Whitman Elementary Third-Graders Learn about Mexican Culture, Food Thanks to Special Guests

For Immediate Release
April 15, 2024

Whitman third-grader Ariel Villagomez (front) brought family members (left to right) Alex Villagomez (brother), Uriel Mendoza (father), and Betzaveth Cruz (mother) to class for a presentation on Mexican food. The family owns Fruta Max, a restaurant in Hammonton.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP – Ariel Villagomez, a student in Miss Jennifer Campbell's third-grade class at Whitman Elementary School, recently had her parents, Betzaveth Cruz and Uriel Mendoza, bring in traditional Mexican food from their shop, Fruta Mex, in Hammonton. Ariel’s brother, Alex Villagomez, a sixth-grader at Bunker Hill Middle School, also came along to teach the whole third grade about traditional Mexican food. 

The presentation went along with Module 3: A New Home from Wit and Wisdom, where students read books about different cultures, including Family Pictures by Carmen Lomas Garza about a traditional Mexican-American family.

The class also did a Mexican traditional craft in Spanish class with Senorita Jennie Nilson. Each student created their own Ojo de Dios to make an authentic connection to the cultural traditions they are studying in English Language Arts.

Whitman third-graders enjoy trying out the authentic Mexican food.

The third-graders show off their Ojo de Dios crafts that they created with Spanish teacher Jennie Nilson.

- WTPS -