Carinos Charter School

An Exciting Curriculum Focus

The curriculum will include courses in: Agriculture & Animal Husbandry  as well as Northern New Mexico Arts so as to connect our current generation with a love, appreciation and pride for the work of their forefathers who subsisted in Northern New Mexico for generations, developing this tradition and culture.

Learning in Two Languages

By delivering instruction in two languages, students will gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for the local and immigrant cultures that make up the Española Valley.

Our Two Way Immersion program is based upon research that shows that students are capable of learning in more then one language and actually excel under these conditions.  The program is called “two-way” because some students are learning English for the first time.  It is called “immersion” because during each half of the day, students are completely immersed in their second language.  In other words, during Spanish time, all teaching and learning happens in Spanish, and during English time, we study only English.

For students who enter school speaking only Spanish, two-way immersion programs have been shown to be the most effective way to promote academic success in English.  For students who are Native English Speakers, the program develops true bilingualism and biliteracy skills by studying the complete curriculum.     The two-way immersion model, is gaining popularity across our country.

Daily Schedule

Our program is a 50/50 two-way model.  This means that beginning in kindergarten, students are instructed for half a day in English and for half a day in Spanish.  Strict separation of the languages is observed, so that students are obliged to learn to understand and speak both of the languages.    There is no translation back and forth from one language to the other.  Beginning in kindergarten, students are taught to read and write in both languages.

Program History

The Cariños Charter was prepared by a commitment group of community members who include parents, teachers, educational administrators and experts in the field of Two-Way Immersion Education.  This committed group is presently represented by a Governance Board that include:

Fr. Terrence Brennan- President

Dr. Juanita Cata- Vice President

Quentin Wilson-  Secretary

Loretto Garcia- Member

Program Goals

By providing an emphasis on academic concepts in a dual language model, coupled with high expectations of students, Cariños will provide the basis for the development of excellence and pave the way for the student’s eventual entry into college.

Cariños Students will:

·         become bilingual and bi-literate in Spanish and English

·         develop a strong sense of cultural identity and  community consciousness via coursework, school activities, field trips and community involvement that will emphasize heritage and history relevant to the region, state and community.

·         Develop mutual respect toward their fellow human beings.

·         Achieve high academic success.

Community Involvement

Community members will be involved in all levels of school activities, including governance, advisement, curricular design, auxiliary teaching and extra curricular activities.  The strengths, experience, traditions, and history of the community will be integral part of the school environment.