No More Tests, Alianza Lets Kids Be Kids

With multiple bounce houses, a climbing wall, face painting and 900 cheerful students, appeared more like a fairground than school on Monday morning.

From 9 a.m. to noon on April 30, the school celebrated its fourteenth annual Día del Niño or Children’s Day. Adapted from the traditional Mexican holiday, the day honors children through a variety of fun activities. The campus grounds host everything from organic strawberry tasting exhibits to unofficial soccer tournaments.

“It’s something they totally look forward to,” said Miriam Ban, a science teacher who set up a booth with fungus and a reptile exhibition.

The event is planned by a six-teacher committee for almost four months every year, said teacher and one of the organizers, Ana Bocanegra. This year’s event fell after two straight weeks of standardized testing.

Playing soccer with her face freshly painting, Jenny Medina, 13, said she was glad to get a break from the classroom.

“Today gives kids a chance to be kids,” she said.