Santa Fe Public Schools

We arrive today at El Camino Real Academy (ECRA) named for the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro or “Royal Road of the Interior” which is the earliest Euro-American trade route in the US that spans 3 centuries, 2 countries, and 1,600 miles. This historic trail travels from Mexico City to the San Juan Pueblo just north of the former capital of New Spain that is our city of Santa Fe. The Camino Real was a corridor that bred an exchange of cultures, languages, and ideas and its spirit lives on with the dynamic program offerings of the Academy bearing its name. Some of these are: • Being the only International Spanish Academy in New Mexico • Dual language studies for PreK through 8th grade • 21st Century after school program for K-6th • AVID programs from elementary through middle school • Ballet Folklorico, ArtSmart, the STEM Club and Santa Fe Youth Symphony • Cooking with Kids • Band, choir, piano, guitar, drama, and art Traveling the Camino Real today is a scenic and nationally recognized journey of back roads and numerous visitor sites. Keeping with this theme, the Wildcats’ middle school students are benefitting from a donation of Strider bike fleets, provided through a partnership between SFPS’ Sustainability Office and Free Bikes 4 Kidz New Mexico that includes integrating bicycle/pedestrian safety classes through the school’s physical education programs. ECRA is a focus school for the City of Santa Fe’s new Safe Routes to School program since over a third of students can walk or bike a short distance for their commute.

We touch down today at another of the south-side Santa Fe Schools with Sweeney Elementary. This school named after Robert Sweeney – an educator of 43 years, an athletic director, a coach and a member of the Santa Fe School Board for 18 years, spending 12 as the President. Sweeney Cougars pride themselves on a commitment to inclusiveness and diversity with their vast group of international students and many support programs such as: • A 50:50 bilingual model that gives students the opportunity to become fluent in English and Spanish • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) offerings • The GLAD instructional model for English language development • The ReadyGEN English language arts curriculum and a bi-literacy reading program • Student Council, Chess Club, Robotics, MathAmigos, National Dance Institute (NDI) • Cooking with Kids - which educates and empowers children and families to make healthy food choices through hands-on learning with fresh, affordable foods • Jump Rope for Heart • UNM School of Medicine--Eat Smart to Play Hard Program • Operation Outreach • Pennies for Patients • The LANL Foundation’s Inquiry Science Education Consortium • Strings in our Schools • FACT (Fine Arts for Children & Teens) • The Foster Grandparent program • 21st Century after school program • Plus - boys and girls basketball, cheer, swimming, guitar classes, violin classes, band and choir Sweeney Elementary is a primary example of the integration of our Santa Fe Public Schools curriculum matched with advanced programs that provide students with all the tools necessary for success! To learn more about Sweeney Elementary please follow the link below! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QO2q8Hr1iFM

Join us for Dell Technologies “Driving Change” Tour on Thursday, July 21 at Capital High School, located at 4851 Paseo del Sol, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.! This fully immersive showcase will let you experience technology solutions in a fun and interactive way. Experience Dell’s 86’ Touch Display for conference rooms, portfolios like Latitude, OptiPlex, Rugged and Precision, Artificial Intelligence Solutions and more. Pick up some swag and enjoy complimentary refreshments! Register by visiting https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=697980&

The next stop on our educational voyage is Ortiz Middle School named for the former SFPS Superintendent and progressive champion of our local schools in terms of teacher power and the restructuring of our district to be prepared for the modern world. Ortiz Middle School follows his lead through a focus on the content areas of English and Spanish Language Arts, Mathematics (including Algebra 1), Science, and Social Studies specific to 7th and 8th grades in the Advancement Via Individual Determination program, also known as AVID in addition to being the largest middle school for 6th to 8th graders and the largest middle school band and choir in the city. Ortiz offers: -Parent/Teacher/Student Committee and School Leadership Council -Mariachi -Project GUTS (Growing Up Thinking Scientifically) to encourage students to ask questions and develop solutions through scientific inquiry -Natural Helpers, for students who want to strengthen their communication and helping skills and provide support and service to their schools, community and others, -Students Working to Advance Technology -A medical career pathway, which is focused on nursing, and continues at Capital High School. -Start-Up Tech - a tech entrepreneurship course in which students identify ways to improve their world and build marketable digital solutions. -21st Century Community Learning Center that provides academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours. Ortiz promotes a formidable athletic program that has football, basketball, volleyball, and track and field. SFPS is proud to have a school that reflects Edward Ortiz’s values and legacy.

