GMCS Parent Information Guide 23/24

P a r e n t R e s o u r c e s Parent Resources

E n ro l l m e n t

Registration for the 2023-24 School Year must be done online! If you are a returning GMCS student, you will use your existing Synergy ParentVue account to update your information and register for the new year. Go to GMCS.org and follow the link for Enrollment at the top of the page or click on the QR Code. If you are new to the district, follow the link to sign up for access to the ParentVue portal.

S c h o o l S u p p l i e s & Te c h D e v i c e s

GMCS will provide All School Supplies to our students at no cost. We will also provide technology devices as well. All supplies and devices will be given out at the beginning of the school year.

B re a k f a s t & L u n c h

GMCS will provide free breakfast and lunch meals to every student at all 33 school sites. Please see our website for details at gmcs.org & click on Menus

G ra d u a t i o n R e g a l i a

GMCS will be providing Graduation Caps, Gowns and Tassels at no additional cost to all our GMCS 2024 Graduates!

S p o r t s S c h e d u l e s

Sports schedules can be found on our website at gmcs.org/Athletics.

B u s B a r n & Tra n s p o r t a t i o n

Crownpoint Bus Barn

Gallup Bus Barn

Thoreau Bus Barn

Tohatchi Bus Barn

Transportation Dept

Ke e p u p w i t h G M C S

505-721-1591

505-721-2252

505-721-4591

505-721-4791

505-721-1191

Visit our website at gmcs.org or follow us on Facebook@ Gallup McKinley County Schools, Instagram @ GMCSNews and TikTok @ gmcs_k12.

Sign up for digital flyers from your student ’ s school through Peachjar located on All school homepages.

Meet Mike Hyatt THE MAN BEHIND THE SUPERINTENDENT TITLE

By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor

Mike Hyatt didn’t plan on going into education. When he graduated high school, he was looking at careers in architecture, engineering, or the medical field.

But his life changed when he helped a professor teach a math course and he became a math tutor for other college students. He taught the class when the professor was gone, and soon realized he had a passion for teaching.

EARLY TEACHING CAREER

Hyatt went on to graduate from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, and a minor in mathematics. His fi rst teaching job was at GallupMcKinley County Schools as a math teacher at Gallup High School.

While he was teaching, he also led the 2005 and 2006 Gallup girls’ basketball teams to the state championship.

After Gallup High, he moved on to Ramah High School.

After teaching, coaching, and becoming the GMCS athletic director, Hyatt began working toward his master’s in business administration through Western New Mexico University. Once he completed

his MBA program in 2009, Hyatt took on an assistant principal job at the Zuni Public School District.

He moved his way up to becoming the high school principal at the Zuni Public School District, and in that role, he sometimes took on the role of acting superintendent when the superintendent was gone.

In an interview with the Sun , he said that the impact someone can make as both a teacher and a principal is not that different.

“As a teacher, I enjoyed the positive relationships you can build with students, the opportunity to connect with them, thinking of different ways that you can help them learn and differentiate that instruction for them,” Hyatt said. “And then as a principal it’s kind of the same thing, you’re with students and have an opportunity

to kind of help curb behavior and set positive opportunities for students in the school on a more global scale.”

Hyatt said he had the upmost respect for teachers, calling it “the most stressful” job he’s ever had.

A SUPERINTENDENT’S IMPACT

After five years at the Zuni Public School District, he returned to GMCS, taking on the role of Assistant Superintendent of Business and Human Resources. In December 2016, he stepped into the Superintendent role. He noted that the impact a superintendent can have on students is very different.

“At the school site it’s more personal with students, but at central office you have an opportunity to create a big impact that can really affect a wider range and obviously

many more students with the decisions that are made,” Hyatt said.

Now that he’s going into his seventh year as the GMCS superintendent, Hyatt took time to reflect on how far the district has come. He noted that now that they’ve got some new systems in place, the district has gotten the opportunity to build upon them and focus on things that enhance learning.

One of those things is McKinley Academy, one of the district’s early-college programs. Hyatt said that the work the district is doing with the academy and their early college programs is “changing generations.”

