Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
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A unique recognition in place for many years now in our district had a record number of recipients among this year's graduating seniors: the Bilingual Seal was awarded to 61 students. The Bilingual Seal is given to students meeting all the requirements for this unique honor. As described in the information, “this prestigious seal … the culmination of study in a foreign language and English … signifying the student is proficient in listening, speaking, reading, and writi...
Not long before school was out, I had the opportunity to sit in on a district-wide librarians' meeting. Librarians are a special breed of educator. An article entitled, “The Nonnegotiable Role of School Librarians” describes the essential function of libraries and librarians in public education, as the “hub of the school” in terms of learning. Clovis schools have the most amazing group of librarians. All of our librarians come from rich and varied backgrounds, bringin...
Once school is out for the summer, teachers and parents are both often concerned with learning loss during the summer months. This is especially true at the end of the crazy year we've just gone through. One simple activity that helps counteract this learning loss is reading. Whether children read on their own, read aloud with other kids, or with parents … it all helps. Parents reading aloud to their children is particularly beneficial for developing stronger vocabularies, i...
When Nicole Hahn, principal at Cameo Elementary, invited me to drop by before the end of the school year, I figured it was one of the end-of-year activities. When students had returned to school in person, there were still certain events canceled and/or modified to remain in compliance with health restrictions. One canceled event was “Field Day,” a fun outdoors event of physical games and competitions. Unable to hold the traditional Field Day, the ever-resourceful pri...
At the beginning of April we held our first “Registration Station,” to register PreK and kindergarten students for the upcoming school year, 2021-22. Turnout was great, and due to its success, it was clear we needed a second opportunity for any who might have missed the first time around. This Saturday, from 8 a.m. until noon, we will again hold our Registration Station at three locations: Cameo Elementary (1500 Cameo); Lockwood Elementary(1113 S. Oak), and Clovis Schools Mai...
Our Clovis Municipal Schools Education Foundation has sponsored the Clovis High School Hall of Honor for the last decade “to recognize and honor former graduates of Clovis High School whose achievement, strength of character, and citizenship” have demonstrated exceptional contributions above and beyond in their respective areas of expertise. The CHS Hall of Honor event is important not only to pay tribute to the accomplishments of former classmates, but also serves as an opp...
Early childhood education has been around for quite some time now, becoming a category all its own. Increasingly, general education has changed over the years, as have expectations, requiring students to learn more at an earlier age to be successful. The Clovis Municipal Schools has focused on expanding the offerings for these little ones. Over the last couple of years our pre-K program (4-year-olds) has continued to expand with now pre-K classes at each of our 12 elementary...
Entering a unique computer lab at Clovis High School recently, I tiptoed in and sidled up to Coach Andrew Tipton. It wasn't exactly like entering the bridge of Star Trek's USS Enterprise, but sort of felt like it. Perched in slick “gaming” chairs before large computer towers and oversized monitors, communicating through elaborate headsets and microphones were five young men. As they leaned forward, there was an intensity in not only their posture, but also in their urg...
During our last school board meeting we experienced a special treat. A group of exceptional students were able to attend in person with their families to be honored by the board. These remarkable 21 seniors are the first graduates of Clovis Municipal Schools Early College High School, a unique new program designed as an academy model, a school within a school, more or less. Headed by Clovis High School Counselor Melissa Winn, CMS Early College started with a student...
In the world of education, this past year was consumed by the logistics of re-inventing school: virtual, online; face-to-face, hybrid, or a combination of the above. Nearing the end of any school year typically arouses nostalgia, but this year gives us pause. A year ago, the world turned upside down, and enormous changes took place. Amidst the upheaval there was great tragedy, but there was also heroism. Shifting from face-to-face (F2F) school to online overnight was a...
As most are likely aware, we have physically returned to school (sounds of cheering!). Students of all grade levels at all sites have returned to the classroom full time in Clovis. We have still maintained our Cohort C option, for students whose parents choose to have their child continuing their education online, virtually. Returning physically to school has been a powerful experience for staff and students. Interestingly, many teachers had long since returned to their...
The past two weeks have definitely been the most unusual we’ve ever experienced. Week before last we were hanging on every word we heard; every piece of news, every update — both nationally and internationally; both from the governor’s office as well as the Public Education Department of New Mexico — to learn the latest, to see what would come to pass. Hasty meetings were called; breakout sessions formed, constant conversations and speculations occupied us, and we at Clovis... Full story
Truth be told, this week’s article presents a bit of a challenge. Our general mission is to share examples of innovative and wonderfully creative educational happenings in classrooms across our district. However, given the current situation affecting not only us, but having, literally, global repercussions, it would seem cavalier not to acknowledge what is taking place; wiser, perhaps, to take stock and cast an honest gaze upon where we are. At the moment we are sailing in u...
