Immaculata graduates return to school as employees in Aftercare Program

HENDERSONVILLE - They are three of a kind.

A trio of Immaculata Catholic School graduates has returned to campus as employees, nurturing students in the Aftercare Program.

“I came back because I felt like I had to give back,” said Johanna Montano, a student at Blue Ridge Community College.

“It doesn’t ever feel like work here,” she said of her duties that include everything from helping with youngsters’ homework to supervising playtime to cleaning up spills.

Montano, Pedro Convento and Arlin Carachure work each weekday from 3-6 p.m., mostly with elementary students waiting to be picked up by working parents.

“I love that our Aftercare team is made of alumni from Immaculata,” said Principal Margaret Beale. “It is great to see them give back to the school, and the students really look up to them.”

“I had role models here at Immaculata,” said Convento who is now one himself and is also a Blue Ridge Community College student. “The kids brighten my day. I hope I make Aftercare better for them.”

Carachure is graduating from A-B Tech and planning to transfer to a four-year university.

“I want to specialize in childhood psychology,” she said, while offering reassurance and first aid to a young girl who scraped her ankle on the playground. “I have a lot of fond memories here. It’s such a feeling of gratitude — an amazing feeling — to be here again."

Beale added, “I hope to see more alumni come back to Immaculata and remain a close part of our school community; ICS Stars Shine Bright.”

Jay Siltzer, who retired from WLOS after working there for 24 years as a news anchor and meteorologist, is the communications director at Immaculata Catholic School in Hendersonville.