Spotlight: N.M. schools get first A-F report cards
January 11, 2012

Updated: Tuesday, 10 Jan 2012, 4:30 PM MST
Published : Tuesday, 10 Jan 2012, 4:30 PM MST

Celina Westervelt

It's a new system that the state education secretary wants to move to instead of the nationally mandated Annual Yearly Progress.

The grades released Tuesday aren't great, but they are better than AYP.

Maggie Córdova Elementary School was the only Rio Rancho school to get an A, but overall the district doesn't have any Fs and only one D.

The state's new grading system handed out more Cs than any other grade and was implemented last year by the state PED.

The goal is measure how schools and students are improving and help them progress faster, according to the department.

The grades are based on standardized test scores compared to the current national No Child Left Behind System that uses AYP scores to rank schools.

Some of the best grades in the state come from the northeast part of the state including Des Moines schools in Union County, the Los Alamos district, Fort Sumner, Melrose and Texico.

Some of the worst grades came out of the southeast part with Jal and Eunice only getting Ds and Fs.

Ruidoso, Dexter and Hobbs also scored lows.

Out of 831 state schools, 73 of them got As, and 297 got Ds or Fs.

Albuquerque Public Schools Superintendent Winston Brooks said overall he thinks this is a much better rating system.

But he says reaction from teachers and principals has been mixed.

"I've talked to teachers who are in tears; I've talked to teachers who are doing summersaults, so it's kind of all over the board," Brooks said. "But I think again we have to take these scores as a baseline, and the target is to move forward and improve."

Within APS 11 percent of the schools got As, and 16 percent got Fs.

The grade reports for all public schools by district are available on the PED website .

Taos Municipal school district: 9 schools total
A - 3
B - 3
C - 1
D - 2

Source: krqe.com - N.M. schools get first A-F report cards

Spotlight: Child Outcomes Step by Step Online Video
December 8, 2011

New online video from The Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) Center: Child Outcomes Step by Step

This video describes and illustrates the three child outcomes adopted by the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and reported on by all state early intervention (Part C) and preschool special education (Part B/619) programs as part of their Annual Performance Report (APR).

This video offers a consistent way to describe the outcome areas across programs and states. It can be used to provide an overview to the three outcomes for professional development and training, orienting families, and introducing the outcomes to other constituents such as policymakers or funders. The video explains functioning necessary for each child to be an active and successful participant at home, in the community, and in other places like a child care program or preschool.

The video was produced and sponsored by:
Edelman, L. (Producer). (2011). Child Outcomes Step By Step (Video). Published collaboratively by Results Matter, Colorado Department of Education; Desired Results access Project, Napa County Office of Education; and Early Childhood Outcomes Center. Funded by the California Department of Education, Special Education Division; the Early Childhood Outcomes Center; and the Office of Special Education Programs.

To watch the video and learn more, go to www.fpg.unc.edu/~eco/pages/videos.cfm

The Early Childhood Outcomes (ECO) Center provides national leadership in assisting states with the implementation of high-quality outcome systems for early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) programs.
Their website provides up-to-date information and resources for state and local administrators, technical assistance providers, teachers, other direct service providers, and families.

Source: Early Childhood Outcomes Center - Retrieved December 1, 2011

For assistance with early intervention and early childhood special education (Part C) in Taos, NM contact:

EnSueños y Los Angelitos Development Center

575.758.4274 EXT. 21
Email: ecd@taoscountyarc.org or info@taoscountyarc.org
Location: 1030 Salazar Rd. Taos NM, 87514
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:30pm
www.taoscountyarc.org

For assistance with preschool special education, 4yr and up (Part B/619), in Taos, NM contact:

Taos Municipal Schools, Exceptional Programs
Marcia Abeyta
575.737.6116
213 Paseo del Canon
Taos, NM 87571

Spotlight: Taos MEN has changed their name to...
November 4, 2011

Spotlight: October is National Bullying Prevention Month
November 2, 2011

FRANK MULHOLLAND - Daily Union Managing Editor
Daily Union

The month of October is the National Bullying Prevention Month and bullying prevention advocates are calling for a social movement to address the catastrophic effects of bullying.

More than 160,000 kids miss school every day out of fear of attack or intimidation by other students. Kids who are bullied are more likely to develop depression and anxiety disorders that don’t just go away at the end of the school year. Doctors say the effects of bullying can last a lifetime. In some cases, bullying can even lead to suicide.

