Letter From Ahlum

Dear Rio Grande Community,

Please join me in saying a fond farewell to our dear and beloved Rita Vigil. For those who don’t know Rita, she has been an integral part of the Rio Grande School community for the past nine years. For most of her tenure, she served as our primary custodian, keeping our campus clean and vigilantly germ-free - especially during the pandemic.

Last year, Rita transitioned into a shorter, less physically demanding role as our lead Early Childhood aftercare provider. No matter the role she has taken on, Rita has always brought cheer, positivity, and a deep commitment to prioritizing the needs of our students.

Next week will mark Rita’s final week at Rio Grande, as she has decided to dedicate her full-time attention to caring for her baby granddaughter. While we will miss her tremendously, we celebrate her next chapter and all the joy it will bring to her family.

Please note that we have several excellent candidates under consideration for her replacement in Early Childhood aftercare and will keep you updated as we finalize plans.

NAACP Santa Fe Celebrates MLK Jr. Day at the State Capitol

Santa Fe, NM- Santa Fe County encourages residents to join NAACP Santa Fe and the New Mexico MLK Jr. State Commission in honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at their annual MLK Day celebration. The event will occur on Monday, January 20, 2025, from 12 pm to 1 pm at the New Mexico State Capitol Rotunda (490 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87501). 

The event, themed around unity and community service, will feature a Traditional Call of the Drum, a stirring rendition of the Negro National Anthem by Malcom Morgan-Petty, and keynote remarks by Ms. Sandra Session-Robertson, Vice President of Development and Donor Relations at the Santa Fe Community Foundation. 

Event Highlights Include: 

Welcome and Invocation by Cedric D. Page and Reverend Michael Brown, the MLK, Jr. Day Committee members. 

Proclamations from the Governor's Office and the City of Santa Fe with remarks by Little V. West, Chair of the NM MLK, Jr. Commission, and Mayor Alan Webber. 

Recognition of New Mexico Elected Officials, led by Simesha McEachern, President of the Santa Fe NAACP Branch. 

Community Service Award presentation to Santa Fe Dreamers, an organization recognized for its outstanding support of students in the community, with remarks by Executive Director Miles Tokunow. 

The celebration will conclude with an audience-wide performance of the timeless anthem “We Shall Overcome,” led by Malcom Morgan-Petty. 

Santa Fe County encourages everyone to attend this inspiring event to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring legacy and the power of community in creating positive change. 

For more information, please contact NAACP Santa Fe Branch at 505-652-2403 or naacpsfnm@gmail.com.

Don't Forget to Place Your Lunch Orders! January Menu is Now Live!