Volume 111 / Issue 1 / Summer-Fall 2020-2021
DREAM! EXPLORE! ACHIEVE!
RESILIENCY REDEFINES THE NMSD SPIRIT
Dream! Explore! Achieve!
Vision
Beliefs
Children and students in New Mexico who are deaf/hard of hearing will become lifelong learners and contributing, well-rounded successful individuals in an increasingly global society.
In an environment of respect, trust, and safety, we believe in…
Mission The mission of the New Mexico School for the Deaf (NMSD), New Mexico’s first public school, is to provide for the unique needs of children and students who are deaf/hard of hearing, their families, and professional partners by providing a comprehensive array of school and statewide programs. As a school, NMSD provides an American Sign Language and English bilingual learning environment that includes direct, ongoing access to language and communication in and out of the classroom with a wide range of peers and adults. The students are interactive learners who receive dynamic high quality standardsbased instruction in a variety of curricular and extra-curricular activities. As a statewide service agency, NMSD collaborates with families, school districts, agencies and communities throughout the state to meet the critical language, communication, and learning needs of children and students in New Mexico who are deaf/hard of hearing, birth through high school.
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viewing people who are deaf/hard of hearing from a cultural and linguistic perspective
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having high expectations that positively affect self-esteem, identity and whole person development
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providing early, ongoing, and fluid access to communication through natural language models
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developing proficiency in American Sign Language and English which is critical for fluent communication, literacy and academic achievement
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supporting the development of auditory skills and spoken language as appropriate to the strengths and needs of the individual child/student
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providing high quality early intervention and involvement services designed to help families give their children the earliest possible on-going opportunities for language, learning and meaningful relationships
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fostering strong partnerships with families through learning and social opportunities
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identifying each student’s unique strengths and using them as the foundation for learning and development
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ensuring the child/student is a consistent and active participant in planned and incidental learning experiences in and out of the classroom
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embracing ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity
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developing competence in the use of advanced technology
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having high quality and committed staff who possess and maintain expertise in their respective area
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supporting all students in the pursuit of their personal and professional aspirations
May 2018
VOLUME 111 ISSUE 1 SUMMER/FALL 2020 - 2021
DREAM! EXPLORE! ACHIEVE! FEATURE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
4 RESILIENCY REDEFINES THE NMSD SPIRIT
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Superintendent’s Update Feature Early Intervention & Developmental Services Early Childhood Education - Preschools Multicultural Education Interpretation Student Life Whole Child Support Services Center for Educational Consultation & Training Alumni Community Relations Construction
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twitter.com/nmschooldeaf twitter.com/nmsdathlethics @nmschooldeaf @nmsdtrue
SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE
DEAR NMSD COMMUNITY & FRIENDS What makes a resilient organization? Specifically, what sustains NMSD and makes us resilient in 2020 as together we each face the extraordinary ramifications of a global pandemic? You probably noticed I used the words “together” and “each” and you might be thinking, “Which is it?” From my observations of the NMSD community it is both that makes us strong. NMSD has a five-member Board of Regents appointed by the Governor. Our community is indeed fortunate to have a knowledgeable and caring board watching out for us. As part of their meetings, directors of our various departments, including Early Intervention, Outreach, Instruction, Student Affairs, and Finance, provide an update of activities and services. At our meeting in November, Regent Lynann Barbero commented "Reading through the reports from the directors of the various departments, you would not know that the school was operating under the current conditions of a pandemic. I am truly impressed with the commitment of our staff to ensure that Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families continue to receive quality services. NMSD has so much to be proud of." Regent Barbero’s comment reflects how the active role of each department fosters resiliency even in the changing landscape created by the Pandemic. This edition of the NM Progress magazine provides a glimpse of the continued energy that is driving services and keeping child and student learning robust. Every single contribution taken together in the context of a shared vision, creates a strong organization and the mural of services you see in this magazine. In addition to these wonderful stories about re-envisioning school, outreach, and early intervention from an in-person to an online setting, so much goes on behind the scenes. For example, our cafeteria staff prepares boxes of food for students delivered every week by our transportation staff. Our administrative assistants make sure that needed curriculum materials are gathered to send to students. Educational teams constantly adjust and adapt teaching strategies to keep students engaged. Our facilities crew keep the campus safe and in good repair in preparation for the day we can return. Our custodial staff makes sure everything is clean and disinfected. Our nurses take temperatures and complete a health screening for any staff needing to work on campus, and they have also built our COVID-19 safety protocols. Our IT team makes remote learning possible by providing the needed technology and keeping the online system up and running. Our finance and human resources departments continue to pay staff and balance the budget. Now that is a resilient organization, where every member of the community sees the importance of their daily contribution and persists in their roles in these very challenging times. Because in the end, our mission and vision lead us together as a team, no matter the circumstances. We know the potential of Deaf and hard of hearing children, and we will continue to press forward to ensure quality education and services. We are here for you New Mexico! With appreciation,
