photobooth

Music, snacks, and fun photo booth photographs made for a lively and fun Salsa Night. Faculty and staff enjoyed taking photos using colorful accessories. The event celebrated Hispanic culture, along with offering some salsa dance lessons. “I had fun dancing and watching the Gulliver students enjoy the Spanish music. My favorite part was when the students learned and rehearsed some of the salsa steps. The photo booth was the icing on the cake, because it preserved memories of an endearing activity,” Spanish teacher Silvia Muñoz said.

Photos provided by Nelvis Calderin

She wanted to offer an opportunity for students to not only learn about others’ experiences, but also be able to practice speaking with others.

“Cafecito con Señora was a personal gift to me, as I learned how important the Spanish language is to use as a tool to communicate, especially in Miami. It will help me expand my knowledge about different cultures,” freshman Alexander Hanna said.

“Cafecito” was an in-class event that took place during Hispanic Heritage month. In addition to classroom experiences, SAGE offered foods from Hispanic countries throughout the month, and the Salsa Night event held on Oct. 10 offered a chance to learn the popular dance. The Spanish Club wanted the event to offer a welcoming feeling while celebrating Hispanic culture.

“The best part about Salsa Night was watching everyone embracing their cultures, enjoying the music, and learning the routines that the instructors shared. We made sure we had elements from all the different Hispanic countries in order for everybody to feel welcome,” junior Spanish Club President Lorenzo Jaime Luna said.

Story by Vera Lopestri

Students and teachers bonded with one another as they listened to music and enjoyed a variety of foods.

The Spanish Club set up Salsa Night with a table with traditional Hispanic food, such as empanadas and croquetas. Everyone was waiting for this special treat, as these snacks are always a huge hit. “The empanadas were really good and they reminded me of home,” sophomore Nicholas Herskowitz said. Traditional dishes, photo booth accessories, and vibrant Latin music allowed everyone to enjoy this evening. “This event is one of my favorite events, so I am happy I got to go with my best friend and spend time with teachers and students,” junior Victoria Figueroa said. Photos by Sara Gelrud

COFFEE TALK. Spanish teacher Nelvis Calderin talks about how important it is to learn another language in a relaxed conversational style. She invited a panel of non-native Spanish speakers, who learned Spanish as their second language. “The important thing is that communication flows and that students see the value of speaking more than one language to be more successful in this highly bilingual and competitive world in which we live,” Calderin said.

FOCUSED. Students in Spanish teacher Nelvis Calderin’s classes enjoyed her presentation, with a special side of sweet treats from her home country, Cuba. Broadcasting teacher Zach Garrett was part of the guest panel. “I loved how this activity showed her students that it is okay not to be “perfect” when using the language that they are learning,” Garret said. Photos by