On Wednesday, February 14, Granada Hills Charter (GHC) held a salsa competition among its faculty at both the TK-8 campus and high school campuses. Teachers, staff, administration, and culinary arts students were all given the chance to participate in the competition by either entering a salsa in the competition or voting for their favorite throughout the day. 

The competition was held in Highlander Hall before school, during nutrition, lunch, and after school. There were a total of nine salsas made at the TK-8 campus and 21 at the high school campus. 

Local Los Toros Mexican Restaurant owner, Nick Montano, was also invited as a special guest judge. He donated unsalted chips and gift cards to support the competition. 

Upon arrival, each participant was given chips and tickets. There were tables divided into different categories of salsa based on spice level, including mild, medium, hot, and en fuego. Behind each cup of salsa was a Valentine-themed box where voters placed their tickets to vote for their favorite salsa in each category. Whoever had the most tickets in their box was named the winner.

Administration announced the winners on February 16 with a total of four receiving gift cards to either Starbucks, Menchies, or Los Toros. Office assistant Sandra Gibson won the mild category, social studies teacher Stacy Netzley won the medium category, world languages teacher Adriana Benvenuto won the hot category, and office assistant Isabel Casas won the en fuego category. The winner from the TK-8 campus was kindergarten teacher Alison Trenk.

“I was very excited because I always knew I had really good mild salsa,” science teacher and competitor Brenda LaFlamme said. “I now say it’s an award-winning salsa. It was also really nice seeing everyone in Highlander Hall trying the different types of salsa.”

Students from the advanced culinary class also participated by both entering their salsas into the competition as well as helping out with the event. Each student was given a time slot during break times throughout the school day where they performed tasks, such as setting up Highlander Hall, refilling salsa cups, placing chips on voters’ plates, and handing out milk if needed. 

“I entered the competition because I wanted to bring my grandpa’s recipe to school so that everyone could try it,” senior Benjamin Niebla said.

Administration has been working to create more events like this salsa competition to build relationships among teachers, staff, and administration. With this in mind, social events will help form a community among the faculty by allowing them to get to know their colleagues outside of educational purposes. 

“We’re doing this because when we connected with the staff last year and this year, there was a request to create more experiences to gather, have fun together, and get to know each other as people and not just during staff meetings where there is an accountant agenda,” Chief Academic Officer Jenny DaCosta said.

With the success of the salsa competition, teachers look forward to more events that will support the faculty community in the school. The administration aims to continue friendly competitions and is open to any suggestions for future events.