Please encourage everyone at the parents meeting to attend Winter Carnival on Tuesday Dec. 13, 5:30-8:00 in the cafeteria. We have invited different performing groups from all of the schools in our cluster.
At the Band Booster meeting, I asked everyone to give special attention to welcoming all the students and parents who attend. Gabriella Duran also told me there will be the Cluster Administration at Highland on Tuesday night for a meeting [the Legislative Reception (see entry below)]. The meeting was scheduled several weeks ago. I think Winter Carnival will be an excellent chance to showcase our commitment to Highland, to the community, and to our kids.
Thank you,
Suzanne Kembel
Highland Band Booster President
Our next meeting of the Highland Parents Partnership is Monday, December 12th, at 6:00 PM, in the Library Conference Room.
The Highland Cluster has scheduled a Legislative Reception for Tuesday, December 13th, in the HHS Library.
6:30 PM- 7:00 PM -- Guests arrive at Highland Library
7:00 PM- 7:30 PM -- Welcome
7:30 PM- 8:00 PM -- Refreshments: posole, tortillas & biscochitos.
Here is the agenda for the CAC / Board of Education Joint Work Study this Thursday, December 8, 2005, 6:30 to 8:30 PM, at the Del Norte High School cafeteria (5323 Montgomery NE, just east of San Mateo).
Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education
Del Rio & Las Montaņas Citizen Advisory Councils
Joint Work Study on Funding Facilities
Agenda
6:15 PM -- Meet & Greet / Refreshments
6:30 PM -- Welcome & Introductions (CAC Chairs)
6:40 PM -- Introduction to Tonight's Discussion (Paula Maes)
6:45 PM -- Presentations:
-- Introduction to APS Capital Master Plan (Dr. Brad Winter)
-- February 2006 Bond Election (Kizito Wijenji)
-- Capital Strategy Task Force (Mary Lee Martin)
-- State Appropriations (Alan Armijo)
(including Charter School Capital Issues)
7:15 PM -- Small Group Breakouts
Discussion: What are some strategies / ideas for funding facilities?
7:45 PM -- Group Reports
8:00 PM -- Large Group (CAC Co-Chairs)
1. Discussion: Topics for spring meetings
2. Discussion: How to get more parents involved
8:30 PM -- Adjournment
I was unable to attend the meeting on Monday night, so I am not sure what all was discussed. I don't know if anyone mentioned it, but if you can go to the KOB website and find the video of the story about this incidence. I have emailed a statement back to KOB for their manager:
"I wanted to let you know that I am very disappointed in your video of a newscast regarding Ace Trujillo (Principal at Highland) that was on your web-site yesterday and this morning. After Eric Kahnert was on, they showed a side of the building that said Highland High School. The gentleman then states: 'The word High in Highland High may have a whole new meaning today'."
"I have two sons attending Highland High, and I am an alumni. My sons have gotten an excellent education at Highland. There are high achieving, very intelligent, excellent students and teachers at Highland. They have no control over what Mr. Trujillo does, so the school's reputation should not be marred by your ridiculous general statement."
"Highland High already gets a bad rap. The medium income for Higland families is $26,000 per year, compared to La Cueva's at $87,000. We have to do a lot of fundraising for sports and activities, so we are often approaching local businesses for contributions. It doesn't help when a news channel makes statements like that."
"Come on folks give the students and staff a break. I know it makes no difference to lose one viewer -- as you now have -- but I am sure you may lose many other Highland families who have supported your station."
Kelly Vottero
I'd love to take advantage (call me what you will) of the situation to snag some resources from APS for use in building up the HHS parent, student, staff, and friend community.
(1) translation of the HHS and parent websites into Spanish and possibly Vietnamese, etc.;
(2) childcare and youth activities available for parent meetings;
(3) more portable or fixed signs that can be sited in enough places to catch more people with news of Highland activities (maybe even a classy sign on Central!);
(4) more publicity for parent/community meetings;
(5) student and school outreach - recruiting students to write for the Youth Express newspaper column and write other stories, engaging student volunteers with the Highland senior center, etc.; and
(6) a site at Highland and equipment, people, and programs for community engagement, with night/weekend classes, activities, events, talks, assistance, and support for HHS graduates, parents, and the community. (This may need some planning and will take more resources, but maybe it could start small.)
Also, the sad event of Ace's arrest has implications beyond Highland, with reports of inappropriate behavior from parents and perhaps coaches or staff at other APS schools. It could be timely for APS to send a notice to remind people that APS is one community, that malicious comments have no place in interscholastic activities, and to ask people to think about how they'd feel if comments such as those had been made about their school and their students.
Pat Byrnes
Dear friends, family, and colleagues:
I am requesting your help with a personal goal which is to sell 500 copies of my book, My Years As A Hispanic Youth Advocate...and The Lessons I Have Learned, by January 31, 2006.
Why should YOU consider buying a copy for yourself and/or another copy for an educator or policy maker or community member you know?
-- The price is $13 + $3 s/h instead of the regular $15 for individual copies through December and January. (If you want more than one copy, please ask me about special discounts.)
