New Mexico School for the Deaf Progress Magazine - English- Summer/Fall 2021-22

Volume 112 / Issue 1 / Summer/Fall 2021-2022

DREAM! EXPLORE! ACHIEVE!

DR. JENNIFER HERBOLD: MAKING HISTORY AS NMSD’S FIRST DEAF FEMALE SUPERINTENDENT

Dream! Explore! Achieve!

Vision

Beliefs

Children and students in New Mexico who are deaf/hard of hearing will become lifelong learners and contributing, well-rounded successful individuals in an increasingly global society.

In an environment of respect, trust, and safety, we believe in…

Mission The mission of the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD), New Mexico’s first public school, is to provide for the unique needs of children and students who are deaf/hard of hearing, their families, and professional partners by providing a comprehensive array of school and statewide programs.

As a school, NMSD provides an American Sign Language and English bilingual learning environment that includes direct, ongoing access to language and communication in and out of the classroom with a wide range of peers and adults. The students are interactive learners who receive dynamic high quality standardsbased instruction in a variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities.

As a statewide service agency, NMSD collaborates with families, school districts, agencies and communities throughout the state to meet the critical language, communication, and learning needs of children and students in New Mexico who are deaf/hard of hearing, birth through high school.

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viewing people who are deaf/hard of hearing from a cultural and linguistic perspective

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having high expectations that positively affect self-esteem, identity and whole person development

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providing early, ongoing, and fluid access to communication through natural language models

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developing proficiency in American Sign Language and English which is critical for fluent communication, literacy and academic achievement

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supporting the development of auditory skills and spoken language as appropriate to the strengths and needs of the individual child/student

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providing high quality early intervention and involvement services designed to help families give their children the earliest possible on-going opportunities for language, learning and meaningful relationships

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fostering strong partnerships with families through learning and social opportunities

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identifying each student’s unique strengths and using them as the foundation for learning and development

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ensuring the child/student is a consistent and active participant in planned and incidental learning experiences in and out of the classroom

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embracing ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity

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developing competence in the use of advanced technology

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having high quality and committed staff who possess and maintain expertise in their respective area

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supporting all students in the pursuit of their personal and professional aspirations

May 2018

VOLUME 112 ISSUE 1 SUMMER/FALL 2021 - 2022

DREAM! EXPLORE! ACHIEVE! FEATURE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

5 DR. JENNIFER HERBOLD MAKES HISTORY

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Superintendent’s Letter Feature Early Intervention & Developmental Services Early Childhood Education - Preschools Elementary Middle School High School Student Life: Athletics Interpretation Center for Educational Consultation & Training Alumni Construction

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SUPERINTENDENT’S LETTER

DEAR NMSD FAMILY & FRIENDS I am honored to be writing my first letter to you as the 10th Superintendent of the New Mexico School for the Deaf. For most of my career here at NMSD, I served under the 8th Superintendent, Dr. Ronald Stern and the 9th Superintendent, Dr. Rosemary Gallegos. Both brought their own unique set of skills, knowledge, and expertise to our programs. I am proud to be building upon their legacies as well as those who came before them. I am also proud that we are continuing Founder Lars Larson’s dream of having a quality educational program in the State of New Mexico.

I sincerely thank my predecessors for developing the school into the nationally esteemed program it is today.

Having learned from many, I bring my own set of knowledge and expertise to address current challenges and support new and ongoing projects while maintaining and celebrating our high-quality programs. This job is not one that I take lightly. Ensuring that we continue to provide quality programming for all children statewide through varied avenues is of utmost importance. This cannot be done without the support and dedication of individuals in all our departments and the support of our families and community.

It is my sincerest hope that while protecting NMSD’s interests and assets for future generations, we increase our ability to support all Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, regardless of the program that they attend. As the state’s premier experts on Deaf education, I know that NMSD believes very strongly that all D/HH children deserve full access to ASL and English. For those with the ability, they also deserve to maximize their spoken language and listening skills.

We must continue to provide for our state’s D/HH children through a “whole child” lens: academically, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

As we are entering what is hopefully the tail end of the pandemic’s impact on our school operations, I find it is a good time to think about what we have learned over the past couple of years. Nothing beats in-person instruction, especially for our students across the board. However, we have learned how we can provide for students remotely and on a more temporary basis, this is a good skill set to have honed.

Politics has become rather fractious and the country’s need to address various -isms, especially racism, sexism and ableism has come to the forefront. More recently, the New Mexico legislature has passed measures that require that all schools provide training and ensure that the curriculum is diverse, fair, and honest. As a very beautiful and culturally diverse school, we must stay on top of this. Our professional staff by and large do not mirror our student population and that must be universally acknowledged with humility. With open hearts and open minds, we all have a job to lift others up.

Only through hard work can we move our programs forward and truly give rise to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing children of New Mexico.

As my predecessors would say, Onward! and Con Alma,

Dr. Jennifer Herbold, Superintendent 2

NEW STUDENTS

WELCOME TO NMSD! ALBUQUERQUE PRESCHOOL

Mateo Anchondo

Andrea Gonzalez

Isabella Ramirez-Hernandez

FARMINGTON PRESCHOOL

Maricella Jojola

Daniela Reyes-Ramos

Emery Hargis

Elias Pinera

Sebastian Williams

Brodan Morgan

SANTA FE EARLY CHILDHOOD & ELEMENTARY

Logan Donelan

Ezra Andrade

Levi Martinez

Alexis Brady

Lily Pedersen

Tahirah Brown

Poppy Pedersen

Jesus “Chuy” Guizar-Nava

Jody Perez

Leela Rhatigan

Joseph Guzman

Avalynn Huizar

Khadija Shandor

Ariele Vest

SANTA FE MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOL

Madison Bunch

Tamryn Smith

Chloe Willey-Saunders

Terry Williams

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NEW STAFF

WELCOME TO NMSD!

Anthony Alaniz

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Tim Cordova

Sara Eaves

Emily Fecht

Hillary Frankowiak

Gloriann Gurule

Wendy Garcia

Hannah Goldblatt

Barbie Greenwater

Maguire Hause

Monique Johnson

Amberley Luna

Sarah MacDonald

Adriana Martinez

Rayven Padilla

Arielle Pask

Yadira Reza

Mollie Sachs

Alissa Vargas

Sofia Villa

Scarlett Williams

Talisha Wilson

FEATURE

DR. JENNIFER HERBOLD MAKES HISTORY! Last June, after an extensive search process for a new superintendent, including open community forums and intensive executive session deliberations, the New Mexico School for the Deaf Board of Regents announced the selection of Dr. Jennifer Herbold. Dr. Herbold, originally from the Washington DC Metro Area, is NMSD’s first Deaf woman superintendent in the school’s history!

