taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16
1
Complete your Associate’s Degree from the UNM-Taos branch and continue your studies!
We’re building the facilities now That create opportunities For a brighter future.
TAOS Bachelor & Graduate Programs Take your UNM upper division courses with us
and achieve your Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree. Our Advisement can assist with... • Credit Transfer from UNM-Taos branch campus (and other qualifying institutions) to a UNM Bachelor Degree Completion Program • Admission to UNM • Schedule and Course Planning
... for Prospective Degree Students • Credit Review • Class Registration • Veteran’s Resources • Graduation Check
... for Current Degree Students
Start with a firm foundation Of workforce skills Or an academic degree And the sky’s the limit! UNM TAOS 1157 County Road 110, Ranchos de Taos, 87557 (575) 737-6215se| ttaos.unm.edu o 2
c lo
ho me Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Fall Semester Begins August 17th Register NOW 575-758-2828 taosbgp@unm.edu
246-B Ledoux St. adjacent to the Harwood
We are located next to the Harwood Museum of Art
on the web:
taosbgp.unm.edu UNM Taos Bachelor & Graduate Programs
I remain grateful to a community that values education and demands excellence. We know our goals are ambitious and rigorous, but believe them to be achievable. Together we will build students of character who are globally aware of the needs of others, and who can articulate their learning in meaningful ways. What a great legacy for Taos! We, as a District, appreciate the commitment and dedication of staff, volunteers, community and business partners who are helping Taos Schools grow stronger as we move towards excellence in education. I continue to look forward to working with our students, staff and community as we meet our strategic initiatives in a collaborative partnership. Together we have begun to make a difference.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
One of the great strengths of Taos Municipal Schools is its diversity: the people, the programs, and most of all the opportunities for our students. The strengths and benefits which result from that diversity are reflected each and every day in the accomplishments of our students and staff. For example, our students earn state and national recognition in everything from academics to athletics to the arts. Our student opportunities and course electives are second to none with a wide selection of athletics and sports available not only at the high school level, but at the middle school as well. We also provide dual credit classes on and off campus, the UNM Friday Program and high quality AP courses which continue to expand. This success is possible thanks to the hard work and dedication of about 3,000 students and nearly 400
employees, along with the support of families and community partners who recognize that both the hope for our future and the strength of our community rests in our schools. Keep informed, as we move into this next school year with continued progress and instructional improvement in all classrooms.
P A I D
Taos Municipal School’s mission calls us all to work together to prepare our students academically, socially, physically and emotionally to succeed as responsible citizens. Together we can support our youth, not only to pursue, but to reach their dreams, inspire excellence and life-long success, and to live a fulfilled life. We are now ready to move forward as we pursue the implementation of our newly completed strategic plan that will take us to the year 2020. I am very thankful to our staff and community members who have contributed to the development of our strategic plan and who work daily with students to ensure academic, athletic, and character success. It has been an exciting process!
Arroyos del Norte Elementary
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
e c i f f O e From th perintendent of the Su
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
SUPERiNTENDENT LETTER
Enos Garcia Elementary
Ranchos Elementary
Taos Middle School
Taos High School
I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Superintendent of TMS! Respectfully,
Dr. Lillian M. Torrez Superintendent
Taos Cyber Magnet
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16
3
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
ADMiNiSTR ATiON / n o i t c u r t s n I f o r Directo rograms P l a r e d e F
On behalf of the director of instruction and federal programs staff, I would like to welcome students, parents, and staff to the 2015-2016 school year. During the summer staff attended professional development to refresh their educational skills. During the 2014-2015 school year the district and community collaborated to develop a Strategic Plan - Taos LEADS, to guide the district staff over the next few years. This year in order for staff to implement their ideas, time has been incorporated into the school calendar. Time will be used to improve collaboration and planning across departments, utilizing school professional learning communities and implementing vertical teaming across the district. Part of this collaboration requires parental involvement that is vital for the success of our schools and students. I invite you to participate and voice your opinions about program successes and needs, at monthly and quarterly meetings held at each school site. Parent input helps guide the schools’ and district programs in order to implement recommended improvements towards your child’s success.
Our district and school Educational Plan for Student Success (EPSS) will reflect these goals and strategically plan the use of funds to support overall student achievement, educator excellence, student/ staff safety and wellness, and public relations and communications. Enhancement and improvement in these tiers are common in both, collaboration between parents, community, and schools are essential for growth. Federal and state grants support all district schools with funds management and compliance of programs. Support includes but is not limited to instructional programs such as bilingual education, fine arts education, Title I programs, Juvenile Detention Center, tutoring programs, etc. In addition, program support provides adequate and necessary instructional materials for staff/students and funds essential staff development to implement district goals and instructional programs. Taos Municipal Schools’ vision is to Inspire Excellence and Life Long Success through teaching, learning and collaboration for all students. I invite you to partner with us to make this vision a reality. Respectfully,
Ms. Melissa Sandoval Director of Instruction/ Federal Programs
4
Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
P A I D A D V E R T I S E M E N T
As the Taos Municipal Schools Compliance/Federal Programs Director, I am excited to welcome you to the 2015-2016 school year! We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children achieve their highest potential. We recognize that in order to be successful in school, our children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities.
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
Complia nce/Fede ral Program s Directo r
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
ADMiNiSTR ATiON
Through our federal programs, we will be providing supplemental support focusing on student academic achievement. In doing so, we strongly believe that our focus on academic achievement will be the key to lifelong successes for our children in whatever endeavors they choose to pursue. Thank you for your continued trust in the top quality academic programs and staff that Taos Municipal Schools offers for your children. Together we can make a difference in each child’s life. I feel privileged to be a part of this school family. We thank you for your support and look forward to a successful school year. “Unidos, todo se puede para nuestros niños.” Respectfully yours,
Ms. Norma Cavazos Compliance/Federal Programs Director
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16
5
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
SCHOOL BOARD WHITNEY GOLER
Schools l a p i c i n Taos Mu
BOARD S R E B M E M 016 15-2 March 20
TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
Board of Education Meeting Schedule 2015-2016 Regular scheduled meetings start at 6:00 PM unless noted otherwise.
6
D AT E
PLACE
July 21st, 2015
Administration Building
August 4th, 2015
Administration Building
August 25th, 2015
Cyber Magnet School
September 8th, 2015
Administration Building
September 22nd, 2015
Taos High School
October 6th, 2015
Administration Building
October 20th, 2015
Taos Pueblo
November 17th, 2015
Ranchos Elementary
December 8th, 2015
Taos Charter School
January 19th, 2016
Enos Garcia Elementary
February 9th, 2016
Administration Building
February 23rd, 2016
Arroyos del Norte Elementary
March 8th, 2016
Anansi Charter School
April 5th, 2016
Vista Grande High School
April 19th, 2016
Administration Office
May 3rd, 2016
Taos Middle School
May 17th, 2016
Administration Bldg.
June 7th, 2016
Administration Bldg.
June 21st, 2016
Administration Bldg.
Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
BOARD MEMBER DISTRICT 2 | 2019 PO Box 520 Taos, NM 87571 741-0335 Cell whitney.goler@taosschools.org
MARK FLORES II
BOARD SECRETARY DISTRICT 3 | 2018 PO Box 1301 Ranchos de Taos, Taos NM 87557 770-4823 Cell mark.flores@taosschools.org
DAVID CHAVEZ
BOARD PRESIDENT DISTRICT 4 | 2019 PO Box 1721 Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557 575 751-7425 Home david.chavez@taosschools.org
JASON SILVA
BOARD MEMBER DISTRICT 1 | 2019 PO Box 1013 El Prado, NM 87529 741-1717 cell jason.silva@taosschools.org
JAMES SANBORN VICE-PRESIDENT DISTRICT 5 | 2018 HC 74 Box 24372 El Prado, NM 87529 770-2993 Cell james.sanborn@taosschools.org
P A I D
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
R
7
7
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
Features
CONTENTS
09 Bridges can help you reach your higher education goals 28 Mariachi El Tigre: Celebrating 34 years of cultural heritage 32 Taos Academy: Offering 21st-Century learning 34 Student video 'Inside the Rainbow' takes on LGBTQ issues at Taos school 40 What's going on at UNM-Taos? 42 Fire runs deep: Peñasco class a path to jobs, link to tradition 46 ‘Stewards of the planet’: Questa High takes first in enviro competition 48 TISA: New leadership supports school success 50 Edu@Work Café at Taos High School: Full menu 64 CAV in the schools focuses on healthy relationships 66 Sports: Stay injury-free this season 68 Sipapu rewards students with free lift tickets 74 Some tips to balance academics and athletics 76 Students tackle racism with literacy at Arroyos del Norte
Taos Municipal Schools
03 From the Office of the Superintendent 04 From Melissa Sandoval, director of instruction/ federal programs 05 From Norma Cavazos, compliance/ federal programs director 06 School board members and schedule of meetings 07 Taos Municipal Schools 2015-2016 calendar 10 TMS school directory 12 Federal programs 13 Yearly testing 14 Bus schedule 20 Choices within a diverse public school setting 21 Arroyos del Norte Elementary School 22 Enos García Elementary School 24 Ranchos Elementary School 52 School supplies 53 Exceptional programs 54 Taos Middle School 56 Taos High School 60 Athletics 62 Cyber Magnet School 63 Health 70 Nutrition
Staff Box
Robin Martin, owner Chris Baker, publisher Joan Livingston, editor Chris Wood, advertising manager Andy Jones, special sections editor Michelle M. Gutierrez, lead editorial designer Karin Eberhardt, production manager Katharine Egli, photographer Cover design by Karin Eberhardt
Vista Grande High School Now Enrolling 9th - 12th Grades
Vista CARES!
Creative Thinking Achievement Respect for Diversity and
our Natural World
vghs.org • 575-758-5100 213 Paseo del Canon East in Taos
8
Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Empowering Change Supportive Environment
By Joleen Montoya Dye and Sue Goldberg
“S
cholarships, deadlines, FAFSA, graduation, transcripts, eligibility requirements, lottery, G.P.A’s, transcripts, W2s, PIN #, grants/loans, taxes need to be done by the end of February. Oh no! I forgot my password, parents’ income, student’s income, checklists, more transcripts … AAARRRGH! Okay, actually it really wasn’t that bad … it just seemed like it at first.” This is a quote from a parent who worked closely with Bridges. His sentiments are commonly heard in our office. The college exploration, admissions and financial aid process can seem incredibly daunting. Our job is to help break it down into manageable pieces that allow people to move efficiently toward their personal goals. Bridges was founded in 1997 on a simple idea — to expand college access for people of all ages, with an emphasis on students who are from the first generation in their families to seek higher education. That concept is thriving today as we provide personalized, comprehensive counseling throughout the admissions and financial aid process. In 18 years, Bridges has worked individually with over 2,400 students and their families. We know that helping students earn college and vocational degrees can be an effective way to increase their ability to contribute positively to the social welfare and broader economy of
our community. Individualized counseling continues to be the focal point of our work because it allows us to address students’ particular circumstances as we help them apply to colleges and identify financial aid and scholarships. We believe that each person’s path to higher education is unique. Our goal is to walk through the application process with them every step of the way, to match them with schools that are appropriate to their lifestyle and needs, and to give them experience so that tasks which were once overwhelming are accessible and no longer intimidating.
Who comes to Bridges?
Bridges works with anyone who is interested in pursuing post-secondary education, whether this is attending a four-year university, community college, or vocational school. We also provide services to local schools and community agencies. We work with high school and GED students, parents, nontraditional-aged students and people making mid-life career changes. Most of the people we work with qualify for federal aid.
Why do people come to Bridges?
We can help with: • Creating a personalized list of colleges and/or vocational schools
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
Bridges c reach yo an help you u educatio r higher n goals
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
BRIDGES
Courtesy Photo
Hannah Gunther and Julia Herion Cruz show off T-shirts from their future schools.
that matches students’ needs and aspirations • Completing college applications • Developing essays • Completing scholarship applications • F illing out the FAFSA and other financial aid paperwork • Following through with financial aid offices • Analyzing financial aid packages • Deciding on the best school to attend
What can be expected during a counseling session?
If you or someone you know would like help navigating through the college admissions and financial aid process, give us a call to set up an appointment. We are open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Counseling sessions happen at our office at 112A Alexander St. and last approximately a half hour to an hour. The first time we get together we will have a conversation about your needs and how Bridges can help. From there, we will come up with an individualized game plan that meets you wherever you are in your process. Please visit our website, bridgesproject.org, and follow us on Facebook as Bridges Project. We regularly post event notices, as well as deadlines and scholarship opportunities. We can also be reached at (575) 758-5074. We look forward to hearing from you.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16
9
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
DIRECTORY ANANSI CHARTER SCHOOL (K-5) Michelle Hunt, Director
776-2256
mhunt@acstaos.org
ARROYOS DEL NORTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 737-6175 Naomi Gallegos, Principal
737-6177 737-6175
naogal@taosschools.org
CHRYSALIS ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL 751-7291 751-7291
ENOS GARCIA EAST ADMINISTRATION BUILDING 758-5200 Dr. Lillian Torrez, Superintendent 758-5202 lillian.torrez@taosschools.org Carla Duran, Administrative Assistant 758-5202 cardur@taosschools.org Melissa A. Sandoval, Director of Instruction and Federal Programs 758-5204 melissa.sandoval@taosschools.org Norma Cavazos, Compliance Officer/Federal Programs 737-6110 norma.cavazos@taosschools.org Sandra Garcia, Administrative Assistant 758-5210 sandrag@taosschools.org Feloniz Trujillo, Administrative Assistant 758-5246 feltru@taosschools.org James Lucero, Title I Social Worker 737-6035 jamluc@taosschools.org Maria Jeantete, Data Technician 758-5207 marjea1@taosschools.org Bobby Spinelli, Director of Finance 758-5211 bobby.spinelli@taosschools.org Jennifer Hallstrom, Financial Specialist 758-5212 jenntaos@taosschools.org Maya Romero, Financial Specialist 758-5213 maya@taosschools.org Christine Valencia, Financial Specialist 758-5215 christine.valencia@taosschools.org Monica Martinez, Financial Specialist 758-5219 monmar@taosschools.org Tanya Maestas, Financial Specialist 758-5220 tanya.maestas@taosschools.org Esther Winter, Director of Human Resources and Transportation 758-5208 esther@taosschools.org Sandra Martinez, HR Admin. Assistant 758-5205 sanmar@taosschools.org Samantha Martinez, Transportation Secretary 758-5291 samantha.martinez@taosschools.org Wilbur Trujillo, Maintenance Mechanic 758-5206 wiltru@taosschools.org Jim Ivanovich, Director of Exceptional Programs 737-6114 jim.ivanovich@taosschools.org Sandra Vigil, Administrative Assistant 737-6113 sandra@taosschools.org Rayne Medina, Medicaid Secretary 737-6115 rayne@taosschools.org Robert Valencia, Facilities Supervisor 758-5245 robert.valencia@taosschools.org Donia Intriere, Director of Student Nutrition Program 758-5214 donna.intriere@taosschools.org Michelle Roaque, Admin. Assistant 758-5289 michelle.roaque@taosschools.org Bonnie Martinez, Warehouse Manager 758-5225
10 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
ENOS GARCIA ELEMENTARY 737-6100 Dr. Gladys Herrera-Gurule, Principal Maya Chacon, Asst. Principal Nanette Barela, Secretary Debra Wright, School Nurse
737-6172 737-6099 737-6070 737-6075
glagur@taosschools.org maycha@taosschools.org nanbar@taosschools.org debwri@taosschools.org
RANCHOS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – 737-6150 Lourdes Cordova, Principal Cathy Vigil, Secretary Monica Lucero, School Nurse
737-6152 737-6150 737-6153
loucor@taosschools.org catvig@taosschools.org monluc@taosschools.org
TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL (K-8) Doug Moser, Director
751-7222
TAOS CYBER MAGNET – 758-5990 Alexsis Blake, Head Teacher
758-5990
alexis@taosschools.org
TAOS HIGH SCHOOL 751-8000 Robert V. Trujillo, Principal Lisa Abeyta-Valerio, Assistant Principal Danielle Romero, Secretary Elma Chavez, Registrar Evelyn Anaya, Counselors’ Secretary Debbie Martinez, Attendance Secretary Maria Medina, School Nurse Nickie McCarty, Athletic Director Fatima Chavez, Secretary
751-8002 751-8026 751-8000 751-8013 751-8018 751-8016 751-8074 751-8030 751-8025
robvtru@taosschools.org lisabe@taosschools.org danrom@taosschools.org elma@taosschools.org eveana@taosschools.org debmar@taosschools.org marmed@taosschools.org nikmcc@taosschools.org Fatima@taosschools.org
TAOS MIDDLE SCHOOL 737-6000 Alfred Cordova, Principal Valerie Valerio, Assistant Principal Rosita Rael, Secretary/Registrar Sheila Jiron, Attendance Secretary Carmelita Martinez, School Nurse
737-6003 737-6004 737-6006 737-6002 737-6016
alfcor@taosschools.org valval@taosschools.org rosrae@taosschools.org shejir@taosschools.org carmel@taosschools.org
VISTA GRANDE HIGH SCHOOL (9-12) Isabelle St.Onge, Director
758-5100
istonge@vghs.org
• We are different but we are not new or unproven: We follow an intentional, 100 year old educational philosophy that graduates studentsx who go on be everything from business leaders to artists to doctors to explorers. • We are spiritual but we are not religious. We believe in a deep connection to this place, land, and community and that connection is woven into our curriculum longitudinally. • We integrate art but we are not an arts school. We weave art and beauty into every aspect of our curriculum by fully integrating music, string instruments, handwork, and foreign languages.
WE OFFER: • No standardized testing • Tuition assistance available • Small class sizes • Proven (research-backed) track record teaching math and science • Conveniently situated on 11 amazing acres bordering the Taos Pueblo • Pre-kindergarten through 8th grade • Nurturing early childhood program ages 3-5
WE INVITE YOU TO TOUR OUR CAMPUS AND LEARN MORE Tammy Thomas (575) 751-7750 or email tammy@taoswaldorfschool.com to schedule a tour or discuss enrollment. www.taoswaldorfschool.com 9 D Ben Romero Road El Prado, NM 87529 taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 11
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
FEDER AL PROGR AMS AFTERSCHOOL SUMMER ENRICHMENT
Results will be looking at academic performance and student growth rates for students with disabilities as indicators
Funds for the implementation of quality afterschool and
of success.
summer enrichment programs which includes academic
NM ARTS GRANT
enrichment, physical activity, nutrition education, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), and/or English Language Arts initiatives and activities.
FAEA (FINE ARTS EDUCATION ACT)
Funds a variety of art organizations across NM through competitive arts grants program. NMA funds organizations that perform specified art services via reimbursement for expenses in performed contracted arts services.
TITLE III - LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION FOR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS The purpose of this program is to develop educational programs that will help ensure that immigrant students attain English proficiency, succeed at core academic subjects, and meet the same state academic content and student achievement standards expected of all children.
“The purpose of the Fine Arts Education Act is to encourage
STATE BILINGUAL PROGRAM
school districts to offer opportunities for elementary school
The Taos Municipal Schools receives state funding under
students to participate in fine arts activities, including visual
the Bilingual Multicultural Education Act of 2004 (NMSA
TITLE III - PART A: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ACQUISITION, LANGUAGE ENHANCEMENT, AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT
arts, music, theater, and dance.” (22-15D-2, NMSA 1978)
22-23-1 through 22-23-6) to provide for the education of our
Under Civil Right Law and the No Child Left Behind Act,
Students are introduced to and experience cultural and his-
linguistically and culturally different students and for schools
school districts that receive Federal financial assistance
torical art forms from local artists who go into classrooms
utilizing two languages as the medium of instruction for any
have an obligation to identify and serve all ELL/LEP students.
to teach and demonstrate their craft. Art and music
part or all of the curriculum for the grade specified in the
The purpose of Title III is to develop educational programs
teachers also provide art education continually through-
application for funding submitted to the NM PED.
that will help ensure that Limited English Proficient (LEP)/
out the school year.
TITLE I – PART A: IMPROVING THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DISADVANTAGED
KINDERGARTEN THROUGH THIRD GRADE PLUS PROGRAM (K-3 PLUS)
Title I is the largest federal education program for elementary
English Language Learners (ELLs), statute uses (LEP), attain English proficiency, succeed at core academic subjects, and meet the same state academic content and student achievement standards expected of all children.
The summer K-3+ Program extends the school year for kin-
and secondary schools. These funds are targeted to high pover-
dergarten through third grade for participating students and
ty schools and are used to provide supplementary educational
measures the effect of additional time on literacy, numeracy
services to students who are educationally disadvantaged or
and social skills development. The purpose of K-3+ Program
at risk of failing to meet the state standards. Schools have the
is to demonstrate that increased time in kindergarten and
option to follow a school wide or targeted model.
the early grades narrows the achievement gap between
TITLE I – PART D: NEGLECTED AND DELINQUENT
activities authorized under various Title Programs of the No
This program provides funds to support partnerships
supplement and not supplant other federal, state, and local
between schools and correctional facilities for the purpose
funds. The funding at each school site aligns with activities
of educating students residing in or returning from correc-
appropriate for moving the school toward the district’s goals
tional facilities. The Taos Municipal Schools works closely
for increasing student achievement.
with the Taos Juvenile Detention center and employs one
TITLE VII - INDIAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE EDUCATION
disadvantaged students and other students, and increases cognitive skills and leads to higher test scores for all participants. The K-3+ provides funding for extended school days to students from Ranchos Elementary and Enos Garcia Elementary for twenty-five instructional days.
NEW MEXICO READS TO LEAD New Mexico’s early reading initiative, New Mexico Reads to
teacher to work with district students who are incarcerated
TITLE VI - RURAL AND LOWINCOME SCHOOL PROGRAM This program targets rural school districts that serve high number of poor students. Funding from the Rural LowIncome Schools Grant may be used for a wide variety of Child Left Behind Act. RLIS funding may only be used to
Lead!, will provide the following expectations and supports
and with the Dream Tree Project.
as we prepare our children to become leaders in literacy:
The purpose of this program is to support the efforts of
struction; 3. Provide quality professional development for
TITLE II – PART A: PREPARING, TRAINING AND RECRUITING HIGH QUALITY TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS
administrators reading coaches, and teachers; 4. Ensure
The main goal is to provide funds to increase student and
to meet.
that districts/charter schools have a comprehensive plan for
academic achievement by improving teacher quality and
addressing literacy instruction; 5. Reach out to parents and
getting more highly qualified teachers and principals into
families with free resources in English and Spanish to sup-
schools. In alignment with Section 1119(a)(3) the Taos Mu-
port children’s reading at home.
nicipal School District strives to ensure that all teachers
NEW MEXICO REAL RESULTS
teaching in the core content areas within the school district
1. Increase quality of reading instruction; 2. Provide a screening assessment for use in planning data-driven in-
The Results Plan, with all its resources, was implemented to improve outcomes for students with disabilities. NM Real
12 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
are highly qualified.
school districts in serving Native American students, so that they can meet the same challenging state student academic achievement standards that all other students are expected
TITLE VIII – IMPACT AID The purpose of Impact Aid is to provide formula grants to school districts burdened by the presence of nontaxable federal land and installations to make up for lost revenues and additional costs associated with federal presence. School districts are also responsible for educating children of federal personnel who live and/or work on these properties.
Immediate. Parents usually receive report at parent/teacher conferences.
Title III Federal mandate
First 20 days of enrollment
Immediate; parents receive results within 30 days
To inform teachers whether a student is grasping standards taught.
Taos Municipal Schools
Fall, Sept 7-Oct 2, 2015 Winter, Jan 5-30, 2016 Spring, Apr 20-May 16, 2016
Immediate. Parents get results at parent/ teacher conferences
H4 – All students who did not pass the Spring SBA
To determine if student has met graduation requirements.
The State of New Mexico
Sept. 14 – 25, 2015
TBD
EoC (End-of-Course Assessments)
9th – 12th graders
Primary demonstration of competency for social studies and writing; ADC for math, reading, and science)
The State of New Mexico
3 per year – 2 weeks during last 3 weeks of semester and 1 week during first 3 weeks of spring semester
Before July 1, 2016
Woodcock-Munoz
Kindergarten –twelfth Bilingual Students
October-November 2015
Immediate. Parents get results at parent/ teacher conferences
Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State to State for English Language Learners (ACCESS for ELL’s)
Identified English language learners must take the test annually until they are proficient.
January – February 2016
May 2016
New Mexico Alternative Performance Assessment (NMAPA)
Grades 4, 7, 11. Science and Social Studies. Students with significant cognitive disabilities who cannot take the Standards Based Assessment.
To determine if schools and students are making “Adequate Yearly Progress” and graduation requirement for HS students.
TBD
TBD
National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC)
Grades 3-8, 11 - ELA and Math. Students with significant cognitive disabilities who cannot take the Standards Based Assessment.
To determine if schools and students are making “Adequate Yearly Progress” and graduation requirement for HS students.
The State of New Mexico under federal “No Child Left Behind Act.”
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC)
Grades 3-11 Reading/ Writing, Math
To determine if schools and students are making “Adequate Yearly Progress” and graduation requirement for HS students.