Our next stop is Cesar Chavez Elementary School named after the renowned labor leader and civil rights activist. Cesar Chavez Elementary offers some amazing opportunities for students on the South side with: -A professional STEAM program (the approach to learning that uses Science,Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking). - Bilingual education to support the area’s diverse population. - 5th Grade Band, 4th through 5th Grade Guitar, and an accomplished 21st Century Schools program to assist at-need students beyond the classroom. The White Tigers also offer a standards-based literacy program focused on ensuring that students become biliterate/bilingual by 5th grade. Science and social studies are organized around themes to create student interest in learning while respecting and honoring each child’s voice, personal life experience, beliefs, language and culture. Groups like MathAmigos and Los Alamos National Labs help to inspire students to love math and support their active participation in scientific practices. César Chávez implements PAX, a self-regulation program that teaches students to stay on task in the classroom, promotes peace, productivity, health and happiness and supports social-emotional learning. Support services include SFPS’ Volunteer Program, Foster Grandparents, Reading Quest, which provides joyful, quality reading tutoring for striving readers, PMS behavioral health, Gerard’s House, a center for grieving kids and families, Adelante, providing advocacy, direct support services and basic needs services for children, teens and their families experiencing homelessness, and Poder Familiar/Abriendo Puertos (Earth Care), providing support for families on the development and learning process of their children. Extracurricular activities include boys and girls basketball, wrestling and the Student Council. Cesar Chavez’s White Tigers are an exemplary group of faculty that support their students on several levels and prepare them for the next steps in their academic career!

The Board of Education is looking for your input on the redistricting of school board member boundaries! This is NOT the rezoning of schools, the change is only to the boundaries of school board members. Learn more: https://www.sfps.info/o/sfps/page/redistricting

The third stop on our voyage is a SFPS powerhouse: Capital High School. Named for the oldest and highest capital city in the United States it resides in. With this honor comes the additional bonus of Capital High School's special programs that make it unique amongst the rest: These programs include: - Being an AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) National Demonstration School of Distinction which supports the student's personal choices of how to prepare for their future through strong and committed leadership for all students’, college readiness through AVID best practices, a committed team of trained AVID educators and being a showplace for a strong AVID system. - Advanced Placement, honors and dual credit courses, bilingual programming recognized by NMPED and Exceptional Student Services Education to support and foster the highest levels of excellence to compete in this challenging world. - Medical, CT and Business Pathways bolstered by classes, clubs, and activities to prepare for these challenging and necessary fields. Expanding Art programs in the 3rd largest Art Market in the US, and Community Partnerships that provide opportunities for growth, learning, and leadership skills. The mighty Jaguars also feature a formidable sports legacy and a variety of extracurricular activities to further enhance student's interests outside the classroom such as marching and concert band, choir, orchestra, drama, dance, National Honor Society, Model Legislature, DECA (for career interests in marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, hospitality and management), HOSA-Future Health Professionals, Interact Club, to promote international understanding, WAVE (Wellness Ambassadors to Voice and Empower), which promotes resiliency and protective factors, Mariachi Club, Spanish Reading Club, NM Dream Team, Supercomputing, Environmental Club, Naciones Unidas, which involves research and debate, and Culture Club. All it takes is a deeper look into what Capital High has to offer that can change your life towards your dreams and future success.

Congratulations to Santa Fe High School for its strong performance on Advanced Placement (AP) Exams in 2022-23. 77% of exam scores were 3 or higher on a 5-point scale, with a 3.4 mean score for all 410 exams. This highest-ever score for the school exceeds the 2021 AP Exams national mean score of 2.80 and score of 3 or higher on 60% of all exams taken. According to The College Board, taking an AP Exam demonstrates commitment to tackling and completing college-level work.

