Accomplishments
● MdS's first graduating class, the class of '05, received acceptances from the following institutions of higher learning in alphabetical order: Arizona Animation Institute, Arizona State Univeristy, Art Institute of Chicago, Bard College, NY., Boston University, Ma., College of Santa Fe, Colorado Mountain College, Columbia College of Dance, Il, Cornish School of the Arts, Wa., Eckerd College, FL., Emerson College, Ma., Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Ca., Fordham University, NY., Ft. Lewis College, Co., Ithaca College, NY, Johnson & Wales College, Co., Lewis & Clark College, Or., Loyola Marymount University, Ca., Loyola University of New Orleans, La., New Mexico Highlands University, New Mexico State University, New Mexico Tech, Naropa University, Co., Northeastern University, Ma., Northern Arizona University, Portland State University, Or., Rhode Island School of Design, Rollins College, Fl., Santa Fe Community College, Sarah Lawrence College, NY., Scherer Institute of Natural Healing, NM, St. John's College, Md., St. John's College, NM., United World College, NM., University of Arizona, UCLA, University of Massachusettes, Amherst, University of New Mexico, University of Texas, Austin, Whittier College, Ca.
● In March '05 MdS teacher, Ms. Terry Wyrick, was awarded the "Golden Apple" New Mexico teacher of the year, an award given to five other teachers state-wide.
● In '04-'05 MdS received the National Civic Star award from the AASA (American Association of School Administrators) for its mentorship program.
● In '04-'05 The Ronald M Simon Family Foundation awarded five high school and college scholarships, totalling $100,000 to MdS students.
● MdS received a $208,000 grant from the State of
● One of few charter schools in the country which has built its own building;
● Monte del Sol has had the highest test scores in the city in each of our four years;
● Averaged 95% parent participation for quarterly conferences;
● Students have gone to
● Tony Gerlicz, Founder, awarded a scholarship to attend a course for charter school leaders at the Kennedy School of Government at
● Sister Schools of MdS exist in
● Won 1st place in the Jimmy Santiago Baca Poetry Slam Competition in '03;
● Participated in State-wide Mock Trial competition, '02-'03, '03-'04, '04-'05.
● Participated in State-wide "We The People" competition, '03-'04.
● Matched 105 mentors to over 150 students in '02-'03, 140 mentors to 220 students in '03-'04; All this was demonstrated in a three-day mentorship festival that showcased high quality work to the larger community;
● Presented annual art show at Center for Contemporary Arts;
● Field varsity athletics in soccer, volleyball, swimming, basketball, and track;
● Partnered with
● Students take chemistry, physics and culinary arts at the
● Received a competitive Federal Charter School Dissemination Grant to share best practices and partner with the
● Photography exhibit at the Santa Fe Art Institute highlighted in the May 28 Pasatiempo;
● Identity Cubes (photo, image and creative writing project) displayed at Stewart Udall Center on Museum Hill;
● Our basketball team was first in the district and qualified for the State Tournament in '03-'04, second in district and went to regionals in '04-'05;
● Our student-designed and built water catchment and greenhouse gained the attention of the Department of Energy, Minerals and Resources as a pilot project in greening an existing school building;
● Monte del Sol student studied in
● MdS hosted students from
● '03-'04 MdS Chess Team took first place in the middle school Northern New Mexico Chess Finals, and first place in the high school Booster division.
● Two student films won awards in the '03-'04
● Four MdS students won 1st place in the '04-'05 statewide "Desert Light" Film competition;
● One MdS student film selected for youth entry in '04-'05 International Santa Fe Film Festival;
● In '03-'04, two students returned with awards from a spoken word competition in
● Three students received '04-'05 all-state choir designations, a high honor for a small school;
● MdS students chosen to sing the National Anthem at the State Basketball Tourney in
● Two MdS '03-'04 eleventh graders have been accepted early to colleges: one received a sizeable scholarship to attend
● Monte del Sol has been selected by the New Mexico Study and Research Council to study our practices in effective school reform;
● MdS has received a commitment for a donation of seven additional acres of land, next to our own, where we plan to build a permanent building eventually, a remarkable achievement for this school community;
● Our charter has been renewed by the school district for another five years;