Dr. Herbold has served NMSD for 22 years in a variety of capacities, including middle school teacher, Director of Instruction, and Special Education Director. She has her Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Culture from the University of Arizona, as well as a Master’s in Deaf Education and Bachelor’s degrees in English and Secondary Education from Gallaudet University.

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Dr. Herbold shared, “I am honored to serve the school as its tenth and first Deaf woman Superintendent in NMSD’s rich 137-year history. I am committed to our mission of providing quality services to Deaf and Hard of Hearing infants and children from birth through 22 throughout the state.”

The NMSD Community celebrates Dr. Herbold’s appointment as Superintendent and looks forward to thriving under her leadership.

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Recently, some of our middle schoolers interviewed Dr. Herbold for the New Mexico Progress magazine. We hope you enjoy getting to know Dr. Herbold better!

Arthur White: Why did you want to become superintendent?

Dr. Herbold: For the longest time, I didn’t! I did not want to leave the Instruction Department. However, after 22 years, I figured that it was time for a change and saw this position as an opportunity to make a difference within this school because I love it so much. I think that as Superintendent, I am now in a unique position to do more for the school in many different ways.

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Tamryn Smith: What is your vision for NMSD? Dr. Herbold: Quality, Safety, and Sustainability serve as my own vision for NMSD. We all must support NMSD’s mission and vision through ensuring high quality education and services. Sustainability is also a key concept that drives what I do. I focus on the school’s sustainability to make sure we always have the means to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in New Mexico and that we support global sustainability by becoming a “greener” school. Safety is also a huge priority of mine. None of this will happen overnight and I will need everyone, including student support, in making all this happen. Together we are fabulous!

Jodie Haley: What is your favorite thing to do at NMSD? Dr. Herbold: That’s easy! I love to attend academic and sporting events and I enjoy interacting with all of our kids, birth through graduation.

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1: Middle school students had the great pleasure of interviewing Dr. Herbold for this article. From left: Tamryn Smith, Jodie Haley, Dr. Herbold, Nevaeh Garcia, Arthur White, and Ulises Aranda-Sotelo. 2: The lunchtime interview was great fun and students learned a lot about Dr. Herbold. 3: Dr. Herbold started at NMSD as a Middle School teacher in 1999. This photo is from the 2000 yearbook. 4: Janell Miller and Dr. Herbold during 2009’s Honor Night Awards.

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FEATURE Nevaeh Garcia: Are you enjoying being superintendent?

Dr. Herbold: Very much. I am still learning a lot and appreciate everyone’s patience as I ask a million questions. That’s how we learn! (Don’t stop asking questions).

Ulises Aranda-Sotelo: What are your hobbies?

Dr. Herbold: I like to do many things. My number one hobby is reading.

After that, I like creating or fixing things (wood furniture, crocheting, etc.).

Arthur White: What is your favorite animal?

Dr. Herbold: Golly Arthur, that’s a hard one. I like all animals. I don’t even kill bugs or spiders. I’ll just bring them out of the house to set them free.

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Tamryn Smith: What is your favorite color?

Dr. Herbold: I like most colors a lot but have always been partial to various shades of blue.

Jodie Haley: What is your favorite quote?

Dr. Herbold: Hmm…my favorite quotes change every year. Right now, I’m partial to the African proverb “When elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.” This means that when people in power argue, those not in power pay the price. I try to be mindful of the power of the superintendent position and make sure that I use it to let the grass grow! Can you figure out what I mean?

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Nevaeh Garcia: What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Dr. Herbold: Chocolate. First, foremost, and always. Rocky Road is a specific favorite.

Ulises Aranda-Sotelo: What is your favorite sport?

Dr. Herbold: Ooh…not a lot of people know but I used to work for the Deaflympics for several years. I think I don’t really have a specific favorite sport but a favorite event. The Olympics/Deaflympics is always a favorite.

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Arthur White: What is your favorite childhood memory?

Dr. Herbold: This is a hard one. I think it was listening to my grandma’s stories. She had many wonderful stories to tell and I would ask her to tell those to me again and again. She even videotaped herself for me so I can still watch them anytime.

Tamryn Smith: What was your favorite toy?

Dr. Herbold: I still have a very beat up wrinkled teddy bear that I had as a baby. I’m never letting it go.

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Jodie Haley: What was your first car?

Dr. Herbold: A 1990 Toyota Celica GTS! I bought it used, and it lasted me throughout my college years.

Nevaeh Garcia: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Dr. Herbold: Ooh Nevaeh, that’s another hard one. There are so many places I want to visit. However, if I am completely honest, if I had an instant

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5: Dr. Herbold with students at the opening of NMSD’s library in November of 2011. 6: Dr. Herbold and elementary students playing the game “Context Clues” back in 2012. 7: Clown Day during 2013’s Spirit Week! 8: From left: Student Life Supervisor David Anderson, Dr. Herbold, and former Superintendent Dr. Ronald Stern in Larson Gym in 2014. 9: From left: Terry Wilding, Scott Mohan, and Dr. Herbold in action during the Staff BBQ in August of 2015.

FEATURE vacation right at this very moment, I’d probably go to Finland. I’m missing my friends who live there.

Ulises Aranda-Sotelo: Who is your hero and why?

Dr. Herbold: I have many strong female heroes but the first person who comes to mind at this moment is Michelle Obama because she’s strong, smart, and likes to read. I think she’s a fabulous mom and I aspire to be more like her. Growing up it was Wonder Woman, hands-down!

Arthur White: What is your favorite book?

Dr. Herbold: Can’t choose. It’s not possible. It’s like asking me which one of my children is my favorite.

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Tamryn Smith: What was your favorite food as a child?

Dr. Herbold: Spaghetti. I was not a neat spaghetti eater though. As a teen, Mexican food trumped everything else.

Jodie Haley: Describe yourself in one word.

Dr. Herbold: Dedicated.

Nevaeh Garcia: What is one thing about you that you wish others knew about you?

Dr. Herbold: I’m a pretty shy person who pretends not to be. When I was little, I was the kid hiding behind her mom’s skirt. I’m just fine with people I already know, and this position is forcing me to go outside my comfort zone which is a good thing! Sometimes people think I’m aloof, but it’s really me being shy.

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Ulises Aranda-Sotelo: If you could ask someone in history a single question, who would you choose and what is your question?

Dr. Herbold: When I was in middle school, I studied Harriet Tubman. I’d love to go back in time to meet her. I would ask the question: “What do you want people in the 21st century to understand about you?” This is because we learn from others to grow ourselves.

Jodie Haley: What is your favorite season of the year?

Dr. Herbold: Fall. There’s nothing like fall colors and the smell of roasting chile in the air.

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After students finished asking Dr. Herbold their interview questions, she had a couple of questions for students as well.

Dr. Herbold: How is school going for you so far?

Arthur White: I’m learning new things!

Ulises Aranda-Sotelo: I’m doing well!

Jodie Haley: I’m noticing some of my classes are easy and some are hard.

