Over the past two months, Santa Fe Prep's Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Committee planned an array of forums, conversations, and events for students, faculty, and staff.

In January, a school-wide MLK Day forum subtitled "What is race? Why does it matter?" challenged us to consider our preconceived notions of racial identity and the social construction of race by examining historic Supreme Court rulings, the evolution of what it has meant to be white in America, and solidarity within modern movements for racial equity.

In February, forums in the middle and upper schools covered such topics as implicit bias, stereotyping, and microaggressions, allowing for conversations that continued within advisory groups. As part of a DEIJ Committee-sponsored professional learning discussion, Prep faculty and staff members explored the notion of "Calling In" (inviting someone to join in a conversation for better understanding) vs. "Calling On" (asking someone to do better and be better) vs. "Calling Out" (or "canceling") when it comes to professional and classroom interactions.

In recognition of Black History Month, Assistant Head of School Jessyca Lucero-Flores shared information about Black history in New Mexico, a legacy dating back to Estevanico, an enslaved African reported to have helped guide the search for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold in the sixteenth century. Several hundred years later, in 1903, Blackdom, New Mexico was the first all-black town incorporated in the state by 13 African Americans. Located just south of Roswell in Chaves County, the homestead colony is now an historic park open to the public. And in northern New Mexico, the Harwood Museum in Taos is celebrating the legacy of the Black cowboy via an exhibition titled Outriders. The exhibition will remain open through May 7; plan a visit if you're in the area!

Thank you to the DEIJ Committee—Breshaun Joyner, Hanna Levin, Drew Walker, and Matt Ybarra—for your thoughtful planning of these events to benefit and educate our students and faculty.

Students in Jocelyne Comstock's physics classes spent February studying light. As a conclusion to their Optics unit, AP Physics students explored the diffraction of light via lasers and strands of their classmates' hair, and wore diffraction glasses to observe how light is split into its constituent components.

In Honors Physics, students investigated colors as part of a unit on Vibration and Waves. Pictured above, Cassiana Serna '24 and Kiran Belyeu '24 perform a demonstration of the primary and secondary colors of light by shining red, green, and blue lights on the whiteboard to produce complementary colors.

In its first year of existence at Prep, the DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) club has much to celebrate this season. In February, all four Prep teams participating in the state competition qualified for finals, with Nico Roth '23 and Cyrus Hnasko '25 placing first in the state! In April, Nico and Cyrus will travel to Orlando to compete at the culminating National DECA conference, joined by teammates Van Andersson '24, Rinchen Rotto '25, and Ndezolth Sauceda '25. Congratulations to all on an impressive first season of competition, and to DECA club leader Bruce Sachs.

On March 8, New Mexico History teacher Lisa Nordstrum participated in an event at the Capitol Rotunda honoring the contributions of New Mexican women throughout the state's long history. In recognition of International Women’s Day, the International Women’s Forum of New Mexico (IWF-NM) sponsored a public celebration of the New Mexico Historic Women Marker Program—roadside markers installed throughout the state, each celebrating courageous women who helped shape our multicultural history in pursuits as diverse as the arts, business, education, government, healthcare, and science.

The event showcased how this women-focused program is helping to inspire and empower by celebrating the unique contributions of New Mexico women of the past, present, and future. "According to the National Women’s History Museum, fewer than 11% of textbook references are devoted to specific women in K-12 state history standards and curricula in the United States,” Lisa said at the Roundhouse event. Through funding from the New Mexico legislature, she developed K-12 curriculum on behalf of the IWF-NM, which will serve to further educate students across New Mexico on the contributions of these women to our state.

To learn more about the Historic Women Marker Program, visit their website: nmhistoricwomen.org.

SFP Monthly News is distributed August-June to all school parents, students, and faculty and staff. Please send story ideas to news@sfprep.org. 

Rummage Sale

The annual Rummage Sale will be held Saturday, April 22, and we will need many volunteers! Responsibilities range from distributing yard signs throughout the city (and collecting them after), moving donations to the gym, sorting and pricing items, and working as a cashier on the day of the sale. Those who volunteer 10+ hours will be invited to an exclusive preview sale the evening of Friday, April 21. Please sign up to volunteer here!

Remaining drop-off dates for Rummage donations will be:

•Thu, 3/30; 9-9:30am & 3-3:30pm

•Tue, 4/4; 9-9:30am & 3-3:30pm

•Sat, 4/15; 10am-1pm

In addition to donations, the sale is also seeking paper and plastic grocery bags. Questions? Please contact Leza Lowitz or Alexandra Ladd.

Monthly PA Meetings

All parents are part of the PA and are welcome to attend meetings, held the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 13, at 9am in the Library Classroom.

On February 11th, Gabe Ingliss '26 won the strings category of the Jackie McGehee Young Artists Competition, performing the first movement of Felix Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor. Gabe is the youngest-ever first prize winner in the strings category as well as the first double winner of the competition, having won the piano category in 2020. This year, the piano competition was won by Gabe's 11-year-old brother Rafael! In addition to $2,500 in prize money, Gabe was also awarded the opportunity to appear as a soloist with the New Mexico Philharmonic, at a gathering of the Music Guild of New Mexico, and at the Southwest Piano Festival. Congratulations, Gabe!

College Counselors Hayley Burke and Matt Ybarra are hosting monthly book groups to read and discuss books about college and college admission. All parents and guardians of Upper School students are welcome! This month, the group will discuss Excellent Sheep by William Deresiewicz. Join Hayley and Matt in the Library on Wednesday, April 5, for one of two discussion sessions: 9am or 5pm.

On Thursday, April 27, the Booster Club, Parents' Association, and Advancement Office will join forces to host a groovy 60s-themed gala in celebration of 60 years of Santa Fe Prep! Tickets are now available for purchase here. Additionally, an online silent auction will precede the event; please contact Michael McNeill regarding auction donations.

Representatives from the City of Santa Fe visited campus on March 2 to share information regarding summer job opportunities with their aquatics and youth programs. Aquatics positions range from Lifeguard Trainee to Swim Instructor and offer salaries of $15 to $23/hour. Lifeguard Trainee applicants receive CPR certification and must be at least 15 years old. The Summer Youth Program offers recreational activities for Santa Fe children ages 6-17. Program Aides and Assistant Supervisors must be at least 16 years old, and salaries range from $12 to $20/hour. Additional details and applications for all positions can be found on the City of Santa Fe's employment opportunities portal.