May 28, 2020

Deming Public Schools Closure Impact Survey

Deming Public Schools has teamed up with Hanover Research to administer a School Closure Impact Survey. The purpose of the survey is to gain input on reopening the schools and how Deming Public Schools can better serve our community. We invite students, parents, and Deming Public Schools staff to participate in this 5-10 minute survey. Below are the links to the survey:

Survey Link (English Version): https://hanover-research.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cwHoEQ8KA5O8FkF
Survey Link (Spanish Version): https://hanover-research.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cwHoEQ8KA5O8FkF?Q_Language=ES


Las Escuelas Públicas de Deming se han asociado con Hanover Research para administrar una Encuesta de Impacto de Cierre de Escuelas. El propósito de la encuesta es obtener información sobre la reapertura de las escuelas y cómo las Escuelas Públicas de Deming pueden servir mejor a nuestra comunidad. Invitamos a estudiantes, padres y al personal de las Escuelas Públicas de Deming a participar en esta encuesta de 5-10 minutos.

Survey Link (English Version): https://hanover-research.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cwHoEQ8KA5O8FkF
Survey Link (Spanish Version): https://hanover-research.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cwHoEQ8KA5O8FkF?Q_Language=ES


May 21, 2020

K-5 Plus and Extended Learning Time Programs

Deming Public Schools was informed by the New Mexico Department of Education that they have decided to cancel the K-5 Plus and Extended Learning Time Programs that were set to take place this summer, due to the COVID-19 virus. Deming Public Schools is saddened by the fact that we will be unable to participate in these instrumental programs. We look forward to seeing students at the start of the 2020/2021 School Year on August 12, 2020.


May 20, 2020

Deming High School, Mimbres Valley High School, and Early College High School Graduating Class of 2020 Virtual Celebration

The Graduating Class of 2020 will be celebrated virtually on the CATS Network this Friday, May 22, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. You can view the virtual celebration on YouTube at this link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_wOm_M7-DfMsESO8X3Ddxw. Traditional commencement ceremonies will take place when it is safe to do so. Deming Public Schools would like to congratulate all of our Graduating Class of 2020, and hope you will join us in celebrating our Seniors.

May 13, 2020

Deming High School and Mimbres Valley High School Class of 2020 Graduating Senior Celebration

Deming Public Schools is committed to the students of Deming and Luna County. Social distancing and mass gathering orders have affected plans pertaining to how the graduation ceremonies for the class of 2020 will be conducted. A traditional graduation will happen once we are able to meet as a whole. Currently, we are restricted from gathering in groups of five or more. Due to a public health order issued by the New Mexico Department of Health, we will not be able to come together as a senior class. There are over 307 graduating seniors.

A committee of DPS staff, city and county officials, and law enforcement have been brainstorming possibilities for weeks. The committee has talked with many students and parents to gather input. It was quickly realized that so many graduating seniors will be leaving for the military, attending internships, leaving for school and job opportunities, and/or moving away with family members.

It has always been the intention of DPS to hold a traditional graduation when we could ensure everyone’s safety and be in compliance with the social distancing and mass gathering requirements set forth by the New Mexico Department of Health. A plan was released to have a graduation celebration at the Mimbres Valley Learning Center on May 22. This is the original graduation date for the 2020 seniors. DPS faculty and staff did receive much feedback on the plans. DPS would like to thank the parents and students for all wanting the best for our graduating seniors. This is also what DPS teachers, principals, and all staff want. There were some wonderful ideas coming out of the conversations. In the end, DPS did consult with the Deming Police Department and the New Mexico State Police. We all concluded that the plans for celebrating at the Mimbres Valley Learning Center violated the mass gathering orders.

Moving forward, DPS is absolutely committed to providing a traditional graduation when the time is right. Until then, we will continue to celebrate our graduating 2020 seniors through a virtual setting. This will take place on May 22, 2020. The CATS NETWORK will be hosting the virtual celebration. More information will be coming about this virtual celebration.

Below are some of the Frequently Asked Question that have been asked by students and graduating families:
1. Q. Why was Deming High School holding a celebration at this point in time?

