Deming Public Schools continues its commitment to continuous school improvement. This is the ninth of many articles, intended to give you information on Deming Public Schools’ efforts to provide a quality education conducive to the success of all students. It is very important to us that we communicate with our parents and community members the facts about the efforts of our staff and students.

Last May, 327 students received diplomas from the DPS Board of Education for satisfactorily completing requirements for graduation. This was the largest graduating class in the history of Deming High School. (An additional 13 students graduated post May for a total of 340.) The number of students going on to post-high school learning opportunities continues to increase.

The 2008-2009 American Association of School Administrators’ survey of Deming Public Schools reflects that 49% of DPS students opted to participate in the more rigorous General College Prep classes, while 35.3 % (as compared to 20.2 % in New Mexico and 24.5% in the United States) enrolled in advanced/honors classes.

I want to thank the parents and community members who work closely with us to challenge students to put forth their best efforts to complete their studies to achieve graduation and to know that high school graduation does not have to be the end of their educational journeys.

• On behalf of Deming Public Schools, I would like to begin by thanking everyone who works to improve learning for all DPS students: the teachers, assistants, counselors, nurses, principals, district staff, administrators, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, and all volunteers at our schools. It truly is a team effort to support good learning and it takes all of us living in Luna County.
• Consistently, we know, as Dr. Veronica Garcia, NM Secretary of Education, points out, “that New Mexico is ranked among the top states for standards, assessments, accountability systems, improved teacher quality, and strong education policy. The State has built a strong foundation and is seeing positive results. However, we know that we can and need to do better.”
• Improving student achievement and preparing our youth for the future are not just tasks for Deming Public Schools’ Staff. It must be a Deming Public Schools, Deming, Luna County effort to ensure that content and instruction are relevant, create a positive attitude about learning, and inspire cultural pride.
• We continue to call on parents and community to come together with us to meet high expectations for all of our students to achieve at high levels, to graduate from Deming High School prepared for college or career. On August 27 Deming Public Schools invites anyone in the community to attend the Deming Public Schools Continuous Improvement Community Meeting at the Emmett Shockley Administrative Building in the Board Room. The presentation will begin at 5:00 pm. Please join us as every principal will report out the areas in which the schools showed growth and how they are going to continue their improvement efforts to accomplish growth in areas of refinement.
• It is also a shared community effort to ensure that our children understand the importance of school, come to school regularly and are ready to learn, have adult support, and believe they can succeed. We would like to recognize and thank some of our community and agency partners that have pledged their support for Deming Public Schools, including:
  • Luna County
  • City of Deming
  • Village of Columbus
  • Local Legislators
  • Western New Mexico University
  • Parent Organizations
  • Luna County Health Council
  • Juvenile Justice Continuum of Services
  • Business Community, Organizations, and Leaders
  • Voters of Luna County
  • Community Service Organizations
  • and Others
• We are going to continue with our continuous improvement efforts. As you know, District, students, staff and leadership continue to respect the Board of Education Goals which focus on improving our schools.
• This year’s freshman class is the first class under the state high school redesign. Deming Public School staff members are working to make high school more relevant and rigorous. But this effort will continue to require the support of our parents and community partners in order to take our high school achievement to the next level.
• All schools in DPS made AYP in some of the 37 required areas. No schools made gains in all 37 areas for the 2008-2009 school year.
• Deming Public Schools invites anyone in the community to attend the Deming Public Schools Continuous Improvement Community Meeting at the Emmett Shockley Administrative Building in the Board Room on August 27. The presentation will begin at 5:00 pm. Please join us as every principal will share the areas in which the schools showed growth and how they are going to continue their improvement efforts to accomplish growth in areas of refinement.

• All Deming Schools had growth in at least one academic area.
• In addition, all Deming Schools made AYP in
  • Participation
  • Attendance Rate
  • Graduation Rate
• AYP is not all that people should be asking about. They should be looking at the teaching and learning in their school and where the growth is happening.
• Deming High School’s Graduation Rate was 76.2% compared to the state’s 54% and the nation’s 70%. This year was based on a new calculation formula/regulations with cohort groups starting with ninth grade enrollment. In May 2009 Deming High School graduated the largest class in the history of Deming High School with 327 graduates.

• Deming students overall show an upward trend in Math and Reading achievement.
  
  
  • Math and Reading Achievement
    • The percent of students proficient or above in Math increased in grades 3 and 6 - 8 in 2009. 3rd and 8th grade posted the largest gains with an 8% increase over 2009. Over the last five years, 6th grade has improved the most, posting a gain of 19%, more than doubling over the last five years. Grades 5, 7 and 8 also posted double digit gains of 16%, 14%, and 11% respectively.
    • In 2009, the number of students proficient or above in reading increased in every grade except 4th and 11th. 6th grade still shows the biggest increase over five years at 9%.
       
