Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
PEOPLE DINE on quesadillas, Spanish rice and Mexican wedding cake during a Cinco de Mayo fiesta at the Mercer School Monday. The event was hosted by the high school Spanish Club.
MERCER, Wis. - The Mercer Spanish Club celebrated Cinco de Mayo, hosting a fiesta for community members at the Mercer School on Monday.
Cinco de Mayo, or fifth of May, is a holiday in Mexico, commemorating the Battle of Puebla in 1862 over the French.
The holiday is popular throughout Mexico and in the United States.
Students got into the holiday spirit, whipping up traditional Mexican dishes, including quesadillas, Spanish rice, Mexican wedding cake and Mexican punch, filled with fruit.
According to Erin Johnson, Spanish teacher, the students selected the recipes and prepared the dishes themselves.
This is the first time the school has hosted a Cinco de Mayo celebration, and community members were invited to attend and have lunch.
"It feels wonderful to have so many community members attending the event," Johnson said. "This is a great group of kids, and they have done a wonderful job."
The goal of the event was to give the students a chance to learn more about a culture through its customs.
"One of the most important things students can have is multiple modalities to experience learning," Johnson said. "Through this, they have a unique way to experience language and culture."
More than 20 community members attended the meal, in the school's home economics room.
Johnson thanked the community, local businesses and staff members for supporting the event.
"Having this much support shows how much this community cares about its school," Johnson said. "It's such a great feeling, and the kids have done an awesome job."
For more information, call the Mercer School District at 715-476-2154.
