I t may be the day after Christmas for everybody else but the gift of giving continues for two Hobbs Alternative Learning Center students. Actually, Gabrielle Arsiaga and Hector Mota have been in the holiday spirit since early September when ALC principal Lorna Jackson approached them about stuffing backpacks for school children in need of nutritious meals on the weekend. “She just asked me if I minded doing her a favor and I said, ‘No, of course not,’” Arsiaga said of that first conversation with her principal. “Mrs. Jackson has done so much for me that I figured I could return the favor. I decided to talk to Hector because he’s also not the type of person to say no.” Jackson and her church – First United Methodist – first took on the project months ago. Passing along the gift of giv- ing to her kids seemed natural for the Hobbs principal. “From my perspective, life is an opportunity to serve and give to others,” Jackson said. While other ALC students have pitched in on occasion, Jackson said it was Arsiaga and Mota who were the backbone of a volunteer effort to provide underpriv- ileged Will Rogers students with food as part of the Hobbs Weekend Hunger Initiative. First Methodist donates food items for its adopted school and some of its members – Lemma White, Paula Smith and Michelle Wallach in particular, along with Junior Service League members – provide transportation. Which is why Arsiaga, Mota and other ALC students (they include C.J. Thompson, Izeah Cotton, Celeste Benavides, Isaac Patton, Deandra Quarles, Angy Guerrero and Mirakel Carterto) spend several hours stuffing backpacks every Wednesday. “We put some breakfast cereal, a meal, peanut butter and various snacks in every backpack depending on how many chil- dren there are,” Arsiaga said. “We never know the family names – just how many are in each one.” Even though families are anonymous, that doesn’t stop some – children and adults alike – from writing thank you notes which they tuck inside backpacks that are returned to the schools every Monday morning. It’s a gesture that makes their job all the more poignant, Arsiaga and Mota said. The notes help remind everybody involved of their own good fortune. Although she doesn’t have any friends that she knows of who receive the back- packs, Arsiaga said some of her class- mates have commented that they wish the program existed when they were in ele- mentary school. “I never realized their sit- uation. It really makes you grateful for what you have,” the senior said. “It makes you think of how much you take for granted.” “It gives you a good feeling to know that you helped another human being out in a time of need,” Mota agreed. What began as a favor to Mrs. Jackson turned into a commitment to even more community service as the backpack program for Arsiaga, Mota and some other Alternative Learning Center stu- dents evolved into days spent packing Thanksgiving and Christmas food boxes and wrapping Christmas presents. The education Arsiaga and Mota received by giving to others supplements the specialized instruction each said they get at the Alternative Learning Center. Both landed at the school for making what they admit were “dumb decisions” as Hobbs High School juniors. And both opted to remain at the ALC even when they were eligible to return to Hobbs High School. Mota finished up his credits earlier this month and will grad- uate with his class in May. Ultimately, he hopes to work as a safety specialist in the oilfield. “Everybody looks at the Alt School as if it’s a terrible school and only bad kids go there,” Mota said. “But actually, it’s the best school to be at,” Arsiaga added. Honestly, if I was at the high school, I’d be back in the same situation. I wouldn’t be trying to help other people out.” “Each of us – the Alt school students, community members, church members and myself work as a team to serve the students and families of this community,” Jackson said. “Each of us considers it an honor.” Arsiaga will continue to take courses next semester at ALC while also enrolled at New Mexico Junior College. Thanks to the ALC, she says she has set new goals – she’d like to be a police detective some day and she credits her teachers, some of the school resource officers she knows and likes and her principal, for setting her on a different path. “They don’t just give you extra assign- ments for no reason,” Arsiaga said. “They go out of their way to make sure you get your work done and do whatever is necessary to graduate. They don’t dwell on your past. They only see the future.” It’s a lesson that Mota and Arsiaga are happily passing along – now that Christmas is over but there are still chil- dren in need of care packages filled with food every weekend. “No matter what your life is, you can’t really compare it to anybody else unless you really truly know them,” Arsiaga said. “You have to spend some time in their shoes.” HMS School Zone HMS School Zone 9 HOBBS NEWS-SUN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2013 Sponsored content provided by Hobbs Municipal Schools Chalking It Up TJ Parks HMS Superintendent M erry day after Christmas! I would like to follow up on a couple of comments Secretary of Education Hanna Skandera made during her presentation to Hobbs Municipal Schools on Dec 2. Comments I make are based on information HMS has received from the Public Education Department. When quizzed about the number of tests students take, Secretary Skandera said short cycle assessments (inter- im assessments) are a local district choice. HMS believes the only choice we have is which test vendor we choose to supply our tests. Currently, the state will reimburse the district if they select a vendor approved by PED. There were also