Saturday, October 4, 2008

Alamo Navajo students take initiative

T.S. Last El Defensor Chieftain General Manager, tslast@dchieftain.com

Helping to get the word out is one of the new responsibilities taken on by students at Alamo Navajo School.

Principal Brenda Baca-Miller said that students are using media as a means of learning and applying new skills.

"We have a radio journalism class that's working in collaboration with the yearbook class, and there's a monthly newsletter that goes out to parents. Students can write articles for the newsletter, so we can keep the community aware of what's coming up next," said Baca-Miller, now in her second year as principal.

Students can also have stories broadcast stories over KABR, the community radio station, and serve as volunteer disc jockeys.

Lily Apachito (D.J. Bubbles), Weylin Apachito (D.J. Way), Timothy Apache Jr. (D.J. T.J.) and Judith Secatero (D.J. Jane) play a variety of music over the airwaves at 1500-AM.

Baca-Miller credited KABR station manager Sara Apache and newsletter coordinator Debbie Ingersoll for helping to give students a voice.

Also involved are students in Lesleigh Clayton's yearbook class, and a newly formed yearbook club.

"That's something that was student-initiated," the principal said of the yearbook club. "They approached me about it because not everyone could be in the yearbook class. This (club) allows all students to be a part of it."

That's not all that's new at Navajo School. A Business Professionals of America Club, sponsored by Diane Gurule-Bartholf, has been formed. The curriculum also now includes the Math Now! program, designed to elevate math skills, made possible by a $200,000 grant.

Baca-Miller said Pauli Ann Jones is serving as math coach for the intervention program that aims to bring students up to their current grade level. To prepare for the new program, she and staff serving grades K-8 attended training in Houston in June.

Alamo Navajo Schools has also introduced Navajo Language and Culture classes in all grades K-12.

"This came at the request of community," Baca-Miller said. "Our school is one of a very few that are Navajo fluent — you hear it every day in the hallways — so they wanted students to learn proper Navajo."

The school is also addressing behavior issues in a new way, to assure that the school is a safe learning environment.

The school has adopted the Positive Behavior Intervention Support program. Headed by Steve Mills, who oversees student activities, the program was made possible by a safe school/healthy student grant. The grant allowed the school to hire a full-time behavior coach, Mark Shaddock.

"He'll circulate through the school and teachers can come to him to work with positive intervention," Baca-Miller said.

Positive behavior can also earn students rewards. Teachers and other staff members are distributing "Cougar Coupons" as an incentive, the principal said.

"Whenever anyone notices someone showing safe, responsible, respectful behavior, they are awarded a coupon," she said. "They can use the coupons to buy things like polo shirts that they can wear around school."

While there are a lot of new things going on at Alamo Navajo School, some things never change. Baca-Miller said students are currently undergoing a testing period for high-school competency and Measures of Academic Progress.

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