The State of New Mexico under federal “No Child Left Behind Act.”
April 3 - May 8, 2016 ATTENDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT
TBD
New Mexico Standards Based Assessment (NMSBA)
Science grade 4, 7, H3. Spanish language arts/ literacy grades 3-HS
To determine if schools and students are making “Adequate Yearly Progress” and graduation requirement for HS students.
The State of New Mexico under federal “No Child Left Behind Act.”
TBD ATTENDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT
TBD
DIBELS Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literary Skills
Kindergarteners and students enrolled in extended year K3 Plus Program.
WIDA Assessment Placement Test (WAP-T)
Kindergarteners or students new to US schools who have a second language.
Screen to determine if student is an English Language Learner (ELL)
Discovery Education Short Cycle Assessment
Kindergarten through eleventh graders
High School Graduation Assessment (HSGA)
REQUIRED BY
To immediately inform teachers about a student’s foundational The State of New Mexico literacy abilities.
Spanish language proficiency. Given to insure students are getting necessary instruction The State of New Mexico to attain English language proficiency. Given to insure students are getting necessary instruction to attain English language proficiency.
The State of New Mexico under federal “No Child Left Behind Act.”
The State of New Mexico under federal “No Child Left Behind Act.”
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Fall, 2015 Winter, 2015/2016 Spring, 2016
WHY
P A I D
RESULTS RECEIVED
GIVEN TO
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
DATE ADMINISTERED
TEST
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
Y EARLY TESTING
TBD ATTENDANCE IS VERY IMPORTANT
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 13
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
BUS SCHEDULE BUS #3 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS - CONTRATOR FAUST'S TRANSP. 575-770-8883 AM THS/TMS/VGHS 6:30 Faust Base 6:40 Santistevan Lane / US 64 6:42 Southwestern/ US 64 6:44 El Ranchos Trl. Park 6:46 Olguin's/ US 64 6:47 Bette Winslow Dance Studio 6:48 Ovejero Rd. 6:49 Santo Nino Rd. 6:50 Casa Del Sol 7:15 THS Drop Off 7:20 TMS Drop Off 7:25 VGHS Drop off Please consult with your driver for PM times. BUS #3 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS - CONTRATOR FAUST'S TRANSP. 575-770-8883 AM ENOS GARCIA ELEMENTARY 7:45 Lake Rd. 7:46 County Rd. BA-041 7:48 Valencia Rd. 7:49 Perry Supply 7:50 42 Upper Colonias 7:52 45 Upper Colonias 8:00 El Rancho Trl. Prk 8:05 Santistevan Lane 8:10 Blueberry Hill/Varos Lane 8:11 Blueberry Hill/ Wisdom Way 8:12 Blueberry Hill/ Rock Garden Gully 8:15 Blueberry Hill/ Nighthawk Trl. 8:16 Blueberry Hill/ Liebre Lane 8:20 Colonias Trl Prk. 8:22 KTAOS 8:23 Atilano Rd. 8:24 Fresquez Rd./ Lake Park 8:25 Carson Trl. Prk. 8:27 Enos Elem. Drop off 8:30 Taos Charter drop off Please consult with your driver for PM times. BUS #4 CONTRACTOR D&R TRANSPORTATION 758-9754 AM THS/TMS 6:20 Cuchilla Rd./ Joe Montoya Res. 6:20 Cuchilla Rd./ Vista Trailer Park 6:21 Cuchilla Rd./ Martinez Residence 6:21 Cuchilla Rd./ Camino Corazon 6:22 Cuchillo Rd./ Amorak Rd. 6:25 Cuchilla Rd./ Ricky Chavez Res. 6:27 Cuchilla Rd./ Torres Res. (Turn Around) 6:27 Cuchilla Rd./ Viento Mobile Home Trailer Park 6:28 Cuchilla Rd./ Robert Cohn Trailer Park 6:29 Cuchilla Rd./Muniz Res. 6:30 Cuchilla Rd./ Manuel Trujillo Res. 6:31 Cuchilla Rd./ Eddie Padilla Res. 6:32 Los Cordovas Rd./ Carlos Martinez Res 6:33 Los Cordovas Rd./ Bernie Chavez Res 6:34 Los Cordovas Rd./ Levi Mondragon Res. 6:34 Los Cordovas Rd./ Miguel Chavez Res 6:35 Los Cordovas Rd. Sarita Rd. (DavidEspinoza Res. 6:36 Los Cordovas Rd./ Vigil Residence 6:36 Jct. of Los Cordovas Rd & Hwy 240 (Roy Mtz. Res.) 6:37 Hwy 240/ Culebra Lane (Next to Rio del Pueblo) 6:37 Jct. of Hwy 240 Blueberry Hill Rd. 6:39 Hwy 240/ Felimon Gutierrez Res 6:40 Hwy 240/ Charles Collins Gallery 6:41 Hwy 240/ Archuleta Res. 6:41 Hwy 240/ MG Mechanical (Gutierrez Res.) 6:42 Jct. of Hwy 240 and Camino del Medio 6:43 Hwy 240/ Pita Santistevan and Madrid Res. 6:44 Hwy 240/ Suazo Welding Shop 6:44 Hwy 240/ Josie Martinez Lane 6:45 Hwy 240/ Delfino Valerio Rd. 6:46 Hwy 240/ Fresquez Res. 6:47 Hwy 240/ Calle Martinez 6:50 Valerio Rd./ Old Santa Fe Rd. 6:50 Valerio Rd./ Gonzales Rd. 6:52 Camino Abajo Loma East/ Fresques Res. 6:52 Camino Abajo Loma East/ Garcia Res. 6:52 Camino Abajo Loma East/ Jose De Jesus Rd. 6:53 Camino Abajo Loma East/ Vista Del Valle 6:57 Maestas Rd./ Gabriel Casias Res.
14 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
6:57 Maestas Rd./ Alberto Romo Res. 6:58 Maestas Rd./ Espinoza Rd. 6:58 Maestas Rd./ Chris Tafoya Res. 7:00 Jct. of Maestas and Weimer Rd. 7:02 Weimer Rd/ Cerro Azul Apts. 7:04 Paseo del Canon East/ Taos Youth Center 7:08 Taos Charter School Unload 7:12 Taos Middle School Unload 7:15 Taos High School Unload 7:20 Vista Grande High School Unload Please consult with your driver for PM times.
6:49 Camino Del Medio Dolores Rd. 6:50 Jct. of Camino Del Medio & Chamisa Rd. 6:51 Camino Del Medio Bonifacio Mtz. Res. 6:52 Camino Del Medio Calle Palemon Rd. 6:54 Camino Merced Flores Rd. 6:55 Camino Merced Vigil's Trailer Park 6:59 THS Unload 7:05 TMS Unload 7:11 Taos Charter Unload 7:15 Vista Grande Unload Please consult with your driver for PM times.
BUS #4 CONTRACTOR D&R TRANS. 758-9754 AM RANCHOS ELEM. 7:30 1335 Gusdorf Rd. Teen Court 7:30 1333 Gusdorf Rd. Juan Romero Res. 7:30 Roy St./Human Services 7:31 Gusdorf Rd./ CYFD 7:32 Gusdorf Rd./ Taos Family Dentistry 7:32 Estes Rd./Taos Valley RV Park 7:33 Estes Rd./Morgan Rd. 7:33 Estes Rd. Maria Elena Rd. 7:34 Estes Rd./Sangre De Cristo Rd. 7:34 Estes Rd./ Valerio Res 7:35 Estes Rd./ Calle Crystal 7:35 Estes Rd. Amador Lane 7:37 Estes Rd. Archie Trujillo Res 7:38 1819 Tafoya Vigil Res. 7:38 Espinoza Rd./ Ted Medina Res. 7:38 Espinoza Rd./ Armando Medina Res. 7:40 Jct. of Estes Rd./Arroyos Del Los Coyotes 7:42 Jct. of Maestas Rd. and Weimer Rd. 7:43 400 Weimer Rd. Cerro Azul Apt. 7:44 Weimer Rd. La Luz Dr. Reyes Res. 7:46 La Luz Drive (Turn Around) 7:46 Paseo Del Canon East. 7:50 Paseo Del Canon East (Miles to go) 7:50 Maestas Rd/ Nickell Rd. 7:52 150 A Maestas Rd. Romo Res. 7:52 114 Maestas Rd. /Gabriel Casias Rd. 7:53 Jct. of Maestas Rd. & Morada Rd. 7:54 Maestas Rd./ Romo Res. 7:54 Maestas Rd./ Maestas Res. 7:56 Jct. of Maestas Rd and Archuleta Rd. 7:57 Jct. of Morada Rd. and Cam. Caballo 7:57 55 Camino Caballo 7:59 34 Camino Caballo 7:59 320 Espinoza Rd. (Sam Lucero Trl. Prk.) 8:00 Espinoza Rd. Calle Vista 8:03 Espionza Rd. Montoya Trl. Prk. 8:03 Espinoza Rd. Frank Gusdorf Trl. Prk. 8:07 Ranchos Elem. Unload Please consult with your driver for PM times.
BUS #5 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS DRIVER - ROBERTA ROMERO AM RANCHOS ELEM/ TAOS CHARTER 7:20 Paseo Del Canon West/Bendiz 7:23 Jct. of Hwy 240 & Camino Del Medio (M. Anaya Rd.) 7:23 Hwy 240/ MG Mechanical (Gutierrez Res.) 7:24 Hwy 240/ Collins Gallery (Mark Barela Res.) 7:24 Hwy 240/ Derrick Apodaca Res. 7:25 Hwy 240/ Culebra Lane 7:25 Jct. of Hwy 240 and Blue Berry Hill (Turn Around) 7:28 Hwy 240/ Pita Santistevan & Madrid Res. 7:28 90 Hwy 240/ Frank Suazo Res. 7:29 73 Hwy 240 7:30 Hwy 240/ Josie Martinez Ln. 7:33 Hwy 240 Mark Flores Res. 7:35 Hwy 240/ Calle Martinez 7:35 Coyote Circle (West Romero) Sofia Lane 7:35 Coyote Circle (West Romero) Dragon Ln. & Calle Tru 7:36 Coyote Circle (West Romero) Cactus Flower Rd. 7:36 West Romero/Coyote Circle/ Wilfred Lucero Res. 7:36 Coyote Circle (West Romero) Grant Lane 7:37 Coyote Circle (West Romero) Amber Lane 7:37 Coyote Circle (West Romero) Adelmo Medina Rd. 7:37 Coyote Circle (West Romero) Anaisley Rd. 7:38 West Romero/ Abeyta Ln. 7:38 West Romero/ Dennis Ortega Tr. Prk. 7:38 West Romero/Buddy Graves Tr. Prk. 7:39 West Romero/ Aurora Mtz. Res. 7:43 West Romero/ Jimmy Torres Res. 7:49 Camino Del Medio Dolores Rd. 7:50 Chamnisa Rd. Khweis Res. 7:51 Chamisa Rd. AG Center 7:52 Chamisa Rd. Bella Apts. 8:00 Ranchos Elem Unload 8:15 Taos Charter Unload Please consult with your driver for PM times.
BUS #5 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS DRIVER - ROBERTA ROMERO AM THS/TMS 6:20 Chamisa Rd. Bella Vista Apts. 6:21 Hwy 68 Comcast 6:22 Hwy 68 Del Norte 6:23 Hwy 68 Chanclas Rd. 6:26 Hwy 68 Gutierrez Rd. 6:28 Hwy 68 Llano Car Wash 6:28 Llano Quemado Sur Old Santa Fe Rd. 6:29 Llano Quemado Sur Buena Vista Rd. Picuris T.P. 6:29 Llano Quemado Sur Tina Fernandez T.P. 6:30 Llano Quemado Sur Miranda Rd. 6:33 Jct. of Leyba Rd. & Vista Del Valle 6:33 Torres Rd. Clorinda Mondragon Turn Around 6:35 Vista Del Valle Frances Trujillo Res. 6:36 Vista Del Valle George Romero Res. 6:36 Hwy 382 (Hot Springs Rd.) Marvin Romero Res. 6:37 Hwy 382 Pancho Velerio Res. 6:38 Hwy 382 Quino Rd. 6:38 Hwy 382 Mule Deer Rd. 6:40 Hwy 382 Isabel Rd. Jonathan Valerio Res. 6:41 Hwy 382 Llano Quemado Church 6:42 Hwy 382 Old Santa Fe Rd. 6:45 Hwy 68 Vargas Tile 6:45 Camino Abajo Loma West Quinto Rd. 6:45 Camino Abajo Loma West Louie Tafoya Res. 6:46 Camino Abajo Loma West Manuel Aguilar Res. 6:47 Camino Abajo Loma West Orlando Cortez Rd. 6:47 Camino Abajo Loma West Vickie Jaramillo Res.
BUS #6 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS CONTRACTOR D&R TRANSPORTATION 758-9754 AM THS/TMS 6:20 Hwy. 68 / Golondrianas Rd. (S&R] Septic) 6:23 Hwy. 570 / Coyote Arroyo 6:23 Hwy. 570/ National Guard 6:25 Hwy. 570/ Golf Course 6:28 Lower Los Cordovas Rd. Sewer Plant 6:29 Lower Los Cordovas Rd. /Agguirre Res. 6:33 Cuchilla Rd. / Lisa Baca Res. 6:36 West Romero Rd./ Sofia Lane 6:36 West Romero Rd. / Trujillo Lane 6:37 West Romero Rd./ Flower Cactus Rd. 6:37 West Romero Rd./ Coyote Circle Rd. 6:38 West Romero Rd./ Grant Lane 6:38 West Romero Rd./ Amber Lane 6:39 West Romero Rd. / Adelmo Medina Res. 6:39 West Romero Rd./ Anaisley Rd. 6:40 West Romero Rd./ Abeyta Rd. 6:40 West Romero Rd./Peggy Ward Res. 6:41 West Romero Rd./ Dennis Ortega Res. 6:41 West Romero Rd./ Buddy Graves Trailer Park 6:42 West Romero Rd./ Aurora Mtz. Res 6:42 Hwy 68/ Valerio Plaza 6:46 Hwy 68/ Diane Vigil Res. 6:46 Hwy 68 Branchal Rd. (Hampton Inn) 6:47 Chamisa Rd. (Juan Ag. Bldg) 6:50 Chamisa Rd./ Juan De Vargas Res. 6:51 Chaisa Rd. (Khweiss Res.) 6:52 Salazar Rd./ Bertha St. 6:56 Salazar Rd. /Herdner Rd. 6:58 Camino Del Medio/ Fred Baca Park 7:05 Salazar Rd./ Siler Rd. 7:08 Salazar Rd./ Murray Rd. 7:09 Jct. of Salazar Rd / La Posta Rd.
BUS # 7 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS AM RANCHOS ELEM-TAOS CHARTER-CHRYSALIS 7:00 Bus Barn 7:04 Vargas Tile Hwy 68 7:08 Irish Rd. Hwy 570 Golf Course Rd. 7:10 National Guard Armory Hwy 570 7:15 Look Out Drive 7:17 East Romero Rd. 7:18 Buena Vista Trailer Court 7:19 Miranda Rd. 7:20 #84 Camino del Llano Sur 7:21 Hot Springs Rd./Leyba Dr. 7:22 Vista Del Valle/ George Torres Rd. 7:23 Romero Residence/ Llano Quemado 7:24 Withers Ln #82 Hot Springs Rd. 7:25 Mule Deer Rd/Hot Springs Rd. 7:26 Hill Top Rd. 7:30 Camino Abajo De La Loma West Quinto Rd. 7:33 Camino Abajo De La Loma West Louie Tafoya Res. 7:35 Camino Abajo De La Loma West /Manuel Aguilar Res. 7:37 Camino Abajo De La Loma West/Orlando Cortez Res. 7:39 Camino Abajo De La Loma West/Vicki Jaramillo Res. 7:42 Hwy 68 Past Dollar General/ Ken Swendall CO. 7:44 Del Norte Lounge Hwy 68 7:45 Chanclas Rd. and Calle Rio Lucio 7:46 Bernadines Trailer Court Hwy 518 7:47 Valerio Residence Hwy 518 7:48 7187 Hwy 518 Armando Valerio Res. 7:50 Turn Around Talpa Community Center 7:53 Drop off Ranchos Elem. 8:00 Drop off at Taos Charter
BUS# 7 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS DRIVER- ANNETTE VIGIL PM RANCHOS ELEM-TAOS CHARTER-CHRYSALIS 2:40 Pick up Taos Charter 2:50 Drop off Taos Youth Center 3:00 Drop off at Enos Garcia 3:25 Pick up at Ranchos Elem 3:40 Drop off at Valerio Residence Hwy 518 3:41 7187 Hwy 518 3:42 7150 Hwy 518 3:45 Turn at Talpa Community Center 3:47 Bernadine's Trailer Court Hwy 518 3:50 Ken Swendall Co. past Dollar General Hwy 68 3:51 Chicharon Burrito Stand near old R&R Grocery (Turn around) 3:52 Del Norte Liquors Hwy 518 3:53 Chanclas Rd./ Calle Rio Lucio 3:55 Camino Abajo La Loma 06A 3:56 Camino Abajo La Loma/Artista Lane 3:57 Camino Abajo La Loma/ # 34 Cortez Rd. 3:58 Camino Abajo La Loma/ 54A to 54B W. 3:59 Camino Abajo La Loma/ Jaramillo Res. 4:03 Vargas Tile off Hwy 68 4:05 Hill Top Rd. 4:06 Mule Deer Rd. 4:07 Wither's Lane #82 4:08 Valerio Res. Llano Quemado 4:09 Leyba/Hot Springs Rd. 4:10 Vista Del Valle/George Torres Rd. 4:12 #84 Llano Quemado Sur 4:13 Miranda Rd. 4:14 Buena Vista Trailer Court 4:15 East Romero/Hot Springs Rd. 4:16 Look Out Dr. 4:18 National Guard Hwy 570 4:20 Irish Rd. on Hwy 570 4:30 Bus Barn BUS # 9 CONTRACTOR-FAUSTIN GONZALES 575-758-3410 AM TAOS MIDDLE / TAOS HIGH / VISTA GRANDE 6:30 Faust Lane 6:31 La Jara Lane 6:32 Quintana Lane 6:35 Millicent Rogers and Tranquillino Rd. 6:36 Millicent Rogers and Lama Rd. 6:38 Fresquez Rd. 6:40 Quintana Rd. 6:48 Taos Pueblo 6:52 Veterans Hwy Health Center 6:56 Firehouse/ Placita 6:58 Paseo Del Pueblo/ Shadows 7:00 Centinel Bank 7:05 Taos High School 7:09 Taos Middle School 7:13 Vista Grande PM TAOS MIDDLE / TAOS HIGH / VISTA GRANDE 2:45 Taos Middle School 2:55 Taos High School 3:00 Court House 3:01 Centinel Bank 3:03 Paseo Del Pueblo/Shadows 3:05 Indian Hills 3:10 Fire House/Placitas 3:12 Lund Street 3:14 Veterans Hwy Health Center 3:15 Taos Casino 3:17 Taos Pueblo 3:20 Fresquez Rd. 3:21 Quintana Rd. 3:23 Faust Lane 3:24 La Jara Lane 3:28 Millicent Rodgers and Tranquillino 3:35 Enos
AM ENOS 7:25 Lower Los Colonias/ Dona Amanda Martinez 7:27 Lower Los Colonias/ Luz Del Monte 7:30 Lower Los Colonias/Camino Coyote 7:31 Lower Los Colonias/ Sugar Lane 7:35 Turn around (end of pavement) 7:38 138 Staight Arrow Rd. 7:39 105 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:41 80 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:42 70 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:43 60 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:45 50 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:48 24 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:50 Rabbit Valley Rd. 7:53 285 Lower Los Colonias 8:10 Enos Elem PM ENOS ELEM 3:40 Enos 3:48 Millicent Rogers & Tranquilino Rd. 3:49 Millicent Rogers & Lama Rd. 4:10 285 Lower Los Colonias 4:11 Straight Arrow Rd./ Rabbit Valley 4:14 24 Straight Arrow Rd. 4:15 50 Straight Arrow Rd. 4:16 58 Straight Arrow Rd. (sand and salt box) 4:17 60 Straight Arrow Rd. 4:18 70 Straight Arrow Rd. 4:19 80 Straight Arrow Rd. 4:20 126 Straight Arrow Rd. 4:25 138 Straight Arrow Rd. 4:35 Turn around (end of pavement) 4:36 Lower Las Colonias & Verdolaga 4:37 Lower Las Colonias & Sugar Lane 4:38 Lower Las Colonias & Camino Coyote 4:39 Lower Las Colonias & Luz del Monte 4:40 Lower Las Colonias & Dona Amanda Martinez 4:41 Lower Las Colonias & Vista Del Sol 4:50 1050 Faust Lane
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
8:03 Jct of Alexander Lane and Camino Merced (John Hughs Trailer Park) 8:07 Toaline St./ Acoma St. 8:08 Toaline St./ 602 Sipapu St. 8:10 Tewa/ Acoma (Trailer court behind Centinel Bank) 8:13 Hwy 68 (Apts in from of Albertsons) 8:15 Hwy 68/ CB Trujillo Trailer court 8:20 Enos Garcia Elem unload 8:25 Taos Charter School unload Please consult with your driver for PM times.
Apt.'s next to hospital Camino Abajo de la Loma West Los Cordovas Llano Quemado/Coyote Cirle Cruz Alta Rd. Ferguson Lane Montoya Rd. Canon Dolan Street Chrysalis High School
P A I D
BUS #6 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS- CONTRACTOR D&R TRANSPORTATION 758-9754 AM ENOS GARCIA ELEM 7:35 Cuchilla Rd./ Jude Torres Res (Turn Around) 7:35 Cuchilla Rd. / Lana De Vellento Trailer Park 7:36 Cuchilla Rd./ Robert Cohn's Trailer Park 7:36 Cuchilla Rd./ Ted Torres Res. (Horse Hospital) 7:37 Cuchilla Rd./ Los Vecinos Rd. 7:37 Cuchilla Rd./ Eddie Padilla Res ( Blue DW Trl.) 7:38 Los Cordovas Rd./ Carlos Martinez Res. 7:39 108 A Los Cordovas Rd./Bernice Chavez Res. 7:39 106 Los Cordovas/ Jose Trujillo Res. 7:40 Los Cordovas Rd./ Las Tusas Rd. 7:40 Los Cordovas Rd./ Robert Chavez Res. 7:41 Los Cordovas Rd./ Community Center 7:41 Los Cordovas Rd./ Orlando Espinoza Res. 7:42 Los Cordovas Rd./ Sarita Rd. (Los Cordovas Plaza) 7:44 Los Cordovas Rd./Ventin Vigil (Near River) 7:44 Jct. of Los Cordovas Rd. & Hwy 240/ Calle de Vigil 7:45 Hwy 240/ Los Cordovas Catholic Church 7:47 225 Hwy 240/ Loretta Rd. 7:48 Jct of Hwy 240 & Camino del Medio (Anaya Res) 7:50 Camino Del Medio/ Dolores Rd. 7:51 Camino Del Medio/ Bonifacio Martinez Res. 7:51 Camino Del Medio/ Lorens Lane (Truth Ministries 7:52 Camino Del Medio/ Don Rosalio Rd. 7:53 Jct. of Camino del Medio and Camino Merced (Recycling Center) 7:54 411 Camino Merced/ Flores Res. 7:54 411 Camino Merced/ Becky Cardenas Res. 7:55 Jct. of Camino De La Merced & Salazar Rd. 7:57 Salzar Rd./ Bertha Rd. (CAV) 8:00 Alexander Lane (Zekes)
8:10 8:20 8:28 8:35 8:40 8:45 8:50 8:55 9:00
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
7:10 La Posta/ Zuni St. 7:11 La Posta/ Albertson's 7:12 Taos High School (unload) 7:15 Taos Middle School (unload) 7:20 Taos Charter School (unload) 7:29 Vista Grande School (unload) Please consult with your driver for PM times.
