New Mexico School for the Deaf - Progress Magazine - English - Summer/Fall 2019-2020

Volume 110 / Issue 1 / Summer/Fall 2019-2020

DREAM! EXPLORE! ACHIEVE!

BUILDING STRONG BODIES & MINDS

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 110 ISSUE 1 SUMMER/FALL 2019-2020

DREAM! EXPLORE! ACHIEVE! FEATURE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4 BUILDING STRONG BODIES & MINDS

2 4 7 8 12 15 16 18 20 22 25 26 27 28

Superintendent’s Update Feature Early Intervention & Involvement Early Childhood Education - Preschools Main Campus Harvest Day Transition Multicultural Education Literary Arts Athletics Center for Educational Consultation & Training Alumni Community Relations Construction

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SUPERINTENDENT’S UPDATE

DEAR NMSD COMMUNITY & FRIENDS With the November 10th anniversary of NMSD’s 1885 founding by pioneers Lars and Belle Larson, and the recent passing of our sixth Superintendent, Dr. Gilbert Delgado, I am again reminded of the ways that NMSD has been made strong through the years by the talents, energy and passion of dedicated educators, staff, and families. As the first Hispanic Superintendent of a school for the Deaf in the nation, Dr. Delgado focused on cultural issues for students and established an Educational Resource Center on Deafness as a state resource. That Department is now our Center on Educational Consultation and Training (CECT).

Many of you know that while this is my 5th year as Superintendent, I started working at NMSD as a preschool teacher in 1984. In 1994, Dr. Delgado appointed me as the Coordinator of our Statewide Parent Infant Program and soon after we established a Deaf Role Model program. Since then I have seen so much change, growth, and expansion in serving children in our state. The structure that makes this possible is our school program in Santa Fe, our preschools in Albuquerque, Gallup, Farmington, and Las Cruces, our statewide home visiting Parent Infant Child and Deaf Mentor programs, and our CECT program.

You have probably heard the quote by Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants”. These programs, or as I think are better described as innovations, are NMSD’s way of being responsive and continually using educational advances to serve New Mexico’s deaf and hard of hearing children. They are the result of our former giants, Superintendents like Dr. Delgado and the many leaders and educators within the programs, who have planted seeds for us to nurture and grow.

We have come to describe our campus in Santa Fe as the hub for all the activity that emanates out to New Mexico families and educators. Last school year, NMSD served children from 96 communities in our beautiful and diverse state. Our campus is wherever our work takes us to see a child and family or an educator who wants specialized information. Like the multiple ways NMSD helps children build strong bodies and minds that you will read about in this issue of the New Mexico Progress, NMSD as your state school, has built multiple systems to network with partners and allies that collectively make NMSD stable and strong so we can serve you.

NMSD annually sees a total of about 700 children in our programs and serves approximately 3,000 early childhood and K-12 educators across the state through trainings and workshops. Though we do want to collect data to ensure we are reaching all areas of the state in finding deaf and hard of hearing children, it’s not only the numbers that are important. We know that every data point is a story, is a child. We are committed to quality specialized services and working with determination, heart and spirit so that each story is a child who has the opportunity to “Dream, Explore, and Achieve”.

Con Alma,

Dr. Rosemary J. Gallegos 2

NEW STUDENTS AND STAFF

WELCOME TO NMSD! FARMINGTON PRESCHOOL

NEW STUDENTS ALBUQUERQUE PRESCHOOL

Minnie Brown

Adriel Baldonado

Jordon Valdes

Liam Clifton

Avalynn Huizar

Bret Menser, Jr.

Raheem West

Luis Whittmore II

Owen Wright

Jennifer Buehler

SANTA FE CAMPUS

ECE & Elementary front row from left: Lucas Lujan, River Mora, and Oliver Gutierrez. Back row from left: Mika Yates, Brody Keller, Elias Curley, and Aaron “Kai” Newell.

NEW STAFF

Amanda Graves

Tobias Jim

Eliana Hatch

From left: Nancy Shellcrosslee, Kristin Shaulis, Mark Lucero, and Mike Baker.

Middle & High School front row from left: Austin Haley, Zion Holmes, Santiago Lopez, Sirrah Wilding. Back row from left: Jarrod Burns, Dominic “Livia” Denney, and Sebastian Rivera-Carreon.

Sitting from left: Mack Davis, Sheila Kruis, Tony McGregor, Maureen Yates, Carl Denney, and Melinda Mainland. Middle row from left: John Papastathis, Michael Zamora, Suella Sidham, Ericka Allen, Alaska Williams, and Manny Griego, Jr. Standing from left: Kimm Wiens, Carla Martin, Jeni King, Stacy Wosika, Carmen Rodriguez, Sam Ramirez, and Dustin Moulder.

Sitting from left: Toby Trujillo and Francine Lucero. Standing from left: Suzanne Miley, Ruth Thelin, Kimberly Herrera, Dr. Dena Fahlquist, and Kathleen Aranda-Meyers.

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FEATURE

BUILDING STRONG BODIES AND MINDS

BY JODI STUMBO Education is not only about training the mind. It’s also about training the body. The many benefits of regular physical activity include building healthy bones and muscles, reducing the risk of disease and sickness, improving self-esteem, as well as reducing stress and anxiety. Physical activity also prepares our brains for long periods of concentration. Research shows that exercising increases oxygen and glucose levels in the brain resulting in greater stimulation of neural pathways, which can lead to increased student learning, as well as: • • • •

Improved attention Improved information processing, storage, and retrieval Enhanced coping skills Enhanced positive affect

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NMSD is committed to the well-being of its students and provides activities such as physical education classes, athletics, Forest Day Learning, bike riding program, afterschool and summer camp activities, physical therapy, and our strength and conditioning programs.

Physical Education (PE):

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At NMSD, we support the physical literacy of our students to create strong, independent and confident thinkers. PE provides an opportunity to teach students how to experience the world around them and support active engagement in all facets of school life.

Our pre-school, elementary, middle school, and high school classes all enjoy daily high-quality standards-based PE classes. Students engage in running and chasing games, jump roping, throwing and catching skills, striking, and other fitness related activities.

Athletics: NMSD believes athletics are an integral part of the school's NMSD believes athletics are an integral part of the school's educational program, providing experiences to help young people to grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. Students have the unique opportunity to fully participate in athletics and communicate directly with their coaches and teammates, from elementary school sports through high school.

Letty Perez, Director of Athletics, feels our athletic program instills values that lead to success through hard work, commitment, sacrifice, and preparedness. Athletics helps students develop better health, physical fitness, and improved motor skills. Athletics also promotes self-esteem, self-discipline, and the desire to excel.

