National Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month is the period from September 15 to October 15, where we pay particular attention to the contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans in the United States, and celebrate the group’s rich heritage and diverse cultures. This timeframe encompasses the independence days of several Latin American countries: Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. It’s also an ideal time for us to restate our commitment to providing safe and welcoming schools for all students, regardless of immigration or any other status.
Students who identify as Hispanic or of Latino heritage comprise 41 percent of our population in HSD, which is the largest of any demographic group. We believe our multilingual community brings a tapestry of linguistic and cultural assets and are proud to serve these students through a variety of programs - some of which serve them specifically, others of which are accessible to students of all backgrounds. Our PK-12 Dual Language programs serve more than 3,500 students who learn in both Spanish and English, and expand their socio-cultural competence.
We have a thriving Latino Parent Advisory Council at the district level, and several “paquitos” at the school level to help ensure our Spanish-speaking families can receive information and provide feedback in meaningful ways, and help our district and schools with events and programming that celebrates their cultures and customs.
Our schools will be sharing relevant information with students about events, people, and customs connected to Hispanic and Latino Heritage over the course of the next several weeks. The City of Hillsboro and Centro Cultural are also hosting a wide range of events, including the El Grito Festival, Binational Health Fair, and more. And save the date of Thursday, October 2, for HSD’s Hispanic Heritage event featuring activities, entertainment, food, and community.
Our featured event was the kick-off to the 2025-26 school year, which officially began on Wednesday and Thursday, September 3 and 4. Students and staff alike were excited to get back to class and embark upon a new year of learning, growth, and memories in the making. Visit our website to see a gallery of photos.
Having complete and accurate information about each student and family is critical to ensuring we are able to contact you in case of an emergency. Please login to your ParentVUE account and take a few moments to review and update your student’s information by Tuesday, September 30.
Hot News is produced and emailed to HSD families and staff each week school is in session. Please add the address to your “safe sender” list to make sure you always receive the latest issue. Please also bookmark our district website: hsd.k12.or.us to stay informed about what’s happening in our district and schools.
