On December 21st students and staff of the Carlos Rosario School presented two holiday shows. After a warm welcome from the show’s coordinators, Assistant Principal, Dr. Jorge Delgado, and Creative Arts Coordinator, Tara Villanueva, Evening Coordinator, Sharon Pan led students singing Deck the Halls. Then classes of ESL students performed traditional holiday songs against a backdrop of lyrics displayed so audience members could sing along. A group of Spanish GED students, led by teacher Elda Hernandez, sang seasonal Spanish classics.
The musical numbers were accompanied by the school band including piano, guitars, flute, and percussion. A rousing lip sync rendition of a familiar holiday pop song performed by school staff members had everyone humming along.
The show concluded with a merengue dance number performed by students in the extracurricular Intermediate Latin Dance class, led by their teacher Janett Arandia.
Published: December 19th, 2011
Carlos Rosario School was honored to welcome eight representatives from the national Office of Vocational and Adult Education (OVAE), a division of the United States Department of Education, on Thursday, December 15th. These education professionals travel around the country visiting exemplary programs to learn about what is working in the classroom.
After a welcome presentation outlining the school’s unique holistic model, the distinguished experts divided into teams and observed Carlos Rosario students and teachers in action. The visitors sat in on a nurse aide training course, as well as GED, computer literacy, and both beginning and upper level ESL classes.
The OVAE representatives had great things to say about the dedication and talent of Carlos Rosario teachers and the level of engagement of Carlos Rosario students.
“The level of energy of your teachers was impressive… The teacher did a great job of pulling students out of their comfort zone and engaging them.”
“For the past five years it’s part of my job to visit these types of classes all over the country. I have never seen instruction as well developed and students as engaged. I was blown away.”
It’s always exciting to share with national experts in the field how Carlos Rosario is a unique model changing individuals, families and communities.
Published: November 30th, 2011
At age 23 Maxima Krahling, a native of El Salvador, moved to the United States in search of greater opportunities. Having only finished the 2nd grade in El Salvador, Maxima started taking English classes at Carlos Rosario School in 2001. In 2010, after completing ESL level 6, she enrolled in Plazas Communitarias and GED in Spanish.
Plazas Communitarias (plazas), a U.S.-based program sponsored by the Mexican Consulate, allows immigrants nationwide to earn elementary and middle school certificates while also improving English language skills. There are currently 390 Plazas programs in the nation. Carlos Rosario’s program, which has granted about 53 diplomas since its beginning, is according to Anibal Gomez, Mexican General Consul, the best functioning Plazas program.
On Thursday, November 10th Director General of Adult Education of Mexico, Juan de Dios Castro, invited various Latin American dignitaries to learn more about the Plazas program showcasing Carlos Rosario as an exemplary program model.
Thursday’s meeting included a visit to the GED classrooms where many students like Maxima expressed their gratitude for the program and shared their dreams for a better future. Maxima herself dreams of one day leaving her job as a cleaner and becoming a nurse.
After the GED class visit Mr. Castro gave a brief presentation demonstrating the success of the Plazas program and inviting other consuls to consider implementing the program. Concluding the presentation, Mr. Castro reminded the visitors that with more nations signing onto the Plazas Communitarias program, more students would be reached. The meeting ended with dignitaries from the consulates of Honduras and Ecuador committing to establish Plazas programs. Thanks to this commitment and to the hard work and dedication of those who make Plazas Communitarias happen here at Carlos Rosario, more students like Maxima, who after completing her elementary school studies is now working hard to earn a middle school certificate, will be able to pursue their dreams.