  • No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Preliminary* Designations:
    • Bataan Elementary – SI -1
    • Bell Elementary – SI -2
    • Chaparral Elementary - SI -1
    • Columbus Elementary – R -2
    • Memorial Elementary - SI -1
    • Ruben S. Torres Elementary - Progressing § Deming Intermediate School - SI -1
    • Red Mountain Middle School - SI -1
    • Deming High School – R -1
      *Schools are reviewing their data to determine accuracy and have until August 14, 2009 to challenge the results.
  • Achievement Gap Results
    • Math
      • The percent of Caucasian students proficient or above in math increased in grades 6 and 8 while 7th saw no change in 2009. All grade levels except 4th saw an overall five year increase with 5th and 6th grades each posting a gain of 28%.
      • The percent of Hispanic students proficient or above in math increased in all but 11th grade in 2009. 5th and 6th grades posted a 14% increase in 2009 each. The percent of proficient Hispanic students in 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade has doubled or nearly doubled over the last five years.
      • In 2009, student with disabilities proficient or above in math increased in 6th grade only. However, over the last five years, the percent of students proficient math in 5th – 7th increased by 4%.
      • The percent of ELL students proficient or above in math increased in grades 3 and 6-8 in 2009, with 3rd posting a 33% gain. 7th and 8th grade posted the largest five year gains at a 4% increase each.
    • Reading
      • The percent of Caucasian students proficient or above in reading increased in 4th, 6th and 8th grades in 2009. 6th grade posted the largest five year gains increasing by 20%, 8th grade also posted a double digit gain of 15%
      • The percent of Hispanic students proficient or above in reading increased in 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade in 2009. 3rd grade posted the largest five year gains increasing 9%.
      • In 2009, the number of students with disabilities proficient or above in reading increased in grades 4th and 11th with 6% and 2% gains respectively. 6th grade saw no change while the remaining grade levels saw a decrease in percent proficient. 8th grade has posted the largest five year gain at 3%.
      • The percent of ELL students proficient or above in reading increase in grades 3rd, 6th and 7th with 18%, 8% and 6% respectively. 3rd grade posted the largest five year gain at 3%.
      • While we are seeing increases in student achievement, we still see a stubborn achievement gap persist. Again, in part, this is because, as minority students perform better, Caucasian students also continue to perform better. As we move closer to our goal of 100% proficiency for all students, the natural outcome will be the closing of the gap.
  • Cohort Graduation Rate
    • 2009 is the first year in which we are reporting the cohort graduation rate that counts toward high school AYP. The District cohort graduation rate is 76.2% compared to the state average of 54% and national average of 70%.

Dear Parents,

New Mexico is carefully monitoring the situation with swine influenza virus that is making people sick in several states, and also in Mexico and other countries. To date there have been no confirmed cases in New Mexico. We realize that many people are worried, and we hope this letter will help address your concerns. Based on the information received from Dr. Veronica Garcia, New Mexico Secretary of Education, we believe students can safely attend classes, and schools will remain open at this time. At this time, the New Mexico Department of Health has also advised us that students can continue to come to school, as long as they are not sick.

Flu spreads easily. Flu-like symptoms include: fever (over 100 degrees F.), feverishness, cough, sore throat, runny nose, or stuffy nose. If you suspect your child is getting the flu, it is important that he/she does not attend school or go anywhere else—such as group childcare, the mall, or sporting events—where other people would be exposed to flu germs. It is also important to teach your children how to reduce their risk of getting the flu and protect others from infection.


Teach your children to wash their hands often. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is ideal (that’s about as long as it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice).
Teach your children the proper use of hand sanitizer. Gels, rubs, and hand wipes all work well, as long as they contain at least 60% alcohol and if the hands are not visibly soiled. Hand wipes must be disposed of properly. Always read and follow label instructions when using hand sanitizer.
Teach your children to keep their hands away from their face, and avoid touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
Teach your children to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues or by coughing into the inside of their elbow. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve—not your hands! If a tissue is used, it should be thrown out immediately.
Help your children to learn these healthy habits by setting a good example and always doing them yourself.

If we all practice good hygiene, health officials believe we can limit the spread of swine flu in our schools at this time.

Closing schools is not needed at this time; however, if swine flu continues to spread, it may become necessary to close schools for a period of time. We will let parents know immediately if the situation changes, and it becomes necessary to close schools.

If schools are closed, please do not make arrangements—such as sending children to a friend’s home or group childcare—that will put your child in close contact with other children. It is important to plan ahead. Have a family discussion now to consider options in advance of the event of a school closing.

You can get information at http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/, http://nmhealth.org/FLU/seasonal/swine_flu.html, or the Swine Flu hotline at 1-866-850-5893. You may also call your child’s principal at the school your child attends.

Thank you for your help in keeping our children and our schools healthy.

This is an exciting time of year for Deming Public Schools when students and staff return for another year of learning and growing. Pencils are sharpened, backpacks are full, children are eager, and schools are ready. This year, as in the past, the focus will be on quality instruction in every classroom in every school. The district is committed to improving learning opportunities for all students, supporting staff in their dedication toward improvement and achievement, and incorporating parents and community members in our efforts. It falls upon each of us to do our best to assure that each student is successful.

We look forward to working with each of you and invite you into our schools to see the quality, dedication and commitment which exist in each one.

Sincerely yours,