Results in the Schools

The Heart of the Matter

Amanda C. Kooser

Helen Cordero Primary School shines a light on positive behaviors with Nurtured Heart.

At Helen Cordero Primary School in Southwest Albuquerque, the secret ingredient really is love. The school has embraced the Nurtured Heart Approach, a way of relating to and working with children to bring out their best qualities. Helen Cordero principal Ellen Griffiths sums up the approach as, "Don't give energy to the negative. Give attention to the positive." Children want attention from adults. Nurtured Heart shows them that they can get positive attention for good behaviors. There are still clear rules and consequences at Helen Cordero, but there isn't a huge fuss about enforcing them. It's handled quietly and firmly, much like a time out for a foul in a sports game.

Alamosa Elementary Makes Strides with SWPBS

Albuquerque Elementary School Emphasizes the Positive

Alamosa Elementary hosts a celebration each month. Attendees may see Folklorico dancers, hear a jazz band or watch a magician. These aren't just any performances. These events are ways to reinforce the good efforts put in by students that have opened doors for others, paid attention in class, carried cafeteria trays with both hands and behaved in the bathroom. All those small triumphs are recognized by the teachers and staff at Alamosa with a PAWS slip – a paper coupon that acknowledges good behavior. Collect enough PAWS and you can join in at the monthly party.

Don't Just Stop Bullying, Start Peace

Amanda C. Kooser

Peace Crew 10 List

The Peace Crew is in the house. 8th graders at Tony Hillerman Middle School are going class to class to spread the message about bullying. These students are turning bullying on its head with a positive message. Bullying can't thrive in a peaceful environment. Follow these 10 steps to start peace and stop bullying.

John Baker Elementary Shares Anti-Bullying Success

Barbara Smith teaches an anti-bullying lesson.

Barbara Smith isn't your grandma's school counselor.

Do you remember your school counselor? Maybe you had to go to the counselor's office if you got in trouble. Maybe you kept your nose clean and never saw your counselor. That's not the way things are done at John Baker, an Albuquerque Public Schools kindergarten through 5th elementary in the Northeast Heights. Counselor Barbara Smith knows every single kid and they all know her. It's not because they're in trouble. It's because she's committed to preventing trouble. "Teachers, parents and community members all have different ideas of what counselors do, based on when they were back in school. It's very different. We are part of the educational process now," she says.

Jimmy Carter Middle School Garden Project

This summer a total of 17 Special Education students from Jimmy Carter Middle School and Valley High School participated in hands-on gardening activities on the Jimmy Carter MS campus.

Students were engaged in a variety of hands-on learning experiences and were able to see the positive impact they made on the Jimmy Carter campus. The summer gardening efforts at Jimmy Carter Middle School had an immediate and visible impact the school by 1) starting the school’s vegetable garden (filling raised garden beds with soil, planting, setting up the irrigation system) and 2) planting flowers and beautifying the spaces in front of the portable classrooms.

Project HOPE

Project H.O.P.E. (Hip Hop Offers Positive Expression) strives to foster confidence, self-respect, and positive relationships between adolescents and their communities through hip hop culture. HOPE’s vision is to harness the natural youth interest in street art, music and dance to provide esteem-building experiences and develop fundamental life skills for students who do not have access to other arts programs. Exposure to the four elements of hip hop (break dancing, graffiti art, DJing and MCing) help students create positive self-expression, develop confidence, and experience success. Additional art materials and dance equipment will strengthen HOPE's school programs while increasing their capacity for public performances and improving students’ skills to competition level. Funding for the recruitment and training of additional instructors will allow the program to expand to more schools and offer more students the opportunity to take advantage of this unique and successful program.