“It especially has a big impact on those students who maybe wouldn’t have gone to college or would have struggled when they did go.… When you go to college it’s difficult, you have to learn how to live on your own, you have to learn this new way of kind of learning in college,” Hyatt said. “But we cover half of that, we’re helping students get that experience and exposure to college courses so they have less things to stress about when they go off to school.”

A more career-focused high school experience might have helped Hyatt when he was in

school. His mother passed away when he was 16 years old after a battle with cancer. He spent his senior year homeless. “I struggled in high school when I was a kid, probably for a couple different reasons. I struggled especially in my sophomore, junior, and senior years trying to understand why I was there,” Hyatt said. “So this idea of connecting learning to somebody’s career really resonates with me. It would’ve helped me be more connected to my learning.”

FOR THE STUDENTS

Hyatt credits his past with helping him understand the needs of almost every type of student.

“[My goal is to make] sure

MIKE HYATT | SEE PAGE 44

GMCS Superintende nt Mike Hyatt

“That’s kind of one of my motivations, to create a school district that can help facilitate a wide range of students and help them become successful.”

— Mike Hyatt

An open conversation about e-cigarettes

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD IS USING TOBACCO/THC PRODUCTS

By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor

According to an October 2022 study conducted by the Food and Drug Administration, about 1 in 10 U.S. middle school and high school students currently uses e-cigarettes.

In 2021, a law that changed

the legal age to buy any tobacco products was put into place in New Mexico. Now, it is illegal to buy a tobacco product until you are 21 years old.

So the big question is, how can parents have a conversation about the harms of tobacco with their children, and how can they try to prevent them from vaping? In

an interview with the Sun , McKinley County Sheriff James Maiorano III provided some tips.

“They should have an open line of communication with their children, whether this is elementary school, middle school, or high school, because we’re starting to see some of these products in

Tribal Nations Local Crisis Line:

• Ak-Chin Community: 1-800-259-3449

• Cocopah Tribe: 1-866-495-6735

• Colorado River Tribe: 1-866-495-6735

• Fort McDowell

Yavapai Nation: 1-800-631-1314

• Fort Mojave Tribe: 1-877-756-4090

• Gila River

Community: 1-800-259-3449

• Hopi Tribe: 1-877-756-4090

• Hualapai Tribe: 1-877-756-4090

• Kaibab-Paiute Tribe: 1-877-756-4090

• Navajo Nation: 1-877-756-4090

• Pascua Yaqui: 1-866-495-6735 (Pima); 1-800-631-1314 (Maricopa)

• Pueblo of Zuni: 1-877-756-4090

• Quechan Tribe: 1-866-495-6735

• Salt River Pima-Maricopa

Community: 1-855-331-6432

• San Carlos Apache Tribe: 1-866-495-6735

• Tohono O’odham Nation: 1-866-495-6735

• Tonto Apache Tribe: 1-877-756-4090

• White Mountain Apache Tribe: 1-877-756-4090

• Yavapai-Apache Tribe: 1-877-756-4090

• Yavapai-Prescott Tribe: 1-877-756-4090

elementary schools and the middle schools, which means these products are getting out to children of an even younger age,” Maiorano said.

Other than open communication, Maiorano also suggests keeping a close eye on kids’ backpacks.

“We always encourage parents to have talks with their kids [and] to be on the lookout in their rooms and in their backpacks for things that are unfamiliar, things that the parents didn’t buy for them that look out of place,” he said.

Nowadays, vapes can look

like a multitude of everyday items, from USB drives that could go in a computer to pens and highlighters.

Maiorano said that often times, especially with the younger kids, a trusted peer or adult makes it seem like tobacco and/or THC products are OK or safe to use. They don’t realize that it would be illegal for them to use the products.

“So if [parents or guardians] can get the children to open up

Many vape pens are designed to look like pens or USB drives. Cookies is a popular brand that McKinley County Sheriff James Maiorano III said his deputies often see in the GallupMcKinley County Schools district. Photo Credit: Courtesy of James Maiorano III

Looking to the future NEW GMCS BUILDING TO HELP STUDENTS FOCUS ON CAREER-CENTERED EDUCATION

By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor

Gallup-McKinley County Schools has been working with students to help them see what’s next for them after high school with the Career Pathways program for a few years now. But now they’re looking to the future and expanding the students’ opportunities with the Career Technical Center.

