March 2012

McCurdy Message McCurdy School, a mission of the United Methodist Church 261 S. McCurdy Road, Española, NM 87532, 505-753-7221, www.mccurdy.org

McCurdy Updates There will be three Centennial Celebrations in 2012. The first will be a Health Fun Fair on April 14, the second will be a McCurdy Centennial Graduation 2012 on May 26, and finally a Centennial Reunion held on July 20, 21 and 22, 2012 in Española for alumni, VIMers, former faculty, staff and supporters. (Page 2.) • During the 2012 VIM season we are gearing up to make a big difference for God and McCurdy in 2012! (Page 3.) • The 2012 Gala was the most successful yet. (Page 3.) • McCurdy Charter School and McCurdy Ministries planning continues. (Page 6. ) • The McCurdy HS boys and girls basketball teams are district 2A champions! (Page 5.) Turn inside for more information. •

A Message from our superintendent As this newsletter goes to print, I am once again reminded of the power in numbers. The numbers of our many volunteers including parents, individuals, volunteer in mission teams, community volunteers, staff, students, members of the Board of Trustees, members of the Foundation Board and the many churches and organizations who continuously give of their time, energy, God-given talents, prayers and financial support all the while outpouring their love. Each volunteer is a constant affirmation of our Lord’s calling for us to be in service to one another. As we continue to celebrate our 100th year in service to the Espanola Valley and its surrounding communities, we see clear evidence that our far-reaching volunteerism is alive and well. The generous support that comes to us in many forms and from many parts of the country is a testimony to the fact that McCurdy volunteerism has multiplied many times over many decades. The legacy of McCurdy School lies in the generations of people who have given freely so others could be empowered to positively impact the world. We may never be able to measure or account for McCurdy’s impact. The important thing to remember and remind ourselves, is the fact that, even when circumstances seem to tell a different story, Our Lord knows our hearts, our intentions, our motivations and our actions. He is in control. He is the giver, the comforter, the provider. We are His hands and feet that will continue the work and experience the joy that comes from honoring and glorifying His holy name through our actions in service to His children. On behalf of the McCurdy Schools of Northern New Mexico faculty, staff, and families, it is my honor to thank you and pray that our Lord will continue to sustain you and prosper you . Yours in Christ, Patricia Alvarado, superintendent/headmistress

Congrats to these McCurdy students for their achievements! Joel Martinez, McCurdy Middle School 8th grade student, placed first at the Rio Arriba County Spelling Bee. Joel will represent Rio Arriba County at the New Mexico State Spelling Bee on March 24, 2012. The McCurdy Science Fair Winners are: (Behavioral) 1. Eliana Griego, 2. Miah Martinez & Alannah Sanchez, 3. Alyssia Baca & Samantha Moquino, (Chemistry) 1. Zachary Tsosie, 2. Josh Gomez, Mariah Martinez & Roberto Quijandria, 3. Diane Williams, ( Engineering and Physics) 1. Matthew Bryant. 2. Bryan VanderVossen, 3. Jesse Gallegos & Raul Galvan, (Health and Medicine) 1. Jonathan Gonzales, Justin Luketich & Dakota Wilson, 2. Christopher Martinez, Edgar Santos and Eric Vigil, (Energy and Environment) First Place and Grand Champion, Mirella Galvan and Madison Woelfel, 2. Josh Wells, 3. Daniel Arroyo/de Alva, Allen Sandoval & Christopher Serrano. Congratulations!

McCurdy Message, page 2 PHOTO OF MELLIE HERE

Celebrating 100 years of mission in New Mexico

Mellie Perkins, United Brethren founder of McCurdy

In 2012 New Mexico celebrates becoming the 47th state and McCurdy School celebrates 100 years of mission to northern New Mexico. Could United Brethren Missionary and Deaconess Mellie Perkins, who started the mission school in Velarde, New Mexico in 1912, have dreamed her work would continue into the next century? Could she have imagined how many lives would be affected by her decision to be God’s hands and feet in a small village? Every year with each new student and graduate we honor Mellie Perkin’s vision and dedication. We are also honoring her work with the Centennial events listed below.

