PrepTalk is published monthly for Sandia Prep families. Sandia Prep’s Headmaster, Dick Heath, writes a monthly letter to families. Click here to read this month’s letter.

School News and Events 

PrepTalk is Your Source for Important Information
PrepTalk is the monthly newsletter from which you’ll get most of your information about Prep activities. Deadline for each issue is the 15th of the previous month (or Friday if the 15th falls on a weekend). Call Roxanna Caird at 344-1671 with comments or questions, or send them items you’d like included in an upcoming issue.
 

Don’t Miss 6th-Grade Parents' Night
All parents of 6th-graders are invited to a very important meeting Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. in the Commons. This nuts-and-bolts presentation will give you essential information on homework load, activities, sports, getting organized and social adjustments in the 6th grade.

In addition to the important topics of the evening, parents also will have the opportunity to meet each other, their child’s advisor, learn about the Parents Association and sample some scrumptious desserts. This meeting and Back to School Night are among the few events at Sandia Prep to which students are not invited. Parents should make alternative arrangements for their children. We encourage all parents of 6th-graders to come! If you have more questions, call our 6th-Grade Coordinator, Thomas Weber, 344-1671 or 771-8372.

Nationally Known Author to Talk to Parents
All Sandia Prep parents are invited to hear author Paul Kivel discuss “Boys Will Be Men: Raising Sons” on Monday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Sandia Prep Theater.
Kivel is a violence prevention educator who has just published Boys Will  Be Men:Raising Our Sons for Courage, Caring, and Community.   His other recently published books are Men’s Work  and Uprooting Racism. 
Kivel is founder of the nationally recognized Oakland Men’s Project and has conducted hundreds of workshops on racism and anti-violence for teens and men all over the country.
During his presentation at Prep, he’ll talk with parents about society’s attitudes toward the role of boys. Kivel believes the cycle of violence and oppression, specifically that which is killing so many young people and especially boys, will not stop until boys are raised to become part of the struggle to end it.
All day Monday (students will not attend classes) Kivel will lead a full-day faculty workshop focusing on supporting kids and safety, and respect for boys and girls as they travel through adolescence on their path to adulthood. He’s also presenting a series of workshops for students in 7th, 8th and 9th grades on Tuesday morning.

Call In Your Emergency Phone Numbers and Other Changes
Although we hope it never happens, occasionally there is an emergency during the middle of the school day and we may need to reach you at work. If, during the school year, you change daytime phone numbers, please be sure to call us right away with the new information. Call the receptionist, who keeps the master file with emergency telephone numbers. Thanks for your help.

PrepTalk Deadline
PrepTalk is a monthly newsletter designed to keep Sandia Prep parents informed about school activities and events. If you have any suggestions, comments or information, call Roxanna Caird at school, 344-1671 or leave a note for her in the front office. Deadline for the October PrepTalk is Wednesday, Sept. 15, at noon.

Don’t Get Caught in the Traffic
Any parent who drives a child to Prep knows that the morning and afternoon rushes can be moderately challenging experiences. Here are some suggestions to help alleviate traffic congestion. For starters, please don’t turn left onto Osuna Road from our parking lot in the middle of rush-traffic time and do observe the directional arrows in the lot for traffic circulation. 
If you are coming from the far northeast Heights, turn left from westbound Osuna to enter the campus. To come in from the the rest of the Heights or the Valley, take Edith (from the Heights, use Montaño to Edith) to El Paraiso and use that entrance, not Osuna — right turns off Osuna impede the flow from the east. Remember, the only drop-off spot is on the north side of the Theater.
Please see the traffic-flow map, printed on the back cover of this newsletter.

Back to School Night is Lively and Informative
One of the most popular events at Sandia Prep is our Back to School Night, Thursday, Sept. 9, at 7 p.m. This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and to get an idea of what their hopes and plans are for the school year. During the evening, you will follow an abbreviated version of your child’s schedule.
You will start the evening in the West Gym where you’ll get your child’s schedule. Following a welcome from Dick Heath and a brief introduction to the sports program at Prep, you’ll meet with your child’s advisor. During “free periods,” there will be snacks provided by the SPS Parents Association. Don’t miss this wonderful and enjoyable evening.
Since our faculty will be teaching and advising adults on Back to School Night, no provisions have been made for children on our campus that evening. Usually, Back to School Night lasts about two and a half hours; the last class ends at 9:30 p.m.

