Shash Hane’ dóó’ Ádahooníłígíí WHS Student and Family Newsletter

February ~ Atsa Biyaazh [Birth of Eaglets] 2016 1737 Shush Drive, Ft. Wingate, New Mexico 87316 http://whs.bie.edu/

Yá’át’ééh Nihi K’e dóó’ Nihi Diné’é,

We certainly have had a beautiful winter so far, and we cannot wait for the weather to warm up. We started off this semester kind of rough with snow storms that called for us to have a few snow delays, but we got through them.

January was very productive for our teachers and staff. Students started their new classes and got right into the New Year. We dove right into instruction and have been doing many projects and challenging assignments in our classrooms. Therefore, it is imperative that your child be in school. When they miss out on instruction and they lose out on participating in great learning opportunities. Please work with us in making sure your child is here at school Monday – Friday. We have been seeing a trend of students checking into dorms Monday and/or starting the week on Tuesdays. Please work with us on making sure your child is here on Mondays.

Also, you should have received your student’s final grades for last semester in the mail by now. Also, if you have questions on their credit status, please meet with your child’s counselor in person to get a better idea of their high school progress.

Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled for Friday, February 19th from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. Progress grades will also be submitted by February 5th. Those progress grades will be available for you during conferences. Your child’s progress grade will give you a good indication of how they are performing academically.

Reminder, our teachers do offer tutoring and are available after school from 3:30 to 4:00. If your child is a day student, they can stay for tutoring, have supper at 4:30, and can take the tutoring bus at 5:00. They need a pass from their teacher to show that they attended tutoring to take the bus.

If you would like to add anything to next month’s newsletter, send an e-mail to olivia.gonzales@bie.edu

February Events

February 1st Track & Field Pre-Season begins at 4 p.m.

February 3rd School Board Meeting

February 6th Saturday PD for Teachers

February 5th Quarter 3 – Progress Grades Due

February 8th Track & Field Official Practice begins at 4 p.m.

February 14th – Valentine’s Day

February 15th Presidents Day – No School

February 19th

Parent/Teacher Conferences

School Hours First bell 7:55

Tardy Bell 8:00 School Ends 3:25

Important Numbers School 488-6400 Delay/Closure 488-6400/6486/6488 Attendance 488-6406 Registrar 488-6407 Gloria Arviso, Principal 488-6401 Aaron Billie, Head Teacher 488-6417 Grace Benally, Head Teacher 488-6456 Margie Long, 11/12 Counselor 488-6415 Marjean Benally, 9/10 Counselor 488-6416 Randall Joe, Dorm Supervisor 488-6408

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WHS’s first official day for Track and Field is

Monday, February 8th *Pre-season starts Monday, February 1st

Practice will start daily at 4 pm on the track. Our first meet will be on March 5th. Please make sure you are passing your classes and that you have turned in your Sports Physical. If you have any questions, see Coach Notah or Coach Lucio.

College and Career Expose The Senior Class presented, to Wingate High School, their research on college and career choices through a College Fair format. The seniors worked diligently researching what they viewed as the American Dream and how they would attain their interpretation of that dream for their life. Many had an idea what career they wanted to pursue so from that point they needed to find out where they could earn a degree in that field. They researched two universities and applied to each. Through the research process they found out where they could attend university, how much it would cost, and what courses they needed to earn a degree. Many have received acceptance letters and now need to complete the financial portion of the application. As Native students they found many scholarships that will aide in their post-secondary education. It is exciting to witness students planning their future and getting excited about graduation. As I walked around the expose I heard students sharing what they had learned and encouraging underclassmen to begin planning for college. I am proud of the work the students put into their presentation. ~Karen Malone, English Teacher

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November & January Senior of the Month ~Mrs.West, NHS Sponsor

Nizhoni Young was selected as the Senior of the Month for November. She is from the Breadsprings area, south of Gallup, and her parents are Nathan and Evalena Young. While at Wingate High School, Nizhoni has been an energetic athlete participating in volleyball, basketball, and softball. In addition, some of her extra-curricular activities include: Student Council, National Honor Society, and GATE. Some of her hobbies are reading, writing poetry, and helping others. Her future goal is to enter the health field and become a nurse practitioner.