Additionally, students develop a healthy respect for authority and respect for others, while learning the ideals of fair play. These values carry over into the classroom and lay the foundation for success in a student’s life.

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1: High School students Joshua Armendariz and LJ Hernandez stretching during PE class. 2: Jodi Stumbo, PE teacher, discussing the rate of exertion with Celeste Robles-Perez during an elementary PE class. 3: Middle School Flag Football team practice. 4: Varsity Volleyball team competing against CSDB during Homecoming.

FEATURE When asked why athletics is crucial to our school environment, Letty Perez explained: “One school. One family. We are NMSD!” Our athletics department is dedicated to creating strong student athletes who take pride in their athletics, academic life and their community.

Strength and Conditioning: Varsity athletes are given sport specific training programs to develop power and flexibility. Students spend 45 minutes twice weekly doing back squats, bench presses, and other weightlifting movements to increase their strength and to prevent injury. The student athletes enjoy seeing the results of their dedication in the weight room by jumping higher, running faster and longer, and winning more races and games.

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Bike Riding and Repair Program: Many students enjoy riding bikes across campus! Bike riding improves fitness and muscular strength as well as being a fun way to create strong bodies. Students also learn how to maintain their bikes, and do simple repairs. NMSD’s Bike Program Coordinator, Dennis Catron states, “It’s great that students understand bike mechanics and learn how to repair them as needed. Students use a variety of tools that employ their hand coordination skills. The bike program develops their sense of confidence as well.”

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Forest Day Learning: Forest Day learning (FDL) is an inquiry-based, emergent, and experiential approach to education that aligns with our Reggio Emilia philosophy in Early Childhood Education at NMSD. Students at our Albuquerque and Santa Fe Preschools participate in this program.

Marisa Soboleski, Coordinator of the program on our Santa Fe campus, shared, “Our students visit the forest on a weekly basis for the Forest Day Learning program. There we learn about the forest by hiking, running, and climbing. These physical activities spark a sense of wonder.”

Physical Therapy: 7

In Physical Therapy (PT), students work on increasing strength and balance through many different activities. The PT staff work with students on improving their motor skills, coordination, and overall increased flexibility. Students use their improved physical skills in school related activities such as climbing on the play structure at recess or participating in PE classes.

Student Life Afterschool: The Student Life Educators in NMSD’s residential cottages know how critical staying physically active is for students. With increased technology, many students opt for sedentary activities like working on laptops, iPads or playing Xbox. As a way to combat this, residential students have many opportunities to be active both indoor and outdoor. Students play games in the gym, ride bikes, swim at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center pool, and recently have begun attending yoga classes.

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5: From left: Jesus Rios-Peña, Efrim Rodarte-Estrada, Antonio Lopez, and Kieran Ercolino working out in NMSD’s Strength Training Center. 6: Some of NMSD’s youngest bike riders having a blast riding around campus. From left: Paul Van Gunten, Diego Rivera, Damian Quinonez, and Richard Nava. 7: Mika Yates running in the Santa Fe Forest during a Forest Day Learning outing. 8: Residential students participating in a yoga class.

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FEATURE Summer Camp Program: NMSD’s summer camp promotes hands-on experiential learning opportunities. It’s a place where academic and non-academic activities come together in fun and adventurous ways. Summer camp is designed to provide our students with outdoor activities, take safe risks, and challenge themselves via hiking, swimming, students to new ideas while increasing body awareness and overall strength and coordination.

Fueling Bodies: 9

Healthy eating is an important part of growing strong bodies and minds, so NMSD actively promotes healthy eating habits.

Some of the many ways we do this is through NMSD’s Nutrition Services, the Early Sprouts Program, and Santa Fe’s Cooking with Kids Program.

Nutrition Services: Our NMSD Nutrition Services department is responsible for fueling our student body with the healthy wholesome food they need to grow and learn. Menus have been revamped over the past few years to target this objective, and Nutrition Services Manager, Laurie Allocca, declared, “The meals and snacks carefully crafted by Nutrition Services are essential in helping our students grow strong bodies and strong minds!”

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Early Sprouts & Cooking with Kids: Both the Early Sprouts and Cooking with Kids Programs are geared towards educating and empowering children and families to make healthy food choices through hands-on experiences with fresh, affordable foods. Students are taught how to make wise choices and how to prepare healthy food using fresh ingredients. The Early Sprouts Program also supports students learning how to grow, harvest, and cook food gathered from NMDS’s orchard, gardens, and our aquaponic greenhouse.

Our garden has allowed students to cook with kale, basil, nasturtium, and chard. Students are currently planting root vegetables such as radishes, carrots, and garlic under cold covers. Other vegetables such as mint and amaranth grow in our greenhouse. We also recently harvested apples, plums, apricots, grapes, and other fruit from NMSD’s orchard. Some of the many wonderful recipes include spring rolls, smoothies, apple crisp, fruit salad, and butternut squash muffins. While students are exploring a rainbow of vegetables and fruits, they are learning about how to compost, mulch, save seeds, and plant crops that support the biodiversity in our ecosystem. It’s such a fun way to educate students on the connection between healthy food and healthy bodies!

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9: Middle school students enjoying a hike during summer camp. 10: Brenna Gonzales during the elementary cottage’s bi-weekly swim at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. 11: Marisa Soboleski and preschool students cooking green beans they harvested as part of the Early Sprouts Program. 12: Chanelle Hobbs and Aubrianna Baca tearing kale leaves during a Cooking with Kids activity.

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EARLY INTERVENTION & INVOLVEMENT DEPARTMENT

GETTING INVOLVED!

BY JOANNE CORWIN EIID at WREIC The Western Regional Early Intervention Conference (WREIC) supports both the families of children birth to five years old who are deaf/hard of hearing, deaf/blind, blind or visually impaired, and the professionals who work with them. WREIC has been in place for over 30 years, making it one of the longest ongoing early intervention conferences in the country.

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This year’s conference - held in Boulder, Colorado - was attended by more than 350 professionals and parents, representing more than 125 organizations, with NMSD’s Early Intervention and Involvement Department once again on the planning committee.

Staff members Betty Petersen, doctoral candidate and Early Development Specialist, and Emilie Wilding, Deaf Mentor Coordinator, shared a shared a fascinating joint presentation on Visual Attention Skills and Sign Language Acquisition: What We Can Learn from Deaf Parents. The conference also welcomed Joanne Corwin, EIID Director, as part of a closing Plenary session designed to implement change in early intervention practice.

