On Día de los Muertos, Eagle Heights honors community

A flash of feathers and a rainbow of color swirled around the Eagle Heights Spanish Immersion gym. The air vibrated with the rhythmic tinkling of ayoyote shells as the thumping beat of four large drums kept the nearly twenty dancers in sync. It was just past noon on a Saturday, and Eden Prairie families and their young students had gathered to watch the day’s main event: a performance by the group Kalpullin Mictlan Tonatiuh. Plumed headdresses towered over the dancers’ skull-painted faces as the students — some of them with their faces painted like skulls, too — looked on, mesmerized. Soon, everyone was invited to participate in the dance, and performers, kids and parents formed a circle, stomping, kicking and dancing in time. It was the culmination of Eagle Heights’ Día de los Muertos event, a rich festival of culture and an even more vibrant celebration of community.

“[It’s about] bringing the community together and honoring all of our loved ones,” said first grade teacher Marcela Roos. Roos has been helping to organize Eagle Heights’ Día de los Muertos event since it first began 13 years ago. The holiday, traditionally honored the first two days of November, is largely celebrated in Mexico, where observers believe the spirits of those who have passed can return to the world of the living. At Eagle Heights, this is a special opportunity to give students lessons about culture in Spanish-speaking countries. From the kid-friendly crafts of decorating skulls to the energetic dancers to the massive ofrenda (an altar to honor and place offerings for those who have passed away), Roos is committed to creating a “worldwide view of belonging” for students. “We live in a very cultural world, and we need to have a sense of community.” 

Families at the Día de los Muertos celebration connected over culture, language and learning. Kindergartner Valentina Preston looked out over the colorful ofrenda filled with pictures of significant figures who were no longer living. “It’s nice for my kids to see they can identify with a piece of their culture,” said her mother, Angela Preston, who identified as Latina. She was initially drawn to Eagle Heights for the Spanish-language curriculum, but was excited to learn that teaching culture was just as important there. “Now that we know, we love it even more.”

The day was filled with learning opportunities across Eagle Heights, from Día de los Muertos bingo to making tissue paper cempasúchil (marigolds). Across the cafeteria, first grader Yusif Kambal was enjoying his meal with his family. He’d been a little too shy to participate in the group dance, but it was still his favorite part of the day. His older brother, sixth grader Ali, listened to Yusif from across the table. Ali was in his first year at CMS after attending elementary school at Eagle Heights, and he was happy to be back in these familiar halls for Día de los Muertos. He hoped he could continue to attend the event with his family for many years, even though he no longer attended Eagle Heights.

Ali wasn’t the only one returning to Eagle Heights. Newly retired Beatriz Reyes, who had worked in the building as a paraprofessional for 19 years, was glad to be back at the yearly event among her former colleagues and students. “I had to [come]!” she said. She chatted happily with teachers in Spanish and English, remembering how she knew everything that went on in Eagle Heights except that students and staff were planning a celebration on her last day. They surprised Reyes with an original poem. Reminiscing with Damaris Hernandez, another former staff member whose three sons had all gone through Eagle Heights, Reyes played a recording of the poem and smiled as she remembered that bittersweet moment from her final year. It was easy to see how Día de los Muertos wasn't just a celebration for current Eagle Heights "familia" — it was for everyone who had ever been a member of the school community.

First grade teacher Roos loved seeing former students come back for the event, whether high schoolers or even college students who’d previously attended Eagle Heights. Parents attended and got to know one another, staff united in their celebration of the day, and each year, more and more people from different backgrounds were attending. Students got the opportunity to see themselves in the culture, feel a sense of belonging and connect to the deeply rooted Eagle Heights community that extended far beyond the walls of the school. Now, as the school celebrated its 20th year, Roos reflected on the importance of the celebration moving forward: “[I hope the] tradition continues to grow and bring more people together in our community.”