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
BUS SCHEDULE
BUS #10 CONTRACTOR-FELIPE CORDOVA 575-776-8463 AM ARROYOS DEL NORTE-ANANSI CHARTER 7:25 Cordova Terminal- San Cristobal 7:30 Forest Rd. 493- San Cristobal 7:31 San Cristobal Post Office 7:32 San Cristobal Head Start 7:33 San Cristobal Church 7:34 San Cristobal Valley Store 7:35 Lower San Cristobal 7:38 San Cristobal Trailer Park 7:43 Hwy 522- House #809 Joseph Gonzales 7:44 Hwy 522- House 785 7:45 Tres Lomas Rd. 7:46 Lower Arroyo Hondo 7:47 Arroyo Hondo- Tito's Grocery 7:48 Lower Arroyo Hondo- House #52 7:49 Lower Arroyo Hondo- House # 64 7:50 Lower Arroyo Hondo- House # 77 7:51 Turn Around Lower Arroyo Hondo 7:55 Old State Rd. #3 8:02 Hondo-Mesa SEA 07 8:05 Hondo- Seco Rd. House #18 8:06 Hondo-Seco Rd. House # 32 8:08 Hondo-Seco Rd. House 74 8:10 Arroyo Hondo/ Our Lady of Sorrow's Church 8:20 Arroyos Del Norte 8:25 Anansi Charter School BUS # 10 CONTRACTOR - FELIPE CORDOVA 575-776-8463 PM ARROYOS DEL NORTE-ANANSI CHARTER 3:20 Arroyos Del Norte 3:30 Anansi Charter School 3:53 Arroyo Hondo/ Our Lady of Sorrows Church 3:55 Hondo-Seco Road House # 74 3:57 Hondo-Seco Road House # 32 3:58 Hondo-Seco Road House # 18 4:00 Hondo-Mesa SEA 007 4:01 Old State Road #3 4:02 Turn-Around Lower Arroyo Hondo 4:03 Lower Arroyo Hondo House # 77 4:04 Lower Arroyo Hondo House #64 4:05 Lower Arroyo Hondo House #52 4:07 Arroyo Hondo- Tito's Grocery
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 15
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
BUS SCHEDULE 4:09 4:14 4:15 4:16 4:21 4:24 4:25 4:26 4:27 4:28 4:30 4:35 PM 3:20 3:30 3:53 3:55 3:57 3:58 4:00 4:01 4:02 4:03 4:04 4:05 4:07 4:09 4:14 4:15 4:16 4:21 4:24 4:25 4:26 4:27 4:28 4:30 4:35
Lower Arroyo Hondo Tres Lomas Rd. Hwy 522- Hs. #785 Hwy 522- Hs. #809 Joseph Gonzales San Cristobal Trailer Park Lower San Cristobal San Cristobal Valley Store San Cristobal Chruch San Cristobal Headstart San Cristobal Post Office Forst Rd. 493- San Cristobal Cordoval Terminal ARROYOS DEL NORTE-ANANSI CHARTER Arroyos Del Norte Anansi Charter School Arroyo Hondo/ Our Lady of Sorrows Church Hondo-Seco Road House # 74 Hondo-Seco Road House # 32 Hondo-Seco Road House # 18 Hondo-Mesa SEA 007 Old State Road #3 Turn-Around Lower Arroyo Hondo Lower Arroyo Hondo House # 77 Lower Arroyo Hondo House #64 Lower Arroyo Hondo House #52 Arroyo Hondo- Tito's Grocery Lower Arroyo Hondo Tres Lomas Rd. Hwy 522- Hs. #785 Hwy 522- Hs. #809 Joseph Gonzales San Cristobal Trailer Park Lower San Cristobal San Cristobal Valley Store San Cristobal Chruch San Cristobal Headstart San Cristobal Post Office Forst Rd. 493- San Cristobal Cordoval Terminal
7:11 Espinoza & Tafoya 7:13 Este Es/Amador Ln. 7:14 Morgan Rd 7:15 Vista Linda (circle) 7:17 TAOS MIDDLE SCHOOL 7:21 TAOS HIGH SCHOOL 7:27 TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL Please consult with your driver for PM times. BUS # 16 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS AM RANCHOS ELEM./TAOS CHARTER 7:35 Cuchilla Rd & Mares Rd 7:36 Cuchilla Rd & Montoya 7:37 Cuchilla Rd & Calle Miguel 7:38 Cuchilla Rd & Calle Corazon 7:39 Cuchilla Rd & Amarok Rd 7:42 Cuchilla Rd & Tusas Rd 7:45 7128 Hwy 518 7:47 7065 Hwy 518 7:52 7115 Hwy 518 7:55 5 Archuleta Rd 7:57 24 Archuleta Rd 7:58 Archuleta & Maestas 8:02 72 La Morada Michael Cordova Res 8:03 La Morada & Adame 8:05 La Morada & Balsamo 8:06 23 La Morada 8:07 5 La Morada 8:11 RANCHOS ELEMENTARY 8:18 TAOS CHARTER Please consult with your driver for PM times.
BUS # 14 CONTRACTOR: FAUSTIN GONZALES, JR. 575-758-3410 AM ARROYOS DEL NORTE ELEM / ANANSI CHARTER 7:00 SR 150/KTAO 7:02 SR 150/28 Vista Del Mar 7:10 Hondo-Seco Rd/Las Animas 7:11 #250 State Rd 150 7:13 Abe’s Cocina 7:17 #32 El Salto Rd 7:17 Quintana Turnaround 7:21 #583 Middle Rd 7:25 #357 Hondo-Seco Rd 7:30 Montoya Turnaround 7:31 Martinez Res Des Montes 7:32 #154 Rim Rd 7:35 #334 Valdez 7:36 #384 Valdez 7:41 #70 Rim Rd Des Montes 7:45 #222 State Rd 230 7:48 #98 State Rd 230 7:55 ARROYOS DEL NORTE UNLOAD/Pick up TAOS CHARTER 8:02 KTAO & OBL 8:16 TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL
BUS #17 CONTACTOR- MANUEL ROMERO 575-758-3831 AM TAOS HIGH SCHOOL / TAOS MIDDLE SCHOOL VISTA GRANDE / TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL 6:40 321 State Rd. 150 6:41 Gallina Canyon/State Rd. 150 6:42 Calle Cordova/State Rd. 150 6:43 Broad Bent Rd./State Rd. 150 6:47 Leo Valencia Ln./State Rd. 150 6:49 Rim Road/Orchard Rd. 6:50 60 Rim Rd. 6:51 100 Rim Rd. 6:54 458 Hondo/Seco Rd. (East) 6:56 489 Hondo/Seco Rd. 6:57 556 Hondo/Seco Rd. 6:59 Arroyo Seco Plaza (Abe's Grocery) 7:00 Martinez Lane/ Hwy 150 El Salto 7:02 Hwy 150 El Salto/ Juan de Dios Rd. 7:03 Hwy 150 El Salto/ Precilla Rd. 7:05 Hwy 150 El Salto/ Luis Torres 7:08 Hwy 150/450 Lymon 7:09 Hwy 150/424 Lymon 7:11 Hondo/Seco-Las Animas 7:12 Hondo/Seco-Pinon 7:18 Chamisa Feed 7:20 El Prado Post Office 7:23 Furniture store across Taos Northside Spa 7:30 Taos High School 7:35 Taos Middle School 7:40 Vista Grande High School 7:45 Taos Charter School
BUS # 16 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS AM TAOS HIGH / MIDDLE SCHOOL / TAOS CHARTER 6:45 Exit Realty Hwy 518 6:46 Hwy 518 Espinoza 6:47 Sanders Ln (Ranchos Elem/Hwy 518) 6:48 Ortiz Ln Hwy 518 6:52 Rio Chiquito Turn Around 6:53 #7060 Hwy 518 6:54 Torres Rd Hwy 518 6:55 #24 Archuleta Rd 6:56 #54 Archuleta Rd 6:57 96 Maestas Rd 6:59 90 Morada Rd 7:01 Morada/Adame Ln. 7:02 Morada/Balsamo Ln. 7:03 #23 Morada Rd 7:04 #5 Morada Rd 7:08 Espinoza Rd 7:09 Espinoza Rd Tr. Pk.
BUS #17 CONTACTOR- MANUEL ROMERO 575-758-3831 PM TAOS HIGH SCHOOL-TAOS MIDDLE SCHOOL VISTA GRANDE-TAOS CHARTER SCHOOL 2:50 Taos Middle School 2:55 Vista Grande Condos 3:00 Kit Carson Park 3:05 Red Arrow Emprium 3:10 Overland 3:12 K Taos 3:13 Pueblo Rd. 3:14 Quail Ridge 3:18 Pinon Rd. 3:19 Las Animas Rd. 3:20 450 Limon Rd. 3:22 Snow Mansion 3:23 Cemetary at Cross Roads 3:25 489 Hondo Seco Rd. 3:26 460 Hondo Seco Rd. 3:28 State Rd. 150/ Cross Rd.
16 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
3:29 3:31 3:33 3:35 3:36 3:40 3:43 3:45 3:46 3:47 3:48 3:49 4:00 4:07 4:20 4:30 5:00
State Rd. 150/224 Valdez Sandra Rd. Valdez Gallina Canyon Valdez Broadbent Rd. Valdez Trinnie Apodaca Leo Valencia Lane 581 Hwy 150 El Salto #17 El Salto EJ Pacheco Lane El Salto Geronimo Lane El Salto Calle Caballero Lane El Salto Percilla Lane Anansi Conaco Station Taos Public Library Sagebrush Inn Base
BUS #18 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS DRIVER-JOE AMADOR AM THS/TMS/VGHS 6:50 522 Conrad Lane Upper Ranchitos 6:51 Cortez Lane Upper Ranchitos 6:55 518 Calle de Isaac Upper Ranchitos 7:00 Lavadie Rd. Lower Ranchitos Hwy 240 7:01 Cam de Liebre Lower Ranchitos Hwy 240 7:02 512 Francisco Vigil Ln. Lower Ranchitos Hwy 240 7:03 611 Duran Ln. Lower Ranchitos Hwy 240 7:04 Callejon Lower Ranchitos Hwy 240 7:06 734 Rafael Rd. Lower Ranchitos Hwy 240 7:06 Serna/Marmol Rs. Lower Ranchitos Hwy 240 7:08 Blueberry Hill Turn Lower Ranchitos Hwy 240 7:10 733 Pablo Trujillo Res. E. Lower Ranchitos 7:15 952 Taos County Housing Lower Ranchitos 7:16 525 Santistevan Ln. E Lower Ranchitos 7:17 La Loma (Church) 7:18 Taos High drop off 7:23 Taos Middle drop off 7:29 Taos Charter drop off 7:34 Vista Grande drop off Please consult with your driver for PM times. BUS #18 TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS DRIVER - JOE AMADOR AM ENOS GARCIA ELEMENTARY 7:35 Taos Youth and Family Center 7:37 Gusdorf Place 7:39 Gusdorf & BLM 7:43 Conquistador 7:45 Camino Cortez 7:47 Camino Coronado 7:50 Camino de la Serna 7:53 Santiago and Adobe 7:55 Adobe Lane 7:58 750 Gusdorf Rd./ Tierra Montosa 8:07 CB Trujillo 8:15 Enos Garcia Elementary PM 3:35 Salazar Rd. & Siler Rd. 3:36 Salazar Rd. & Murray 3:37 Salzar Rd. and Sipapu 3:40 Hernder Rd. & Vigil Res. 3:41 Herdner Rd. & Trujillo Res. 3:42 Camino Del Medio & Herdner Rd. JCT. 3:45 Ranchitos Rd./ Betty's Magic Mirror 3:46 Ranchitos Rd./ Guara Lane 3:47 Ranchitos Rd./ Trujillo 3:48 Ranchitos Rd./ La Liebre 3:49 Ranchitos/ Don Roberto 3:50 Ranchitos Rd./ Duran Ln. 3:51 Ranchitos Rd./ Pacheco Ln. 3:52 Ranchitos Rd/ Martinez Hacienda 3:53 Ranchitos Rd./ Callejon Rd. 3:57 Ranchitos Rd./ Vigil's 4:00 Bleberry Hill (Turn around) 4:05 La Posta Pl. 4:06 La Posta/ Ferguson Ln. 4:07 La Posta Rd./ Zuni 4:08 Cerventes Rd. & Housing 4:09 Cerventes/ THS 4:15 Camino Merced/ Vigil Trl. Prk.
BUS # 24 CONTACTOR: FAUSTIN GONZALES 575-770-8883 AM THS/TMS/TAOS CHARTER 6:25 Faust Lane 6:47 US 64 mile marker 264.3 (before Loma Verde Cabins) 7:00 US 64 Forst Rd. 437 (Valle Escondido) 7:08 US 64 mile marker 261.1 (Taos Creek Cabins) 7:13 US 64 mile marker 259.5 5 mile west of Sierra Village 7:15 621 Witt Rd. E. (5th house off Raton Bi-Pass) 7:16 1118 Witt Rd. by San Geronimo Lodge 7:16 1120 Witt Rd.by San Geronimo Lodge 7:17 1012 Witt Rd. /Candelaria 7:18 1003 Witt Rd. (Before Romolo Ln.) 7:19 Witt Rd./Octaviano 7:21 Kit Carson Rd. US 64 Mariposa Pl. 7:22 Kit Carson Rd./Jaramillo 7:23 Kit Carson Rd./Simpson 7:24 408 Kit Carson Rd./ Dolan 7:25 Kit Carson Rd./ De Teves 7:26 Montoya St./Kit Carson Rd. 7:40 Taos Charter School Drop off PM THS/TMS-TAOS CHARTER 2:10 Faust Base 2:35 Taos Charter pick up 2:45 Taos Middle School pick up (transfer Taos Charter) 2:47 Gusdorf/Cruz Alta 2:50 Taos High School Pick up 3:02 Fernandez St./Witt Rd. 3:03 1138 Witt Rd. 3:04 1118 Witt Rd. (by San Geronimo Lodge) 3:04 1120 Witt Rd. (by San Geronimo Lodge) 3:05 1012 Witt Rd./Candelaria 3:05 1003 Witt Rd.(before Romolo Ln.) 3:06 Witt Rd./ Octaviano 3:08 Kit Carson Rd./Mariposa Ln. 3:09 Kit Carson Rd./Jaramillo 3:10 Kit Carson Rd./Simpson 3:10 408 Kit Carson Rd./ Dolan 3:11 Kit Carson Rd./ Montoya 3:12 217 Montoya St. 3:13 226 Montoya St. 3:15 315 Destino Rd./ Los Pandos (behind Randall Lumber) 3:17 Siler Rd./301 Linda Vista Ln. (Apt.'s behind Smiths) 3:20 Enos Garcia BUS #24 CONTACTOR - FAUSTIN GONZALES 575-770-8883 AM ENOS GARCIA- ANANSI CHARTER 7:45 1130 Witt Rd. 7:45 Witt Rd./Romolo 7:47 Witt Rd./Octaviano Ln. 7:48 Witt Rd./Los Pandos (by Christian Academy) 7:49 Kit Carson Rd. (US 64) Mariposa Ln. 7:51 535 Dolan St. (before Los Pandos) 7:54 Los Pandos Rd.(am pick up) before light at SR68 and Old Scheid Motors (Indian Hills Motel) 7:57 Siler Rd./Linda Vista (behind Smiths) 8:00 Enos Garcia drop off 8:05 Taos Public Library (Anansi Pick Up) 8:15 SR 150/ KTAO Radio Station 8:25 Drop Off Anansi Carter 8:50 Return to Faust base PM ENOS GARCIA 3:35 Enos Elem 3:42 Siler Rd./ 301 Linda Vista Lane. (behind Smiths) 3:45 SR 68/ Indian Hills Motel 3:48 Kit Carson Rd. /De Teves Ln. 3:49 208 Montoya St. 3:50 315 Montoya St. 3:52 Los Pandos Rd./ 306 Birch St. 3:54 413 Los Pandos Rd. 3:55 535 Dolan St. 3:57 Kit Carson Rd. /Vigil St. 3:57 Kit Carson Rd./ 833 Jaramillo Rd. 3:58 Kit Carson Rd./201 Mariposa Pl.
3:59 4:00 4:02 4:03 4:05 4:10 4:11 4:14 4:19 4:25 4:55
634 Witt Rd./ Los Pandos (by Christian Academy) Witt Rd. at Capilla after Capel Rd. Witt Rd./ Octaviana Ln. Witt Rd./Romolo 1130 Witt Rd. US 64 Mile Marker 259.24 US 64 Mile Marker 259.50 1/2 mile before Sierra Village US 64 Mile Marker 261 (Taos Creek Cabins) US 64 Mile Marker 264.3 (before Loma Verde Cabins) US 64 Forest Rd. 437 (Valle Escondido) Faust Base
BUS #25 CONTRACTOR - FELIPE CORDOVA 575-776-8463 AM ENOS-TAOS CHARTER 7:40 Camino Merced/Reed St (Vigil Trailer Park) 7:43 Herdner Rd./ Hill Top Rd. (old KKIT station) 7:45 Cervantes Rd. / S. Side Housing 7:45 Cervantes Rd. / THS 7:46 Cervantes Rd./N. Side Housing 7:49 La Posta Rd./ Zuni St. 7:50 Jct. of La Posta and Salazar 7:53 La Posta Rd. La Posta St. 7:53 Ranchitos Rd./ Betty's Magic Mirror 7:54 Ranchitos Rd./ Guara Ln. 7:55 Ranchitos Rd./ Trujillo's Gravel 7:56 Ranchitos Rd. / Don Roberto 7:56 Ranchitos Rd. /J. Duran Ln. 7:57 Ranchitos Rd./ Pacheco Ln. 7:58 Ranchitos Rd./ Adrian Rd. (Mtz. Hacienda) 7:58 Ranchitos Rd./Callejon Rd. 8:00 Ranchitos Rd./ Josh Vigil Res. 8:03 Jct. of Ranchitos Rd. & Blue Berry Hill 8:05 Jct. of Camino Del Medio and Herdner (Toby Lavdie Trl. Prk.) 8:06 Herdner Rd./ Trujillo Res. 8:07 Herdner Rd./ Adrian Vigil Res. 8:10 Salazar Rd./ Sipapu St. (Taos Physical Thearapy) 8:11 Salazar Rd./Murray Rd. 8:11 Salazar Rd. /Siler Rd. 8:15 Enos 8:25 Taos Charter
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
BUS #22 CONTRACTOR- EFFIE ROMERO 575-758-7262 AM CHRYSALIS 6:55 14 Ortiz Rd. 7:15 #66 (straight arrow rd.) turn-around 7:30 Gas Station OBL 7:40 Taos Pueblo Turn Around 7:50 Upper Ranchitos (Miera Lane) 7:55 Civic Plaza Dr. 114 7:59 Chrysalis at Evergreen Rd. in Canon (drop off) PM CHRYSALIS (2:00 TRIP) NORTHSIDE 2:00 Leave Chrysalis School 2:05 Civic Plaza Dr. 114 2:10 Taos Pueblo Turn Around 2:20 Miera Lane (Upper Ranchitos) 2:25 Gas Station OBL or Limon Rd. 2:35 #66 Straight Arrow Rd. (turn around) 2:55 Return to Chrysalis for 3:00 trip 3:05 Chrysalis 3:10 Dream Tree on Salazar Rd. 3:15 La Posta Rd. 3:20 Weimer Rd. Housing La Joya Circle 3:30 El Tros Rd. #86
Hwy 68 4169 Llano Quemado across from School Storage West Romero Rd. #25 A Los Cordovas Rd. #24 (turn around) 14 Ortiz Rd. (Compound)
P A I D
BUS # 20 CONTRACTOR FAUST'S TRANSPORTATION 575-770-8883 AM ENOS GARCIA ELEM / TAOS CHARTER 7:30 28 Rotten Tree Rd. 7:31 145 Rotten Tree Rd. 7:33 147 Rio Lucero Rd. 7:35 127 Rio Lucero Rd. 7:38 Faust Lane 7:39 Camino de la Jara 7:40 Fernando Miera Trailer Park 7:41 Quintana Lane 7:44 Curavas Lane 7:45 Los Trujillos Lane 7:46 139 Lower Ranchitos 7:50 Dan Cortez Residence 8:00 Ranchitos Housing 8:10 Drop off at Enos 8:25 Drop off at Taos Charter Please consult with your driver for PM times.
3:35 3:40 3:45 3:55 4:10
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
BUS # 20 CONTRACTOR FAUST'S TRANSPORTATION 575-770-8883 AM TAOS HIGH SCHOOL, MIDDLE SCHOOL 6:00 Faust Base 6:10 Hwy 64 N to Hwy 150 6:10 Hwy 150 to N to 230 North 6:15 Hwy 230 to Hondo Seco Rd. West 6:20 243 Hondo Seco Rd. 6:21 406 Hondo Seco Rd, 6:22 392 Hondo Seco Rd. 6:24 357 Hondo Seco Rd. 6:26 472 Hondo Seco Rd. 6:30 Montoya Rd. 6:31 Compo Verde Rd. 6:33 La Canada Rd. 6:35 364B Hondo-Seco Rd. 6:50 Blueberry Hill Rd. 6:51 Lower Los Colonias #318 6:52 Lower Los Colonias/Rabbit Valley Rd. 6:53 #3 Straight Arrow Rd. 6:54 52A Straight Arrow Rd. 6:55 Quill Rd./Straight Arrow Rd. 6:56 #64A Straight Arrow Rd. 6:57 #70 Straight Arrow Rd. 6:57 #73 Straight Arrow Rd. 6:58 #77 Straight Arrow Rd. 6:59 #90 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:00 #100 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:01 #110 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:02 #116 B Straight Arrow Rd. 7:03 # 122 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:04 #129 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:05 #138 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:06 #154 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:07 #162 Straight Arrow Rd. 7:20 Taos High School 7:23 Taos Middle School 7:25 Taos Charter School Please consult with your driver for PM times.
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
BUS SCHEDULE
BUS # 25 CONTRACTOR - FELIPE CORDOVA 575-776-8463 PM TAOS MIDDLE / TAOS HIGH / TAOS CHARTER / VISTA GRANDE 2:30 Vista Grande 2:33 Taos Charter 2:35 Taos Middle School 2:40 Taos High School 3:00 Valencia Trailer Park 3:09 Mesa Sea B007 3:13 SR#522- Upper Mesa Sea 3:17 Arroyo Hondo- Our Lady of Sorrows Church 3:24 Upper Arroyo Hondo- Felix Padilla 3:26 Upper Arroyo Hondo- D. Herrera 3:29 Upper Arroyo Hondo- Unser 3:36 Upper Arroyo Hondo-Mary Vigil 3:38 Lower Arroyo Hondo Bridge 3:40 Lower Arroyo Hondo- Regina Vigil 3:41 Lower Arroyo Hondo- Bences Gonzales Bridge 3:42 Old Arroyo Hondo School Bridge 3:43 Lower Arroyo Hondo- Tito's Grocery 3:43 SR#522 Vigil's Road 3:42 SR # 522- Joseph Gonzales Home 3:44 SR #522-Christina Trujillo Home 3:45 SR#522- Mitch Gonzales Home 3:50 San Cristobal- Mobile Home Park 3:51 San Cristobal-Frank Arellano Home 3:53 San Cristobal Post Office 4:02 San Cristobal Community Center 4:10 Cordova Terminal
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 17
AFTER-SCHOOL TECHSPLORATION FOR CREATIVE & CURIOUS KIDS
at
FALL WORKSHOP SERIES twirl
ROBOTICS MONDAYS 4:30-6PM OCT 5TH - NOV 9TH Have you ever wondered how a robot "thinks"?
Are you interested in learning about electronics and computer programming? Learn how the brain of a robot can be programmed to control buttons, motors, switches, sensors, lights and other electronic parts. Learn how to design, engineer, and code your own amazing robotic devices, then watch them come to life! Recommended for ages 8-12
TECH-STYLES TUESDAYS 4:30-6PM SEPT 29TH - OCT 27TH Learn how to sew; explore basic hand
sewing skills and dust off your sewing machine, bring it in, learn how to thread it and use it at Twirl! Make something awesome out of recycled and upcycled fabric and fun! Learn how to combine technology and textiles using sewable lights and electronics. Use simple electronics to light up your creations and wear them home! Recommended for ages 7-12.
STOP-MOTION ANIMATION WEDNESDAYS 4:30-6PM SEPT 30TH - OCT 28TH An introduction to stop-motion animation. Learn how an animated film is made using a variety of 2D and 3D stop motion techniques. Discover how to make toys, clay, found objects, and paper come to life on the screen. Develop skills in narration and story development as you brainstorm and storyboard ideas for short films. Recommended for ages 8-12.
3-D PRINTING THURSDAYS 4:30-6PM OCT 1ST- OCT 29TH
Explore the Makerbot Replicator and the raw materials used for printing. Discover Thingiverse, filled with 3D printable files that you can BRING TO LIFE! Design and print your own 3D objects using fun and simple 3D design software like TinkerCAD & Sketch-Up. Apply what you have learned in a fun workshop design challenge. Recommended for ages 8-12. Please reserve your spot by emailing workshops@twirltaos.org or call or come in to Twirl. There will be a $50 fee for each 5-week workshop to cover supplies and pay instructors. Space is limited and some scholarships are available. Classes will be on weekdays after school at our workshop space, Twirl Too!... around the corner from... Twirl 225 Camino de la Placita 575.751.1402 twirlhouse.org/workshops.
18 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 19
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
CHOICES S E C I O H C c rse Publi Dive A n i h t i W tting. e S l o o h Sc
Dual Language and Elementary Arts Arroyos Del Norte Elementary Enos Garcia Elementary Ranchos Elementary
Academic Clubs and Music Taos Middle School Taos High School
Elementary Visiting Artist Program Arroyos Del Norte Elementary Enos Garcia Elementary Ranchos Elementary
Athletics Chrysalis Alternative School Cyber Magnet School Taos High School Taos Middle School
20 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Principal, Arroyos Del Norte Elementary School 737-6175
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Ms. Naomi S. Gallegos
Open House Aug.14th
P A I D
For questions call
Arroyos Del Norte Elementary School
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
At Arroyos Del Norte, we take pride in our student’s success academically, emotionally, and physically. We strive on zero interruptions throughout daily instruction. Attendance is important and is monitored. All visitors must report to the office prior to entering the classroom. Come visit our beautiful school located in Des Montes, at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
“Building Children for A Lifetime!”
