Albuquerque Public Schools
Albuquerque High Students Bring Fun and Friendship to Montezuma’s Fall Festival
Volunteers from AHS help run games, crafts and contests, inspiring the next generation of Bulldogs along the way.
Students from Albuquerque High School brought their Bulldog spirit to Montezuma Elementary School’s annual Fall Festival once again, volunteering their time and energy to help make the event a success.
The partnership between the two schools is a long-standing one, with AHS students stepping up year after year to support Montezuma’s celebration. Volunteers from JROTC, Student Senate, the Bilingual Seal program and the National Art Honor Society helped decorate, run activities, engage with elementary students and clean up after the event.
“Many AHS students attended Montezuma and are eager to volunteer,” AHS teacher and volunteer coordinator Alicia Lopez said. “They also enjoy reconnecting with some of their former teachers. This partnership is crucial to the community, as Montezuma relies on volunteers to make its activities and events successful.”
Lopez added that the collaboration benefits both schools, bringing the community together and enriching it.
“The hope is that increased student and family involvement in the school community will foster a sense of belonging and responsibility, which, in turn, will foster better school citizenship,” she said.
For many of the high school students, the event brings back memories of their own time at Montezuma. Marisa Madrid-Larranaga, a junior and vice president of the National Art Honor Society, volunteered at the festival for the first time this year, but she remembered looking up to the high school volunteers when she was younger.
“I would see high schoolers, and my siblings were in high school at the time, and I would think they were so cool,” she said. “And I wanted to be them, honestly.”
Now she’s come full circle, volunteering at the same elementary event as a high schooler.
“I love connecting with the little kids,” she said. “And I love to see them having fun crafting in the craft room.”
For Isui Arzate, a senior earning his Bilingual Seal, the event was a chance to give back and practice leadership.
“I’m excited to see the kids, just have fun, play around with everyone. That’s what I like the most about it,” he said. “I’m volunteering for a bilingual seal program at my school. We have to be able to write, to speak in Spanish and in English. And volunteer work is part of the requirements for the seal.”
Lopez said that seeing her students interact with younger kids is a highlight each year.
“Most importantly, these volunteers provide MES students role models to look up to,” she added. “They exemplify the true spirit of being a Bulldog."