Back in 1998, the National Education Association launched an event called “Read Across America,” which has become “the nation’s largest celebration of reading,” according to its website. Few would argue this, and it’s grown over the years to provide year-round activities, ideas, and resources to aid teachers in motivating students to read more. Since March is the birth month of Dr. Seuss, many schools showcase “Read Across America” at this time of year. Dr. Seuss, whose real n...
Stopping by Lockwood Elementary School to speak with fifth-grade veteran teacher Sherry Byrd was an unexpected delight. She and her students had returned from a field trip, which itself was a result of a workshop she'd attended with other teachers recently to participate in the KidWind workshop. KidWind and Pattern Energy sponsor the program to help students and teachers explore renewable energies. Upon returning from the teacher workshop held at Mesalands Community College in...
Last week a noteworthy event took place at the Clovis Municipal Schools Freshman Academy. The gym buzzed with eager anticipation, filled with the entire student body as the ninth-grade students awaited the five candidates for office of Clovis mayor in the upcoming election. In the words of Principal John Howell, the idea was to host “the first ever mayoral forum for the upcoming mayoral election, the goal being for students to take part in the political process even though t...
Living on the High Plains we’re no stranger to the winds that sweep across the land. Those winds, however, are gradually becoming a substantial source of renewable energy, considering the growing number of wind farms. These wind farms are quickly becoming a potential career path for many of our students. To prepare for the future, a group of about 20 teachers recently attended a workshop co-sponsored by the KidWind Project and Pattern Energy to learn more about renewable e...
It’s well known that educators typically dip into their own pockets to make purchases for their students and classrooms. With the complexities and restraints common to procurement in public education, it’s often the easiest way. However, since the Clovis Municipal Schools Education Foundation established the teacher grants some years back, it’s changed the way teachers can enhance learning in their classrooms. The CMS Education Foundation is a separate entity from Clovi...
The other day I traveled to Africa and talked to a teacher and his students in Kenya. Actually, this wonderful experience was thanks to a phenomenal fourth-grade teacher at Mesa Elementary, Silvia Miranda, who facilitated the experience. The “trip” was in her classroom, via her computer, projecting real-time, larger than life, the experience on her classroom whiteboard. It all began with a book that Miranda read to her students, called “The Water Princess,” by Susan Verde,...
Several years ago, spelling bees were revitalized through the efforts at our elementary schools, headed up by Deborah Westbrook and Shalei Bennett, principals at Lockwood and Zia, respectively. Spelling bees are a uniquely American phenomenon and, in some form or fashion, have been around since the mid-18th century. Benjamin Franklin recommended spelling competitions as community recreation for both children and adults. While the Brits were primarily concerned with...
Adrian White has worked with and for our district for many years now, in various capacities. To give you an idea of the caliber of this man, he’s the only individual I’m aware of who has been voted teacher of the year (in multiple states) as well as support person of the year. Gentle and soft-spoken, his calling is helping others, especially students. As part of our Language, Culture, and At-Risk Services (formerly Federal Programs Department), White has been the ENLACE Higher...
Vicki Guiffre is a fifth-grade teacher at Parkview Elementary, who recently shared an interesting story. A year ago, she bought a Great Pyrenees puppy for the family. Knowing she would need some help training, she looked into available local dog training services. She found one and began training, soon visiting nursing homes as her involvement with therapy dogs increased. Guiffre noted how the process really drew out her shy daughter, transforming and empowering her, thanks...
The recent build-up of excitement and anticipation for the semifinal playoff game our CHS Wildcat football team played last Friday has been riveting. The idea we’d made it this far was thrilling. The possibility of making it all the way to state for the first time in many years, tantalizing. In anticipation of that fateful game, all our school sites became electrified, and a Spirit Parade was organized the day before the game. School sites went all out in celebrating, from e...
iAcademy is rocking it again. They’ve been “Cookin’ Up the Government.” Recently sitting down with secondary social studies teacher Judy Williams, a veteran teacher with the district, I learned about an innovative project her secondary students just completed. Our iAcademy is a blended learning facility, housed at historic Lincoln Jackson. It was created to meet the needs of students (second through 12th grades) and parents seeking an alternative to the traditional academi...
If you didn’t attend our iAcademy’s Living Wax Museum recently, you missed a special event indeed. Between J’Drian Lawson’s second and third graders and Melinda Hewitt’s fourth and fifth graders, a sizable collection of historical characters came to life. You may have encountered the term, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), commonly used these days. This project was a STEAM focus, which includes the Arts as well and is coming to be used more and more....
