Mary Meredith K-12 School
October Newsletter 2023-2024 School Year
Mary Meredith K-12 School
From the Principal
Welcome to fall, my favorite time of year. Tucson finally begins to cool off and our sky’s show off with spectacular sunsets. With the change of seasons comes the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the holiday season. Students have continued putting forth their best efforts academically and behaviorally. We have begun our fall planting and cannot wait to see our harvest. Our music class with Mr. Carlos continues to inspire and engage our students as they learn various instruments and work towards our fall festival performance. Please check out our important dates for upcoming events at Meredith.
"Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.”
-Lauren Destefano
Mustang Pride: Welcome Carlos Ramirez to Meredith
Carlos Garcia Ramirez
Music Educator/ Bassoonist/ Orchestra Conductor
Carlos Ramirez is originally from a Yaqui tribe community in Sonora, Mexico, he was born and raised in Guaymas, Mexico. Carlos began his musical studies when he was 10 years old at Fray Ivo Toneck Arts Foundation in Guaymas. He became the principal bassoonist for The Young National Orchestra of Mexico (2009 - 2012). In 2012, he was a founder conductor of the Orquesta Sinfonica Esperanza Azteca Sonora: a large national social music program from Fundacion Azteca that created through the music, a safe space to learn for exceptional students. He also conducted with the famous cellist Carlos Prieto, the Saint - Säenz cello concerto in A minor. Through 2012-2016, Carlos got the title of the youngest orchestra conductor of Mexico. He got the honorific title of National Arts Ambassador of Mexico by the Former President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto. In 2018, Carlos created La Caridad Symphonic Orchestra; a special music education program in Nacozari, Sonora. Carlos graduated from Music Education with emphasis in bassoon and special education from the Fred Fox School of Music at the University of Arizona
During his time as undergraduate student he was bassonist of The Fred Fox Graduate Wind Quintet (2019-2021), and JustArts Fellow, where he created an inclusive program to promote the Hispanic culture in students at the UOfA. Currently, Mr. Garcia is the new Executive President of Instituto Cultural Mexicano De Tucson (ICMT), an active board member of Tucson LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and a music teacher and creator of the Exceptional Music Program at TUSD, in addition Mr. Ramirez is doing an research project at the College of Education at the University of Arizona, to create EBPs that are effective in music class for exceptional students, this research is a part of his graduate degree studies in special education. In 2020, he participated as a speaker with a concert conference titled: Music classroom; the perfect field to repair our social tissue for the Association of Academic Programs in Latin America and The Caribbean (AAPLAC) symposium in Tucson, Arizona, last September he presented the conference: The bassoon: a perfect instrument for exceptional students at the First Bassoon Festival at UNAM (the National University of Mexico) at Mexico City, Carlos is continuing to providing coaching sessions for music educators in Latin America, especially for those educators that want to learn about music therapy or music in exceptional educational settings.
MUSTANG'S COUNSELING CORNER
Resources for Parents: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
What is SEL? Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success. Students need social-emotional skills to thrive both in the classroom and in life. Social-emotional learning (SEL) curricula teach children techniques to gain confidence, set goals, make better decisions, collaborate with others in work and play, and navigate the world more effectively.
Why is SEL important? SEL is beneficial to both children and adults, increasing self-awareness, academic achievement, and positive behaviors both in and out of the classroom. People with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially. From effective problem-solving to self-discipline, from impulse control to emotion management and more, SEL provides a foundation for positive, long-term effects on kids, adults, and communities. View more information on SEL resources:
For more information, please contact our school counselor, Ms. Valerio by email or at 520-232-8266.
Important Dates :
- October 6th - No School - Grading Day
- October 9th – 13th No School - Fall break
- October 27th – Fall Festival
- November 1st - McDonald's Night School Fundraiser 5pm - 7pm.