Dr. Herbold: If you could gain anything from NSMD or change anything, what would it be?

Nevaeh Garcia: I would like to add a second floor to our library so there would be more books to read.

Tamryn Smith: I would eliminate history class!

Ulises Aranda-Sotelo: I would like different choices for our meals because I don't like to eat the same things.

Arthur White: I want to graduate and go to college.

10: Showing their true colors on Red & White Day during Spirit Week 2021. Kneeling: Julian Aranda-Sotelo and Sophia Martinez. Standing from left: Bruce Brewer Jr., Superintendent Herbold, Stacy Vargas, Angelique Quinonez, and Serenity Adams. 11: Dr. Herbold presenting to members of the CECT team during Staff Orientation. 12: Standing from left: Dr. Herbold with students River Mora and Tahliah Joe. Top row from left: Jesus Rios Pena, Soniya Vigil, and Tavian Plonski.

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EARLY INTERVENTION & DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES

OH BABY!

BY KATE LEE, JOANNE CORWIN & KARLA SANCHEZ

In March of 2020, EIDS (Early Intervention & Developmental Services) announced suspending in-home visits for three weeks. Three weeks seemed like a very long time! But just like everything else during the COVID-19 pandemic, those anticipated few weeks turned into many, many months.

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The resilience of all involved has been truly inspirational, allowing us all to learn so much along the way. Our department expresses heartfelt thanks to the families, Early Intervention agencies, audiologists, and the preschools for their energy and dedication to promoting the development and independence of children, despite the pandemic.

Thank you for partnering with us and keeping the focus on children.

One very bright spot has been that families now have more choices regarding in-person or virtual visits. This hybrid option provides remarkable flexibility for busy lives and learning styles. As Brittany Smith from Alamogordo shared, "The NMSD program has been such a blessing for our family. We have seen so much growth/language development in Marley since we started working with NMSD’s staff members Delinda and JoJo. We love the flexibility of being able to schedule meetings around our busy schedule."

EIDS is also celebrating the increase in referrals of families with new babies. Early intervention is critical for future learning, and early identification of infants allows speedy access to our specialized services. These services help families capitalize on this precious window of opportunity for their child. Joe and Ashley Dellacqua from Albuquerque shared, “Early Intervention has been incredible. We feel so confident and supported in being advocates for our son.”

While we all hope that the pandemic passes quickly, we remain committed to changing the lives of Deaf children and their families for many years to come!

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1: Developmental Specialist Brad Schanz teaching baby Ajay and his mom Morgan Lunginbill the sign for “fox” during a home visit. 2: Developmental Specialist Jeni King meeting baby Ambrosio Begay and his mom and dad at a local park where they read and played together. 3: The entire Gardner family learning new signs during a visit with Developmental Specialists Bettie Petersen and Brad Schanz. 4: Kalina and her mom Cindy Huerta with Developmental Specialist Kacee Edmonds during a home visit. Kacee shared that "It takes a village to raise children." NMSD is there to support Deaf and Hard of Hearing children get the head start they deserve." 5: Axel playing with Developmental Specialist Kathleen Aranda Myers and mom Rocio Esparza (back), using colored pebbles and rotating their hats as Axel signs/voices the animal sounds in Spanish/English. 6: Boone Harvey and his dad Austin reading together. 7: Joe and Ashley Dellacqua reading and signing a book with Jonas.

EARLY CHILDHOOD – ALBUQUERQUE PRESCHOOL

FALL IS IN THE AIR!

BY ANGELA CORONA

Our Reggio Emilia approach invites us to observe and research with students, using their interests as a springboard for learning. In First Steps Toward Teaching The Reggio Way by Joanne Hendrick, she explains this method more fully: “Projects provide the backbone of the children’s and teachers’ learning experiences. They are based on the strong conviction that learning by doing is of great importance and that to discuss in group and to revisit ideas and experiences is the premier way of gaining better understanding and learning.”

With that in mind, we observe students in action to determine their interests and develop projects. The projects are often connected to experiences students are having due to events happening in their environments. This fall we observed students finding connections to the season. The fall weather allowed our toddlers to enjoy a trip to Hodgin Elementary to see a gondola and learn about hot air balloons. The following week, we went to see the beautiful hot air balloons decorating the sky!

In our preschool class, students studied the wind. Students explored the way wind blows items (like hats blowing off our heads) and how strong wind had to be to move objects. They’ve especially loved learning how to make bubbles fly in the wind! Our preschool class also has been learning about leaves. We made sensory bags with different colored leaves and explored how they look on a light table. Students created art with leaves, including a leaf-man like the one in their class story, Leaf Man by Louis Ehlert.

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The kindergarteners also experienced Fall firsthand with two recent field trips. At Elena Gallegos Open Space, they hiked trails and climbed rocks while noticing the changes around them. The following week they spent a fun rainy day in the Manzano mountains, learning to hang a hammock and make dinosaurs out of pinecones. Fall is really in the air at the Albuquerque Preschool!

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1: Elias Pinera exploring Fall props related to the book Leaf Man. 2: Kiddos showing off their pinecone creations during their Forest Day Learning excursion to the Manzano Mountains. 3: All of the Kindergarteners are having a great time climbing rocks and hiking in Elena Gallegos Open Space. 4: Andrea Gonzalez and Pethai Anderson join the balloonist inside his gondola! 5: Quinnton Dutcher and Bodhi Candelaria testing out the wind machine. 6: Ayumi Keuma making Fall art on the light table.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD – FARMINGTON PRESCHOOL

A NEW YEAR TAKES SHAPE

BY MARY HELEN PEREZ

The Farmington Preschool has hit the ground running with our group of three returning students. They are ready to learn and clearly happy to be back with their friends! We will soon welcome two new students as well.

We recently enjoyed several units related to books, such as Stuck by Oliver Jeffers, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, various Pete the Cat stories, I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! by Karen Beaumont, and an author study of Antoinette Portis who wrote a number of books, including: Not a Box, Not a Stick, Wait, and A Penguin Story. Along with our reading of I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! students painted cardboard houses just like the baby did in the story. They painted the floors, the ceilings, and the walls.

They also used foam shapes to create furniture and windows. Minnie used circles to represent the plates on the table, and a small yellow square represented cheese. The children engaged with this work, while frequently sharing with their friends and teachers.

Our reading time was enriched by the PED professional development training I undertook this past spring. The LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) approach to writing meets children where they are, in various stages of development, and then strategically exposes the children to writing examples no more than two stages above their current level. This creates a scaffold for children to stretch their current skills and increase their writing abilities. Journal writing is taught in the picture-story/word-story format. Teacher’s writing is showcased, and we explain that good writing is the result of many, many years of practice. Children at the scribble stage are celebrated and validated.

Shapes that look like letters - vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines, circles, and squares - are acceptable and celebrated. We encourage students to share the stories that their writing represents. We do not want children copying print until they truly are at that stage of writing development, as we want them to explore writing with more freedom and have the writing process unfold naturally. We want children to explore and take risks.

