Former Senator and current St. Croix Administrator Samuel Sanes reads to students at Alfredo Andrews Elementary School during the 2019 Latino Men Read Aloud activity on September 26 in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month.

A highly anticipated activity in celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15-October 15, is Latino Men Read Aloud hosted by Alfredo Andrews Elementary School’s English as a Second Language (ESL) department that invites prominent local Latino men to read to students and encourage them to excel.

On September 26, six successful Latino men from the community visited the Estate Glenn school, which has the largest Hispanic student population on St. Croix, to read to students in Kindergarten through third grade. According to Jose Perez, district ESL coordinator who helps organize the annual event, “the objective was to promote the importance of reading and the acquisition of the English language while celebrating the achievements of Latino men on St. Croix.”

“Celebrating our Hispanic heritage not only entails learning about music, dance or food,” Perez pointed out. “It is also a celebration of the achievements and contributions of Hispanics to our society. The volunteers of the Latino Men Read Aloud activity serve as role models to the younger generation by demonstrating that it is cool to read.”  

Students could be seen intently listening as readers impersonated characters in the stories. The guests also commended students for their active listening and good behavior. “I never thought this would be so much fun,” said Bully Navarro, founder of the Love Croix brand and owner of Love Croix Eatz. Other participating readers included Sammuel Sanes, St. Croix administrator; Paul Martinez, owner, Air R US; Joseph Olmeda, president, VIPR Committee; Carlos “Reny” Martinez, owner, Karibbean Kuts; and Wilfredo Guzman, Department of Finance.

“Our successful Latino men are not only famous athletes, movie stars, singers or politicians,” Perez added. “They are also local, hard-working citizens and entrepreneurs who hold a variety of jobs and careers.”

 ESL is an instructional program for students whose dominant language is not English. The program emphasizes increasing English language proficiency of eligible students to attain academic standards and success in the classroom.

Along with Perez, ESL teachers Maria Velazquez, Brenda Resto and Elisaura Ramirez helped organize the activity. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated every year from September 15 through October 15 with activities organized in schools to recognize the contributions of Hispanics in the community.

CAHS Students creating floor plans in the Architectural Drafting class

October is National Careers in Construction Month and with shortages of skilled tradesmen in the territory, Nancy Callwood, VIDE director of the State Office of Career & Technical Education and Adult Education, said it is important to highlight and promote careers in skilled trade industries, such as construction.

This month, students across the territory are encouraged to reconsider a traditional path to success. “We need to stop promoting college as the only worthy path to success and treat skilled trades with the dignity they deserve,” Callwood said.   

CTE Department Chair, Ms. Straun, looks through floor plans designed by CAHS students in her Architectural Drafting Class

The construction boom taking place in the U.S. Virgin Islands following the historic destruction created by Hurricanes Irma and Maria has exposed the need for a skilled workforce with construction experience, Callwood further pointed out. With an influx of U.S.-based construction companies taking the lion’s share of contracts to rebuild homes and businesses, Callwood says, “We want our students to strive to be construction managers and licensed entrepreneurs.”

However, Career and Technical Education course offerings differ across the two districts. The St. Thomas-St. John District allows students to earn industry certifications and experience in carpentry, plumbing, electricity, and architectural drafting, while the St. Croix District offers welding, electricity, carpentry, millwright, and HVAC certifications.

Callwood indicates the availability of certain courses relies heavily on the availability of teachers. Regardless of the course selection, students are required to take a preliminary National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) core class “before any construction tract in order to learn basic safety, communication skills and an introduction to construction drawings,” Callwood said.

Students work on connecting pipes for staged bathrooms in the Plumbing Class

“At the end of their construction path, many students have the opportunity to experience on-the-job training, where businesses in the community can add the hands-on training to what students learn in the classroom,” she added. Callwood noted the State Office of Career & Technical Education and Adult Education are working to expand opportunities for real-world experience through partnerships with local businesses and the Department of Education’s Maintenance Division. 

Students who are detail-oriented, creative, and possess a positive attitude are poised to succeed in this line of work, Callwood said. Those interested in learning a skilled trade should speak with their guidance counselor and must be in 9th grade to enter the program.