AR RO Y OS DEL NoRTE Free Breakfast/Lunch/Healthy Snacks Spanish 50/50 Dual Language Program Spanish Heritage Program Pre-School Title I Services Exceptional Program Services/Enhancement Art, Music, P.E., Library Classes Instruction through iPads and Laptops After School Discovery Program Experiential Learning GLAD Strategies Nature Trail/Gardening Gymnastics Wrestling 8:30am 9:00 – 10:00 10:00 – 11:00 11:00 – 12:00
Open House (Gymnasium) – Come Meet Our Staff Parent Meetings Bilingual Meetings Title I & Exceptional Program Parent Meeting
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 21
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
ENOS GARCiA Brief from Enos Garcia Elementary School (EGES) Dear Members of the EGES Family (Parents, Students, Staff, and Educational Partners): I hope you all are having an exciting summer and are getting ready for a successful 2015-2016 academic school year. As we move on our journey towards fulfilling our Mission we want to thank: • Our students for making our school the best. • Our parents for entrusting your children to us and for your participation and support throughout the year in making our school special. • Our Community and Educational Partners for their contributions and support toward making us an exceptional school. • Our school is located in the HEART of TAOS! We are surrounded with a diverse multitude of Educational Resources including: the Harwood Museum, the University of New Mexico Taos Campus, Art Galleries, Taos Public Library, Taos Fire Department, Taos Plaza, Kit Carson Park, Twirl Toy Store, Parr Field, Taos Police Department, Taos Retirement Community, and more. • Our staff at Enos Garcia Elementary is highly qualified, and dedicated to provide state of the art education to our students by utilizing the latest teaching practices and resources including technology.
Bomberos, La Plaza de Taos, El Parque de Kit Carson, Juguetería de Twirl, Store, Parr Field, Departamento de Policía de Taos, La Comunidad de Retiro de Taos , y mucho más. • Nuestro personal en Enos García están altamente cualificados, y dedicada a proporcionar el estado de la educación artística de nuestros alumnos mediante la utilización de las últimas prácticas de enseñanza y recursos incluyendo tecnología.
25th
• TITLE I & New Mexico Real Results Driven Accountability • EXCEPTIONAL PROGRAMS that address a wide spectrum of students’ special needs
22 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration Dual Language Celebration Fall Parent PTA/Literacy/Math Night Kindergarten “Make-it & Take-it” Night Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration
OCTOBER 2015
• ENHANCEMENT Program
TBA 6th 16th 19th 23rd 30th
• BALANCED NUTRITION with FREE healthy BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND SNACKS
NOVEMBER 2015
• MUSIC with multiple presentations • After School Academic Enrichment Programs • PHYSICAL EDUCATION and HEALTH PROGRAM
• K-3 Plus Summer Program
• Nuestra Escuela Elemental de ENOS GARCIA se encuentra localizada en el corazón de TAOS! Estamos rodeados de una multitud diversa de Recursos Educativos, incluyendo: el Museo Harwood, la Universidad de Nuevo México Taos Campus, Galerías de Arte, Biblioteca Pública de Taos, Taos Departamento de
Parent/Teacher Conference First Day of School for students Back to School Bash PTA/Bilingual Advisory Staff/ Parents/Students Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration
SEPTEMBER 2015
• TECHNOLOGY with Mobile Labs with Laptop Computers and I-PADS in all grade levels
Espero que todos estén teniendo un excelente y activo verano y están listos para un año escolar productivo en el 2015-2016. A medida que continuemos nuestro camino para lograr nuestra Misión de crear un ambiente de gozo en el aprendizaje para que cada niño/niña sea una persona exitosa y miembro contribuyente de la comunidad, queremos darles gracias a:
• Nuestra comunidad y patrocinadores educativos por sus contribuciones y apoyo para llegar a ser una escuela ejemplar.
28th
• State Common Core Standards
• BUS TRANSPORTION to and from school
• Nuestros padres y guardianes por confiar sus hijos a nosotros y por su participación durante el año para tener una escuela única.
14th 17th 26th
11th 16th 17th
We offer several programs including:
Apreciados padres de familia, estudiantes y colaboradores educativos:
• Nuestros estudiantes por hacer que nuestra escuela sea la mejor.
AUGUST 2015
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program
National Dance Institute (NDI) 3rd Grade Title I Parent Meeting La Cosecha/Harvest Celebration End of 1st 9 weeks Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration Parent Teacher Conference
6th Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration 6th – 7thBack to School Family Institute 20th Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration
Ofrecemos varios programas, entre ellos:
DECEMBER 2015
• Estándares Básicos Comunes Estatales
• Programas excepcionales que abordan un amplio espectro de necesidades especiales de los estudiantes
4th Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration 7th-12th EGE Basketball Tournament Grades 3-6 15th Read-a-Thon Rally/Holiday Challenge 14th Pre-School Christmas Performance 16th Winter Celebration 18th Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration End of 2nd 9 weeks
• Programas después de la Escuela Académico de Enriquecimiento
JANUARY 2016
• TECNOLOGÍA con laboratorios móviles de equipos portátiles e I-PAD en todos los grados • TÍTULO I & Resultados Reales de Contabilidad de Nuevo México
• EDUCACIÓN FÍSICA y PROGRAMA DE SALUD • Programas de Arte y Música •Nutrición equilibrada con conexión saludables desayunos, almuerzos y merienda • Transporte Escolar (BUS) a la escuela • Programas de Hermanos/Hermanas Mayores • Programa de Verano de K-3
4th 5th 13th
Professional Development Day Third Nine Weeks Begins Readers to Leaders Read-a-Thon Begins
FEBRUARY 2016 5th TBA 12th 19th TBA
100th Day Celebration of Learning Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration Readers to Leaders; Read-a-Thon Pep Rally/Basketball Game Valentine’s Day Celebration Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration Readers to Leaders; Read-a-Thon Ends
MARCH 2016 4th 11th TBA 31st
Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration End of 3rd 9 Week Explora Science Parent Night Student/Classroom Profile
APRIL 2016 1st
Parent/Teacher Conferences/ No School for Students 3rd- 4th PARCC 15th Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration TBA Rivers and Birds Field Experience 14th Kindergarten Round-up Registration 29th Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration
MAY 2016 2nd-6th TBA TBA TBA 4/5 12th 13th 17th 18th 19th 20th
3rd – 5th Grade Fun Run Rivers and Birds Field Trips K/1 Field Day (1/2 day ) 2/3 Field Day (1/2 day) Field Day (1/2 day) Parent/Staff Garden Day Early Dismissal/Staff Collaboration Pre-K Graduation Kindergarten Graduation 5th Grade Graduation Report Cards/Last Day of School/ .5 Non-Duty Day
Kindergarten/Kinder 1 large backpack 1 mochila grande 5 packages glue sticks 5 cajas de barras de pegamento 2 packages dry erase markers 2 cajas de marcadores para el borrado seco 2 packages #2 pencils 2 cajas de lapices #2 1 pair scissor (rounded tip) 1 par de Tijeras (punta redonda) 1 package color pencils 1 caja de lapices de color 3 package crayons (eight count) 3 cajas de crayones (caja de ocho) 1 package color markers (Washable) 1 caja de marcadores de color (lavable) 1 package erasers for pencils 1 caja Borradores para lápices 1 supply box 1 caja para útiles escolares 1 primary journal notebook 1 cuaderno para diario primario 2 boxes of tissue 2 cajas de panuelos de papel 3 plastic packet folders w/fasteners 3 carpetas con bolsillos 2 three ring binders (1 inch) 2 carpetas de 3 anillos (1 pulgada) 2 bottles of Clorox Wipes 2 botellas de toallas de Clorox 1 medium size hand sanitizer 1 frasco mediano de desinfectante de manos 1 box hand wipes 1 caja de toallitas para desinfectar las manos 1 box quart zip lock bags 1 caja de bolsas de plastico de ¼ de galón 1 box gallon zip lock bags 1 caja de bolsa de plastico de galón
1st Grade/Grado Primero 1 large backpack 1 mochila grande 1 box of crayons (24 ct.) 1 caja de crayolas (24 unidades) 2 red pens 2 lapiceros rojos 1 pair of scissors (rounded tip) 1 par de Tijeras con punta redonda 1 bottle of glue 1 frasco de pegante 2 glue sticks 2 barras de pegamento 1 box of tissue 1 cajas de pañuelos de papel 1 school box 1 caja para guardar utiles escolares 1 package of 10-12 Pencils 1 Paquete de 10-12 lápices 2 big erasers 2 borradores grandes 2- 3 hole packet folders 2-3 carpetas con 3 agujeros 1 plastic supply box 1 caja plastica para guarder materiales
2nd Grade/Grado Segundo 1 large backpack 1 mochila grande 2 boxes of #2 wood pencils 2 cajas de lapices de madera #2 1 package color markers (Washable) 1 caja de marcadores de color (lavable) 1 pair of scissors (rounded tip) 1 par de tijeras con punta redonda 3 glue Sticks 3 barras de goma 1 composition Book 1 cuaderno de composición 1 box of crayons 1 caja de crayones 5 pocket folders (red, blue, yellow, green & purple) 5 folderes con bolsillo/paquete (rojo, Amarillo, verde y morado) 1 package of wide ruled loose leaf paper 1 paquete de papel de hojas sueltas rayado 1 ruler 1 regla 1 medium Size Hand Sanitizer 1 frasco de desinfectante de manos 2 - 1 Subject notebooks (wide-ruled) 2 cuadernos de 1 materia (rayados) 2 boxes of tissue 2 cajas de Pañuelo de papel 1-box hand wipes 1 caja de toallitas de clorox
Join us for the Parent Teacher Association (PTA)’s Back to School Bash! When: August 26, 2015 Where: Gymnasium Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Door Prizes, Ice Cream Social and Polo Shirt Drive Kick off! 3rd Grade/Grado Tercero
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Ski Club Begins Readers to Leaders RADIO-a-THON
P A I D
TBA TBA
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
2015-2016 ENOS GARCIA SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST LISTA DE UTILES ESCOLARES PARA LOS ESTUDIANTES DE LA ESCUELA DE ENOS GARCIA
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
ENOS GARCiA 1 large backpack 1 mochila grande 1 school box 1 caja para utiles escolares 2 boxes of #2 wood pencils 2 cajas de lapices de madera #2 1 pair of Scissors 1 par de Tijeras 2 glue Sticks 2 barras de pegamento 1 24 ct. box of crayons 1 24 ct, crayolas 1 box of color pencil 1 caja de lapices de colores 1 1½ -inch 3 ring binder 1 carpeta de anillos de 1 ½ pulgada 4 pocket folders 4 carpetas con bolsillos 3 composition notebooks 3 cuadernos de composición 2 package loose-leaf paper 2 paquetes de hojas de papel 1 medium size hand sanitizer 1 botella mediana de desinfectante para las manos 2 boxes of tissue (Large) 2 cajas de Pañuelo de papel (Grande) 1 container of disinfectant wipes 1 caja de toallitas para desinfectar (not diaper wipes) NOTE: IF SOME OF THE ITEMS PURCHASED LAST YEAR ARE STILL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY THEM AGAIN. NOTA: SI ALGUNOS DE LOS MATERIALES DEL AÑO PASADO TRABAJAN TODAVIA, USTED NO TIENE QUE COMPRARLOS NUEVAMENTE.
4th Grade/Grado Cuarto 1 3 ring binder – 1 inch 1 carpeta de anillos de 1 pulgada 2 plastic folders (with pockets for the binder) 2 carpetas de plastico 9con bolsillo para el binder) 2 pocket folders (with clasps) 2 carpetas con bolsillos (y cierres) 4 composition notebooks 4 cuadernos de composición 2 packages loose-leaf paper 2 paquetes de hojas de papel 1 pair of Scissors 1 par de tijeras 2 packet of glue Sticks 2 paquete de barras de pegamento 1 pencil sharpener (not mechanical) 1 sacapuntas (no mecanico) 1 box of color pencil 1 caja de lapices de colores 2 boxes of tissue 2 cajas de Pañuelo de papel Pencils and erasers lapices y borradores 1 container of disinfecting wipes 1 caja de toallitas para desinfectar (not diaper wipes)
Fifth Grade/Grado Quinto 1 2-inch 3 ring binder 1 carpeta de anillos de 2 pulgadas 2 packages loose-leaf paper 2 paquetes de hojas de papel 4 composition notebooks 4 cuadernos de composición 2 boxes of tissue 2 cajas de Pañuelo de papel NOTE: IF SOME OF THE ITEMS PURCHASED LAST YEAR ARE STILL IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BUY THEM AGAIN. NOTA: SI ALGUNOS DE LOS MATERIALES DEL AÑO PASADO TRABAJAN TODAVIA, USTED NO TIENE QUE COMPRARLOS NUEVAMENTE.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 23
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
R ANCHOS ELEMENTARY
It is my pleasure to welcome students, parents, families, and guardians to Ranchos Elementary School. This is an exciting time as we prepare for our students and the adventures ahead.
The Ranchos Elementary educational team is dedicated to creating successful learners by expecting academic excellence and holding high expectations for all our students. In addition to academics, our focus will also be to create a safe and positive learning environment. The educational team and students will promote and model responsible and respectful behavior creating a positive and safe learning atmosphere where teachers are able to teach and students are able to learn. On Friday, August 14th Ranchos Elementary will have orientation for students and parents. Students will meet their teachers, receive daily schedules, information about their classes, and learn about procedures. This will be a great opportunity for students and families to become well informed about the school year, and for families to learn how they can support their students and their school. Orientation times have not been set yet; families will be contacted as soon as they are. We look forward to seeing you there. The first day of school is Monday, August 17th. The school day begins at 8:30 and ends at 3:30. Early dismissal days have changed from Wednesday to some Fridays. Students will be released at 1:30. Parents will be provided with a district calendar that includes early dismissal days. Breakfast and lunch are provided to all students for free. Breakfast is served in classrooms at the start of the school day and lunch is served in the cafeteria. If you have yet to register your student and you live within in Ranchos Elementary zone, you can register at Ranchos Elementary from 8:30 to 3:30. You will need to bring your student’s birth certificate, immunization records, and proof of physical address. In closing, we look forward to building positive relationships and partnering with our school community in efforts to educate our students. Please contact us at 737-6150 if you would like further information or if you need to register your student. Sincerely,
Mrs. Lourdes Cordova Principal, Ranchos Elementary School STAFF AND BUSES ONLY
PROCEDURES FOR DROPPING OFF STUDENTS, PICKING UP STUDENTS, AND VISITING THE SCHOOL The following are drop off and pick up procedures. If we all work together and follow the school’s procedures we will have a safe school for our students.
Parents dropping off their children, please… • Use the front parking lot and not the back parking lot that is designated for busses and staff • Drive slowly, cautiously, and follow the one-way traffic route • Drop off between 7:50 and 8:30 • Park in the parallel parking spaces and walk your children to the sidewalk • Park in the regular parking spaces if you will be walking your children to the playground or entering the school for other school business • Sign in at the office if walking your children to the playground or entering for other school business • Share these procedures with anyone who will be dropping off your children
Parents picking up their children, please… • Use the front parking lot and not the back parking lot that is designated for busses and staff • Drive slowly, cautiously, and follow the one-way traffic route • Pick up your children at 3:30 on regular dismissal days and 1:30 on early dismissal days • Park in the parallel parking spaces and walk to the front gated pick up area to wait for your children • Allow only those who have been designated on the registration form (18 or older) to pick up your children • Share these procedures with anyone who will be picking up your children For the safety of our students, it is very important to know when we have visitors on school grounds, who the visitors are, and the purpose of the visit. People who are not Ranchos Elementary staff or students are considered visitors and have to report to the office to sign in and get a visitor’s pass. Staff members will ask visitors to see their pass if it is not visible. This is not intended to make anyone feel unwelcome or uncomfortable but for the purpose of the safety of our students.
Visitors, please… EXIT PARALLEL PARK DROP-OFF
PARALLEL PARK DROP-OFF
ONE WAY
PARALLEL PARK DROP-OFF
ONE WAY PARALLEL PARK DROP-OFF
ONE WAY VISITOR PARKING AREA
ONE WAY VISITOR PARKING AREA
PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY
ONE WAY DROP-OFF/PICK-UP ENTRANCE
PARALLEL PARK DROP-OFF
ONE WAY PARALLEL PARK DROP-OFF
ONE WAY VISITOR PARKING AREA
ONE WAY VISITOR PARKING AREA
RANCHOS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DROP-OFF & PICK-UP
24 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
LIVING DESIGNS GROUP
ARCHITECTS
• Sign in at the office, get a pass, and wear the pass where it can be seen • Interact with only your children and staff • Use staff restrooms and not student restrooms • Sign out at the office when your visit is completed • Share these procedures with anyone who may be visiting the school Ranchos Elementary will be a safe place for our students if we all work together and follow the rules and procedures. Please talk with your children about the importance of following rules and procedures and encourage them to do so. The Ranchos Elementary Staff thanks you for helping to make our campus a safe place for our students.
ELECTRIC COMMUNICATIONS PROPANE
Kit Carson Electric Cooperative will be giving away 30 Back Cooperative To School Back Packs!! Kit Carson Electric will be giving away
30 To School Back Packs!! 15 –Back Elementary Student Back Packs!
& 1515 – Elementary BackPacks! Packs! – Middle/HighStudent School Back
& Filled with School Supplies – Pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, 15 – Middle/High School Back Packs! Scissors, and much more! Stop bySupplies the Taos,– Questa or Penasco office notebooks, Filled with School Pens, pencils, crayons, to fill out an much entry form! Scissors, and more! ONE ENTRY PER MEMBER. Stop by the Taos, Questa or Penasco office toTAKE fill out an entry form! DRAWING WILL PLACE AT KCEC MAIN OFFICE ON MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH!
ONE ENTRY PER MEMBER. Making back to school a little easier! DRAWING WILL TAKE PLACE AT KCEC MAIN OFFICE ON . MONDAY, AUGUST 10TH! taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16
Making back to school a little easier! .
25
Taos Feral Feline Friends Taos Feral Feline Friends A Shelter is
O O O
Taos Feral A shelter Feline Friends
A Shelter is... is A Shelter is
O O O
O O O
a place a place for love for love
An Investment in
KNOWLEDGE
pays the best interest. ~ Benjamin Franklin
It’s that time of year again! Time to back up books, get supplies, and learn new information--a transformative time of year when we prepare our children to be and do their best. Students--Whether you are a rising senior or a new Kindergarten student, I encourage you to make the most of your upcoming school year.
a place a place for for life life
a place for love
O O O
a place for life
O O O
a place to find a place aa friend ! place to
to a friend ! Adoptions - $10
find 737-9208 a friend!
Adoptions to 737-920
a place find a friend!
Please call if I can assist you: 575-770-3178 or email me at roberto.gonzales@nmlegis.gov
Adopt a new friend today! Adoptions - $12.50 737-9208 737-9208
Paid Political Advertisement
Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales, Marcos Gonzales Treasurer
26 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
O O O
O O O
Thank you voters of District 42 for your continued support.
State Representative Roberto “Bobby” J. Gonzales District 42, Democrat
O O O
And don’t Don’t be be stressed... stressed! we’ll fix We’ll fix your your cats for for free! free! cats
Illnesses won’t wait for an appointment. Neither should you.
When your primary care physician is unavailable, our family medicine providers are here to provide same day and after hours care for minor, non-life-threatening conditions, such as colds, sore throats, sprains and strains, minor broken bones and allergy flare ups. The Same Day Care Clinic at Presbyterian Medical Group in Española is open 10 am to 8 pm every day of the week.
Medical Group A department of Presbyterian Española Hospital
1010 Spruce St, Española, NM 87532 www.phs.org/espanola
Women’s care for every stage of life.
Presbyterian Medical Group at Española Hospital offers a wide range of obstetrics and gynecology care to meet the needs of women of all ages, at every stage of life. Our physicians specialize in routine and specialty women’s care, from the first well-woman visit to pregnancy and beyond. We also offer minimally invasive gynecological surgery. Call (505) 367-0340 to schedule an appointment. Rachel Goodman, MD
Medical Group A department of Presbyterian Española Hospital
Biatris Barrera, MD
1010 Spruce St, Española, NM 87532 www.phs.org/espanola
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 27
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
Mariachi el Tigre
4 3 g n i t a r Celeb cultural years of e g a t i r e h
O
By Cody Hooks
n a Friday afternoon in April, an enthralling sound poured from the music room at Taos High School. It was the sound of 20 or so violins, trumpets, guitars, guitarróns and vihuelas. It was Mariachi El Tigre.
mariachi group in the state. Not many students wanted to join the nascent effort, Branchal said, because they didn’t speak Spanish at home and didn’t have a connection with the music. But one student, Norbert Martínez, did — he’s now the director of the program. Audrey Davis is the third mariachi teacher, specializing in violin. Coming from a classical background, she “just fell in love” with mariachi, she said in 1991 when she first started teaching with Branchal.
The students were gearing up for the annual Mariachi Spectacular, a festive affair and fundraiser featuring over 150 mariachi students from Taos Middle School, Taos High School, Enos García Elementary and Questa. It’s the big opportunity to show off to the community a storied program that teacher Nick Branchal, the program’s original founder, says empowers young people and produces musicians of the highest order.
By the time students get to Mariachi El Tigre, the top-notch performance ensemble of the program, they’ve already come up through the program learning “the basics” like reading music. Performing with Mariachi El Tigre isn’t a shoo-in; students have to put in hours upon hours of practice to pass muster.
Branchal started teaching at Taos High School in 1978. Just two years later, he and three students started the very first high school
Not everyone makes it their first time. “If you don’t make it, you’re not a failure,” Branchal said. The directors make sure not to put stu-
Katharine Egli
The Taos High Mariachi El Tigre, as photographed in April.
dents down, but rather, use the music to drive them to do better — to grow into their musicianship. “Joining mariachi is the best decision I ever made,” said Esperanza Salazar, a senior. Why is that? Her first reason wasn’t necessarily the music, but the social, mental and emotional growth that comes with playing and dedicating herself to the craft. Alejandro Silva put it another way when he described performing as being “in your element, [but] outside your comfort zone.” So much of the mariachi program is simply about student empowerment. “They have to have confidence,” Branchal said. And in the arena of mariachi, they have to inhabit their traje del charro — the intricately embroidered, black and orange regalia of mariachi — with both pride and humility. “They have to be proud in the uniform,” Davis said.
See MARIACHI, Page 30
28 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Now enrolling students and mentors for the 2015-2016 school year
Matriculas abiertas para estudiantes y patriconadores para el año escolar 2015-2016 School-Based Mentoring Program
Programa de Mentoría en la Escuela
Teacher Approved!
¡Aprobado por los maestros!
Our School-Based Mentoring program is not limited to the classroom. Some children read or do homework with their volunteer mentor (called a “Big”), but they can also do activities such as eat lunch together, play on the playground, or play basketball in the gym. It’s really all about starting a friendship, providing guidance, and inspiring children to reach their potential.
Some of the biggest supporters of our School-Based Mentoring program are teachers. They see students come back from their time with their Big filled with confidence, smiling big, ready to learn, and eager to succeed. If you would like to help your child reach their potential, or sign up to make a big difference in a child’s life, visit www.bbbsmountainregion.org. In Taos and Colfax Counties contact Oralia Gonzalez at 779-0315 or email Oralia.Gonzalez@bbbsmountainregion.org.
Nuestro programa de mentoría en las escuelas no es limitado al salón de clases. Algunos niños leen o hablan con sus mentores voluntarios (llamado un “Big”) sobre las clases, o hacen las tareas, pero también pueden hacer actividades como jugar basketball o jugar en el patio. En definitiva se trata de amistades nuevas, ofrecer dirección e inspirar a los estudiantes para que alcancen su máximo potencial.
Algunos de los partidarios de nuestro programa de mentoría en las escuelas son los maestros. Ellos ven a los estudiantes regresar después de pasar tiempo con sus “Bigs” llenos de confianza, con una gran sonrisa, listos para aprender y salir adelante. Si le quiere ayudarle a su niño(a) alcanzar su potencial, o quiere hacer una gran diferencia en la vida de un niño, visite al www.bbbsmountainregion.org. En los Condados de Taos y Colfax llame a Oralia Gonzalez o escriba al email Oralia. Gonzalez@bbbsmountainregion.org.
Mountain Region taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 29
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
Mariachi el Tigre
Katharine Egli
Students in the Mariachi Jaguar Encantado (left) sing to a gym full of teachers, parents and students at last year’s Back to School Bash at Enos García Elementary; and Alejandro Silva sings during Mariachi practice at Taos High this past April.
MARIACHI, From Page 28
L
ike any other extracurricular that straddles the ground between school activity and bona fide passion, mariachi takes practice. And lots of it. Students in Mariachi El Tigre not only practice in class for at least five hours a week — “We blast this school up,” Salazar said — but also spend hours at home playing and honing their art.
hours of practice in formal uniforms? For Quintana, “it’s culturally based,” he said. “My family is from Mexico.”