“When kids are bullied, they really remember it,” said Dr. Barry Garfinel, child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Center for Developmental Psychopharmacology in Minneapolis. “It results in this excessive caution and fear they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Rather than being excited about life, they are burdened with this anxiety that there are people who will hurt them emotionally and even physically.”

As part of National Bullying Prevention Month, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center is encouraging people across the country to take action if they witness an act of bullying. This is especially important for students. More than 55 percent of bullying situations stop when a peer intervenes.

With so many students affected by bullying, PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center wants to help parents understand what they can do if their children are being bullied at school. Parents are encouraged to work with their children, believe what they are saying, be supportive yet patient, educate their children about bullying, and discuss ways to deal with bullying. Free resources at PACER.org/bullying can help parents do this, including TeensAgainstBullying.org and KidsAgainstBullying.org, websites created specifically for elementary-aged children and teens.

“Accept your children for who they are and get involved in their lives,” suggests Tammy Aaberg, whose son Justin committed suicide after being bullied. “If you notice signs that they’re acting differently, ask them how things are going at school. They will probably not want to open up at first, but if you have a feeling in your gut that something is wrong, show them you care by asking questions.”

To read the rest of this article go to: October is National Bullying Prevention Month

What is Bullying?

Imbalance of Power: people who bully use their power to control or harm and the people being bullied may have a hard time defending themselves

Intent to Cause Harm: actions done by accident are not bullying; the person bullying has a goal to cause harm

Repetition: incidents of bullying happen to the same the person over and over by the same person or group

Types of Bullying

Verbal: name-calling, teasing

Social:spreading rumors, leaving people out on purpose, breaking up friendships

Physical: hitting, punching, shoving

Cyberbullying: using the Internet, mobile phones or other digital technologies to harm others

For more information and resources to help prevent bullying check out these links:
www.nonviolentmen.org
www.pacer.org/bullying/nbpm
TeensAgainstBullying.org
KidsAgainstBullying.org
www.stopbullying.gov/index.html
www.nationalbullyinghelpline.com

Spotlight: September: Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight
September 8, 2011

Help your child – and your whole family – eat healthy and stay physically active. The healthy habits your child learns now can last a lifetime.

What can I do to help my child stay at a healthy weight?
Help your child stay at a healthy weight by balancing what your child eats with physical activity. Two of the best ways to prevent overweight and obesity in your child are to eat healthier foods and move more as a family.
Parents are often the most important role models for children. When you eat right and are physically active, your child will be more likely to make these choices, too. Plus, getting active and eating healthy as a family will help you spend more quality time together.

Put at least 1 hour of physical activity into your child’s day.
It doesn’t have to be 60 minutes all at once – it can be shorter activities that add up to 1 hour. Fun activities that children do on their own are best. For example, playing tag is a great way to get moving.
Be sure your child is doing different types of activity, including:
• Aerobic activities, like running, skipping, or dancing
• Muscle-strengthening activities, like climbing trees or playground equipment
• Bone-strengthening activities, like jumping rope or playing basketball
Limit screen time.
Keep inactive (sitting down) screen time to 2 hours or less a day for kids age 2 and older. Exercise TV shows or video games where your child moves around are a better choice than inactive screen time, but most of them do not count as physical activity time.
• Set clear rules about when and how long your child can watch TV, use the computer, and play video games.
• Keep the TV out of your child’s room.
Start the day with a good breakfast.
Skipping breakfast can make your child hungry and tired, and it may lead them to snack on junk food later in the day. Give your kids whole-grain cereal with fat-free milk and fruit instead of sugary cereal.
Make healthy snacks.
Snacks give kids important nutrients and help control hunger between meals.
Sit at the table and eat together as a family.
When families eat together, children eat more vegetables and fruits and less junk food. Plan healthy, affordable meals and enjoy them as a family. Let children help pick out healthy foods, prepare meals, and set the table.
Shop, cook, and plan for healthy meals.
Buy and serve more vegetables, fruits, and whole grain foods. Here are some tips and ideas:
• Make a shopping list with healthy foods [PDF - 285 KB].
• Read the nutrition label on packages to help you make healthy choices.
• Let your child pick out healthy foods to try.
• Give children age 2 and older fat-free or low-fat milk or water instead of soda or juice. Children under age 2 can drink whole milk.
• Get tips on how to lower the calories and fat in family meals and snacks.
• Help children know when they’ve had enough. Give your kids a chance to stop eating when they feel full.
Get more tips for smart food shopping.
Eat healthy.
You can be a role model for your child by making smart food choices. Plus, a healthy diet can help protect you from heart disease, some types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes.
Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
If kids don’t get enough sleep, they are at higher risk of being overweight or obese.
• Teens need at least 9 hours of sleep each night.
• School-aged and preschool children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep.
• Newborns sleep between 16 and 18 hours a day.
Set a bedtime schedule and remind your child when it’s time to get ready for bed. Get more tips on helping your child get enough sleep.
 