A. According to Governor Lujan-Grisham, schools and mass gatherings are in Phase III. This does not ensure that traditional graduation can be held during the summer or fall.
B. The graduation committee, comprised of members of the community, staff and law enforcement had several discussions and reviewed multiple plans to ensure that the best safety and health precautions were taken while also providing the best possible experience to our well-deserved seniors given the unprecedented times.
C. We are holding graduation as originally planned so that all students have the opportunity to participate. Many seniors will be leaving for internships, universities, work, and military after May. This celebration will be their only opportunity to attend any type of commencement ceremony. DPS is fully committed to holding a traditional graduation when permitted.

2. Q. Were parents consulted regarding graduation and/or a celebration?

A. Yes, many parents and students have been consulted regarding both graduation and a celebration. All ideas have been presented, discussed, and thought through.
B. After speaking to many parents, a consensus was not reached due to individual circumstances pertaining to each student. The graduation committee determined to keep the original graduation date to allow and ensure that all seniors would have the opportunity to participate in a celebration if they choose to do so.

3. Q. Why was the graduation celebration being held in the parking lot of Mimbres Valley Center and not at Memorial Stadium?

A. The celebration that was originally planned to be held at the Mimbres Valley Center will no longer happen. After consultation with local law enforcement, the City of Deming and the County of Luna, this type of event would still be in violation of the mass gathering requirements.
B. DHS is concerned for the safety of students, their families and staff so we will adhere to social distancing regulations that are still in effect (six feet apart). Memorial Stadium does not allow for social distancing for 333 students and their families.
C. After years of hard work and dedication, seniors deserve the best recognition possible during these unprecedented times.

4. Q. Is the attendance of students and parents from Mexico being jeopardized?

A. No, borders are open to American citizens and residents.

5. Q. Why can’t seniors walk during the ceremony?

A. The timeframe it takes for 333 students to walk while abiding by social distancing and mass gathering regulations would not be feasible within a reasonable time frame in one day.

6. Q. Will students be allowed to socialize/gather during any ceremony?
A. No, students will have to adhere to the social distancing and mass gatherer regulations.
7. Q. Is the celebration going to be streamed live?
A. Yes, it will be live on CATS Network.
B. This virtual celebration will ensure that all of our families in Palomas and around the world can participate.

8. Q. Is it possible that this plan will change?

A. Yes, this has already changed a few times. At a Board Meeting in March, Dr. Romero stated that we would have graduation at a later date in June or July. This was prior to the Governor’s press release and extension of the Stay at Home Order on April 30th. It was at this time, that the Governor released the information regarding the phases to reopen the state. DPS still committed fully to having a traditional graduation when allowed to do so.
B. Yes, this could change depending on what Governor Lujan-Grisham states concerning phases and mass gatherings.


March 27, 2020

Dear DPS Families,

I wanted to send a quick note to all of our DPS families. If you are not aware, the NMPED and Governor just made that announcement that public school closure will remain in effect through the rest of the school year.

DPS staff will remain committed to our students. Learning will evolve over the next two months. School staff are reaching out to parents now as we put our DPS Continuity of Learning Plan into place. The DPS plan will roll out on April 6. DPS will be providing high quality and rigorous lessons for students and families in Reading, Language Art, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Movement, PE, and Technology. These resources will be provided in both hard copy and digital formats. Parents will also have direct access to teachers during this transition.

Know that our priority is our students. We will be working hard to ensure that our seniors have met all of the requirements for graduation. All high school students will have a plan to continue to prove proficiency and accumulate credit. We are planning to reschedule graduation to June or July. We are dependent on orders from the NM Department of Health.

Breakfast and Lunch grab and go meals will continue. We will be expanding our locations throughout county starting April 6. More information to come…

Please reach out to your child's teacher or school principal with any questions you may have moving forward. Thank you all for your understanding and patience as we transition to a model of continuous learning for our students.

Dr. Arsenio Romero
Superintendent
Deming Public Schools

Frequently Asked Questions link about the Extended Public School Closure:

https://www.governor.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/School-Closure-Extension-FAQ-English.pdf




March 19, 2020

Student Nutrition will open two additional free meal sites starting Monday, March 23, 2020.

Deming High School – Wildcat Drive off of Florida Street

Columbus – Port of Entry DPS bus lane

Deming Public Schools, Student Nutrition Department will provide free meals to all DPS enrolled students regardless of which school they attend. No paperwork is required, children must be present in order for meals to be provided. Meals will be provided based on the number of children present. Families will be able to pick up both breakfast and lunch at the same time (drive-thru meal service). On the following dates Monday, March 16 – Friday, April 3, 2020 at four school sites from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Meals will be provided first come first serve.

