OC MAS Secondary Newsletter - May 3

Your Bi-Weekly Newsletter for Grades 5-9

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR PRINCIPAL - DR. O'NEIL B. ANKLE

Warmest Wishes This Holiday Season to Our MAS 5th-10th Grade Families

As we approach the Yuletide season, we take this opportunity to reflect on the joy, love, and kindness that fill our school community.

We wish you and your family a joyous holiday season — whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another special tradition — filled with laughter, warmth, and cherished moments together. May this special time of year bring peace, happiness, and time to recharge and reflect.

As a school, we are grateful for your continued support and partnership in educating our students. Your trust and encouragement make a significant difference in their lives.

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season and a bountiful 2025 when it comes.

Sincerely,

Dr. O'Neil B. Ankle
Middle and Secondary School Leader
MAS Old Coors Campus

STUDENTS OF THE MONTH FOR NOVEMEBER

Avianna Dejesus – 5th Grade (NSU cohort)

Congratulations!

Favorite Subject: Reading

Two things she loves about MAS: The teachers and the teaching strategies used.

Keep excelling in all you and shooting for the stars.

Isabella Montoya – 5th Grade (NMSU cohort)

Congratulations!

Favorite Subject: Mathematics

Two things about MAS she likes: Choose Love and the different things we do that other schools don't get to do.

The sky is the limit. Continue making excellence your pathway to greatness and success.

Christian Valenzuela – 5th Grade (Highland cohort)
Favorite subject: Science

Two things he likes about MAS: The way we operate here and along with clean and tidy classrooms plus the seat sac arrangement.

Congratulations!

You are on your way to greatness. Always remember that you are on mission to succeed.

Daleyza Aguilar– 5th Grade (Eastern cohort)
Favorite Subject: ELA

Two things she loves about MAS: The friends she has made and the great teachers.

Congratulations!

You are born for success. You are destined to conquer the world and make your family proud.

MAS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

At a glitzy gala ceremony on Thursday, November 14, at the iconic Sandia Resort & Casino, MAS was presented with the prestigious Excellence in Workforce Development Award. The award recognizes the leading role we have played in workforce readiness, including the implementation of training and educational programs.

Our CEO and Founder, Ms. Joann Mitchell, Ed.S., accepted the award on behalf of the school. The recognition, made possible through the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA) and sponsored by Deloitte, is a proud moment for our community. We are honored to be the first school to receive this award.

CEO/Founder JoAnn Mitchell and members of the team celebrating this great day.

CHOOSE LOVE CHAMPION STUDENTS OF THE WEEK💖

CONGRATULATIONS!

L - R: Jocelyn Bacca, Jackie Calzadas, Aaliyah Romero, and Efrain Munoz

TEACHER PROFILE

Sharon Ali

Country of Origin: Sharon was born in Rio Claro and lived in Chaguanas, both in the beautiful country of Trinidad and Tobago.

Favorite Color: She doesn’t have a single favorite color! Sharon loves all colors and chooses them based on her mood. She gravitates toward neutral and pastel shades but also enjoys bright, playful ones. For formal occasions, darker shades are her go-to.

Favorite Phrase: “Always a student.”

Why Teaching as a Career: Sharon stumbled into teaching after initially pursuing a career in accounting. Though she worked in the accounting field for years, she found it unfulfilling. When she was called to teach, she immediately felt at home. Sharon loves interacting with students and sees teaching as her way of giving back, inspired by the tremendous impact her own teachers had on her life.

Interests: Her favorite pastime is relaxing with a good book or watching a Hindi film, a genre she avidly enjoys.

Fun Fact: Sharon is formally trained in Kathak, an East Indian classical dance form.

Bucket List: She dreams of backpacking through Europe with friends, though coordinating schedules has been a challenge.

How Long at MAS: January 2025 will mark her two-year anniversary.

Biggest Achievement as a Teacher: At her previous school, nearly 100% of students were failing the Principles of Accounts. class when she began teaching. During her tenure, their scores rose to an average of 60–75%, a transformation she is incredibly proud of.

She also played a pivotal role in creating a Technology Education curriculum for primary-level teachers at another school. At the time, technology was just being introduced into classrooms, and teachers were unsure how to integrate it. Sharon’s curriculum enabled both educators and students to use computers effectively for teaching and learning. She recalls the experience as both challenging and rewarding.

Favorite Food: Authentic Indian cuisine — curry is her ultimate favorite.

Favorite Restaurants in Albuquerque:

Red Robin (Cottonwood): She loves their fantastic veggie burger, her go-to meal on Thursdays when she fasts.
Royal Hyderabad (Juan Tabo Ave.): For authentic South Indian curries when she’s not in the mood to cook.

Teaching Philosophy: Sharon believes every classroom has its own unique community. Her role as a teacher is to help each child develop their potential and learning style. She brings an open mind, a positive attitude, and high expectations to her classroom every day. With 23 years of experience, she feels a strong responsibility to bring consistency, diligence, and warmth to her job, hoping to inspire these same qualities in her students.

UPDATE: AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE

“Every day that you attend school is an opportunity to expand your knowledge and shape your future.” — Unknown

Our goal for average daily attendance is 95 percent. When students in a grade level meet this goal for a full week, they earn a Dress Down Day the following Monday. If they reach 100 percent attendance on any given day, they earn a Dress Down Day the next day!

For November, the average daily attendance for each grade level was:

5th grade: 94 percent
6th grade: 94 percent
7th grade: 89 percent
8th grade: 90 percent

Overall average: 92 percent (2% less than October)

As you can see, all grades fell short of our 95 percent goal. Additionally, there has been a 2 percent decline from October. While we are three percentage points off the target, we are encouraged by the progress in grades 5 and 6, which are very close to meeting the goal.

Thank you for your continued efforts to send your children to school each day. Keep up the great work!

Our 7th and 8th-grade cohorts have some catching up to do, but we are optimistic about their potential to improve. Remember, attendance matters every day. Consistent attendance is essential for students to be well-prepared for exams and succeed academically.

IMPORTANT DATES IN DECEMBER

Please take note of the following dates in December:

Mon., Dec. 16: SAT Practice for 11th Graders
Wed., Dec. 18: English Language Arts Biweekly Assessment No. 4 for Grades 5 - 12
Thurs., Dec. 19: Test Prep Biweekly Assessment No. 4 for Grades 5 - 8
Fri., Dec. 20: Last day of school for the Fall semester!
Dec. 23–Jan. 8: Winter Break!

Looking ahead:

Thurs., Jan. 9, 2025: First Day of Second Semester for Students — Welcome Back!
Mon., Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day (School Closed)
Wed., Feb. 5: School Picture Day (Information Coming Soon!)
Mon. Feb. 17: Presidents’ Day (School Closed)