration, helping the faculty run the program and watching their children speak another language.

Goldberg, who said she helped author the first Spanish language curriculum in the district 14 years ago, said youngsters enjoy the program at all three of Bellmore’s elementary schools. Because it is a mostly oral program, she said, it serves as a break in students’ daily structure.

“It’s one of the bright spots of the kids’ day,” she said. “They are little sponges. They are not afraid to talk.”