In an interview with the , GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt called the Career Technical Center “his baby” and said he was very proud of it.

Hyatt explained that the district thought the Center was necessary because some schools are too small, and only have the staffi ng resources to teach a few Pathways.

“So what this Career Technical Center is going [to do is] give an opportunity for allowing students to come in and be a part of a Career Pathway that they may not have exposure to at their local high school,” Hyatt said. “… When I can have a few experts in one location, I can serve more students equitably.”

For example, Crownpoint High School currently doesn’t

have a culinary arts program, but Gallup High School does.

The Center will have a multitude of Career Pathways, including auto and diesel mechanics, trade work including welding, electrical, and HVAC, and civic duty roles such as police and fi refi ghters. Medical field opportunities will also be available, but the University of New Mexico Gallup will run those programs.

“[The Center will] fi ll the gaps that we have in our vast community to better serve

students and their future career goals,” Hyatt said.

Hyatt also noted that the Center would have more high-tech equipment to allow students to explore their potential career fi elds more in-depth.

During a January 2022 school board meeting, GMCS’s Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum/Instruction Wade Bell explained why the district started the Career Pathways program in the fi rst place.

“[If students do go into a two or four-year college],

they’ll have [this] experience behind them, but they can also get out to the workforce, and I think that’ll put them a little bit better ahead than others because they had the experience behind them...,” Bell said.

The district pays the students $11.50 an hour to create a more real-life experience when they’re involved in the Career Pathways. They must accumulate 154 hours of work to get full credit.

One way the Career Technical Center will try to expand the students’ learning

is by having instructors teach the core subjects such as English, math, and science while applying those subjects to the real-world career path the student is interested in. For example, a student may learn how math is applied to welding.

Besides the in-person classes provided at the Center, GMCS will also start offering online courses through a cyber center. Some of those classes

CAREER CENTER | SEE PAGE 44

The future site for the Gallup-McKinley County Schools Career Technical Center is located west of the New Mexico State Police s tation, along Interstate 40. Photo Credit: Mike Hyatt

See below for the new start and stop times for each Gallup-McKinley County school for the school year.

On Thursday/Friday student start times will be a little later than on other days of the week. This is to allow teachers to participate in morning data meetings.

For Drop off students:

Although we will be starting later on Thursdays and Fridays, please note that your student can still be dropped off at the same time every day. Your school will have staff available while teachers participate in their morning data meetings on Thursday and Fridays.

For bus students:

Students who ride buses will be picked up later on Thursdays and Fridays to accommodate for the student start times on these days (please reference your student’s bus route schedule).

School will end at the same time every day. For any questions about times please contact your local school. We are looking forward to seeing you!

Dear Parents and Guardians, Welcome to the new school year! Your students’ attendance is very important and to help increase attendance, GMCS has made some minor changes to the 2023-2024 start and end times.

New Gallup High football coach looking to rebuild program

By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor

Robbie Bornholdt has coached a variety of football teams over the past 26 years, from high school to college. And now, he’s about to start his first year at Gallup High School.

In an interview with the Sun, Bornholdt explained why he chose Gallup as his next challenge.

“[Coaching] as long as I’ve been doing it, I wanted the challenge of being a head coach for the thrill of victory, agony, and defeat. I wanted to do it my way,” Bornholdt said.

Before Bornholdt moved to Gallup, he worked for Hobbs Municipal Schools in Hobbs, N.M. for 13 years.

He said he’s always seen coaching as a passion.

“I think coaching is a calling. Some people are ministers, some people are doctors, and I think [my] calling was to start coaching, to pass on compassion, to pass on love, … give back to the game, give back to the community, give kids an example to live up to,” Bornholdt said. “Not saying that I’m the most perfect person in the world, but my faith is very important to me. I believe that God puts you where He wants you when He wants you there.”

Bornholdt has already spent some time with the kids he’ll be working with this school year during summer workouts and practices. One thing he said he’s trying to focus on this year is building the community up around

football.

