TOME — Come one, come all!
Valencia High School invites the Valencia County community to join them for Fiesta de Valencia, their first large-scale student showcase event.
“Everything is free,” said Martha Navarro, a drama and English teacher at VHS who is organizing the event alongside VHS’ student council.
“We really just want to provide an opportunity for everyone in our community to see the beauty that occurs here with our students,” Navarro said.
Fiesta de Valencia will be held from 4:30-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 26, at the VHS campus.
Performers from Dance With Me, comprised of VHS students, perform at their school’s talent show. They will also be performing at Fiesta de Valencia. Photo courtesy of VHS.
Navarro describes the event as a lively display of art, music, science, robotics, and career learning that are occurring within VHS and its “feeder” elementary and middle schools. Local alumni of VHS will also be present to showcase their talents.
Navarro said local food trucks, Tomé Todo and Game Changer Grill, will be on-site, and there will be a lot of interactive activities and entertainment for the community to enjoy.
Fiesta de Valencia is open to the public, and Navarro said it’s an event that will be fun for all ages.
“All career technical education programs we have, like welding and auto shop for example, will have their workshop’s open,” she said. “Students will be there working on their projects throughout the night and have their work on display so community members can see what’s going on.
“Our art department is also putting together some interactive art workshops that the community can participate in,” she said. “In our performing arts center, we’ll have dance performances and the winners from our talent show will also perform.”
Navarro said fine art from all grade levels will be on display in the gym that people can view at their leisure while VHS’ band performs.
There will also be many opportunities for attendees to get hands-on and involved.
“VHS’ technology team will bring out several robots and drones for anyone to try out. Culinary art students will have some samples of their food to enjoy,” Navarro said. “One of the elementary schools is bringing their archery club so people can try that out, too.”
Sandra Morales, a freshman at VHS, prepares a dessert tray in her culinary arts class. Culinary art students will have some samples of their food to enjoy at Fiesta de Valencia. Photo courtesy of VHS.
Jovanny Maldonado, a junior at VHS and member of the student council, said people should come because they will get to experience many cultures and traditions and be able to see everything that takes place in the school.
“Fiesta de Valencia is a taste of who we are,” said Dorothy Booth, a senior and the student body president of VHS. “It will show there is more that meets the eye when it comes to our community.”
Navarro said military representatives will be present as well as representatives from University of New Mexico-Valencia campus to meet with the community and provide information about their programs.
Apart from showcasing everything the campus has to offer, the event is also to show families how many options and possibilities there are for students to enjoy at Valencia High School.
“Some families may have tried to switch boundaries and send students to other schools, but we want them to know we have so many great programs and amazing staff,” Navarro said. “The student body, itself, is a beautiful population and they don’t have to go anywhere else or go out of their way to find an amazing education for their children.”
If anyone has questions or wants to get involved, Navarro encourages you to email her at [email protected].
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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April 25, 2024
