SBCUSD Student Compete in Inaugural Latin American Bee

Who was the last Mexican governor of California? In what year did most of Latin America declare independence from Spain? Arrowview Middle School and San Bernardino High School students had the chance to answer similar trivia questions when they tested their prowess at the first Latin American Bee on Oct. 8 at the San Bernardino High School Auditorium. “The District’s English Learner Programs Department and San Bernardino High School [put] on the event to give students an opportunity to become familiar with notable people and events that have shaped Latin American history and the impact of Latin Americans in the USA,” said Gonzalo Avila, the District’s director of Secondary English Learner Programs. “We want students to learn about key figures like Francisco de Miranda and Rigoberta Menchú, who have achieved great things against great odds,” Avila said. “These key facts don’t always show up in history books.” The event was held in collaboration with the District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), which is made up of parents of English learners. DELAC member Teresa Alba called for the creation of the Latino History Bee. The event was held in collaboration with the Cal State San Bernardino World Language and Latin American Studies Department, and the Cal State Los Angeles Latin American Studies Department.