MONROE — Nearly 4,700, or 12 percent, of students in Union County Public Schools are Hispanic. That makes them part of the third-largest ethnic group in the school system.

Hispanic Heritage Month began Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15. Many schools have already celebrated; others have ongoing activities and a few are putting final touches on upcoming events.

Benton Heights Elementary

A Latin dance festival will be held Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Benton Heights. Principal Mike Harvey, along with students and staff, will perform dances from Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Porter Ridge High School teacher Peter Conrad will sing songs from various Hispanic countries. The festival is free and open to the public.

Rock Rest Elementary

Morning broadcasts include reading a short biography of a famous Hispanic person. Every Friday, students or teachers present a book review on a book written by a Hispanic author. Students are also studying Hispanic countries as they relate to their curriculum. Each grade level will participate in a presentation on Oct. 14 with songs, poems and stories read in Spanish. A dance troupe will join them. The program will be held at 12:30 p.m.

Walter Bickett Elementary

A schoolwide assembly, complete with Hispanic dances and songs, was held on Friday. The performance followed a month of studying the Hispanic culture.

Monroe Middle and High

The schools will host a free Latin concert Saturday at Monroe High. Musicians include the Los Morales Group, ballad singer Jose Maria and Venezuelan oboist Javier Perez. The concert will begin at 5 p.m. in the auditorium and is open to the public.

Forest Hills High

Students enrolled in Spanish classes led a school assembly on Sept. 18 that included dances and portrayals of important Hispanic figures.

How did your school celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Any upcoming events? Contact education reporter Tiffany Lane with information at 704-261-2229.