“Sometimes it’s not just about winning, it’s about winning in life, winning in the classroom. Being an example in the community. I want our program to be built on community involvement, because we all come from the same community.”

For Bornholdt, the hardest part about coaching is getting the athletes to believe in themselves, especially when they’re trying something new.

“The hardest part is trying to get the kids to believe they can do something they’ve never done before,” Bornholdt said. “Whether it’s winning, whether it’s in the weight room, whether they’re just learning how to lift or learning how to push themselves over the limit, and then coming back and saying ‘That was easy. Why haven’t I done that before?’”

Gallup High’s former athletic director Jessica

| SEE PAGE 41

Gallup High’s new football coach Robbie Bornholdt

Counseling Department:

The Gallup McKinley County Schools counseling department is dedicated to providing exemplary support for all students. School counselors reach each unique student through classroom guidance lessons, social-emotional learning, academic support and strategies, career development, and small group or short-term individual counseling. School counselors work closely with all students and families to ensure equal access and equity in their educational experience.

GMCS supports students and families through our School Social Workers and local and statewide programs. School social workers are dedicated to providing individual/ group therapeutic services, connecting families to community resources (including mental health services), and engaging students in social-emotional learning.

School counselors, School social workers, and Student Success Advisors (SSA’s) are eager to help students and families in many ways. Please do not hesitate to contact your student’s school for more information on how school counselors, social workers, and SSA’s can support and advocate for your student.

Are you or a family you know who have children enrolled in GMCS experiencing homelessness? The McKinney Vento Program provides support to families who do not or the McKinney Vento Liaison, Faith Kline, at 505-721-1072 or fkline@gmcs.org for more information. Further, GMCS works closely with the Community Pantry, which can help families with meals and other nutritional support.

For additional questions about the Counseling department, please do not hesitate to contact your student’s school for more information. We are here for you! We look forward to working with all families and students for the upcoming year.

GMCS WILL BE OFFERING FREE ADMISSIONS TO ALL SPORTING EVENTS EXCEPT FOR TOURNAMENTS, DISTRICT PLAYOFFS, AND STATE

MOST GAMES WILL BE BROADCAST VIA THE NFHS NETWORKhttps://www.nfhsnetwork.com/

VISIT OUR WEBSITE UNDER THE ATHLETIC TAB FOR SPORTS SCHEDULES WWW.GMCS.ORG

INTERESTING IN COACHING? APPLY AT GMCS.ORG

Continuous construction

HYATT PROVIDES UPDATES ON MULTIPLE PROJECTS

Director of Instruction

Assignments 23-24 SY

Director

KristenBischoff 12243

SCHOOLPRINCIPAL

Catherine A Miller Elementary (034) Khristopher Latson 11420

David Skeet Elementary (160) Amanda Clawson 11720

Del Norte Elementary (174) Cynthia Mowrer 15220

Gallup Mid (054) Lindsey Mingus 12720

Indian Hills Elementary (062) Rebecca Apel 12920

Jefferson Elementary (066) Sasha Blanco 13020

Kennedy Mid (190) Leoneil (Neil) Tulabing 13120

Lincoln Elementary (077) Kelley (Fitz) Fitzmaurice 13420

Navajo Elementary (079) Joshua Stepney 13520

Navajo Mid (100) Jody Alexander 15320

Ramah Elementary (132) Oscar Ontiveros 13720

Red Rock Elementary (134) Eva Prieto 13920

Director

HeatherGutierrez 11159

SCHOOLPRINCIPAL

Chee Dodge Elementary (030) Tammy Somers 11320

Chief Manuelito Mid (003) Peter Balibay 15620

By Molly Ann Howell Managing Editor

With 32 schools in the Gallup-McKinley County Schools district, there is almost always work that needs done on a building or two.

Lately, the district has been working on constructing new buildings for multiple schools. In an interview with the Sun, GMCS Superintendent Mike Hyatt gave a rundown of the major construction projects and the stages they are currently in.

“We’ll be starting several [buildings] this school year, and several are in the design phase, but none of them will be done this school year,” Hyatt said.