Dr. Rosemary J. Gallegos
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NEW STUDENTS AND STAFF
WELCOME TO NMSD! NEW STUDENTS ALBUQUERQUE PRESCHOOL
Bodhi Candelaria
Zaiden Clay
John Marshall
Quinnton Dutcher
Mason Martinez
Zialuvia Island
Isabella Montes
Damian Madera
Axel Valadez
SANTA FE CAMPUS
Elizabeth Aragon
Matteo Lejia
Ovilia Chaco
Eden Li
Toni Chaco
Syraiah Loretto
Nicolas Cruz
William Menser
Jonathan Diaz-Tafolla
Jody Perez
Logan Donelan
Monserrath Portillo
Adrian Torres
Winnifre Johle
Madalyne Weeks
NEW STAFF
Collin Denny
Tiffany Roberts
Mackenzie Fritz
Jen Sagastume
Kelly Callahan
Martha Shearer
Heather Park
Ellen Stone
Karla Quinonez
Troy Thompson
Hannah Wheatcroft
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FEATURE
RESILIENCY REDEFINES THE NMSD SPIRIT BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE As NMSD students and staff prepared to head out on spring break back on Friday, March 13th, New Mexico’s Governor, Michelle Lujan-Grisham, announced the closure of all schools due to the pandemic. However, COVID-19 continued to spread throughout our state and nation. As a result of these spikes, NMSD’s reopening date has shifted several times. Since the safety and well-being of our students, staff, and families are paramount, we are unsure when we will open to provide in-person programs and services. Students in our educational programs and preschools, are, however, being served through distance learning. NMSD’s Early Intervention and Developmental Services Department is conducting remote tele-intervention visits with families of young Deaf children. Our Center for Educational Consultation and Training is providing services to public schools and the community via phone consultations, Zoom meetings, and online classes and training. If 2020 has taught us anything, it has been to think outside the box, re-envision, embrace change, not take anything for granted, be compassionate and grateful, and above all, to be resilient. Resiliency is typically defined as the capacity to bounce back from challenges and difficult life events. Without a doubt we have all been provided with an opportunity to hone our resiliency skills and I am in awe and inspired by our students, staff, and families in their ability to be flexible, persevere, and adapt as we navigate the day-to-day challenges we face. The following series of Q & A’s clearly illustrate how insightful and resilient our students and staff are. What have you been doing differently since the pandemic began? Middle School “COVID-19 has really slowed my family and me down and we’ve had to cancel our trips and events.” ~Adrian Fernandez
“Attending school online is different.” ~Jesse Crespin
“Staying home, where we stay calm and safe.” ~Monse Portillo
“Having school on Zoom.” ~Leilani Crespo
“Staying at home most of the day.” ~Milo Cousineau “No swimming.” ~Levi James
“Having school online for my first year of middle school.” ~Kimora Vollmar
“Everything.” ~Santiago Lopez
High School
“Spending more time drawing and creating artistic images on my iPad.” ~Bria Vigil
“My everyday routine has changed. Instead of getting up, going to school, socializing with friends, participating in after school activities and doing fun things on the weekend, I stay home all of the time.” ~Kieran Vollmar
"Started working out more often.” ~Bruce Jr. Brewer
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“I used to be more active but now that I have been staying home, I have become lazier and less proactive.” ~Sophia Martinez
FEATURE “Wearing a mask when I go grocery shopping.” ~Claire Stephens “Driving less which is minimizing my carbon footprint.” ~Adam Rylee
“Seeing less people now than I did before.” ~Ricardo Salmon-Medina “Helping my mom clean the house and seeing my family more!”
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Johnston
Staff
“Spending more time at home and not being busy from sunup to sundown.” ~Jodi Stumbo “Learning to juggle multiple roles as a parent and teacher.” ~Laurie Anderson
“With Zoom classes, I am sitting more than standing, which I rarely did when teaching in the classroom. I need to find a better balance.” ~Cindy Ulmer-Timlen “Buying more food when I shop in order to stay home safe!” ~Lori Clay-Markowski
What do you enjoy most about online learning?
Middle School
“My reading and writing classes.” ~Jayden Vacher “Having longer breaks between classes.” ~Kimora Vollmar
“Reading books on EPIC, an online library of books for students.” ~Wendy Fuentes
“Finishing my work in 10 minutes if I work hard.” ~Logan Donelan
“Homeroom and Math.” ~Alex Gonzalez-Lopez “Doing fun Kahoot! Challenges!” ~Monse Portillo Doing homework with the keyboard.” ~Jesse Crespin
“Working at my own pace and there is less drama.” ~Adrian Fernandez
“Homework.” ~Serenity Hardy
What are you doing for fun? Elementary
“Playing games and with the baby.” ~Demi Padilla
“Training in karate because it will help me in the future.” ~Henrik Catron
“Playing basketball with my family.” ~Greyson Lobato
“Playing with my dog makes me happy!” ~Rianza Ercolino
“Going for a walk every night.” ~Neeva Goff
“Playing board games, card games, and sports.” ~Tavian Plonski 5
FEATURE “Using XBox, watching wrestling (WWE) and playing with my WWE toy.” ~Esteban Ruiz
“Going to the park and playing games.” ~Anthony Ibarra
“Playing with my brother on our Nintendo Switch.” ~Kyra King-Morgan
“Drawing, watching movies and playing with my cat.” ~Chanelle Hobbs
“Playing Epic Roblox and Minecraft on XBox One and my MacBook Air.” ~Joel Mejia
“Playing games and reading books.” ~Adreien Jaramillo Middle School
“Catching up on my TV shows, reading, and of course my favorite hobby, doing arts and crafts.” ~Adrian Fernandez
“Dancing and singing along with ‘Glee’.” ~Monse Portillo
“Playing with my dog at the park.” ~Serenity Hardy
“Going 4 wheeling.” ~Levi James
“Riding my bike, watching movies, and walking around.” ~Milo Cousineau
“Playing video games.” ~Kimora Vollmar
“Playing sports and video games, talking with friends, watching movies, and going to my friend’s house.” ~Santiago Lopez
“Sleeping, eating, playing. And repeat.” ~Jesse Crespin
High School “Taking walks with my mom where we admire the beautiful clouds, trees, sand, and nature around us.” ~Claire Stephens “Chatting with friends and going longboarding!” ~Sophia Martinez
“Spending time outside playing and getting exercise with my dog.” ~Bruce Jr. Brewer
“Playing video games, mainly Fortnite.” ~Zachary Nichols
“Spending time with my family; we enjoy eating and socializing together.” ~Bria Vigil
“Playing games with my cousin.” ~Anthony Hidalgo
“Playing video games like Fallout 1 and 2 and helping my mom with cooking and cleaning.” ~Jeremiah Reed
Staff
“Preparing new and different recipes for my family and taking brisk walks more frequently to stay energized.” ~Laurie Anderson 6
“Taking walks, cooking, and playing games with my family.” ~Megan Montoya
FEATURE “Hiking with family on the Borrego Trail, Windsor Trail, Circle Trail, Waterfall Trail, and Chamisa Trail, and apple picking where we picked 80 lbs. of apples!” ~Jodi Stumbo “Trying out new recipes for easy go-to meals at home.” ~Cindy Ulmer-Timlen “Taking my dogs on hiking trails and working on projects around the house.” ~Johanna Scherling
What do you miss the most?
