Since the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year, we have celebrated attendance in a variety of ways, which includes 100% attendance certificates and on-time arrival incentives. One student per month is randomly chosen for the on-time incentive from each classroom.  

For the first half of the school year, we celebrated these students for their on-time arrival. Infants and toddlers: Francis, Manius, Atlas, Live, Naomi, Sofia, Xiomara, Rhys, Sandra, Aria, Emma, and Adylynn.  Primary: Violet, Tavach, Maddie, Aubrey, Yomaris, Darius, Maisyn, Sylas, Chrissy, Jaxton, Jaymez and Amara. Elementary: Lilah, December, Bryan, Biannca, Izen, Josiah, Amethyst, Rex, Matthew, Lucas, Destiny, and John.  

Thank you, parents, for getting your child to school on time.  

 

For this edition of the Drum, we are spotlighting a toddler teacher, Marlene Vigil: 

 

Tùusaghwakava 

Marlene has worked as a Montessori teacher for almost 27 years!  Her colleagues describe her as a great listener and someone they have learned a lot from.  SUIMA Principal, Mari Jo Owens, says that “Marlene is very creative and can pull random things out of the closet so the students can build something beautiful.  She is constantly thinking about ways to keep the children busy and engaged.” 

 

Where have you taught during your career? 

I have been working for SUIMA 21 years now since 2005. Before I came to SUIMA, I worked at the Early Learning Center for six years, which was behind the old Headstart building when they first started the infant/toddler program. I have taught infants for 15 years and toddlers for 12 years now. 

 

What is your favorite thing about teaching at SUIMA? 

My favorite thing is when you hear your students develop their first language and they start doing the motions to the fingerplays to the songs they hear. It’s amazing to hear the little ones learning to interact with you. 

 

What brought you to SUIMA? 

Well, most of the ladies I was working with at the Early Learning Center went to work at SUIMA when it first opened. And they kept encouraging me to apply at SUIMA and they said the class environment was wonderful. So, I applied and got the position as an infant/toddler guide. 

 

What kept you here over the years? 

Throughout all these years I continue to enjoy the students. I also love the infant/toddler teachers that I work with now, and some have retired or moved on. We have always worked well with each other and made sure that our level was taken care of every day. And SUIMA has a great staff that are willing to help each other when we need to. 

 

How has Montessori education shaped your teaching philosophy? 

Learning that each child is unique in their own way of learning. Instead of interrupting them, you learn to just carefully observe quietly. Teaching them to be independent and being able to set up the environment with materials to help them develop all these skills. And making materials out of simple things like a coffee can, and things they can put on and pull off, like Velcro. 

 

How do you incorporate Ute language and culture? 

We stand for the Flag Song every morning, we bless our rooms, and we count and say the days of the week in Ute. We say the meal prayer in Ute. Throughout the day we use simple commands in Ute, use students’ Ute names, and provide materials for learning Ute words.  By the end of the school year the students start responding to us in Ute, which is amazing.  

 

Núu’apagha (Speak Ute) 

• Tʉʉ’ayaqh’umuypuchuchugway – It is good to know you. 
• ‘ipʉa’ʉmʉ pʉnikyaqha? – What did you see?  
• Nu’nuu apag’vach asti’i – I want to learn how to speak Ute. 

 

Mʉatagopɵˈɵkwatʉvana (On our calendar) 

• March 23 – Students return from Spring Break 

• March 24 – Parent Advisory Meeting 

• March 25 – Family Night 

• March 17 – No school for students – Professional Development Day for staff