Incoming DBCR Students Prepare for Success

Incoming Students at DBCR Prepare for Success

(The school's colors are black and gold.)

DBCR’s motto, taken from St. Francis de Sales:  “Be who you are, and be it well.”

(Takoma Park, Md. – August 6) – School starts really early if you’re an incoming freshman or a transfer sophomore at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School and Corporate Work Study Program in Takoma Park. The school’s new students reported for their three-week orientation program, called Bridge for Success, on Monday, July 30.

As new students arrive for the first day of Bridge, they’re greeted by Fr. Mike Conway, president (left); Jennifer Castaneda, assistant principal for student life (2nd from left); Ana Chapa, director of Corporate Work Study (4th from right); and Elias Blanco, interim principal (3rd from right).

DBCR is welcoming 123 freshmen and 4 transferring sophomores this summer, with a majority of girls (69 of them, 58 boys).

The orientation program, absolutely required of all incoming students, teaches the newcomers what’s expected of a DBCR student academically and behaviorally while they learn effective habits to be successful in the classroom, the workplace, and life.

After an opening prayer, Fr. Mike Conway introduces the new students to St. John Bosco and the Salesians.

Students learn the importance of coming to school or work on time, how to use the Washington area’s metro system, how to dress professionally, how to greet people, how to answer the telephone, how to file, keyboarding and use of computers, DBCR’s basic rules of conduct, and much more.

In the library, teacher Sylvia Pope (not pictured) introduces students to use of computers.

For example, on August 6 they spent most of their day with Ray Green, an executive at Chick-Fil-A who’s contracted by the U.S. Department of Labor (one of DBCR’s corporate work sponsors for many years) to instruct students about workplace issues such as safety, hygiene, sexual harassment, responsible use of computers and phones, etc.

On behalf of the Department of Labor, Ray Green grabs student attention as he speaks about basic workplace issues.

Bridge for Success is coordinated by interim principal Elias Blanco, Corporate Work Study director Ana Chapa, and Raquel Rodriguez. Numerous other faculty, staff, alumni, and current students lead or assist with various aspects of the program.

English teacher Lupita Garza gets students up and moving, prepping them for a public speaking exercise.