some questions about first-year teacher evaluations, second-year teachers, etc. I will not get into that detailed topic because it is very confusing, yet extremely important how teachers will be evaluated the first three years of the new evaluation system. As I stated before, I do not believe in using standard- ized tests as part of the teacher evaluation. We have read and had conversations with testing companies who state their products are not designed for a teacher eval- uation model. They are designed as a moment in time to measure student performance. Dibels Next is a per- fect example. The two tests measure growth and a com- pletely different sets of reading readiness skills. Results also can be manipulated by the teacher who is giving the test. As we learned from El Paso and Atlanta, when you use testing to determine whether a person retains their employment, cheating is likely and will happen. The second part of the Secretary’s presentation was shortened due to the amount of time spent on teacher evaluation. Graduation is a tremendous concern for many students planning to graduate in May 2014 and beyond. I think we can all agree that we would like to see higher standards. We also want to make sure that students who graduate perform on grade level. Just raising the bar has the same effect as hoping we’ll win the lottery. It’s possible, but not likely. The Public Education Department sent out an email Nov. 12 allow- ing districts to use local options for creating Alternative Demonstration of Competency for graduation. Currently, seniors must be proficient on a standardized exam in Math, Science and Reading. Writing and Social Studies are measured by other means. As of Nov. 1, 48 percent of all high school seniors in New Mexico had not achieved proficiency in all five areas (as measured by the SBA). The list of Alternative Demonstration of Competency (ADC) the Secretary spoke of during her presentation assisted very few seniors because it was actually more difficult than the assessment. ACT can be used as a substitute, but in Science the ACT qualify- ing score is 23 with a score of 22 for Math. The ADC for an Advanced Placement exam is a three or better. In our cross referencing, any student who scored a three of better also scored Advanced on the SBA - which did not qualify any additional students for graduation. Theory and philosophy are great conversation pieces. If you want to know the ins and outs of education, I would suggest speaking with professionals who have been in the business 25 years or more who have seen multiple reforms come and go. By raising the standards alone, we will lose some of our seniors. We have already seen students withdrawing from school to take the GED, for fear they cannot pass the standardized exam. If this is the outcome we want, then be prepared for an increase in dropout rates. It’s near impossible to have higher standards as well as low dropout rates with- out proper planning and implementation. If we want to have an impact on our students we need to concentrate on our preK students. The problem is most bureaucrats do not see this as a viable option, because they will be out of office before the results are seen. HMS is in the process of adopting a policy to address the current high school seniors. PED has already said they will close the loophole in the regulation, to remove local option for the following years. Losing local control is a topic for another article. I made a proposal to the Legislative Education Study Committee for a two-tiered diploma. Students who meet all the course requirements but fail to pass the SBA or other Alternative Demonstration of Competency receive a “regular diploma.” Students who meet the course requirements AND pass the five criteria on the SBA receive a “Diploma of Excellence.” Students who have passed the local course requirements deserve a diploma. Without a high school diploma, we negatively impact a student for the rest of their lives. The state is concerned about the number of students who require remediation in collegiate courses. I believe most of those students are not prepared for college because they did not participate in courses aligned with higher education curriculum. Until we can mandate courses for students or determine who is allowed into college, high schools are working at a disadvantage. Let’s try the two- tiered system and monitor who is requiring the remedia- tion classes. If students who attained the “Diploma of Excellence” are requiring remediation then we certainly have an alignment or rigor issue. I hope we can continue to work together as a community. The gift of an education is one that will continue to give throughout student lives. Education can break all socioe- conomic barriers. I hope each student accepts the gift of an excellent education from Hobbs Municipal Schools as it is a two-way street. You must “believe to receive”. Gabrielle Arsiaga (left) and Celeste Benavides, top, and Hector Mota, above, are among the student volunteers who help keep a backpack program for Will Rogers elementary students running. to Grabbing an opportunity Grabbing an opportunity serve General Contr. Lic. 30610 BONDED • LICENSED • INSURED ROOF GUARANTEES COMMERCIAL - RESIDENTIAL 393-2205 115 W. MARLAND BLVD Proud supporter of education in Lea County!
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It may be the day after Christmas foreverybody else but the gift of givingcontinues for two Hobbs AlternativeLearning Center students.
Actually, Gabrielle Arsiaga and HectorMota have been in the holiday spirit sinceearly September when ALC principalLorna Jackson approached them aboutstuffing backpacks for school children inneed of nutritious meals on the weekend.
