September 15 to October 15 marks the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to honor the cultures of Latino Americans and Hispanics in the United States. Highland Park High School boasts a large population of Latino students, representing a wide breadth of Central and South American cultures. Highland Park High School gets involved in the celebration of this important time by playing the music of significant Latino and Hispanic artists during the daily announcements. This allows the student body to either enjoy their musical favorites or gain a better understanding of Latino culture.
To add to the celebration of Hispanic culture, Ms. Soler brought the Spanish Honor Society (SHS) to HPHS this year. This society offers a more formal, committed approach to learning about Latino culture and helping out the community when compared to the existing Spanish Cultural Club. Students may already be familiar with the SHS as they organized a treasure hunt during lunch on October 13 to close the celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The Fling approached Ms. Soler to learn about more her vision for the future of the SHS.
Maya: What inspired you to bring the National Spanish Honor Society to Highland Park?
Ms. Soler: I thought of the SHS to be a source of pride and commitment to the population of Latino students in school that usually don't have the motivation or feel confident enough to participate in other initiatives that the school provides. For those who are new to the school or lack confidence in English, I wanted to have that space for them to be part of something related to their native language and culture, but it’s also open for those non-Spanish speakers who are also interested in the Spanish language and the culture.
Maya: Why is this an important society to have at HPHS?
Ms. Soler: It reunites high school students who excel in the Spanish language, and it promotes the language and culture of the Hispanic and Latino countries.
Maya: What benefits will this society have for students who join?
Ms. Soler: The SHS is a good thing to add to your resume when you’re graduating from high school. We also go to a New York theatre, Repertorio Espanol, to watch a play in Spanish, as we have previously done the past two years with the Spanish Cultural Club.
Maya: What do you plan to do with this society in the future in terms of events or fundraisers?
Ms. Soler: We are going to hold a few activities. Members of the SHS need to fulfill 15 hours of community service related to Spanish culture, so we have been planning to tutor students in Spanish within the school. We also plan to read to the little kids in the elementary school, Bartle, during December. I received an email asking about tutoring students in middle school which just shows that there’s a need for students to help out their peers in Spanish. We will also do things related more to traditions and cultural practices, similar to events we’ve done in the Spanish Cultural Club, where we have held bake sales and cooked dishes from Latin America.
Maya: Why do you think having these culturally inclusive societies at Highland Park High School is important?
Ms. Soler: I think it's important for the school community to have a glimpse of the richness, pride, and achievements of the Spanish-speaking people in the US and what these communities bring to the table regarding hard work, honesty, responsibility, and pride.
If you are interested in joining the Spanish Honor Society or working with a current member to improve your Spanish skills, please talk to Ms. Soler about how you can get involved or contact a tutor.