Albuquerque Public Schools
Inez Students Build Community Ofrenda to Honor Loved Ones
Spanish Learning Club leads Día de los Muertos project that celebrates culture, remembrance and connection.
The Inez Elementary Spanish Learning “Rocket Power Hour” Club brought tradition and community to life this fall by creating a schoolwide ofrenda for Día de los Muertos.
Students in the club learned about the cultural significance of this meaningful Mexican tradition, then worked together to design an altar filled with symbolic elements—from marigolds and candles to handcrafted decorations representing love, memory and celebration of life.
Families, staff and students were invited to contribute photos of their loved ones who have passed, transforming the ofrenda into a shared space for reflection and connection.
“I have heard from two of my students' families saying how much they love this and how their children loved sharing,” said 2nd Grade Teacher Mr. Ortiz. “They feel seen and honored.”
Students shared just how meaningful the project was to them.
“This project felt important to me to remember someone we’ve lost, and remembering how it felt when they were around us,” said fourth grader Haylee.
Led by counselor Yessenia Torres and made possible through the Spanish Learning Club, the project reinforced cultural learning while strengthening student voice, family engagement and school community.
As students placed photos, crafted decorations and explained the tradition to peers, they also built empathy, cultural appreciation and pride.
The ofrenda remained on display through Día de los Muertos, reminding the Inez community that loved ones live on through memory and tradition, and that school is a place where every student’s heritage is honored and celebrated.