-- $5 from each book sold in December and January is going to the Hispanic Mother/Daughter Scholarship Fund.
-- You will discover ideas you can implement to make a difference for our Hispanic youth. (If you don't find at least three new ideas that will make a difference, I'll reimburse your money.)
If you want to know what two former NABE (National Association for Bilingual Education) Presidents (Dr. Josie Tinajero and Dr. Kathy Escamilla) have said about the book and/or what some educators who are now in the "trenches" or have been in the "trenches" have said about it, please ask for a copy of the endorsements (from Mike Kruchoski or Barbara Lovejoy).
To order, you can send a check payable to Barbara Lovejoy to:
Barbara Lovejoy
854 Elm Ave.
SLC, UT 84106
If you need more information or have questions, please call me at (801) 466-1117 or send an email to bclovejoy@msn.com
Please pass this information onto anyone else you feel may be interested.
THANK YOU!
Barbara (McCauley) Lovejoy
P.S. IMPORTANT: I am looking for 5-8 people to whom I will give a complimentary copy of my book if they will commit to read the book, implement at least 3-5 ideas, and report back to me their experiences before the end of February 2006. Please let me know if you are interested. You would only need to pay the $3 for s/h.
To all booster club members, etc.:
When I saw Ace's mugshot on the front page of the Monday paper, I had a feeling that Trever (the cartoonist) would not be able to resist the material. Sure enough in today's Journal is a Trever cartoon about Ace. I encourage everyone to write a letter to the Journal complaining about the poor taste. I'm going to entitle mine "Don't kick a man when he's down."
Marie Holloway
To Whom It May concern and to Highland High School Friends and supporters:
I attended a parent meeting at Highland High School on Monday night, called at less than 24 hours notice to discuss the arrest of the Principal, Ace Trujillo. I have known Ace for 6 years. My sympathies go to the Trujillo family. The years of service resulting in achievements Ace helped to make possible at the Highland cluster schools Wilson Middle and Highland should not be forgotten or demeaned because of these recent accusations.
The strength of the parents comments voiced at Monday's meeting were admirable. Highland is a great school; it is not a ' ghetto school' as is sometimes portrayed in the media. The students respect one another and their community. The teachers are caring and competent. Through their instruction and the values of the Highland parents, Highland has produced exceptional students and accolades in areas such as band (first in competition), academics (4th in nation in We The People, National Merit, 6-way tie for Valedictorian), sports, and extracurricular activities. Highland will endure and continue to produce great students and young adults from cultures around the world, as it continues to attract students who tried other APS high schools and now embrace the Highland atmosphere and traditions.
Ace was well-liked by the students and parents. I am concerned about the continuity of Highland and its programs, and suggest that no more new programs or new people be introduced at this time when the students need stability. There are four fine assistant principals at Highland who understand the academics put in place there and can follow through , along with the teachers, on what has been started. In particular, Dr. Roberta Murata is a strong, visionary leader with excellent credentials, and she is well-liked by the staff and student body.
The comments expressed Monday by certain audio and video media about the 'Hi' in Highland are sensational, should be retracted, and an apology issued to the student body. If the media are looking for sensational stories, let them make note of the academic accomplishments of the most culturally diverse school the city of Albuquerque has to offer.
Vera E. Watson, member of Parent Faculty, HIC Committees, Booster Clubs, Parent, Highland community member
Highland Parents:
I hope you agree that we had a great meeting last night. A lot of mixed feelings, to be sure, but I think I heard a lot of pride in Highland High School and the accomplishments of our students and their teachers and administration. Now is the time to press forward, to maintain our focus on presenting the real story of Highland High.
I'd love it if YOU -- the parents who know Highland so well -- would share more of your comments, stories, and insights. Although I've configured this blog NOT to allow comments (to avoid spam problems, inappropriate "contributions", etc.) , I'll set up an account for any Highland parent(s) who would like to be a contributor -- regular or not! I'd especially appreciate some help in translating into Spanish and Vietnamese.
Mike Kruchoski
480-5000
We are back to our original schedule. Meetings are once again on the second Monday of each month.
-- December 12th
-- January 9th
-- February 13th
-- March 13th
-- April 10th (joint meeting with the HHS Instructional Council)
-- May 8th
ALL MEETINGS ARE SCHEDULED FOR 6:00 PM IN LIBRARY.
The Highland Cluster has scheduled a Legislative Reception for Tuesday, December 13th, in the HHS Library.
6:30 PM- 7:00 PM- Guests arrive at Highland Library
7:00 PM- 7:30 PM- Welcome
7:30 PM- 8:00 PM- Refreshments: posole, tortillas & biscochitos.
Please call Mike Kruchoski (480-5000) for more information.
Highland cluster lead principal Nikki Dennis, who is serving temporarily as HHS principal, would like to meet with parents tonight, Monday, December 5th, 7:30 pm, in the library conference room. Parents are welcome to invite other Highland parents who are not on our mailing list to attend.