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EIID Staff Co-Authors Book Southeast Regional Supervisor, Karla Jael Sanchez, is the co-author of a newly printed book about maximizing the potential for deaf and hard of hearing children and youth. Other notable contributors are Dr. Marilyn Sass-Lehrer and Dr. Aysha Castrillero Obaldia.

Ms. Sanchez’s chapter covers the importance of sign language for children who have received cochlear implants. The book is published in Spanish, and is now in use in Mexico.

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1: EIID staff members and conference attendees. Front row from left: Karla Jael Sanchez, Kacee Edmonds, Bettie Petersen, Mary Lambourne, Emily Wilding, and Kate Lee. Back row from left: Kristi Halus, Wendy Prouse, Joanne Corwin, and Lorraine Crespin. 2: Joanne Corwin presents at the closing Plenary session entitled, “Hiking Gear for Climbing New peaks in Early Intervention." 3: EIID staff enjoy lunch together. 4: The cover of the book co-authored by Karla Jael Sanchez.

5: Emilie Wilding describes the importance of early visual attention during her presentation. 6: Kristi Halus and Karla Sanchez at one of the conference sessions.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - ALBUQUERQUE & SANTA FE PRESCHOOLS

ALL IN THE FAMILY

BY ANGELA CORONA & SHA REINS This year our Early Childhood Education Department (ECE) renewed their commitment to building strong connections with families. Our path to achieving this goal include Baby Bunch playgroups and Family Days at our Santa Fe and Albuquerque campuses. Read below to discover fun new ways to build relationships with your child and NMSD! Baby Bunch Baby Bunch is designed for families with Deaf/Hard of Hearing children from birth to 18 months old. The program’s mission is to provide opportunities for families to share experiences, support, and learn together! Several times a week, families along with their babies meet with NMSD Developmental Specialists, teachers, and Speech-Language Pathologists to explore a variety of topics inspiring ASL learning as well as spoken language acquisition.

Babies enjoy spending time exploring various materials through their senses. We are also excited to share daily family activity ideas. If you have a baby with hearing loss, we invite you to check out our monthly flyers for upcoming topics and join us!

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1: Sha Reins reading to Violet Mora and Eden Li. 2: Developmental Specialist Jeni King, modeling the sign “WASH” with two babies during the ABQ Baby Bunch. 3: Grandmother holding the book while Althea MorningDove (mom) plays dress-up with daughter Arya Morningdove. 4: Teachers and family members come together to share stories. 5: Eden Li (right) discovering that Casper Van Gunten’s (left) toes are covered with mud!

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EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION - ALBUQUERQUE & SANTA FE PRESCHOOLS Family Days Several Fridays a month, our ECE departments hold Family Days.

We start by having family members, teachers, and Speech Language Pathologists get together over coffee and snacks to share questions, develop relationships, or learn about topics of interest.

Afterwards, the children and adults come together to explore a variety of concepts through investigation. The family members get to witness how their Deaf/Hard of Hearing child is doing at school as well as join them in meaningful activities.

Attending Family Days givens parents an opportunity to develop strong relationships with NMSD staff as well as sharing experiences with other parents or family members. We look forward to seeing you at our Family Days soon!

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6: Poking and Pinching Clay - So Much Fun! 7: Mom and Mika stirring up “cupcakes” in the mud kitchen! 8: Painting faces through plexiglass. 9: Jovon Clifton and son Liam looking at their faces in the mirror. 10: Jonathan Diaz-Tafolla and Felipe Gonzalez Jr. drawing emotions in shaving cream. 11: Allyson Rhatigan and daughter Leela drawing their faces on a mirror. 12: A table full of preschoolers and parents answering the question, “Can you draw a face to match your feelings?" 13: This ball - that ball! Oh My! Many balls to pick from! 14: From left: Allyson and Leela Rhatigan and Diana Berrigan and daughter Avalynn Huizar sharing stories about their painted faces.

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EARLY CHILDHOOD - FARMINGTON PRESCHOOL

YOGA AND EXERCISE IN PRESCHOOL: NOT A STRETCH!

BY MARY HELEN PEREZ Preschool students love to move, and move naturally! Their energy and enthusiasm are contagious! At the Farmington Preschool, we’ve introduced our students to various yoga inspired stretches. This has become a popular group activity, attracting students from other classes as well. Our students laugh and play while trying to get into poses. They love to look through our Yoga cards and pick their favorite poses, studying teachers and trying to match them. This builds muscle memory and mind body awareness.

On the playground, students also challenge themselves and push their bodies to master new skills. Students are fascinated by the monkey bars, and when they can’t reach, they push step stools and log stumps underneath. This is great problem solving! I observed a particularly unusual moment of concentration when Caisen Smith carefully placed the step stool under the monkey bars, stepped onto the stool and slowly stood up. He kept his balance and slowly extended his arms upwards to find the bar. The smile that spread across his face when he held on tight and lifted his feet off of the stool was priceless. He did it all by himself! Pushing the limits of what our bodies can do inspires confidence in both children and adults!

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1: Rya Dick and Teacher Mary Helen Perez challenge their sense of balance getting into tree pose. 2: Assistant Dawn Ward leads yoga during our Center Time. Rya Dick and Minnie Brown join in. 3: Rya Dick uses the step stools to reach the monkey bars. 4: Caisen Smith challenges himself on the monkey bars. 5: Caisen Smith pedaling the taxi trike independently. 6: Minnie Brown tackles the climbing wall on the playground. 7: Dawn Ward, Minnie Brown, Rya Dick in downward facing dog.

EARLY CHILDHOOD - LAS CRUCES PRESCHOOL

BODIES IN MOTION!

BY KIM BOYKIN Preschoolers are almost always in motion and NMSD preschools are no exception! It’s a good time to learn healthy habits that last a lifetime. At the Las Cruces Preschool, we recognize how important it is that our youngest students reap the benefits of lifelong proper nutrition and exercise.

As a result, we continue to study how to feed our bodies with healthy foods. We’re all engaged in the Early Sprouts curriculum, helping us stay mindful of nutritious meal and snack choices.

We’ve continued to try vegetable recipes and prepare food safely and properly. We’ve also grown our own vegetables so that we have a greater appreciation for the food we consume.

Preschoolers may have to be urged to try veggies, but they rarely have to be reminded to move. At the NMSD Las Cruces Preschool we provide numerous opportunities to develop better balance, strength, and endurance during play. The playgrounds allow students to experience rock walls, slides, webs, swinging bridges, ladders, and hanging bars. We also enjoy tricycles and scooters. Inside we dance, stretch, throw and catch bean bags, play with balls, and ride the tummy scooters we affectionately call “turtles.”

