Elizabeth Arroyo teaches students from other schools how to make poinsettias for the posada.

West Suburban Conference schools visited Morton East on Thursday, December 6 to help prepare for Morton’s annual Posada celebration.

The schools that came to visit Morton East were Adison Trail, York, Willow brook, West Leyden, East Leyden, Morton FC, Proviso East, Downers Grove North, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, Glenbard West Lyons Township, and Morton West. In total there was 56 students and 24 teachers that came to Morton East. After the event I asked Teachers and students who were apart of the event and this is what they had to say,

“The WSC Posada workshop was about showcasing our Morton community with the other schools in our community with the other schools in our conference. This was a very special experience because it was the first time was shared all the preparations that go into the Morton East Posada with other schools and other communities. Many of our visitors shared that they thoroughly enjoyed the day, and left inspired by our students, our school, and our community,” said Biliteracy coach Mrs. Lauren Keppler.

Morton East student groups helped run the event.

“The Student Ambassadors, Foundations to Teaching students, Morton Teaches Club, and Culinary Arts students were all integral parts of the day. The Foundations to Teaching students and Morton Teaches club students in particular went above and beyond. They collaborated to make lesson plans and teach all three cultural workshops in the Knowledge Center four times over for all of our visitors and blew everyone away with their skills. The adult visitors yesterday literally could not stop talking about how impressed they were by our students, the content of the day, and our school,” said Biliteracy coach Ms. Lauren Keppler.

The Posada was a wonderful event.

“It was a great event; the students and teacher did a good job helping and teaching them how to complete the projects. Students came back and helped set up the Posada it was a great experience overall,” said Mr. O’Malley the library makerspace teacher.

Students loved the Posada so much they are already planning for the next one.

“At the end of the day, several groups mentioned to me that they would be taking some of the cultural activities back to their home schools to do with their own communities. I overheard students from one school action planning with their Culinary teacher about how to incorporate more cultural foods that reflect their community into their own Culinary curriculum. Morton East truly shined yesterday!” said Biliteracy coach Ms. Diana Martinez.

Students led the craft classes; senior Elizabeth Arroyo, who is a student in Foundations for Teaching, enjoyed the experience.

 “I enjoyed teaching (the other students and teachers) how to create the poinsettia flower. I got to work with friends, but I really enjoyed seeing everyone being so interested in learning how to make it. The crafts were all connected:  the hummingbird holds the soul of the departed, and then the hummingbird is attracted to the poinsettia.  I saw that some kids got the connection and I could see in the visiting students’ faces, that some got the connection.  I would do this again if I could,” senior Elizabeth Arroyo said.