Our outside time is also a time for exploration. The children were excited to find small tires that they could carry to the top of our hill. They were amazed at how far they would roll. Tobias tucked his favorite toy mouse into a tire and sent it for a ride. He chased it to see if the mouse would stay inside for the entire ride. Tobias found his mouse had weathered the tumble. Minnie conquered her fear of swinging too high, and now likes to swing as high as her friend Haylee. They laugh and watch each other as they swing to new heights. Wagon rides are a great time to practice turn-taking and cooperation, with the students assigned roles of rider, pusher, and puller. Tobias described a crash into the fence when a corner was taken a bit too fast!

At NMSD’s Preschool in Farmington, we are delighted to be back learning together in person!

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1: Our class from left: Tobias Jim, Minnie Brown, and Haylee Gutierrez stop for a quick pose on the way to recess. 2: Haylee Gutierrez and Tobias Jim paint the baby using a homemade paint of corn starch, food color, and clear soap, during the unit study of I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More! 3: Haylee Gutierrez carefully adds details to her cardboard house. 4: Minnie Brown places plates on her dining room table. 5: Haylee Gutierrez muscles her way to the top of the hill with a tire in hand. 6: Ready Set Go! Minnie Brown and Haylee Gutierrez release their tires together. 7: Tobias Jim celebrated his 5th birthday sporting his NMSD t-shirt.

EARLY CHILDHOOD – LAS CRUCES PRESCHOOL

SIGNS OF HOPE

BY SOFIA VILLA

At the Las Cruces Preschool, we are always learning. Alden Green started the year off fascinated with the letter "A". That's because his name begins with this letter.

Alden had a great time exploring various materials that could be used to form his favorite letter. He used wooden sticks and Play-Doh along with a letter "A" mat that helped guide him.

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Alden worked meticulously with the wooden sticks, making sure to use the right sized ones by comparing them to the letter "A" mat. He was pleased to see that by placing two longer sticks diagonally and a shorter one across the middle, it formed a perfect "A"!

Alden then switched from wooden sticks to Play-Doh. He used the letter "A" mat to help guide him again, this time rolling out red lines of Play-doh to form his favorite letter.

After Alden learned about his name and how to form the letter "A", he expressed curiosity about the different types of homes and structures people and animals inhabit.

We began exploring his interest by building a birdhouse and a playhouse. Alden had a wonderful time using a napping mat to pretend it was his bed at home. He also pretended to make food and gave it to his toy dog as a treat!

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Finally, as a daily morning activity, we check in with each other to see how we are feeling and then we write our morning message on the Smartboard. Alden shared that he felt hopeful about the new school year, so he circled the “hopeful” Kimochi - which in Japanese means “feeling.” Those of us at the Las Cruces Preschool share that feeling and hope you do too!

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1: Alden Green compares a wooden stick to the letter “A” mat to make sure he uses the correct size. 2: Alden places rolled out Play-Doh onto the letter “A” mat. 3: Alden closes the door to the playhouse. 4: Alden tries to figure out how to build a birdhouse. 5: Alden writes the morning message.

6: Alden circles the Kimochi that reads “Hopeful” during check-in.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD – SANTA FE PRESCHOOL

GROWING FROM A S.T.E.M.

BY SHA REINS

Oh my! NMSD offers Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (S.T.E.M.) classes in our Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten and 1st grade classes. Perhaps you are thinking, “This is more appropriate for older students!” or "Math with preschoolers...can't they only count to ten?" But S.T.E.M. classes provide opportunities for ALL children at ANY age to explore a variety of mathematical and scientific concepts through hands-on, minds-on challenges. These activities allow children to puzzle through problems and persevere in solving them.

Our S.T.E.M. classroom has two stations - Tinker Lab and Maker Space. The Tinker Lab is a space with a variety of bins that provide materials for challenges such as "Make a Jack-o'-lantern" using Legos or "Make this building" using blocks. The buildings range from the Great Pyramids to the Eiffel Tower! Our Maker Space allows students to use a huge variety of recyclables such as toilet paper rolls, rubber bands, strings, cardboard pieces, egg cartons, and more to engage their creativity.

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Recently, students engaged in the following S.T.E.M activities while exploring and creating in the Tinker Lab: • Creating structures from apples and toothpicks • Making towers from index cards and tape • Creating things from egg cartons • Devising bubble wands and predicting what shapes the bubbles would be

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• Fizzing ice cubes with baking soda and vinegar • Making rubber eggs and monster balloons with vinegar These S.T.E.M. activities encourage students to think of ideas and solutions to the presented challenges. They were urged to collect data to help them decide whether modifications were needed. When information is collected or observed, children can make modifications to their work. S.T.E.M. classes also provided opportunities for students to work together. Sometimes children were paired up, which taught them how to collaborate and cooperate as they came up with ideas or solutions.

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The best thing about S.T.E.M. activities is how it allows students to practice many different skills while having fun!

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1: Mika Yates having great fun blowing huge bubbles from a wand she created. 2: Our Tinker Lab! 3: Juan Tapia and Lupe Lucero blowing bubbles! 4: Building a tall tower out of plastic cups! 5: Liam Mohan-Litchfield getting ready to add some drops of vinegar into his baking soda so he can experience the chemical reaction that will happen when they mix. 6: Madison Gallegos experimenting with baking soda, food coloring and vinegar on the sidewalk outside her classroom. 7: Lucas Lujan has created a fun structure out of paper towel rolls, an egg carton and other items from the Maker Space.

ELEMENTARY

UPS AND DOWNS AT BANDELIER!

BY ASHLEIGH TUREK

The upper elementary classes had the chance to visit New Mexico's beautiful Bandelier National Monument in late September. They also had the opportunity to learn more about the Indigenous people who lived there.

First, we hiked past Long House, which was built along the base of the cliff and is three stories high! From there, we continued up to Alcove House. The alcove in the mountain is 140 feet above the base of the canyon, and hikers reach the top by climbing stone steps and four wooden ladders. The ladders are fairly steep so the climb is long and strenuous. Some of the younger grades were a little apprehensive about climbing so high, but they all tried their best and were very brave.

At the top of the climb, we found a reconstructed kiva and some holes left in the walls of former homes. The students were able to imagine what the Indigenous people experienced every time they traveled back and forth with supplies. Although everyone went home a little tired from the physical challenges, they also had a wonderful time learning more about the native people of New Mexico.

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1: From left: Neeva Goff, Gabriella Flores, Daniel Mendoza, Jesse Jimenez, Anthony Ibarra, and Ezrah Pacheco at the top of the Alcove House hike near a kiva.

2: Elementary school students and staff hike up the stairs and ladders to the Alcove House at Bandelier. 3: All of our 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders had a fantastic time exploring and discovering.