James Valerio, another student in the program, said that “to really feel the mariachi music, you have to listen to the mariachi music. You have to listen to the old masters.” Mariachi music — with its many styles and renditions— has completely taken over his life; his mom wonders why he listens to nothing else, he said.
But mariachi isn’t just Mexican music, he said. “It’s a full ensemble with the intended instruments,” trumpets, violins, guitars, the bigger-than-usual guitarróns and the smaller vihuelas.
It is that sort of personal devotion that drives their music. Nico Quintana said that when they play, they “have to keep it traditional but make it [their] own.” Why do they play mariachi music? Why do they put in the long
30 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Mariachi music originated in Cocula, Jalisco in Mexico, explained Branchal. The music bares influences not only from Spain, but Africa and Cuba, as well — it’s a New World creation now lodged in even the main-stream American imagination.
It’s the cultural heritage of those Mexican citizens who stayed behind when Northern New Mexico became U.S. territory that endeared mariachi to Taos. But that heritage is a far cry from a foregone conclusion — as Branchal said, “if you let it go little by little, it will disappear.”
Indeed, Valerio said the songs he plays and sings for school are the songs his grandmother grew up listening to. At concerts, he’s noticed her getting a little teary-eyed as the band plays through one emotionally charged tour de force after another. But beyond the soul the students put into Mariachi El Tigre, they say it’s just fun. “It’s really nice to come to mariachi at the end of the day,” Salazar said, because by the time they’re done with a gripping, exhausting practice, they’re worn out — released and relaxed. “The music is therapeutic,” Silva said. The group will find no rest until after the Mariachi Spectacular. In the classroom, teachers and students alike buy into a no-excuses sort of atmosphere — a professionalism befitting these young people. As Branchal tells the students, “the show must go on.” “What they learn from us,” he said, “they’ll carry on with them.”
Welcome back
to school. The New Mexico Sinus Institute welcomes children of all ages for your ear, nose and throat needs.
1.855.81.SINUS (74687) Jesse Knight, MD
Steve Lauer, CFNP
Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon
Certified Nurse Practitioner
NewMexicoSinusInstitute.com 1399 Weimer Rd., Ste 500 | Taos, NM 87571
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 31
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
Taos Academy Offering tury n e C t s 1 2 learning
Courtesy Photo
Taos Academy students learn about architecture through projects like the one shown here.
aos Academy is a free public school offering a new and innovative educational delivery system. It is our privilege to provide fifth- through 12th-grade students with engaging and rigorous core curriculum, highly motivating elective classes, leadership and career training, and community involvement through our state-ofthe-art 21st-Century learning environment.
by professionals in the community four days a week. Most high school classes are dual credit classes. Courses include: music application with Jimmy Stadler, video production with Peter Walker, dance with Olga Baigas, drama and singing with Cindy Valerio, mixed media art with Katie Woodall, outdoor education with Field Institute of Taos, and culinary arts with Sit Khamramsan. Last year some new courses were offered and will continue this year — green technologies, architecture, archery, media literacy, photography, journalism, fashion design, and health and nutrition.
Taos Academy has been growing and adapting over the last six years. We have gathered together an exemplary staff who are committed to the education and well-being of our students. Our students care about their education and about each other. Together, we are proud to have created a safe, fun, dedicated environment that is conducive to growing and learning.
College Link is for students in grades 10-12 who enroll in both Taos Academy and university classes. Dual credit is earned, making it possible for a student to graduate from high school with an associate’s degree. Highly qualified advisors and counselors guide students in their coursework, application processes, scholarship applications, and graduation requirements.
All students have an individualized learning program aligned to their personal goals to ensure success. Our mission focuses on 21st-Century skills — communication, collaboration, creativity, accountability, technology, problem solving, global awareness and civic responsibility. Students receive academic curriculum digitally, giving them the flexibility to work at their own pace anywhere there is internet service. Online curriculum is balanced by face-toface classes taught by a highly qualified staff who are passionate about education. Our live programs include:
Career Pathways is another program for students in grades 10-12. Students take careerspecific courses and enroll in an internship program to receive on-the-job training towards certification in their chosen field of study. Highly qualified advisors and counselors guide students in their coursework, application processes, scholarship application, and graduation requirements.
T
By Karin Moulton
Fifth/Sixth-Grade Enrichment offers academic support, small class sizes, field trips and project-based work four days a week. Certified teachers provide tutoring and guest presenters give workshops on topics such as bridge building, nutrition, and anti-bullying. The 21st-Century classes are required at Taos Academy. Leadership class students develop and implement service learning projects in the community. In global studies class students learn about diverse cultures and global issues to gain understanding and respect for other nations and their values. SMART LAB is a state-of-the-art technology lab where students explore robotics, animation, engineering, flight simulation, music production and alternative energy. In our digital media arts lab students produce news programs, documentaries and films throughout the year. STEM Institute (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) provides elective classes taught
32 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
GROW (Growing Renewable Options For the World) is Taos Academy’s agriculture program funded in part by grants from Taos Community Foundation, Farm to Table, and Subaru Healthy Sprouts. Classes teach adaptive approaches to sustainable food production and nutrition utilizing our solar powered growing dome, local farms, and partners. Students also work collaboratively with Taos Heritage Farm, located adjacent to our school’s campus. One third of the produce is given to local food banks, one third is shared with other programs, and one third is used in our culinary arts program. Outdoor Education offers wilderness experiences for all Taos Academy students. Overnight camping, day expeditions, winter activities, and team-building experiences are required throughout the school year. Our dedicated staff welcomes students and parents to a new school year. Come by for a visit at 110 Paseo del Cañon West and see for yourself what we’re doing! Karin Moulton is the community coordinator for Taos Academy.
Feeding Taos since 1974!
d e v r Se ! t fas Day k ea l Br Al 7 Days a week Mon-Thurs: 7:00am to 2:30pm
Open til 8pm Fri - Sun 304 N. Pueblo Road, Taos 3 blocks north of the Plaza
575-758-4178 FULL MENU AT www.michaelskitchen.com OR COME BY FOR YOUR MENU.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 33
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
Taos Academy eo d i v t n e Stud e h t e d i s n ‘I s e k a t ’ w Rainbo s e u s s i Q on LGBT hool c s s o a T at Katharine Egli
Sebastian Moulton, who created the short film, “Inside the Rainbow” about LGBTQ issues in Taos, poses for a portrait outside Taos Academy Charter School in February.
A
By Cody Hooks
the spot” thoughts.
rmed with a video camera, his school’s digital media arts lab and the support of about 25 other students, Taos Academy student Sebastien Moulton produced “Inside the Rainbow,” a video project about LGBTQ issues in school and the path to creating a safer space for learning and living.
Even though “current issues aren’t that widely talked about in school,” he said, students at Taos Academy “know what the issues are and how they feel.”
The video, Moulton explains in the introduction, is about “how much a strong, supportive community can help you find out who you are.”
While the reactions aren’t blasé, most were positive, supportive and reflective of the community Taos Academy strives to create, Karin Moulton explained. When asked about marriage equality, one student responded with commentary on the institution of marriage at large, calling the idea of being with one person forever, quite simply, weird.
“Inside the Rainbow” gauges the strength and support within the community of Taos Academy, a charter school catering to online learners in middle and high school. As the school’s co-founder Karin Moulton said, conversations about LGBTQ issues fall in line with broader conversations about bullying on campus. Karin Moulton is also Sebastien’s mother. “Inside the Rainbow” wasn’t a school project, but was created on behalf of the Taos chapter of PFLAG, Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, where Sebastien Moulton was an intern. PFLAG —which holds monthly meetings, supports students via a scholarship program and collaborates with other nonprofits around Taos — commissioned the video to use when speaking at schools. Barbara Sheppard, president of PFLAG-Taos, said the video is especially important because it captures the voices, attitudes and personal stories of young people working through questions of identity. Many of the students interviewed identified as gay, bisexual or allies — straight people who proudly do their part to support LGBTQ people. Taos Academy proved an auspicious venue for the project not only because Moulton had access to his school’s digital video equipment, but also because most students, he said, “are gung-ho to talk about their opinions. They’re comfortable talking about [LGBTQ] issues.” “We took the camera out at our break time and just asked their thoughts on LGBTQ issues and the communities. Then go find the next person until the time ran out,” he said. Students weren’t given prompts. Instead, the video caught their honest, “right there on
34 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Most students responded to questions about LGBTQ issues — including those about equal rights, raising children and getting married — with “yeah, that’s fine,” Moulton said.
And one college student who graduated from Taos schools a few years ago said that while his family and friends were easy in their reaction to him coming out as gay, it was more challenging feeling acceptance from the wider community. Indeed, though Taos Academy is working toward being an accepting community, “Inside the Rainbow” demonstrates how a general lack of basic knowledge can still present a barrier to a truly safe environment. One student said she didn’t know what the word “gay” meant until sixth grade. Identity struggles compound without a vocabulary to speak about one’s experience. Karin Moulton said that teachers and administrators tell students, “If you want [safety] at school, it starts with yourself. But it also takes stepping outside of yourself and saying something. If someone’s alone, say hi — don’t leave people sad and lonely,” she said. She said that simply having the conversation about bullying — “It’s about acceptance, in a broad terminology” — has helped foster a more inclusive and safer school climate. What lapses the school does experience are met with a strictly informed discipline policy, she said. “As teachers, we want to work in a place where people are kind and respectful,” she said. Sebastien Moulton said that while LGBTQ issues were the focus of this video, when it comes to having a school where all students — regardless of sexuality, gender identity, race or class — are on a level playing field, “safe is safe.”
Kids Who Eat Burgers Get Higher Test Scores?
KARATE = BETTER GRADES Help Your Child Achieve and Succeed! Shape Your Child’s Future with: Winning Attitudes • Incredible Discipline • Respect of Others Leadership Skills • Self Confidence
Summer Special
And Why?
Get 7 Weeks for
7 Weeks for $95 EXPIRES 08/31/15
Call Today! 575-758-4068 575-758-4068
** NEW• STUDENTS ONLY ATA Martial Arts • 204 Paseo del Cañon www.bay-ata.com/taos
100% Money Back Guarantee*
Black Angus Beef, Horomone & Antibiotic Free, Ground Fresh Daily, and No Trans Fats, Anywhere 575.758.8484
5starburgers.com
1032 Paseo del Pueblo Sur
Taos Taekwondo 204 Paseo del Cañon www.taostaekwondo.com
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 35
Thank you, Taos High School and Middle School students for building and painting dog houses for Gimme Shelter Raffle proceeds benefitting
Stray Hearts Animal Shelter and
Habitat for Humanity of Taos
The Gorge House with Zach Ginn and Ysidro Gravelle — at Taos Middle School.
Come meet your new best friend! Stray Hearts Animal Shelter
Lighthouse House by Robert Trujillo and Cody Hammond — at Taos Middle School.
Adopt ••• Foster ••• Volunteer ••• Donate
strayhearts.org
Open Monday through Saturday 11:00 am to 4:30 pm, or call for an appointment!
36 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
575-758-2981 • 1200 St Francis Lane
Score BIG with a loan from us.
Fall into FUN at HAA!
Installment loans from
$300 to $2,000* Telephone applications welcome
1033 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur Ste B Taos NM 87571 (575) 758-8995 www.security-finance.com
*All loans are subject to credit limitations and our underwriting policies, including verifiable ability to repay. Actual loan proceeds may vary based upon loan terms. Dollar amounts are rounded to the lowest whole dollar.
Weekly Fall Schedule Classes and Aftercare start August 17 Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Parent & Me 10:15-11
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Afterschool Care Early Dismissal 12-4
Parent & Me 9:15-10
Team 7/8 9-12N
Los Angelitos Care Daily 3:30-5 Field Trip Groups 2-3 Field Trip Groups 2-3 After School11:45-1
Chevrolet
Welcome Back to School! We Believe in you! Reach for your dreams…be an athlete, a great student, a leader, a community supporter… we’ll be there for you.
Toddler Open Gym 10-11
Beg Rec 4-5
Extreme Cheer 4-8
Beg Rec 4-5
Beg Rec 4-5
Beg Rec 4-5
Tumblebees, Rampage 11-12N
Power Rec 5-6
Xcel B 4-5
Adv Rec 5-6
Power Rec 5-6
Adv Rec 5-6
Open Gym 12-1
Beg. Rec. 4-5
Xcel S/G 6-8
TEAM 2/3: 4-6 4/5: 4-7:30 6+: 4-8
TEAM 6+: 4-8
Beg Tumbling 6-7
THS/TMS 3-4 TEAM 2/3: 4-6 4/5: 4-7:30 6+: 4-8
TEAM 6+: 4-8
Extreme Cheer 1-8
Boys/Warriors 1-3 TEAM 2/3: 4-6 4/5: 4-7:30 6+: 4-8
Adv Tumbling 7:30-8:30 Boys/Warriors 5-7
Sales, service, supporting all the students and schools in Northern New Mexico for over 40 years!
Beginner recreation classes starting at $45/month. After school program includes pick-up from Enos Garcia Elementary, Taos Charter and Anansi bus stops. Tumblebees & Rampage classes for children 3 to 5 years old. *Subject to change
575-758-2252 1040 Paseo del Pueblo Sur www.fridaymotors.com
Call 758-3118
registration ongoing... www.haagymcheerdance.com 124 Civic Plaza Dr. (Please enter on Martyr’s Lane)
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 37
Back To School
SPECIAL!
Back to School Smartphone Special!
20
Bring this ad in for
%
Off
Valid Through 9/31/15
Your Total Purchase
*Ask For More Details
Unique Styles Beauty Supply Your Place For Custom Graduation Invitations in Taos for Over 20 Years! Across from Walmart • 925 Paseo del Pueblo Sur
575-751-1313 • 9to5@newmex.com
Everything You Need From Head to Toe
115 Este Es Road
575-758-0024
(inside George’s Wood “Works” Building)
Taos' Juice Bar serving unique organic raw fare including Cold Pressed Drinks, Custom Smoothies, Nut Mylks, Coffee, Mate, Chocolate drinks, as well as specials from around the world like Lucuma con Leche and Chia Fresca. We support local organic agriculture. “Raw to the People!”
Juice ’em up! 818 C PASEO DEL PUEBLO NORTE TAOS (575) 741-0259 RAWTAOS.COM rawtaos@gmail.com
38 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Families Learning Together September 10, 2015
Preparing Young Children To Succeed In School Using Love And Logic
October 20, 2015
Promoting Social/Emotional Health With Emotional Intelligences
November 17, 2015
February 17, 2016
Developing Mathematics Skills
March 30, 2016
How To Create A College-Going Plan For Your Family
April 27, 2016
Finding Parent Resources Engaging Successfully With Your Child’s School (ESL, Taxes, Health, Summer Programs, January 28, 2016 Counseling) Developing Literacy Skills
Enos Garcia Administrative Bldg with FREE food and babysitting provided. Time: 5:30 - 7:00pm. Call (575) 737-9300 to register for one or all!
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 39
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
UNM-TAOS
n o g n i o What’s g aos? T at UNM-
C
By Bill Knief
onstruction is the name of the game. The years of major build-out of the UNM-Taos Klauer Campus are 2014, 2015 and 2016. If you haven’t been out to the campus in a while, you owe yourself a 15-minute drive south of town; you’ll be amazed at what you find. Just past the National Guard Armory is a whole hillside of academic facilities and support infrastructure: four large portable classroom buildings, Pueblo Hall, Fred Peralta Hall, the Kids’ Campus, the Career Tech building, and one of our oldest buildings, Padre Martinez Hall, which is undergoing a three million dollar makeover that will double it in size and serve as home for all student services. By the time the fall semester starts August 17 it will be fully operational, along with connecting walkways, convenient parking and outdoor lighting. The first priority for every construction dollar that comes in, of course, is to provide classroom and office space for students and faculty. But you’ll also notice that there is a lot more landscaping on campus than existed in the past, and more to come in the future. The Pueblo Hall patio area is a cool haven even on the hottest days, thanks to overhanging shade sails, and umbrella-protected tables and benches are springing up everywhere.
40 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Courtesy Photo
Above left, a worker walks alongside the nearly completed Padre Martinez addition on the UNM-Taos Klauer Campus; and Río Grande Hall, a part of UNM-Taos Civic Plaza Drive project.
Meanwhile, in the heart of town, more remodeling is just getting started on Civic Plaza Drive. Thanks to an agreement between the town of Taos and UNM-Taos, your community college now owns Río Grande and Bataan Halls, which used to house the old Taos Convention Center, and we are investing $4.6 million into a complete overhaul and renovation of the facilities. This will not only make it possible for the college to grow beyond its 22-year occupation of the Administration Building next door at at 115 Civic Plaza Drive, but will, at the same time, begin to revitalize that section of the downtown area. It took more than 18 months to complete the vetting and obtain all the approvals from local government, the state Board of Finance, the Department of Finance Administration, the governor’s office and the UNM Board of Regents, but now the fun part can begin. Along with necessary repairs and cosmetic improvements, the underused but sound buildings will be converted into a Workforce Development Training Center featuring our highly accredited Nursing and Medical Massage Programs. Funding for the project has already been acquired and set aside, thanks to the passage of the 2014 General Obligation Bonds and the half-cent Taos County gross receipts tax, and completion is estimated to be the fall of 2016. Together, these two construction projects alone will provide more
than 40,000 square feet of classroom and office space for our student body.
Why the rush?
For the past 12 years, since UNM-Taos was designated a branch of the University of New Mexico by state statute, it has experienced outstanding growth, and in 2014 was designated the 17th fastest growing community college of its size in the nation, out of a field of over 350 schools. Beginning with only 250 students, we now serve around 1,800 per semester, and our demographics closely parallel those of the county we serve.
Our students enroll for many reasons: personal growth, an opportunity to get to know their fellow community members, to polish their work skills in order to be more competitive in today’s changing workforce, to get a jump on college, to serve as a positive role model for family members, or to obtain an academic degree or certificate as the first step toward transfer to a four year university. But whatever the motivation or ultimate goal, it all starts here, at your hometown community college; it’s the right environment for learning to take place. We are building the facilities today that will create opportunities and build productive lives for future generations of Taoseños.
T A O S
L I O N S
C L U B
A N N O U N C E S
Kid Sight Screening STARTING IN AUGUST AND GOING THROUGH DECEMBER, all Taos County children enrolled in Pre-K through 3rd grade and 8th grade, will have the opportunity to have their eyes screened at no charge. Early vision screening ensures that a child’s development is not delayed by impaired eyesight. Parents should be alert to the upcoming eye screening schedule at your child’s school: » » » » »
AUGUST 20 Taos Pueblo Head Start AUGUST 26 Taos Academy Charter Middle School AUGUST 27 Taos Academy Charter High School SEPTEMBER 23 Alta Vista Elementary and Junior High, Rio Costilla Elementary SEPTEMBER 25 Questa Head Start, Llano Quemado Head Start
Scheduling dates are yet to be determined for other Taos County Schools: Anansi Charter, Anansi Day, Arroyos del Norte, Enos Garcia, Penasco Child Find, Penasco Elementary, Penasco HeadStart, Penasco Middle, Ranchos Elementary, San Cristobal Head Start, Taos Charter, Taos International, Taos Integrated School of the Arts, UNM Klauer Campus-PreSchool, Taos Middle, Taos Pueblo Day School, Taos Waldorf. For more information visit our website: taoslions.org or email questions to: taos.kidsight@gmail.com. Your contributions and community support received during our annual fund raiser, Toast of Taos Wine Festival & Golf Tournament, enables us to provide KidSight Eye Screening, in addition to support for our other youth programs. We would like to thank our working partners; Taos Optometrists, Dr. Compton and Dr. Ratzlaff, and Ophthalmologist; Eye Associates for their continued support in helping to bring clearer vision to all children in our community.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 41
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
PEÑASC O
: p e e d s n Fire ru class o c s a ñ e P , s b o j o t a path adition link to tr
A
By Cody Hooks
s fires big and small begin flaring up across the West every spring, calls start coming for wildland firefighters at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and other state and federal agencies. After a recent class offered by the BLM and Peñasco schools, a few more people will soon have the opportunity to join those flaming front lines.
trained firefighters. But this class originated with the Peñasco Independent School District and revamped efforts to offer clear paths to employment.
Katharine Egli
Amanda Sena lifts her glasses to get a closer look at a very pistol in the BLM's Wilderness Fire Training Class on BLM lands near Copper Hill in Peñasco.
When it comes to fire, Peñasco senior Justin Lopez said he’s ready to make a career out of it.
Peñasco Principal Marvin MacAuley said the wildfire class is just one of the ways the schools are “changing things around here in Peñasco.”
“Most of my family has been into firefighting,” Lopez said. His uncle had a 30-year career fighting wildfires while his mom did it for a brief time, too. “I wanted to follow along the path, keep the tradition going. I want to be one of the top guys.”
In late March, 18 people from the communities in and around Peñasco learned the basics of fighting wildfires — everything from “book learning” about archeology to the necessary grunt work of digging a fire line.
In addition to making the school buildings more available to the community for events and classes, MacAuley said, the district is also “trying to open doors” for students in innovative ways. That might be a “short step to college” via a dual-credit program with Northern New Mexico University in Española or a fast-track to employability.
Lopez and other students can take another, more advanced fire training course. After they pass a trail test with a heavy pack, go through CPR training and learn defensive driving for the BLM, they’ll be “red-carded.” Once they are done with school, they’ll be ready for their first entry-level firefighting job with the agency.
Kyle Sahd, a wildfire management specialist with the Taos Field Office of the BLM, told The Taos News he normally offers the class once every two to five years depending on his agency’s need for more
One benefit of having more trained firefighters who are high schoolers, Sahd said, is that young people will be able to “show up to the BLM’s door ready to go” after graduation.
Sahd said the first four or five years people work in wildfire they are “just learning, learning, learning. I still learn every time I go out on assignment.”
See PEÑASCO, Page 44
42 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
PREVENT TOOTH DECAY! LIVING LABYRINTHS FOR PEACE
SCHEDULE YOUR BACK-TO-SCHOOL CLEANING AND CHECKUP
Providing educational labyrinth programs in public, charter and private schools coast to coast since 2000.
Fun tips for sending your kids to school with a smile: 1. BRUSH & FLOSS 2. PACK DENTAL-FRIENDLY LUNCHES AND SNACKS TISA–TAOS SCHOOL FOR INTEGRATED ARTS: “In 2015, my fifth grade class had the pleasure of participating in the Peace Labyrinth Project. Creating our own labyrinth was an invaluable lesson in teamwork and peaceful conflict resolution.
Avoid sticky sugary foods, and sugary sports drinks, as they can cause cavities.
3. START A REWARD SYSTEM
Encourage good dental exams with a prize.
I recommend this project to any teacher who seeks to improve their classroom culture.” MS. ANGELA, ABBATE 5TH GRADE TEACHER & MRS. SUSAN GERMANN, DIRECTOR
www.livinglabyrinthsforpeace.org Sandra Wasko-Flood, Director · 575-779-5572 · waskoart@gmail.com
Taos Dental Group
Our family caring for your family Justin Nylund, D.D.S. C. Tom Simms, D.D.S.
(575) 758-8303 taosdentalgroup.com
Looking for a safe place for your teen to stay?
Looking for place to sta Kids and teens agesa 12 safe to 17 are welcome Emergency Youthto Shelter. Looking foror a atsafe place stay aournew start? We can help! Young adults ages 16 to 24 are invited to or a new start? We can help! Kids and teens ages 12 to 17 are welcome our Transitional Living Program: a wayattoour Emergency You
Shelter. adults ages 16support. to 24 are invited to our Transitiona liveYoung independently with Kids and teens ages 12 to 17 are welcome at our Emergency Youth Program: a way to live independently with support. Shelter. Young adults ages 16 to 24 are invited to our Transitional Living Program: a way to live independently with support. For more information, visit us at 128 La Posta Road, behind Albertsons, or call us at (575) 758-9595. For more information, visit us at 128 La Posta Road, behind Albertsons, or callwww.dreamtreeproject.org us at (575) 758-9595.
www.dreamtreeproject.org taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 43
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
PEÑASC O
Katharine Egli
Clockwise, from top: Students practice taking shots from a very pistol on BLM lands near Penasco as part of the BLM Wilderness Fire Fighting Class this past March; Lynn E. Alden gets in some practice; and Ben Lujan shows the wilderness fire class how to load the pistol.
PEÑASCO, From Page 42
L
opez knows a life of firefighting isn’t easy. He’ll have to work really hard, he said, to “build that friendship” and trust indicative of most firefighting crews. “It’s hard to go in there as the new guy,” he said. But — “that’s teamwork.”