Middle School
“NMSD.” ~Leilani Crespo “My school and friends.” ~Wendy Fuentes “Being able to go anywhere I want.” ~Jesse Crespin “Socializing with people.” ~Santiago Lopez
“My friends.” ~Serenity Hardy
“Being at school.” ~Logan Donelan
“Seeing my friends and sporting events at NMSD!” ~Adrian Fernandez “My friends.” ~Sebastian Rivera Carreon
High School
“Going to school in person.” ~Sophia Martinez
“My friends and playing sports!” ~Stacie Vargas
“Seeing my family especially, my grandfather.” ~Ricardo Salmon-Medina
“Going to school and seeing my friends.” ~Kieran Vollmar
“Seeing my friends.” ~Melinda Johnston
“Seeing my family because I haven’t seen them since before the COVID-19 pandemic.” ~Claire Stephens
“Playing sports!” ~Bruce Jr. Brewer “Communicating with my friends.” ~Anthony Hidalgo
Staff
“Learning alongside my students in the classroom and being able to check in with them anytime of the day.” ~Cindy Ulmer-Timlen
“Swimming!” ~Lori Clay-Markowski
“Going to NMSD, teaching my students and seeing their smiling faces when they run into the gym and ask me 'what are we doing today'?" ~Jodi Stumbo
“Being in the same room with my students’ smiling faces and their energetic souls.” ~Laurie Anderson
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FEATURE What are you grateful for?
Elementary
“My lovely family, house, and sweet dogs.” ~Gabriel Ibarra “Staying safe from COVID-19.” ~Greyson Lobato
“My friends.” ~Elias Curley
“Virtual reality Roblox.” ~Brenna Gonzalez “My sister.” ~Lacey Gilpin
“My parents have been taking care of me the whole time.” ~Tavian Plonski
“My home.” ~Dean Garcia “My brothers Kieran and Adrien and that we will exchange gifts at Christmas.” ~Rianza Ercolino “Food, my two cats, my mom and dad, my two brothers, my grandpa, and my friends.” ~Mateo Perez
“My room where I play. It makes me happy.” ~Anthony Ibarra
“Mom buying me a bird named Kamala.” ~Neeva Goff
“My cat.” ~Chanelle Hobbs
Middle School “Cindy Timlen because she teaches me reading and writing.” ~Jayden Vacher
“Not getting COVID-19.” ~Milo Cousineau
“Teachers who are helping me learn more.” ~Wendy Fuentes
“Friends, my family, and teachers for helping me.” ~Monse Portillo
“My mom has a new boyfriend, and my cousin had a baby boy!” ~Adrian Fernandez
“My imagination.” ~Logan Donelan
“My dog, fish, and video games.” ~Kimora Vollmar “Family.” ~Jesse Crespin
“Homework.” ~Levi James
Staff
“My family being healthy and for the little things I have in life.” ~Megan Montoya
“Being able to continue teaching my students and reaching out to them even if it is through the distance learning format.” ~Cindy Ulmer-Timlen 8
“My family being in good health and that we are all together.” ~Jodi Stumbo
EARLY INTERVENTION & DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
THE “EIDS” MARCH ON BY JOANNE CORWIN NMSD’s Early Intervention and Involvement Department has changed its name to the Early Intervention and Developmental Services (EIDS) Department. The name change is in keeping with the state’s Developmental Service Standards and Guidelines. We have also retired our previous program logos, adopting a new department logo reflecting the collaborative work between our staff, families, and children. New look and name but same great services! Despite the challenging times, EIDS services have continued at full speed. The referral rate was actually higher than previous summers with the number of online services nearly equivalent to years past. Although a tele-intervention format can create some challenges for families and “Zoom fatigue” for young children, assessment information indicated that the children served by EIDS continued to make good developmental gains. Families reported online “home visits” to be engaging and joyful. As one mother commented, “We're very happy and fortunate to continue our relationship and journey during such adverse times. Every meeting is a new experience and learning opportunity not only for me and Arya, but for the whole family. It’s something we look forward to weekly.” Beginning this past October, families in the Northeast and Metro regions of the state had the option of in-person home visits as we followed the COVID-19 phasing-in criteria. Families could opt to continue with tele-intervention or a combination of in-person and online intervention. All COVID-19 safety measures were strictly adhered to, including meeting outside a family’s home as much as possible and staggering in-person visits so that the service provider was not moving directly between one home and the next. Initially families indicated they were anxious about resuming in-person visits, but once started, everyone was excited to be back together again!
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1: Early Intervention and Developmental Services (EIDS) Department’s new logo. 2: Jesus Guizar Nava and his mom learn to make strawberry shortcake with their Early Developmentalist, Kristi Halus, during a remote home visit. 3: Supervisor Karla Sanchez watches on as Early Developmentalist Delinda Smith teaches the sign “SMART” with Hunter and his mom, during a tele-intervention home visit. 4: Early Developmentalist, Kathleen Aranda Myers, Elsa Petmecky, and her mom enjoy a sweet time together making chocolate chip cookies during a remote home visit. 5: Elsa and the final reward - a YUMMY cookie! 6: Kacee Edmonds, teaching some of the smartest pumpkins in the patch. Online learning really is "spook-tacular!"
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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – ALBUQUERQUE PRESCHOOL
BACK TO BUSINESS BY ANGELA CORONA NMSD has made many significant changes to help protect our students, staff, and families from COVID-19 exposure. But for some of NMSD’s youngest students, it’s back to business. At the Albuquerque Preschool students are playing, exploring their interests, and learning new skills in person. The addition of masks and other safety measures have not stopped their joy for language and learning. This past fall, we began serving two-thirds of our students from the Albuquerque area on our preschool campus. In our Kindergarten classes, students showed their ability to categorize by sorting toy animals into their habitats - created by adding sand or blue material into a box lid. One student was so excited by the difference between ocean animals and land animals she continuously repeated this activity. Her educational team expanded the activity into more habitats as a way to extend her knowledge.