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Mesilla is a beautiful community town that provides many opportunities for walking field trips. It is always fun to visit our neighboring animal friends or use the town’s swings, teeter-totter, and merry-go-round. Building healthy bodies is as important as building healthy minds…and it’s super fun!

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1: Veronique Meza and Asher Molinar riding the “turtles” in the hallway. 2: Veronique Meza dancing to the beat Asher Molinar is playing on the drum. 3: From left: Asher Molinar, Aliaah Munoz, and Veronique Meza trying tomatoes with honey mustard and yogurt dipping sauce. 4: Asher Molinar smiles from the top of the play equipment outside at Mesilla Elementary. 5: Veronique Meza and Aliaah Munoz using their muscles to climb the circle web. 6: Veronique Meza balancing on both the stationary and moving toad stools.

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ELEMENTARY

EDUCATION PLUS EMPATHY

BY BONNY VIGIL As teachers, we understand that education is a multidimensional process that considers the whole child, not just reading, writing, or math skills. Educators have become increasingly aware of how important Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is for children, and the need to have SEL discussions and skills woven throughout a regular curriculum. The NMSD Elementary is committed to supporting students SEL development. Each class takes a different approach to addressing students’ individual levels and needs.

Ashley Collins and Jackie Martinez instruct one of the Elementary AC classes, teaching SEL skills through “Social Stories.” The stories are descriptions of age-appropriate situations students might encounter (For example: one child pushing another). Students are tasked with deciding how they would handle the same situation if it occurred.

They also use Discrete Trial Teaching to teach students the names of others in class, which leads naturally to Mand Training. Mand Training supports students in developing self-advocacy skills through asking informational questions to get answers from other adults in the environment that will then lead to reinforcement. These strategies scaffold the skills that students need in their daily lives, such as learning from the people in their environment and locations around them.

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Kim Burkholder uses SEL in her instruction of 1st and 2nd Grade ELA, working with her young students to build their vocabulary so that they can express themselves, socially and emotionally. Students have picture dictionaries with words in categories like colors, body parts, and family names. Additionally, the two classes have just finished making personal books that include sections on Personal Description, Home, My Family and Pets, Things I Do, and Most Important Thing About Me. This project is specifically designed by Kim to support the students’ expression of their feelings and build their self-esteem.

The 3rd Grade class has been reading various picture books with classroom themes. The characters experienced difficult situations, and the class discussed the characters feelings, the cause and effect of the character’s actions, and how they, as readers, felt reading about the situation. These discussions naturally led to personal experiences and the cause and effect relationship of real actions. We recently read “Hey, Little Ant!” In the book, a boy is about to step on an ant, but the ant talks to him and they realize the similarities they have. The end leaves the reader questioning whether or not the boy should step on the ant. This book brought about great discussions, and supported empathy for other creatures. Reading this book was a great way to support personal SEL development.

These are only a few of the ways we encourage Social and Emotional Learning!

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1: Jesse Jimenez showing off his finished book. 2: Kyra King-Morgan explains how the main character of the book feels. 3: Jesse Serrano-Martinez practicing name signs of students with one of his teachers, Jackie Martinez in a Discrete Trial Session. 4: Gabriella Flores putting the finishing touches on her page about where she lives.

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MIDDLE SCHOOL

SPACED OUT

BY JOHANNA SCHERLING What would a NASA astronaut’s navigational map of the galaxy look like? Our middle school students pondered this question when they teamed up and created several galaxy and solar system maps for a recent Earth and Solar System unit.

Students incorporated their creativity, artistic abilities and their knowledge of individual planets and our solar system to design vivid and colorful posters. They used their math knowledge to scale planets and provide accurate map information. They also researched the distance between each planet and the sun.

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While artistic expression was important for the project, students also investigated reliable internet sources for ideas on how to design and scale the Milky Way and solar system. Their work is proudly posted in the middle school hallway and the science classroom.

Phenix Hastings, a 7th grader shared, “I was surprised at how hard it is to make sure all of the planets are the right size.” Santiago Lopez, a 6th grader enthused, “I learned that the sun is only a small part of our galaxy and our planet is even smaller.” Angelique Quinonez, another 7th grader said, “I learned so much about the Milky Way galaxy and how gravity holds our solar system in place.” Students agreed that this project sent them all into orbit!

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1: Alex Wilding and Santiago Lopez are pleased with their teamwork. 2: Phenix Hastings and Livia Denney chatting about the Solar System poster they’ve created. 3: From left: Livia Denney, Serenity Hardy, Julian Aranda-Sotelo and Angelique Quinonez painting pictures of planets. 4: Julian Aranda-Sotelo and teacher Johanna Scherling discussing the diameter of several planets. 5: Ruben Apodaca reading up on the Solar System. 6: Jovi Melendez researching planets on her laptop. 7: Sirrah Wilding and Adrien Ercolino creating a stunning picture of the Milky Way.

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HIGH SCHOOL

SHAKESPEARE ON THE WALL

BY LAURIE ANDERSON & CHEYENNA WILDING “But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?” For Shakespeare’s Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, it was his Juliet who brought him light. But for our High School English reading class students, visiting" A Gallery Somewhere" shed light onto their Shakespearean experience.

Recently, students had the chance to visit the “Shakespeare on the Wall” exhibit at Santa Fe’s "A Gallery Somewhere". The excursion was inspired by their reading of Romeo and Juliet as well as reading about William Shakespeare’s life and the impact he had on the English language. The gallery displayed art about Shakespeare’s plays by many local artists. Artistic renderings included a hologram echoing the guilty hands of Macbeth, shadow boxes depicting unique mother characters from Shakespeare’s plays, and a myriad collection of sketches, paintings, digital drawings (and even shower curtains) interpreting Shakespearean scenes and themes. Curators also shared knowledge with students about Shakespeare, his writing, and the multitude of venues by which he is remembered, honored, and celebrated in Santa Fe - including Shakespearean reading groups and theater.

As a post-learning activity, the students created their own art via thank-you notes to send to the curators of the gallery. Visiting "A Gallery Somewhere" helped students articulate learning points about Shakespeare and his writing through artistic expression.

We are thankful to the many Santa Fe artistic “windows,” where galleries and events help infuse student creativity, evoke curiosity, and solidify their learning beyond the classroom. Observing the many artistic colors, shapes, and lines shed light onto one of the most formidable writers in history, while brightening our own educational windows at NMSD!