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ELEMENTARY Here are some comments and impressions from students about their experience at Bandelier: “The hiking was interesting! I saw a blue snake hiding by the tree. I never saw a blue one! Before this trip, I thought there was only one house, but I was wrong. There are many houses (dwellings).” ~ Aspen Mohan-Litchfield “I was tired from the long hike, but it was worth it because I’ve been lazy from staying home during COVID. I’m happy to be outdoors again. The best part for me was seeing the cave dwellings.” ~ Fiona Pedersen “I enjoyed the hike. I saw a snake, but I didn’t see a brown bear.” ~ Daniel Mendoza

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“I had fun hiking there. I climbed on a ladder to the home in the hole (dwelling/cave). Inside the hole it was really dark. I saw some drawings on the walls. I looked out of the opening of the hole and saw a beautiful view. Then I climbed down!” ~ Twilah Joe “While on our field trip, I walked for a long time with my classmates.

We climbed on a long ladder that was about 150 feet long. The view at the top was beautiful. Then we all climbed back down!” ~ Rianza Ercolino “I saw a little snake through the trees and grass and I learned about Native American homes on the hike. My favorite part was climbing up the ladder.” ~ Ariele Vest

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“While on our field trip, we saw a snake! We also saw holes everywhere. I learned about homes in the rocks. My favorite part was climbing the ladder to the top.”

~ Jesse Jimenez “Bandelier was so much fun and we climbed 140 ft!”

~ Neeva Goff

“I went to the Bandelier a few weeks ago and it was a long hike. It was an exciting trip and we climbed ladders. It was kind of scary, but it was a spectacular trip.” ~ Khadija Shandor “I had fun on the field trip even if the steep hike was a bit scary.” ~ Gabriel Ibarra

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“I enjoyed the hike and climbed a mountain. I learned that people lived there.” ~ Greyson Lobato “We went climbing at Bandelier. I was scared at first but then I was brave.” ~ Mateo Perez “I saw lots of holes in the rocks. The weather was pretty warm and only a little bit cold.” ~ Tavian Plonski “We went to Bandelier. I was scared because we had to climb really high.” ~ Anthony Ibarra

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4: Tavian Plonski and Daniel Mendoza climb a steep ladder that leads to the Alcove House. 5: Margarita Garcia and Jesse Jimenez have a great time and give the field trip a big thumbs up! 6: From left: Ashleigh Turek, Gabriella Flores, and Rianza Ercolino on the hiking trail. 7: From left: Twilah Joe, Iesha Franklin, Gabriel Ibarra, and Aspen Litchfield.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL

A LEARNING REVOLUTION!

BY JOHANNA SCHERLING

NMSD’s Middle School Department has been working hard on a comprehensive unit related to the American Revolution. Our English and Social Studies classes collaborated study units on this critical time in history by focusing on vocabulary development, historical poetry, and famous battles.

English classes studied a few poems selected from our core literature list; “O Captain! My Captain!” by Walt Whitman, “The Star-Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key, and “Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Students identified the type of poetry and learned how to sign them in ASL, all the while making natural connections. They also painted posters and created other materials that were displayed on bulletin boards in the Dillon Hall Middle School hallway.

Social Studies classes worked on research projects that focused on both the battles and the events leading up to the American Revolution. Students made websites to present their newfound knowledge. English teachers provided additional website support in the areas of grammar, word capitalization, and punctuation.

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Students and teachers learned so much from these activities, adding a deeper understanding of how the United States secured their independence from the dominion of Great Britain and separated from the British Empire. We agreed it was a “revolutionary” experience!

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1: Jezus Cruz and Ulises Aranda-Sotelo add the American flag to their poster about the “Star-Spangled Banner.” 2: Soniya Vigil, Zion Holmes, and Alex Gonzalez-Lopez work together on the websites they developed. 3: Jayden Vacher and Isac Velo-Tarin team up on their “Star-Spangled Banner” poster, showcasing what they learned during this unit of study. 4: Isac Velo-Tarin works on a drawing of a soldier during the American Revolution. 5: Zion Holmes and Johanna Scherling discuss the information provided in a textbook and how it can be integrated into his website. 6: Wendy Fuentes and Arthur White use a video of Rosa Lee Timm to help them learn and practice the ASL version of the “Star-Spangled Banner.” 7 & 8: Two examples of websites students created.

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HIGH SCHOOL: JOB PREPARATION PROGRAM

"PAWS-A-TIVELY"AWESOME!

BY JESSE WOOSLEY, SOPHIA MARTINEZ & ADAM RYLEE

Perhaps you’ve noticed how briskly some of our students walk back and forth to the James A. Little Theater. That pep in their steps is probably due to a meet and greet with a very special group of canine co-workers!

This past fall NMSD students worked with in-school Canine Assisted Leadership Crew (CALC) program through school partners Assistance Dogs of the West (ADW), Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) and the New Mexico Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (NMDVR). These agencies and organizations have been invaluable partners to our school, working tirelessly (even through the pandemic) to sustain work-based programs, supports and services and to collectively support the vision of Deaf and Hard of Hearing youth gaining valuable skills, knowledge, confidence, and support to succeed after high school.

NMSD seniors and veteran RMYC ADW trainers, Sophia Martinez and Adam Rylee, asked ADW staff and students to share their experiences with the CALC program:

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Denise Dumesnil, a licensed social worker, instructor, and trainer, coordinates CALC and related ADW programs for RMYC out of Taos, Santa Fe, and Albuquerque. Denise first joined ADW in 2010 as a volunteer. Soon after, she got her own ADW Facility Service Dog, Clark, who worked as her co-therapist providing support to those at the hospital and domestic violence shelter in Taos. Denise started the CALC program through RMYC in 2016; giving students the experience of working an actual job and saving money while still in high school. When asked what her favorite part of her job was, Denise shared that she loves when the dogs learn new tasks through student trainers, and when students learn from others. She also enjoys seeing students and dogs alike grow confidence through teaching and leading.

Efrim Rodarte-Estrada is a junior. He worked in the CALC program over the summer of 2021 and is currently involved with the in-school program. Efrim shared that his favorite part was working with the dogs, and that there was nothing to dislike about working with them.