Whole-School Homecoming
Sandia Prep has a very different take on Homecoming. It is really a whole-family sports day, free and open to all Prep families and friends. This festive day is lots of fun for those who do, or don’t, have students on teams, and is a great way for families to meet other parents and students.

This year’s Spirit Week & Homecoming is Sept. 20 to 24. Festivities begin with Spirit Week, during which students, faculty and staff dress up in crazy outfits, according to the theme for the day (and each class gets credit for participation!), culminating in the red and blue of Lion & Unicorn Day on Friday, Sept. 24. Every student, faculty and staff member at Sandia Prep is either a Lion (red) or a Unicorn (blue). We truly feel this on Lion & Unicorn Day, when the two sides compete in various games of skill, athletic ability and wit from 7:45 a.m. to early dismissal at 1 p.m.

We encourage all students to stay through the afternoon to cheer on our teams for Homecoming games. Friday afternoon and Saturday are filled with soccer and volleyball games. On Saturday, we invite visiting teams to join us for our barbecue lunch, with side dishes and desserts supplied by our athletes’ parents. Homecoming is a great time for all members of the Prep family to get together and have some fun.

The celebration reaches its peak at the Middle School and Upper School Homecoming Dances. The Middle School dance is from 6 to 9 p.m. in the East Gym; the Upper School celebrates from 8 to 11 p.m. in the Commons.

Set aside Homecoming weekend to share the Prep spirit!

About Dances at SPS
Most of our dances at Sandia Prep are on the informal side. We encourage students to come to our dances for fun and not to worry if they do or don’t have dates. We also discourage buying expensive dresses or suits for the occasions. Most of the dances at Sandia Prep are sponsored by an Upper School class or the Student Government Association and have a small entrance fee ranging from $3 to $5 per person.

Please be sure to read the Student Handbook’s section on dances. Also, please note that all guests to Sandia Prep dances need to be cleared with the appropriate Grade Coordinator first:

• 6th  Thomas Weber
• 7th/8th Karen Lyall
• 9th/10th Carla Tidwell
• 11th/12th Rick Wettin

Middle School Homecoming Dance
The Middle School Homecoming dance runs from 6 to 9 p.m. All 6th-, 7th- and 8th-grade students are welcome to come. No one is expected to have a date and formal attire is NOT required; clothing in good repair, collared shirts (no shorts) are appropriate for the occasion. The dance is supervised by teachers and volunteer parents. Please do not drop off your child before 6 p.m. or pick up after 9 p.m.  One more important note: please remind your child that s/he is not to be off campus without an adult.

Outdoor News
The Sandia Prep Outdoor Leadership Program has an exciting fall planned and your help is needed to get the maximum number of students to outdoor experiences. Parents are encouraged to join the outdoor faculty on relaxing and educational trips to picturesque spots around New Mexico.  You are welcome to join us even if your child is not going on the trip! All skill levels of outdoors people, from those who consider “roughing it” a weekend without a hair dryer to those who have climbed Mt. Everest, are welcome.
The outdoor trips planned for this fall include:

• Chama Headwaters - girls only Sept. 10-12
• Cruces Basin Sept. 17-19
• Gila Wilderness Sept. 30- Oct. 3
• Outdoor Classroom Oct. 3-7

Replacing Appliances?
The Science Dept. is looking for a used, but well-functioning refrigerator with a freezer.  If you would like to donate one, please call Lucy Cloyes, 344-1671.

Sign Up Now for SAFE
The SAFE course, teaching women’s self-defense, will be held Feb. 4, 5 & 6, 2000.  Last year’s course filled up quickly and there are only 15 spots available.  A deposit of $100 will hold your place in the class.  Please call Cheryl Sington, 344-1671 or 898-8860, with any questions.

Get Ready for School Photos
This year, school photos will be taken by Kim Jew’s One of a Kind Photo Studios at Sandia Prep on Wednesday, Sept. 15. The bright blue flier included with this PrepTalk has the answers to all your questions. Please be sure to mark the date on your calendar and plan to have your child here on that day. These photos are used in the school yearbook and for student identification cards. A shorter photo-retake session is scheduled in October for students who are dissatisfied with their photographs and those who missed the first session.

Spring Trip to the UK Update
There will be a mandatory meeting for all participants in the London/Scotland spring 2000 trip on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 7 p.m., in the Theater.  It will include signing forms, designating roommates, and there will be time to ask questions.

