Ever wondered what makes Civic Week at La Floresta truly unforgettable?

This past week at Colegio La Floresta students celebrated the Civic week from September 8-12. The reason this festivity remains unforgettable through the years is the heartfelt excitement and anticipation that surround this event. Fueled by the hope of making this final chapter at school truly unforgettable, parents, siblings, and seniors come together in a shared spirit of joy and love. At La Floresta students have a vivid sense of school spirit hardly found anywhere else, and Civic Week is the ultimate showcase for it. The festivity sure did come alive with the Casas marching competitions, and while the distinctive chant of “Left, one, two, three” echoed in our heads all week long, it was our seniors who stood blooming and radiant like the Maquilishuat, giving their all for this special closing day this past Friday, September 12.

The seniors’ folkloric dance has long been a cherished tradition at La Floresta, bringing El Salvador’s tradition to life for the students. This year, the inspiration for their attire was “Las Mujeres que Recogen Flores en el Boquerón” (“The women Who Gather Flowers at El Boquerón”). This closing day began with the parade, where the seniors as tradition entered last but certainly not least, they marched in their characteristic formation that was designed to allow them to move gracefully while wearing the traditional costume. This year they danced in neatly matching white skirts and white tops, each adorned with a red belt and a beautiful red flower in their braided hair. Their attire was unique and meaningful reflecting the care and creativity they had put into planning it for months.

Photo taken by: Sofia Durán

The performance celebrates the women who carried on the tradition of flower gathering. Their journey is portrayed from ascending the volcano to collecting the vibrant flowers, which were then brought down to the city, often to be sold in markets. As they traveled from El Boquerón, some of the flowers would fall along the way, leaving behind a fragrant trail of colors. The seniors paid tribute to these ladies by enduring customs that remain part of El Salvador’s cultural heritage, dancing gracefully with small baskets of flowers.

Around school, the most popular response to why only seniors perform the folkloric dance highlights something special: at the end of the day, it is one of those unique and joyful moments that students anticipate for years. Just as events such as El Rosario Viviente are cherished traditions for high school juniors and seniors, and the Christmas shows are treasured highlights of primary school, all of these experiences mark unforgettable stages in a student’s journey at La Floresta, whether it is your turn in the spotlight, or you are the one applauding these are the little details that give the school its unmistakable vivid spirit.

Photo taken by: Sofia Durán

The Senior Dance is more than choreography; it is a display of national pride. Year after year, seniors manage to balance academics, leadership, and tradition, proving that civic week is not just another event, but a living celebration of our nation and identity. As senior Sofia Huguet shared: “Between rehearsals and school, it was hard to get organized, but when I saw the complete dance, I realized it was worth putting in so much effort.”

It is truly moving to see how they showcased both their patriotism and their dedication. While their parents were filled with joy or happy tears, there is no doubt that our seniors had the whole school on its feet applauding the beautiful performance. For six minutes, they owned the stage, but the truth is this whole year is for them to make it their own; whether they are dancing to the beat of “Adentro Cojutepeque”, excelling academically or guiding their Casas, we applaud them for still finding the time and energy to make this past Civic Week truly unforgettable.