Upcoming Centennial events As our gift back to the Española Valley in thanksgiving for 100 years of support we are holding a Health/Fun Fair, April 14, 2012 on the McCurdy campus. Over the last 100 years we started the first medical clinic staffed by missionary doctors, the first nursing program, the hospital that is now Española Presbyterian Hospital and the first fire department all while educating thousands of children in the valley. To honor these accomplishments we are holding our first McCurdy Health/Fun Fair from 8 AM to 1 PM on Saturday, April 14, at Memorial Gym, Pringle Student Center and the surrounding grounds. The theme will be “McCurdy Combats Childhood Obesity”. The day will start with a One Mile Fun Walk/Run on the McCurdy track. There will be an 8 AM start for adults and youth (ages 14-17) who want to run a mile and there will be an 11:30 AM start for families and children (ages up to 13) who want to walk, run or cycle a mile. The Rio Grande Sun is cosponsoring the event with the school. Española Presbyterian Hospital will provide health screenings, Rio Arriba County Cooperative Extension Service will provide a healthy eating component and our McCurdy teachers and students will create fun, healthy parent-child activities for the whole family. We are inviting alumni in the medical field to return to share their expertise AND let McCurdy students know what they can accomplish with their lives. The chairperson of this event is Cecilia Rodriguez. If you are a service provider/agency who would like to have a booth at the Health/Fun Fair email Cecilia at [email protected]. Our 2012 Centennial Graduating class cordially invites all McCurdy graduates to return to campus on May 26 for our Centennial Graduation. That day there will be a special section for alumni to sit and all alumni are invited to participate in sending our 2012 graduates out to serve the world. There will be a class reunion for those classes celebrating their 50, 60 and 70 anniversaries. For more information on the class reunions please contact Vickie Luviano at 505-753-7221, ext. 268. Mark our three day Summer Centennial Celebration on July 20, 21 and 22, 2012 on your calendar now! On Friday, July 20, there will be a McCurdy Historical Drama directed by Dee Dee Heffner with McCurdy students followed by a Student/Alumni Art Show and reception. Saturday, July 21, will begin with a Worship Service at McCurdy’s original site at Velarde followed by a visit to Alcalde and La Loma Vista Cemetery where many of McCurdy’s missionaries are buried. There will be a break in activities from noon to 3 PM to allow time for visiting and catching up. At 3 PM there will be Guided Tours of the campus followed by a Celebration Banquet with living history entertainment that will take us back to life in the valley in 1912. Sunday, July 22, there will be a Centennial Worship Service including a centennial choir. The chairperson for this event is Edith Brown. To volunteer email her at [email protected]. To register for these events please fill out the form on the facing page and mail it to Vickie Luviano, 261 S. McCurdy Road, Espanola, NM 87532.

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Centennial Events Registration Form McCurdy Health/Fun Fair, 8 AM to noon, April 14, 2012, Registration Form. Name(s) _____________________ Address _____________________ Email ____________________ _____I (we) will run in the _____ 8 AM run for adults & youth _____ 11:30 AM walk/run for families _____I am interested in providing a booth for the fair that focuses on living a healthy life. My name is___________________. Please contact me by phone at __________ by email at __________. Please send me a flyer with more information on the event by _____ mail or by _______________ email.

Centennial McCurdy Graduation, 11 AM, Saturday, May 26, 2012, Registration Form _____I am a McCurdy graduate class of _____ . Please reserve _____ seat(s) for me in the alum section at graduation. Name(s) _____________________ Address _____________________ Email ____________________ _____I am a graduate of the class of 1962, 1952 or 1942 and would like more information on the 50,60 & 70 year reunion that will take place on graduation day. Name and contact information: __________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

McCurdy Centennial Celebration, July 20-22, 2012, Registration Form Deadline to register is June 15, 2012! _____I am a McCurdy graduate class of _____. _____I am a McCurdy missionary from _____ to _____. I am a McCurdy staffer from _____ to _____. _____I am a McCurdy supporter. I am a McCurdy VIMer or volunteer from ____________ year(s). Name(s)______________________________ Number attending _____ Phone(s) ___________________ Address _____________________________________________ Email ____________________________ Registration Fee $10 per person

_____Number attending

_____Amount due

The $10 registration fee per person will cover printing, postage, equipment rentals and expenses for the weekend. Each person registered will receive a Centennial Celebration Booklet. If you cannot attend but wish to receive the booklet please send $10 to help defray the cost of the booklet.