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Toddlers and preschoolers love being in the open air, so they enjoyed playing just outside their classrooms, on the grassy field, and out on the swings. The toddlers class love blowing bubbles, which is impossible due to mask requirements. We solved the problem by purchasing a bubble blowing machine! In our Preschool/Pre-K classroom, each day began with yoga classes. Each class started with three controlled breaths and moved into yoga poses. We ended with three more controlled breaths. Yoga provided a place for calmness and helped our students ready their minds and bodies for learning.
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The preschoolers who did not join us on campus stayed busy and engaged as well. During distance learning via Zoom meetings, students practiced and improved their language and academic skills using SeeSaw activities and interacting with staff and family members. Despite the changes, the business of learning never stops! *Due to increasing cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico, on Monday, October 26th, the limited number of students who were receiving in-person services on our Albuquerque Preschool Campus were shifted back to distance learning.
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1: Hannah Wheatcroft leading circle time with Moses Hise, Athena Gonzales, and Owen Wright. 2: Preschool and Pre-K students, Moses, Owen, and Athena, get back to work by creating a fun outdoor space. 3: Students building structures with blocks. 4: Athena sits peacefully in her butterfly pose during yoga time. 5: Bodhi Candelaria plays outside with the new bubble machine. 6: Kindergarten Zoom meeting.
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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – FARMINGTON PRESCHOOL
LEARNING DURING THE PANDEMIC BY MARY HELEN PEREZ Two-year-old Haylee Gutierrez was busy pouring pom poms into various containers when her mask slipped down from her nose. She pulled it back up and continued playing without missing a beat. Children are surprisingly resilient and adaptive to change. They can teach us so much about pressing forward in the face of adversity. Change is occurring in other ways, too! Our class has been busy with fall explorations of sunflowers and pumpkins. Students and teachers loved pulling seeds from the center of the sunflower and examining them under a magnifying glass. They also cut the leaves off of the long stalk to improve fine motor skills. We especially enjoyed marking the children’s height on the long stalks! Our pumpkin exploration included measuring the height of our pumpkins using Unifix cubes, tasting raw and cooked pumpkin, and predicting if our pumpkins would sink or float. The students found that their pumpkins did float! This led to the students wanting to test other objects in our classroom.
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Our class loved the book Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes. We read it several times, and then made Play-Doh cupcakes in mini cupcake liners. The children enjoyed counting their cupcakes. Our educational assistant, Dawn Woolard, made a felt cupcake set complete with Pete the Cat. The children loved mixing the cupcake tops and bottoms on the felt board, counting the felt cupcakes, and pretending to snag the cupcakes just like Grumpy Toad does in the story!
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1: Haylee Gutierrez removes sunflower seeds to use in the kitchen. 2: Teacher Mary Helen Perez and students Bella Hargrove and Tobias Jim examine sunflower seeds with magnifying glasses. 3: Tobias Jim sets up a dinner for honored guest, Pete the Cat. 4: Bella Hargrove assembles cupcakes to extend learning during our Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes unit. 5: Tobias Jim dips his shoe into the blueberries to see what color it will turn. Bella Hargrove signs PINK! 6: Reading Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes with Tobias Jim and Bella Hargrove during class story time.
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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – LAS CRUCES PRESCHOOL
ZOOMING INTO FUN BY KIM BOYKIN Here in Las Cruces, we’re continuing our remote preschool classes via Zoom meetings. While we definitely miss seeing our students and watching their progress in person, online preschool has had some added benefits. The outbreak of COVID-19 has made all of us think differently about our world and thinking outside the box to provide a rich learning experience has been both a challenge and a blessing. Probably the most wonderful result of our online time has been spending more time with families. When we Zoom in the mornings, we are always joined by at least one parent per child. Typically we are joined by two parents - and almost always a sibling joins the fun! This has provided opportunities for family members to access ASL and learn specific vocabulary from our learning projects. It’s been a gift to watch families signing together! We’ve also had the rare opportunity for parents to get to know each other in ways that would never have happened previously. We’ve enjoyed sharing our lessons with sisters and brothers too. It has been awesome to “meet” new puppies and learn about visits to family farms and more!
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We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to provide contactless lesson delivery weekly so that we can all participate in handson activities together. It’s been wonderful to get messy and silly together, even when we can’t physically be in class together. It’s also been rewarding to see our students continue to grow, participate, and learn in ways that we weren’t sure could happen online. So, while we wait for the doors of the Las Cruces Preschool to open again, we continue to connect and celebrate new milestones, share our stories, and remember to be grateful for all that we have. 3
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1: Alden and Hepa Green participate via Zoom while eating their cookies made during our Zoom class cooking project. 2: Aliaah Munoz working at her school space set up for her at her parent's business. 3: Alden Green and his sister blowing bubbles with Kim Boykin and the class via Zoom. 4: Veronique Meza playing with plastic spiders in goop! 5: Aliaah Munoz’s is so happy to have all the supplies NMSD delivered to her via contactless delivery! 6: Alden Green uses M&M’s to match colors on a sorting mat during Zoom. 7: Veronique Meza "washes" her pig with shaving cream during a Zoom lesson and storytelling of Mrs. Wishy Washy with her class.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – SANTA FE PRESCHOOL
CIRCLE OF LIFE BY KRIS EATON It’s not surprising in the time of COVID-19 that students have shown an interest in our current topic of life and death. When Richard Nava found a dead bird outside of Hester Hall, he and several other students were fascinated and wondered how and why it died. We brought the bird back to class where we started a new unit on what birds and people need to live; such as air, water, food, shelter, and sleep. We looked at several bird’s nests to learn more about their shelters. Students then attempted to make their own nests from recycled materials.
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After Wesley St. Clair’s dog was put to sleep over the weekend, we decided to continue our study as a way to help him cope. We talked about other reasons why people, birds, or dogs pass away. We discussed illness, old age, bad habits, and accidents. We also explored how animals and people are put to rest. Wesley explained his dog was buried in their backyard, while I showed the cremated remains of my cat. We decided to put our bird to rest outside. The students wrote the bird’s name, drew a picture of the bird, and wrote the birth and death date on the headstone. Other students dug a hole, placed the bird inside, and then covered the bird. Our bird’s headstone is located in the corner lot of our outside space.
