Vibrant colors pop as they surround every entrance of the gym, resounding music bounces off the walls, luring people in, while savory meals water the mouths of every passerby. It’s the most enchanting evening of the year that celebrates the cultures within the St. Pius X community through homemade food, trivia, performances, and more. It’s Heritage Homecoming!
“I love that we are now embracing so many differences, ethnicities, cultures, and actually celebrating them. It’s not just something in the classroom, we are seeing it lived, we can experience the food, we can taste it, we can see the dancing, we can see the costumes, the beautiful culture, the outfits, and all the things that are so meaningful, which truly makes our school come alive,” said history teacher Mrs. Rebecca Rose.
This is the fourth year St. Pius X has hosted this annual event, but unlike other years, there’s been quite a change.
“When it started, it was an event that was more adult-led. Adults planned everything, like the volunteer check-in table was led by adults, a lot of the food, the emcee and things like that,” said Spanish teacher Ms. Andrea Bieytes, adding “but what has really changed is that it has become a student-led effort and the fruits of it exemplify what students care about and want to see in their school.”
These changes proved to be successful. Diverse Student Union vice president, junior, Alonso Montanez, said that “we actually got more people to attend. I’m pretty sure that the attendance increased by nearly 50 people.”
The students and teachers in DSU worked hard all year to organize this event into the spectacle that it was.
“In September, after the Fiesta Latina, was when we put a main focus on it, and then we divided the people who would meet up into like groups;” said DSU co-president, junior, Julia Bonilla. “Alonso and I worked together on the commercial, worked together like the schedule, helped gather people who were interested in the fashion show, and we all really worked together and contributed.”
For many people at St. Pius, this event is monumental in representing the cultures of underrepresented minorities throughout the school.
“It’s so important to celebrate our differences because God has made us different. Each one of us is totally unique, and in a world that’s all about social norms, that constructs how we should act, how we should look, what we should say, and if we’re strange. God’s like, you’re not of this world, you are in my image, and so you should be different and unique because [God] has a certain purpose just for you,” said Mrs. Rose.
Bonilla explained, “Heritage Homecoming is an opportunity for Pius in all their diverse cultures. It’s an opportunity to embrace them, especially those who never seem to have that opportunity, and we get to embrace them through food, dances, and songs.”
By offering a time to show off diverse cultures, this special event fosters unique, memorable moments that last lifetimes.
“Being able to see [people] laugh and enjoy themselves, especially in a space like that where everybody comes together, It’s pretty memorable, an unforgettable night,” said Montenez.
“I think my favorite part is during the times when everybody’s just walking around and enjoying everything. You get to see a lot of people dressed up and like connecting in a way you don’t normally see at school, because you’re embracing cultures,” said Bonilla.
Mrs. Rose said, “I also loved speaking with people. I met a lot of great parents, and then the group dancing was super fun. All the moments that we can like to join in together and not just be off in some little group were really, really beautiful.”
After the overwhelming success of Heritage Homecoming over the years, it has solidified its place at St. Pius for future classes to appreciate and enjoy.