_____ I plan to attend the McCurdy Historical Drama, Art Show and Reception starting at 7 PM, Friday, July 20. _______ Number attending Celebration Banquet $25 per person _____Number attending _____Amount due The banquet will be a traditional Northern New Mexico dinner catered by El Paragua. The menu will be: salad, red enchiladas, tamales, posole, beans, bread and dessert. Tax and gratuities are included.

$5 Continental Breakfast (7/21) at Velarde _____Number attending _____Amount due _____Number attending who would like to ride in the McCurdy bus. $5 Continental Breakfast (7/22) at Santa Cruz UMC _____Number attending _____Amount due Total Due _______________ Please include this registration form with a check made out to McCurdy School Centennial and mail it to McCurdy School, 261 S. McCurdy Road, Espanola, NM 87532. To pay by credit card call the school at 505-753-7221, ext. 214. Tickets for the paid events will not be mailed but may be picked up at the registration table beginning Friday afternoon. Please make your motel reservations soon because there will not be housing available on campus. Questions? Call Rev. Diana Loomis at 505-753-7221, ext. 352, or email her at [email protected].

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Gala 15 update

Gala gallery of donated art to be auctioned off.

The fifteenth annual McCurdy Gala was held Feb. 11, with over 400 attending and $90,000 raised which is the largest amount raised in the history of the Gala! The theme was “Herencia en el Valle” and the event was celebrating 100 years in the Española Valley Thanks to all the hard work of our many Gala volunteers especially our Co-chairpersons, Helen Finch and David and Martha Milhouse. Gala committee members include: Marian Martinez, Ruby Rodriguez, Ymelda Samora, Pat Lujan, Chelsea Felker, Diana Loomis, Norma Herrera, Vanessa Sanchez, Patricia Alvarado and Eufemia Romero.

Volunteers in Mission will continue to make a difference for McCurdy Many mission team volunteers, as well as individual volunteers have called to ask the same question, “Will you still need us when you become a charter school?” The answer is a resounding “YES!” The General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church still owns the property and buildings that you have so faithfully helped maintain. We will still be a program of the Women’s Division of the United Methodist Church and more than that we will begin new ministries to make a difference for the students and families of McCurdy School and all the people of the Espanola Valley. We will still need our volunteers! As of this printing, we have 47 mission teams scheduled to come to McCurdy in 2012. In fact, our first mission team, a group of three nurses and two nurse practitioners from Otterbein University in Ohio, has already been here and completed vision screenings on all our students! Other mission teams have scheduled dates from March all the way through October, with the following states being represented: Ohio, Michigan, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Indiana and Pennsylvania! Our summer months, with the exception of late August, are pretty well booked. However, if you are interested in bringing a mission team during the summer, and you have less than 5, I might be able to squeeze you in with other teams, depending on the week. We have weeks available from March through May and late August through December. For more information, including a work team packet and a description of what types of work we have, please contact me, Vickie Luviano, VIM Coordinator at [email protected] or via telephone 505-753-7221, ext. 268 or 505-927-3683. If you would like to come as an individual volunteer, or come with your spouse or a friend or neighbor, we accept individual volunteers throughout the school year. Whether you come as an individual or a mission team member, remember to be flexible in what you expect, as jobs are assigned in order of need and what might not seem important to you may be critical to the life of the school and our future ministries. McCurdy School is a wonderful place to come and serve as Christ’s hands and feet and we love our Volunteers in Mission! Be blessed and continue being a blessing to others! Vickie Luviano, VIM Coordinator

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McCurdy students learning & making a difference!

As a part of their 100th day celebration McCurdy 1st graders donned glasses and crowns for some fun AND collected over $250 of pennies to donate to Heifer Project International as a class mission project. They will continue collecting until after Lent when they will choose which animals to send and where to send them with the help of Heifer Project. McCurdy Pueblo students (to the left) share their tribal tradition and their Christian faith at chapel.

Go Bobcats! Congratulations to the McCurdy High School girls and boys basketball teams (shown at right) who are celebrating after clinching the District 2A championship title for boys and girls basketball.

Kareen Reyer teachers her 4th graders to work together to form a cross during a religion class project. Each student could only use one hand.

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McCurdy Charter School News

Order the McCurdy School

“Recipes of a Century Past” Cookbook! After three years in the making one hundred years of food for mind, body and soul will be available this summer at a cost of $15. All proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will support McCurdy’s United Methodist ministries. There will be more information in the next McCurdy Message in June. If you would like to pre-order a cookbook make your check out to Bobcats 12 and send your order to Milt Denny, 800 Pearl St. #411, Denver,C0 80203. For more information email Milt at [email protected] .