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While we are living in unprecedented times, it’s gratifying that our students are finding new ways to understand the circle of life and death. *Due to increasing cases of COVID-19 in New Mexico, on Monday, October 26th, the limited number of students who were receiving in-person services on our Santa Fe Campus were shifted back to distance learning. 3
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1: Richard Nava shows his classmates the bird he found. 2: Paul Van Gunten holds a bird nest. 3: Kris Eaton shows Zoe Pedersen her cat’s remains while Wesley St. Clair looks on. 4: From left: Elijah Larson, Paul Van Gunten, Wesley St. Clair, and Richard Nava in the spot where the bird was buried. 5: Paul Van Gunten and Richard Nava make a headstone for a deceased bird.
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MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION
¡VIVA MÉXICO! BY CLAUDIA HERNANDEZ & CLAUDIA MANSILLA From September 14th through the 18th, students, families, staff, and our greater community virtually celebrated Mexican Independence Day. The daily events were accessible through informational videos related to Mexican history and culture. Each video was posted on NMSD’s Facebook page. Students and family members created the daily videos. The videos celebrated the Mexican National Anthem, Mexican flag colors, and the Mexican Coat of Arms. We also held an interactive panel with students, parents, and alumni; broadcasting via Facebook Live. We had more than 1,000 viewers as well as dozens of comments and questions from the public to the panelists. It was a great pleasure seeing the pride in our students as they shared their honest perspectives, experiences, and the cultural needs they would like met. Although we missed celebrating with students and families in person, this year’s virtual event provided an opportunity for our Mexican students and families to educate us about their heritage and culture. The event was so successful that schools for the Deaf around the country reached out to the Mexican Independence Day planning committee. They asked us to continue having the event on NMSD’s social media platforms so that their schools can participate in future years. It’s rewarding that our celebration extended beyond our school campus borders, and that NMSD is now widely known as a multicultural and multilingual school. Our team had been planning this event before the pandemic hit last March and we adapted our plans to meet the governor’s order of closing schools in New Mexico. While going virtual was lots of hard work, it was also great fun. We appreciate the positive comments and feedback we received in response to this year’s event and the committee has already begun planning next year’s event. This year’s planning committee included Silvia Sotelo, Glenda Fuentes, Corina Gutiérrez, Emma Lozada, Tania Delgadillo-Pérez, Alaska Williams-Scott, Roddy Cabbage, Claudia Hernandez, and Claudia Mansilla. We will be adding additional members to our team to make our event even more inclusive and educational. We hope our celebration sparked conversations between students, families, and staff which will assist us in providing greater support for students throughout the year!
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1: Julian and Ulises Sotelo-Aranda’s family displaying the Mexican Flag. 2: Angelique Quinonez and her dad Luis, during the filming of the Mexican National Anthem video they made for the first day of the week-long events on Facebook. 3: Wendy Fuentes and her family during the filming of one of the week’s videos! 4: Jose Miranda shares his perspective during the panel, while Emma Lozada and interpreter Al Jimenez look on. 5: Claudia Hernandez (upper left corner) thanking students, families, alumni, and members of the community, for participating in the live panel. 6: Participants were able to send in comments and questions during the live panel.
INTERPRETATION
RELAYING BETTER EXPERIENCES BY JULIE NAGLE The NMSD Interpretation and Translation Department’s number one priority is providing access to our community. Interpreting has always been a complicated task but with the COVID-19 pandemic the NMSD Interpretation and Translation Department has been challenged even further. However, all challenges bring opportunities. The NMSD Interpreting Department has used this time to adjust lighting, tweak backgrounds, and update cameras. We can finally offer translation comparable to in-person services. One of the most exciting changes to come from the virtual age is the new Zoom Language Interpretation feature, which allows us to simultaneously provide English, Spanish and ASL interpretation in one Zoom room by utilizing different channels for each language.
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Check out the tips and instructions below to enhance your Zoom experience. Tips for Your Virtual Interpreted Experience: • When possible connect directly to the internet rather than using Wi-Fi as this will cut down on how often the Zoom freezes during the meeting. • Be sure to view the meeting in “Gallery View.” This gives the best view of the participants of the meeting while still allowing you to see and hear interpreters. • Pin interpreters or participants if you would like to see them more clearly. If you would like to pin more than one participant, ask the host for the ability to “pin multiple participants.” • When using wireless headphones, remember that they often often automatically sync. If you join a Zoom meeting without headphones set to “on” and cannot hear anything, it may mean that your headphones have already paired with the computer. • When on a Zoom call, if you cannot hear, if interpreters are freezing, or you hear two languages overlap, please contact the host of the meeting, and let them know. They will be more than happy to assist in making sure that you have the appropriate access! Moving from a 3D to a 2D world has been a big adjustment for our team. There are many subtle nuances in ASL, and it has taken practice to continue to relay these nuances. There may still be times however when an interpreter asks their team to take the message, get clarification, or be fed a correction. Behind the scenes, we’ve always had these conversations, but they’ve tended to go unnoticed. Now, in a virtual environment, they are almost magnified. We thank you for your patience in allowing us to keep improving, innovating, and putting the message first!
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1: Interpreter Cathrael Hackler saying “hello!” from her home office. 2: Alaska Scott Williams showing off her “closet office.” 3: Jennifer Sagastume working remotely from her home office. 4: A slide that shows Zoom’s language feature options. 5: Interpreter Claudia Hernandez (top right) facilitates communication for Cindy Timlen (top left) and her students during an activity where they are making a yarn doll like the one made by a character in the book they read, “Esperanza Rising”.
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STUDENT LIFE – NUTRITION SERVICES
MISSION POSSIBLE! BY LAURIE ALLOCCA, NUTRITION SERVICES MANAGER Ever since NMSD closed the campus in March, our Nutrition Services Department has been working tirelessly to meet the nutritional needs of students via the USDA School Food Programs. Many students nationwide rely upon the breakfasts and lunches they receive at school each day as a significant part of their daily nutrition. Hunger impedes a child’s ability to learn, be it in classrooms or at home during online classes. The NMSD Nutrition Services team have put forth various meal service formats in response to changing health & safety guidelines. We will continue to adapt so that our “Nutrition Mission” is uninterrupted despite the shifting framework.
