The English as a Second Language (ESL) department held a celebration for the holiday season in the cafeteria on Wednesday, Dec. 18 with support from the school’s counselors in the hopes of creating a fun experience and building a community for its students. It featured tables full of food and all of the school’s ESL students were invited.

ESL teacher Manuel Fino explained the function of the program. “It is for the students that do not have the English proficiency that is required to complete the graduation requirements in high school, middle school, and primary school,” Fino said. “The target is that all the students who are in the program can become fluent in the English language within about two to three years.”

Before gaining support from Fino and the counselors, the idea for the event started with sophomore Santiago Hernandez, who drew inspiration from his home country.

“In each country that speaks Spanish, we have something called ‘compartir,’ that in English is ‘sharing,’” Hernandez said. “Basically, it’s a party where everyone brings their food, and we eat food, we talk, we make friends, things like that. So that is what gave me the idea.”

He hoped that the celebration would help to bring ESL students together during the holiday season. 

“I thought it would be a good idea for the ESL students to have more relations. Like relationships, like friendships,” Hernandez said. “It’s Christmas, so in our countries Christmas is one of the most important events, so I wanted to bring all of the ESL students to here so they can eat food, they can talk to each other, so they can be more like a family.”