Programs

Program Areas

Schools

Destination Imagination!

School: Mandela International Magnet School

Destination Imagination: Nine months of teamwork, learning, planning, design, application, culminating competition
Our first year: MIMS took six teams to the NM DI State Tournament, and left with three 1st place teams, three 2nd place teams.
Globals: We now head to the Global DI Tournament in Kansas City, MO, to compete with teams from all over the world, and need to raise $16,500 JUST for the registration fees.

YOU can help us reach our goal - We are hoping to raise $1,000.00 from the Dollars4Schools website.

Destination Imagination Topics/Skillsets: STEAM, extra-curricular, here at MIMS, teamwork, critical and creative thinking, competition,
MISSION: To engage participants in project-based challenges that are designed to build confidence and develop extraordinary creativity, critical thinking, communication, and teamwork skills

Destination Imagination Principles:
Fun learning: Explore STEM/STEAM concepts in a hands-on environment
Creative problem solving: Learn how to think, not what to think
Kid powered; team driven: Energize students to own all decisions, creations, and results
Friendly competition: Motivate teams to reach for the stars, while also rooting for each other Global diversity: Encourage and celebrate differences in each other, and differences in ideas

International Orchestra Festival in Icheon Korea

School: Mandela International Magnet School

We are raising funds for orchestra students from Mandela International Magnet School to travel from Santa Fe, NM. to our sister city - Icheon, South Korea - and participate in a ten Sister City Global Music Concert.

These funds will be used towards air travel expense. cheon City Hall is funding the in country expenses which include housing, meals, airport pick up and drop off, and tourist activities.

The concert date is August 2, 2019, with preparation and practice sessions starting July 30.

Mandela International School is an International Baccalaureate school and this cultural experience will contribute to their development as Global Citizens. This is a rare Sister City opportunity.
This program directly relates to IB curriculum in many ways including the following:
- Musical Links Investigations
- Personal Projects
- Community Action Service (CAS)

These students are inspired to learn about different cultures. We believe that shared music across cultures is essential for cultural understanding. A shared cultural understanding is the driving force for these students. They sacrifice, study diligently, and are ready to extend their hand in friendship.

Let's Read!

School: Acequia Madre Elementary School

I teach a diverse group of students starting with Kindergarten through 6th grade. The students have read every book on our shelves and are itching for more. We would appreciate funding for more books at all reading levels.

I will utilize the books to support reading at all grade and ability levels, intervention and enrichment. The books will be shared with general education classroom also.
Program AreaLiteracy

Ortiz Middle School Hummingbird Music Camp

School: Ortiz Middle School

I am requesting $500 to fund the transportation costs of taking my students to Hummingbird Music camp. This camp is a wonderful learning and bonding experience for these kids, one that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Hummingbird Music Camp is a wonderful learning and bonding experience for these kids, one that they will remember for the rest of their lives. Many of these students have never experienced this sort of trip and most rarely leave Santa Fe.

Las Nuevas Adventuras del Quijote

School: El Camino Real Academy

My students undertake a 3 month study of Don Quijote and conclude the project by writing their own adventures, in Spanish, for characters from the story. The projects are presented as a celebration/presentation of their work for their families.

I am requesting funds to support transportation, supplies and incentives for my students.

Restorative Justice

School: El Camino Real Academy

Restorative Justice is a non-traditional class, where we work with students on building emotional intelligence and applying it through our Big Buddy Program, where they mentor younger, elementary students.

Music Camp

School: Acequia Madre Elementary School

The Acequia Madre Choir and Band are planning their third annual music camp and retreat at Hummingbird Music Camp! Students will sing and play, participate in camp activities, have a campfire, and stay overnight at Hummingbird music camp in the beautiful Jemez mountains. Students will get to work with a guest teacher and finish the retreat with a concert for their families.

Funds will help offset the cost of music camp and provide scholarships for students who are unable to pay their cost of attendance.

Mustang Singers Southern California Choir Tour

School: Nina Otero Community School

I am looking for donations to help my 8th grade class go on a choir tour to Anaheim, CA May 2-5.

My 8th grade choir will be the first in their school history to travel to California for a prestigious choir festival. They will get to perform for some of the best judges and and attend an awards ceremony at Disneyland. Not to mention we will take a trip to the ocean which some of them will be seeing for the first time. These kids may never have a chance to travel like this again and I do not want finances to stop our dreams!

If you have ever been a part of a music program, you know that music changes lives and this trip could change the trajectory of the rest of their lives.