Adrian Fernandez is a freshman. He was also involved in the 2021 summer work program and currently comes to work every Monday and Wednesday during NMSD’s Job Placement Program (JPP) class time. Adrian’s favorite canine coworker, Lane, has helped him learn new skills to better work and connect with other dogs. Adrian admits it can be tough for him to be firm with the dogs, but he knows that's the best way for puppies to learn so that they can support people with disabilities in the future. Adrian plans to be an architect one day, but

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1: From left: Leilani Crespo, Serenity Adams, Adrian Fernandez, Angelique Quinonez, Sophia Martinez, Chloe Willey-Saunders, Julian Aranda-Sotelo, Tao Williams, and their canine coworkers Lane (Labrador Retriever) and Fizzy (Wirehaired Pointing Griffon). 2: Crew Supervisor Denise Dumesnil going over the new-hire paperwork process with Kieran Vollmar (left) and Lathaniel Williams. This is a real job with real pay and everyone must complete tax and work authorization forms, like any other job. 3: Sophia Martinez and Julian Aranda-Sotelo get harnesses on Fizzy and Lane. The dogs learn how to put their heads through the harness or collar and stand still while being dressed. This skill is very important as they may end up being placed with a person who has a physical disability. 4: From left: Trainer Jodie Densmore, Kieran Vollmar with Taco, Efrim Rodarte-Estrada with Avery, and Sophia Martinez with Fizzy. ADW primarily trains Labrador Retrievers to be service dogs but any breed can be a service dog. Avery and Fizzy are sister and brother and are Wirehaired Pointing Griffons (WPGs).

WPGs are medium-sized dogs that don’t shed, which could be a good fit for a client.

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HIGH SCHOOL: JOB PREPARATION PROGRAM the (CALC) program has helped him develop leadership and people skills.

He recognizes this is an important skill set for success in the future!

Chloe Willey-Saunders is a sophomore and started working with ADW for the first time in September. When Chloe arrives at work, they put on their “beautiful royal blue” uniform vest and start training the dogs with their co-workers right away. They work together to groom the dogs and practice different cues with them. Chloe mentions that they typically work with the same two dogs every Monday and Wednesday, while the other two or three dogs are on rotation from ADW. Chloe admits that dog drool is not their favorite thing about the job, but they enjoy learning about teamwork and developing patience for working with others. This will be an important skill when becoming a math teacher one day!

Serenity Adams is a freshman and has been with ADW for a few months.

She grooms the dogs, including brushing teeth, brushing hair, cleaning ears, and a physical check to make sure the dogs aren’t injured. Serenity enjoys interacting with dogs to learn about their personalities, different behaviors, and how she can best communicate with them. In the future, Serenity would like to be an investigator or detective, as well as a Tik Tok artist. She feels her experience working with dogs can help her develop strong communication skills.

Kyle Lephart, Director of Finance and Operations at ADW, started as a program assistant in 2008. He was responsible for taking dogs to vet appointments, buying supplies, supporting classes, and maintaining vehicles. Although Kyle is now more involved with bookkeeping and payroll, he still maintains old duties like helping with veterinary care. Kyle’s favorite part of his job is that he is involved with so many different aspects of ADW while still able to spend lots of time working directly with the dogs.

Kyle cherishes all the stories about how the dogs impact people’s lives in positive ways.

NMSD is grateful for our continued partnership with Assistance Dogs of the West (ADW). Everyone agrees that the experience has been “paws-a-tively” awesome!

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5: Trainer Jodie Densmore orienting the Crew on how to safely go through doorways with their dogs. NMSD’s James A. Little Theater is the perfect place to practice public skills like this. 6: Trainer Jodie Densmore and Canine Crew members working as a group to think through the steps needed to teach Frederick, dog in-training, how to wear socks and get used to his paws being handled. 7: Summer 2021 group training where 12-week-old Fizzy (sitting in CALC member's lap) is learning the command "Under" with different trainers. Service dogs in-training need to learn to listen to a lot of different people, not just their primary trainer. 8: Students learning clicker training using M&M's as treats! 9: Adam Rylee with Violet. Adam is attuned with his dog, focusing on her when she sees a distraction. Focusing on your dog is critical to being a good trainer and is a lot of work! 10: Chloe Willey-Saunders and Angelique Quinonez with service dog in-training, Lane. Notice how Lane is sitting in the "good position." Service dogs are trained to sit close and right next to you and face the same direction you are facing. Dogs will want to turn to face you, but service dogs have to always be in "good position" so they do not take up too much space when out in public. 11: Summer 2021 CALC: Standing from left: Trainer Jodie Densmore, Adrien Ercolino, Adrian Fernandez, Sophia Martinez, Claire Stephens, Efrim Rodarte-Estrada, Kieran Ercolino, and Adam Rylee. Sitting: Jovi Melendez. Dogs from left: Schroeder, Frederick, Taco, and Violet.

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STUDENT LIFE – ATHLETICS

FALL SEASON

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VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

VARSITY FOOTBALL

Sitting: Manager Leilani Crespo. Kneeling from left: Jocelyn “Jovi” Melendez, Ovilia Chaco, Bria Vigil, Sirrah Wilding, Emily Begay, and Toni Chaco. Standing from left: Stacy Vargas, Winnifre Johle, Chloe Willey-Saunders, Assistant Coach Joi Holsapple, Sophia Martinez, Head Coach Letty Perez, Claire Stephens, Serenity Adams, and Angelique Quinonez.

From left: Head Coach Jimmy Litchfield, Manager Adrian Fernandez, Santiago Lopez, Jesus Rios-Pena, Alex Gonzalez-Lopez, Adrian Ercolino, Matteo Leija, Alex Wilding, Kieran Vollmar, Efrim Rodarte-Estrada, Bruce Brewer Jr., Jose Miranda-Sarabia, John “LJ” Hernandez, Jesse Haley, Manager Julian Aranda-Sotelo, and Assistant Coach Abe Martinez.

MIDDLE SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

MIDDLE SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL

From left: Head Coach Jodi Stumbo, Serenity Hardy, Nevaeh Garcia, Kimora Vollmar, Lacey Gilpin, Aubrianna Baca, Demi Padilla, Tamryn Smith, and Assistant Coach Ericka Allen. Not pictured: Jodie Haley.

From left: Kane Wilding, Zion Holmes, Jesse Crespin, Coach Emilio Garcia, Logan Donelan, Joseph Rodriguez, and Arthur White.

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

Group 1 from left: Coach Jodi Stumbo, Santiago Lopez, Alex Wilding, Adrien Ercolino, Jesse Haley, and Alex Gonzalez-Lopez.

Group 2 from left: John "LJ" Hernandez, Matteo Leija, Bruce Brewer Jr., Jose Miranda-Sarabia, Jesus Rios-Pena, Kieran Vollmar, and Coach Jodi Stumbo.

STUDENT LIFE – ATHLETICS

FALL SEASON ACADEMIC BOWL

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS BUFF TEAM

Front row from left: Bruce Brewer Jr., Kieran Vollmar, Chloe WileySaunders, Adrien Ercolino, and Alex Wilding. Standing: Assistant Coach Scott Vollmar and Coach Carrie Nichols.

Front row: Head Chaperone Emilie Wilding and Assistant Chaperone Sara Eaves. Middle row: Tamryn Smith and Emilia (Wayde) Van Gunten.

Top: Logan Donelan.

GO ROADRUNNERS! BATTLE OF THE BOOKS BLUE TEAM

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS BISON TEAM

Front row: Head Chaperone Emilie Wilding and Assistant Chaperone Sara Eaves. Middle row: Kane Wilding and Khadija Shandor. Top row: Jesse Crespin and Kimora Vollmar.

