SHARE:  

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Standing With Friends and Colleagues From Puerto Rico

In light of Hurricane Fiona which hit Puerto Rico this week, we would like to express our solidarity with the Puerto Rican community in our Carlos Rosario School family. In the coming days and weeks as the scale of the destruction becomes clearer, we stand with our faculty, staff, students, and their loved ones affected by this disaster.

News and Updates

A Royal Connection

Did you know that the newly crowned King Charles III visited the Carlos Rosario School in 2015? He was treated to a tour of our Harvard Street campus, music from a Carlos Rosario School alum’s mariachi band, a taste of food prepared by Culinary Arts students, and he visited with students and staff. 


He expressed interest in how we welcome and support immigrants and the District’s adult learner communities to realize their dreams. You can enjoy photos from the visit in the album available here.


Our School was also featured in a piece about the 2015 visit by ABC7 News. You can click here to watch the video!

Hispanic Bar Association of Washington, DC Visits Carlos Rosario School

The Carlos Rosario School welcomed the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Bar Association of Washington, DC and its chair Maritza Perez to the Sonia Gutierrez Campus on September 13. The members conducted their monthly meeting and enjoyed dinner prepared by our Culinary Arts students. Our CEO, Allison Kokkoros, Sonia Gutierrez Principal, Elani Lawrence, and Vice-Principal Aracelly Watts welcomed the visitors and offered them a tour of the campus.


This visit was aimed at fostering a new partnership with this important organization with the goal of offering support for student needs. The organization will also be hosting a fundraiser with their members to benefit the school and student scholarships. We are truly honored and grateful for their visit!

Maestro

Not sure how to request Maestro support in this time of transition? You can submit your Maestro support requests AND all other technology tools requests (e.g. Schoology, Achieve, Nearpod, etc.) easily through the following process:


  1. Any and all technology requests should be submitted to crsupport@carlosrosario.org
  2. In the subject of the email, please name the program you need support with (e.g. Achieve: xyz, Schoology: xyz, Nearpod: xyz)
  3. The helpdesk team will then complete your request or route it to the appropriate people. 



More guidance will follow soon regarding the Maestro transition plan. The School is actively working to hire and restaff this team so we appreciate your patience during this transition.

DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging) Update

Since their introduction at our August 26 All-Staff Convening, the team from IDEAS Generation is excited to partner with our School to support DEIB work this year.


Background on IDEAS Generation

As background on our partnership, IDEAS Generation was selected through a request for proposals made public in Spring 2021. An internal selection committee (composed of members of our DEIB Working Group and DEIB Advocacy Committee) engaged in a process to review proposals and interview consultant candidates. Many thanks to Paula Alcazar, Karen Clay, Keith Juarez, Ana Sands for their thoughtful commitment to this process! Learn more about the team at IDEAS Generation.


DEIB Work in 2022-2023

Facilitators from IDEAS Generation (IG) will provide support to our School in the following areas:

  • “Container-Building Sessions”: These are DEIB-related trainings for all Carlos Rosario School employees. We are currently in the process of scheduling the first two sessions for October and November.  
  • Office Hours: Our partners at IG will host a series of office hours - available to all employees at Carlos Rosario School - to answer questions and discuss DEIB topics. 
  • DEIB Strategy: IG will collaborate with the DEIB Advocacy Committee to develop a long-term plan, with metrics of success, for our DEIB work
  • Executive Coaching: Senior leaders will receive one-on-one and group coaching to expand their capacity for leading in a multicultural environment.
  • Board Support: Our Board of Trustees will work with IG to expand their capacity to provide strong governance through centering DEIB.


Through this work, we hope to build relationships, stretch our thinking, and support a School community where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Stay tuned for the dates and times for your first training session, and reach out with any questions!

Reminders

CEO Office Hours

Please remember that Allison Kokkoros, CEO, is holding in-person or via Zoom office hours for private 20-minute chats with employees. These chats are opportunities to informally talk about anything that’s on your mind and for her to hear directly from you.


Upcoming Office Hours:

  • 09/27 12:30 – 1:30 pm via Zoom or in person at Sonia Gutierrez Campus
  • 10/03 11:30 – 12:30 pm via Zoom or in person at Harvard Street Campus
  • 10/11 13:30 – 14:30 pm via Zoom or in person at Sonia Gutierrez Campus   


Contact Karla Vasconez, Executive Assistant at kvasconez@carlosrosario.org to reserve your spot!