“She just asked me if I minded doing hera favor and I said, ‘No, of course not,’”Arsiaga said of that first conversationwith her principal. “Mrs. Jackson hasdone so much for me that I figured I couldreturn the favor. I decided to talk toHector because he’s also not the type ofperson to say no.”
Jackson and her church – First UnitedMethodist – first took on the projectmonths ago. Passing along the gift of giv-ing to her kids seemed natural for theHobbs principal. “From my perspective,life is an opportunity to serve and give toothers,” Jackson said.
While other ALC students have pitchedin on occasion, Jackson said it wasArsiaga and Mota who were the backboneof a volunteer effort to provide underpriv-ileged Will Rogers students with food aspart of the Hobbs Weekend HungerInitiative. First Methodist donates fooditems for its adopted school and some ofits members – Lemma White, Paula Smithand Michelle Wallach in particular, alongwith Junior Service League members –provide transportation.
Which is why Arsiaga, Mota and otherALC students (they include C.J.Thompson, Izeah Cotton, CelesteBenavides, Isaac Patton, Deandra Quarles,Angy Guerrero and Mirakel Carterto)spend several hours stuffing backpacksevery Wednesday.
“We put some breakfast cereal, a meal,peanut butter and various snacks in everybackpack depending on how many chil-dren there are,” Arsiaga said. “We neverknow the family names – just how manyare in each one.”
Even though families are anonymous,that doesn’t stop some – children andadults alike – from writing thank younotes which they tuck inside backpacksthat are returned to the schools everyMonday morning. It’s a gesture thatmakes their job all the more poignant,Arsiaga and Mota said.
The notes help remind everybodyinvolved of their own good fortune.
Although she doesn’t have any friendsthat she knows of who receive the back-packs, Arsiaga said some of her class-mates have commented that they wish theprogram existed when they were in ele-mentary school. “I never realized their sit-uation. It really makes you grateful forwhat you have,” the senior said. “It makesyou think of how much you take forgranted.”
“It gives you a good feeling to know thatyou helped another human being out in atime of need,” Mota agreed.
What began as a favor to Mrs. Jacksonturned into a commitment to even morecommunity service as the backpackprogram for Arsiaga, Mota and someother Alternative Learning Center stu-dents evolved into days spent packingThanksgiving and Christmas food boxesand wrapping Christmas presents.
The education Arsiaga and Motareceived by giving to others supplementsthe specialized instruction each saidthey get at the Alternative LearningCenter. Both landed at the school formaking what they admit were “dumbdecisions” as Hobbs High School juniors.And both opted to remain at the ALCeven when they were eligible to return toHobbs High School. Mota finished up hiscredits earlier this month and will grad-uate with his class in May. Ultimately, hehopes to work as a safety specialist inthe oilfield.
“Everybody looks at the Alt School as ifit’s a terrible school and only bad kids gothere,” Mota said.
“But actually, it’s the best school to be
at,” Arsiaga added. Honestly, if I was atthe high school, I’d be back in the samesituation. I wouldn’t be trying to helpother people out.”
“Each of us – the Alt school students,community members, church membersand myself work as a team to serve thestudents and families of this community,”Jackson said. “Each of us considers it anhonor.”
Arsiaga will continue to take coursesnext semester at ALC while also enrolledat New Mexico Junior College. Thanks tothe ALC, she says she has set new goals –she’d like to be a police detective some dayand she credits her teachers, some of theschool resource officers she knows andlikes and her principal, for setting her on
a different path.“They don’t just give you extra assign-
ments for no reason,” Arsiaga said.“They go out of their way to make sureyou get your work done and do whateveris necessary to graduate. They don’tdwell on your past. They only see thefuture.”
It’s a lesson that Mota and Arsiaga arehappily passing along – now thatChristmas is over but there are still chil-dren in need of care packages filled withfood every weekend.
“No matter what your life is, you can’treally compare it to anybody else unlessyou really truly know them,” Arsiagasaid. “You have to spend some time intheir shoes.”
HMS School ZoneHMS School Zone99 HOBBS NEWS-SUN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2013
SSppoonnssoorreedd ccoonntteenntt pprroovviiddeedd bbyy HHoobbbbss MMuunniicciippaall SScchhoooollss
CChhaallkkiinnggIItt UUpp
TJ ParksHMS Superintendent
Merry day after Christmas! I would like tofollow up on a couple of commentsSecretary of Education Hanna Skanderamade during her presentation to Hobbs
Municipal Schools on Dec 2.Comments I make are based on information HMS has
received from the Public Education Department. Whenquizzed about the number of tests students take,Secretary Skandera said short cycle assessments (inter-im assessments) are a local district choice. HMSbelieves the only choice we have is which test vendor wechoose to supply our tests. Currently, the state willreimburse the district if they select a vendor approvedby PED. There were also some questions about first-yearteacher evaluations, second-year teachers, etc. I will notget into that detailed topic because it is very confusing,yet extremely important how teachers will be evaluatedthe first three years of the new evaluation system.
