From left, Laiya Pavlov, Carolina Casimiro-Nunez and Sierra Fonte, with CCHS Global Competence Certificate Program Advisor Rachel Washa. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)
CONCORD — Concord-Carlisle High School is pleased to share that four students have earned the school’s Global Competence Certificate.
Seniors Laiya Pavlov, Sierra Fonte, Luke Crounse and Carolina Casimiro-Nunez received the recognition after completing the program’s academic, service and presentation requirements.
Through the Global Competence Certificate process, students build global awareness, deepen their appreciation for other cultures and perspectives and identify their roles as global citizens.
To earn the certificate, students must be in good academic standing, model CCHS core values, complete three years of world language study or demonstrate language proficiency and complete at least 20 hours of service or direct engagement with a culture different from their own. Students also complete a written reflection and deliver a presentation to the CCHS community.
This year’s recipients completed a range of experiences locally, nationally and even internationally.
Laiya spent her junior year abroad in Malaysia through the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study Program and also spent time in Uruguay through Becket-Chimney Corners YMCA’s International Camper Exchange Program. Her experiences included living with host families, attending school in Malaysia, volunteering with youth, teaching English and participating in cultural exchange opportunities.
Sierra volunteered at Waltham Family School, an English language program that supports immigrant families and prepares children for kindergarten or pre-K while offering English language instruction to parents. Her work included helping with classroom preparation, donations, children’s activities and bilingual programming.
Luke volunteered at Club Plein air de Caraquet, a nonprofit outdoor recreation center in Caraquet, New Brunswick, in Canada, where he helped maintain trails while using French in the work environment. He also completed service work preparing materials for a volunteer English school serving immigrant families in New Jersey.
Carolina volunteered with English language learners, helping adults from a variety of linguistic and cultural backgrounds build English skills. In her reflection, she wrote about how the experience deepened her interest in education and gave her a stronger understanding of the challenges immigrant families face.
“These students took the goals of the Global Competence Certificate seriously and pursued experiences that asked them to listen, learn, serve and reflect,” said Rachel Washa, CCHS Global Competence Certificate Program Advisor. “Their projects demonstrate a willingness to step outside of what is familiar. Each student came away with a deeper understanding of other cultures and of themselves.”
Each student presented their experience to the CCHS community, sharing what they learned and how the work may influence their future studies, service and career goals.
“The experiences that these students pursued — from living abroad to volunteering with immigrant families and working in another language — are exactly the kind that change how a person sees the world,” said Co-Principal Katie Stahl. “We’re extremely proud of what they accomplished and they are very deserving of this recognition.”
“The Global Competence Certificate represents the kind of learning that stays with students well beyond high school,” Co-Principal Brian Miller said. “Laiya, Sierra, Luke and Carolina each demonstrated that global learning is not limited to travel. There are many ways it can surface, including through service, language, relationships and a willingness to understand other people’s experiences.”
The program, which had lower participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, has continued to grow again as more students become aware of the opportunity.
“We are proud of these students for seeking out experiences that expanded their perspectives and connected them with communities beyond their own,” said Superintendent Dr. Laurie Hunter said. “Their work is representative of the values we hope to see in all of our students: curiosity, respect, responsibility and care for others.”
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Luke Crounse, right, who earned the Global Competence Certificate, during one of his service projects. (Photo Courtesy Concord-Carlisle Regional School District)