He listed the major projects that are in different construction stages as of July 25:

• Red Rock Elementary: GMCS held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new

elementary building on May 30. Hyatt said students would possibly be starting at the new school in the middle of the ‘24/25 school year. Bradbury Stamm Construction won the bid for the new building

• Tohatchi High School’s construction will be starting soon. The design phase is complete, so they will be going out to bid to try and fi nd a builder soon

• Navajo Pine High School will start the design process soon

• Crownpoint Middle School and High School will be starting the design process soon

• Gallup High School will start the design process soon

• Thoreau High School will start the design process soon

• The Career Technical Center’s land was purchased recently, and now the district

CONSTRUCTION

| SEE PAGE 41

Director

JasonWayman 11160

Crownpoint Elementary (038) Lisa Tolino 11520

Crownpoint Mid (088) Lawanda Nodestine-Henry 15420

Stagecoach Elementary (152) Jessica Dooley 14320

Thoreau Elementary (162) Kandas Gonzales 14420

Thoreau Mid (155) Nadine Gonzales 14620

Tobe Turpen Elementary (091) Noel Thomas 15020

Tohatchi Elementary (164) Robin Holder 14720

Tohatchi Mid (120) Lucinda Bitsoi 14920

Twin Lakes Elementary (170) Elna Go 15120

SCHOOLPRINCIPAL

Crownpoint High (039) Kelly Morris 11620

Gallup Central High/OCC (016) Kristi Del Curto 12420

Gallup High (055) Connie Cuellar 12520

McKinley Academy (400) Brittainy Garro 14200

Miyamura High (073) Nick Garro 11920

Navajo Pine High (075) Roberta Tayah 13620

Ramah High (130) David Gibbons 13820

Thoreau High (145) Lawrence Sena 14520

Tohatchi High (064) Richard Moore 14820

Tse Yi Gai High (089) Sharon Vannier 15520

Red Rock Elementary administrators and Gallup-McKinley County Schools school board members start digging during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new elementary building on May 30. Photo Credit: Courtesy of GMCS

GALLUP-MCKINLEY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION

Baby steps

UNM-G’S NEW CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS GIVE CREDITS ON WAY TO BIGGER THINGS

By Holly J. Wagner Sun Correspondent

Alot of people can’t afford to spend four years in college right out of high school. Some get scholarships and other financial aid to help them get through their years of higher education, but others need something that will pay off sooner.

This fall, the University of New Mexico-Gallup will offer a new step in career certificate programs that’s a fast track in the basics. Students earn a certificate of completion in one of three disciplines (for now) and log their first 15 credits toward a career certificate and possibly an associate’s degree, which takes 60 credits.

“I think of them as steps because you start at the certificate of completion, then those courses all carry over into the certificate program, and those courses all carry over into the associate’s program,” Ann Jarvis, chair of the school’s Community Education and Workforce Development Division, said.

The new certificates are meant to show minimum competence in some basic work areas to help the student find work quickly or move up the career ladder with an existing employer.

“If individuals are looking to move up the career ladder, to get some professional development and

additional training, this would be good for them,” Jarvis said. “It’s also for people who are trying to get their foot in the door for a position.”

UMN-G chose the specific disciplines – Business Principles, Office Specialist or Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Customer Service – based on local business needs and job openings, Jarvis said.

One example is hospitality, which supports 11% of McKinley County’s private sector economy. Candidates with industry-specific skills are likely to be in high demand as the 100 t h anniversary of Route 66, in 2026, approaches.

Those pursuing the

University of New Mexico-Gallup’s Chair of the Community Education and Workforce Development Division Ann Jarvis

PLTWLaunch, aSTEMhands-onlearningprogramthattapsinto students’exploratorynature,engagestheminlearningthatfeelslikeplay, andencouragesthemtokeepdiscovering–nowandforanyfuturethey choose.

With Xello,aCareerExplorationprogram,5thgradelearners developasolidfoundationforfuturesuccess.Itformulatesthe buildingblocksofmeaningfullifeandcareerdevelopmentandsets themupforsmoothertransitionsinschoolandlife.

