-Editorial
Families, staff, and students from the Calexico Unified School District gathered for an unforgettable holiday celebration at Calexico High School’s Ward Field. The event, titled “A Magical Village,” offered a festive atmosphere filled with a variety of exciting activities for all ages.
Parents were excited to watch their children perform at the event, where students from all the local elementary schools showed off their talents. The event wrapped up with a finale featuring the Calexico High School Mariachi and the Mighty Bulldog Marching Band, whose energetic music brought the crowd to life.
“I feel grateful for the District for putting this together and as a parent to see the child perform and gives me joy to see how he has improved throughout the year with the music program,” said Carlos Esquer from Calexico.
Attendees were treated to a wide array of food, music, and entertainment. Among the highlights was the much-anticipated opportunity for children to take pictures with Santa Claus and see the Christmas tree light up.
“The parade was canceled, so we wanted to get something started,” said Calexico School Board President Carlos Contreras. “This is something that, I think, the superintendent and the district see as a way to bring the community together, showcasing all the schools, clubs, and organizations we have. We want to make sure the community has a space to come together and celebrate.”
Contreras emphasized that holding the event at the high school was intentional, as it served as a symbolic destination for students as they progress through their educational journey.
“Part of the focus at the high school is that this is where most of the kids will end their academic career,” Contreras explained. “We wanted to create a family-friendly environment that is welcoming and meaningful for our kids—something that points them toward their future.”
Calexico Unified School District Superintendent Arturo Jimenez said this was intended to bring the community together.
“All of our schools are participating, our elementary schools, our junior high schools, and high school,” Jimenez said. “I want to thank all of our parent volunteers and everyone that made this possible for our community.”
Esmeralda Garcia, Director of Expanded Learning and Coordinator of Migrant Education Programs for Calexico Unified School District, shared her excitement about the community holiday event. “When we learned the city wouldn’t be having a parade this year, we wanted to give back to the community by organizing something special,” said Garcia. “Myself and coordinator Erika Hermosillo put our ideas together and decided to get everyone involved—starting with our schools. We presented our vision to the management team and received their full support.”
Garcia emphasized how the event was truly a community effort, saying, “Every school is represented, with parents, students, teachers, and staff all coming together to make this happen for the kids and the community.”