FBI Fingerprints Report

If you already received your report from the FBI fingerprinting submission, please forward a copy to ROSARIOHR@carlosrosario.org or bring a copy to the HR department by Friday, September 30, 2022. Reach out to ROSARIOHR@carlosrosario.org if you have questions or concerns.

Board of Trustees Meeting on September 23rd

The Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School Board of Trustees will hold its Annual meeting on Friday, September 23rd, in-person at the Harvard Street Campus from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. All are welcome to attend the open session of the meeting virtually. Advance registration is required to attend. A formal Notice of Board Meeting (including the meeting agenda) will be posted on the School’s Public Information webpage at least two (2) business days before the meeting. 


Anyone who wants to attend the meeting can sign up using this Zoom Webinar Registration link.


For more details about the board meeting please click here.

Health & Safety Updates

Attention Carlos Rosario School Family!

Masks are NOT optional. Please wear a well-fitting mask when maintaining 6 ft distance is not possible.

Attention: Fears of a Polio Resurgence in the US

Polio, or poliomyelitis, is a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the poliovirus. The virus spreads from person to person and can infect a person's spinal cord, causing paralysis (can’t move parts of the body). CDC urges everyone who is not fully vaccinated to complete the polio vaccination series as soon as possible.


Adults who have not received all recommended doses of polio vaccination might not be sufficiently protected against polio thus need to be vaccinated as well. Adults who completed their polio vaccination but who are at increased risk of coming in contact with poliovirus may receive one lifetime dose. Parents and grandparents, make sure children get all recommended doses of polio vaccination.

Flu Shot & New COVID Booster Available at All COVID Centers

DC Health is encouraging DC residents to receive their annual flu shot and the new bivalent COVID-19 booster – also known as the Omicron booster – at the same time. These vaccines will be available at pharmacies and clinics throughout the District of Columbia next week.


The annual flu shot is recommended for anyone six months and older. Learn more HERE.

Arts Integration and Culture

September is Hispanic Heritage Month- Join the online celebration October 14th, 2:30pm!

September is Hispanic Heritage Month- Join the online celebration October 14th, 2:30pm!


Carlos Rosario’s online Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration will take place virtually on Friday, October 14th at 2:30 pm. We invite you to join the Zoom watch party (link here) as we celebrate Hispanic & Latino heritage, culture, and pride in our school community. If you’re not able to attend the watch party, the celebration video will also be available on our CR YouTube page beginning on 10/14. CR teachers are also encouraged to watch the video with their students during their regular class time.

 

Call for videos: CR students, faculty, staff, and community members are invited to contribute short videos to be included in the celebration! Click here for details. Deadline: October 5. 

 

Questions? Tim Gibbon, Arts Integration & Culture Program Manager: tgibbon@carlosrosario.org.

Around our School and Community

Food Service Operations Students in Action

The Culinary Arts students are ready for this School Year 22-23! Recently, our morning Food Service Operations class had a Pre-Test Menu where they practiced their skills on production planning, preparation, recipe scaling, and station management. Students presented their dishes to instructors Chef Ruiz and Chef Kellogg, and received feedback on how to improve upon their skills in the kitchen. 

Hispanic Heritage Month - Art with a Mission

Carlos Rosario School Board Member, Hector J. Torres, will have 61 pieces of his artwork displayed at the Ven Embassy Row Gallery in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. Last week, a reception was held for the opening of the exhibit. The gallery is open to the public and the works will be on display until October 14.


A portion of the proceeds from any sale of the artwork will be donated to the school’s Achieving the Dream Scholarship Fund. Thank you Hector for your leadership on our Board, and generous support of the Carlos Rosario School!

Take me out to the Ballgame

Washington Nationals treated Carlos Rosario School students and staff to a Nationals Game this past Saturday. They enjoyed a win by the Nats against the Miami Marlins and had a great time!

Washington, D.C. Car Seat Inspection Event

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and partners will host a national event in Washington, D.C. on Seat Check Saturday (September 24) from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. The event will take place at our Harvard Street Campus.


DDOT and their partners will be offering free car seats to parents in need of one, while supplies last. Children must be present to receive the seat. If you have expecting parents, please forward their name and expecting date, they must be at least 8 months old to receive the infant car seat.