Every year, our community comes together to honor one of Panama’s most meaningful traditions: the celebration of the Mes de la Patria. At the Metropolitan School of Panama, this celebration is not only cultural but deeply educational. It represents who we are as a school that values heritage, student engagement, and experiential learning.
As is tradition, we opened our celebrations on October 27 with our Flag Planting Ceremony. This meaningful community event brought together students, staff, families, special guests, and this year, the marching band from Colegio Moisés Castillo Ocaña. With the presence of our Parent Council and the entire MET community, this ceremony set the tone for what would become an unforgettable week of cultural pride and authentic learning.
From November 24 to 27, we celebrated our Panamanian Cultural Week, four days filled with experiences, performances, workshops, and exhibitions designed to help students explore Panama’s diversity, traditions, and identity. We opened the week with a special Opening Ceremony, followed by an immersive schedule of activities led by experts, artists, community members, teachers, and students.
Throughout the week, students enjoyed performances by the folkloric group Alma Mía, dance workshops led by Emberá Dances, and hands-on activities that connected them with Indigenous heritage, Afro-Panamanian culture, and traditional crafts. One of this year’s most significant initiatives was the Junta de Embarre project, completed with the support of students, teachers, and parent volunteers. This project was brought to life for the first time at our campus in Green Valley and quickly became one of the most memorable learning experiences of the week.
Students also took part in workshops on Guna cosmovision through the Vela Mola, traditional tamborera, Congo necklace crafting, Mola-making, folkloric dance, and Panamanian popular dances. Our community learned from Indigenous presenters, local artisans, and cultural experts who generously shared their knowledge.
Elementary students showcased their work through the exhibition “Trails of Our Panama”, which highlighted this year’s school-wide theme and celebrated the country’s cultural landscapes through student inquiry. We also hosted workshops for parents and staff, including a Chaquiras workshop and sessions on Afro-descendant culture and the role of Women in History, a new and meaningful addition to the program.
As always, our Upper Elementary Folkloric Gala and Secondary Folkloric Gala were among the most anticipated moments of the week. These performances featured students from Grades 3 to 5, as well as our traditional Secondary Gala, where students performed alongside their families in a celebration that filled our campus with music, pride, and tradition.
We closed the week with our Panamanian Cultural Week Closing Ceremony, an uplifting celebration that wrapped up everything our students had explored and honored throughout the week. It was a powerful way to conclude both the Cultural Week and the broader celebrations of the Mes de la Patria.
At the Metropolitan School of Panama, our Panamanian Cultural Week continues to grow each year, offering students meaningful, hands-on experiences that bring learning to life and connect them deeply with the rich cultural identity of Panama. It is one of the many ways we celebrate who we are together.
Stay connected We will be sharing highlights and the official video of our Panamanian Cultural Week on our social media channels. Visit our platforms to experience the pride, joy, and learning that filled our campus.
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