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NMSD’s Grab N’ Go breakfast and lunch bag program launched last spring with the onset of 100% online learning. More than 1600 meals per week were distributed to New Mexico students in our local community via three distribution sites in Santa Fe. My team and I worked very hard to obtain a variety of items each week, making sure each bagged meal was nutritionally balanced. Daily snacks were also included. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children and their families when my team distributed the bags brought us all great joy! 2
With the continuation of 100% online learning, NMSD opted for a Brown Box Program model. We distributed a weekly variety of fresh produce and non-perishable foods to each NMSD student and family who desires to participate. Ten pick-up sites followed NMSD’s transportation routes. Approximately one hundred Brown Boxes were distributed weekly. Each box contained meal pattern compliant breakfasts and lunches. We included recipes to encourage families to cook together - not only to foster nutritional health, but also to encourage social and emotional well-being. In August, NMSD began in-person and on-campus learning for a small group of the youngest Santa Fe students. September brought several Middle and High School students to campus as well. As a result, NMSD Nutrition Services rolled-out the next phase of the meal service plan. In addition to the continued distribution of Brown Boxes to distance learners, we also began serving breakfast and lunch meal trays to our on-site classrooms. This allowed students to dine safely with their classroom cohorts. Grab N’ Go bags for meals were provided for students who had part-time on-site schedules. We did not want any school breakfasts or lunches missed! Our focus and commitment is centered around community health & safety and this requires flexibility and resilience. NMSD Nutrition Services programs are ready to adapt service formats to continue the positive contribution towards food security of NMSD children. NMSD’s “Nutrition Mission” is to respond to the changing learning formats that keep our children safe by providing nutritious meals to keep our children learning!
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1: Yadira Maldonado Garcia from Nutrition Services and Lamont Spell from Transportation with items from the Brown Box distribution. 2: Nutrition Services team members Jennifer Drouillard and Renee Apodaca packing up the breakfast and lunch Grab N’ Go bags. Quite the operation! 3: Jose Rodriguez and Candelario Gonzalez loading up the NMSD vehicle with the Grab N’ Go meals and coolers. 4: Lots of nutritional items are delivered to students. 5: Sam Ramirez from Maintenance hanging the Grab N’ Go banner last spring on NMSD’s fence. 6: Elias Curley and his dad Tim with their Brown Box. 7: Liam Mohan-Litchfield buttering his roll as he enjoys eating his lunch. 8: Eden Li during breakfast that was delivered and served in his classroom.
WHOLE CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES
ZOOMING INTO HEALTH BY TIFFANY ROBERTS, FNP-C The Health Center at NMSD has undergone many changes within the last year. In addition to being at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic for the school, we lost our department’s secretary, coordinator, as well as a physician. I was hired in July as the Health Center’s coordinator and administrator, as well as a medical provider to address the students’ health needs. My experience has been primarily as a critical care nurse, both medical and cardiac and as a family nurse practitioner in urgent care medicine. I am joined by a team of registered nurses, John Papastathis, RN and Michael Zamora, BSN, RN. John brings years of nursing experience as an Emergency Room nurse, as well as expertise in wilderness medicine training. Michael’s extremely diverse background includes emergency room to critical care nursing, in addition to med-surg, geriatrics and pediatric nursing. Orientation and introductions looked a bit different this year - we initially met on Zoom! The nursing staff has tapped into our wealth of experience and hit the ground running, pushing forward new projects and interventions designed to keep the NMSD community safe. We implemented a daily health screening tool, the DrOwl app. The DrOwl screening questions cater specifically to challenging issues during the pandemic. They include recent travel outside of the state, possible exposure or sick people in the household, as well as monitoring individual symptoms and temperature. The questions are required to be answered by all staff, students, and visitors before they come to campus each day. If any member of the NMSD community is experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or possible exposure, they are instructed to call the Health Center where nursing staff performs an enhanced screening. Nursing staff has also trained the transportation department at NMSD to conduct these health screenings and temperature checks on students transported outside of Santa Fe. This has been imperative to the health and safety of the community, ensuring that any potential illness is caught before students arrive on campus. We also did walkthroughs of classrooms in the Early Childhood Education department on both Albuquerque and Santa Fe campuses to help staff minimize materials that might be difficult to clean and disinfect. Question and answer sessions were held for teaching staff to ensure they understood current COVID-19 guidelines, how to maintain a safe classroom, cleaning/disinfecting, mask-wearing, social distancing, promoting hand washing, and even how to don/doff personal protective equipment. Michael and John performed secondary screenings and temp checks in the afternoons for any students with a daylong schedule and their efforts were crucial to the additional training for staff.
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The NMSD campus has been open as a remote learning model except for two months when Early Childhood Education students and students with special needs were allowed to attend in-person. Our stringent protocols allowed us to not have one positive case during this time. It was a highlight to see students riding their bikes around on campus and to witness the student’s resiliency. Their ability to adapt to our changing environment was inspiring, as even the youngest embraced their masks and learned how to social distance. However, with COVID-19 cases sharply rising throughout New Mexico, the health infrastructure has become inundated by the spike in COVID-19 cases. As a result, new challenges emerged for the NMSD nurses. The demands of finding medical grade masks proved to be extremely difficult. Masks such as FDA approved N-95 masks that help protect the nursing staff from aerosolized procedures such as giving nebulizer treatments were nowhere to be found, inhibiting the ability to treat some students with chronic respiratory conditions. Individual travel, extensive contact tracing, and prolonged test result times have also made it more challenging to protect our community. Ultimately, the limited number of students on our Santa Fe and Albuquerque campuses were shifted back to remote learning.
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We hope that everyone continues to support our community and follow safety protocols. Stay home as much as possible, and when you have essential business, it is critical to mask up, avoid large gatherings, socially distance, as well as help guide and teach youth about this pandemic. 1: John Papastathis, RN and Tiffany Roberts, FNP-C at the temperature check station located outside Delgado Hall on NMSD’s Santa Fe campus. 2: John Papastathis checking the temperature of Maintenance team member Sam Ramirez after he arrives on campus. 3: Staff members from NMSD’s transportation department during a training to teach them how to conduct health screenings and temperature checks. 4: Teacher Kim Burkholder stops at the temperature check-in station so that Michael Zamora can check her temperature.