As I stated before, I do not believe in using standard-ized tests as part of the teacher evaluation. We haveread and had conversations with testing companies whostate their products are not designed for a teacher eval-uation model. They are designed as a moment in timeto measure student performance. Dibels Next is a per-fect example. The two tests measure growth and a com-pletely different sets of reading readiness skills. Resultsalso can be manipulated by the teacher who is givingthe test. As we learned from El Paso and Atlanta, whenyou use testing to determine whether a person retainstheir employment, cheating is likely and will happen.
The second part of the Secretary’s presentation wasshortened due to the amount of time spent on teacherevaluation. Graduation is a tremendous concern formany students planning to graduate in May 2014 andbeyond. I think we can all agree that we would like tosee higher standards. We also want to make sure thatstudents who graduate perform on grade level. Justraising the bar has the same effect as hoping we’ll winthe lottery. It’s possible, but not likely. The PublicEducation Department sent out an email Nov. 12 allow-ing districts to use local options for creating AlternativeDemonstration of Competency for graduation.Currently, seniors must be proficient on a standardizedexam in Math, Science and Reading. Writing and SocialStudies are measured by other means. As of Nov. 1, 48percent of all high school seniors in New Mexico hadnot achieved proficiency in all five areas (as measuredby the SBA). The list of Alternative Demonstration ofCompetency (ADC) the Secretary spoke of during herpresentation assisted very few seniors because it wasactually more difficult than the assessment. ACT canbe used as a substitute, but in Science the ACT qualify-ing score is 23 with a score of 22 for Math. The ADC foran Advanced Placement exam is a three or better. Inour cross referencing, any student who scored a three ofbetter also scored Advanced on the SBA - which did notqualify any additional students for graduation.
Theory and philosophy are great conversation pieces.If you want to know the ins and outs of education, Iwould suggest speaking with professionals who havebeen in the business 25 years or more who have seenmultiple reforms come and go. By raising the standardsalone, we will lose some of our seniors. We havealready seen students withdrawing from school to takethe GED, for fear they cannot pass the standardizedexam. If this is the outcome we want, then be preparedfor an increase in dropout rates. It’s near impossible tohave higher standards as well as low dropout rates with-out proper planning and implementation. If we want tohave an impact on our students we need to concentrateon our preK students. The problem is most bureaucratsdo not see this as a viable option, because they will beout of office before the results are seen.
HMS is in the process of adopting a policy to address thecurrent high school seniors. PED has already said they willclose the loophole in the regulation, to remove local optionfor the following years. Losing local control is a topic foranother article. I made a proposal to the LegislativeEducation Study Committee for a two-tiered diploma.Students who meet all the course requirements but fail topass the SBA or other Alternative Demonstration ofCompetency receive a “regular diploma.” Students whomeet the course requirements AND pass the five criteria onthe SBA receive a “Diploma of Excellence.”
Students who have passed the local course requirementsdeserve a diploma. Without a high school diploma, wenegatively impact a student for the rest of their lives. Thestate is concerned about the number of students whorequire remediation in collegiate courses. I believe mostof those students are not prepared for college becausethey did not participate in courses aligned with highereducation curriculum. Until we can mandate courses forstudents or determine who is allowed into college, highschools are working at a disadvantage. Let’s try the two-tiered system and monitor who is requiring the remedia-tion classes. If students who attained the “Diploma ofExcellence” are requiring remediation then we certainlyhave an alignment or rigor issue.
I hope we can continue to work together as a community.The gift of an education is one that will continue to givethroughout student lives. Education can break all socioe-conomic barriers. I hope each student accepts the gift ofan excellent education from Hobbs Municipal Schools as itis a two-way street. You must “believe to receive”.
Gabrielle Arsiaga (left) and Celeste Benavides, top, and Hector Mota, above, areamong the student volunteers who help keep a backpack program for Will Rogerselementary students running.
to
Grabbing anopportunityGrabbing anopportunity
serve
General Contr. Lic.
30610
BONDED • LICENSED • INSUREDROOF GUARANTEES
COMMERCIAL - RESIDENTIAL393-2205
115 W. MARLAND BLVD
PPrroouudd ssuuppppoorrtteerr ooff eedduuccaattiioonn iinn LLeeaa CCoouunnttyy!!
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