During Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th to October 15th), 5M homeroom students created and shared daily video announcements with Tuscan students and staff.

Thank you to Mrs. Makasakit and the 5th Grade Makasakit /Skawinski team of student morning announcers for spotlighting notable Hispanic Americans during Hispanic Heritage Month.

Our 5th Grade students became familiar with our new Canvas platform, to create and share video messages about the stories of famous and significant Hispanic Americans. We heard inspiring messages of perseverance, courage, resilience and determination. For the second half of October, 5M student announcers will also spotlight notable Filipino Americans to recognize Filipino Heritage Month which is also observed during the month of October.

Do you know the names and stories of Tuscan’s spotlighted Hispanic American artists, activists, athletes and leaders? Test your knowledge with these pictures!

My Name is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz by Monica Brown illustrated by Rafael López tells the story of Cuban American singer Celia Cruz who reigned for decades as the “Queen of Salsa Music.”

• After viewing the Hispanic Heritage Month read aloud, take a moment to think about all of your favorite songs that make you want to sing and dance with joy and happiness.

Dancing Hands by Margarita Engle illustrated by Rafael López tells the story of Teresa Carreño and how the power and beauty of music can be used to uplift feelings of sadness, cope with fears and “share bursts of joy.”

This book also spotlights how, during the dark days of the Civil War, Teresa Carreño’s hard work, struggle and practice helped her overcome obstacles to become an internationally renowned virtuoso pianist.

Rafael López, illustrator of “Dancing Hands : How Teresa Carreño Played the Piano for President Lincoln,” is the 2020 recipients of the Pura Belpré Illustrator Award honoring Latino authors and illustrators whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s books. ALA News

• After viewing the Hispanic Heritage Month read aloud, take a moment to think about all of your favorite songs that make you want to sing and dance with joy and happiness.

Pura Belpré was the first Afro-Latina Librarian in the New York City Public Library System during the Harlem Renaissance. Pura Belpré was a pioneer for bringing diversity to library shelves to allow children to see themselves represented and affirmed in books.

The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate. Pura Belpré Award home page

Please visit the American Library Association’s Pura Belpré Award home page for more information on the 2020 Belpré Committee selected Author Award Winner along with four Honor Books for narration and three Honor Book for illustration.

Email: ROARforTuscan@somsd.k12.nj.us
Website: https://www.somsd.k12.nj.us/tuscan/
Location: 25 Harvard Avenue, Maplewood, NJ, USA
Phone: (973)378-5221