Students at Victoria Independent School Districtโs Early Childhood Center at F.W. Gross recently participated in a Christmas card exchange with a partner school in Melilla, Spain, as part of a cultural learning project led by bilingual teacher Lorena Iniesta. The exchange allowed students to share artwork and holiday messages while learning about another country, language, and culture, and was later featured in Melilla Hoy, a regional newspaper in Spain.
The Early Childhood Center at F.W. Gross serves Victoria ISDโs youngest learners, providing early education opportunities for eligible Pre-K students. The campus focuses on building a strong foundation in language development, social skills, and early literacy through engaging, developmentally appropriate learning experiences that support the diverse needs of young children and families.
Through the exchange, ECC students connected with children in Melilla in a meaningful and age-appropriate way, gaining early exposure to global awareness, creativity, and cultural understanding.
โThis experience showed our students that learning does not stop at the classroom door,โ said Sharla Williams, principal of the ECC at F.W. Gross. โWhen students see their work shared beyond their classroom, it builds confidence, curiosity, and pride. Opportunities like this help our children understand that their voices and creativity matter.โ
Iniesta, who has personal ties to Spain, coordinated the exchange and shared the project with her former community in Melilla. During a recent visit to Spain, she obtained a copy of the newspaper featuring the ECC students and brought it back to share with staff, students, and families. The newspaper is currently available for viewing in the ECC front office.
The project reflects Victoria ISDโs commitment to providing enriching educational experiences that promote cultural understanding, language development, and global awareness, even at the earliest grade levels.
Victoria ISD celebrates the creativity, dedication, and passion of educators like Lorena Iniesta, whose innovative teaching approaches help students connect their learning to the world beyond their community.