Celebrating with music
Mariachi band caps Hispanic Heritage Month at Duncombe school
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <br> Dancers from Denison High School and Duncombe Elementary students dance to mariachi music Wednesday.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <br> Heidi Duarte-Valdez,18, of Denison, sings with a mariachi band on Wednesday at Duncombe Elementary in Fort Dodge. Denison High School has four mariachi bands, honoring Hispanic students’ culture.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <br> Denison High School students perform in one of the school’s four mariachi bands Wednesday at Duncombe Elementary School.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <br> Dancers from Denison High School and Duncombe Elementary students dance to mariachi music Wednesday.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <br> Heidi Duarte-Valdez,18, of Denison, sings with a mariachi band on Wednesday at Duncombe Elementary in Fort Dodge. Denison High School has four mariachi bands, honoring Hispanic students’ culture.
-Messenger photo by Britt Kudla <br> Denison High School students perform in one of the school’s four mariachi bands Wednesday at Duncombe Elementary School.
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A group of Duncombe Elementary School students got to learn some new dance moves to the music of a live mariachi band Wednesday morning.
The concert and dance lesson concluded the Fort Dodge school's observance of Hispanic Heritage Month.
"The feeling and kind of the vibe throughout the day was the kids were really excited," Principal Ryan Flaherty said late Wednesday afternoon.
The music was performed by the mariachi band of Denison High School. It is part of that school's music program, just like the marching band and the concert band.
The band performed three roughly 40-minute shows throughout the morning, with different grade levels of Duncombe students at each one.
During each concert, eight students chosen by their teachers went to the front of the room and learned a Hispanic dance from dancers who accompany the band. A total of 24 students danced.
Duncombe students were learning about Hispanic culture and history long before the band played a single note in their school.
Flaherty said the school celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month each year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
The school's Hispanic students help to lead the learning. Flaherty said they are elevated to "expert status."
Each Tuesday and Thursday during the month a trivia question related to Hispanic heritage is asked during the school's morning announcements. A small prize is awarded to the classroom that submits the first correct answer.
The school also has a 12-member student leadership group called Mejor Juntos, which in English means Better Together. This year that group made a series of posters featuring notable Hispanic Americans which were displayed throughout the school. The posters featured athletes, doctors, a U.S. Supreme Court justice, astronauts and others.