Folklorico - A Cinco de Mayo fiesta was held at Sespe School on May 5th. One of the many attractions was Grupo folklórico de San Francisco de Asís. The pavilion was decorated with drinking-straw-spaced green, white, and red pinwheels, the brown columns studded with pinwheel rosettes. Paper chain garlands of green, white, and red scalloped the guardrails along the stage area, which featured an azure poncho flanked by two modest black sombreros. Tissue rosettes dotted the ramp railing, and near the flagpole stood a display of ponchos and clay vessels, next to which two six-pointed Disney piñatas. Traditional Mexican food was served and everyone enjoyed the fiesta.
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Shown (l-r) are Alissa Hernandez, 14, Erika Olveras, 13, Leslie Galvan, 13, and Cecilia Olveras, 16.
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My first encounter with Cinco de Mayo was the fiesta held at Sespe School the evening of May 5. Considering my enthusiasm to attend, it was funny to find that I had forgotten something as I approached the school grounds—I am not the biggest fan of mariachi music. Apprehension notwithstanding, I soldiered on into the sound waves, determined to take an openhearted look at a celebration that I imagined would be as foreign to me as it was familiar to perhaps the majority in attendance.

Families gathered beneath the large tree in the quad and at the pavilion; people emerged from the cafeteria with plates of tamales and tostadas, their red plastic cups peppering the festive scene. The pavilion was festooned with drinking-straw-spaced green, white, and red pinwheels happily spinning in the breeze, the brown columns studded with pinwheel rosettes. Paper chain garlands of—surprise—green, white, and red scalloped the guardrails along the stage area, which featured an azure poncho flanked by two modest black sombreros. Tissue rosettes dotted the ramp railing, and near the flagpole stood a display of ponchos and clay vessels, next to which two six-pointed Disney piñatas awaited their gory fates.

An abundance of schoolchildren darted around the tables, noisily chasing each other and starting a pickup Frisbee game in the back. Several girls and ladies wore flounced blouses, skirts, and dresses; ribbons adorned several hairdos, and a red plastic flower stuck out of one ponytail. Some botas vaqueros and a Mexican futbol jersey were in attendance, and much to my satisfaction, I spied a giant woven sombrero floating somewhere beneath the giant tree. And above all the mayhem, the mariachi music cheerily blasted from the lone loudspeaker that pointed, it seemed, directly at me.

Over a hundred people had congregated when principal Rosemarie Hibler, garbed in vestido folklórico—a loose white shift dress embroidered with colorful flowers—took the mic. She announced that the fiesta was the school’s first, sponsored by English Learner Advisory Committee volunteers. Hibler praised their efforts, duly noting, “The school’s never looked so beautiful!”

Children were invited to the stage, and Ms. Esmeralda Ramirez-Rueda, a former member of Ballet Folklórico Infantil de Fillmore, led a group of about twenty girls in turns and footwork while a group of boys piled on the back of a bench to intently watch their progress. The short workshop completed, the newly minted dancers performed their routine to music, after the boys had been asked to step down for the benefit of all the audience.

Ms. Ramirez-Rueda told me that she had been part of the ballet folklórico group until the group disbanded when she was twelve. As if on cue, behind us appeared a pair of costumed girls in vibrant skirts, like two agile hollyhocks in white dress shoes. Together they tapped away on the concrete, giggling in girlish fashion. Turning back, I saw a couple of large sombreros being ferried through the crowd as pulsating trumpets punctuated the Spanish chorus streaming from the stage.

Mr. Jeremías Guzmán Barrera from the Mexican Consulate gave a bilingual talk on the history of Cinco de Mayo as a small team of girls held an illustrated banner reading, “Bicentenario 2010, Mexican Consulate, Oxnard.” While the noisy kids seemed largely impervious to the address, a group of students perched along the guardrail listened along with the appreciative parents and grandparents at the tables. Through the din, Guzmán noted that throughout its history, Mexico had been under the control of France, Spain, and England, and the battle celebrated on Cinco de Mayo marked the first time Mexico fought together as one. Calling the fiesta “a great family event,” Guzmán said that it’s “important [for the children] to know their roots,” and presented Principal Hibler with a calendar featuring artwork by Mexican children around the world.

ELAC member Araceli Bravo told me that they were a group of Hispanic parents who advised the school regarding what they wanted for their children. To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, they contacted local businesses, found sponsors for food, invited the Mexican Consul, and recruited dancers. “It was planned in one and a half months—it was just a rush,” she said.

The fiesta’s highlight was CONTINUED »

For the past 2 years walkers from Sespe Elementary School walked to raise money. On Friday, February 20th, they’ll lace up their shoes once again for Sespe School’s 3rd Annual “Walk Your Paws Off” Walkathon organized by the Sespe Parent Club. Over the last 2 years our students have raised enough money to donate $5000 toward the installation of our brand new playground equipment, purchase plants to help beautify our school (and get a mural painted!), donate funds toward the purchase of A.R. prizes to help motivate our students to read, and more! For our Walkathon this year, we will give prizes for the 3 students who receive the most pledge money, for the student at each grade level who walks the most laps, and for the class that raises the most money – a popsicle party! We have music and snacks, and each student receives a Walkathon water bottle. It’s a great event that focuses on helping our school community, getting some exercise and being healthy.

This year’s goal is to continue to raise money for the beautification of our school, to purchase needed supplies such as books, and to get our school garden going so the students can get out and do some hands-on science! If you’d like to donate, please make your check payable to Sespe Parent Club (100% of the donated money goes directly to Sespe School). If you have any questions call Sespe School at 524-6161.