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CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL CONSULTATION & TRAINING
DISTANCING INSPIRES NEW WAYS TO REACH OUT BY CINDY HUFF And then everything changed. With the advent of the pandemic, NMSD’s Statewide Educational Outreach team switched gears, became more creative, and learned a lot along the way! We evolved to support school districts as they quickly transitioned to online instruction, with educational consultation, family support, and ASL services continuing, and even growing. Virtual Support for School Districts was maintained for public school staff working with Deaf/HoH students. A new need required brainstorming with our district partners at the student, school, and district levels. Requests from district staff led to a series of information sheets, many Zoom consultations, virtual IEP meetings and district-specific online training. While we all admit to the many challenges of virtual learning, we have also been able to see what can be accomplished in this format.
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ASL Classes and Tutor Services were briefly halted mid-March, but after a few weeks, we were able to continue online classes for families in the Albuquerque and Santa Fe areas. ASL Tutor Services expanded in the spring when students were no longer in the classrooms all day. In the Fall of 2020, our ASL Classes expanded to support ASL learners statewide. NMSD’s statewide online ASL Classes will continue, even when we can resume our live classes in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. From May 20th to June 1st we offered a series of Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Study Sessions. Provisionally licensed interpreters took advantage of this support as they prepared to take the assessment. This series of online meetings spanned a week and a half, enabling ongoing discussions and short, digestible topic presentations. All participants were prepared for and took the test this past summer.
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Virtual ASL Immersion took place the last two weeks of July, and the planning team worked diligently throughout the spring and summer to design an online program…Zoom style! Both adult and family programs were offered and focused specifically on families of D/HH children/students, NMSD staff, and school district staff who work with D/HH students. Participants definitely missed the opportunity for live learning, but so many expressed their gratitude and surprise at the quality of the instruction they experienced. A successful Virtual Interpreter Intensive was also held last July between our two ASL Immersion Weeks. Six K-12 interpreters participated in the weekend and gained new insights and understanding related to primary focus areas: 1. The Role of the K-12 Interpreter in Supporting Incidental Learning. 2. Teacher’s Instructional Styles: How the Interpreter Responds. 3. Being Proactive: The Advocate and the Team Member.
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Opportunities for student interactions began with a “Summer Buddies” program, pairing students who use spoken language and/or ASL. Students shared experiences with each other, and friendships were formed. A weekly Flying Hands ASL Club is now available for teens statewide! While we very much look forward to resuming our face to face services, we are thrilled to have been able to provide rich virtual services and offerings statewide. Our work will benefit from our virtual experience. It is likely we will continue a hybrid model, mixing the best of live and virtual engagement!
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1: During K-12 Interpreter Intensive, CECT K12 Interpreter Consultant, Lena Stavely, leads a discussion about the implications distance learning has on accessing information for Deaf and hard of hearing students. 2: Lena Stavely and Meena Mann planning remotely for one of the EIPA study groups called "Discourse Mapping in the 2D Educational Realm." 3: Participants have fun learning ASL together during one of the ASL Immersion Zoom classes. 4: A collage of the amazing ASL Immersion team! Top row from left: Paul Twitchell, Dean Krohn, Dalton Etkie, and Sha Reins. Second row from left: Ashleigh Turek, Mikey Baker, Scott Vollmar, and Johanna Scherling. Third row from left: Joanne DeBee, James Litchfield III, Lisa Rutland, and Emma Lozada. Bottom row from left: CECT Director Cindy Huff, Daniel Heinze, Velda Romero, and Superintendent Dr. Rosemary Gallegos.
ALUMNI
ALUMNI IN ACTION Many alumni think of NMSD as their home away from home. It is a place where they grew up, gained an education, made life-long friends, and shared many fond memories. Below, Jeni King shares her time as an NMSD student and what she’s up to currently. What year did you enroll at NMSD? I enrolled at NMSD in 1983 when I was 4 years old. What town are you from? I am from Espanola, New Mexico.
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Who were your best friends while at school? My best friends while at NMSD were… well actually, I can’t name just one! Why? Because I grew up with many fun people I’ve known since I was 4 years old! My graduating classmates have been with me since day one! What were your favorite subjects when at NMSD? My favorite subjects were Reading and English. I sure was a little bookworm! Who were your favorite teachers or staff members and why? I admired so many that I simply cannot choose a favorite from all that worked with me throughout my years at NMSD. Every one of them have had a significant impact on my academic and life journey. Many of these staff members worked with me for more than just one year. If it were not for the experiences I enjoyed at NMSD, I would not be where I am today. What are your fondest memories while a student at NMSD? During my early years at NMSD, I enjoyed family style dining, playing in the huge playground between Larson Gym and Hester Hall and on the track field behind Connor Hall. I also remember watching cast members of “Blue de Ville” tear up our campus during a filming session. I did lots of exploring and enjoyed the orchard during harvest season. I also loved sharing ghost stories (NMSD has some of the scariest stories!), watching some of the great school plays and most of all, learning and playing alongside my peers. NMSD is a unique place with a beautiful campus (past and present) nestled in an ideal location that offers beautiful views of Sangre De Cristo Mountains. While in class, I used to enjoy looking out the window at the mountains while I processed my thoughts and the information I received from my teachers.
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What year did you graduate from NMSD? I graduated from NMSD in 1997. After you graduated, what college and profession did you go into? After graduating from NMSD, I attended the National Technical Institute for the Deaf/Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY where I eventually received a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work. I went on to attend the University of New Mexico where I earned my Master of Arts degree in Special Education. In what ways have you stayed connected with NMSD? I have stayed connected to NMSD in a few ways. First, through my mother, Diane King, who is now retired from NMSD. Every time I would come home from college, I’d visit her at work. From 2006 to 2010, I worked as a Deaf Mentor with Step*Hi (now the Early Intervention & Developmental Services Department - EIDS.) I also taught at the NMSD ABQ Preschool during the 2009-2010 school year and in 2019, I returned to the NMSD Community as a Developmental Specialist (DDS) with EIDS. What are you currently up to in your life? I enjoy working with children and families and coaching them to explore different ways to connect to their Deaf and Hard of Hearing child(ren) in their daily lives and/or routines using one of the most important tools: communication. I feel honored to walk side by side with the family as I support them through their journey by sharing my own journey and life experiences with them. I love the fact that there is no “one size fits all” approach to making connections with children. This is what makes my job fun, challenging and adventurous. The EIDS team is a fun team to work with as each one of us brings various experiences, background, and knowledge to the table and, despite working remotely, we still manage to work closely together.
