On Saturday, March 25, dozens of our students represented Breakthrough at the 59th Annual Swallows Day Parade. Hosted by the San Juan Capistrano Fiesta Association, the Swallows Day Parade is one of the nation’s largest non-motorized parades. The parade celebrates the return of the swallows on St. Joseph’s Day, which is on March 19. The Swallows Day Parade has been a beloved tradition in San Juan for the past 6 decades. We are grateful for the parade’s sponsor, St. Margaret’s Episcopal School, for the support in getting Breakthrough prepared leading up to the parade.

By 11am on parade day, there were crowds lining the sidewalks of downtown San Juan who were eagerly waiting to see the various bands, equestrians, walking groups, and horse-drawn floats. Once the bells rang and the parade went underway, the energy began radiating throughout our group of students. Filled with excitement, our students started chanting and cheering to show off their Breakthrough pride. Freshman Angela Mendoza-Ortega stated, “As my first time walking with Breakthrough, I felt empowered because even though we were a small group, our voices united and we had a fun time together.” We were fortunate to have such an amazing group of bright students represent the Breakthrough family, and we are excited to represent again next year!