#1StudentNWI: La Porte High School Spanish Students Celebrate a “Feliz Navidad”

While many La Porte High School students left to go home after school on Thursday, some made their way to the foreign language hallway instead. The fragrant smells of melted cheese and taco meat wafted down the hallway as the students gathered into one of the Spanish classrooms for the Spanish Club “Fiesta de Navidad” (otherwise known as the club’s Christmas party).

The fiesta began with a delicious nacho bar with all the fixings: melted cheese, taco meat, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, guacamole, and sour cream. Pop and Christmas cookies were provided as well, and LPHS Spanish teacher Esther Garcia prepared quesadillas for the students.

“Señora Garcia makes a mean quesadilla,” joked the club’s vice-president Nick Applegarth.

Aside from the mountains of food, Spanish Christmas songs played in the background and a White Elephant gift exchange was led by another Spanish teacher, Rebecca Schnitzer. There was a wide variety of gifts brought in for the game, ranging from gift cards and candy all the way to candles with candleholders and shoe fresheners. The most popular item was a huge candy cane and a fuzzy blanket; it was “stolen” a couple times, but senior club member Julia Jongkind was victorious, taking the gift home.

Club President Nate Irons, an LPHS senior, loves the club and was very happy that they got together for a Christmas celebration.

“I really enjoy Spanish Club because you get to meet a lot of new people, and we all have a good time,” he shared. “It creates a bond with the teachers involved and a better atmosphere in the classroom too.”

One of those teachers is Johnna Krause. She feels the same way about the club that Irons does. She loves being able to bridge the gap between teacher and student by taking part in it.

“Spending time with the students and getting to know one another was the best part of the party,” she said. “And then the food, obviously,” she added with a smile.

Seraphina Tucker, a sophomore, enjoys the club for a different reason.

She explained, “I just love the Spanish culture and I think all the Spanish teachers are really fun and outgoing. They make me want to learn Spanish and be bilingual.”

The party proved to be a great success. It brought students and teachers together to celebrate the festive season through tasty food, fun gifts, and time to get to know one another.

In addition to the “Fiesta de Navidad,” the club has hosted movie nights, club breakfasts, and even “Lotería,” a Spanish bingo game. Even more fun activities are in the works for the rest of the year as well.