Heights’ celebration unites generations and cultures

On a warm spring morning in May, the halls of Heights Elementary School pulsed with music, movement and tradition. Colorful costumes twirled through the gym as students performed traditional dances and the sound of Texas City High School’s Mariachi Raya echoed through the building. For another year, the Heights Cinco de Mayo program proved why it’s become the must-see event in Texas City ISD.

The program, held annually in early May, has grown from a simple classroom celebration into a full-scale cultural showcase, drawing families, community members and even alumni back to the Heights campus.

What began more than two decades ago as a volunteer effort has since evolved into a beloved Heights tradition, thanks in large part to program coordinator and attendance clerk Hope Munoz.

“I have been working for TCISD for 25 years,” Munoz said. “I volunteered at Heights before I worked for the district. My two adult children went to Heights from Kindergarten through fourth grade. As a parent, I loved helping with whatever I could, usually helping with the Bilingual classes.”

Munoz’s passion for celebrating Hispanic heritage through music and dance took root years before she became a staff member. She recalled being thrilled when teachers at the time invited her to help with Cinco de Mayo activities.

“When Cinco de Mayo came around, the teachers had planned to have a program and I was so excited to help with dances and activities,” she said.

In 1999, Munoz joined Heights as a bilingual paraprofessional and continued to expand her role in the program.

“As the years passed, I was more involved and tried to do this big performance for our parents and bring back memories of our ancestors with traditional dances. We had Mariachi bands, Folkloric dancers, even dancers from different states of Mexico. Through the years, it became a great production,” she said.

That production now includes dances from across Mexican states and beyond — incorporating a wide variety of genres such as Norteño, Cumbia and even modern dance styles. Each year brings a fresh lineup of music and performances, often opening with a live Mariachi band or a visiting Folkloric dance group. The spotlight then turns to Heights’ bilingual and dual language students, who perform skits and dances celebrating the meaning and history of Cinco de Mayo.

“Usually for our programs we open with a Mariachi Band, or Folkloric Dancers and then we have all our bilingual classrooms and now dual language classrooms performing a dance or skit about Cinco de Mayo,” Munoz said.

The program has always been about more than entertainment. At its core, the event serves an educational purpose helping students understand and take pride in their heritage while giving families a chance to reconnect with their own traditions.

“I like to let students know that being bilingual is empowering and not something to be ashamed of. That they should use this to their advantage,” Munoz said. “Dancing to these traditional songs is a part of the rich, cultural diversity in the United States.”

The students, many of them dressed in vibrant embroidered dresses or charro-style suits, spend weeks learning choreography and the cultural significance behind their performances. Families play an active role as well helping with costumes, volunteering at the event and packing the audience with cheers and applause on performance day.

“Parents are always waiting for the program to see what their children are going to be dancing to,” Munoz said. “They all get excited about what costumes they’re going to be wearing and they are ready to help.”

The Cinco de Mayo program has become a point of pride for the entire Heights Elementary community. Staff and students prepare for months, knowing that the event brings the school’s mission of inclusion and cultural celebration to life in a powerful and visible way.

“The Cinco de Mayo program has become a tradition at Heights because that’s what parents want to see,” Munoz said. “They love seeing their children performing for them. It also brings back memories of their countries and traditions from when they were young. It is a celebration of our Hispanic heritage and an opportunity for the different cultures to learn about each other.”

What once started as a simple dance program for a handful of bilingual classrooms has now become a city-wide draw. With dual language students from kindergarten through second grade now participating, the audience has grown to include families from across Texas City. Word has spread and attendance continues to climb each year.

“People from all over town know about the Cinco de Mayo program,” Munoz said. “Now with our dual classes, we have a broader number of students from all over the community.”

The annual program has become more than a performance it’s a living lesson in identity, pride and unity. It’s a time for families to reconnect with their roots and for students to shine while learning about the cultures that shape them.

For Munoz, seeing the students take pride in their heritage and watching families light up in the audience makes all the hard work worth it.

“It is a celebration of our Hispanic Heritage and an opportunity for the different cultures to learn about each other,” she said. “I love it.”