UUBEETAANI

January/February 2011

L a g u n a D e p a r t m e n t o f E d u c a t i o n

LDoE Education Campus Update

Guwa-dzii and Happy New Year! It has been a busy time for us here at the Administration Office. Prior to the Christmas Holiday, the Edu-cation Campus Project proceeded with the environmental and archaeological investigations for the pro-posed campus site. Marron and Associates were on site to study the area; they are an experienced group and are very knowledgeable of regulatory requirements affecting tribal projects and have done work for the BIA. The official report regarding the site will be forthcoming. On December 10, 2010 a planning meeting was held between Van H. Gilbert Architects and LDoE Board members, administrators, Public Works, Tribal Planner, Village Majordomo’s and other potential stake-holders. The scope of the project was discussed, which included space relationships set forth by the Program of Requirements, the Education Specifications, and the site issues, such as an archeology and environment assessment. Brief discussion also took place regarding sustainable design practices and planning, and environmental factors, such as geotechnical issues, subsurface basalt, archeological as-sessments on site, and the relationship of the site to the Laguna Pueblo. Participants broke into three groups to discuss the site and look at how program allotments fit within the limits of the site constraints. Below are the three group designs.

Discussions focused on evacuation routes, the remoteness of the location, possible land lease issues and archeological findings in the area. Other dis-cussions included: other potential location sites, a loop in and out for traffic control, location of the gym and media center for community use, need for a plaza, which could include a second story area for “throw days”, and commu-nity gardens. Please note that this meeting did not go into any detail as to the sizes of classes, windows, doors, etc.; the detail of the classrooms will be covered in the design phase. Overall, the meeting was productive and Van Gilbert will review the work-shop feedback and provide a report back to the LDoE Project Team and Ad-ministration.

con’t LDOE Education Campus Update

January 2011 Tuesday, January 4, 2011, Geo Test Inc. , consulting geotechnical engineers for Van H. Gilbert Architects, were on site to conduct soil borings. Geotechnical engineering is a process that uses principles of soil and rock mechanics to investigate subsurface condi-tions and materials; determine the relevant physical/mechanical and chemical properties of these materi-als; evaluate the stability of natural slopes and man-made soil deposits; and assess risks posed by site conditions.

The process also determines the type of founda-tions, earthworks, and/or pavement subgrades re-quired for the intended school structures to be built in the area. The method for taking the samples is a Split-Spoon/SPT Sampler, utilized in the Standard Test Method for Standard Penetration Test (SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils. This sampler is typically an 18”-

30” long, 2.0” outside diameter hollow tube split in half lengthwise. A hardened metal drive shoe with a 1.375” opening is attached to the bottom end, and a one-way valve and drill rod adapter at the sampler head. It is driven into the ground with a 140-pound hammer fal-ling 30”. The blow counts (hammer strikes), required to advance the sampler a total of 18” are counted and then reported.

Geo Test took soil samples and a report will be forwarded to Van Gilbert Architects.

Stay tuned for more campus updates as we progress and thank you to everyone for your continued support!

LMS National Geographic Bee 2011 By Natalie Martinez

Congratulations to Shaun Zunie, the winner

of the 2011 Laguna Middle School National

Geographic Bee. He successfully made his

way to the championship round of the school

Bee on January 12, 2011.

Each Social Studies class sent a competitor

and an alternate to the school Bee after com-

pleting preliminary rounds in their class-

rooms. The top ten finalists demonstrated

their geographic knowledge in four rounds

of competition at the school gymnasium in

front of peers, parents, and school staff. The

top three finalists included overall winner,

Shaun Zunie, 6th grade, first runner up, Kyle

Martinez, 8th grade, and second runner up,

Kaitlin Sarracino, 7th grade. Other finalists

included sixth-graders, Dwight Fernando and Samantha Riley; seventh-

graders, Raina Victorino and Alyssia Pedro; and eighth-graders Tyrone

Thomas, Shane Leon, and Matthew Deutsawe.

Shaun completed the written qualifying test and is now one step closer

to competing at the New Mexico National Geographic Bee in April.

Shaun is in Mrs. Robertson’s sixth grade Social Studies class at Laguna

Middle School.

Shaun Zunie, Grade 6 Winner of 2011 LMS National Geographic Bee

KUDOS to COLLEAGUES

To LDoE Accounting Staff for the work they do. You all are appreciated!

To the LDoE IT Department! Thanks for the great job you do!

Elev8 E-NEWS

December 2010

The New Year Brings a New Home for Elev8

This is to announce that the Elev8 Initiative is moving to a new home effective January 1, 2011. We are thrilled to announce that Youth Development Incorporated (YDI) has made a commitment to incorporate Elev8's full service community school approach, and the current Elev8 staff, into its operations. For those of you not familiar with YDI, it has been operating throughout the State since 1971, with a mission of helping children, youth and families achieve their full poten-tial. YDI, which recently received national recognition as an exemplar in quality child care, offers an array of services ranging from early childhood education and school based tutoring, to emergency shelters, housing and work force development. The lead-ership at YDI views Elev8 as a complement to the programs it offers, with the added benefit of attracting seasoned professionals to continue to guide the effort. The New Mexico Community Foundation (NMCF), which completed the important work of in-cubating Elev8 over the last four years, embraces the new partnership with YDI as the logical next step in the evolution of Elev8. Transitioning Elev8 to YDI ensures that ser-vices and supports remain in place, while also grounding the work much more deeply in community. YDI and its newly acquired Elev8 staff look forward to continuing to serve students and families at Gadsden, Laguna, Wilson and Grant Middle Schools, as well as the Na-tive American Community Academy. With the new leadership at YDI and partners, Elev8 plans to advance deeper community engagement to inform and expand services and to promote progressive policy changes.