PLTW Launch a STEM hands on learning program that taps into

about things that children have shown them at school or given them at school, or things that they’ve seen, maybe we can begin to identify what would be right or wrong for the child to have and the parents are going to be able to steer them in the right direction to say ‘don’t accept those things, don’t accept those kinds of gifts, if someone asks you to hold on to those items for them you would need to refuse that so you don’t

FOOTBALL COACH

| FROM PAGE 12

Dooley was the one who hired Bornholdt, but GallupMcKinley County Schools’ athletic director Ben Chavez said he’s also excited to see what

CONSTRUCTION

| FROM PAGE 37

needs to go out to bid to fi nd a builder

Hyatt explained that the district has to consider a lot since they are responsible for so many buildings.

“We have 32 schools, and schools typically get replaced – if they go their full lifespan –in 40 to 50 years, so we almost have to build a new school every year and a half on average in order to keep up with the needs of the buildings,” Hyatt said.

Gallup High School, for example, is not going to survive its full lifespan. The building

land yourself in trouble on their behalf,’” Maiorano said.

Many vapes and e-cigarettes contain nicotine. In fact, one pod can contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes, or more.

Nicotine can affect someone’s memory and concentration. Regular nicotine use can lead to a heightened risk of heart attacks or stroke.

Potential physical symptoms of your child using nicotine or THC products can be hard to detect. Watery eyes and the use of eye drops when they

Bornholdt can do this year.

“We’re hoping that [Bornholdt] will be able to breathe some new life into the [Gallup High football] program,” Chaves said. “Not to say that any of the old coaches were bad or anything like that,

was completed in 1997, and there are already plans to build its replacement.

HOW ARE NEW BUILDINGS PAID FOR?

Federal money plays a big part in helping the district fund these construction projects. The district applies for capital outlay money every year. This year they applied for $15 million to help pay for the Career Technical Center, but they did not receive the funding. They looked for other funding resources to build the Center.

Hyatt said that about 90% of the construction costs are covered by federal and state funding. The other 10% comes from taxpayers’ property taxes, the

don’t use contacts can often be signs of THC use.

Vapes are easy to conceal due to their small size, but Maiorano said there are some common brands to look out for. One popular one is called Cake, and its slogan is “She hits different.” Another popular brand Maiorano’s sheriffs have been seeing is Cookies. It may be difficult to know if your child has just smoked because vapes use water vapor, and it easily dissipates instead of lingering in the air like traditional cigarette smoke.

I just think that they’re looking to rebuild that program with a fresh new look….”

A chance to see that fresh new look will come on Aug. 18, when the Gallup Bengals play their fi rst game at home against the Moriarty Pintos.

district’s mill levy, and federal funding.

Hyatt explained why that 10% is necessary and what it goes toward.

“So, we had about 10-15% on top of what the state will give us just to make sure it’s a building that will stand the test of time, it’s built well, and it has the space we need,” Hyatt said.

Construction costs have skyrocketed since the pandemic, so now school districts have to budget more money to pay for new buildings. Hyatt said that before the pandemic a new elementary building would set the school district back about $25 million. Now, that price is closer to $48 million.

Gallup-McKinley County Schools’ alcohol, drugs, and tobacco policy states “Students will not possess, use, distribute, and/or sell alcohol, tobacco products, drugs and other mood-altering substances or medication prescribed for another person

while at school, on district property, at school-sponsored events or on school transportation.”

To learn more about vaping and how to have a conversation with your child about vaping, visit tobaccofreekids.org.

Yá'át'ééh, Hola, Keshi …Hello GMCS Families!

The Cultural Education Department (CED) is excited to begin the 2023-2024 school year as we welcome back all students, staff, parents, and community members. The goal of the CED is to impact Navajo, Zuni, and Spanish language use within our Heritage Language & Culture (HLC) classrooms while expanding all students’ interest in developing their Heritage language communication skills. This year, we are making some critical changes to our program, such as the development of a standards-based Heritage language curriculum with assessments that measure the growth of students within the Heritage language model and in developing communication skills in their home language. We ensure that all schools have a Heritage Language & Culture teacher to build an engaging and fulfilling classroom environment focused on developing listening and speaking that scaffold foundational communication skills within each grade level.