The McCurdy Charter School Interim Governance Board has been working diligently to prepare for McCurdy Charter School’s opening in the August of 2012. The new school will have a maximum enrollment of 584 students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. The maximum enrollment is contingent upon Public School Facility Authority’s certification of McCurdy Facilities and its 18-month plan for meeting the weighted New Mexico Condition Index. The board is working with the state on a plan to open McCurdy Charter School on the campus currently occupied by McCurdy Schools of Northern New Mexico. Part of this plan is to team with a successful charter school developer and have a new school building built on the current McCurdy School campus. The McCurdy Schools of Northern New Mexico Board of Trustees is in talks with the General Board of Global Ministries and the Charter School Interim Governance Board to develop a plan to accomplish construction of a new building. McCurdy Charter School held its first open enrollment period early in February resulting in 399 accepted applications which is 68% of planned school capacity. All grades, except 7th grade which is full and has a waiting list, have openings. There will be a second enrollment period opened in mid March to fill the other grades and the Charter Board is optimistic the goal of a full school capacity of 584 students will be realized. McCurdy Charter School’s mission is to provide a safe learning environment for the students of Northern New Mexico in an environment that recognizes education is rooted in academic pursuit and achievement, character development and awareness as well as community engagement and leadership. The school will be characterized by academic excellence based on high expectations, a pre-collegiate learning environment, a high level of accountability for administrators, teachers and students and will have a collaborative school environment in which parents, students, teachers, administrators, and community members work toward common, measurable results in a situation that is highly supportive of challenge and innovation.

Ohio Celebration of McCurdy’s Centennial to be held McCurdy School invites you to an Ohio celebration including a Worship Celebration of McCurdy’s 100 years and a lunch inspired by New Mexican cuisine from 11 AM to 2 PM, Saturday, March 17, 2012, at Reynoldsburg United Methodist Church, 1636 Graham Road, Reynoldsburg, OH 40638. A freewill offering will be taken to make technology improvements at McCurdy. Please mark your check Ohio Centennial Offering so the school can easily track donations from this event. Lunch tickets will be $10 per person. Please prepay reservations by emailing [email protected] and mailing a check made out to Reynoldsburg UMC, attention McCurdy Centennial Celebration, 1636 Graham Road, Reynoldsburg, OH 40638. All McCurdy alumni, faculty, missionaries, Volunteers in Mission, UMW Women, supporters and those who want to learn about McCurdy are cordially invited to join a team of faculty, staff and students, including Ohio missionaries to New Mexico Rev. Dennis and Mrs. Dee Dee Heffner from McCurdy, for a celebration of the school’s one hundred years of ministry. The day will be filled with good music, inspiring sharing and wonderful fellowship!

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McCurdy Ministries Update Ongoing work is being done to shape the United Methodist ministries that will be on the McCurdy campus once McCurdy Charter Schools opens in August of 2012. The goal of the United Methodist ministry will be to surround the students, families and staff of McCurdy Charter School with every kind of ministry in the name of Jesus Christ to make the students and their families stronger. Existing ministries including Volunteers in Mission, chapel services, Project Cariño (the mental health counseling project established by Women’s Division grants), McCurdy Preschool and the Before and After School program will form the heart of the United Methodist ministry. In addition, strategic planning is being done to determine what areas the ministry should expand programs. Possibilities include parenting classes, teen center, summer educational enrichment camp and Volunteers in Mission trips to help McCurdy students fulfill their service learning requirements and learn what it means to be in mission in the name of Jesus Christ. The McCurdy Schools of Northern New Mexico Preschool will have open enrollment for three and four year olds from April 2012 to May 2012. Family and student interviews will occur the first week of June 2012.

