In the hallway leading towards the ELA area, there stands an ofrenda near Room 110. Three tables are stacked against each other, all covered in a black cloth with an intricately-patterned blanket lying on top.
Each tier holds a varied assortment of decorations. They hold items such as bright flowers in glass vases, lit candles, different types of snacks and candies and photos of passed loved ones from the students and staff members.
In the covered window, a colored papel picado hangs from the ceiling while a sign made out of cut-out letters that spells out “SHS OFFRENDA” is shown across it.
The display is colorful but also meaningful. It focuses on remembering relatives who passed away and celebrating together.
For many students, the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, is more than just a holiday. It’s a way to share their culture and keep traditions alive at SHS.
For senior Ashley Mendoza-Cruz, decorating and cooking alongside her family makes her feel connected both to those she’s lost and to her heritage.
“For me, it’s a (way to) celebrate and remember loved ones that have passed away…” Mendoza-Cruz said. “It still feels like they’re with us. It makes people not so lonely.”
That same spirit of remembrance fills the halls of SHS each year, where students and staff come together to build an ofrenda adorned with candles, flowers and photographs.
Former FACs teacher, now Spanish interpreter, Millie Delgado, who helps organize the display, believes students from the Cardinal Celebrate Culture Club (CCC Club) and work-based learning classes contribute by making papel picados and setting up decorations.
“It’s our tradition and it’s a nice way of just taking time to do something special for them even though they’re not here anymore,” Delgado said. “(It’s) to keep their memory alive.”
Junior Fatima Sias Vazquez, a member of the CCC Club, believes helping set up the ofrenda gave her a sense of pride.
“It means a lot to me because it’s celebrating the people that is not around anymore,” Vazquez said. “My family and the people I love the most are gone, so it’s a very beautiful and meaningful celebration to me.”
Through these efforts, students transform remembrance into cultural appreciation and understanding.
“I think it’s important because if it’s a part of your culture, it’s nice to connect more to it and celebrate it so it doesn’t become kinda forgotten,” Mendoza-Cruz said.
At SHS, the Day of the Dead isn’t just remembered. It’s lived.