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1: Shakespeare Art cards: Students’ beautiful thank-you cards that were sent on to curators of "A Gallery Somewhere". 2: Victoria Rose Baca meticulously adding finishing touches to her thank-you note. 3: Students and staff absorb interesting facts about the artists and their work displayed at "A Gallery Somewhere".

(Seated in the front row from left to right: Bria Vigil, Mya Malone, Stacy Vargas, Andrea Leyba, Victoria Rose Baca, and Bruce Jr. Brewer. Standing in the back from left to right: Jeremiah Reed, Cheyenna Wilding, and Jarrod Burns.) 4: Jeremiah Reed creating an artistic interpretation of Shakespeare’s impact on writing and the English language after reading a biographical text about William Shakespeare’s life. 5: Kieran Vollmar working on his artistic interpretation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet for his thank-you note.

HARVEST DAY

RIPE FOR THE PICKING!

BY JOSIE ABBENANTE Fall is here, and students and staff members at NMSD celebrated the season with our annual Harvest Day event.

Everyone helped to prepare for the big day. Job Prep Program students went apple-picking in the orchard early enough for Nutrition Services to prepare a special apple dessert. They also picked apples for our Early Childhood students to wash and drop them into thecider presses. Elementary, Middle, and High School students picked their own apples and helped make cider.

Our maintenance team prepared the orchard and cider presses, our Sustainability Committee planned and prepared additional activities, and classroom teachers educated students about harvesting.

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We also discussed climate change, as our Harvest Day event coincided with the International Climate Strike across the globe. Students from elementary through high school created signs about caring for the earth and posted them in the orchard. An understanding about the causes and consequences of climate change was woven into the fabric of NMSD Harvest Day. Apples were abundant, and cider poured through the presses for several hours as students and staff enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

Friday lunch was met with a lovely apple pie dessert. A delicious and meaningful harvest was had by all!

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1: From left: Mateo Perez, Rianza Ercolino, and Tyshawn Pablo wash apples to be pressed into delicious cider. 2: Adrian Fernandez watches Sirrah Wilding as she acts out the word “tree� during a game of charades middle schoolers played with teacher Cindy Timlen. Other middle schoolers play corn hole with teacher John Jarrett. 3: Amador Corral places the sign he made for the Climate Strike into the ground. 4: From left: Emma Lozada, Mika Yates, Summer Holdridge, Kai Newell, Liam Mohan-Litchfield, and Sherry Mohan pressing apples into cider. 5: Jesse Haley, Mark Ramirez and Jayden Vacher enjoy yummy apples and cider.

6: From left: Joshua Armendariz, Ricardo Salmon-Medina, and Antonio Lopez pick apples so that students in our Early Childhood and Elementary programs can wash and press them into cider.

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TRANSITION

SKILLFUL TRANSITIONS

BY JESSE WOOSLEY

Skills Training Programs at NMSD An essential part of NMSD’s transition services are the links we help students make with real-world and practical experiences via valuable partnerships with organizations and programs in the community. These include participating in engaging curriculums, paid work, certification and skills training, opportunities for leadership, as well as applying self-advocacy skills. Youth seem to show deepened levels of self-awareness and an increased sense of self-determination and motivation when they are engaged in experiences designed to evoke inner potential. Over the past summer and recent fall, our students benefited from experiences with Assistance Dogs of the West and Rocky Mountain Youth Corps. The NM-Division of Vocational Rehabilitation also plays an important role in supporting our youth through coordinating available funding with pre-employment transition services.

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Assistance Dogs of the West (ADW) The ADW organization focuses on nurturing and developing the ability for dogs and humans to work together. A large part of ADW’s work is also about “encouraging youth leadership.” As part of this mission, ADW partnered with NMSD students to learn skills to teach facility dogs in therapeutic practices, drug treatment centers, college campuses, and judicial districts. The team was headed

by Canine Assisted Leadership Crew (CALC) Supervisor, Denise Dumesil, with student crew members Andrea Leyba, Monica Chavez, Bria Vigil, Jesus Rios-Pena, Sophia Martinez, Kieran Ercolino and Kieran Vollmar - and Melanie Welborn acting as Communication Coordinator. As part of the Canine Assisted Leadership Crew (CALC), our students discovered how to build resumes and administer first aid/CPR. Students also learned ADW’s tenet for “fostering compassion as the hallmark of leadership and positive social change.” Two NMSD seniors, Monica and Andrea, were hired as Assistant Crew Supervisor to help run a year-round CAL-Crew and bring the unique aspect of ASL to working with dogs. We are excited to be a part of the growing awareness that deaf youth are valuable assets - and very capable of making important contributions to society.

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1: Back row from left: Yuri Manchester-Jones, Jamie Vargas, Eve Core, Tessa Adams, Denise Dumesil, Elias Roybal, and Liz Withers. Middle row from left: Melanie Wellborn, Bria, Feliz Peralta-Pino, Monica Chavez, and Jesse Woosley. Front row from left: Jesus Rios-Pena, Kieran Vollmar, Sophia Martinez, and Andrea Leyba. Dogs left to right: Emerson, Trakr, Stubbs, Patti, and Carmel. Not pictured: Kieran Ercolino. 2: Andrea Leyba and Kieran Vollmar give Trakr a bath.

3: Kieran Ercolino rewards Carmel with a belly rub after their hard work.

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TRANSITION Rocky Mountain Youth Corps (RMYC) This past summer was our third year of partnering with RMYC to provide NMSD youth with work and life-skills training. This year’s crew, Crew #13, consisted of Supervisor Daniel Timlen and students, Antonio Lopez, Julio Portillo, Nthabeleng MacDonald, Joshua Armendariz, Jeremy Baldonado, Mariah Garcia, and Marlin Toledo. Students worked for eight weeks on restoration of public and state lands, including the school’s orchard, Pecos National Monument, Valle de Oro Wildlife Refuge, and Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Our next-door neighbor, Railyard Park, also partnered with us so that our students could serve as “interpretative” guides to share with community members information on the Acequia Madre, bee habitats, composting, native plants and waffle gardens.

Youth crew members receive training to help them prepare for independence and success in the future. Students earn scholarship money through AmeriCorps to apply to postsecondary training opportunities. It’s estimated that in our three years of partnership with RMYC, our students have earned $40,000 of scholarship money. Most importantly, students walk away from their experience with a stronger sense of self-confidence, determination, and pride of their community work.

