WEEK OF DECEMBER 19, 2024
VOLUME 35| ISSUE 50
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Adams 14 low rating performance stands School district was able to appeal seven rulings BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT
Las Posadas (“The Inns” in English) is a nine-day Latin American holiday celebration that takes place from Dec. 16 to Dec 24.
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Las Posadas celebrations are here • Vestas to lay off 200 employees •27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1
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BUSINESS LOCAL
BY JACKIE RAMIREZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
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The light blankets of snow and winds of an upcoming winter remind us that Las Posadas are right around the corner. Las Posadas (“The Inns” in English), is a nineday Latin American holiday celebration, from Dec. 16 to Dec. 24, that revolves around the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem and their search for an inn on the night Jesus was born. The celebration of religion, culture and community involves warm drinks like champurrado, atole or punch, and foods like tamales and buñelos. It also involves singing the songs that are connected to the story of Mary and Joseph looking for
an inn. Depending on who organizes a Posada, a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey takes place and usually involves children playing the roles of Mary, Joseph and the Three Wise Men. Typically, a baby from the party or community will play Baby Jesus. After, families and friends gather for an evening of food and music. The tradition has evolved from being a religious celebration to more of a nonreligious party, whereas any Christmas celebration in Latin America, or by Latino communities in the United States, can be considered Posadas and don’t necessarily have to stick to the traditions. They do continue to celebrate community and culture. In the United States, Las Posadas celebrations are of-
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ten organized by community organizations, businesses or nightclubs to celebrate the diverse Latin culture either through food, activities, or music and they typically only last one night instead of the nine days. With the mix of American and Latin cultures, Las Posadas incorporate American Christmas traditions to their festivities by organizing toy drives, or inviting Santa, which Latin American countries don’t believe in. In Mexico, for example, their version of Santa is the Three Wise Men, who they celebrate on Día de los Reyes on Jan. 6. Some Posadas in the U.S. also include Christmas carols into their music queue. La Ciudad has rounded up a couple of Las Posadas celebrations near Commerce City for friends and families to vis-
it to celebrate the meaningful holiday tradition that comes from Latin America. Where to celebrate Las Posadas
7th Annual Posada Navideña by SHPE Colorado, Prospanica Denver and ALPFA Denver: Starting at 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, the SHPE Colorado, Prospanica Denver and ALPFA Denver invite families to their traditional cultural holiday party in Denver. The event is free for members of any of the three organizations; nonmembers pay $12.51 and proceeds from ticket sales will go to the event’s toy drive. All ages are welcome! Registration is required as the capacity is 150 people. SEE CELEBRATE, P5
The Adams 14 school district will not have an improved performance rating this year, despite many district complaints about the state’s system. On Dec. 11, the Colorado State Board of Education voted to approve the final decisions on appeals from schools and districts that didn’t agree with their annual performance rating, first released in September. The state this year received requests to reconsider 15 district ratings and 79 school ratings, compared to 10 district and 81 school ratings appeals last year. Of those requests, the state approved 85 rating changes, including 22 requests for Denver schools. Among the appeals denied was Adams 14’s request to change its district rating. Adams 14, the district with the longest number of low state ratings, is on year 11 of low ratings. The district’s rating for 2024 of priority improvement is the second-lowest rating for districts and is identified by orange. It’s the same rating the district received in 2023. The state is required to step in and order intervention when a school, or district, has five years of low ratings. Once under state-ordered plans, a school or district must have at least a rating of improvement, identified by yellow, one rung above priority improvement, for at least two years in a row, for the state intervention to stop. Despite many improvement plans and state orders for Adams 14, the district has not managed to earn an improvement rating a single time in more than a decade. SEE ADAMS 14, P5
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