Front row: Head Chaperone Emilie Wilding and Assistant Chaperone Sara Eaves. Second row: Soniya Vigil and Tavian Plonski. Third row: Nevaeh Garcia and Neeva Goff. Top row: Winnifre Johle and Greyson Lobato.

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STUDENT LIFE - ATHLETICS

HOMECOMING

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1: Fans enjoying the Varsity volleyball game during Homecoming. 2: Bruce Brewer Jr. on the run with the ball. NMSD went on to win 50-0! 3: Varsity Volleyball team players Sophia Martinez and Stacy Vargas sign the National Anthem. 4: Superintendent, Dr. Jennifer Herbold, and NMSD’s Student Body Government Sponsor (SBG), Dominic Harrison, getting ready to introduce the 2021 Roadrunner Royalty Court during half-time. 5: Stacy Vargas attack hits the ball to Wagon Mound’s side of the floor. 6: Head Coach Jimmy Litchfield chanting “Go Roadrunners” before the game against Shiprock’s Northwest High School.

7: NMSD did a great job blocking the other team throughout the entire game. 8: Superintendent Herbold and former Superintendent Dr. Stern supporting our girls from the stands. 9: Sophia Martinez and Chloe Willey-Saunders getting ready to spike the ball back over the net. The NMSD Varsity Volleyball team went on to beat Wagon Mound 25-19, 25-17, and 24-13. 10: Freshmen Ambassadors Angelique Quinonez and Julian Aranda-Sotelo. 11: Sophomore Ambassadors Chloe Willey-Saunders and Claire Stephens. 12: Junior Ambassadors Stacy Vargas and Jose Miranda-Sarabia. 13: Roadrunner Royalty, Seniors Sophia Martinez and Jesus Rios-Pena.

SPIRIT WEEK

SPIRIT WEEK

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1: Heather Lujan from the NMSD Albuquerque Preschool painting her Roadrunner Pride on Career Day! 2: From left: Dennis Catron, Suzanne Bono, Laurie Anderson. Adriana Martinez, Elizabeth Fry, David Anderson, Dominic Harrison, Jimmy Litchfield, Crystal Mitchem, Jesse Woosley, Kimberly Herrera, and Nadine Henning join in on Career Day fun! 3: Bria Vigil’s 1980 meets Jovi Melendez’s 1940 during Pre-2000s Day. 4: Members of Spirit Week’s Pep Rally Parade visiting classrooms to drum up excitement for Homecoming weekend. 5: We Are NMSD! 6: Middle school students showing their Roadrunner spirit! 7: Adriana Martinez in her Pre-2000s Day “Rosie the Riveter” costume! 8: From left: David Jessup, Matt Lujan, Jimmy Litchfield, Adrian Fernandez, Adriana Martinez, and Nadine Henning showing us that it’s all about orange on Colorful Day! 9: Vicente Garcia Spillman having fun dancing while Sierra Cisneros watches on.

10: From left: Dominic Harrison, Stacy Vargas, Chloe Willey-Saunders, Bria Vigil, and Efrim Rodarte-Estrada showing every color in the rainbow for Colorful Day.

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INTERPRETATION

DREAM TEAM

BY JULIE NAGLE & TEAM

NMSD’s Interpretation Department provides NMSD students, staff, and families with language access on a daily basis.

We are committed to equal access and believe requesting an interpreter should be easy. Our team is composed of eleven highly skilled members who take pride in interpreting and translating between Spanish, ASL, and English. Since we tend to stay behind the scenes, we thought you might enjoy getting to know our team better!

Stephanie Armijo-Anderson holds a BS in Signed Language Interpreting from the University of New Mexico. She’s worked for NMSD for five years and loves working with so many talented people on and off campus. When not interpreting, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family; fly fishing, hiking, and anything outdoors.

Sara Eaves holds a BS in Sign Language Interpreting and Creative Writing from the University of New Mexico. This is her first year at NMSD. She loves spending time with her two dogs, horseback riding, scary stories, and taking polaroid photos.

Barbie Greenwater has an AA degree in Interpreting for the Deaf from San Antonio College and is thrilled to find her home in Santa Fe and at NMSD and to be interpreting with this gifted team. Barbie lives with her Sheepadoodle pup, has a deep love for the wilderness - hiking, whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, and loves laughing with friends over dinner, live music and dancing, time with family, and mostly spoiling her grandchildren.

Cathrael Hackler was born and raised in Santa Fe, NM. She received her BA in Psychology and Women's Studies from Oberlin College and was fortunate to spend part of her undergraduate time at Gallaudet University. After twenty-five years in the Bay Area, Cathrael returned to Santa Fe, and has been working at NMSD for 5 years. She spends her free time with her son, who just started High School, their dog, and other family. She also loves to sing, hike, swim, and practice yoga.

Claudia Hernandez has an AA degree in Spanish Language from Santa Fe Community College, and her BS in Sign Language Interpreting from William Woods University. She has three wonderful children, one of whom attends NMSD. Claudia has worked at NMSD for nine years. In her free time, she likes going off-roading, camping, and traveling with her family.

Mansilla holds a BS in Sign Language Interpreting from the University of North Florida, and her MS in Spanish/English Interpreting and Translating from the University of Texas in Rio Grande Valley. She moved to New Mexico to begin working at NMSD in 2013 and is grateful since it has shaped her into the interpreter she is today. Mansilla loves spending time with her family and traveling, especially merging the two together! She loves seeing the world and sharing those special moments with her loved ones.

Julie Nagle has her BS in Sign Language Interpreting from the University of New Mexico and her MS in Interpreting from the University of North Florida. She’s been at NMSD for 13 years, and enjoys reading, knitting, and spending time with her wife and son.

Erick Rodriguez holds a BS in Sign Language Interpreting from the University of New Mexico and an MS in Business Administration from Stockton University. He’s worked at NMSD for 4 years as a Trilingual interpreter and contracts with multiple local agencies as well. He loves to travel and explore the outdoors with his two dogs. His newest COVID hobby is playing acoustic guitar.

Jennifer Sagastume has a BA in ASL/English Interpreting and a second BA in Spanish from Western Oregon University. She’s originally from Los Angeles, California and is currently in her first year at NMSD. Jennifer loves spending time outdoors, dancing, and hanging out with her loved ones.

Martha Shearer lives in Santa Fe with her husband and three children. Two are students at NMSD, and this is her second year working in the Interpretation Department. She enjoys painting, gardening, and spending time with her family.

Alaska Scott Williams holds a BA in Signed Language Interpreting from the University of New Mexico.

She likes to challenge herself by learning and trying new things and enjoys reading all kinds of books!

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CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL CONSULTATION & TRAINING

FALL FUN!