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4: Antonio Lopez and fellow teammates work on clearing the troughs in the Railyard Park’s Heritage Waffle Garden, fed by the Acequia Madre. 5: Crouching from left: Nthabeleng MacDonald and Marlin Toledo. Standing from left: Joshua Armendariz, Dan Timlen, Mariah Garcia, Julio Portillo, Jeremy Baldonado, and Antonio Lopez. 6: RYMC crew members Mariah Garcia and Nthabeleng MacDonald at the Railyard Park where they are working on replacing old rotted logs with new ones. 7: RMYC ASL Inclusion Crews #13 and Crew #9 from Albuquerque get together to warm up for a day of fun work and training. 8: The crew improving the pathways through NMSD’s orchard.

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MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

¡VIVA MÉXICO!

BY TANIA DELGADILLO-PEREZ

The NMSD Mexican Independence Day celebration began with a desire to celebrate NMSD student’s multicultural background, and has become a beloved tradition. It’s an opportunity for families to spend a few hours making Spanish and American Sign Language the primary languages of communication. It’s grown to require a committee to oversee the planning since the celebration involves many parents, students, staff, and alumni. This year we welcomed the support of two NMSD mothers in food-planning, decorations, layout - one of whom even served (along with her son) as Master of Ceremonies!

Our celebration began at the James A. Little Theatre with a performance of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico (ASFBF) as well as a mini history lesson from NMSD 5th grader Isac Velo-Tarin and his mother, Blanca Tarin. Isac and Blanca explained how Mexico declared independence from Spain. Colorfully costumed ASFBF dancers delighted us with different dances from Mexican regions. Seven of our elementary school students triumphantly closed the night by performing a traditional indigenous dance called Matachines.

The students, who had practiced this sacred dance since the beginning of the school year, guided the crowd from the theater to a pavilion next to the soccer field, where a feast was ready to be served!

Baking dishes filled to the brim with mole, pozole, rice, beans, and many other traditional Mexican foods tempted hungry families, with pitchers of aguas frescas to quench their thirst. Finally, our elementary students smashed a piñata - followed by middle school and high school students who broke their own piñatas! We can’t wait to celebrate again next year!

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1: Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico delight the audience. 2: From left: Blanca Tarin, Isac Velo-Tarin, and Efraín Rodríguez. Isac explain how Mexico won independence from Spain. 3: NMSD students perform a traditional indigenous dance called Matachines. 4: Jeremiah Reed get set to hit the pinata! 5: Everyone enjoyed a delicious dinner featuring traditional Mexican food such as rice, beans, chicken mole, quesadillas, chile rellenos, flan, tres leche cake and more!

6: From left: Angel Sanchez, Isac Velo-Tarin, Mateo Perez, Neveah Garcia, Julian Aranda-Sotelo, Wendy Fuentes, and Ulises Aranda-Sotelo with Mauricio Lopez - Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Folklórico performers who worked with our students on learning their dance.

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MULTICULTURAL EDUCATION

POETRY IN MOTION

BY SCOTT VOLLMAR

Last October we were lucky to have the chance to meet Diego Morales, a Deaf poet from Argentina. He and his colleague, Dr. Rocio Martinez, were invited to visit the University of New Mexico (UNM) via funding from the Latin American and Liberian Institute. The primary purpose of the visit was to provide a colloquium at UNM, where Diego shared his journey as a poet.

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Dr. Sherman Wilcox, Chair of UNM’s Linguistic Department, accompanied Diego and Dr. Martinez to NMSD, where they toured the campus and met with students. Diego shared information about himself, Argentina, and his poetry. He also taught students the Argentinian alphabet, numbers and some Argentinian signs.

It was a fascinating visit, and our students and staff were excited to learn more about Diego and his experience as a Deaf poet.

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1: From left: Dr. Sherman Wilcox, Dr. Rocio Martinez and Diego Morales tour the NMSD campus with Shira Grabelsky. 2: Diego explains to students where Argentina is on a globe. 3: Diego takes a moment to snap a group photo with students. 4: Elementary students were so excited to meet Diego! 5: Diego introduces himself to High School students. 6: Diego shows students how to sign numbers in his native language. 7: Diego shows middle school students how to sign the alphabet in Argentinian Sign Language.

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LITERARY ARTS – A FEAST FOR THE EYES

THE EYES HAVE IT!

BY SCOTT VOLLMAR This was the 15th year NMSD hosted the annual “Feast for the Eyes.”

This popular American Sign Language (ASL) literary event invites students and NMSD personnel to perform their favorite ASL story live. We were excited to welcome guest performer extraordinaire, Justin Perez, who has won international fame for his work in Visual Vernacular. He also hosted a series of wonderful workshops on Visual Vernacular for all of our students. Visual Vernacular is an ASL literature genre emphasizing the use of body and non-manual expressions to tell the story along with the gestures and signs. The students and staff thoroughly enjoyed his work in both the event and workshops!

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1: Justin Perez and Liam Mohan-Litchfield creating a Visual Vernacular about a buffalo. Justin is signing “buffalo’s face” and Liam is signing “buffalo’s ears.”

2: Justin Perez demonstrating how to use ASL handshapes in storytelling. 3: Aniesa Gomez & Joel Mejia working with Justin Perez on their upcoming performance.

4: Tyshawn Pablo and fellow second graders portraying an elephant using Visual Vernacular. 5: Justin Perez explaining Visual Vernacular to high school students.

6: Martina Rodarte-Estrada transformed into a little squirrel who is afraid of a wolf. 7: Sebastian Rivera-Carreon and his classmates copying Justin Perez during a short skit about Buzz Lightyear during the middle school workshop.

LITERARY ARTS – A FEAST FOR THE EYES

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8: Everyone was on the edge of their seats as Henrick Catron told his ghost story using ASL Classifiers. 9: Angelique Quinonez and her ABC Poem about playing volleyball. 10: Tavian Plonski and Kane Wilding had everyone laughing during their funny ASL Twister. 11: Shira Grabelsky's powerful ASL Poem “Truth” moved the audience deeply. 12 Mary Lynn Bransford captivating attendees’ imagination during her Narrative, “Indian Bracelet.” 13: Visual Vernacular extraordinaire, Justin Perez, taking everyone on a magical journey in the retelling of the movie, Toy Story. 14: During her ASL Poem, Nevaeh Garcia utilized four ASL handshapes to tell her story about playing basketball. 15: Mya Malone performing a 1 - 10 Number Story about dinosaurs. 16: Olivia Haley and Stacy Vargas performing “The Morning Routine”, a Group Narrative about getting ready for school. Olivia is singing in the shower, depicted by Stacy. 17: Using the numbers 1 - 15, Bruce Brewer, Jr. celebrates the 15th anniversary of NMSD’s “Feast For the Eyes.” 18: Levi Anderson entertaining everyone with tales of his journey abroad and how he used international sign language along the way. 19: Jimmy Litchfield tells a joke, “Timber” utilizing the handshapes A to Z. 20: Master ceremonies Mike Baker welcoming everyone to the Feast for the Eyes, while Scott Vollmar shows off the beautiful T-shirt design. 21: Using Personification, Phenix Hasting had the audience guessing what she was. So fun seeing her personify a paint brush! 22: Grayson Lobato utilizing ASL Classifiers during his piece, “Fun Monster.”

