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DOCUMENT RESUME RC 020 819 ED 403 086 Native American Preparatory School. TITLE Native American Preparatory School, Rowe, NM. INSTITUTION PUB DATE 94 NOTE 17p. Descriptive (141) Reports PUB TYPE MFO1 /PCO1 Plus Postage. EDRS PRICE American Indian Culture; 'American Indian Education; DESCRIPTORS 'Boarding Schools; *College Bound Students; *College Preparation; *Culturally Relevant Education; Educational Philosophy; Secondary Education; Secondary Schools; Summer Schools *Native American Preparatory School NM; Native IDENTIFIERS Americans ABSTRACT This booklet provides information on the Native American Preparatory School, a residential secondary school in Rowe, New Mexico, for high-achieving Native American students. The school sponsors two programs: a 5-week rigorously academic summer school for junior high school students and, beginning in fall 1995, a 4-year college preparatory program. The programs stress character and cultural development through academics, community service, athletics, and the arts, with the goal of preparing Native American students to be successful in college and to become effective community leaders. The school's philosophy is based on blending Native American and Western education and emphasizing culture, the community, creativity, and challenge. The school is located in the Pecos River valley on land that was sacred to the Paequiu tribe during the 12th century. The curriculum focuses on critical thinking skills, effective communication skills, writing fluency, and computer literacy. In addition, all students participate in athletics and extracurricular activities. Admission is based solely on merit, and financial aid is available. Course offerings and special activities are listed. The booklet lists the board of directors and advisory board members. (LP) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** 1 I i 1. - A - a... ...AMA.. E 1 ;LAKE BEST COPY V I. THIS "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE SE DARTMENT OF U GRANTED BY CO MATERIAL HAS BEEN Oce 0 Ment pOve h eDUCMTION C EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION 0 r Pla n L:::...' CENTER (Emo document ha* been reproduced as Vrho, CCirtq CNS received from the person or orpenaseon ongtrasting it O Minor changes have been made to Improve reproduction quality RESOURCES 4-) TO THE EDUCATIONAL Pants of view or opinions stated In this docu- 9 (ERIC)" ment do not necessarily represent often INFORMATION CENTER . OE RI ammo,' or policy Native vnev.i ca Pv-epa v-a-FoPy School Missiort Sfateme vvf- The Native American Preparatory School is a student-centered program that provides Native American students with a stimulating four-year college preparatory experience stressing character and cultural development through a curriculum encompassing academics, community service, athletics and the arts. The Native American Preparatory School strives to achieve the highest standards of excellence, serving as a national model for pub- lic and independent Native American college preparatory education. This would be accomplished by bringing together the best academic principles with the strengths of traditional values and identities rooted in the students' tribal cultures. The Native American Preparatory School is dedicated to nurturing the intellectual, ethical and leadership potential of each student, instilling high ideals of excellence and motivation to pursue dreams and aspirations while promoting a strong sense of responsibility to the many communities in which they will participate. Summer 1994 enemyignorance and oppres- rimary shape, the circle, sion. Four eagle feathers hang symbolizes the holistic continuity from the shield representing the of Indian Culture. The circle also four directions and the power of forms the shape of the medicine the eagle brought to the educa- shield taken into battle by Plains tional process. The symbol con- Indians for personal protection tains traditional and contempo- against the enemy (the battle rary elements to represent the here is against ignorance). educated Indian's ability to walk Instead of Thunderbirds, buf- in both worlds successfully. faloes or other representational hand-painted designs on the shield, the flame of enlighten- John Nieto ment and liberty appears for protection from the contemporary Artist. 1 CHAIRMAN MESSAGE FROM leaders not only of their own American Indian people are a tribes and states, but will also national treasure and resource. become effective architects of America has much to gain from United States policy. We help the thousands of years of experi- our exceptional students recog- ence of Native Americans on the nize their own abilities, and pre- North American continent. The pare them to wrestle with the knowledge and wisdom accumu- formidable societal challenges lated is increasingly appreciated that face all of us. With quality by the United States and the education, American Indian peo- world as a whole. The storehouse ple will regain their rightful of wisdom encompasses all the place in Americaproud of their disciplines, but in particular, the culture and traditions, and confi- relationship of human beings to dent in their ability to succeed at the rest of the natural world, a any endeavor. subject we must all master for our global survival. Richard P. Ettinger The youth who are educated at the Native American Chairman of the Board of Directors Preparatory School will be the 5 [ 2 ) MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL emit challenge. Proud of their The Native American Prepara- heritage, secure in who they are, tory School is as much about the our students will face a future heart as it is the head, as much where doors will open rather than about preparation for success and close on their hopes, and where leadership in life as it is success the boundaries of their achieve- in college. The Native American ment will be limited only by the students who graduate from our scope of their own imaginations. school will have affirmed and cel- ebrated the value of their culture Norman E. Carey, Ph.D. and traditions; they will