Goal: Students will be proficient in their knowledge and skills related to Nuchiu language and culture by the end of 5th grade in order to understand elders in the community who share Ute cultural stories and traditional knowledge.
Why? Developing a new generation of young people who understand Nuchiu language and culture is very important to the Ute Mountain Ute community. By starting in K-1 the school has the unique opportunity to build background skills and a community of learners that become more proficient over time. We understand that many students may come to school with little or no exposure and background in Ute language and culture, so it might take time to build proficiency in the initial student population. However, the percentage of students who will be proficient over time will increase due to (1) more students in all grades will be able to practice Ute language skills and cultural knowledge in and out of the classroom on a regular basis as the years progress (e.g. kindergarten students who first start learning the Ute language will be more likely to be proficient in later grades), (2) older students who are proficient will help teach the younger students as the school matures, (3) Ute language and culture classroom teachers and classroom teachers will become more skilled in effective instructional techniques (e.g. learn from Southern Ute Montessori Academy teachers Ute phonemes, spelling techniques, sign language and Montessori-inspired materials and lesson), and (4) families and community programs will start to support Ute language and culture practices at home, which will increase the percentage of students who become proficient. The school does foresee that after 5 years that not 100% of all students will be proficient, therefore, the goal is 90% which is quite ambitious.
Goal: Students will be proficient in all academic subjects to prepare them for the next stage of life as they enter middle school.
Why? Reviewing past academic data from the 2019 Montezuma-Cortez School District Performance Framework and Progress of American Indian Students, it appears that Ute Mountain Ute students are likely to continue to underachieve for numerous historically complex reasons results compared to non-Ute students. School founders understand that many students who will likely enroll in the school will have multi-generational linguistic impacts from the transition to their native language to English and current socio-cultural experiences (e.g. increase in video gaming, lack of oral language experiences, few children books at home) which impact performance on modern day interim, formative and summative assessments that are normed to English speaking, American households. However, with the use of culturally-responsive instructional strategies, the school should produce higher academic growth scores and increased academic performance over time.
The teachers will report Language Arts and Math progress at each parent-teacher conference and provide at least one of the following examples of progress in the other areas at each conferenceUPI, Goals, Strategic Plan, Growth.
Goal: Students will be proficient in traditional Nuchiu character and wellness skills and knowledge to prepare them for life.
How? The school will emphasize the development of student character and wellness through specific activities that integrate Nuchiu culture. Each student will learn from Ute Elders specific character skills such as respect, resiliency, responsibility, integrity, growth mindset, generosity, humbleness, and appreciation of the living world. Students will demonstrate the discipline and fortitude necessary to have a healthy body and positive mind-set.
Why? Developing students with prosocial character skills that mirror Nuchiu culture is very important to create a positive school culture. As students become mentors for the new students, then we expect the percentage of students who meet or exceed expectations to rise each year.
Goal: Students will build positive community connections through acts of service, friendships, and mentorship.
How? The goal is providing opportunities for students to be aware of school and broader community connections through acts of service, friendships, and mentorship. Several activities will be built into the school schedule that will provide opportunities for students to interact with Tribal Elders and individuals from the community, including the parents. Four days per week the students will have Nuchiu culture and language classes with Ute language and culture teachers, who will include guest speakers and storytellers to help relay important cultural concepts and culture traditions. In addition, we plan to have members of the Elder Committee join the students for lunch and special events during class time to highlight the themes in the year-long units. Furthermore, students will interact with the community and parents during the Presentations of Learning, usually to be held either at the school or the Ute Mountain Ute Community Center. As students gain more experience and grow up, more community service activities will be planned in the community that align with the interdisciplinary units.
Why? Developing students with community connections skills that mirror Nuchiu culture is very important to create an excellent school culture. As students become mentors for the new students, then we expect the percentage of students who meet or exceed expectations to rise each year.
