TOMÉ — Come see what the Jaguar Nation has to offer at the second annual Fiesta de Valencia!
This huge student showcase will take place at the Valencia High School campus and the whole community is invited to enjoy free, family fun and a variety of student performances and showcases.
The jaguar mascot strikes a pose at last year’s Fiesta de Valencia.
Martha Navarro, a drama and English teacher at VHS who is helping to organize the event, said last year’s first ever Fiesta de Valencia was a hit, and they’re expecting even more people at this week’s event from 4:30-7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 25.
“Families seemed really happy,” said Navarro of the 2023 event. “It was fun to have food trucks out here and see the community come together and celebrate the things students are doing.”
This year, Navarro said they are aiming to triple everything and turn it into an even bigger event.
“We have eight food trucks coming out this year, and there will be more stations for people to go, more games for kids and just bigger, broader and even more fun,” she said.
All the VHS feeder schools will be displaying artwork and most clubs at the high school are putting together activities and displays to show what they’re working on. There will also be multiple student performances at the performing arts center, including band performances, dance routines and the VHS drama club will even be performing a few fan-favorite scenes from their rendition of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
“Around campus, some of our special needs students are doing a bake sale and culinary arts students will be handing out snacks and things they’ve baked,” said Navarro. “Our technology department will also be on hand showing people from the community some of the cool tech students use. They can try out VR and the Esports room will be open so people can participate in some interactive gaming.
“There are so many different, wonderful things going on from each club, and I think families who have students in the community should come out and see the amazing things going on at VHS,” said Navarro. “I think it’s really important, especially for young kids to come out and see the future, so when they come here, they’re not afraid. They know this is their campus and they can look forward to it instead of it being a scary thing.”
Felina Martinez was born and raised in Valencia County. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2021. During her time at UNM, she studied interdisciplinary film, digital media and journalism. She covers the village of Los Lunas, Los Lunas Schools, the School of Dreams Academy and the town of Peralta.
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May 2, 2024