We have incorporated new innovative experiences to develop language use throughout the program. This will be achieved through the investigation and cross-curricular activities displayed at our annual cultural fair. Our culture fair will align with the core curriculum to assist students with an understanding of how different cultures inspire individuals to be proud of their heritage and sensitive to diverse perspectives. This is particularly valuable in college and professional environments, which are increasingly diverse. This cultural and language experience allows individuals to connect with their cultural roots and gain a broader understanding of the world and is highly beneficial in today's multicultural world.

As always, Gallup McKinley County Schools needs your support in building a positive school-to-community partnership, so we need parents, guardians, community members, and GMCS staff to become members of the Advisory School Council (ASC). In addition, our programs need your support with submitting the required 506 and Certificate of Indian Blood forms to your child’s home school. This supports our program to ensure we continue to provide an extraordinary instructional Heritage Language Curriculum, an HLC teacher at every school, and to provide the support needed to help revitalize our native languages. Finally, we are also looking for fluent Navajo speakers to join our internship program, so please sign up and join our team. We look forward to the school year and making connections with all stakeholders. If you have any questions or need additional information, please get in touch with the Culture Education Department at (505) 721-1008 or (505) 721-1022.

Ahéhee', Gracias, Elahkwa Ophelia M Sanchez Director of Cultural Education.

Gallup-McKinley County Schools

Community Eligibility Program

TO: Dear Parent/Guardian

FROM: Neal Cunningham, SFE Food Service Director

Eileen Haws, GMCS Food Service Supervisor

DATE: July 1, 2023

Gallup McKinley County Schools are proud to be participating in a Universal Lunch and School Breakfast Program for the current school year (2023-2024). If your child(ren) attend any of the 32 Gallup McKinley County Schools Listed: Catherine A. Miller Elementary, Chee Dodge Elementary, Chief Manuelito Middle, Crownpoint Elementary, Crownpoint Middle, Crownpoint High, David Skeet Elementary, Del Norte Elementary, Gallup Central High, Gallup High, Gallup Middle, Indian Hills Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle, Miyamura High, Lincoln Elementary, Navajo Elementary, Navajo Middle, Navajo Pine High, Ramah Elementary, Ramah Middle/High, Red Rock Elementary, Stagecoach Elementary, Thoreau Elementary, Thoreau Middle School, Thoreau High, Tohatchi Elementary, Tohatchi Middle, Tohatchi High, Tse Yi' Gai High, Tobe Turpen Elementary , and Twin Lakes Elementary – a healthy and nutritious breakfast and lunch will be available to them at no charge. All students enrolled at the listed schools may participate in the breakfast and lunch program at no cost to them. Studies have shown that children who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing breakfast and lunch for all children at no charge, we are hoping to create a better learning environment for our students. The school breakfasts and lunches that we serve follow U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals. The School Breakfast and Lunch Programs cannot succeed without your support; please encourage your children to participate in the school meal programs. Meals will be served to all students at no charge regardless of the eligibility status .

If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact Eileen Haw, GMCS Food Service Supervisor at (505) 721-1126 or Chef Neal Cunningham, SFE Director of Food Service at (505) 721-1127.

Non-discrimination Statement:

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

2. Fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

MIKE HYATT | FROM PAGE 6

that schools are built to meet the needs of students, all different kinds of students, from the spectrum of everything students go through in their

CAREER CENTER | FROM PAGE 10

will also be in-person, though.

The Center will also serve as a “community school” as it will also offer an adult education component, which will include

UNM-GALLUP | FROM PAGE 39

hospitality track can aspire to jobs like desk clerk, event planner, guest relations officer, restaurant or property manager/assistant manager,

life, whether they have a great family that is extremely supportive of them or whether they’re homeless or have other challenges in their lives,” Hyatt said. “That’s kind of one of my motivations, to create a school district that can help facilitate

night classes.

Hyatt said that all of this is an effort to reach all the different types of learners.

“One of the things we’re trying to do is expand different ways we provide education to students so that we fi nd the

catering manager or host/ hostess.

The business certificates can apply across a variety of business types. Those on the Office Administration track can look forward to working as file clerks, administrative

a wide range of students and help them become successful.”

Deputy Superintendent Jvanna Hanks III said that it’s Hyatt’s motivation that makes him a great coworker and boss.