also have learned to meet and master acad- Head of School V PHILOSOPHY foundation. These beliefs lead to The Native American Prepara- a unique educational institution tory School Inc. (NAPS) is dedi- with a special character. This cated to providing talented character derives from the follow- Native American students with ing understandings: educational opportunities of the Culture: The millennia highest quality in an academic old cultures and traditions of the and social environment that rec- Native American nations are ognizes the culture of the student priceless human assets. We main- as fundamental to his or her edu- tain that cultural, spiritual and cation. In all of its programs, educational growth is inter- NAPS strives to blend the best twined and inseparable. It is this features of Native American and blending that has made Native Western education in ways that American cultures effective, enhance the potential of each stu- adaptable and enduring. It is our dent. NAPS is committed to the goal to enable students to be idea that the amount that a stu- knowledgeable committed custo- dent can learn is limited only by dians of their culture. the motivation of the students, Community: The the ability of the instructor and worth of individuals is measured the resources of the educational by what they contribute to their environment. Traditional Native community, family and nation American knowledge working in rather than by what they take conjunction with cutting edge away. NAPS seeks to educate stu- educational research provides our [ demic program taught by the dents to be productive, socially best instructors available. We responsible individuals with an challenge students artistically understanding of their place in with the goal that each student the local and global community. should excel in a chosen art form. NAPS is committed to the total We challenge students physically involvement of the community through the use of a wide range and extended family in the stu- of sports games and encourage dent's education. Creativity: The need for healthful living. We also challenge students to be spiritually creativity in addressing the issues strong enough to achieve all their facing Native American nations goals in a changing society. The and the world is imperative. At tasks we present for our students NAPS, we celebrate the potential will prepare them for a changing of the creative individual. It is future of Native America and the our goal to provide a supportive world. and stimulating educational This 4C approach experience that fosters creativity, (Culture, Community, Creativity creative thinking and innovation. Challenge: We see and Challenge) sets the stage to prepare Native American stu- challenge as one of the primary dents for lifelong learning and driving forces behind the Native achievement. American Preparatory School. We seek to challenge students mentally through a rigorous aca- 8 [ 5 HISTORY OF SCHOOL for a growing student body rep- The Native American Prepara- resenting more than fifty Native tory School was founded for the American tribes and nations. The purpose of providing highly summers of 1992, '93 and '94 motivated American Indian chil- saw the school co-sponsored by dren in grades seven, eight and the Department of Social Ecology nine with an opportunity to pre- at the University of California, pare themselves intellectually, Irvine for one hundred and fifty emotionally and socially to meet junior high boys and girls. the challenges of secondary A summer school was also con- school and higher education. ducted in '94 on the campus of NAPS sponsors two programs: the College of Santa Fe, New 1. A five week rigorously Mexico. Students have participat- academic summer school for high ed in an innovative, educational achieving, motivated American program that motivated and Indian junior high school stu- encouraged them to pursue high- dents and er education. This goal was 2. A four-year college accomplished through the total preparatory school scheduled to immersion of selected students in admit its first class September a culturally and academically 1995 near Santa Fe, New enriched environment. Mexico. The first summer school A recent study has indicated that opened in 1988 for fifty Navajo over 80% of NAPS participants children on the campus of Verde matriculated and are attending Valley School in Sedona, Arizona. college. This compares to less In the summers of 1989, '90 and than 35% of Native students '91 the program was conducted generally. at New Mexico State University rr,I 9 THE CAMPUS NAPS acquired the campus in The location of the Native Amer- 1994 from Larry Wilson, who in ican Preparatory School is in the turn purchased the 1600-acres beautiful valley of the Pecos Riv- from Colonel Edward Gavin. er which has a rich and fertile Although Larry spent years history. In the twelfth century, investing time, energy and mon- thousands of Tanoan people ey to improve the site and make occu- the Pecos River Learning Center pied a number of pueblos scat- a truly special place, he has tered along the upper Pecos Riv- always shared the Native Ameri- er Valley. These people called can belief that one can only be a themselves Paequiu, from which steward of the land, but not its the Spanish derived the word "Pecos". The Paequiu supported owner. themselves by buffalo hunting The Board of Directors of the and farming. A few miles west, Native American Preparatory the Pecos National Monument School, whose majority consists has been established based on the of distinguished American Indian ancient ruins, kivas and churches leaders, now rejoice in the fact of a once-thriving community, that the sacred lands of the origi- which served as a key trading nal inhabitants now are protected junction between Plains Indians by the stewardship of the NAPS from the East and the local Board - forever dedicated to the Pueblo inhabitants. When the education of Native American village was abandoned, remnants youth - their scholarship, culture of the residents relocated west to and future. join the Jemez Pueblo community, were they have prospered ever since. [ 7 1 0