Our most recent Senior of the Month for January is Arthur Frank Jr. His parents are Arthur Sr. and Mildred Frank, and they reside in Iyanbito, New Mexico. He has participated in the WHS band as a Tuba and piano player; Arthur also secured a position on the Navajo Nation Band and has been touring with the group to many functions. Also, during his junior year, he was inducted into the National Honor Society. Along with music, he enjoys crafting and baking for his family. His future goals are to attend a post-secondary school and become a pastry chef.

Crush Gram $3 (A bag filled with Hershey Kisses & one crush soda) Single Rose $4 Crush Gram &Rose $6

They will be delivered on Thursday, February 11th.

~Place your order with Ms. West in room C035 or see an NHS member

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WHS “Shash Bitoo Olta” and Dine’ College-Crownpoint Dual Credit program

Wingate High School is excited to be offering six sections of college level math again this spring through the

dual credit program in collaboration with Dine’ College-Crownpoint. We will be offering the following 23

credit hours this spring (2016):

MTH 100 Intermediate Algebra

MTH 106 Math Survey

MTH 110 College Algebra

MTH 111 College Trigonometry

MTH 190 Pre-Calculus

MTH 191 Calculus 1

We expect to have an expanded ITV program by fall semester, 2016 which would open virtually entire college

catalogs of classes to our students. There are five (5) other teachers who have expressed interest in teaching

dual credit classes in other content areas as well. More importantly, students at Shash Bitoo Olta could

conceivably complete anywhere from 1 class, to 1 semester to 1 academic year toward their college

requirements before they leave high school. I believe I hear a whole lot of parents sighing with relief because

that saves all of us a lot of money in college tuition, room, board and travel expense. The best part is that all

monies generated are also supporting our tribal colleges! How cool is that?

I have been contacted by students in the robotics club at DC-Tsaile about collaborating with them on a

robotics contest that Wingate could host for all Navajo Nation schools in the future. We also have a brain

competition in Albuquerque that wants the first ever reservation school to participate. I will also be distributing

more information on the University of Arizona summer enrichment programs for interested students. The

best way to prepare for college is to keep our minds active during the long summer break so we don’t spend

too much time, resources and effort reviewing that same material in the fall that we just covered in the spring.

One final thought…I was informed this week (January 25th

) by the National Teachers Hall of Fame that I am a

national semi-finalist for induction into the National Teachers Hall of Fame in Emporia, Kansas. I always put

my students first and have served them now for 29 years! I still believe that getting a quality education is the

best method to get out of poverty, despair and many problems that plague us. ~Dr. J.

WHS SPORTS

Our winter sports teams and coaches have been extremely busy this season. We have three sports that are winding down and coming to a close as their seasons end over the next month.

The Wingate Bears Boys Basketball has six more games scheduled. They will start their District Qtrs. and Semis on February 22nd. Then they will complete the season with District Championships on February 27th, State 4A- 1st Round on March 4th, and State AAAA Tournaments on March 9th. State Qualifiers are selected by the NMAA

The Lady Bears have five more games scheduled as well. Their District Tourney-Rd 1 will start February 22nd. Then they will complete their season with District Semi Finals on February 24th, District Championship on February 26th, State Tourney-1st Rd on March 4th, and the State 4A Championships on March 9th. State qualifiers are selected by the NMAA

The Wingate Bears Wrestling team is also ending their season. They are scheduled to attend district duels at Kirtland HS on February 5th, and the District Tournament in Shiprock on February 12th. Final teams who will wrestle will be based on grades and Wrestle Offs.

“My children, education is the

ladder to all our needs.

Tell our people to take it." ~Chief Manuelito