Warrior Weekly

Important Dates:

Monday 3/24/25 11th grade class meeting for pre-registration of the SAT in the commons @10 AM

Monday 3/24/25 School Board Meeting 5:30 pm.

Wednesday March 26, 2025 Staff Meeting 4:15 pm in the Library

Course Selection grades 9-11 to select classes for the 25-26 SY will take place in Social Studies classes this week.

Golf-

March 27

Track-

Rehoboth vs. Loving Home Park 3/29 Sat

Moriarty Tourn. (3) Away MHS 3/27-29 Th-Sat

Baseball-

Deming(C2) Home SHS 3/24 Mon 4C/6C

Belen(JV,V) Home SHS 3/25 Tues 4JV/6V

Highland High(JV,V) Away HHS 3/28 Fri 4JV/6V

I read this over break and as a mom of a 17 and 20 year old it resonated with me as a reminder that our teens in high school need the same understanding and compassion from all adults not just parents. I will share this with our parents in their newsletter. A good read as we start the last quarter of the year! We are almost there champions of learning!

- Principal Rivera

Dear Mom and Dad,

Please stick with me. I can’t think clearly right now because there is a rather substantial section of my prefrontal cortex missing. It’s a fairly important chunk, something having to do with rational thought. You see, it won’t be fully developed until I’m about 25. And from where I sit, 25 seems a long way off.

My brain is not yet fully developed It doesn’t matter that I’m smart; even a perfect score on my math SAT doesn’t insulate me from the normal developmental stages that we all go through. Judgement and intelligence are two completely distinct things. And, the same thing that makes my brain wonderfully flexible, creative and sponge-like also makes me impulsive. Not necessarily reckless or negligent but more impulsive than I will be later in life. So when you look at me like I have ten heads after I’ve done something “stupid” or failed to do something “smart,” you’re not really helping.

You adults respond to situations with your prefrontal cortex (rationally) but I am more inclined to respond with my amygdala (emotionally). And when you ask, “What were you thinking?” the answer is I wasn’t, at least not in the way you are. You can blame me, or you can blame mother nature, but either way, it is what it is. At this point in my life, I get that you love me, but my friends are my everything. Please understand that. Right now I choose my friends, but, don’t be fooled, I am watching you. Carefully. Please stick with me.

Here’s what you can do for me:

1. Model adulting.

I see all the behaviors that you are modeling and I hear all of the words you say. I may not listen but I do hear you. I seem impervious to your advice, like I’m wearing a Kevlar vest but your actions and words are penetrating. I promise. If you keep showing me the way, I will follow even if I detour many, many times before we reach our destination.

2. Let me figure things out for myself.

If you allow me to experience the consequences of my own actions I will learn from them. Please give me a little bit of leash and let me know that I can figure things out for myself. The more I do, the more confidence and resilience I will develop.

3. Tell me about you.

I want you to tell me all the stories of the crazy things you did as a teen, and what you learned from them. Then give me the space to do the same.

4. Help me with perspective.

Keep reminding me of the big picture. I will roll my eyes at you and make all kinds of grunt-like sounds. I will let you know in no uncertain terms that you can’t possibly understand any of what I’m going through. But I’m listening. I really am. It’s hard for me to see anything beyond the weeds that I am currently mired in. Help me scan out and focus on the long view. Remind me that this moment will pass.

5. Keep me safe.

Please remind me that drugs and driving don’t mix. Keep telling me that you will bail me out of any dangerous situation, no anger, no lectures, no questions asked. But also let me know over and over and over that you are there to listen, when I need you.

6. Be kind.

I will learn kindness from you and if you are relentless in your kindness to me, someday I will imitate that behavior. Don’t ever mock me, please and don’t be cruel. Humor me-I think I know everything. You probably did as well at my age. Let it go.

7. Show interest in the things I enjoy.

Some days I will choose to share my interests with you, and it will make me feel good if you validate those interests, by at least acting interested. One day when the haze of adolescence lifts, you will find a confident, strong, competent, kind adult where a surly teenager once stood. In the meantime, buckle in for the ride.

Please stick with me. Love, Your Teenager

https://trib.al/jQ7BxIj

The questions on the survey are designed to help assess your school's current practices and growth as you deepen your school/ district’s commitment to an integrated and embodied model of cultivating social and emotional learning for adults and students.

What will we do with your responses? This assessment does NOT ask for your name but it does ask for the name of your school or district. The raw data will be accessible to the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for New Mexico (SEL4NM) and will not be shared.

As your designated SEL4NM coach, Lynne will prepare a report of your staff's responses and share them with you and your team to support reflection and planning for next year.

Please find the two links to the assessments for your school below. One link is for English speakers and one is for Spanish Speakers.

Here are your links:

English: Socorro post SEL Readiness Self-Assessment, English

And for Spanish Language faculty: Socorro post SEL Readiness Self-Assessment, Spanish

• SEL Readiness survey. (Link in above narrative).
• .Book Study for the PLTs that got their books. (10 Min read following by 15 min discuss)
• Planning Q4 lesson sharing and mapping out the curriculum for the final stretch.
• Questions for discussion: How will you prepare 11th graders for testing? (NM-ASR and SAT) What PBLs can you develop to increase engagement for student learning outcomes? what high quality instructional materials will you be using from the district's curriculum resources to ensure grade level academic instruction?

I am excited to share with you that this month's HIGH SCHOOL Teen Talk is happening next Friday 3/28 from 6:30pm-8:30pm! We will have Mickey Kivitz from The Grief Center ABQ coming to talk with the students about how to reach out to a friend who has lost a loved one, how to navigate loss, what to say/what not to say, etc. Mickey will be an excellent resource for our teens to ask questions and discuss in a safe and supportive environment. There will be games, discussion and free pizza/snacks! Can you please share with all high school students? Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I am very happy to assist. Please encourage students to attend this valuable opportunity!

Thank you for your support!

Bernadette Lopez

SCOPE Health Council

Youth Outreach Coordinator

THRIVE365 Youth Council Leader

Socorro County, New Mexico

"Young people are the future. Hear their voices."