Congratulations to Esperanza Elementary School on achieving Level 2 certification in Marzano High Reliability Schools! Level 2 certification means Esperanza Elementary School has established “Effective Teaching in Every Classroom,” which focuses on the responsibility of both school leaders and teachers in ensuring high-quality instruction.
June 21, 2022: Today, facilitators from our Curriculum & Instruction Department provided essential professional development for K-5 teachers in the form of a Writing Institute. The training focused on Structured Literacy aligned practices with the goal of improving writing outcomes for students. Three more sessions will follow on June 22, July 6, and July 7.
How do we address the needs of all students? How do we work strategically around barriers? Those were a couple of the questions that the FMS’ Native American Youth Advisors (NAYA) discussed this week during a productive and packed two-day workshop. Our thanks to Crystal Green-Braswell from Marzano for moderating the workshop and helping our staff to develop stronger systems of support, using data to determine the needs of students, and developing a plan for communication opportunities within a school. NAYA plans to meet monthly during the next academic year. More to come.
Let us introduce you to the FMS Equity Council. Our goal is to study information related to student SUCCESS and support HOW to better serve students. Learn more about us here: https://district.fms.k12.nm.us/page/fms-equity-council
June 1, 2022: “¿Cuáles son los tipos de nubes?” Asked instructor Geni Flores during today’s TESOL endorsement course. What are the types of clouds? She had asked the new cohort of teachers in Spanish to illustrate how learning a lesson in a different language can be distinctive for non-native English speakers, while showing teaching skills to make content easier to learn, including the use of simple visuals and a basic vocabulary.
With populations growing in number, it’s not uncommon to meet someone who is learning English for the first time. This creates a wonderful opportunity for teachers to use language-rich strategies that help English Learner students and all students increase their language skills.
“Cirros son nubes altas compuestas de cristales de hielo. Cirrus are high clouds made of ice crystals," she asked the group to repeat. “Cúmulos son nubes que se parecen al algodón. Cumulus are clouds that are cotton-like," Ms. Flores continued.
To be an effective TESOL teacher to an English Learner student, it’s important to understand the language learning process, as well as have specialized, research-based skills and instructional practices.
Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages or TESOL is a one-year program funded by FMS that helps teachers provide language-rich instruction. The TESOL endorsement program provides a comprehensive professional development model for teachers to expand their ability to address the social, cultural, educational, and linguistic factors that impact the achievement of their English Learner students in today’s diverse classrooms.
Our thanks to Geni Flores, TESOL Coordinator and Bilingual Education Instructor at Eastern New Mexico University for today’s training. For more information, you can contact our Bilingual/Multicultural Department at (505) 324-9840. More to come.
Farmington Municipal Schools is proud to share the school supplies that will be provided to all FMS students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade this upcoming year. Each school will distribute the supplies at the beginning of classes. Read more: https://district.fms.k12.nm.us/page/district-provided-school-supplies
May 23, 2022: Thank you to our Tibbetts families for coming to tonight’s Piano Recital. We hope you enjoyed our student's renditions of “Spanish Guitar,” “People Around the World,” and “Je te lasserai des mots,” among many other pieces. Keep playing, students! Special kudos also to Tibbetts Music Teacher, Ms. Shera Piper.
May 23 2022: More than 30 high school student athletes met today to create the FMS Athlete Leadership Development Group, which will be meeting monthly during the next academic year. Among many goals, the group will focus on mentoring new and current students, while increasing experiences, competitiveness, making connections, and developing new skills that go beyond the playing field. “You are here for a reason. Because you are leaders and your peers look up to you,” said Athletic Director Isaac Gamboa. Mr. Gamboa asked the coaches of our 22 high school programs to select students with strong leadership skills to be part of the group. Today’s first meeting included welcoming remarks from Superintendent Cody Diehl, who thanked the students for their commitment. More to come.
FMS In The News: Piedra Vista boys high school basketball introduces Forrest Becker as new coach. By Steven Bortstein, Farmington Daily Times. Enter Forrest Becker, former player and assistant coach at Adams State University, who was named this past week to take over the Panthers boys basketball team. Read more: https://www.daily-times.com/story/sports/2022/05/23/piedra-vista-boys-high-school-basketball-team-hires-new-coach-next-season-forrest-becker/9848544002/
May 19, 2022: Farmington High’s seniors held their awards ceremony today, handing out several awards in academics, athletics, and military affiliation. The graduates then joined the rest of the student body for one last assembly to present end-of-year recognitions to students in clubs, associations, and athletics. After, the Class of 2022 walked the halls of the school one last time. Congratulations to the FHS Class of 2022!