Over the five days of the class in March, students learned the basic philosophies and skills that make teamwork possible on the fire line, such as how to properly read coordinates over the radio and how to convert those coordinates for helicopter pilots. But crew structure was another critical topic. “I kept pushing the leadership side of it,” Sahd said. “I know we took them out of their comfort zone. I made everybody be a squad boss — be in charge of
44 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
people. They’re going to make mistakes, but you have to go with what you know.” Though it may sound cliche, “safety first” was an all-important tenet of the training, too. “There’s always a way to solve the problem,” Sahd told the class. During the second weekend, the students got a taste of the physical demands of a real fire assignment. After hiking three to four miles into the Copper Hill area around Dixon, students “dug line” — scraping a strip of the forest floor of any fuel, thus preventing the spread of smoldering embers. Students also learned to handle drip torches and fire pistols, which shoots flares to “build depth in the fire where you
don’t want to put your people,” Sahd said. “It takes a toll,” he said, not only physically, but mentally as well. “Even if you’re having trouble at home, you can’t worry about that on fire or someone’s life [could be] in jeopardy.” Sahd said his crews are “passionate about fire” and the culture and camaraderie of firefighting. That passion is indicative of the long-standing tradition folks like Lopez are now taking up as their own. Sahd made sure to remind the class that when it comes to wildfires and prescribed burns, there will always be a plethora of opinions. “Other people work with the public,” he said. “Your commitment is the public lands.”
Consignment Shopping Fun over 25,000 sq feet of furniture, clothing & household goods
pieces consignment More Pieces and
Pieces - 1024 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos- 575-737-0500 More Pieces - 216 & 28 Paseo del Canon, Taos -575-737-5112 www.piecestaos.com Pieces Taos on FB
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 45
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
QUESTA e h t f o s d r ‘Stewa uesta Q : ’ t e n a l p in t s r i f s e High tak mpetition o c o r i v n e
T
By Cody Hooks
he Questa Ecocats aren’t a sports team, but that doesn’t mean they don’t take competition seriously. The team won first place March 17 at Taos County’s Envirothon Regionals.
Envirothon is an international competition that tests students’ chops in topics about the environment and natural resource management — forestry, wildlife, aquatics, soils and a “current topic,” such as this year’s urban and community forestry focus. Second place went to the Taos High School Earthletes, while third place went to Peñasco High School’s “50 Shades of Green.” “We come together to make this a very educational event. We all have a vested interest in our kiddos,” said Ernie Lopez, the educational programs coordinator with Taos Soil and Water Conservation District. Taos’ local Envirothon competition is sponsored by the Taos Soil and Water Conservation District, but draws professional help from many of the local agencies that manage natural resources, including the National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Natural Resources Conservation Service and others. Though the four teams competed against each other,
46 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
ensuring everyone learns is among the most important Envirothon ethics. “We’re all just there to learn. When we go to the competition, everyone is totally willing to help you out,” said Maya MacDonald, a Questa senior and the Ecocats team captain. “It’s a really cool community to be a part of,” she said. Last week’s Envirothon marked the third competition for the region, though teams have competed at the state level for six years, according to Lopez. He thanked Peter Vigil, district manager with Taos Soil and Water Conservation District, for getting the local program up and running. The Taos Earthletes have twice gone to the international competition. “We’re really working at building our strengths,” MacDonald said. “It’s kind of underground.” Lopez said the last week’s day of field tests and oral presentations is really preparation for the three-day state competition in mid-April. All the teams, including a second team from Peñasco, the DHDs, will participate in the New Mexico Envirothon. “We’re beefing up the competition,” he said. Students have been preparing since at least December for the event. Much of what they must do is practical — identifying bird calls, soil types and different species of trees. MacDonald said her team would take hikes around
Katharine Egli
Certified Arborist Ben Wright tests students on Urban forestry during the Environmental Regionals near the West Rim Trail at Taos County's Envirothon Regionals (top); and Sean Fernandez, left, and Jerome Dominguez, right, of Peñasco use nets to get samples of invertibrates in the Río Fernando de Taos, while presenter Ryan Beser, an aquatic ecologist with the BLM looks on during the Envirothon Regionals.
the campus and into the forest to get that tangible experience in the natural world. “We have different tricks, like the number of needles on a tree and how they’re placed,” she said. For the next couple of weeks, MacDonald said her team will be “studying and studying to own that competition in April.” Erica Zito, a first-year high school science teacher at Questa and the Envirothon coach, said, “when they put their brains together, it’s quite beautiful. Everyone is so involved in sports, so it’s nice to get recognized in academics, too.” MacDonald said she plans to major in environmental studies when she starts at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in the fall. Lopez lauded Envirothon’s potential to encourage young people toward careers in natural resource management. “We do need foresters and ecologists,” he said. The professionals who helped out with last week’s competition gave students insight into what a career stemming from Envirothon might look like. “One of the best things is that it’s practical,” Lopez said, referring to the real-life skills Envirothon teaches. “They can connect concepts being taught to their every lives. They have to be the stewards of our planet.”
Tuition-Free Music Program
Taos Youth Music School Bringing kids and music together for 16 years!
Explore Family Guides
Free with your museum admission Check out one of three guides at the front desk!
Classes from Kindergarten through twelfth grades including music education classes, Garage Band, choir and Percussion
Hispanic Traditions Family Guide See also Taos Moderns and Taos Society of Artists Guides
Register September 2 Classes start September 8 For more detailed information visit: taosyouthmusicschool.org 575.770.1287
238 Ledoux Street in Taos (just off the plaza) 575.758.9826 x108 education@harwoodmuseum.org
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 47
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
TISA
p i h s r e d a New le school s t r o p p u s success
Courtesy Photos
Clockwise from top left: Students' art on display at TISA; A group of TISA students work on planting trees; and Taos photographer Lenny Foster poses with a group of TISA students.
T
how produce an original musical. The program is compacted into six weeks, during which time students learn to write a musical, build a set, and perform an original creation on a local stage. This year, local students will embark on this creative adventure during the spring semester at TISA.
ers taught in the Discovery Programs at Enos Garcia and Taos Middle School, and presented University of New Mexico classes through Taos High School. As the new school arts coordinator, Bowers will facilitate art integration into all the classrooms, helping TISA become a leading school of art integration.
This year, Greywolf will initiate the Keep It Spinning program at TISA. Keep It Spinning is a musical theater program Greywolf started during his years in western North Carolina. Keep it Spinning gathers middle school students from Taos County and teaches the students
In addition to a new director, TISA is proud to announce the new position of school arts coordinator. The new school arts coordinator will enhance learning via the arts for all students. The school arts coordinator position will be filled by TISA’s Megan Bowers. Bowers is a graduate of Parsons School of Design in New York City. For 15 years, Bowers has worked as a national award-winning photojournalist and educator in Taos. In addition to working with The Taos News, Bow-
TISA continues to move toward new levels of success. TISA recently underwent the New Mexico Public Education Department’s rigorous renewal process and successfully earned a five-year charter renewal. This renewal ensures that TISA will continue to offer art-enriched learning opportunities to local students. Be sure to look for TISA in the news and check out TISA art events during the upcoming school year.
aos Integrated School of the Arts has undergone exciting changes that focus on moving TISA forward. The school is pleased to announce that Rich Greywolf has signed on as the new director for the school.
Greywolf is a seasoned educator and local actor who has worked in education and the arts for the past 20 years. He brings years of diverse experiences in the arts and administration which will benefit TISA in the upcoming years.
48 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
— Staff Report
CARLOS’ BARBERSHOP CARLOS JEANTETE
Call For Appointments!
MASTER BARBER 402 PASEO DEL PUEBLO SUR
(575) 758-7187
“BEST BARBER SHOP” 2015
HOURS: Mon-Tues 8:30am to 5:30pm Thurs - Sat 8:30am to 6:30pm Closed Weds & Sun
Discover Taos from a different perspective
Back To School Sale!
1103 Paseo del Pueblo Norte Suite 3A, Just north of El Meze Restaurant and south of Elevation Coffee
Sales Service Accessories 575.758.5551 taoscyclery.com
Your Parent-Teacher Place to Shop. Serving Taos for Over 30 Years! Lab Books . Sketch Books . Art Supplies . Glue Compasses & Protractors . Graph Paper . Pocket Folders Notebooks . Binders . Spanish/English Dictionaries Journals . Classroom Decorations . Teacher Idea Books Planners . Special Orders upon request!
Unicorn School Supply 575-758-4106 • 311 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm . Sat 9am-12pm taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 49
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
EDU@WORK CAFÉ AT TAOS HIGH SCHOOL
T
HS Culinary Arts Program is student-driven, with students earning operational, employment and competition costs. Tigers’ Corner provides concessions
and Taos High Chefs catering are available for your events. The café was designed by the culinary students and built with community support. The walls are decorated with the
students’ accomplishments. Thanks for your support and patience while they learn. Comments or reservations can be made to the instructors, Benjie Apodaca or Mary Spears.
Menu Breakfast with Eggs
Breakfast Burrito — With potatoes, eggs, bacon and beans, smothered with your choice of chile — $6.50 Huevos Rancheros — Two eggs cooked to your choice on a corn tortilla with pinto beans, cheese, onion and topped with choice of chile, with hash browns — $8 Taoseño Eggs Benedict — Two poached eggs served with ham on an English muffin smothered with your choice of chile topped with cheese and served with hash browns — $8.50 Bob Ortiz Special — Eggs, bacon or ham, sandwiched between two ricotta pancakes, served with pure maple syrup — $9 Hashbrown Heaven — Crispy hash browns, smothered with chile, topped with two eggs and served with a flour or corn tortilla — $7.50 Traditional Breakfast — Two eggs with hash browns, toast and your choice of bacon or ham — $8 Fluffy Three Egg Omelet — With green chile, cheese and ham, served with hash browns and toast — $7.50
Breakfast on the Light Side
Ricotta Pancakes — With blueberries and pure maple syrup — $6.50 Oatmeal — With walnuts, fresh strawberries, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream — $5 Cinnamon Roll or Danish — $3.50 Fresh Fruit Bowl with Mint — $5 Side orders — Add bacon, ham, hash browns or two eggs to any breakfast order for $2.50
Lunch Entrees
Grilled Salmon — With basil cream sauce and sautéed vegetables over handmade fettuccine (Loder special, rice instead of fettuccine; Veggie option served with black or pinto beans) — $11 Southwestern Meatloaf — Created from grass-fed beef with “mashies,” topped with red chile and served with vegetable du jour — $9.50 Chicken Mexicana — Chicken breast topped with roasted green chile sauce and cheese, garnished with pico de gallo and sour cream, with black beans and brown rice — $10 Stuffed Sopaipilla — With flank streak or chicken and choice of chile — $9.50 Grilled Quesadilla — With a choice of chicken, steak or pork loin, with beans, rice, green chile and sour cream, garnished with salsa — $9.50 Grilled Pork Loin — With chipotle, mushroom sauce, honey-glazed carrots and “mashies” — $9.50 Grilled Trio of Soft Tacos — Chicken (pico de gallo), beef (mango salsa) and pork (pineapple relish), served with black beans and brown rice — $10 Green Chile Chicken Alfredo — $8.50**
Soups and Salads
Mandarin Streak Salad — Served atop wontons with mixed greens and citrus vinaigrette — $8.50 Mixed Greens — With apple walnut vinaigrette — $6.50* Traditional Caesar Salad — With red chile croutons — $6.50* Sautéed Garden Vegetables — Served with brown rice and black beans — $8.50* Green Chile Corn Chowder — Served with fresh bread: Cup — $2.50/ Bowl — $3.50
Sandwiches
Traditional Reuben — Served with home fries — $8.50ˇ Turkey Club — With chipotle mayonnaise, served with side salad or home fries — $8.25 Classic Burger — Created from grass-fed beef, with tomato, lettuce and onion, on a bun and served with home fries — $7ˇ˜ New Mexico Chile Philly Steak Sandwich — With sautéed onions, peppers and green chile, with cheese, served with home frieds — $7.50 * Add chicken breast — $3/or salmon — $4 ** Add vegetable du jour — $2 ˇ Add green chile or cheese — $.75 ˜ Veggie boca burger option — $8.50
Drinks
Coffee, tea, Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke or Dr. Pepper — $2 12-oz juice — $3
Hours and contact information: Open Thursdays (sorry, no credit/debit cards) Serving breakfast 8 to 11 a.m. Serving lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call (575) 751-8080, ext. 3653 Email taoshighculinary@yahoo.com Like us on Facebook eduworkcafe.com
Thank you to our sponsors: The Great Chefs of Taos UNM, Baskin Robbins, Shamrock Foods, Motivia Corp., The Taos News, ECW of St. James, People’s Bank, Mer-Girl Farms, Bartel’s Culinary, Sabroso Restaurant & Bar, Swisher, pixadilly.com, Orlando’s Cafe, Mogul Medical, Valverde Electric, UPS Store, Centinel Bank of Taos, Mary & Eloy Jeantete, Albertson’s, Coca Cola Bottling of Santa Fe, Ranchos Plaza Grill, Sagebrush Inn, THS Science Dept., Choice Wireless, Taos Community Foundation, Wild Branch Solutions
50 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
¡Unidos,
Defendemos Nuestras Aguas!
¡ Defendemos Nuestras ¡Unidos, ¡Unidos, Defendemos NuestrasAguas! Aguas! Unidos, Defendemos Nuestras Aguas!
16th Annual hh Annual Annual
Congreso ongreso 16th Annual ongreso de las Acequias ee las Acequias lasSaturday, Acequias st
Congreso ovember ovember 21 21 2015 2015 tional Hispanic de las Acequias tional Hispanic ltural Center, Albuquerque
turday, 21 2015 turday, November st
st National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque SAVE THE DATE! ltural Center, Albuquerque
Saturday,
co-hosted by the New Mexico Acequia AVE THE South Valley Regional AVE Association THE& DATE! DATE! Association of Acequias
November 21st 2015
hosted hosted by by the the New New Mexico Mexico Acequia Acequia ociation & South Valley ociation & South Valley Regional Regional ociation ociation of of Acequias Acequias
National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque SAVE THE DATE!
In 2014, 14% of Taos County 9th graders reported using un-prescribed medication.
co-hosted by the New Mexico Acequia Association & South Valley Regional Association of Acequias
Centinel Bank's scholarship program has awarded $250,000 over the last 5 years to graduates of Taos County schools. These scholarships will help this year's recipients become Terriers, Grizzlies, Trojans, Raiders, Lobos, and Rangers. Nicolai Cserhart Alayna Barela
Their dreams and bright future is the future of our community, and we are proud to be a part of it. Let’s Dream Together.
Miranda Vigil Miquela Romero
Ariana Gallegos Francisco Martinez Steven Vigil Roy Madrid
Hannah Gunther
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 51
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
SCHOOL SUPPLIES y l p p u S l Schoo ion Distribut m-6pm t 21, 3p a s u g u A , y Frida la Placit e d o n i 310 Cam
Taos Municipal Schools with the support of KOAT-TV, Feed the Children, Nusenda, Smith’s, and many other organizations offer school supplies for Taos Municipal School students who come from families who are economically disadvantaged. Supplies will be distributed from 3 – 6 PM on Friday, August 21, 2015 at the Taos Municipal Schools Administration Board Room at 310 Camino de la Placita. Parents of school age children must bring a copy of the school supply list from their child’s school, the list that is in this publication is not accurate for your child’s school. Supplies are limited to basic items i.e., spiral notebooks, pencils, crayons, glue, colored pencils, markers, and pens. Items that may not be available are paper towels, flash drives, tissue, reams of copy paper, Clorox wipes, hand soap/sanitizer, combination locks, zip lock bags, water bottles, calculators, construction paper, tape.
52 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Last year was my introduction to Taos and I loved the community and was overwhelmed by the expertise and dedication of our staff. I am convinced that Taos Schools has the best programs and expertise in Northern New Mexico to meet the unique needs of exceptional students. I want to extend a special invitation to all parents in Taos schools to meet with me and find out more about special education services in the district to see if we can help your child with their unique challenges. Working together we solve problems and help improve our programs even more. Exceptional Programs can help families by:
Locating valuable resources in the community Identifying and evaluating student needs Transitional planning for the future Specialized programs that Exceptional Programs support:
La Puerta, Las Estrellitas, Arroyos del Norte Pre-Schools (DD and Universal Programs) – Specialized learning centers for the preschoolers with disabilities or delays Gifted programs K-12 Chrysalis Alternative School – Grades 9-12th Los Brazos setting - Taos Middle School grades 6-8 Transition Support and Job Training/Coaching Child-Find to locate students in need of Special Education support Extended School Year Services Chrysalis Teen Wellness Center
along with several other support systems that will ensure a successful school experience for our students. Non-Violence Works will also continue providing the Teen Wellness Center after school at the Chrysalis (Cañon) building. This center will include a program to help students in the county with health care, counseling and tutoring. If you are interested in volunteering or would like to help, please contact Jim Ivanovich at 575-737-6114.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
From the Director:
Chrysalis Alternative school will now be enhanced with an expansive program as it will now be located at Taos High School which will lead to a more comprehensive program for students. Our partnership with Non-Violence Works will continue
P A I D
Welcome to Taos Municipal Schools Exceptional Programs. Our department & staff provide individualized services to students with exceptionalities by highly qualified teachers and ancillary staff. The case manager assigned to your student and your school principal will work with you and your child as a team to meet your child’s individual needs throughout the school year.
Exciting News!
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
Exceptional Programs Department
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
EXCEPTIONAL PROGR AMS New Mex What’s N ico Pre K ew?
This year Ta os is expan ding space at Arroyos in its pre K Del Norte. program at P ro grams are h all sites AN home this ye alf day and D offering a ar. but can incl program ude transpo rtation to a nd from NM Pre K is a program funded by th to children e NM legis who are 4 ye lature to pro ar old by Se based best vide early in p t 1. Program practices in tervention funds allow early childh services Kindergarte the district o o d education n This Educa to p ro to vi d st e ti u onal researc researched dents prior programs h to their entr h shows th ave more su at students ance to ccess in the additional in w ho are able ir school ca terventions to attend th reers and st are identifi ese udents who ed and sup might bene ported earl fi t fr ie o This contin m r. uing progra m grant wil Garcia Elem l e nable us to entaries wh increase se ile starting in that neig rvices at Ra a new prog hborhood a nchos and ra m at Arroyo s Enos well. For m four-year-o s Elementa ore informa ld child ple ry to serve tion about ase contact families th e programs : or to enroll Ranchos your Elementa
ry Schoo l: Cathy V Arroyos igil 737-6 Elementa 150 ry Schoo l: Claire Br Enos Ga iggs 737-6 rcia Elem 175 entary S c h ool: Nan Taos Mu ette Bare nicipal S lla 737-6 chools: 070 Jim Ivano vich, NM Pre-K Pro gram Co ordinato r 737-611 3
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 53
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
TAOS MIDDLE school
ON MISSI
S TAT E
ce to excellen mmitted co is l o o nd dle Sch ngthen, a Taos Mid rich, stre . To n. We en o ls ti il ca sk l u in ed and socia ic em d ca we long a pulation, teach life iverse po d r u o f o needs with one meet the municate m co d n a pport, nces for respect, su ve experie ote positi m ro p to unity. another ol comm our scho
Welcome to the 2015-2016 School Year!
Welcome to the 2015-16 school year. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing summer and is anticipating the many exciting opportunities that this school year will present at Taos Middle School. Along with the rest of the Taos Middle School Staff, we are enthusiastically awaiting the start of the new school year and beginning our journey together. Here at Taos Middle School we are committed to your child’s educational excellence, along with their social emotional well-being, which are promoted through a diverse curriculum, a dedicated and knowledgeable staff, and school/community partnerships. Academic emphasis on the core content areas of reading, language arts, science, social studies, and math will remain a priority as well as providing a learning program that builds on prior knowledge to reach local, state, and common core standards. Collaboration, cooperation and open communication between home and school are keys to building a strong foundation for a successful school year. I encourage and invite parent and community involvement in an effort to build a positive and successful educational experience for each of your children. I invite parents, grandparents, and family members of the students to get involved in a positive way at Taos Middle School. This is a great way to meet the staff and other parents of students from the community. I look forward to a great school year together.
6TH GRADE ORIENTATION Tuesday August 13, 2015
Mr. Alfred Cordova Principal, Taos Middle School
MENT
TMS OPEN HOUSE Wednesday Sept. 2, 2015 CAREER DAY Thursday Oct. 22, 2015 STUDENT LED CONFERENCES Friday Oct. 30, 2015 TITLE I WINTERFEST Thursday Nov.19, 2015 TMS SCIENCE FAIR Fri. & Sat Jan. 29-30, 2016 STUDENT LED CONFERENCES Friday April1, 2016
BELL SCHEDULE 1st Hour pass 2nd Hour
9:03 9:58
pass 3rd Hour
10:01 10:56
pass 4 - Lunch A 10:59 11:29 pass 4 - Lunch B 11:35 12:05 pass 4 - Lunch C 12:11 12:41 pass 5th Hour
12:47 1:42
pass
STATE SCIENCE FAIR Fri. & Sat April1-2, 2016
6th Hour
MARIACHI CONCERT Saturday April 30, 2016
pass
CELEBRANDO Thursday May 5, 2016
7:45 9:00
1:45 2:40
iPad return 2:43 2:45
NJHS INDUCTION CEREMONY Tuesday May 3, 2016 8TH GRADE MOVING UP Tuesday May 17, 2016 CEREMONY 6TH AND 7TH GRADE AWARDS Wednesday May 18, 2016
UNIVERSAL SUPPLY LIST The Following supplies are recommended for all Taos Middle School students for the upcoming school year: (1) 1-inch 3 ring binders Loose Leaf Paper-Wide Ruled #2 pencils (1) One subject spiral note books Box of Tissue 1 Combination Lock (2 for 6th graders)
Teachers will inform your son/daughter if any special requirements are necessary for their class at the beginning of the year.
54 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
for anything in ready the Helping you be anything in the playbookforsince 1928. playbook since 1928.
JOELLA MONTOYA 575.758.0939 JMONTOYA1@FARMERSAGENT.COM
107 PLAZA GARCIA STE A
JOELLA MONTOYA 575.758.0939
JMONTOYA1@FARMERSAGENT.COM
TAOS, NM 875716256
107 PLAZA GARCIA STE A TAOS, NM 875716256
Proud Sponsor ofofthethe TaosTaos Tigers.Tigers. Proud Sponsor
GENERAL RENTAL 575-758-9450 RENTALS • TOOLS • FIREWOOD Monday-Saturday 9am-3pm 1030 US Hwy 64 El Prado, NM • 575-758-9450
The time has come again... are you ready?
Back to School We offer Installment Loans from
$300 to $2,000* 330 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur Ste I Taos NM 87571
(575) 758-7666 www.security-finance.com *All loans are subject to credit limitations and our underwriting policies, including verifiable ability to repay. Actual loan proceeds may vary based upon loan terms. Dollar amounts are rounded to the lowest whole dollar and are subject to change.
REMAIN ON TOP OF THE GAME.
P h oto K at h a r i n e E g l i / T H E TAO S N E W S
Helping you be ready
ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT when you place your FREE listing on Taos’ official calendar you will reach over 23,000 paid tempo readers and AN additional 20,000 viewers online!
Desktop, Mobile, Tablet — GET NEWs and stats with one simple click at taosnews.com/calendar
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 55
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
TAOS HIGH school
On behalf of our staff here at Taos High School I would like to extend our sincere welcome to all students, parents, and community members for the upcoming 2015-2016 school year. Our academic programs offer challenging, career and college readiness curriculum. In addition, our extra curricular activities and athletic programs continue to be competitive and highly successful throughout competition in the State.
