Sakarii Goodtracks draws a portrait of herself while Tia Howe picks out a new color of crayon to finish coloring her eyes during the first day of school at the Academy on Monday, Aug. 26.

Southern Ute Indian Montessori Academy Elementary Physical Education Teacher, Kris McSweeney walks her upper elementary students back to the classroom after exercising at the SunUte Community Center on the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 26.

Sibrya Larry contemplates her ideas for an assignment in the Ute Language class on Monday, Aug. 26 during the first day of school.

Photo Credit: McKayla Lee | The Southern Ute Drum