Schools closed Tuesday, but board will meet
Santa Fe Public Schools facilities will be closed Tuesday for Election Day, and many schools will double as polling sites. However, the Board of Education will meet that evening at 5:30 p.m. at the Educational Services Center, 610 Alta Vista St. Among the agenda items: Visit www.sfps.info and click on the “board of education” link for more information.
State of the school address set for Thursday
Superintendent Veronica García is scheduled to give the annual State of the Schools address from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Santa Fe Community Convention Center on Marcy Street in downtown Santa Fe.
New Mexico’s teacher evaluation system gets high marks
The National Council on Teacher Quality cited New Mexico as having one of the best teacher-evaluation systems in the country in a new report released last week. That system, implemented in 2012-13, uses a number of measures, including student growth patterns, a teacher’s classroom style, planning and professionalism and attendance.
“New Mexico is an example to other states who may be uncertain about protecting research-based teacher quality initiatives,” Kate Walsh, the organization’s president, said in a statement.
Earlier this year, the Public Education Department released updated teacher evaluation data that said that more than 75 percent of New Mexico’s teachers reached the top three levels — effective, highly effective or exemplary — of the five-tier system. That was a slight increase from last year.
Community college hosts veterans appreciation event
Santa Fe Community College holds a Veterans and Family Appreciation Day from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursday in the Jemez Rooms of the administrative building, located on the campus at 6401 Richards Ave. The event will include information booths on new benefits and programs for vets, live music and a breakout information session. For information call 505-428-1305.
Nina Otero looking for reading coaches
Nina Otero Community School is starting an Early Readers Program from 7 to 7:55 a.m. Monday through Thursday, targeting first-, second- and third-graders who are close to reading at grade level but still need some help. The program is looking for volunteers for one to four mornings per week. A teacher will oversee the program and volunteers will play reading games and support a child or two by reading aloud with them. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Sabra Romero at saromero@sfps.k12.nm.us.
Luna Community College seeks food and winter clothing
Luna Community College’s STEM Club is asking for help providing Thanksgiving dinners and winter clothing donations, including coats, for needy students.
“Our goal is to provide 25 Thanksgiving dinners and collect as many coats as we can, which will be given out to Luna students,” said Jake Taylor, president of the STEM Club. “If we have any items left after giving these out to Luna students, we will reach out to any community members in need.”
The STEM Club has placed 12 donation bins around campus. For more information, call Taylor at 505-652-9219 or e-mail him at jake.taylor@student.luna.edu.
Highlands offers new fine arts degree
New Mexico Highlands University will begin offering a Master of Fine Arts degree in Media Arts and Cultural Technology. Interested students can begin accessing the application for the program at www.nmhu.edu in December. Miriam Langer, media arts and technology department chair, said in a statement that the program “will lead to a terminal degree focused on a constantly evolving field at the intersection of digital media, computer networks, and cultural and scientific content.”
State launches new school grades website
New Mexico’s Public Education Department has set up a new online portal to help families and parents access school grades. This interactive website — NMschoolgrades.com — is designed to help visitors understand how schools are serving their students.
The website will provided visitors with information about student performance, population and attendance and also show previous years’ ratings. Schools are graded on an A-F measure determined by a complex range of measures, including graduation rates, student performance on standardized tests, student attendance and parental involvement in schools.
Charter school adding ninth grade
The MASTERS Program, a dual-credit charter school housed on the campus of Santa Fe Community College currently serving students in grades 10-12, is accepting ninth-graders for the 2019-20 school year. The school plans to take 40 ninth-graders in for the autumn 2019 semester. Visit the school’s website, www.tmp.santafe.org, for information and a lottery application.
