| About Mesa Elementary |
Mesa Elementary School is a terra cotta clustered structure in Clovis, New Mexico, a town of 35,000. Rich farm land was the site chosen in 1991 for the school that began with a community based population of 400, increased a year later to over 630, when Cannon Air Force Base completed an extensive off base housing project adjacent to the school, and currently has leveled to a count of about 460. Mesa has met the challenge of blending the diverse backgrounds and experiences of military, rural, foreign, and community children into a united and nurturing climate. Mesa Parents are an integral part of the learning community. They are led by the Parent Advisory and School Advisory Councils. Parents oversee the Back-to-School Bash, Spring Renaissance Fair, Service Projects, Fundraising, and Mesa Family Christmas. Mesa has had 100% parent participation on Parent Conference Day for 18 years. Parents also received an $8000 grant to build a shade area at the school. Community Partners are also a key element of the Mesa Team, and presently 94 partners offer financial or volunteer support. A highly qualified Team of Teachers take a personal interest in each child, and provide an academically challenging curriculum. 50% of the regular classroom teachers have Master’s Degrees. The Mesa Principal has 34 years of experience in education and ensures that the mission of the school is realized. A dedicated and experienced Support Staff is also an essential part of providing a positive learning climate. Mesa Students, the most important members of our learning community, are students of character, strive for excellence, and have demonstrated they are smart in many ways!MESA'S MISSION The mission of the Mesa Elementary Learning Community is to provide opportunities for students to build a strong academic understanding, to grow in character, and to explore their multiple intelligences by providing a positive climate for learning, a challenging, technologically enriched curriculum, character building experiences, and thoughtful learning strategies that will empower them to continuously improve and to become lifelong learners and productive, effective citizens CHARACTER COUNTS! This program is the basis for all academic and behavioral expectations at Mesa and emphasizes the Six Pillars of Character: Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Trustworthiness, and Citizenship. Students of Character for the Week are recognized from each classroom during morning announcements, and Students of Character for the Month are acknowledged from each classroom at a monthly Character Counts! Assembly. Service Learning: Service Learning is a major Character Objective at Mesa. The School Advisory Council created the following school goal in the spring of 2007: Mesa Elementary Students will extend their understanding of the Six Pillars of Character Counts! by developing the spirit of service and philanthropy through service learning and hands-on volunteer opportunities to help others in their local and global communities. Service Projects will double by 2008. This goal has been achieved. Recent Charitable and Service Contributions: (2007-2008) Clovis Tornado Victims: Mesa students and staff collected 1,017 canned goods for the Food Bank and $1,000 that was divided between the Red Cross and Salvation Army for the victims of the recent tornado. One of Mesa’s kindergarten classes raised $720, as a result of a silent auction of their artwork, for those who suffered from the tornado. The grand total for the Salvation Army and the Red Cross from Mesa parents, staff, and students was $1,720.Mesa students have adopted a rest home and provide meals, entertainment, and gifts for the senior citizens twice a year; the Hartley House receives a large variety of household items and toiletries throughout the year; the Food Bank was presented with a cash donation of $222.32, from a kindergarten silent art auction, and a school-wide donation of 739 canned goods. Canned food collection takes place throughout the year. Mesa students collected $3,532.60 for the American Heart Association through Jump Rope for Heart. This is an annual event. Mesa students collected $1073 in 2008 for St. Jude Children's Hospital through Chili's and collected $400 for the VFW on Veteran's Day in 2008. They make an annual donation to the VFW and honor Veterans at a special assembly and annual tree planting. Grocery Bag Project: Mesa students decorated 700 paper grocery bags as part of the Earth Day Celebration; students send cards to troops overseas; Mesa participates in the Coats for Kids program. Student Service Groups: There are several student service groups at Mesa. ACADEMICS Mesa adheres to Dr. Howard Gardner’s philosophy of multiple intelligences, which believes we are smart in many different ways. Mesa teachers strive to implement teaching strategies that ensure student understanding and address the strengths of all students. Curriculum: The core curriculum and instructional materials are aligned to the New Mexico Standards and Benchmarks. Major programs and instructional materials include: Reading Renaissance, Math Renaissance, Alice Nine Phonics and Spelling, Six Step Vocabulary, Six Trait Writing, Excel Math, Shurley English, Scott Foresman Reading, Great Source Reader’s Handbook and Daybooks, Houghton Mifflin Math, Harcourt Science and Social Studies. Teachers integrate varied reading strategies that address the major reading elements: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, spelling, and writing. Wide-ranging math strategies address the key math elements: number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, and probability. Assessment: The major assessments used to measure student progress are: Yearly Progress Pro, STAR Reading, STAR Math, STAR Early Literacy, Scholastic Fluency, Dibels, Early Prevention of School Failure, and New Mexico Standards Based Assessment. Teachers communicate with parents on a weekly basis concerning student progress. Interventions: Differentiated Reading Skills Building (300 minutes per week outside of the regular classroom); Fast ForWord and Compass Learning (in the tech lab); Differentiated Instruction (in the classroom); Students with special needs can receive services that include: Resource, Speech, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Counseling. A Gifted and Talented program is also available. The Student Assistance Team oversees this referral process. Results of State Assessments: Mesa has a 17-year record of consistently high test scores that are above district and state averages on state assessments. Mesa meets AYP requirements. Awards: National Blue Ribbon Award for Academic Excellence; State Presidential Physical Fitness Award (4 times); State Redbook Award for School Excellence and the Renaissance Model School AwardFOSTERING MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES IN ADDITIONAL AREAS Fine Arts: (Music and Art-K-6, Strings-Grades 4,5,6, Band-Grade 6, Piano Lab, Visiting Artists Program-Dance) The 2007-08 musical was Disney’s “101 Dalmatians”. Past performances have included “The Mikado”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, and “Annie”. Mesa’s 5th and 6th grade students try-out for Honor Choir and Ambassador Choir and perform throughout the year. Permanent Art—murals, paintings, sculptures, mosaics, and other types of art created by professional, staff, and student artists are featured school wide. |
