Going on her second year, teacher Lora Gallegos-Haynes has begun Christmas caroling. Her second-year Spanish will be touring the school Dec. 16 and 17.

“Last year was the first year,” Gallegos-Haynes said. “We go to the office, the library, the special ed, preschool, and cafeteria.”

Everyone in her classes must do it and sing a multitude of songs – Cascabel (Jingle Bells), Los Peces en el Río (The Fish in the River), Feliz Navidad, Noche de Paz (Silent Night), Rudolfo en reno de la nariz roja (Rudolf the Red Nose Reindeer), and Cumbia de Navidad.

“It’s a small cultural thing,” Gallegos-Haynes said. “I think the students tend to pay attention to the typical Christmas carols, and if they know they have to perform it, they tend to do better at it.”

Even though she finds that some of her students enjoy it and some do not, Gallegos-Haynes has plans to continue this for many years.

“I think it’s a fun activity for the kids to do,” Haynes said.

19ibraun@usd489.com