November 23, 2021

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Relatives,

Last year about this time we had already received our first snow fall by November. The weather is starting to get colder and it’s starting to feel like the holidays. I want to take this time to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for but at the same time we need to continue to be cautious and practice safety protocol which have become our second nature.

We have been very fortunate here at the dorm and have had minimal positive COVID-19 cases among staff and students. Our policy and procedures have helped minimize these infections and I want to personally thank you for your cooperation and support. Regarding the recent survey sent to parents, there were not enough responses to consider it a valid survey; for now, checkouts will remain the same.  

Congratulations to 51 of our 77 students who recently were treated out to dinner at Olive Garden for getting a 3.0 GPA or higher during the first quarter. It’s great to see these numbers and please help me to encourage our students to keep up this pace as we head into the final days of the first semester.

Our staff has provided a wide array of Native American Heritage Month activities. We’ve had everything from making ribbon skirts and dream catchers, Diné astronomy, to round dancing and the annual Miss Dook’o’oos[77d Pageant. Congratulations to Braydyn Calamity, 10^th grade student, from Shonto. She is our 2021-2022 “Miss D.”

Although we are limiting visitors to the dorm, we are continuing with our 21^st Century programs including Kinlani Film, Kinlani Indigenous Cooking Class (KICC), CULTIVE, Teen Circle and Wellbriety Warriors.  We are also implementing some new web-based programs to help our students with homework as well as promoting wellness. For academics, we have two new technology-based programs. The first is called Yup! The second is called Skooli. Both of these are technology-based tutoring program that are available 24/7 for students to get assistance with math, English and other core classes.  For social and emotional learning, there is a new program called Ripple Effect. Ripple Effects is a tool that helps students learn new coping skills when feeling the effects of many of the stresses of today. Our students are very technology savvy and these tools are intended to help them.

I attach some posters to remind us to stay safe as students go home for the holidays. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Please remember to keep your students at home if they are showing any symptoms of infectious diseases whether it be the common cold, flu or COVID-19.

Respectfully,

Ms. Boone-Schuler

Miss Braydyn Calamity, our new 2021-2022 Miss Dook’o’oos[77d.

Sewing ribbon skirts

Making Zuni Shuttlecocks

Drum making at Puento de Hozho