It’s A Prep Family Option!
If you already have a student attending Sandia Prep and have a 5th-grader or 8th-grader who will be applying to Prep for the 6th or 9th grades in 2000-2001, you may take advantage of our First Choice plan. We offer this special application privilege to families who have decided, after careful consideration and evaluation of all other options, that Sandia Prep is their first choice.
We will consider First Choice applicants in the same manner that we consider the regular applicant pool. It is the goal of the Admission Committee to adhere to the mission of the school and create a balanced class with regard to interests, talents, background and personalities. Each child admitted under the First Choice plan must be just as qualified as any child ultimately admitted from the large pool of students that apply in the spring. One formal decision will be made — to admit a child, or not to admit. It is important to understand that, as in the case of the main applicant pool, not every First Choice applicant will receive an admit decision.
All First Choice applicants must take our early admission test on Nov. 13; all elements of the file must be complete by Nov. 22. First Choice files will be reviewed in early December and notification of the admission decision will be mailed by Dec. 17, 1999.
If you would like a First Choice application packet for your child, call Mary Ann Cowley at 344-1671, today.

New Endowment for Technology
The Edward E. Ford Foundation is awarding Sandia Prep a $50,000 challenge grant to start a technology endowment.  The Foundation will match every dollar we raise for this purpose up to that amount, resulting in a total of $100,000 for a permanent fund to help meet the school’s technology needs.  Only income from the fund will be spent each year, allowing the principal to grow.

Not long ago, technology was not even a line item in the school’s budget.  Now it has become an increasingly important, but expensive, means to support learning.  We must constantly respond to new and often unpredictable needs and upgrades.  This fund will ensure there is a steady source of money to provide what is needed without unduly impacting the operating budget.

Now all we have to do is raise $50,000 in matching funds!

This challenge will be the centerpiece of this year’s annual fund, which will take place in the fall.  So please, when you are called to make your gift, keep in mind that a contribution to the technology endowment will be doubled.

Y2K Alert — Act Sooner on Stock Gifts
As we count down to the millenium, the Y2K problem is getting increasing attention.  Making sure that every single computer program can recognize the year 2000 is keeping plenty of people very busy.

Since most stock transfers are done by computer, financial advisors suggest planning ahead to avoid problems that may result from transactions made at the end of the year.
If you expect to make a gift of stocks or mutual funds to Sandia Prep this year, it may “pay” in more ways than one to carry it out as soon as possible, rather than waiting until December when computer glitches could occur.  It will be one less Y2K headache for you, and you will also avoid any possible year-end “panic” selling which could drive down stock prices.

Please be sure to contact Christine Loew, Director of Planned Giving, at 344-1671 (voice mail 761-0413), if you intend to transfer securities to Sandia Prep.

Charge!!
The Supply Store offers an account system for parents who would like to have their students charge for supplies during the school year. All you need to do is bring a check to the Supply Store and an account will be set up in your child’s name. You may send a check to the school, but please mark the check to indicate that it is for the Supply Store. If you have any questions, call Judy Weinreb at 344-6080.

Department News
Modern Languages:  Students Enrich Foreign Language Skills Through Summer Travel and Study
Many Sandia Prep students traveled and studied abroad this summer gaining experiences which enhanced their foreign language skills and enriched their lives.  The students, the country they visited, and the program they were involved in (if applicable) is listed below.

Dayna Arkin  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Stephanie Beetem Mexico
Lindsay Black Spain
Andrea Caughren  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Mariah Dylla Exchange Program to France
Naila Dixon Mexico, Honduras Exeter
Kenny Downs Mexico
Gaetano Green Chile
Jordan Hanssen  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Corinne Hale  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Elizabeth Hume  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Rosina Jaramillo  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Gregory Kantor Chile
Sharon Kettwich  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Jamie Lindsay Returning from a year in Venezuela
Lastina Lindsay Venezuela, Mexico
Matt Loehman Guatemala
Jenn Martin Honduras Amigos de las Americas
Kevin Malone Mexico
Ramon Millan  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Michelle Milne  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Joe Montoya Mexico Living Mexico ’99
Millen Paschich Mexico
Adam Raff  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Evan Raff  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Raquel Shadoff Domican Republic Amigos de las Americas
Ethan Sklar Mexico, Belize
Quiana Salazar-King Costa Rica Amigos de las Americas
Derek Serna Mexico
Luke Simon Mexico Living Mexico ‘99
Leah Taschek Honduras Amigos de las Americas
Aaron Torres Mexico
Kristen Ulwelling Australia
Alex Upton  Tour with Mlle. Coppex*
Brandon Walsh Mexico
David Weinreb Spain 
Zachary Westbrook Mexico Instituto Falcón
Mary Williamson  Private French study
Nicole Wunderlin Dominican Republic Amigos de las Americas

Fine Arts:  Music Notes
Middle school band will be back in full swing this fall with a new director, Bob Starner.   Bob did his undergraduate work at Philadelphia College of Performing Arts and earned his graduate degree at UNM.  He has conducted band programs in a number of APS elementary schools, for the UNM Music Prep School and Hummingbird Music Camp.   He has performed with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, the San Juan Symphony, the Roswell Symphony and the Albuquerque Chamber Orchestra.  Bob has appeared as a soloist with the UNM Wind Symphony and the Rocky Mountain Philharmonic.

