StM News

A special altar stood in the Dan and Frances White Chapel, ornamented with  bright orange marigolds, photos of loved ones and pets who have passed, decorated skulls, candles, and papel picado (perforated paper flags). One by one, Middle and Upper School students, faculty, and staff placed ofrendas–personal photos and hundreds of brightly-colored handmade paper flowers–on the altar. 

The community-produced altar was part of a celebratory, student-led chapel that also included music, scripture, and prayers recited exclusively in Spanish. Prior to the service, Middle School students decorated the chapel with traditional marigolds for the altar, following meticulous directions in Spanish. Upper School students helped assemble the paper flowers by hand. As beautiful as the altar and chapel service were, they were just one element of a wide-ranging project that spanned several weeks of work, comprehension, and study.  

The group effort, led jointly by Upper School Spanish teacher André D. LeBeau, Middle School Spanish teacher Velinda Mascorro, and Middle School World Geography teacher Gene Hernandez, gave students an in-depth look at the two-day celebration that blends both religious roots and family traditions. Students read and spoke about the holiday in Spanish, learning about the history behind the beloved tradition. Walking into a decorated room, students were invited to enjoy tamales and a piece of pan de muertos, a typical holiday food. The students then had a discussion with visual aids about key historical aspects of the holiday and its enduring cultural importance. 

St. Martin’s Comprehensible Input approach to world languages classes – learning through reading, hearing, or watching in the target language – exposes students to a particular language’s people and culture. Those cultures are further explored through experiences such as the celebration of Día de los Muertos. 

On Friday, Nov. 3, LeBeau completed the unit with Spanish IV Honors students. Each student presented their Día de los Muertos projects, a diario written in Spanish about someone they wanted to honor – someone they know, a famous person, or even a beloved pet. Students showed items, representing the life of the deceased, and then placed them as ofrendas on the community altar, located in the Martin Family Library for the remainder of this month.

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