Thunderbird Updates
2023
February 27, 2023
Voted best school in the Mesilla Valley

Zia Support Person & Teacher of the Year



'One Pill Can Kill' Presentation Addresses Fentanyl Awareness
Tuesday, Feb. 28th, 5:30pm
505 South Main Street
Las Cruces, NM
One pill can kill. That's the message from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the New Mexico Joint Counter Drug Task Force, and part of a meeting hosted by Las Cruces Public Schools for parents and community stakeholders on the deadly threat of fentanyl.
According to the DEA, fake prescription drugs can be trafficked on social media under familiar names like Xanax, Adderall or Percocet, but dealers are making the fake pills with cheaper, stronger and more deadly substances like fentanyl - which is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 more times more potent than morphine. Fentanyl is odorless, tasteless and colorless and - as the presentation suggests - one pill can kill you.
"We thank Las Cruces Public Schools for allowing us to speak to their parents about this real-life threat killing young people throughout our communities," said Greg Millard, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA's El Paso Division. "Parents need to have open, honest conversations with all their loved ones about this issue., and we thank LCPS and the New Mexico National Guard leadership for facilitating this discussion."
"Our school district values the life of every single student," said LCPS Superintendent Ralph Ramos. "Opening this conversation with parents, students and families reinforces our commitment to their safety. It all starts with educating everyone on the threat of this drug and how we as a school community can come together to prevent an unnecessary death from occurring."
A presentation on One Pill Can Kill will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex, 505 S. Main Street in Las Cruces. The public is invited to attend.
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La presentación 'Una pastilla puede matar' aborda la concienciación sobre el fentanilo
Una pastilla puede matar. Ese es el mensaje de la Administración para el Control de Drogas y de la Fuerza Operativa Conjunta Antidrogas de Nuevo México, y también es parte de una reunión organizada por las Escuelas Públicas de Las Cruces para padres y partes interesadas de la comunidad sobre la amenaza mortal del fentanilo.
Según la DEA, los medicamentos recetados falsificados pueden ser traficados en las redes sociales con nombres conocidos como Xanax, Adderrall o Percocet, pero los traficantes están produciendo pastillas falsas con sustancias más baratas, fuertes y mortales como el fentanilo, que es 50 veces más potente que la heroína y 100 veces más potente que la morfina. El fentanilo es inodoro, insípido e incoloro y como sugiere la presentación, una pastilla puede matarte.
"Agradecemos a las Escuelas Públicas de Las Cruces por permitirnos hablar con sus padres sobre esta amenaza real que mata a jóvenes en nuestras comunidades", dijo Greg Millard, Agente Especial a cargo de la División de la DEA en El Paso. "Los padres necesitan tener conversaciones abiertas y honestas con todos sus seres queridos sobre este tema, y agradecemos a LCPS y a los líderes de la Guardia Nacional de Nuevo México por facilitar este diálogo."
"Nuestro distrito escolar valora la vida de cada estudiante", dijo el superintendente de LCPS, Ralph Ramos. "Iniciar esta conversación con padres, estudiantes y familias refuerza nuestro compromiso con su seguridad. Todo comienza con educar a todos sobre la amenaza de esta droga y cómo nosotros como comunidad escolar podemos unirnos para prevenir una muerte innecesaria."
La presentación "Una pastilla puede matar" se llevará a cabo el martes 28 de febrero de 5:30 a 6:30 p.m. en el Complejo Administrativo Dra. Karen M. Trujillo. 505 S. Main Street en Las Cruces. El público está invitado a asistir.
#ThunderbirdKind

Staffing Update
Mr. Gorum-Assistant Principal is now full-time at Zia!
Mr. Lance (David) Renfro will being 2/27/23 as the new English teacher in the position formerly held by Ms. Pacheco.
Mr. Aaron de la O will begin his role as a Students with Special Services Education Assistant on 2/27/23.
Ms. Shannon Jacquez will be joining us as the new Academic Support teacher. Her start date is March 1, 2023.
Mr. Hector Ramirez has been hired as a custodian. He will begin March 2, 2023.
Mr. Aaron Brown Owens has been selected as the next Zia receptionist. He will begin March 2, 2023.
Ms. Tisha Apodaca-Assistant Principal will start March 6, 2023.
Mr. Donnie Duran will join us after spring break in the Students with Special Services position previously held by Mr. Maes.
Ms. Taylor (choir) is taking a leave of absence. I will be in contact soon about our plan for MPA and the remainder of the semester.
The following long-term substitutes are currently with us:
Tobias Pirtle- Bilingual Science
John Vernicek- Reading Intervention
Approved: Positive Behavior Intervention Support Liaison (Bachelor level Social Worker). We just need to find the right person for the job! This individual will operate the "Thunderbird Academy" in-school intervention and social emotional support classroom.
Current vacancies- Math Teacher, Reading Intervention, SPED EA (4), Bilingual EA (1), security guard
GIRLS CAN!!! Registration Deadline Extended


Did you miss our last parent meeting? Click the link below for the meeting held 2/16 @ 5:30pm via Zoom
Pre-MPA Concert @ St. Paul's on Thursday, 2/23






Attendance for Success Act