“He puts students fi rst and foremost and because of that

best fit for all the students in our county,” Hyatt said.

The Center won’t be ready for students quite yet. The district just recently bought the land for the building. It will be located west of the New Mexico State Police station

assistants or coordinators, executive assistants, program coordinators or bill collectors.

“We are looking at basic computer operation for businesses – Word, Excel, things like that. Records

he really sets high expectations for the staff to deliver a good educational environment for all of our students…,” Hanks said.

Hyatt’s former secretary Bebe Sarmiento recently retired from the school district

along Interstate 40.

Now that the land has been bought, the next step will be designing the building. Once the design is complete, the district can go out to bid and see who is willing to build the Center. Hyatt said that it will

management for information systems you will need to create and maintain,” Jarvis said.

Along with learning how to use many of these computer programs, the curriculum also teach “soft” skills.

“Business professionalism, how to act how to greet people and how to work with others in your office setting” are important,” Jarvis said.

Courses teaching customer service skills such as how to behave and how to treat people coming into the business are also important.

The certificate in Business Administration prepares people to find jobs in accounting or as office managers, business managers, actuaries, data analysts, marketing managers, or Human Resources specialists.

A student can get the certificate of completion in one 16-week semester if they carry the full five-course load of classes the certificate requires.

“They can get a step up in status on their job and maybe an increase in pay also,” Jarvis said. “That never hurts anybody.”

after 30 years. She spoke highly of her time with Hyatt.

“I will tell you this, I am so lucky to have found a boss like Mr. Hyatt to work for,” Sarmiento said. “Everybody should be so lucky.”

probably take about a year to complete once construction begins.

With that timeline in mind, the district expects to welcome students to the Center by the beginning of the ‘25/26 school year at the earliest.

From there, they can apply for jobs or promotions that may have previously been out of reach, continue working on a 30-credit full certificate or both, and do the same again while finishing a 60-credit associate’s degree. That level requires general education courses that are not specific to any profession and are required statewide.

Only the associate’s track is eligible for state tuition credit, but other financial aid may be available. Jarvis encourages students to contact the financial aid office for options. With no financial aid, the certificate of completion path costs about $1,200 plus books.

The registration deadline for the fall term is Aug. 11 and classes start Aug. 21, so Jarvis urges students not to put off registering.

“Do it now,” she said. “Our financial aid folks and student advisors are ready and you can make an appointment with them on the UNM-G website.”

To learn more about the certificate program, visit https://www.gallup.unm. edu/degrees-certificates/

The SRP Standard Response Protocol and SRM Standard , but McKinley County Government, and the City of Gallup Government, so community members and parents should feel assured that GMCS personnel, responders have a common response understanding, and are working response at all GMCS buildings in McKinley County and within the City of Gallup. SRP Posters and Banners are posted in all GMCS school campus encourage Parents, Guardians, and Community Members to go to I loveYou Guys FoundationWebpage https://iloveuguys.org for further information on SRP and SRM protocols and manuals.

GMCS contracts with Red Rock Security Company to provide security presence at all secondary campuses during school year business hours.

quadrants to provide daily safety presence and assistance to campus principals. GMCS safety employees also provide safety presence and assistance to all elementary campus principals.

System. This system is a safety tool for all campus building sites and all GMCS employees. The panic button is available via App download by GMCS

employees to their Android or I Phone. The App is operational while on a GMCS building site; the App allows an employee who observes a threat or

GMCS school building sites, department sites, and bus barns have been Geo Fenced for Rave Panic Button App operation.

GMCS is also installingVerkda Guest at all building sites, and will be operational for the 2023-2024 school year. This safety tool will require a

ID will be scanned intoVerkda Guest where a background check will be run automatically and a visitor badge and photo will be printed out for the guest and will identify the purpose of the campus visit.

GMCS has installed and will be utilizing SingleWire Internal Emergency system will be broadcast on networked media devices for immediate site or it can be broadcast to multiple school sites depending on the type of incident.

I would like to wish all the children and school staff here in Gallup and McKinley County a wonderful upcoming school year and share a quote from Pablo Picasso

Remember learning is a lifetime achievement.

"From the desk of Representative Lundstrom"