June News Letter
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BOARD NEWS:  At the March Friends of Hopi board meeting, Luanne Zacek of Katy, Texas was joined to the board. at the June board meeting Marti Donahue of Indianapolis, IN and Virginia Rundell of Newark, DE were also joined the board.  One of the original founding members of the Foundation, Jack Hardison, has submitted his resignation and it was accepted with regret.  Plans are being made for the Fall board meeting to be held on the reservation during the service programs to be conducted there in October. See related information in this newsletter.

SECOND MESA SCHOOL VISIT  (report by Frankie Ramey of the school visit in May 2007) This morning, as Bob and I came over the hill, we saw the beautiful new facility at Second Mesa Day School and one of the classes taking a tour around the building.  The Principal, Mr. Harvey, was waiting to give us a special tour.  We soon learned it was the first day in the new school for the children and we felt the excitement as we walked through the halls with our host.

  The first thing we noticed was the beautiful colors of light lime green blending with the earth tones used throughout the school.  All the classrooms have a unique lighting and large windows.  The view from the board/conference room is of the Shungopavi and Mishongnovi villages on the mesa.  From the library and art room you can look south over the reservation and volcanic mountains.

  We could visualize many different activities happening on the large outdoor plaza with its special lighting.  The kitchen has all the latest stainless steel equipment and the cafeteria presents another outstanding view of the surroundings.  The gym is “top of the line” with a stage for programs.  Mr. Naha, who has a background in music, hopes to start a band to perform on the stage.

  It has been a long journey, but a thrill to see the building today.  When you visit Second Mesa be sure to take a tour of this beautiful facility.

 

TEACHER RECEIVES NEW HOME  (written my Erin Duwyenie, her daughter)
Karen Duwyenie, an eighth grade teacher at HBCS, has been selected to receive a straw bale house sponsored by the Red Feather Foundation.  This foundation has built straw bale houses for all kinds of families on six Native American Reservations.  Duwyenie’s house will be the third one built on the Hopi Reservation and is scheduled to be completed in September, 2007.

  The Red Feather Foundation was first created to build wheelchair ramps for Native American elders. They quickly progressed in their construction and were able to develop a blue print of a house using bales of straw as the main insulation component.  The house will take only twenty eight days to build and is constructed by volunteers from on and off the reservation.

EXCELLENT PROGRESS REPORTED IN SCIENCE

  Our recent visit to the reservation schools again presented us with evidence that the science programs we started two years ago are making progress toward their goals.  The Foundation has provided approximately $7000 in science kits and we have conducted several workshops to train the teachers in their use.  At the June board meeting, the Foundation voted to purchase an additional kit for each teacher at HBCS and at SMDS.  This will complete the kit purchase for both schools for now.  The kits are correlated with the Arizona State Standards and present a multi-disciplinary approach to integrating science with language arts, social studies, and math.

   There are many anecdotal stories that indicate the success of our efforts.  A few of them include:

       -In letters obtained from fourth grade students who had studied the Rock and Minerals science kit, 64% of the class reported that they want to be a scientist when they grow up.  Prior to this exposure, the vast majority of students at this level wanted to be in the art or jewelry making business.

       -Mr. Naha, an instructional leader at SMDS, reported that he had really enjoyed teaching the kit to his 6th graders and that the students were really getting into science.

       -Mrs. Davis, Kindergarten teacher at HBCS, shared that the visiting art teacher was shocked when she asked the students to name some properties of art work and the students responded with words like “texture” and “color”.  These students had just completed the Properties science kit.

       - A Third Grade Teacher reported that, “My students have really enjoyed the science kit and they want more learning this way.  The hands-on approach seems to wake them up a little and they want to learn more.”

  We are putting the final touches on the K-8 Science curriculum guide this summer and will be ready to tackle the other subjects as time permits.