Welcome to February, a month we celebrate diversity and caring. As a school leader, I spend a lot of time managing the day-to-day events of a school. A school that is filled with a wide variety of personalities, talents, and individuality. Events that range from basketball, wrestling, band/choir concerts, and creative lessons in the classroom. It is such an honor to watch this wonderful mix of students and teachers growing and learning every day.
We celebrated the diversity of our school and students during our Bobcat Assembly on Jan. 28. Honor roll students were recognized for achieving a grade point average of 3.0 and above. We congratulated those students who, among other things, work hard every day and push themselves to achieve good scores. Teachers also recognized students who achieved great things besides grade point averages. Students received recognition for being artistic, for being the best stage manager, for being that student in the classroom who keeps things light and always has a smile, for trying hard and achieving success, for always lending a helping hand, and a myriad of other celebrations. We are truly honored to have students with such wide ranges of talents and abilities.
Ignacio High School is also in full swing with many winter activities. This year has been quite challenging with COVID-19 exposures wreaking havoc on schedules. However, this has not slowed our mighty Bobcat girls and boys. Both wrestling and basketball have had the opportunity to travel and compete. Our Knowledge Bowl team has been able to compete under the tutelage of Mr. Schlierf and although they are a small team, they are tenacious and compete with the best. Mrs. Turner and her Skills USA and cabinetmaking students have taken full advantage of the Southwest Colorado Education Collaborative (SCEC). The SCEC has allowed our students to use cabinetmaking equipment that was provided by the collaborative and is shared with other area schools. Ms. Klingler and her FFA students were able to attend the National Western Stock Show which exposed our students to livestock and agriculture initiatives. Several of our band students, with Mr. Moraga, recently participated in the Fort Lewis College Honor band. The drama students under Ms. Farrow’s guidance were able to showcase their talents recently during a production of “A Murder at the Art Show,” The play was well received by our student body and the parents of our drama students.
February is also the month of caring. And with that in mind, I would like to recognize Kim Cotta, our food services director. Kim has made some changes in our cafeteria to better serve our students and cut down on food waste. We are also very thankful to be able to continue to offer free breakfast and lunch to all of our students in the Ignacio School District. At Ignacio High School we care about the academic success and mental well-being of our students and have built-in several opportunities for students to receive additional support by providing weekly tutoring, by certified staff, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:45-5:45. Our athletic teams support academics on Wednesdays, with tutors, during our early release time. Our counseling department always offers academic and emotional support and has recently paired with La Plata County Youth Services to offer some extended counseling services for our students.
As always, we at Ignacio High School care for you and your students. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
“To make a difference in someone’s life you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care,” – Mandy Hale.
Upcoming Ignacio High School Events:
- Parent Teacher Conferences: Feb 14 & 16, 4:30-7 pm
- Wrestling State: 18 & 19
- No School: Feb 18 & 21, Presidents’ Day
- Strategic Planning Meeting #2: Feb 22, 5:30 pm
- Basketball Districts in Cortez: Feb 25 & 26, TBD
- Spring Sports Start: Feb 28
- Character Counts for March: Citizenship
- Basketball Regionals: March 4 and 5