Good morning families.  There will be a Parent Committee meeting on March 12 at the Rio Rancho Public Schools training center from 5-6:30.  The event will include a pot luck with Navajo Tacos provided by the NAPAC Board and if you would like to bring a dish to share please do so.  Additionally, children's book author Lori Goodluck will be sharing one of her books as well as her experiences.  We look forward to seeing you there.  

Good morning families. The  Native American Pageant will be held on November 15 from 6:00-8:00 at Cleveland High School in the Concert Hall.  The event is open to all elementary, middle, and high school Native American students.  If your student wishes to compete for Miss, Jr. Miss or Little Miss Indian RRPS, applications are due no later than October 31.  You can access the application at https://bit.ly/48I2hYo.  

Good Morning and welcome back to the 2023-2024 school year. My name is Laurie Johnson, and I am the Native American Liasion for our Vista Grande school community. I have been an Instructional Assistant for the past eleven years and have had the opportunity to get to know or work with many of our Native American students during this time.

I will be posting important and useful information, resources or opportunities that are available to your families.

I am in the process of compiling a list of those students who do not currently have a 506(c) on file and will be contacting you in the next few weeks to discuss your interest in completing the 506(c) for your student(s) so he or she is able to participate in school or district-sponsored events.Enroll Your Child in the Indian Education Program

 In order to apply annually for the Title VII formula grant, we must determine the number of Native American children enrolled in Rio Rancho. Any child who meets the required definition may be counted for the purpose of receiving this funding. This form will become part of your child’s school record and only needs to be completed once.  Here is the link to the 506(c) form for your convenience.  If you need assistance in accessing the form or have any other questions, you can reach me through email at laurie.johnson@rrps.net or 505-771-2366 Extension  57438.

506c Form- If needed, please download, complete and return to Laurie Johnson

Good afternoon Families.  I wanted to provide you with a couple of programs available this summer for our students.  I am attaching two flyers that explain the cost, location, and sign-up deadline.  If you have any questions, please contact the numbers posted on the attached flyers.  Have a wonderful summer and we will see you when we return in August.  

Good afternoon Native American Families.  I wanted to provide you with some information for an upcoming event being held at Rio Rancho High School on Saturday November 5, 2022 from 9:00 to 11:00.  This event is open to all ages.  Hope you can make it.

Good Morning and welcome back to the 2022 - 2023 school year.  My name is Laurie Johnson, and I am the Native American Liasion for our Vista Grande school community.  I have been an Instructional Assistant for the past ten years and have had the opportunity to get to know or work with many of our Native American students during this time.

I will be posting important and useful information, resources or opportunities that are available to your families.  

I am in the process of compiling a list of those students who do not currently have a 506(c) on file and will be contacting you in the next few weeks to discuss your interest in completing the 506(c) for your student(s) so he or she is able to participate in school or district-sponsored events.  

Enroll Your Child in the Indian Education Program

 In order to apply annually for the Title VII formula grant, we must determine the number of Native American children enrolled in Rio Rancho. Any child who meets the required definition may be counted for the purpose of receiving this funding. This form will become part of your child’s school record and only needs to be completed once.  Here is the link to the 506(c) form for your convenience.  If you need assistance in accessing the form or have any other questions, you can reach me through email at laurie.johnson@rrps.net or 505-771-2366 Extension  57438.

506c Form- If needed, please download, complete and return to Laurie Johnson

Good morning families.  I wanted to follow up on an event that the District Office sent out regarding an event scheduled for this Friday at Lincoln Middle School in the gym from 5:30 to 6:30.  This event highlights the paralympics.  Attached is the flyer that highlights the events and activities surrounding the event.  

Good morning families:  I know you all have received an email from the District Office, and I just wanted to send out a reminder that this Saturday is the Fun Run at Joe Harris Elementary from 11 to 1.  There will be additional activities to participate in other than the run and there will also be a food truck on the premises to purchase food if you wish.  

Good afternoon families.  I wanted to share the information below regarding a program that can provide assistance with your internet bill each month.  If qualified, you can receive up to $50 per month toward your internet bill as long as the program is in existence.  If you have any questions, please call the number listed below or you can contact me and I will try and assist you to the best of my ability.  

Good Morning and welcome back to the 2021-2022 school year.  My name is Laurie Johnson, and I am the Native American Liasion for our Vista Grande school community.  I have been an Instructional Assistant for the past nine years and have had the opportunity to get to know or work with many of our Native American students during this time.