This year the second phase of remodeling the upper level classrooms will be complete. This will provide our students and staff with improved classroom comfort and technological advancements. Lastly, our daily bell schedule has changed slightly. This schedule will allow qualifying Juniors and Seniors to participate and earn college credit at the University of New Mexico Klauer Campus classes on Fridays. You can refer to the bell schedule in this Back to School article for Taos High. Please feel free to visit, or you may contact us at 575-751-8000 for additional information not found on this page. You can also visit our website by going to the Taos Municipal School’s Website, click “Schools”, then click “Taos High School”. Sincerely,
Mr. Robert V. Trujillo Principal, Taos High School
ICS ELINES) ACADEM AND GUID CHANGE BJECT TO
nce, atics, Scie , Mathem ry to is H o , h re, C rus, English n’s Literatu re d il h C , d nimation, Art, Ban omputer A C , ss e cc u r GraphCollege S s, Compute n o ti ca li p p A ming, Computer ce/Program n e ci S r pute ia, Culinary ics, Com ative Med re C , lg in n hood Deve Conditio Early Child , a m ra u D , G hip, iPro Start en Leaders re G , ch n e Living, opment, Fr dependent In , lm Fi f o s, ulinary Art tar, History , Intro to C ss e n , si u sm B li a , Journ Intro to Jazz Dance , e tr , a g e in h T ld We Intro to i, Metal ch a ri a M , h p iloso y Leadership tudies, Ph S n ca ri e aking, Native Am fessional B ro P y, tr e o P , es I Through Film earbook, Y working, Y d o o W , h Spanis mba. can, and Zu
EMS SU (SOME IT
AR URRICUL C A R T X E IES ACTIVIT ANGE AND GUIDELINES)
tes, NaClass Sena t, n e m rn ve ebate, Student Go eech and D p S , ty e ci o i, rS nd, Mariach tional Hono Drama, Ba y, tr , e o ca P ri e k, of Am Yearboo rofessionals P ss e n A si S u kills U , Chorus, B ProStart, S , b lu C rd a o Ski/Snowb ence Bowl. hon, and Sci -T ro vi n E , A HOS
(SOME ITEM
S SUBJEC
T TO CH
CS ATHLETECIT TO CHANGE AND GUIDELINES)
ll, S SUBJ y, Volleyba ross Countr C r, e , cc ck o a S Tr , ing, Football g, Swimm n li st re W . , ce Dan Basketball Cheer and ftball, Golf, o S , ll a b se Ba
(SOME ITEM
56 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
2015-2016 Calendar O f Events Aug ust 4-6
Back To Sch ool Week (Class/ID’s/P arking/Sr. Bi lls), 8a.m. – 3p.m. August 4 – Seniors August 5 – Juniors August 6 – Sophomores August 12 Freshmen O rientation, 5:30p.m. – 7: August 28 30p.m. Last Day to Change Cla sses September 2 Open House , 5:30 p.m. – September 7:00 p.m. 16 1st 9 W eeks Deficien cies Due September 18 THS C ollege Fair October 5-7 Freshmen EQ Retreat October 9 Homecomin g October 18 End of 1st 9 Weeks – Gra November des Due 19 2nd 9 Weeks D efi ci encies Due December 717 Finals an d End of Cou rse Assessm December 18 ents End of 1st Se mester – Gra January 5 des Due 2nd Semes ter Begins February 3 3rd 9 Weeks Deficiencies March 11 Due End of 3rd 9 Weeks – Gra des Due (Graduation Status) April 20 4th 9 Weeks Deficiencies Due (Graduation Notice) April 30 Prom May 9-19 Finals and End of Cou rse Assessm May 19 ents Class Night – Local Sch olarships, H onor Cords Passing of th , e “T” May 20 End of 2nd Semester – Grades Due May 21 Graduation , 10 a.m., An aya Field (Weather Pe rmitting)
Skinny
Friday
B-Block Schedule
1
7:45-8:33
Mon/Wed. 7:45-9:15 1
passing
8:33-8:37 8:37-9:21 9:21-9:25 9:25-10:09
2 9:15-9:25 9:25-10:55
passing
3
9:15-9:25 9:25-10:55
passing
passing
4
3
9:25-10:55 passing
LUNCH 10:55-11:35
LUNCH
4 passing
10:55-11:35
11:35-11:40
passing
11:35-11:40
passing
11:40-1:10
5
11:40-1:10
6
5
passing
7
1:10-1:20 1:20-2:50
11:45-12:25
6
12:30-1:14 1:14-1:18
SAT Test
ACT Test
September 12, 2015 ober 24, 2015 November 7, 2015 Oct cember 12, 2015 January 23, 2016 De February 6, 2016 March 5, 2016 April 9, 2016 May 7, 2016
October 3, 2015
8
7 passing
8
Test Dates
T TO CH AN GE . DATES AR E SU BJ EC
passing
10:0910:13 10:1310:57 10:5711:01 11:0111:45
lunch
passing
1:10-1:20 1:20-2:50
9:15-9:25
1:18-2:02 2:02-2:06 2:06-2:50
passing
3
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Mon/Wed. 7:45-9:15 1
A-Block Schedule Tues./Thur. 7:45-9:15 2
P A I D
B-Block Schedule
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
Daily Schedule
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS HIGH school
Daily Sch
A-Block Schedule Tues./Thur. 7:45-9:15 2
9:15-9:25 9:25-10:55
LUNCH 10:55-11:35
passing
4
LUNCH 10:55-11:35
11:35-11:40
passing
11:35-11:40
passing
11:40-1:10
5
11:40-1:10
6
1:10-1:20 1:20-2:50
passing
1:10-1:20 1:20-2:50
passing
7
Other Tests
» October 14, 2015 PSAT (10th/11th Grade) ober 21, 2015 PLAN (10th Grade) » Oct ASVAB » TBA 2016 AP Exams » May 2-13, Discovery Testing » TBA PARCC » TBA
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 57
8
Your Definitive Source for Taos Tiger Sports.
58 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
ENROLL YOUR CHILD IN ONE OF THE HIGHEST-RANKING SCHOOLS IN NEW MEXICO. Currently Admitting Students for the Fall Semester. Pre School • Ages 6 weeks to 5 years • Full-time & Part-time Care Licensed through the New Mexico Children, Youth and Family Department
World-class Charter School • Holistic Education Grades 9-12 Students Learn to Think Critically
Top-notch Child Development Center Call for more information! 575.751.1060 1221 Gusdorf Rd., Suite A & B, Taos
Discover the Unexpected! Gently Used and Loved A Lot Clothing, Household Items & More
Drop By and See for YourselF Monday - Saturday 10 am to 6 pm Donations Accepted M-W-F
CAV Thrift Store 1103 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur
Your purchases and donations provide a new start for survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Moreno Valley High School Call today to schedule a tour! 577-377-3100 Greg Vincent, Director • 56 Camino Grande • Angel Fire, NM
We can see you NOW! $25
sports school ical for phys onth of the m ust! Aug
Photos by Cody Olivas
TAOS
When accidents and sudden illness occur, it's good to know that convenient medical help is nearby.
9am - 7pm • 7 days a week
575-758-1414
330 C Paseo del Pueblo Sur Plaza de Colores 2 blocks south of Smiths Grocery We accept all major insurance, Medicare and the managed Medicaid Programs. No appointment necessary.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 59
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
ATHLETICS l o o h c S h Taos Hig & Activities s c i t e l h t A Welcome Tiger Fans to an exciting new year of Taos High School Athletics. We offer 17 sports programs at the high school. We are proud to announce that our athletic department received one of the 3 Director’s Cup Awards given by NMAA last fall. The award is based on outstanding academic and athletic performance and participation. The athletic experience will contribute to both a sound mind and body, which in turn will develop characteristics such as loyalty, teamwork, perseverance, commitment, and self-esteem that each participant can benefit from for the rest of his or her life. Our mission is to provide all students with additional opportunities to develop their physical and mental capacities beyond those provided by our fine academic programs. Furthermore, through sports and other extracurricular activities, students may learn the value of hard work, discipline, team building, sportsmanship, and other positive attributes that strengthen one’s character. To participate in Taos Municipal Schools (TMS) athletic programs, both the student- athlete and parents/guardians must complete the TMS Athletic Participation Forms, the student- athlete must have a physical examination prior to participation, and must have insurance. If a student-athlete does not have insurance, insurance can be purchased through Meyers, Stevens, and Toohey Insurance Company. Forms are available at the athletic office. All paperwork needed can be picked from the athletic director’s office located on the second floor of Taos High School or can be found at www.taosschools.org on the athletic page. These forms must be filled out completely and returned to the athletic office or coach before the student-athlete is allowed the privilege to participate in any of our programs. For more information please call 751-8030.
60 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
PHOTO BY CODY OLI VAS
The Athletic Department will strive to provide students with the best possible opportunity for a rewarding and positive experience. The Taos Municipal Schools affirms the right of every student to participate in interscholastic athletic programs without regard to gender, race, religion, or creed. We support the regulations and spirit of Title IX legislation and do not limit one sex in the enjoyment of any right, privilege, advantage, or opportunity. I wish the best of luck to all teams and look forward to excellent competition and unparalleled sportsmanship. Come out and support all of our teams and cheer them on to victory! Good Luck and GO TIGERS!!!!
Ms. Nickie McCarty Athletic/Activities Director, Taos High School nikmcc@taosschools.org 575-751-8030 Office, 575-770-7838 Cell 575-751-8052 Fax
2015-2016
Taos Tiger
ATHLETICS Free Popcorn
With A Purchase of Any Drink at Otero Gy Size Soft masium Concession Stan d. Offer Expires 5/20 /16
Save! & p i l C
SINCE 1991
Full Service Bike Shop GearingUpBikes.com
Ready...Set...Tweet!
• Youth Bikes • Rentals • Maps/Trail Info
Real-time scores live during the game.
129 Paseo del Pueblo Sur • Taos
575.751.0365
“Together we WILL make a difference.” ¡“Si se Puede”! Focus: Dual Language-International Baccalaureate Programs. Rigorous, Inquiry-based instruction focused on 90/10 Dual Language model and International Baccalaureate unit design.
K-8TH FREE PUBLIC STATE CHARTER SCHOOL
Staff: Highly Qualified Master Teachers. First day of school: September 8, 2015. Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:30-3:30 Wednesdays-8:30-2:30 twitter.com/taosareasports
FREE after school program available (begins 3 weeks after school starts.)
Nadine M. Vigil, Head Administrator/Director Michelle Abeyta, Office Manager
TAOS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL • 118 Este Es Rd • 575.751.7115
PASSION, JOY, DANCE!
Taos Youth Ballet
Ordinary kids, extraordinary possibilities
Classes for all ages and experiences. Boys, Girls, Children, Teens & Adults
PRESENT THIS AD AND RECEIVE A FREE GIFT!
(575) 770-0189
www.taosdance.com taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 61
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
C Y BER MAGNET Taos Cyber Magnet School (TCMS) is the district’s online school. We serve grades 9-12 and offer a wide range of courses and career track options for students. TCMS works closely with UNM to prepare students for college and careers after high school. Our student class size is small, and all students have access to tutoring and individualized instruction. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT Alexsis Blake, Teacher alexsis@taosschools.org or call 758-5221
Combined Learning Model
LOCATION: 310 Camino de la Placita (the Old Taos Elementary Building; just south of the Public Library) PHONE: 575-758-5200 / 575-758-5221
The graduation requirements for TCMS are based on Taos Municipal Schools and the State of NM.
Education Beyond Boundaries
English
4 units
Social Studies
3.5 units
Math
4.0 units
Science
3.0 units
Physical Education
1.0 unit
Students of TCMS take online and traditional, teacher led courses. The National Network of Digital Schools provides the online courses. NNDS is a leader in creating and managing high quality, online, curriculum. Visit their website: Lincolninteractive.org The University of New Mexico–Taos, provides the non-virtual courses. Students with GPA’s of 2.5 or better earn dual credit for these courses. Through TCMS students can work on their college careers while earning high school credit. Through online study, students can also earn the credits necessary to take certification tests for careers ranging from IT to nursing assistants. Students of TCMS enjoy small class sizes. There is an enrollment maximum of thirty students. Tutoring in math, and other subjects, is currently provided daily. TCMS is part of the municipal school district; therefore students can take advantage of any athletic or academic program available through Taos High.
UNM Teachers
This year, Cyber is pleased to welcome master sculptor, Kim Henkel as the creative art teacher. Ms. Henkel will be teaching weaving, beading, drawing, and the art of tessellations, fractals, and sculpture with the students. Thanks to a private grant from Taos Community Foundation, Cyber is also pleased to offer a field geology/ natural science class being led by Janet Elder. This class will expose students to the geologic and natural science features of Taos County. All but four classes will be in the field.
62 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Communication Skills 1.0 unit New Mexico History
.5 unit
Electives
9.0 units
Students must pass NM High School Competency Exam. For more information contact alexsis@ taosschools.org or call 758-5200.
entering into Taos Municipal Schools, to make sure that they are in compliance with
d e r i u q e R s n o i t a z Immuni
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
record for all new students
P A I D
review each immunization
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
Nurse’s at each school
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
HEALTH the immunization laws and will give further direction
» notarized affidavits or written affirmation from an officer
to students who are not
of a recognized religious denomination that such student's
in compliance.
nation whose religious teaching requires reliance upon
Subject to the exemptions as provided by law, no student shall be enrolled at Taos Municipal Schools unless the student can present satisfactory evidence of commencement and completion of immunization in accordance with the immunization schedule and rules and regulations of the public health division, except that a homeless student shall not be prevented from attendance until the fifth (5th) calendar day after enrollment.
parents or guardians are bona fide members of a denomiprayer or spiritual means alone for healing; – or – » notarized affidavits or written affirmation from the st dent's parent or legal guardian that the student's religious beliefs, held either individually or jointly with others, do not permit the administration of vaccine or other immunizing agent. Exemption from obtaining the required immunizations is valid for a period not to exceed nine (9) months and will not
The student is exempt from immunization pursuant to
extend beyond the end of the school year in which the stu-
Section 6.12.2.8 NMAC upon filing with the governing au-
dent is currently enrolled.
thority: a statement or certificate signed by a licensed physician or certified nurse practitioner stating that the physical condition of the person seeking enrollment is such that immunization would seriously endanger the
Any student with serologic confirmation of the presence of specific antibodies against a vaccine-preventable disease shall not be subject to immunization against that disease as a condition for attending school.
life or health of the person;
The District will cooperate with health departments in
an exemption granted by the public health
programs of immunization. Parents' permission must be
division on the basis of:
secured before a student may participate in such immunization projects.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 63
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
CAV s l o o h c s e h t n i y h t l CAV a e h n o s e s u foc s p i h s n o relati
C
By Susan Embry
ommunity Against Violence (CAV) is known as Taos’ shelter for women, children and men who are survivors of domestic violence. When we hear CAV mentioned, we picture a place where you can go to be safe and get help in crisis situations. Many people are not aware of the organization’s prevention programs, provided in schools throughout the county, to teach students of all ages how to protect themselves and their peers from many forms of violence. On Aug. 11, Anthony Harwood, CAV prevention director, and Leah Trujillo, CAV community educator, will speak during orientation to Taos Municipal School staff about these prevention programs. The message is clear. Prevention programs are an important and vital opportunity for schools and teachers to impact the social learning of their students in a profound way. Students can learn about forms of violence known to many of them, but kept as secrets, and how to manage these issues in their own lives. Programs are available for Pre-K through 12th-grade. Each age-appropriate curriculum guides students through a pyramid of learning skills, building step-by-step confidence as the information unfolds. Students interact with each other as well as their teachers. Then they take the information home and continue the conversation with parents
64 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
and caregivers. Being able to identify signs and traits of domestic violence and sexual assault is important for all ages, but it can be crucial for teenagers and pre-teens starting to date and developing relationships for the first time. Safe Dates is a national program for grades 9-12, which targets attitudes and behaviors associated with dating abuse and violence. CAV compressed the program into four hour-long sessions to better fit a classroom setting within local schools. The program teaches characteristics of healthy relationships youth need to know to find allies in prevention and intervention of domestic violence and sexual assault. The statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 2015, are startling: “Twenty-one percent of high school girls have been physically or sexually assaulted by someone they dated. Ten percent of high school boys also report being physically or sexually assaulted by a dating partner.” Teens who experience dating violence are at a much higher risk for suicide, bullying, alcohol and drug use, fighting, carrying a weapon and having multiple unprotected sexual partners. Without knowing who or where they can turn for safety, the majority of teens who are abused hide that fact from their parents and peers. Harwood says, “After attending previous CAV presentations, many educators say they wish someone had given them this presentation
Andy Jones
Pictured: Community Educator Leah Trujillo and CAV Prevention Director Anthony Harwood at the CAV offices.
when they were their students’ age. Now, as adults, they can identify behaviors considered normal or not acceptable in any relationship.” CAV programs on healthy relationships are available for all ages. VOZ, pre-K-grade 5, focuses on feelings and emotions, personal boundaries, respect, asking for help, identifying safe adults, good/bad and secret touches, the concepts of surprises, privacy and passwords, and encourages learning correct names for all body parts to help prevent sexual abuse. PODER, grades 6-8, focuses on understanding media messages, body awareness and acceptance, and tolerance. Students learn about respect, personal boundaries, conflict resolution, communication skills, consent, anger and emotions, healthy relationships and resources for help. VECINOS is an adult program for organizations and businesses that provides information on cultural influences and power dynamics, defines child sexual abuse and explains how to respond to disclosures of abuse, what the red flags are in the behavior of both survivors and perpetrators, where community resources can be found and how to report abuse. CAV is located at 945 Salazar Road, (575) 758-8082. The 24-hour crisis hotline is (575) 758-9888. For more information, go to taoscav. org. To discuss prevention programs for your class or business, contact Anthony Harwood or Leah Trujillo at CAV, (575) 758-8082.
C OU RT E SY A N G E L F I R E R E S O RT / T E R R A N C E SI E M O N
discovertaos.com
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 65
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
SPORTS ee r f y r u j Stay in son this sea
S
By Gabriel Weinstein
chool sports are a great way to stay in shape, make friends and learn important life lessons. To maximize your student’s time on the playing field, make sure they are physically and mentally ready for the rigors of interscholastic athletics.
Be ready to practice
It’s OK for your child to show up to practice inexperienced at kicking a soccer ball or dribbling a basketball. But they should be prepared for the running, jumping and stretching that are hallmarks of most school sports. Rob Drenning, PT, OCS, of Taos Center for Physical Health and Alicia Esparza, MPT, of Taos Physical Therapy both recommend getting into a fitness routine a few weeks before your season starts. Go hiking with your family, play tag with your friends or explore the backroads of Taos County on your bicycle. Esparza says to make sure your child is mentally ready for competition. Fear, Esparza explains, can play a role in getting injured.
take a minute to touch their toes, stretch their arms, or do a straddle stretch while watching TV. “You can do them anywhere,” she says. Use down time to also sneak in some strengthening exercises like heel raises. Espazra will occasionally have her children squat for a few seconds while they play video games.
Be patient during injury rehabilitation
The minute a student-athlete thinks they have an injury they should have a health professional look at their ailment. Allowing an injury to linger will make it harder for your child to get healthy and could lead to further damage says Drenning. “Recoginizing [an injury] early is important so you can rest, ice, [and] address any deficits you have before it becomes something serious,” he says.
Stretch it out
Do not discount the importance of stretching. Encourage your child to take stretching seriously whether they are playing a sport for the first time or are a seasoned All-State performer.
Interscholastic athletes may want to mimic professional athletes and play through the pain. They need to understand this is not necessarily the best idea for them. Esparza says she sees many athletes who come back from an injury too soon and wind up with multiple injuries.
Drenning recommends starting a workout with a dynamic stretches such as butt kicks and leg swings. Unlike traditional stretches, which have athletes hold a set position for a few seconds at a time, dynamic stretches get muscles moving in motion.
“You really need to allow yourself to recover fully,” she says. “If you can’t make the jump shot or can’t tackle without holding back because you know it’s going to hurt, that is setting you up for further injury. You can’t help your team that way.”
“It’s stretching your muscle in a more functional way,” Drenning explains.
When your child returns to the field it might take time for them to readjust to the rigors of competition. This is normal. After returning from a major injury like an ACL tear, your brain functions differently, says Drenning. Make sure your athletes understand this during their
Stretching does not have to be something done solely at practice or after an independent workout. Esparza recommends that athletes
66 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
Courtesy Photos
Elena Espinoza, a junior basketball and softball player for Taos High School, and Rob Drenning of Taos Center for Physical Health, work on exercises to rehabilitate a knee injury Espinoza suffered during basketball season.
rehabilitation and when they take the field for their first game back. During the rehabilitation process, keep an open line of communication with your child about their progress. Ask about their rehab progress like you would their homework, says Drenning. Esparza stresses that student-athletes need to be upfront with their parents and rehabilitation team about what is and is not working. “[They] have to communicate if it’s working for them. If it’s not working we need to change [it],” says Esparza.
Cross train
Encourage your child to try many sports. Cross-training will help keep student-athletes engaged and mentally fresh. Taking a break from the repetitive motion of running, shooting and throwing also gives the body a break as well. “Cross-training forces you to use different muscles in different ways,” says Drenning. Esparza recommends mixing high-impact sports like hockey with swimming. Athletes that participate in high impact sports like soccer, basketball, football and track should carve out time to do low-impact activities like cycling and swimming. Playing different sports also allows for a needed psychological recovery. “It’s a really good way to make sure you have an athlete that doesn’t get bored,” says Esparza. Participating in a mix of team sports like basketball and baseball and individual sports like swimming and cross-country also teach different life skills. Keep these tips in mind this season while cheering from the sidelines to ensure your child has a fun, safe and successful season.
The Taos Municipal School District congratulates the graduating Class of 2015 who will attend the following 34 institutions of higher education in 15 states.
Adams State College
Universal Technical Institute
American University
University of Colorado - Boulder
Amherst College
University of Denver
Boston University
University of Montana
Central New Mexico Community College
University of New Mexico - Albuquerque
Colgate University
University of New Mexico -Taos
Dona Ana Community College
University of Pennsylvania
Drew University
University of Southern California
Fort Lewis College
Vanderbilt University
Georgetown University
Vassar College
Hunter College
Western State Colorado University
New England Culinary Institute
Western Washington University
New Mexico Highlands University
Westminster College
New Mexico Military Institute
Willamette University
New Mexico State
Williams College
Northern New Mexico Community College Occidental College San Juan Community College Santa Fe Community College
TAOS HIGH SCHOOL, “WHERE EDUCATION MATTERS.�
Come Share The Experience!
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 67
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
LIFT TICKETS
ts n e d u t s s d r a w e r u p s a t e p i k S c i t t if l e e r f h wit
L
ocated 20 miles southeast of Taos, Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort will offer an attractive incentive to Taos-area students this school year: make good grades, ski for free.
significant mountain improvements to the Taos area resort, and these changes will make a tremendous impact on guests who are learning to ski or snowboard, in particular.
Available for New Mexico students enrolled in kindergarten through 12th-grade, the program rewards students who receive a 3.5 grade point average during the 2015 fall semester with a free season pass beginning January 2016.
Sipapu is adding its first quad (a chairlift that can accommodate four guests per seat), which will take skiers and snowboarders to an area of the mountain that’s ideal for beginners not yet ready to tackle the main lift to the top of the mountain. In addition, mountain crews are significantly expanding the intermediate trail Howdy and the beginner trail Lower Bambi, adding five acres of skiing terrain. Furthermore, Sipapu will invest in an expanded snowmaking system to ensure the state’s longest season (Sipapu has been the first ski area to open in New Mexico for a dozen straight years and is consistently one of the last mountains to close in the state).
“We’re passionate about skiing and snowboarding at Sipapu, and we’re also passionate about education — be it on the slopes or in the classroom,” said marketing director Stacey Glaser. “It’s a privilege for us to reward those kids who work hard with a free season pass.” All students in fourth- or fifth-grade, regardless of their report card, will ski free daily this winter, Glaser added. Mountain officials recently announced that together, with sister resorts Pajarito Mountain Ski Area of Los Alamos, Purgatory Resort of Durango, Colo., and Arizona Snowbowl of Flagstaff, Ariz., Sipapu will share in a $10 million multi-resort capital campaign that will bring
68 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
New Mexico’s oldest ski area will also offer significantly discounted half day and full day ski school programs for area elementary, junior high and high school classes. These field trips — available mornings, afternoons or for a full day — give teachers another tool to motivate
Photo courtesy Sipapu Summer and Ski Area
Sipapu will reward good students with free lift tickets this ski season.
their students to excel in the classroom. “These kids look forward to the field trips at Sipapu and consider them a privilege,” Glaser said. “Most schools require the students to meet behavior guidelines and maintain at least a C average to participate, which means students put in the effort to ensure they can be there.” Each class includes ski or snowboard rentals, a 60-minute lesson and lift ticket. Home school students are eligible and welcome to participate in both the GPA program and the field trips. Sipapu also partners with area colleges and universities to offer discounted ski or snowboard courses for college credit. To participate in Sipapu’s school or college programs or to sign up for a class field trip, please contact Sipapu representative Deborah Lake at deborah@SipapuNM.com. For more information about Sipapu, visit SipapuNM.com or call (575) 587-2240.
School closings? We got ’em first!
Visit taosnews.com for the latest news and information on school closings and delays.
The T aos News Your School Closing Authority taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 69
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
NUTRITION T O TA L HOUSEHOLD SIZE
ANNUAL
I N C O M E MONTHLY
TWICE PER MONTH
EVERY TWO WEEKS
WEEKLY
# of Household Members
Free
Reduced
Free
Reduced
Free
Reduced
Free
Reduced
Free
Reduced
1
$15,301 $21,775
$1,276
$1,815
$638
$908
$589
$838
$295
$419
2
$20,709 $29,471
$1,726
$2,456
$863
$1,228
$797
$1,134
$399
$567
3
$26,117 $37,167
$2,177
$3,098
$1,089
$1,549
$1,005
$1,430
$503
$715
4
$31,525 $44,863
$2,628
$3,739
$1,314
$1,870
$1,213
$1,726
$607
$863
5
$36,933 $52,559
$3,078
$4,380
$1,539
$2,190
$1,421
$2,022
$711
$1,011
6
$42,341 $60,255
$3,529
$5,022
$1,765
$2,511
$1,629
$2,318
$815
$1,159
7
$47,749 $67,951
$3,980
$5,663
$1,990
$2,832
$1,837
$2,614
$919
$1,307
8
$53,157 $75,647
$4,430
$6,304
$2,215
$3,152
$2,045
$2,910
$1,023
$1,455
For each additional family member, add
+$5,408 +$7,696
+$451
+$642q
+$226
+$321
+$208
+$296
+$104
+$148
These guidelines are based on 130% (free) and 185% (reduced) of the federal poverty guidelines and are effective July 1, 2015– June 30, 2016.