Model Legislature Youth and Government

School: Capital High School

We teach students to actively engage in democracy. Twelve students participate by researching, writing and debating bills with students from all over New Mexico. This takes place at the Roundhouse--our state capitol. Capital high students learn all aspects of policy making. They learn to think on their feet, and address issues from all over the state: gun control, green energy, film making incentives, economic development, safety and DWI prevention etc..There is also a judiciary where students learn to argue both sides of a brief regarding a contemporary legal case. Other students act as justices, like in an appellate court. A fourth branch in which students are involved is the press. They can do print media through a newspaper or video media.

The cost per student is $200. This includes overnight at a local hotel, meals and miscellaneous supplies.

Dancing in the Big Apple

School: Santa Fe High School

SFHS Dancers are returning to New York City for our third trip (2015, 2017, 2019) to take dance classes. These classes at professional studios, Broadway Dance Center and StepsNYC, are $20/each. We are seeking funding to allow each of the 15 students to take a full schedule of four classes each. They will take classes alongside professional Broadway and ballet dancers.

This trip brings Santa Fe High dance students to the heart of the American Theatre to experience training at the highest level.

Set-up A Science Room

School: Nina Otero Community School

Two volunteers are being paid to set up a resource room that will make science materials available to middle school science teachers for hands on explorations. We have a number of units that were replaced in the elementary grades that contain basics that can be used in the middle school classes. These classes have new teachers who are relying on text books and basic materials purchased with their own funds. This program will help enhance their lessons with hands on explorations for students.

I am requesting $500 to pay 2 volunteers who are sorting through various donated materials, Some funds will also be used to fill in gaps for additional materials.

Piano Performance Mastery

School: El Camino Real Academy

I request a funding for El Camino Real Academy (former Agua Fria Elementary school) piano students.

El Camino Real piano students are very talented group of students. They work hard and play the piano very well. So many of them dream of being students of New Mexico School for the Arts. However they do not have funds for a piano tutor. I help them as much as I can after dismissal of school, but they need a professional piano teacher who would help them to prepare for audition for NM School for the Arts. Audition for the School of the Arts are usually held at the beginning of February. It would in the best interest of my students if they could receive financial help as soon as it is possible, so they can get ready. Please, help my piano students.

Volunteer Background Check Assistance

School: Multiple Santa Fe Public Schools

As the SFPS Volunteer Coordinator, and in an effort to encourage a more diverse volunteer population, I would like to offer paid background fees for up to 50 volunteer applicants to distributed throughout 5 different schools within the Santa Fe Public School District. Certain demographic criteria, including a residence radius of applicants who live within 6 blocks of the schools' attendance area will be required to be eligible for usage of the background check funds.

Hands-on History of Photography at Monte Del Sol Charter School

School: Monte Del Sol Charter School

Please support photography students participating in a hands-on/experiential 19th century photographic history project - Hands on History of Photography.

This project will directly deal with the 1851 discovery of the collodion wet plate process. Students will read historical texts, view historical images and make in-camera renditions of modern day collodion photographs.

The funding is needed for all consumable materials including silver nitrate (fairly expensive), metal and glass plates for making the images, and all of the various chemicals needed for processing

Science at the Bradbury in Los Alamos

School: El Camino Real Academy

Several years ago, Dollars4Schools funded my request to pay for buses to take my students to the Bradbury Science Museum. It was so valuable. I want to take the students I have now. We'll need two 44-student buses,

8th grade science is physical science, including physics and chemistry, and the Bradbury is the best place in the state for this. My students have never been. At the Bradbury they will learn about cryogenics and liquid nitrogen, which is critical to a deep understanding phase change and chemical versus physical interactions; about radioactivity and the atom; about our history; and about rockets and forces, motion and gravitation. The museum visit will anchor conversations and activities in class for the entire spring semester. At this dual language school I teach my classes in Spanish, but the kids are bilingual.

Friday Service Projects at The MASTERS Program

School: The MASTERS Program Early College Charter High School

The MASTERS Program is an early college charter school on the campus of SFCC, serving a diversity of students, many of whom are the first generation in their families to go to college. The program allows students to move at their own pace and integrates high school classes with college classes based on each individual. We also provide a strong supportive community and service to the greater Santa Fe community.

Friday Projects are service-learning based and take our students in faculty-led groups out into the Santa Fe community every Friday. From the Humane Society, to The Horse Shelter, to Habitat for Humanity to Pinon Elementary School and to working with the county on trails, and more, we are building character and giving teens a sense of value with this program. Our request is for support running a bus that can take students to these projects. As a charter school, we cannot afford our own buses and the cost of renting each Friday is approximately $400/day.