This week the Maple Hill HS community set up an ofrenda in observance of the Mexican holiday of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). It’s a time of year to remember loved ones who have died by celebrating their lives and memories. An ofrenda is used to honor them, traditionally by setting up pictures of them, memorabilia of theirs, food they liked and displaying symbols (like colorfully decorated skulls, butterflies and marigolds) to remind us not to fear death.

While MH Spanish classes were the ones who worked on preparing the ofrenda for Día de los Muertos, they wanted to open it up for anyone in the school to contribute. The ofrenda was set up in the atrium with blank cards next to it. Passersby in the school were invited to add to the ofrenda by writing the name of a departed loved one on the front and adding what they remembered about them on the back.