Many years ago, Señora Horn was a Spanish teacher at The Beech Hill School that revolutionized the curriculum. She instituted an entirely new assessment system and introduced several texts. While the assessment system did not stand the test of time, many of the texts that she introduced are still being enjoyed to this day. Her most enduring initiative, however, was Empanada Day. Sra. Horn was not only a fan of Spanish, but she was also a fan of the Food Network. The pairing of these interests led to the introduction of a student cooking contest based on the type of empanadas that they could create.

Many years have passed, and several different teachers have taught Spanish at BHS, but the student demand has insured that Empanada Day is not and will not go away. In fact, the current tandem of Señora Fortier and Señor Vazquez have only strengthened the tradition. This year, the teachers gave the fifth grade a much more active role in the judging and required the competing students to present to the judges.

In my experience, the strength of a tradition is revealed in the way that a similar experience is shared through the years. I would imagine that in years to come, there will be additional changes, but at the core, the Empanada Day experience is one that will persist!