BY DEAN KROHN

In mid-October, NMSD’s ASL Service Corps team hosted an afternoon of “Spooky Signs & Treats” at A Park Above in Rio Rancho. It was the team’s first community event of the year, and they were thrilled to offer an in-person event after 19 months of computer connections!

The event included a variety of hands-on and fun activities like guessing the amount of candy in a jar, a mini haunted house, an ABC story, and a magic story. The group even played Halloween themed games with skeletons, mummies, and juggling!

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Pumpkins were provided for unique painted decorations. After pumpkin painting, the artists shared a story about their masterpiece!

The event culminated with awards for best Halloween costume, best pumpkin artwork, and closest guesses of how many candies were in a jar.

Everyone shared fun and giggles.

Thanks to our interpreters, the group enjoyed full access to each others' stories, comments, ideas, and questions. We are looking forward to more in-person opportunities in the future.

The Holmes Family of Rio Rancho shared, “The community event was so nice. The weather was perfect even though it was a little windy at times.

My kids loved the activities and they had a blast! They are still practicing the juggling skills they learned and the pumpkins they painted were a hit in my neighborhood! Thanks for the invite, NMSD. We really enjoyed it.”

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Here’s to more fun next year!

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1: Everyone had a great day playing and learning together. 2: Learning how to juggle is so much fun! 3: What’s inside the balloon? 4: Painting a pumpkin.

5: Is Dean really juggling knives?! 6: Zion turning his mom into a mummy! 7: Focused artists painting their masterpieces.

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ALUMNI

ALUMNI IN ACTION

BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE

Many alumni think of NMSD as their home away from home. We hold alumni in a very special place in our hearts. NMSD is where they grew up, gained an education, and made life-long friends.

Below, Lois Faye Moss Falvey shares her time as an NMSD student and explains where she is now.

What year did you enroll at NMSD? I enrolled at NMSD in 1945 when I was 8 years old. I became deaf due to a bad fall on a public-school playground.

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What town did you grow up in? I grew up on my dad’s farm 30 miles southeast of Portales, New Mexico.

Who were your best friends while at school? My best friends were Wilma Truitt, Carole Morton, Elsie Quintana, and Lydia Maes.

What were your favorite subjects when at NMSD? My favorite subjects at NMSD were Reading, English, Poetry (Literature), History, and Home Economics.

Who were your favorite teachers or staff members and why? I admired many teachers and staff members. Mr. Dale Jones mixed school lessons with games. He kept us awake and was an understanding man. Mrs. Vorhess got me interested in Poetry and taught me how to harmonize it vocally. Mr. Robert Clingenpeel was the perfect teacher as he instilled a desire for learning in me. He made things clear and simple and was firm yet amusing in class. Mrs. Marvia Walach was firm and always got straight to the point. She also took the time to explain the subject and made sure we understood. She was a fair and flexible woman. Mrs. Eulala Hendricks was a Housemother who was a caring woman. She was firm, yet flexible also. When my mother was in a car accident, she was there to comfort me and help me through.

She took time to make phone calls so that she could assure me my mother was progressing. Fortunately, my mom pulled through.

What are your fondest memories while a student at NMSD? I have many fond memories from my time at NMSD: roller skating on the sidewalks, monthly parties in the auditorium with loud music and dancing, starting a cheerleader squad, Girl Scouts events and camping, Harvest Day where we all worked in the orchard and vegetable garden, and of course, my boyfriend Clarence Falvey.

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What year did you graduate from NMSD? I graduated from NMSD in 1957.

After you graduated, what college and profession did you go into? After I graduated from NMSD, I went to Gallaudet College (renamed to Gallaudet University in 1986) for one year. I preferred a Business School, so I went to Benson’s School of Commerce in Clovis, New Mexico where I received my Junior Accounting certificate. I worked as a bookkeeper at the Bank of Las Vegas for 49 years. I married my high school sweetheart, Clarence, in 1960, and our marriage lasted 50 years before he passed away.

In what ways have you stayed connected with NMSD? I keep NMSD in my heart always! I am a member of NMSDAA (NMSD’s Alumni Association) having served various times as an officer. I try to watch for bills related to NMSD in the Legislature. I attend sporting events, Homecoming (when possible), attend plays or lectures, and I’m friends with a lot of the staff. My husband Clarence did a lot of upholstery work for NMSD. What are you currently up to in your life? I am retired after having worked for the Bank of Las Vegas for 49 years. After I lost Clarence, I moved to Albuquerque. I am involved with the Albuquerque Deaf Seniors, currently serving as Treasurer. I’m also a member of the Deaf Culture Center (DCC), currently serving as a Trustee on the board. I am a lifetime member of NMAD (NM Association of the Deaf), having served on the board in various capacities. And I served as Director of Miss Deaf New Mexico for 16 years. Presently, I am involved with the Deaf Focus Group and DCC working to build an apartment complex for deaf people in Albuquerque. Groundbreaking should happen soon. My daughter and family live in Albuquerque, so we get together for family events. I just recently became a great grandma for the first time. A great joy!

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Top left: Lois Faye Moss’s senior class picture, 1957. 1: Faye (back row on left) and her friends all dressed up and ready for a formal dance in 1953. 2: NMSD's first cheerleader squad, formed in 1953 by (from left) Wilma Truitt, Margaret Conklin, Lois Faye Moss, and (not pictured) Dolores Baca. 3: High School sweethearts Clarence and Faye, 1955. They married in June of 1960. 4: In 2015, during the 130th Celebration and Alumni Reunion, Faye shared how she and classmates formed the first cheerleader squad and how the Roadrunner became NMSD's official mascot. 5: Faye’s greatest joy is being a grandmother to Hollyanne and great grandmother to Ian!

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – BELLE & CORA LARSON DINING HALL

The renovation of the Belle & Cora Larson Dining Hall has begun. Funds for this project were secured when Bond C passed in 2020. Significant improvements will include updating fire sprinklers, electrical systems, lighting, bathrooms, student dining area, food preparation spaces (kitchen), abating asbestos and more. We are also thrilled that culinary arts classes will be held in the dining hall’s renovated kitchen. The goal is to have the project completed by the end of this school year.

Here are some photos of the demolition work that has been happening. Look for another update in the Spring of 2022’s New Mexico Progress magazine.

Presorted Marketing US Postage Paid Permit 1893 Albuq.NM

1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 www.nmsd.k12.nm.us

NEW MEXICO'S FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL

THE NEW MEXICO PROGRESS

since 1909 USPS #381-500 / ISSN #0896-6478

Vol. 112 / Issue 1 / Summer/Fall 2021-22 Published twice during the school year at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, 1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505.

Distributed to parents of students presently enrolled at NMSD and staff. POSTMASTER: Send address change to THE NEW MEXICO PROGRESS, 1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Staff: Editor/Keri-Lynn McBride; Associate Editors/Bay Anapol and Kimm Wiens.

Design/Hollie Fleming.