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1: Jeni at age five or six wearing an “old school” auditory trainer in her classroom in Hester Hall. 2: Fantastic female athletes being honored during the 1996 Athletic Banquet. Jeni is third from the right. 3: Conga dancing the night away with her friends at Senior Prom. Jeni is fourth from the right. 4: Jeni delivering her Valedictorian speech to the Class of 1997 during the graduation ceremony. 5: Exploring language through play and literacy during Baby Bunch at ABQ Preschool.
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COMMUNITY RELATIONS
TIES THAT BOND BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE Our heartfelt thanks to the voters in New Mexico who once again showed their tremendous support of education by passing the General Obligation Education Bond C. Bond C passed with 64.9% support by constituents who rallied around NMSD, and our state’s other specialty schools, colleges, and universities. Social media campaign graphics helped spread the word, in addition to several email blasts to our students, families, alumni, retirees, and the greater community. We also hung a Bond C banner on our fence. Typically, we would visit several civic and community groups in person but due to the pandemic we participated remotely. We had the pleasure of presenting at the Santa Fe Civitan’s and Old Town Optimist’s Zoom luncheon meetings as well as remote interviews with KSFR and KSWV - joined by representatives from the Santa Fe Indian School, Santa Fe Community College, and the Institute of American Indian Arts. We had a strong and compelling presence in Santa Fe and voters had a clear understanding of what was at stake.
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As a result of Bond C passing, NMSD will receive 5.5 million for the planning, designing, and renovating of the Belle & Cora Larson Dining Hall. We look forward to an energy efficient, state-of-the art kitchen which will also be used for culinary arts classes, enhanced and ADA compliant bathrooms, updated infrastructure for technology, and enhancements to lighting and the sprinkler system, with additional improvements to second floor spaces as well. Thank you to everyone who voted for Bond C and supported our students and school!
SENDING HOPE & LOVE BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE ASL Love and DeafHope, two organizations from the California Bay Area, have a robust commitment to serving the educational and cultural needs of Deaf Native students. They reached out to NMSD to explore giving us donations that would be used to support our Native American students. DeafHope gifted NMSD $3000 worth of Walmart gift cards to be distributed to students. ASL Love donated $755 to NMSD to support increased data needs and hot spots for our students. This is perfect timing given the technology required for distance learning and family tele-interventions home visits by our Early Intervention and Development team. The support provided by these two amazing organizations is deeply appreciated.
MASK UP!
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BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE Mollie Sachs was an ASL Service Corp member in our Center for Educational Consultation and Training division during the 2017-2018 school year and is currently an NMSD substitute teacher and ASL teacher to the greater community. Mollie is also an amazing seamstress who has been making masks via her company, Mollie’s Enchanted Thread. Mollie used repurposed NSMD athletic shirts to make masks for our school and has donated a total of 37 masks. The masks are not only beautiful, but also truly show our Roadrunner spirit. Thank you, Mollie!
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1: Bond C banner on NMSD’s fence at the corner of Cerrillos Road. 2: The Old Town Optimist Club’s Zoom lunch meeting where information about Bond C and NMSD was presented to club members. 3: Mollie Sachs met with Roddy Cabbage to pass on the masks she donated to NMSD students. 4: Masks made by Mollie!
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – SUPERINTENDENT’S RESIDENCE
The renovations of the Superintendent’s Residence have been completed. The house has new double-paned windows, a new roof and has been re-coated with new stucco. The renovations have restored the exterior of the house to a state of magnificence.
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – GIRL’S LOCKER ROOM
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The girl’s locker room has been completely renovated and the space has been redesigned so that it is more open and much brighter. There is a new floor surface, new lockers, and revamped bathroom and showers. The space is highly functional and visually appealing. Go Roadrunners!
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – BOY'S LOCKER ROOM
The boy’s locker room has also been completely renovated. The new space is bright, open, and inviting. Like the girl’s locker room there is a new bathroom, showers, lockers, and a new floor surface. The new locker room is a beautiful space for our athletes and visiting teams.
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – MAIN GYM
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The main gym has had several improvements made during the renovation. There are new scoreboards that include visual alerts, the floor has been painted with NMSD’s mascot and “Roadrunners” has been added to both sides of the court. A ceiling mounted automatic partition that can be used to separate the gym in half has been added and the bleachers have been repaired and/or replaced and are automatically retractable.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – ROADRUNNER ACTIVITY CENTER
The Roadrunner Activity Center (RAC) has a new storage closet and it is a fantastic and much needed addition to an already beautiful space. The closet will be used by the Student Life Department to store equipment and materials used by students and staff. Other upgrades include a new surface on the RAC floor, new lighting and removable safety railings around the stage. The RAC and Larson Gym are now connected to NMSD’s Central Plant and that means a more energy efficient heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) system. Two mechanical closets for the HVAC system have been added as well.
Presorted Marketing US Postage Paid Permit 1893 Albuq.NM
1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505 www.nmsd.k12.nm.us
NEW MEXICO'S FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL
THE NEW MEXICO PROGRESS since 1909 USPS #381-500 / ISSN #0896-6478 Vol. 111 / Issue 1 / Summer/Fall 2020-21
Published twice during the school year at the New Mexico School for the Deaf, 1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505. Distributed to parents of students presently enrolled at NMSD and staff. POSTMASTER: Send address change to THE NEW MEXICO PROGRESS, 1060 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505. Staff: Editor/Keri-Lynn McBride; Associate Editors/Bay Anapol and Kimm Wiens. Design/Hollie Fleming.
