GREENFIELD — In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Four Rivers Charter Public School invited Madison Curbelo, a Westfield native and semi-finalist on NBC’s “The Voice,” to perform for the students.

Curbelo, who performed a half English, half Spanish rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” before Four Rivers students last week, also spoke about her Puerto Rican heritage and career in music during a roughly 35-minute assembly outside the school. The 22-year-old singer and guitarist placed ninth during her run on the televised singing contest’s 25th season.

“I wanted to talk about being Latina, which is something really important to me,” Curbelo told the students. “No matter where you come from, no matter where your parents came from, where your grandparents came from, no matter who you are, what language you speak, you are able and capable of doing amazing things. … Some people didn’t like hearing the Spanish language in places that mostly spoke English. I know when I sang in Spanish, especially for ‘The Voice,’ I got some comments like, ‘Why is she singing in Spanish on an English network?’ To those comments, I just responded by singing in Spanish again in the next round, because it’s just so important to authentically be yourself.”

Students took turns asking Curbelo questions — some posed in Spanish and others in English — about her passion for music and her Puerto Rican upbringing.

National Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the achievements and contributions of Hispanic Americans in society. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period.

“We don’t teach from textbooks, we teach from engaging with each other and engaging with our community,” Head of School and Principal Jenni Manfredi said. “Events like this, our Hispanic heritage celebration, really help provide the space and the time for us to come together and to invite special members of our community to help us celebrate and learn from and with each other.”

Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at acammalleri@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.