23: Kimora Vollmar and her Personal Narrative Smash Face about an adventure she had traveling on a plane with her mom and brother. 24: Roddy Cabbage had everyone in stitches, and hungry, during his “Colossal Beef Burger” Narrative!

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STUDENT LIFE – ATHLETICS

FALL SEASON VARSITY VOLLEYBALL

VARSITY FOOTBALL

Front row from left: Victoria Baca, Monica Chavez, Mya Malone, and Andrea Leyba. Middle row from left: Assistant Coach Joi Holsapple, Emily Begay, Stacy Vargas, Sophia Martinez, Bria Vigil, and Head Coach Letty Perez. Back row: Manager Waylon Lopez.

From left: Head Coach James Litchfield III, Manager Zachery Reed, Adrien Ercolino, John "LJ" Hernandez, Jesus Rios-Pena, Kieran Vollmar, Antonio Lopez, Luis Villalobos, Bruce Brewer, Jr., Lathaniel Williams, Efrim Rodarte-Estrada, Jeremiah Reed, and Assistant Coach Abe Martinez.

Not pictured: Kieran Ercolino and Julio Portillo.

GO ROADRUNNERS!

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MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

MIDDLE SCHOOL FLAG FOOTBALL

From left: Assistant Coach, Isabelle Natalie, Sirrah Wilding, Tori Stumbo, Jovi Melendez, Serenity Adams, Claire Stephens, Angelique Quinonez, Phenix Hastings, Precious Jones, and Head Coach Jodi Stumbo.

From left: Head Coach Emilio Garcia, Jayden Vacher, Joseph Rodriguez, Santiago Lopez, Alex Gonzalez-Lopez, DeAngelo Frank, Adrien Ercolino, Zachary Nichols, Zion Holmes, Jesse Haley, Luis Gonzalez, Adrian Fernandez, and Assistant Coach Dustin Moulder.

STUDENT LIFE – ATHLETICS

FALL SEASON ACADEMIC BOWL

Kneeling from left: Bruce Brewer Jr., and Monica Chavez. Standing from left: Assistant Coach Scott Vollmar, Kieran Vollmar, Adam Rylee, Jarrod Burns, and Head Coach Carrie Nichols.

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS BUFF DIVISION

From left: Head Chaperone John Jarrett, Adrien Ercolino, Santiago Lopez, Jovi Melendez, Alex Wilding, Sirrah Wilding, and Assistant Chaperone Shira Grabelsky.

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS GREEN DIVISION

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS BLUE DIVISION

From left: Head Chaperone John Jarrett, Adrian Fernandez, Phenix Hastings, Angelique Quinonez, Soniya Vigil, and Assistant Chaperone Shira Grabelsky.

From left: Head Chaperone John Jarrett, Jesse Crespin, Jodi Haley, Kimora Vollmar, and Assistant Chaperone Shira Grabelsky.

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STUDENT LIFE – ATHLETICS

HOMECOMING

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1: Having great fun supporting our athletes during NMSD’s Homecoming pep rally! 2: Sophia Martinez setting up the ball. 3: NMSD Royalty Court from left: Freshmen Bria Vigil and Efrim Rodarte-Estrada, Sophomores Bruce Brewer Jr. and Martina Rodarte-Estrada, Juniors Jarrod Burns and Victoria Baca, and Seniors Monica Chavez and Mya Malone. 4: Luis Villalobos on the run towards a touchdown! 5: Athletic Director Letty Perez introducing NMSD’s football team. 6: Martina Rodarte-Estrada signing the National Anthem at the Varsity Girls volleyball game.

She also signed the Anthem at the football game. 7: Homecoming referee (and Alumni) Ronnie Milliorn with the Chain Crew, Mitchel Curtis and Roddy Cabbage. 8: LJ Hernandez drumming up enthusiasm with the Roadrunner flag during the varsity volleyball game. 9: Some of our youngest fans!

CENTER FOR EDUCATIONAL CONSULTATION & TRAINING

EXPANSION OF STATEWIDE SUPPORT FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF

BY CINDY HUFF The Center for Educational Consultation and Training (CECT) has had a variety of names since its inception in 1994. For sixteen years, the statewide team was made up of Teachers of the Deaf. In 2010, the AmeriCorps Sign Language Teacher Program was launched, adding an important new element to the department’s programming. CECT continues to expand outreach services and a new school year brings two new positions to the team and to the state!

Carla Martin has had a long-time interest in sign language and through the years worked with a number of Deaf and hard of hearing students as a Speech Language Pathologist (SLP) in Moriarty Edgewood School District.

She was also responsible for much of the amplification technology used by these students. Carla is the newest member of the CECT team, serving as the Statewide Speech Language Consultant. This position was recently created to provide additional support to educational teams statewide; working with Deaf and hard of hearing students who primarily use spoken language.

During the first year in her position, Carla is working half-time as an SLP in NMSD’s school program in Santa Fe. This direct service to students and professional interaction with NMSD’s instructional team is the perfect training opportunity for Carla to become immersed in her new role. As the year progresses, Carla will begin traveling in the state and identifying the supports that will benefit school districts. Training and technical assistance will grow over time from input and partnership with district stakeholders.

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Lena Stavely has been a long-standing member of NMSD’s Interpreting Team. Lena has joined the CECT Team as the Statewide Educational Interpreting Consultant. For the last two years, Lena’s interpreting position had a percentage of her time devoted to training and mentorship. She, along with a support team, implemented Pathways to Partnership, an individualized mentorship program for provisionally licensed K-12 interpreters in multiple school districts. During the past two summers, Lena designed and facilitated Interpreter Intensive, a three-day training strategically placed between CECT’s two ASL Immersion events. With Lena’s support and vision, CECT will have the capacity to grow training and technical assistance for New Mexico’s K-12 Interpreting Community.

CECT’s work continues to evolve and grow…stay tuned!

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1: Carla Martin using a speech device during a social language activity with Angelyna Santistevan and Chanelle Hobbs. 2: Carla Martin and other team members at an IEP meeting. 3: Carla Martin working with Adrian Fernandez and Alex Wilding on expanding written language skills. 4: Lena Stavely and other NMSD’s Interpreting Team members during a training. 5: Lena Stavely interpreting during NSMD’s annual St. Patrick’s Fundraising Dinner. 6: Lena Stavely providing long-distance mentoring to a rural interpreter.

