***This article was written by Addison Looney, a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and one of Wethersfield’s newest teachers, Sayde Tapia, is teaching students about Hispanic history.

Tapia is the resource teacher for kindergarten through third grade. She is a very involved member of the Hispanic Heritage Festival.

In her classroom, students are learning about the rich culture through the book Pepe and the Parade.

“Many students had no idea what it was and were genuinely excited to learn something new outside of their usual experiences,” said Tapia. 

The book features some of the many different ways people celebrate Hispanic heritage. As a class, students made their own unique balloon piñatas using a balloon, glue, and colorful streamers.

Hispanic heritage is incredibly diverse and represents various countries, traditions and histories, she said.  

“It’s more than food and music, it’s about the people, their stories, and the rich contributions they’ve made to our society,” said Sayde.

As many know, Kewanee has its annual Hispanic Heritage Festival, this year on Sept. 27. The festival features many food vendors, some live music, and a variety of other vendors. 

This year, there will be a traditional dance showcase along with more surprises throughout the festival.