The next stop on our journey is Nina Otero Community School named after the famous politician, suffragette, Santa Fe Superintendent of Schools, promoter of women’s and Hispanic rights, and featured on the “American Women’s Quarters” edition from the U.S. Mint. “Nina Otero-Warren was a pioneer in education, and one who led with her voice as well as actions” said current Superintendent of SFPS, Hilario “Larry” Chavez, and the school that bears her name follows in her memory featuring these extra-curricular programs that compliment the education you can receive at the Community School. These programs include: - STEAM-Oriented Grades 3rd-8th with a Focus on Foundation/Literacy PK-2 - Walk and Roll to School Weekly - PED Grant Community School, which will work to ensure student success while addressing the needs, including cultural and linguistic needs, of the whole student from early childhood programs and voluntary public pre-kindergarten through high school graduation - Outdoor Learning Classroom - Cooking with Kids - NDI - Santa Fe Alliance Science - Reading Quest Nina Mustangs take academic risks, explore, create, collaborate and develop resilience and are equipped to be current and future stewards, leaders and entrepreneurs. Nina Otero is not just a gem in the heart of the south side of Santa Fe and one of eight southside schools, but it preserves the legacy of who it is named after by following in Nina Otero-Warren’s pursuit of inclusion, self-sacrifice, and forward thinking.

The City of Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Police Department are partnering with New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence and Fiesta Nissan of Santa Fe for a 2022 Gun Buyback Event.  The Buyback Event will be on Saturday July 23, 2022, from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm at Fiesta Nissan located at 2005 St. Michaels Dr. Fiesta Nissan is helping to sponsor the event. NMPGV is a 501(c)3 whose mission is to reduce firearm injury, death through education, public health, advocacy, and public awareness in order to protect the safety of our families and communities. The event is a safe surrender event facilitated by NMPGV and no information is retained on the participant turning in the firearms. NMPGV will also be providing gunlocks to gun owners free of charge.

The first stop on our journey is Amy Biehl Community School, named after the young scholar who was dedicated to social justice and service. This Community School, located in the Rancho Viejo neighborhood of Santa Fe and is one of SFPS’ eight south Santa Fe elementary schools, offers some of the District’s original and beneficial special programs in addition to their wonderful curriculum such as: - School Garden for PreK-6th Grade - A PreK program as part of SFPS’ goal to offer high-quality, full-day preschool to all eligible students - Inter-Tribal Cultural Circle, which seeks to share Indigenous knowledge and perspectives through exploration, demonstration and discussion - Strong Instructional Staff who work to encourage a child’s sense of wonder and natural desire to learn in a culture that celebrates students’ voices and their ability to explore, design and collaborate - Girls on the Run, which empowers young women by teaching life skills through lessons and running, Robotics, Gardening Club, Lego Club, Book Club and Yearbook You can consider Amy Biehl Community School as an option if these programs excite you as a student or intrigue you as a parent. Amy Biehl Community School Trailblazers step into the world as creators of their own future and co-creators of their communities, so consider Amy Biehl Community School as a possible choice on your journey of education!

SFPS will be providing free dinner meals for all Santa fe children between the ages of 1-18, Monday through Friday between 4 - 5 PM from 7/5-7/29 at Pinon Elementary and Nina Otero Community School! Children must be present to receive a meal.

Santa Fe Public Schools has so much to offer. Let us take you on a Journey Through SFPS. Over the next six weeks, we are going to travel across Santa Fe, making a stop every day at a destination (school) to show our voyagers (students) what makes each destination special. Come along for the journey, and Choose Your Adventure at Santa Fe Public Schools.

Find us someone who is having more fun than Mr. Cruz at Ramirez Thomas today! 21st Century summer programs wrapped up today, and at Ramirez Thomas Elementary the City of Santa Fe Fire Department made it rain on students who played on the field!

Hearing the sound of music and drums coming from Santa Fe High? That's because the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is practicing before they head on tour! They will be rehearsing their performance tonight at Ivan Head Stadium from 5:30 - 7:30 before they head to Phoenix!

Math Adventure Camp is BACK! Students who attended Math Adventure Camp passed Algebra 1 with an average score of 81% and grew 160% based on pre and post assessments! Join the crew of pre-algebra explorers using MidSchool Math for a half-day academy of math concepts with application on student developed projects and earn .25 high school credit!

The Imagineer Summer STEAM Camp Will Be Open to 3rd through 6th Graders on July 11th through 15th! Please see the flyer below for information on how to register your child for this unforgettable experience. There is a limit of 30 students, so sign up soon.

SFPS Early Childhood Center is Hiring!

SFPS is having a JOB FAIR!

Please see the Board of Education Special Meeting on 6/23/22 in the Events section of the website to view the Agenda and link to watch the meeting.