Carlos Rosario International Charter School: The future’s potential success

By Andilis Galvez

As the first charter awarded for adult education in the nation, Carlos Rosario International Charter School was also accredited with an award winning model for excellence. Since 1970, the staffs and others in the school provide students with educational training to mainstream in various courses. The founders of the school, Candy Hernandez, Alison Kokkoros and CEO, Sonia Gutierrez provide students with the necessary educational skills for success in life.

The diverse workforce prepares students for the real world. Students in the school are provided with programs to enhance in multiple areas. Candy Hernandez, chief operating officer said “the school is growing and expanding with the workforce developing programs” as a “new site will open under the same company in two years to enroll new students.” The opening of a new site and programs will allow students to develop more skills in learning. The inauguration of the school was a “memorable experience” and additionally with the development of technology the school is able to “simultaneously transmit educational videos” that enhance education, said Hernandez.

The programs of the school, such as Culinary Arts has, according to Zoila Hall, executive assistant of Alison Kokkoros, “progressed since it began and will be introduced in another location the school has to continuously serve students with a valuable education.” In addition, Hall believes that “the enrollment rate has increased over the years as there is a long waiting list of students.” Students from the Washington DC area have been trying to enroll at the school because it provides courses such as the English and other programs including Culinary Arts.  Furthermore, Ronald King Jr, office assistant at the school adds that “every year we get more students as there are wonderful people working in registration to make sure each one enrolls.” The future of the school is the students and “I would like to work as an ESL teacher because I want to be able to help students with their desired studies” says King. In addition, King also says “I have enjoyed twelve working years in the school because I have helped students such as the immigrants to enroll and learn English.” Both Hall and King believe that the school’s enrollment rate has increased over the years although the waiting list still persists.

Carlos Rosario International Charter School has always successfully in providing students with enhanced programs in learning. With a new location scheduled to open in two years, the school will continue the ESL, Culinary Arts and other programs for students.          

Unforgettable learning Experiences by students at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School

By Andilis Galvez

Thursday Oct 20, 2011 12:00pm EDT

            Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School has an English and Spanish program that provides students with the opportunity to learn and study the English and Spanish language. The program consists of classes given in the morning, afternoon, and evenings by a group of notable faculty members. The faculty, or teachers at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, ensures that each student understands the classes and can get additional help as needed.

            Maria Veliz, the office assistant at Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, has been working with students in supportive services at school for about five years to organize and provide programs for the benefit of all students. As an office assistant, Veliz has the opportunity to meet with the students “I feel great working at the school because I get to interact with people from different backgrounds each day.” She said. As Veliz works with students, she also organizes student government and assembly celebrations such as the Hispanic Heritage and Black History months.    

Students from different backgrounds have enrolled in the school to specifically study English. Learning English is important because it helps students to communicate and interact with other people. At Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School, the English program allows students to communicate with people effectively in English. For example, an English student at the school named Sonia Lopez says that she is “studying English to communicate with others and her son.” Lopez is determined to learn English because she has a son that does not like to speak Spanish at home and because she wants to understand others such as her co-workers.

As a working mother, Lopez states that “it is difficult and stressful to work full-time during the day and take night classes at the school but I enjoy studying English because every day I learn a new word in class.”

According to Lopez, the experience at the school has been “a positive one.” In addition, Lopez recalls that when she works full-time in the kitchen of the school during the day she is able to practice English by speaking with her co-workers. For instance, Lopez says “I work full-time in the school’s kitchen and practice English with the other workers to prepare for my evening classes.” Also, Lopez says “the English classes are helpful because I am learning a lot each day and I have good teachers that explain everything well.” With the help of the educators at the school, Lopez is able to see her progress as an English learner.

            Like Lopez, Jaziel Villegas is also studying English at Carlos Rosario. Unlike Lopez, Villegas takes classes in the morning. Villegas recently earned his General Equivalency Degree (GED) in Spanish. As a student in the school, Villegas says “there are eight levels of English classes in the school and after attaining the GED, I started taking an additional English class and got placed in the third level.” Each English level helps the student develop skills in reading and writing. Villegas also participates in other programs in the school and advises other students that “it is important to study, control nerves, and always be positive.” Villegas said that getting his GED took time and effort but that it was well worth it: “it was very difficult to attain a GED but it opens doors to employment and I aspire to be someone in the future.” The experience of Villegas has encouraged and showed other students that success is possible.

            In addition to Villegas, another student named Jeronimo Boror is studying English during the morning at the school to attain a GED because he works in the afternoon. Boror says “as an English student the third level is difficult when there are more than thirty students in class but I get a lot of help from my teachers.” Although the English classes have many students, Boror is glad to have made the third level and advises other students that “English is important” and people need to “study hard to achieve and learn English well.” Following Boror, Josue Lemus, also a student, takes English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to learn English and is in the sixth level at the school. Lemus feels fortunate to take classes at the school and participates in other programs. For example, Lemus is involved in the student government program and says “I participate in events such as the Hispanic Heritage celebration and Black history month in the auditorium of the school.                     

            The English and Spanish programs at the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School provide classes to help students learn and communicate in two languages. The teachers at the school prepare students effectively to succeed in the present and future by helping them with the necessary skills.

A place of Achievement and success

Carlos Rosario International Charter School: A place of achievement and success

By Andilis Galvez

Thursday Sep 15, 2011 12:00pm EDT

Carlos Rosario International Charter School in Washington D.C was the first charter school in the nation specifically for adult education and recognized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and schools. Since the year 1970, the Carlos Rosario School has been known as a model of excellence according to Candy Hernandez. The founders Alison Kokkoros, and CEO, Sonia Gutierrez provide exceptional courses for students to enhance their educational skills in learning. 

The purpose of the school is to provide students with an excellent education and give them access to services that will help them outside of the classroom. The mission statement of the school is to “provide education that prepares the diverse adult immigrant population of Washington, DC to become invested, productive citizens, and members of American society,” said Candy Hernandez. This goal and mission of the school is reinforced daily by faculty members to ensure that each student is actively learning is provided with the necessary skills to succeed in life. In recognition of hard work and determination, the school commemorated Sonia Gutierrez, CEO for forty years of excellent service. In the year 2002, the building at 1100 Harvard Street opened with a ground breaking celebration said Gigi Alvarado, administrative aid worker.

People from different countries and backgrounds have enrolled in the School to learn English, attain a general equivalency degree (G.E.D), and become professionals in the field of culinary arts. The school offers an array of classes with the purpose of teaching courses by a group of notable faculty. For example, the school has forty-two educators with advanced degrees. It offers educational training to fit students’ schedules. Classes are offered in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings.  

The school consistently offers supportive services to help students in need and each school year provides programs such as school wide workshops, immigration counseling, leadership training, and much more. Additionally, according to Hernandez, the school also ensures that students participate in life-long learning sessions with programs such as the reading, computer, and homework clubs. After working for more than ten years, programs such as counseling “covers student necessity,” said Hernandez.   

The school has a student government association program which consists of elected student leaders. The student selected to represent the student body carries a role of an active citizen that sets the priorities of other students by giving feedback in projects and addressing issues presented during the semester period.

 In addition to the student government association program, the school has tutors available during the evenings to help with those struggling in a course such as English. With the tutoring support students are able to study and learn more. As stated by Martha Pleshaw, the human resource manager, “the school is a positive and caring institution.” The student government association program according to Pleshaw has teachers that work with students to ensure a positive learning experience.      

The Carlos Rosario School as a whole commits to assist students academically and prepare them to become professionals in their desired field of study.