Box Tops & Campbell’s Labels help McCurdy! General Mills Box Tops for Education & Campbell’s Labels for Education Programs make a tremendous difference for the school. McCurdy has participated in the General Mills Box Tops for Education Program since 2002, and since then has earned over $73,000 one dime at a time! McCurdy is currently ranked #1 in the state of New Mexico and #12 in the United States in the Box Tops program. Recently, Vickie Luviano received a humorous phone from Box Tops. She said, “I was told that our submissions did not weigh as much as they should, but that our Box Tops had been counted, and our submission was correct. I was then asked if I knew why our submissions did not weigh as much as others. I had to chuckle and tell the gentleman on the phone that sure, I knew why. I told him that we peel the backs of the Box Tops so they’re thinner. He asked ‘Why on earth would you do that?’ and she explained, “McCurdy is a mission school, therefore we do all we can to save money. Peeling the backs saves money on postage! Then he asked if we actually had pictures of folks peeling the backs off the labels. I e-mailed pictures to him, and we haven’t been questioned again.” To all of you who collect and send in those Box Tops, please be sure to download the most current participating product lists each school year. Many, many new items have been added to the list. Online please go to www.btfe.com or www.boxtops4education.com for all the latest information. You can also sign up as a supporter of McCurdy School, and it will cost you nothing! We get bonus Box Tops if you do sign up, and you can check our progress any time. McCurdy has participated in the Campbell’s Labels for Education Program for over 20 years, and it is fun to share our accomplishments with you! During the time McCurdy has participated, we’ve acquired the following items plus much more: • 15 vans (12 were 15-passenger vans, but last three were minivans) Earlier vans cost one million points each, but the last three cost 1.5 million points each! • PE and playground equipment, including balls, jump ropes, games and scooters. • Computers, software for classrooms, digital cameras for the yearbook class, TV/VCR/DVD combos for classrooms, camcorders, projectors, math sets for classrooms… • Large coffee urns and drink coolers used in the cafeteria to serve our mission teams. To visit the Campbell’s website, go to www.labelsforeducation.com. To find out how to participate in elabels each time you shop, go to www.eLabelsforeducation.com and register. Your continued support of our Campbell’s Labels for Education and General Mills Box Tops for Education programs is deeply appreciated. We have accomplished much through these programs with the help of our supporters all over the United States. May God richly bless all your efforts on our behalf!

Please mail your Campbell’s Labels for Education and your Box Tops for Education to: 261 S. McCurdy Road, Espanola, NM 87532. Your donations of labels DO make a difference!

McCurdy School

Non–Profit Org. US Postage

261 S McCurdy Road Española, NM 87532 505-753-7221, 505-753-7830 (FAX) www.mccurdy.org

Albuquerque NM Permit No 1322

PAID

Quality education with a Christian emphasis

McCurdy: a 100 year mission success story! For 100 years United Methodists have been working in Espanola, NM, to change the lives of children through education. When Mellie Perkins, a United Brethren missionary, started the school in October of 1912, there were no other schools of any kind in the valley. Those first workers were not only teachers they were nurses and missionaries. They shared their faith and worked diligently to make the lives of people better. Over the last 100 years we started the first medical clinic staffed with missionary doctors, the first nursing program, the only hospital in Espanola and the first fire department all while educating thousands of children in the valley. McCurdy educates our children in a safe, caring Christian atmosphere protected from the gangs and drug problems encountered in local public schools. We promote academic excellence, character and service learning while maintaining a zero percent dropout rate as compared to the public school 53% dropout rate. Last year one of our graduates entered Job Corps and the other 30 started college earning $417,000 of scholarships. All this is accomplished by the United Methodist Church through McCurdy School and in the name of Jesus Christ in a town where 25% of adults over 25 have not graduated from high school, the per capita income is $19,703 and over 25% of the population lives below the poverty line. United Methodist mission donations comprise one third to one half of the McCurdy budget each year. These donations provide scholarship funds for students demonstrating financial need, salaries for teachers, textbooks, insurance and utilities. This Lent McCurdy School invites you to prayerfully consider supporting this worthy mission school that is located in one of the poorest counties in the United States. You can help McCurdy financially and spiritually by: Making a donation and encouraging your church to donate regularly to McCurdy, making a donation of cash, stocks, land or appreciated assets, collecting Campbell’s labels and Box Tops for Education, donating a gift annuity to the school to earn income during your life and blessing the school with a donation after your death, organizing a Volunteers in Mission Team from your church to learn about the school and enjoy the Land of Enchantment, remembering the school in your will, setting up an endowed scholarship in the McCurdy Foundation, donating your old car when you purchase a new one, inviting the McCurdy church relations team to your church program, dinner or worship event and praying for the school daily. Questions about the school or making a donation? Call Rev. Diana Loomis, McCurdy Director of Development and Church relations at 505-753-7221, ext. 352, email at [email protected] or mail to 261 S. McCurdy Road, Espanola, NM 87532, to learn more about the many ways you can support McCurdy School.