Bataan Elementary – 2200 Hwy 418 SW, Deming, NM

Columbus Elementary – 7450 Altura RD SE, Columbus, NM

Ruben S. Torres Elementary – 1910 8th Street NW, Deming, NM

Central Cafeteria – 422 W Birch, Deming, NM

Starting March 23, 2020
Deming High School – Wildcat Drive off of Florida Street

Columbus – Port of Entry DPS bus lane

This program will be solely for the pick-up of meals, and meals will not be consumed on site. We encourage families to continue to be proactive in reducing the risk of COVID-19 by not congregating at the school site and utilizing social distancing once meals have been distributed.


March 13, 2020

Free Meals for Students

Deming Public Schools, Student Nutrition Department will provide free meals to all DPS enrolled students regardless of which school they attend. No paperwork is required, children must be present in order for meals to be provided. Meals will be provided based on the number of children present.

Families will be able to pick up both breakfast and lunch at the same time (drive-thru meal service). On the following dates Monday, March 16 – Friday, April 3, 2020 at four school sites from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Meals will be provided first come first serve.

Bataan Elementary – 2200 Hwy 418 SW, Deming, NM

Columbus Elementary – 7450 Altura RD SE, Columbus, NM

Ruben S. Torres Elementary – 1910 8th Street NW, Deming, NM

Central Cafeteria – 422 W Birch, Deming, NM

This program will be solely for the pick-up of meals, and meals will not be consumed on site. We encourage families to continue to be proactive in reducing the risk of COVID-19 by not congregating at the school site and utilizing social distancing once meals have been distributed.

School Closure

The New Mexico Public Education Department has issued statewide closure of schools from March 16, 2020 to April 5, 2020. Staff and students will return on Monday, April 6, 2020. According to the New Mexico Public Education Department, this closure is an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus. In response to the statewide closure of schools Deming Public Schools would like to inform the community of the following:

• In an effort to maintain and service district facilities and ensure they are safe and ready for the return of students and staff on Monday, April 6, certain designated staff will be working at facilities throughout the district. Other than the designated staff, district facilities will be closed to the public, students, and staff. Supervisors will be contacting staff to inform them if they are needed to maintain and service district facilities.
• All athletics practices and games have been canceled until further notice.
• New Mexico Public Education Department has stated that the loss in instructional days will not be required to be made up.
• Deming Public Schools is currently working on a breakfast and lunch meal program for the students that will start on March 24, 2020. We will send more information on the details of the program as it becomes available.
• We are also encouraging social distancing, which means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible
• We also discourage any non essential travel out-of-state.
• Per the recommendation from the New Mexico Department of Health all employees, students, and families who have traveled out-of-state since February 27, 2020 should call the Department of Health Coronavirus Hotline at 1-855-600-3453, if you have concerns that you have been exposed to the coronavirus.
o This phone call will provide guidance to employees, students, and families on additional measures needed due to travel.
o If you are an employee please continue to update the Human Resources Department with any travel plans.
• Please visit the Center for Disease Control website www.cdc.gov or the New Mexico Department of Health www.nmhealth.org for the most up to date information on COVID-19.

Deming Public Schools will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with the Governor’s office, the Department of Health, and the Public Education Department and will update the community regularly as the situation changes.


March 12, 2020

School Closure

The New Mexico Public Education Department has issued statewide closure of schools from March 16, 2020 to April 5, 2020. Staff and students will return on Monday, April 6, 2020. According to the New Mexico Public Education Department, this closure is an effort to limit the spread of COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus. Deming Public Schools is committed to the safety and security of students, staff, and families. We will provide a more comprehensive plan with details in the days to come. Deming Public Schools will continue to update the community regularly as the situation changes and more information becomes available.

March 12, 2020

Second Update on COVID-19

In response to the New Mexico Health Secretary issuing a public health order temporarily prohibiting mass gatherings in New Mexico due to the COVID-19 and to minimize public health risks, Deming Public Schools is taking the following steps as preventative measures until further notice:

• There will be no out-of-state travel for any district sponsored events for employees or students
• All school community event gatherings are canceled
• All school field trips are suspended
• All off season sports practices are suspended
• At this time there will be no changes to season sports practices, but games are canceled
• All school level performances are canceled
• All community volunteer activities are suspended
• All school facility use requests are suspended
• Any event or activity a school participates in that draws or gathers 100 people or more are suspended (This exempts regular school day and after school program activities on school campus)
• We are encouraging all staff and students to limit personal contact with each other and to continue taking precautionary steps to protect their individual health such as:
o Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
o Clean “high-touch” surfaces daily with regular household cleaners
o Avoid sharing personal household items
• We are also encouraging social distancing, which means remaining out of congregate settings, avoiding mass gatherings, and maintaining distance (approximately 6 feet or 2 meters) from others when possible
• Per the recommendation from the New Mexico Department of Health all employees, students, and families who have traveled out-of-state since February 27, 2020 should call the Department of Health Coronavirus Hotline at 1-855-600-3453
o This phone call will provide guidance to employees, students, and families on additional measures needed due to travel
o If you are an employee please continue to update the Human Resources Department with any travel plans.

Deming Public Schools recognizes that the schools are a core part of the community and we wish to minimize the disruptions to the educational process and environment as much as reasonably possible. We continue to work diligently with local, state, and federal organizations to implement measures to protect the health and safety of our employees, students, and families. Deming Public Schools will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with the Governor’s office, the Department of Health, and the Public Education Department and will update the community regularly as the situation changes. Please contact your school for any questions you may have regarding upcoming school events and activities that may not have been addresses by this release.


March 11, 2020

Update on COVID-19

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has declared a state of emergency in order to maximize the resources available to the state in order to fight the potential spread of the COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus. On account of the Governor’s press release on the state of COVID-19 in New Mexico and to minimize public health risks, Deming Public Schools is taking the following steps as first level preventative measures:

• There will be no out-of-state travel for any district sponsored events for staff or students
• All school community event gatherings are canceled
• We are encouraging all staff and students to limit personal contact with each other and to continue taking precautionary steps to protect their individual health such as:
o Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
o Clean “high-touch” surfaces daily with regular household cleaners
o Avoid sharing personal household items
• At this time, there has been no changes to the State High School Basketball Championships. However, we do encourage spectators to take caution and watch the game from home via the NFHS Network (www.nfhsnetwork.com)

The Department of Health is not at this time advising that any schools close. The Public Education Department and the Department of Health are working closely to determine guidelines for potential school closures and what protocols would need to be completed before a school would re-open in the event of positive cases and community spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Deming Public Schools will continue to monitor the situation in conjunction with the Governor’s office, the Department of Health, and the Public Education Department and will update the community regularly as the situation changes. Please contact your school for any questions you may have regarding upcoming school events that may not have been addresses by this release.

February 26, 2020

Dear Parents and Staff,

This letter is to provide information about what Deming Public schools is planning in regards to COVID-19, otherwise known as coronavirus. We take the health of our students and staff very seriously.

You are likely aware of the outbreak of COVID-19 in China and the subsequent confirmed cases in the United States and other countries around the world. It’s important to know that the World Health Organization has not yet declared COVID-19 a pandemic; however, DPS encourages families and staff to remain cautious and aware of the status of this virus.

There’s currently no cause for concern at the schools, but we’ll keep you informed if that should change. To be proactive, DPS will continue, as always, to work closely with the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) to ensure that we have an effective preparedness and management system in place. In the event that the virus poses a serious threat to the students and staff at school, DPS will follow the NMDOH guidelines, which could include the closing of schools. Families will be notified in the event of any closures.

According to the New Mexico Department of Health, the flu at this time remains a more significant concern in the state than coronavirus. In order to protect you and your family, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting a flu vaccine and taking preventive actions to help stop the spread of germs, such as using proper handwashing techniques and teaching children to cover coughs and sneezes. If your child is sick, please do not send them to school. As CDC noted today, it recommends these same preventive measures for coronavirus.

If your child is running a fever, please care for them at home and/ or seek advise from your medical provider. Students who present a fever of 100 degrees or higher at school will be sent home. If you, your child, or family has recently traveled to China, Japan, South Korea, Italy or other foreign countries, we also ask that you take extra precautions and seek a medical evaluation from your doctor before returning school.

The following resources are also available with information on COVID-19:
∙ New Mexico Department of Health
∙ U.S. Department of State China Travel Advisory
∙ World Health Organization, Coronavirus
If you have any questions, please call your school nurse.

It is imperative that schools have current contact information for all parents or guardians. Please be sure to contact your child's school to update phone numbers or emergency contact information.


Sincerely,
Arsenio Romero, PhD.
Superintendent
Deming Public Schools


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