SMART BOARD
Education news and events
SANTA FE TEACHER GETS GOLDEN APPLE AWARD
Brittany Behenna Griffith, a teacher at the Santa Fe-based Nye Early Childhood Center, was one of seven elementary school teachers chosen as a recipient of the Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2019. Recipients are nominated by their communities (parents, educators, principals, etc.) and have to undergo an application and site visit before being considered.
In an October interview with The New Mexican, Griffith, who was born in Colorado but moved around often because she was the daughter of an Air Force staffer, said what she loves best about her job is “the kids — the wonder and curiousity that each one of them have.”
The other Golden Apple recipients are Michael Anderson of Inez Elementary School in Albuquerque, Sharon Eanes of Double Eagle Elementary School in Albuquerque, Cynthia Gustamantes of McCoy Avenue Elementary School in Aztec, Amy Lauer of Monte Vista Elementary School in Albuquerque, Roxanne Mitchell of Sandia Elementary School in Clovis and Stephanie Walstrom of Bandelier Elementary School in Albuquerque.
The foundation has been handing out the award for about 25 years. It comes with a $1,500 cash prize and a professional development fund of $4,000.
SCHOOL HOLIDAY CONCERTS CONTINUE
Santa Fe Public Schools’ array of holiday-themed concerts continue into midDecember, shortly before winter break commences. For example at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, students in grades 5 through 12 from various schools perform in the auditorium of Capital High School, 4851 Paseo del Sol. At 5:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, Nina Otero Community School students perform a winter concert in the school cafeteria on campus, 5901 Herrera Drive. That same night, Aspen Community School students perform a concert at 6:30 p.m. at Meow Wolf, 1352 Rufina Circle, while middle school and high school students will perform in the cafeteria of Capital High School at 7 p.m. The final concert of the week is part of the annual holiday stroll at the De Vargas Center, 564 N. Guadalupe St. There, students from eight different schools will perform throughout the day.
COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS SHOW OFF PERFORMANCE SKILLS
Students in Santa Fe Community College’s dance and drama classes will present an end-of-semester showcase of their work at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at El Museo Cultural, 555 Camino de la Familia, and at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in the Jemez Rooms of the administrative building on campus at 6401 Richards Ave. Call 505428-1731 for more information.
DIGITAL LEARNING EXPO AT SANTA FE HIGH
Santa Fe Public Schools presents its first Digital Learning Expo at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, in Toby Roybal Memorial Gymnasium on campus, 2100 Yucca St. Students from various schools will show off the technological skills they learned in class. Parents and the public are invited to his free event. Call 505-4672584 for more information.
COUNTY SPELLING BEE SET FOR JANUARY
Santa Fe Public Schools will host the annual student spelling bee at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18, in the Jemez rooms of the administrative building on the campus of Santa Fe Community College, 6401 Richards Ave. Students in grades K-8 are eligible to participate in the county bee, which judges their spelling capabilities. To participate, schools must contact Jeff Pinkerton, county bee event coordinator at jpinkerton@sfps.k12.nm.us and reserve two slots for two students no later than Dec. 16. They also must enroll online by that day on the National Spelling Bee website at www.spellingbee.com. Students can access study lists on that national website. For more information, call Pinkerton at 505-467-2650.
MONTE DEL SOL STUDENTS TALK ABOUT PRESERVING CHACO CANYON
Monte del Sol Charter School juniors will give a presentation about their threeday trip to Chaco Canyon to learn about the energy industry in the northwest part of the state at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at Java Joe’s on Siler Road. The presentation, called “Saving Chaco,” will include photographs and interpretive texts about the impact the visit had on the students and their ideas on how to preserve that region. The exhibition will remain up until the end of December.