70 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
tent of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is to improve access to free school meals in eligible, high poverty school districts and to eliminate the administrative burden of collecting household applications.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
applications in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. The in-
P A I D
The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 provides an alternative to household
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
Community Eligibility Provision
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOLS
NUTRITION Enos Garcia Elementary School, Ranchos Elementary, Arroyos del Norte Elementary, Taos Middle School, Chrysalis Alternative High School and Cyber Magnet School are participating in the CEP Program for the current 2015-2016 school year. If your children attend any of the schools listed, breakfast and lunch will be available to them at no charge. All students enrolled at these schools may participate in the breakfast and lunch program at no charge to them. By providing breakfast and lunch to all children at NO CHARGE, we are hoping to create a better learning environment for our students. Numerous studies and practical thinking all point to the realization that hungry children can’t learn as well as children who are fed balanced meals. The school breakfasts and lunches follow USDA New Meal Pattern guidelines for healthy school meals. The CEP Program cannot succeed without your support. Please encourage your children to participate in school meal programs. All meals will be served to all students at no charge regardless of income eligibility status.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 71
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
A D V E R T I S E M E N T P A I D
NUTRITIONAL PROGR AMS NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM (NSLP) The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is the oldest and largest of the Child Nutrition Programs. It is a federally assisted meal program that provides balanced, low-cost or free breakfasts and lunches to thousands of children in New Mexico each day. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making the first major changes to school meals in 15-30 years. Beginning in 2012, the USDA has exercised a three year implementation process allowing the schools a smooth transition in converting to the “New Meal Pattern” regulations. The New Meal Pattern (NMP) nutrition standards align our schools’ meals with the latest nutrition science and real world circumstances of America’s schools. By improving the school meals with more nutrient dense foods, we are educating children to make healthful choices while mitigating the childhood obesity trends and related health issues. The NMP includes increased fruits, vegetables and whole grains while limiting calories, saturated fats and sodium. Zero trans fats rounds out the NMP regulations. 2014-15 was the final year of the three year transition and we hope to see better health statistics for our children over the next decade. www.cde.state.co.us/nutrition /nutrilunchprogram
SCHOOL BREAKFAST PROGRAM (SBP) The School Breakfast Program (SBP) falls under the same guidelines as the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) providing a nutritious morning meal. This program is recognized as one of the most beneficial of the federal nutrition programs. It meets a vital need of feeding thousands of children in New Mexico, who otherwise may not eat a nutritious breakfast. Participation in the program has been shown to improve
72 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
learning and test performance. The same “New Meal Pattern” regulations for the NSLP are followed in the SBP. It also uses the same federal funding assistance as the NSLP. www.cde.state.co.us/nutrition/breakfast
AFTERSCHOOL SNACK PROGRAM (ASP) The intent of the Afterschool Snack Program (ASP) is to assist schools that operate organized afterschool programs. These programs may include education and enrichment activities known to help reduce or prevent children’s involvement in juvenile crime or other high risk behavior. We plan to make some changes to this program this year by increasing the amount and type of food provided. The result will be a larger meal that will be offered to a larger, more diverse group. The hope is to help with our hunger issues in New Mexico. www.cde.state.co.us/nutrition/nutrisnack
FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PROGRAM (FFVP) The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides children in participating schools with a variety of free fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the school day. The program is an effective and creative way of introducing fresh fruits and vegetables as healthy snack options. The FFVP also encourages schools to develop partnerships at the State and local level for support in implementing local grown produce to operate the program. This program is seen as an important catalyst for change in efforts to combat childhood obesity by helping children learn more healthful eating habits. The FFVP introduces school children to a variety of produce that they otherwise might not have had the opportunity to sample. www.cde.state.co.us/nutrition/nutriffvpp
SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM (SFSP) The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides nutritious meals to children 1-18 years old during the summer or other continuous school calendar vacation times. Free meals are provided to all children at approved SFSP sites in areas with significant concentrations of low-income children. SFSP sponsoring organizations are operated by public and private nonprofit school authorities, residential and nonresidential camps, local, municipal, county or state governments, public or private colleges or universities participating in the National Youth Sports Program and private, nonprofit organizations. www.cde.state.co.us/nutrition/nutrisummer
EMERGENCY FEEDING This nutrition program is provided by School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs (NSLP and SBP) and sponsors participating in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) in order to respond to emergency feeding needs resulting from damage or disruptions due to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and floods. www.cde.state.co.us/nutrition /nutriemergencyfeeding
Increased fruit and vegetable and a NEW requirement that students MUST select one serving of vegetable and/or fruit with lunch Limited number of servings of whole grain-rich foods (pasta, bread and cereals) Choice of only fat-free flavored or unflavored milk or 1% low-fat plain milk
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Meal calories based on grade level of student (Grades K-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12)
P A I D
New Meal Pattern Guidelines
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
BUILD A HEALTHY LUNCH
TAOS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
NUTRITION Focus on reduced saturated fat and sodium and zero trans fats Increased dried bean and legume options and fiber rich foods 1 cup of fruit offered for breakfast for all grade levels Offer vegetarian options daily.
DID YOU KNOW… Taos Munic ….. ipal Schools h
as been bu years. The ying locally Student Nu grown prod tr it io n Program ity produce uce for more is committe . Use of loca than 20 d to providin ll y grown prod provides ou g the highe ucts not on r children w st qually benefits ith the fresh food comes our econom est produce from. Join y b ut also a n d the understa us for lunch the good th in your favo nding of wh ings we ha ri ere te ve to offer. cafeteria a nd experien ce all of D
ID YOU K
NOW…… All Taos M unicipal Sch ool cafeteri and vegeta as have sala bles? Each d bars com d ay a variety plete with from. Join of produce fresh fruits us for lunch is offered fo in your favo things we h r students to rite cafeteri ave to offe choose a and expe r. rience all o f the good Green Ch ile Chick en Enchil adas Romaine /Spinach Salad Pinto Bea ns
Chilled P eaches Low Fat M ilk Choic e
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 73
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
BALANCING ACADEMI
to s p i t e cs i Som m e d a c a e c n a bal s c i t e l h t and a
E
By Gabriel Weinstein
very student-athlete knows the feeling. It’s 9 p.m. on a school night. You have to study for a history quiz in the morning and you have 20 math problems to solve before you can go to bed. And you have an important game against a district rival the next day. How are you going to get it all done and still thrive on the field? Balancing academics and athletics is one of the challenges of being a student athlete. With a little advanced planning, balancing your classroom obligations and athletic commitments can be a cinch.
Break it up
When planning your day, week and season work backwards. Organizing your schedule in reverse will help you take a broader look at
74 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
major events and obligations in your life. This is a strategy that Taos High School hockey coach Brian Greer has used with many of his Ice Tiger players over the years. The players practice at 5:30 a.m. during hockey season. Greer said planning in reverse helps the Ice Tigers figure out what time they have to get bed, what school assignments they have to get done and where to fit in their other obligations. In addition to planning things in reverse, try to get your assignments done well in advance. Another technique Greer recommends is creating a priority list. On your priority list, write down things that you expect from yourself and what your family, team and other organizations in your life might need from you. Taos High School basketball and baseball player Daniel Aguilar tries to break up his school work into chunks. When it comes to assign-
ments like research papers, Aguilar, a junior, tries to take write a few pages at a time rather than write the entire assignment all at once. Following these time management strategies will help you be more productive on the field and able to enjoy time with your friends and family after school and games. During the season Aguilar cuts down on things like TV and video games. With a full course load and a packed sports schedule, he says there is little time to spend watching an hour of TV. Getting your school work done early will make your off-time even more relaxing and enjoyable. “If you get your school work done, you will find that you can have fun in a stress-free way and you don’t have any of this stuff hanging over your head, “ Greer says. “Establish a priority list where you get
ICS AND ATHLETICS
From left: Brian Greer, head coach of the Taos High School hockey team, encourages his players to plan out their schedule in advance to ensure they have time for school, sports and other activities., photo by Katharine Egli; A report card, shutterstock image;Taos High School basketball and baseball player Daniel Aguilar tries to break up school assignments into chunks to balance a full course load with a demanding sports schedule., photo by Gabriel Weinstein
what is expected of you done first.”
Keep your teachers in the loop
Most athletes will probably have to miss class because of a conflicting game at some point during the year. When this happens, speak with your teachers in advance. During baseball season last year Aguilar missed several periods of his history and math classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, days when baseball games were usually held. He met with his teachers at the beginning of the week and told them he would be out and made a game plan from there. “They are usually pretty good about working with you,” says Aguilar.
View your teachers the same way you view your coaches. “Teachers are like coaches. They are their for your success,” Greer explains. Just like your coaches, teachers want to help their students succeed and thrive. If you are struggling with classroom concepts, carve out time to chat with your teachers about ways to improve. “Don’t be silent. Go and say what can I do better,” says Greer.
Rest easy
Make an effort to carve out the appropriate amount of time for rest and recreation outside of school and sports. During the school day drink plenty of water. Proper hydration goes a long way. “You’ll be more on task in the classroom,” explains Taos High
School cross-country coach Bruce Gomez.
Nutrition
Also make sure to fuel up with healthy, nutritious snacks.
“If you’re not eating well, you’re body starts to tire and you’re sluggish,” says Gomez. “And then it carries over mentally as well. It makes it tough to get through the day.” If you’re able to find some time each week to hang out with your friends, family or pursue another interest outside of sports and school. For Aguilar that means blocking out time on Sundays for family and friends. When practice and school begins this August, make sure you follow these tips to reach your full potential on the field and in the classroom.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 75
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR
TAOS MUNIC IPAL SC H OOL S
TACKELING R ACISM
e l k c a t s Studentwith literacy racism os del Norte at Arroy
W
By Cody Hooks
hen Jeffrey Bullard read “It’s Okay to be Different” to a class at Arroyos del Norte Elementary, they talked about how people are different. Maybe someone is missing teeth or is in a wheelchair. Or maybe they have green hair. As the conversation went on, they talked about another difference present in any community — race. The event this past January was part of Reading to End Racism. Begun in Colorado more than 20 years ago, Reading to End Racism tackles the social ills of racial discrimination and bigotry, with young people talking through their own stories of the personal toll of discrimination. In the end, they figure out what each person can do to resist racism when it crops up in their own lives. Volunteers from the the community attended a three-hour training the week prior, then stepped into the classrooms as storytellers and facilitators. “It was great — easy, fun, a ready-to-use program anyone can pick up and put on like a shirt and wear for an hour of community service,” Anita Rodríguez wrote in an email to The Taos News. “It
76 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
isn’t very often that something that is an effective vaccination or common-sense preventative step we can take against the psychic virus of racism comes along.” Daniel Escalante, who initiated conversations about the program in Taos schools last year, helped start Reading to End Racism in the late 1980s around Boulder, Colorado. When Escalante’s son was in kindergarten, he saw kids picking on a girl because of her dark skin. “Since he has dark skin,” said Escalante. “He was thinking he wasn’t as beautiful as other people, that he must be ugly, too. He wanted to be white.” Escalante knew he had to do something more than comfort and empower his son. What started as an invitation to a few friends to read books about racism to school children grew into a volunteer base of 350 trained readers bringing Reading to End Racism into every school in that district. Escalante said the program is fun because “young people have so much left to unpack.” Because of that, they are also much more open to talk about what he called “a touchy,” and admittedly complex, topic. In his summation, the program works especially well because storytelling — with the book and also personal experiences — is central
to the interactions. Escalante said he thinks the community of Taos “seems really open to deal with the topic.” He added that while Taos has its own unique racial history, it’s not exempt from the fact that racism is ever-present. The volunteer training yielded “a lot of meaningful, heartfelt discussions around what we can do to help end racism,” he said. Eight people responded to Escalante’s call for volunteers. One was a retired college professor, another a retired elementary school teacher. The rest, he said, are “community folks who have that interest in helping out. They can listen, have compassion and have a sense for social justice.” Escalante established a relationship with SOMOS, where the training took place, as well as with the leadership team of Taos Municipal Schools. Escalante brought his idea to Superintendent Dr. Lillian Torrez, who let him pitch the idea to all the district principals. Principal Naomi Gallegos took the initiative to get the program launched at Arroyos del Norte — a first for Taos. Gallegos said students need to know what racism is. “Some of the little ones weren’t too sure,” she said. “But they did get [the concepts of] being fair and sharing.”
Katharine Egli
Photos, from left: Drake Jeantette draws during the inaugural Reading to End Racism event at Arroyos del Norte this past January; Amadeo Irlando-Wildman, a third-grader at Arroyos del Norte Elementary, draws while Daniel Escalante reads "If A Bus Could Talk: The Story of Rosa Parks," by Faith Ringgold during the inaugural Reading to End Racism event in January; and students in Gess Healy's third-grade class draw and listen as Escalante reads.
“Intuitively, they seemed to understand that differences can lead to misunderstandings, and fighting,” Bullard said in an email to The Taos News.
“We didn’t talk about the KKK,” he said. “But they could really wrap their heads around bullying, which is what racism is. They just took the ball and ran with it.”
Escalante said all the volunteers stuck to the principles of the program. Namely, the purpose of Reading to End Racism isn’t “to talk about who is racist or what to name the park. We read about racism and let the kids work through it themselves. They come up with the ideas about how to end racism,” he said.
Escalante said students came up with ideas about how they could personally intervene when they see racism on display — everything from being nice to kids they aren’t friends with to standing up for victims of taunting and discrimination.
“Kids have a real strong sense of social justice,” he said. “And they’re problem solvers, too — if you let them be.” Patrick Trujillo, who’s been involved with nonviolent activism for much of his life, said he is concerned about the health of the community “in a lot of regards.” In addition to volunteering with Reading to End Racism, he also helped organize a forum between law enforcement agencies and the community. “Often I see our community lauded as a tri-cultural community and that somehow everyone gets along all the time, that there isn’t any discrimination or feelings of prejudice,” Trujillo said. That myth is part of his motivation to confront the topic honestly with the people who can deal with it in simple, realistic terms — kids.
Principal Gallegos said though racism is its own issue, teachers at Arroyos del Norte strive to put the topic in relation to bullying. The school uses a multi-pronged approach when it comes to bullying, with teachers embedding it in their curriculum and prompting students to think of their own standards for a respectful community. Though readers didn’t lecture, they talked through the students’ suggestions. In one of the books that was read, kids throw rocks at an undocumented immigrant boy from Mexico. When an Arroyos del Norte student suggested throwing rocks back, Trujillo helped guide the conversation toward nonviolent responses.
Escalante said a lot of people are a little nervous about being the first participants in any program, but that Reading to End Racism volunteers were won over by the fact that it’s a proven method of combating a very real problem. And, he said, it doesn’t take too much time — just three hours for training, and just one reading in one school each year. Asked about his motivations for volunteering, Bullard said,“Schools do not exist in isolation. They are the central pillars which serve to support strong relationships to communities.” Though their team of eight trained readers made the event at Arroyos del Norte a success, Escalante said they are seeking more volunteers. Reading to End Racism is also in talks with administrators at Taos High School and Chrysalis Alternative School about getting older students trained as readers, too. Anyone interested in volunteering can find the program at facebook.com/TaosRER or contact Daniel Escalante at (720) 9878148.
“It’s about how you deal with anger and frustration in the struggle for equality,” Trujillo said.
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 77
Questa Independent Schools Federal Title I, II, III and State Bilingual Programs TITLE I – Part A: Improving the Academic Achievement of the Disadvantaged
Title I is the largest federal education program for elementary and secondary schools. These funds are targeted to high poverty schools and are used to provide supplementary educational services to students who are educationally disadvantaged or at risk of failing to meet the state standards. Questa Independent Schools follow a school wide model.
TITLE II – Part A: Preparing, Training and Recruiting High Quality Teachers and Principals
The main goal is to provide funds to increase student and academic achievement by improving teacher quality and recruiting more highly qualified teachers and principal into schools. In alignment with Section 1119(a)(3) the Questa Independent School District strives to ensure that all teachers teaching in the core content areas within the school district are highly qualified. Under Civil Rights/Federal Law school districts that receive Federal financial assistance have an obligation to identify and serve all English Language Learner (ELL) students. The purpose of Title III is to develop educational programs that will help ensure that ELL, statute uses Limited English Proficient (LEP), attain English proficiency, succeed at core academic subjects, and meet the same state academic content and student achievement standards, expected of all children. Students will be given additional instruction in the English Language daily. The District is utilizing a new curriculum called Imagine Learning which will be technology based and meets each students’ individual needs.
TITLE III – Part A: English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement
State Bilingual The focus of the Questa Schools Bilingual Program is to develop Program proficiency in both the Heritage Language (Spanish) and in English thereby becoming both biliterate and bilingual. In Questa, all schools follow the “Heritage Language” model. This is a language learning program that focuses on new development, advanced development, or recovery of proficiency in the Heritage Language. Since students are all at varying levels, Language Acquisition principles and instructional methods are effective with both beginning and advanced students in Heritage Language Revitalization. This model is also designed to provide instruction in Spanish in which students in grades K-10 will receive a period per day. For students who are also English Language Learners, the language program model includes English Language Development instruction.
Dear Parents and Students, On behalf of the Questa Independent School Board of Education, we want to take this opportunity to welcome all of our students and staff to the 2015-2016 school year. We hope that you had a fantastic summer and are fully rested and prepared for the school year. We are very excited to announce and introduce all to our new Curriculum from Project Lead the Way. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is a program that will assist in preparing our students and leading them to successful career opportunities. As we continue to move forward as a technology world, we want to ensure our students are prepared. We the Questa school board, commit ourselves to continue to move forward and build a better environment with the administration, faculty/staff, students, parents and community. We stand by our Mission Statement “Challenge all students to accelerate their learning through rigorous instruction” and we view our Vision Statement as a goal, “All Students will graduate college or career ready”. Welcome back and have great school year. Jose C. Lovato, QISD Board President
Thank you for supporting Questa Schools. GO WILDCATS!!! 78 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts
NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION Questa Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability in admission to its programs, services, or activities, in access to them, in treatment of individuals, or in any aspect of their operations. The Questa Independent School District also does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices. This notice is provided as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age of Discrimination Act of 1975, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Questions, complaints, or requests for additional information regarding these laws may be forwarded to the designated compliance coordinator(s). NOTICIA DE NO DISCRIMINACIÓN Questa Independent School District no discrimina de raza, color, nacionalidad, género, edad, o incapacidad de admission a sus programas, servicios, o actividades, en acceso a ellas, en el tratamiento de individuos, o en ningún aspecto de sus operaciones. El Questa Independent School District tampoco discrimina en sus prácticas de emplear. Esta noticia es provista y requerida por el Título VI del Acto de Derechos Civiles de 1964, Sección 504 del Acto de Rehabilitación de 1973, Título IX de la Enmienda Eduacativa de 1972, en el Acto de Descriminación de 1975, y el Acto de los Estadounidenses con Habilidades Diferenciadas de 1990. Preguntas, quejas, o para más información con respecto a estas leyes pueden ser recibidas por el coordinador designado. Name/Title/Nombre/Título: Ms. Joyce Rock, Title IX Coordinator Office Address/Dirección de Oficina: P.O. Box 440, Questa NM 87556 Phone Number (Voice/TDD)/Numero Teléfono (correo de voz/TDD): 575-586-1604 Days/Hours Available:/Días/Horas de trabajo: M-F 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Name/Title/Nombre/Título: Ms. Nora Sanford, Special Education Director/504 Coordinator Office Address/Dirección de Oficina: P.O. Box 440, Questa NM 87556 Phone Number (Voice/TDD)/Numero Teléfono (correo de voz/TDD): 575-586-1604 Days/Hours Available:/Días/Horas de trabajo: M-F 7:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Esta noticia
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT THURSDAY, AUGUST 13TH 6:30 P.M. – QHS GYM
SCHOOL REGISTRATION PRE-K – 12TH Questa Independent Schools 2015-2016 Calendar
AUGUST 6TH 8:00 A.M.– 3:00 P.M. QHS THERE ARE SOME AMAZING THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS! PLEASE JOIN US AND GET INFORMED ON CURRENT AND NEW PROGRAMS AVAILABLE.
• • • • • • • • • • • • •
•
• •
Introductions of new and returning staff Overall vision and mission of our schools Expectations How to get more involved in your child’s school Presentation on PTA Transportation and Student Counts Project Lead the Way – STEM Program – K-12th grades Bilingual and Title III/English Language Development Federal Programs – Title I and Title II Truancy Discipline Technology Testing and Graduation requirements (PARCC, EOCs, DIBELS, Short Cycle Assessments, Woodcock Munoz, ACCESS) Student resources for additional practice and after school tutoring (Three Rivers Education Foundation, NM Portal, classroom) Dual Credit Courses (on and off campus) Testing and Graduation requirements (PARCC, EOCs, ACCESS)
July 2015 M 6 13 20 27
T 7 14 21 28
W 1 8 15 22 29
TH 2 9 16 23 30
January 2016 F 3 10 17 24 31
T 4 11 18 25
W 5 12 19 26
TH 6 13 20 27
F 7 14 21 28
T
W
TH
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
7/3 - District Closed
August 2015 M 3 10 17 24 31
M
February 2016 M 1 8 15 22 29
8/10 - Back to School Night/Reg. 8/11 - First day back for staff 8/17 - First day back for students 8/28 - Early Dismissal - PD /PLC
September 2015 M 7 14 21 28
T 1 8 15 22 29
W 2 9 16 23 30
TH 3 10 17 24
T
W
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
TH 1 8 15 22 29
M 9/4 - Staff Only Professional Dev. 9/7 - NO SCHOOL/District Closed 9/25 - Early Dismissal - PD/PLC
T 3 10 17 24
W 4 11 18 25
TH 5 12 19 26
T 1 8 15 22 29
7 14 21 28
7 14 21 28
T 1 8 15 22 29
W 2 9 16 23 30
TH 3 10 17 24 31
F 5 12 19 26
W 2 9 16 23 30
TH 3 10 17 24 31
F 4 11 18 25
M
T
W
TH
4 11 18 25
5 12 19 26
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
F 1 8 15 22 29
2/12 - Early Dismissal - PD /PLC 2/15 - NO SCHOOL - District Closed 2/26 - Early Dismissal - PD /PLC
3/4 - End of Grading Period 3 3/7 - 3/11 - NO SCHOOL/ Spring Break 3/18 - NO SCHOOL - Parent/Teacher/ Student Conferences 3/25 - NO SCHOOL - District Closed 3/28 - NO SCHOOL
TH 5 12 19 26
F 6 13 20 27
4/8 - Early Dismissal - PD/PLC Day 4/22 - Early Dismissal - PD/PLC Day
May 2016 F 6 13 20 27
11/6 - Early Dismissal - PD/PLC 11/11 - NO SCHOOL-District Closed 11/25 - 11/27 - NO SCHOOL 11/26-11/27 - District Closed
M 2 9 16 23 30
T 3 10 17 24 31
M
T
6 13 20 27
7 14 21 28
W 4 11 18 25
5/6 - Early Dismissal - PD/PLC 5/19 - Last Day of School/End of GP4 5/20 - Professional Dev./Senior Night 5/21 - Graduation Day 5/23 - Professional Development 5/30 - District Closed
June 2016
December 2015 M
TH 4 11 18 25
April 2016 F 10/9 - NO SCHOOL 2 10/12 - NO SCHOOL-District Closed 9 10/16 - End of Grading Period 1 16 10/23 - Early Dismissal - PD/PLC 23 10/30 - NO SCHOOL - Parent/Teacher/ 30 Student Conferences
November 2015 M 2 9 16 23 30
W 3 10 17 24
1/1 - NO SCHOOL - District Closed 1/4 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Dev. 1/15 - NO SCHOOL 1/18 - NO SCHOOL - District Closed 1/29 - Early Dismissal - PD/PLC
March 2016 F 4 11 18 25
October 2015 M
T 2 9 16 23
F 1 8 15 22 29
F 4 11 18 25
12/4 - Early Dismissal - PD/PLC Day 12/18 - NO SCHOOL - Professional Dev. 12/18 - End of Grading Period 2 12-21 - 12/31 - NO SCHOOL/Winter Break
12/24,12/25 - District Closed
W 1 8 15 22 29
TH 2 9 16 23 30
F 3 10 17 24
Board Approved 4/23/15 No School/District Closed
No School
Early Dismissal - PD/PLC
Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences
Elementary Regular Hours - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. QJSHS Regular Hours - 7:55 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.
End of Grading Period
No School/Professional Development
1st & Last Day of School
Elementary Early Dismissal - 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. QJSHS Early Dismissal - 8:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.
Tentative Summer School Dates - Pending Funding: 4th grade - 11th grade - June 13-30, 2016 K-3 Plus Dates - Pending Funding: June 20th - July 22nd
Membership Reporting Dates: Oct. 14th - 40th Day, 1st - 80th Day, Feb. 10th - 120th Day
Dec.
Report Card Dates - October 30, 2015, January 8, 2016, March 18, 2016, May 27, 2016
taosnews.com/bts | Back to School 2015/16 79
80 Back to School 2015/16 | taosnews.com/bts