Submitted by Bonnie Vallo, Laguna MS Site Manager

Important Dates & Opportunities to Remember

January 2, 2011. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Now is the ideal time to apply

for the FAFSA online. You can use last years tax information to initiate the application.

Later you can update your SAR to include updates and changes to the form. This applica-

tion coves all federal assistance: 1) PELL Grants; 2) SEOG; 3) Work-Study; 4) Stafford

Student Loans etc. To get started go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. It’s a first come first serve

system; so the sooner past January 1st the better.

January 10, 2011… The Gates Millennium Scholars. The number one college scholarship in

America is now available. For consideration of the scholarship go to www.gmsp.org. and

apply by the January 10, 2011 deadline. Follow the instructions very carefully.

January 28, 2011 …The Native American Congressional Internship Program.

A fully-funded ten-week summer internship in Washington, D.C. for native American and

Alaska Native undergraduate, graduate and law students. Interns work in congressional and

agency offices where they have opportunities to research legislative issues important to

tribal communities, network with public officials and tribal advocacy groups, and enhance

their understanding of nation-building and tribal self-governance. Deadline for applications

is January 28, 2011. Go to www.udall.gov for an application and more information.

February 14, 2011… College Horizons Pre-College Summer Program. Open to American

Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian high school sophomores and juniors. Deadline

for applications is February 14, 2011. For more information go online to

www.collegehorizons.org. Don’t miss this unique opportunity for high school students.

February 25, 2011… New Mexico Credit Union Education Foundation is offering a limited

number of scholarships to graduating high school seniors and undergraduate students

planning to attend or who are currently enrolled in an accredited vocational school, college

or university in New Mexico. Applicants must be New Mexico Residents and have a 2.8

GPA or higher in their high school or college work. For more information and an applica-

tion go online to www.nmefcu.org or contact Amy M. Vigil at the Credit Union Associa-

tion of New Mexico, at (505) 298-9899.

March 2, 2011….The Udall Scholarship Program. Offers a $5,000.00 merit-based scholarship

for college sophomores and juniors seeking a career in tribal health, tribal public policy or

the environment. Applications must be submitted through a Udall Faculty Representative at

the student’s college or university. More information about Faculty Representatives can be

found on the Udall website at www.udall.gov. Deadline for applications is March 2, 2011.

March 18, 2011….The Truman D. Picard Scholarship Program is dedicated to the support

of Native American students pursuing a higher education in Natural Resources. For more

information, please visit our website www.itcnet.org or call (503) 282-4296.

March 28, 2011… Indian Health Services Scholarships. The 2011 – 2012 IHS Scholarship

applications are available online. Not all of the scholarships require a service obligation,

therefore check out which ones are available and the requirements. Go to

www.scholarship.ihs.gov for details. Deadline is March 28, 2011.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

David Gutierrez

3 years

3

Susan Tharpe

6 years

4

Anita Analla &

Shirley Chavez

12 years

5

Theresa Herrera

12 years

Derwin Pedro

2 years

6

David Guider

7

Lloyd Dailey

Rebecca Ray

8

Faye Peacock

9

Ron Jose

10 11 Dennis Wanya

12 13 14

Natalie Martinez

15

Alice Poncho

Bertha Riley

16 17 18

Lisa Oliphant

Caundice

11 years

19 20 21

Gloria Atencio

22

Mary Scott

10 years

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Stacey Smith

30

Raymond Purley

31

January 2011

Birthdays and Anniveraries

Deutsawe

Ronnette Sarracino, 5 years

Antoinette Abeita, 4 years

FEBRUARY 2011

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

Brooke

Whitmore

1 year

3 4

Kari Ray, Tiffany

Touchin, &

Germaine

Romero

9 years

5

Juana Natseway

10 years

6 7

Kathy Stewart

8

Johanna Wade

9

David Gutierrez

10

Ron Rodriguez

11

Kathy

Robertson

Daniel Marmon

3 years

12

Michael Conant

10 years

13 14 15 16 17

Dorothy

Thomas

18

Richard Johnson

8 years

19

20 21 22

Monica Jose

11 years

23

Margaret

Mascarenaz

24 25

Jane Backstrom

26

Paul Aragon

27

Darlene Waseta

16 years

28

Lorenzo Pino

Birthdays and Anniversaries

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2

3 Safety

Committee

Meeting

9 a.m. LDOE

4 5

6 7 DEC

Parent Policy

Council

Meeting

8 LEF Board

Meeting

9 Board of

Education

Meeting

6:30 pm LMS

10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 Presidents

Day—

LDOE Closed

22 Executive

Committee

Meeting

1:30 pm

23 24 25 26

27 28 K-8 Parent

PolicyCouncil

Meeting

February 2011

LDOE

6 pm Dancing Eagle Restaurant

6 p.m. Sky City Casino & Hotel

5 pm Figueroa

McInteer Archt.