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ALUMNI

ALUMNI IN ACTION!

BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE Alumni hold a very special place in the hearts of NMSD, and many alumni think of NMSD as their home. It is a place where they grew up, gained an education, made life-long friends and have fond memories of. Nthabeleng MacDonald, Class of 2019, shares below 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 2018 when I was 17 years old.

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What town were you from? I moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico from New Orleans/ Baton Rouge, Louisiana in July 2019.

Who were your best friends while at school? My best friend while at NMSD was Mya Malone. She is amazing and she helped me get through my senior year when I was a new student.

What was your favorite subject when at NMSD? My favorite subject was English. I love to read and write. In my English class, I read a lot of wonderful books, wrote several research papers, and participated in numerous writing projects that involved critical thinking discussions with my classmates. The course was challenging and I learned a lot from my instructor Laurie Anderson.

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Who was your favorite teacher(s) or staff person(s) and why? There were many that I admired but my favorite teachers were Laurie Anderson, Daniel Timlen and Jesse Woosley.

My favorite Student Life staff were Isabella Natalie and Caitlin Velasquez. My favorite school counselors were Joi Holsapple and Jennifer Harrison. And of course, my favorite coach was Letty Perez. All of these individuals people pushed me to try my hardest and as a result, I succeeded in so many ways. I would not be where I am now without them and NMSD as a whole.

What are your fondest memories while a student at NMSD? My fondest memories while at NMSD was getting to know everyone in such a short amount of time! I played volleyball, basketball, and track & field and I had such grand times with my teammates, who were also my friends. We traveled a lot for athletic events and Academic Bowl and we made so many wonderful memories together. They will always be unforgettable.

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What year did you graduate from NMSD? I graduated in June of 2019.

After you graduated, what college and profession did you go into? I am currently at Gallaudet University and I’m studying Psychology. My goal is to become a psychologist and open up my own clinical practice for Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients with mental health illnesses.

In what ways have you stayed connected with NMSD? I’ve stayed connected to NMSD by keeping in touch with my friends who are still there, and I’ve been sending updates to staff. Though I only attended NMSD for one year, it felt like I had been at NMSD forever. I accomplished a lot in one year! NMSD is amazing and I had such a tremendous support system of friends and staff. I am blessed and if asked what the best day of my life was, I’d say the days I spent at NMSD were the best days of my life. I will keep in touch with my NMSD family the rest of my lifetime.

What are you currently up to in your life? Since enrolling at Gallaudet University, I’ve met so many new and wonderful people. I’ve made a circle of loving and supportive friends. I am involved in several organizations such as intramural volleyball and debate club. I work at the Bison Dream Cafe as a part-time baker. I sightsee in D.C. often and I hope to travel more! I look forward to see what Gallaudet has in store for me over the next four years.

I have a lot to learn ahead of me, will continue to meet new people, learn more about myself, my studies, and the world along the way. I was warmly welcomed in the NMSD family and I thank everyone who made my time at NMSD so special. It was a true blessing to attend this school as it opened many doors for me and NMSD will always hold a special place in my heart and I will cherish my time there forever. Finally, “Once a Roadrunner, always a Roadrunner! Go, Roadrunners!”

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1: Nthabeleng and her Academic Bowl teammates and coaches at the National Competition held at Gallaudet University. 2: After giving a wonderful speech during last year’s Optimist Club’s Oratorical Competition, Nthabeleng won first place and received a college scholarship from the club. 3: Nthabeleng was a valued teammate on the Varsity Girls Volleyball team. 4: Sharing wise words of inspiration with her fellow NMSD Class of 2019 graduates. 5: Nthabeleng at Gallaudet University.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

SUPPLYING SUPPORT

BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE NMSD was recently touched by the warm-hearted generosity of new donor Sherri Musgrove, the mother of an adult deaf daughter.

Sherri is currently working on a temporary assignment in New Mexico, and she wanted to make a difference. She reached out to us to donate school supplies, backpacks, toys, socks, and toiletries.

Shortly after, “Santa” Sherri arrived on campus with an awe-inspiring carload full of new items for students! We immediately transferred the school supplies in the hands of our teachers and students, and the toys, socks, and toiletries into our Student Life Program Elementary cottages. Spiffy backpacks are now available for students who need them!

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We are beyond grateful that kind individuals like Sherri care about our school in such meaningful ways. Thank you for making a difference in our student’s lives!

VISION QUEST 2

BY KERI-LYNN MCBRIDE This past fall the Santa Fe Capital City Lions Club once again organized vision screening of all NMSD students. The Lions Club’s “KidSight” screening is held at all Santa Fe schools, and continues to be invaluable in identifying students who require further vision services.

Lions Club Co-President, Buck Rackley, and club members, Rose and Tom Himrod, came to NMSD to conduct the full day student screening. They shared that eighty percent of all visual impairment can be prevented or cured. The first step is awareness, and the second step is early detection through vision screening. This is such an important service the club provides!

The NMSD Community is grateful for our partnership and good friends at the Lions Club!

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1: Tyr Thrower sporting his new dinosaur backpack! 2: Maribeth Schneider and Kimm Wiens organize the donated personal items. 3: Middle school students check out their new supplies. 4: Sirrah Wilding has her vision screened by the team. 5: From left: Lions Club members Buck Rackley and Tim Himrod conduct vision screening on a student with support from Interpreter Stephanie Armijo-Anderson and NMSD’s Head Nurse, Lisa Vigil. 6: Sherri Musgrove and friend, Sherri Poindexter, drop off donated goodies.

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE - DELGADO HALL

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1. NMSD’s Interpretation Department’s new office. 2. A display in the lobby of Delgado Hall. 3. Superintendent Gallegos in her beautiful office.

4. A side view of Delgado Hall. 5. A view of the other side of Delgado Hall. 6. A view of the backside of Delgado Hall.

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – CARTWRIGHT HALL

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1: Front entrance to Cartwright Hall. 2: One of the common room kitchens that can be used to prepare group meals by families that are part of NMSD’s Family Housing Program. 3: NMSD’s Housekeeping Department’s office. 4: One of the new apartment’s kitchens. 5: A view of the back side of Cartwright Hall. 6: Counting down at the ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the Delgado Hall and Cartwright Hall renovation project.

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. 110 / Issue 1 / Summer/Fall 2019-20

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 & Kathy Glyer. Designed by Hollie Fleming.