Band classes will be offered after school for both beginning and intermediate students.  Beginning  students will meet Monday and Wednesday afternoons, 3:30-4:30 p.m.  The intermediate class will meet Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, 3:30-4:30 p.m., with first class on Tues., Sept. 7.  Students will need an instrument and music.  The music room will be open before school for students to store their instruments on the days they meet.  Music has been ordered and Bob has a limited number of instruments for students to rent.  Please call him, 232-0410, if you would like to reserve an instrument.

Thursday, Sept. 2, 6th-Grade Parent Night, Bob will have an information session for parents at 6 p.m., prior to the meeting at 7 p.m.  Instruments can also be rented at this time and music books may be purchased.  Also, Bob will be talking to all middle school students at assembly on Wednesday, Sept. 1.  If you have any questions before Sept. 2, please call Bob, 232-0410, or e-mail him at Cmne01@aol.com.

Barbara Rivers will again work her magic with string players.  The experienced string ensemble, for intermediate and advanced students will rehearse on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.  The first class will meet Tues., August 31, at 3:15 p.m.  During the first few sessions the intermediate and advanced players will be separated.
 
 

Parents Association

Getting to Know  the Parents Association
The Parents Association is comprised of all parents of Sandia Prep students. Our mission is to “make every effort to reflect as many points of view as possible, to be receptive to all, and to facilitate communication and provide a forum for dialogue among parents, faculty, and our children, the student body, whenever necessary. Our primary mission, therefore, shall be the creation of an informed parent body. Our agenda shall be issue-oriented and pro-active, while the association endeavors to be a constructive support team for the Sandia Prep faculty and administration in their efforts to provide an education for our children. We hope to encourage the involvement at every level of as many parents as possible, while maintaining an organizational flexibility which accommodates the time constraints of our many working members.”
Volunteering with the Parents Association is a great way to get to know the students, teachers, staff and other parents — all part of the Prep family. A volunteer form is included with this issue of PrepTalk. If you have not had the opportunity to fill out and return one, please do so as soon as possible and help the Parents Association perform the many services we do. If you have any questions about volunteering at Prep, call Renée Black at 881-9136.
The next meeting of the Parents Association will be held on Monday, Aug. 30, at noon in the Library conference room. The September meeting will be at noon on the 27th, in the Library conference room.  Please plan to attend.  If you have any information, ideas or issues to add to the agenda before the September meeting, please call Jean Vondle at 294-3964.

Parents Association Meeting Dates
Mark your calendar — here are the dates for the 1999-2000 Parents Association meetings:

•  Monday, Sept. 27
•  Monday, Oct. 25
•  Monday, Nov. 22
•  No meeting scheduled in December
•  Monday, Jan. 24
•  Monday, Feb. 28
•  No meeting scheduled in March
•  Monday, Apr. 24
•  Monday, May 22

Parent Communication Committee
Parties are being planned, invitations are being sent out and some dates have been set for the Parents-Meeting-Parents receptions for each grade level.
The 6th-Grade Parents' Night is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. in the Commons at Sandia Prep.  The 7th-grade parent party will be sponsored by Barbara Leviton (345-3446), and is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 15, 5 - 7 p.m.  Ninth- grade parents are invited to an ice cream and cappucino social, sponsored by Joan Scott-Wolfe (345-9648), on Wednesday, Sept. 1, from 5 - 7 p.m.  The 10th-grade parent party will be sponsored by Nancy Kenney (345-4005) and more information will follow about this event.  Volunteers for grades 11 and 12 are still needed.  If you are willing to help with these parties, please contact Joan Scott-Wolfe (345-9648).
Look for your invitation for more information about locations and please plan to come, say “hello” to other parents and relax!

