In recognizing National Hispanic Heritage Month, the Board of Trustees heard the following statement from Jim Sanders, District communications director, at the Board’s Sept. 10 public meeting:
We ask the Board tonight to recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual event honored throughout the country but one that has special significance in Natomas because nearly one of every three students in our District is Hispanic.
We’re celebrating the history, culture and contributions of Americans whose ancestors came from Mexico, Central and South America, Spain, and the Caribbean.
In Natomas, you can’t live or work here without seeing Hispanic influence — for example, we have two comprehensive high schools: one is off San Juan Road, the other is off Del Paso Road. Then there’s West El Camino, El Centro Road. The name Sacramento itself. Or San Francisco. Or San Rafael. Even Los Angeles. All Spanish words.
In our Natomas schools, Hispanic heritage is reflected in things like our focus last year on an English Learner master plan and the fact that nearly two dozen graduating seniors received the state Seal of Biliteracy for proficiency in both Spanish and English. The president of this very board, Sue Heredia, is Hispanic. One of our District’s Core Beliefs is that, “Our diversity is a strength.”
National Hispanic Heritage Month is a little unusual in that it runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, kicking off on the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico’s independence day is one day later, Sept. 16, and Chile celebrates its independence on Sept. 18.
Last year, I told you that Hispanics were expected to pull ahead of Caucasians as the largest single racial or ethnic group in California. Indeed, that historic change occurred — there’s no precise date when because it’s based on population estimates, but the state Department of Finance told me it probably happened in in March and that Hispanics now outnumber Caucasians in California by nearly 1 million people.
We’re proud to celebrate and honor Hispanic heritage tonight, and to join with countless other schools and public agencies nationwide in recognizing Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as National Hispanic Heritage Month. Thank you.
