Canyon Crest Academy came together for an all-school Connectivity Day on Oct. 30 celebrating Día de Muertos through art, music, culture and remembrance. For the fourth annual event, the school had two ofrendas (altars) filled with photographs of departed loved ones, sugar skulls, candles, mementos, and the holiday’s traditional bright orange marigold flowers. The event also included face painting, temporary tattoo stations, chalk art, music, dancing and photo ops with festive props and an eight-foot-tall La Catrina display.
For over 15 years, Spanish teachers Laura Krogh and Rigo celebrated Dia de los Muertos in their own classrooms but opened it up to the whole school four years ago. Students from the Spanish Culture Club helped plan and stage the day, including Charlotte Cornwall, Kayla Khadivi, Aarvin Deokar, Izabella Li, Taarika Sethee, Kelly Stroot, Rishi Garg, Saina Niknazaryazdi, Zakari Sayed, Genevieve Freiwald, and Cal Karlander.
“Their creativity, enthusiasm, and teamwork help make this an all-school celebration each year,” said Krough. “We are so proud of our students and the work they put into making this a meaningful experience for our entire school community.”
The ofrenda at CCA’s Día de Muertos event was an opportunity for the school community to remember loved ones. (Manas Chekka)
Students at CCA’s Día de Muertos celebration. (Katie Vidal)
The eight-foot-tall La Catrina on the CCA campus for its Día de Muertos celebration. (Arjun Jain)
CCA Advanced Drawing students created chalk art installations at the Día de Muertos event. (Katie Vidal)
CCA’s Día de Muertos celebration included performances by the CCA Vocal Conservatory. (Katie Vidal)
The fourth annual Día de Muertos on the Canyon Crest Academy campus. (Caleb Monahan)
Students volunteered to paint faces at CCA’s Día de Muertos celebration. (Katie Vidal)
Students with Spanish teachers Rigo Paz and Laura Kraugh at CCA’s Día de Muertos event. (Katie Vidal)
El Árbol de Recuerdos (The Memory Tree) at CCA’s Día de Muertos celebration gave students and staff a place to write personal messages and share memories of loved ones. (Van Lu)
CCA Advanced Drawing students created live chalk art installations. (Van Lu)
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The ofrenda at CCA’s Día de Muertos event was an opportunity for the school community to remember loved ones. (Manas Chekka)
Students shared their talents in different ways. Students volunteered for the face-painting station, and Advanced Drawing students, under the direction of art teacher Jessi Mortensen, created live chalk art installations. The celebration also included performances by the CCA Vocal Conservatory directed by Anne Whatoff and accompanied on the guitar by student Jon Cortes-Martinez. Rock Band teacher Nate Jarrell set up the sound for the performance.
New features for the fourth year of Día de Muertos included a marigold station and El Árbol de Recuerdos (The Memory Tree), where students and staff could share written personal messages and memories of their loved ones.
Connectivity Days started at CCA last school year—once a month, time is carved out of the school day for students to come together with the hope of building a stronger sense of belonging on campus. On Nov. 4, Connectivity Time was a Fall Fest with a full line-up of different activities for students to choose from, including a rock band concert, spooky tennis, walking on the track, watching French short films, Artisan bread and butter tasting, quiet meditation, gingerbread house making, knitting, karaoke, card games and kickball.