Volunteer Here 

Would You Like to Help?
If you would like to meet great people and help Sandia Prep at the same time, fill out and return the Parent Volunteer Form included with this newsletter. There are lots of ways you can give a little time and have a lot of fun. If you like to see new places, chaperone a Middle or Upper School field trip. If you’re interested in sports, you can help announce at games or even sell refreshments in the snack bar. If you want to give time on a regular basis, you can work in the school Supply Store or the Library. If you have only a little time, maybe helping with a mailing or a special event would be more your cup of tea. Please take a few minutes to look at the form and fill it out. Additional forms are available in the Supply Store, off the Commons, or at the front office.  You can mail it back, bring it in or send it with your child to the front office. Thanks!.

Pinch-Hit for Prep
There are rare occasions during the school year that our need for substitute teachers exceeds the number of subs available. Would you like to help? Prep needs parents who would volunteer to fill in the gaps; teaching experience is not necessary for this opportunity. If you are interested, please call Richard Loew, Substitutes Coordinator, at 299-7391.

Sports Schedule

September Schedule
Abbreviation Key:
AYSO — American Youth Soccer Organization HC — Homecoming
NMSD — New Mexico School for the Deaf H — Here
# — District Game  T — There

Girls Varsity Soccer
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
8/31 St. Pius H (West) 4
9/02 Valley T 4:30
9/09 Academy Invitational T 4
9/10 Academy Invitational T 4
9/11 Academy Invitational T 10 a.m.
9/14 West Mesa T 4:30
9/18 Farmington # H (West) 11 a.m.
9/22 Socorro  H (West) 4
9/24 HC Tournament H (West) 2
9/25 HC Tournament H (West) 9 a.m. or 1
9/28 St. Michael’s H (West) 4
9/30 Hope # H (West) 4

Boys Varsity Soccer
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
8/31 Pojoaque T 4
9/3 Los Alamos Tournament T 2:30
9/07 Valley Complex 4:30
9/15 St. Pius H (West) 4
9/18 Farmington H (West) 1
9/22 Academy T 4:15
9/25 HC Tournament vs Durango  H (West) 4
9/26 HC Tournament H (West) 11 a.m. or 3
9/30 Hope # T 4

Girls Jr. Varsity Soccer
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
8/31 Rio Rancho T 4
9/02 Valley T 4:30
9/08 Rio Rancho H (East) 4
9/14 West Mesa T 4:30
9/18 Farmington H (East) 11 a.m.
9/22 Moriarty H  4
9/25 Los Lunas H (North) 12
9/28 Menaul T 4

Boys Jr. Varsity Soccer
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
9/03 Rio Rancho T 4
9/07 Valley Comple 4:30
9/09 Rio Rancho H (East) 3:45
9/14 Moriarty H (East) 4
9/15 St. Pius H (East) 4
9/18 Farmington H (East) 1
9/22 Academy T 4:15
9/25 Santa Fe Prep H(East) 2
9/30 Hope T 5:30

Girls C-Team Soccer
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
8/31 Pojoaque T 4
9/08 Grants T 4
9/14 Cibola H (West) 5
9/18 Grants H (North) 11 a.m.
9/22 Moriarty H (North) 4
9/25 Eldorado H (North) 10:30 a.m.
9/30 Hope H (North) 4

Boys C-Team Soccer
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
8/31 Manzano T 4
9/03 Rio Rancho T 4
9/08 Grants T 5:30
9/14 Moriarty H (North) 4
9/18 Grants H (North) 1
9/21 Bosque H (North) 5:30
9/25 Manzano H (East) 12
9/29 Cibola H (North) 5

Varsity Volleyball
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
8/31 Penasco H 6
9/02 McCurdy T 7
9/03 Mountainair H 6
9/08 Menaul H 6
9/15 Pecos T 6:30
9/17 Hope # H 6
9/22 Moriarty H 5
9/24 HC Tournament  H TBA
9/25 HC Tournament  H TBA
9/28 Laguna # T 6

Jr. Varsity Volleyball
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
8/31 Penasco H 5
9/02 McCurdy T 5:30
9/03 Mountainair H 5
9/08 Menaul H 5
9/14 NMSD T 4
9/15 Pecos T 5:30
9/17 Hope # H 5
9/22 Moriarty H 4
9/25 Santa Fe Prep H 12
9/28 Laguna # T 5
9/29 NMSD H 4

C-Team Volleyball
Date Team Location Time (p.m. unless indicated)
9/03 Mountainair H 4
9/08 Menaul H 4
9/15 Pecos T 4:30
9/17 Hope # H 4
9/25 Santa Fe Prep H 11 a.m.
9/28 Laguna # T 4