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Adding a external link of the Native American Parent Advistory Committee (NAPAC) here to this page since it’s buried pretty deep on the Rio Rancho Public School website.
The Native American Parent group at Sandia Vista Elementary School (SVES) is organized now and we are working on getting a school fusion page up for our content. Will keep you posted.
– Dom
This video was made from the slides and recorded audio from a presentation I gave to the 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade Montessori class at Sandia Vista Elementary School (SVES) in Rio Rancho, NM on 2/4/2015. My oldest son is in this class. Enjoy!
– Dom
It’s no secret that I’m on the Board of Directors of Laguna Development Corporation (it’s in my Bio here and on the company website, so it’s public). I was appointed about 3 years ago this month by the Pueblo of Laguna tribal council based on my corporate experience and being a pueblo of laguna tribal member. Since being appointed, I have seen and experienced quite a bit in the areas of gaming, hospitality, retail, and food & beverage. Here are some lessons learned during this journey, in no particular order. I will add to this list as more lessons come to mind.
Update … on January 31, 2015, my term expired and I am no longer on the Laguna Development Corporation Board Of Directors, long story. I am grateful Laguna Pueblo gave me the opportunity to contribute back to my home community in the capacities I can. I’m open and look forward to helping other tribes raise the bar and really compete in the business world off the rez.
– Dom
I’ve had some parents recently ask me for more detail about the Sandia Vista Elementary School (SVES) Montessori program. In an effort to help more folks here, I went looking on the Rio Rancho Public School (RRPS) website to check on what public materials were out there. Unfortunately all those references I had read about in the past are either dead links or don’t exist. I think most of this lack of information is due to the Montessori administration moving from a district office to SVES. We gave the school a ring and were told more detail will appear on the school website, they are just not there yet.
Here is the SVES school website … http://sandiavista.rrps.net/
So for all those looking into the program, it’s still around and running strong. Here is what the 2013-14 SVES Student/Parent Handbook (PDF) says:
MONTESSORI PROGRAM Montessori is a comprehensive educational approach to learning, from birth to adulthood, based on the observation of children‟s needs in a variety of cultures all around the world. Dr. Maria Montessori developed this educational approach based on her understanding of children‟s natural learning tendencies as they unfold in “prepared environments” for multi-age groups (0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, and 12-14). The Montessori environment contains specially-designed manipulative materials for development that invite children to engage in learning activities of their own individual choice. Children in a Montessori classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. Sandia Vista is very proud to include a Montessori Program in our public elementary school for the fifth year! Three primary classes with students ages 3-5, three lower elementary classes with students 6-8, and two upper elementary classes, with students 9-11, will be included this year, with all eight classrooms being housed in the primary wing of the school. The school principal is the director of the program. She oversees the day-to-day operation of the program, as well as the supervision of the staff and students. Montessori students and staff are a regular part of the Sandia Vista community, and we are excited that the Program has been a great success, and is continuing to grow.
If you want more up to date details please give SVES a call … (505) 338-2526
As always, I hope this helps those poking around the internet trying to find answers.
– Dom
We are pretty happy parents since moving to northern Rio Rancho, New Mexico in 2009. 🙂
The Rio Rancho Public School System (RRPS) is investing more resources into the Montessori Program for the next school year according to the May 2013 school newsletter.
70 new students will attend the Montessori Program in 2013-2014 and the number of teachers will be expanding from 5 to 8 (adding 1 teacher to each of the primary, lower, and upper classes). The Montessori program will continue to cover pre-k up to grade 4.
This will take the school to a total enrollment from 550 to 620 (the school is designed for up to 800 students according to the building designers).
This means students can attend Montessori school all the way to 4th grade! One more grade to go to have a full program. Our kids will be in 3rd and 1st grade for the 2013-2014 school year.
If you want to read a previous post I made on the Sandia Vista Elementary Montessori Program, click here:
You can also find the SVES school newsletters here:
– Dom
Dominic Pruitt 