ICYMI: May 16’s Pops Concert was great, great fun! It started with a heartfelt tribute to the Ukrainian people, including their national anthem and a song called “Ykpaïha,” a beautiful, original piece by local musician Sheldon Pickering with the Tibbets and Farmington High School orchestras. There was hazy rendition of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy,” a lovely one of Billy Joel’s “And So It Goes,” along with the “Chicken Dance” with audience participation. The full concert will be available on https://www.youtube.com/c/FarmingtonOrchestra in the next few weeks, but if you go there now, you can see last night’s end of year presentation and the senior tribute, documenting the life of these student musicians through rehearsals, recitals, Hummingbird Music Camp, and parts of their journey through our classrooms at FMS. Special kudos to Monica Taulbee-Leaming, FHS & TMS Orchestra Director, for her outstanding work.
May 17, 2022: If we can do it, you can too: Grads did the Senior Walk-Through at Ladera del Norte Elementary today. It was another opportunity for seniors to celebrate and inspire younger students to follow in their footsteps. Congratulations, Class of 2022!
May 17, 2022: This morning, Mesa Verde Elementary uncovered a time capsule filled with drawings, pictures, and messages that have been hidden since 2011. Former Wildcats graduating this week also walked the halls of the school in their caps and gowns. Congratulations, Class of 2022!
Small, colorful sculptures on the tables and drawings, paintings, and sarcophagi adorn the walls of the halls and gym of Animas Elementary School. The artwork is part of the Animas Art Show, which welcomed more than 100 families and students, including an ice cream social celebration, last Friday, May 13. The event continued celebrating artwork from students in every grade level today. Big thank you to our families and community for supporting Animas Elementary and our students and educators. Thank you to Basin Surveying for sponsoring the Ice Cream Social. Huge kudos to Animas Elementary School Art Teacher Nicole Wayne for organizing this wonderful event. This year, Animas received 17,283 dollars from DonorsChoose, a nonprofit that allows individuals to donate directly to public school classroom projects. More than 10 thousand of those dollars bought art supplies and other materials for Ms. Wayne’s class. Amazing!
Congratulations to Farmington High’s Kayden Gonzales winner of the Class 5A Triple Jump (47’0.25”-state record) at the Western Sky Community Care State Track and Field Championships!
May 13, 2022: Graduates from a university and local high schools walked through the halls of McCormick Elementary School today. Seniors that participated in this walk are previous Celtics. Congratulations to the Class of 2022!
May 13, 2022: Before you know it, these Northeast Elementary students will be back to the school and walking the hallways in their caps and gowns just like former Vikings did today! Once a Viking, always a Viking! Congratulations, Class of 2022!
Don't forget! San Juan College High School's Commencement Exercises will be tomorrow, May 13, starting at 6:00 p.m., at San Juan College's Graduation Plaza. We’ll be celebrating with students like Josalynn Ferguson, who’s had perfect school attendance since Kindergarten (in photo during this morning’s rehearsal), Michael Liebel who is graduating with two associates, one in math and one in general science, Maria Bia, a proud Chief Manuelito Scholar, sisters Ava and Julia Thomas, and sisters Sage and Hailey Richardson. Sage is graduating with a degree in Applied Sciences of Cosmetology, and Hailey Richardson is graduating with a degree in Liberal Arts, and attending the UNM’s BA/MD Degree Program that guarantees a spot in medical school. See you there!
FMS In The News: San Juan College commencement on May 14, area high school graduation ceremonies set. By Noel Lyn Smith, Farmington Daily Times. High school and college seniors are counting down days until they receive diplomas and degrees as graduation season starts in San Juan County. Read more: https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/education/2022/05/10/san-juan-college-commencement-may-14-high-school-graduations-set/9717410002/
From the Superintendent – During the past few years, the staff and community have grown to know the 30th Street Educational Center as an amazing one-stop-shop. San Juan College is not only a great partner in education; you are also a great neighbor. We applaud your mantra that success matters much the same way we believe in rising to excellence in every pursuit. Today’s Ceremonial Flag Raising at the 30th Street Education Center included welcoming remarks by Dr. Toni Hopper Pendergrass, San Juan College President. Special kudos to the Farmington High School JROTC for conducting the Presentation of Colors and Scott Brennan for his wonderful rendition of our National Anthem.