healthfinder.gov is sponsored by the National Health Information Center

Spotlight: August Spotlight: Peñasco Family Health Initiative
August 1, 2011

The Family Health Initiative(FHI) is a collaborative project between the Holy Cross Hospital Peñasco Rural Health Clinic, its program, the SPOT Community Health Center, El Centro Family Health, Peñasco Independent School District and the Pueblo of Picuris. The FHI focuses on strengthening families with young children in the Peñasco area. Thus far the FHI has succeeded in reaching out to over 40 families, and has engaged 19 of them in community events, and projects. These families are being followed up with by the Rural Clinics Community Health Workers, who will help families identify their needs and plans to address those challenges most pressing.

Other work of the FHI has included formal agreements with the core partners, forming a community advisory board with core partners, families and community members, developing a project proposal process for community needs, and tie-in with the new electronic medical records Athena program.

This month:

The monthly Peñasco Valley Birthday Club Party will be on Saturday, August 6th 11am-1pm at the Presbyterian Parish Hall In Peñasco for children 8 years and younger and their families.

Art for the Heart in collaboration with FHI presents, Creative Family Fun. Kids 2-8 bring their favorite adult for storytelling, creative play and crafts from 10-12:30 at Art for the Heart Studio in Peñasco. Free, and a healthy snack is provided. Saturdays, August 13 and 27.

for more info call 575.587.2690

Spotlight: July is National UV Safety month!
June 30, 2011

Here are some tips for being safe while you are having fun in the sun this summer. Remember that in high altitudes like Taos the air is drier and the ultraviolet rays from the sun are stronger.

1) Avoid the Strongest Rays of the Day
First, seek shade when the sun is at its highest overhead and therefore strongest (usually 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.). If kids must be in the sun between these hours, be sure to apply and reapply protective sunscreen — even if they're just playing in the backyard.
2) Cover Up
Because infants have thinner skin and underdeveloped melanin, their skin burns more easily than that of older kids. But sunscreen should not be applied to babies under 6 months of age, so they absolutely must be kept out of the sun whenever possible. If your infant must be in the sun, dress him or her in clothing that covers the body, including hats with wide brims to shadow the face. Use an umbrella to create shade.
Even older kids need to escape the sun. For all-day outdoor affairs, bring along a wide umbrella or a pop-up tent to play in. If it's not too hot outside and won't make kids even more uncomfortable, have them wear light long-sleeved shirts and/or long pants.
3) Use Sunscreen
Kids age 6 months and older can wear sunblock. There are lots of good sunscreens are available for kids, and easy-application varieties in spray bottles.
4)Sunglasses for Kids
Sun exposure damages the eyes as well as the skin. The best way to protect eyes is to wear sunglasses, But not all kids enjoy wearing sunglasses, especially the first few times. To encourage them to wear them, let kids select a style they like, and make sure that the sunglasses say that they provide 100% UV protection
Double-Check Medications
Some medications increase the skin's sensitivity to UV rays. As a result, even kids with skin that tends not to burn easily can develop a severe sunburn in just minutes when taking certain medications.
5)If Your Child Gets a Sunburn
When kids get sunburned, they usually experience pain and a sensation of heat — symptoms that tend to become more severe several hours after sun exposure. Some also develop chills. Because the sun has dried their skin, it can become itchy and tight. Sunburned skin begins to peel about a week after the sunburn. Encourage your child not to scratch or peel skin because skin underneath the sunburn is vulnerable to infection.
If your child does get a sunburn, these tips may help:
• Have your child take a cool (not cold) bath, or gently apply cool, wet compresses to the skin to help alleviate pain and heat.
• To ease discomfort, apply pure aloe vera gel (available in most pharmacies) to any sunburned areas.
• Apply topical moisturizing cream to rehydrate the skin and treat itching. For the more seriously sunburned areas, apply a thin layer of 1% hydrocortisone cream to help with pain. (Do not use petroleum-based products, because they prevent excess heat and sweat from escaping. Also, avoid first-aid products that contain benzocaine, which may cause skin irritation or allergy.)
If the sunburn is severe and blisters develop, call your doctor Keep your child in the shade until the sunburn is healed. Any additional sun exposure will only increase the severity of the burn and increase pain.