I will be posting important and useful information, resources or opportunities that are available to your families.  

I am in the process of compiling a list of those students who do not currently have a 506(c) on file and will be contacting you in the next few weeks to discuss your interest in completing the 506(c) for your student(s) so he or she is able to participate in school or district-sponsored events.  

Enroll Your Child in the Indian Education Program

 In order to apply annually for the Title VII formula grant, we must determine the number of Indian children enrolled in Rio Rancho. Any child who meets the required definition may be counted for the purpose of receiving this funding. This form will become part of your child’s school record and only needs to be completed once.  Here is the link to the 506(c) form for your convenience.  If you need assistance in accessing the form or have any other questions, you can reach me through email at laurie.johnson@rrps.net or 505-771-2366 Extension  57438.

506c Form- If needed, please download, complete and return to Laurie Johnson

RRPS is committed to meeting the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students, so that such students can meet the same challenging State student academic achievement standards as all other students are expected to meet.

October, 2020

My name is Laurie Johnson. I am the Native American Liaison at Vista Grande Elementary (VGE) . I wanted to send this email to introduce myself. I created a Google Sites page for our Native American Union so I can improve on communicating with parents at our school. Here is the link to our page: Native American Programs Google Sites Page..  On this page I will keep you updated on any meetings I have with students as well as any upcoming events.  I know this year has been difficult and many challenges come with online learning. Any meeting we have will be virtual at the codeVGENAU. I will also place any notes from the meeting on our Google Sites page. I am trying to put together a site plan for our students this year and I would like to gather suggestions from parents and students when making the plan since we are all in this distance learning situation together. Some things to consider could be tutoring for the students, providing  supplies, headphones or a wireless mouse for students. Other options include having one or more guest speakers and compensating them for their time should that be required.  I am open to any suggestions and look forward to collaborating with you.  The only thing I do know is money can not be used for food. As a  reminder only students who have a 506 form on file can benefit from federal funds provided by Title VI.  Also we will be arranging some community engagement events and would appreciate your feedback for this as well.    Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns throughout the year at laurie.johnson@rrps.net  or call me at 505 771-2366 ext. 57438 .   I look forward to working with you to make this a successful year.  

If you have not enrolled your child a link to the  form is located below.  

506c Form- If needed, please download, complete and return to Laurie Johnson

Laurie Johnson

 Instructional Assistant

Vista Grande Elementary

October 2019

We are happy to announce that tutoring has begun.  This year we decided to focus our tutoring in the area of Foundational Skills, specifically phonological awareness for your youngest learners. If your kindergarten or first grade student was identified as being able to benefit from the extra instruction/practice, you should have already been notified.  Sessions are held on Tuesday and Thursday, after school in Mrs. Gallardo's classroom.  Attendance is mandatory, and more than 3 absences can affect your child's ability to participate. 

The schedule for tutoring is as follows:

October 8, 15, 17, 22, 24, and 28 (please note, there is no tutoring on the 31st/Halloween)

November 5, 7-CANCELLED, 12, 14, 19, 21

December 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19

January 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30

February 4, 6, 11 and 13th 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

September 2019

Welcome back Vista Grande Elementary Native American families!  My name is Janette Gallegos and I am the Native American Program Liaison for our school community.  For the past 16 years, I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach and get to know many of our Native American students here at Vista Grande.   Here you will find useful information, resources and opportunities available to your family.  I look forward to working with you this school year!

I am in the process of compiling a list of families who do not yet have a 506c form on file with the school district, and will be reaching out to you in the coming weeks to help you with this process should you be interested in having your student(s) be eligible to participate in any Native American sponsored event here at Vista Grande.

Enroll Your Child in the Indian Education Program

 In order to apply annually for the Title VII formula grant, we must determine the number of Indian children enrolled in Rio Rancho. Any child who meets the required definition may be counted for the purpose of receiving this funding. This form will become part of your child’s school record and only needs to be completed once.  

(link for 506c form is located below if needed)

Please feel free to contact your Vista Grande Elementary Native American Liaison, Janette Gallegos, with any questions.  I can be reached at janette.gallegos@rrps.net or 771-2366 extension 261.

Tutoring information 

is coming soon!

Sessions will be held

Tuesdays & Thursdays

All students attending are required to have a 506c form on file.