This past October turned into one of the most memorable months the Spanish Club has had in years. From a high-energy block party to an international exchange with students from Barcelona, the club spent the fall building community, celebrating culture, and sparking excitement.
The month kicked off with a major event for Hispanic Heritage Month: a block party that transformed the arcade into a lively hub of music, food, and color.
Organized by Spanish club teachers and officers, the celebration drew hundreds from all grade levels and languages who came to explore and appreciate the diversity within Hispanic cultures. There were cultural games like dominoes and limbo and foods like empanadas, churros, and pastelitos, a Cuban pastry filled with guava.
The idea behind the event wasn’t just to entertain but to create space for cultural appreciation beyond the classroom. Club leaders wanted students to connect with the traditions, foods, and histories that shape Hispanic communities and to bring awareness to Hispanic Heritage Month.
Whether someone stopped by for a plate of food, tried a game of dominoes, or simply enjoyed the atmosphere with friends, the celebration offered an accessible way to learn something new.
In October, the Spanish program also connected with the global Spanish-speaking community. Through a partnership with a Marist school in Barcelona, students from Spain were able to come onto the Marist campus, accompanied by a host student, to experience life in the United States.
Exchange students came to the Marist homecoming football game and dance, where they were truly able to experience an integral part of Marist student life. Participants also got to experience the city of Atlanta, going to the aquarium, World of Coke, the National Center for Civil and Human Right, and many more famous places in our home city.
The exchange also highlighted the value of learning a second language. Instead of vocabulary lists or worksheets, students found themselves using their Spanish skills to communicate with people their own age. It made the language feel less like an academic requirement and more like a tool: something that students could use to communicate across cultural barriers to experience the world in a new way.
Student Emmy Langley, who served as a host for visiting students, shared her thoughts about the visit. “It was cool to be able to see all of the cultural differences and see how our lives might be seen from a different perspective,” Langley said.
What made this month stand out for Spanish Club was not only the events themselves but the spirit behind them. The block party and the exchange each offered a different way to bring people together, one through celebration and the other through real-life experience. Both reflected the club’s mission to foster curiosity, respect, and a deeper appreciation for culture.
As the school year continues, the Spanish Club plans to build on this momentum.
With more events, service projects, and cultural activities on the horizon, October may be the biggest highlight so far, but there is plenty more ahead for the club. For now, though, the month serves as a reminder of how powerful it can be when students take the lead in creating community, sharing culture, and opening doors to the wider world.