For more info visit Kids Health by clicking here

Spotlight: June is National Home Safety Month
June 1, 2011

Home Safety for Young Children

As young children grow older, they begin to explore their surroundings more and more. Parents can guard against possible dangers by conducting a home safety evaluation from the child's point of view.

An active child naturally climbs, crawls and explores, parents need to take precautions to make sure curious children avoid common home injuries. The Home Safety Council recommends that parents look at each room from their child's eye level.

Use these tips to make homes safer for young, curious children.

Spotlight: May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
May 2, 2011

Making exercise a priority is a challenge for everyone. And for parents it can be especially difficult to find time to workout because of the full plates that they often juggle, but with a little planning you can find ways to incorporate workouts into the time you spend with your children. Here are a few ideas...

Age: Infant through pre-school
* Grab your stroller and go for a brisk walk
* For younger children, you can use a back carrier to transport them while walking. This can burn even more calories as the extra weight makes it more challenging.
* Turn on some music and dance together. Toddlers love dancing, especially when their parents joins in.
* Push your kid on a swing. And, after every push complete one squat.

Age: Grade School
* Try rollerblading or skating together.
* Spend an afternoon at a park with a playground, but don’t spend the whole time relaxing on the sidelines – join in on the fun. Spend some time swinging to help workout your legs. Try making it across the monkey bars – even just once (it’s a great upper body workout and you’ll be amazed that your kid does it with such little ease). Try some pull-ups using a bar on the playset. Do some tricep dips on a nearby park bench.
* Play catch with a ball or get a small group together for a kickball or softball game.

Follow these links to find out about places in town to get some exercise with your kids...

Taos Youth and Family Center

Kit Carson Park

Fred Baca Park

Twirl

Fun Peak

Spotlight: Love and Logic Parenting Classes
April 1, 2011

Parents and providers are invited to join Paso a Paso to learn more about the Love and Logic parenting program.

Love and Logic is a philosophy of raising and teaching children which allows adults to be happier, empowered, and more skilled in the interactions with children. Love allows children to grow through their mistakes. Logic allows children to live with the consequences of their choices. Love and Logic is a way of working with children that puts parents and teachers back in control, teaches children to be responsible, and prepares young people to live in the real world, with its many choices and consequences.

Love and Logic provides simple and practical techniques to help parents and teachers have less stress and more fun while raising responsible kids.

The upcoming classes will help you find answers to:
- “How to handle disruptions during meal times?”
- “How to get children to stay in their own bed?”
- “How to end temper tantrums?”
- “Is there a way to discipline my toddler in public without creating a scene?”
- “How to get children up and about in the mornings?”
- “How to stop whining and bickering?”
And many other day-to-day parenting challenges…

This parenting program is designed to give you practical skills that can be used immediately!

Register today for the upcoming Love and Logic classes in Penasco and Questa.

Spotlight: National Nutrition Month
March 1, 2011

March is National Nutrition Month! National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the American Dietetic Association. The theme for 2011's Nutrition month is "Eat Right with Color. "The campaign focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. source

March 7-12 is National School Breakfast Week.

National School Breakfast Week (NSBW) was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program (SBP) to all children. Each year, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) helps schools to celebrate NSBW with a fun theme - this year it is School Breakfast Detectives. source

The St. James Episcopal Church's Food Pantry is one of the programs in Taos that focus on nutrition for families and community members. On Mondays, mid-day, volunteers work a sort of assembly line, preparing the bags of food to be distributed. On Thursday afternoons, volunteers distribute the food. A special team of strong-backed people pick up and unload perishable groceries earlier that day. To volunteer or for more information please visit their website

Spotlight: National Children's Dental Health Month
February 10, 2011

Each February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. NCDHM messages and materials have reached millions of people in communities across the country.

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

On Friday, February 4th from 8am to 5pm, children ages 18 months to 15 years old can get a FREE dental cleaning and exam as part of the National Give Kids A Smile Day. This free service will be available at the Northern NM Center for Cosmetic Dentistry (1337 Gusdorf Rd, Ste A). To schedule an appointment call Dr. Kellie Harris' office at 751-9661. Spaces fill up quickly.

Whether you're a member of the dental team, a teacher or a parent, the ADA has free online resources that can help you with oral health presentations, ideas for the classroom and coloring and activity sheets that can be used as handouts. There are also booklets, videos and other materials available for purchase through the ADA Catalog www.ada.org.