12/14/2026

Morning Announcements

Morning Meeting Agenda

Mon · Social Studies Tue · Literacy Wed · Science Thu · Math Fri · ROAR + Houses
Social Studies of the Day

Nine nights of knocking on doors

This Wednesday, Las Posadas begins — nine nights of processions across Mexico and Latin America. The whole tradition is built around one question: will you let us in?

Las Posadas (lahs poh-SAH-dahs) means “the inns.” For nine nights, families walk together holding candles and singing. They knock on a door and ask to come in — and then everyone celebrates together!

People walking with lit candles during a Las Posadas celebration

Real families celebrating Las Posadas with candles!

Here is what happens each night:

1. Walk and sing 2. Knock and ask 3. Celebrate!

Nine nights of walking, singing, and celebrating!

Let’s talk
  • Look at the photo. What are the people holding? How do you think it feels to walk together like that?
  • Las Posadas is about letting people come inside. How do you make someone feel welcome?
  • Have you ever been to a party with a piñata? What was it like?
Reveal a fun factHide the fun fact
The people outside sing asking to come in, and the people inside sing back saying “no room!” They go back and forth — until finally the door swings open and everybody cheers!
Try it

Knock and welcome! Half the class knocks on a desk three times. The other half says loud and warm: “¡Bienvenidos!” (bee-en-veh-NEE-dohs) — that means “Welcome!” Now switch!

Las Posadas runs December 16–24 — nine consecutive nights, one for each month of waiting in the story it reenacts.

The word posada means “inn” or “lodging.” Each night, a procession walks to a different home, singing a request for shelter. The hosts sing back refusing — until the final verse, when the door opens.

People walking with lit candles during a Las Posadas celebration

A Las Posadas procession — candles carried door to door.

How one night of Las Posadas works Procession Neighbors walk with candles The song Outside asks in, inside refuses The welcome The door opens and all enter The party Food, piñata, community Nine nights, nine different homes hosting

A tradition where every family takes a turn as host.

Let’s talk
  • Why would a tradition make people act out being turned away before being let in? What does rehearsing that teach?
  • A different family hosts each of the nine nights. What does that do to a neighborhood?
  • The traditional piñata is a seven-pointed star that participants strike while blindfolded. What might that be a metaphor for?
Reveal the answersHide the answers
Acting out the refusal builds empathy — you feel what it’s like to be turned away before you feel the relief of being welcomed. Rotating hosts means every family both gives and receives hospitality, so no one is only ever the helper or only ever the helped. And the traditional star piñata carries a symbolic meaning: striking it blindfolded represents overcoming temptation through faith rather than sight, with the treats inside as the reward. Today many families simply enjoy it as a game.
Try it

Hospitality audit! With a partner: name one specific thing our school does that makes a new student feel welcome — and one thing we could do better. Be concrete enough that someone could actually act on it.

Additional Notes/Activities

If additional activities are needed for the Morning Meeting, they will be added here.