Sonoma Elementary School

Celebrating Black History Month —Historical Person in Focus: Bessie Coleman 1892-1926 Bessie Coleman soared across the sky as the first woman of African American and Native American descent to earn her pilot’s license in the U.S. Known for performing flying tricks, Coleman’s nicknames were: “Brave Bessie,” “Queen Bess,” and “The Only Race Aviatrix in the World.” Her goal was to encourage women and African Americans to reach their dreams – and this became her legacy. Though her life and career were cut short in a tragic plane crash, her life and legacy continue to inspire people around the world. Born in Atlanta, Texas on January 26, 1892, Bessie Coleman had twelve brothers and sisters. Her mother, Susan Coleman, was an African American maid, and her father George Coleman was a sharecropper of mixed Native American and African American descent. In 1901, her father decided to move back to Oklahoma to try to escape discrimination. Coleman’s mother decided not to go with him. Instead, Coleman, her mother, and siblings stayed in Waxahachie, Texas. Coleman grew up helping her mother pick cotton and wash laundry to earn extra money. By the time she was eighteen, she saved enough money to attend the Colored Agricultural and Normal University (now Langston University) in Langston, Oklahoma. She dropped out of college after only one semester because she could no longer afford tuition. At age 23, Coleman went to live with her brothers in Chicago. She went to the Burnham School of Beauty Culture in 1915 and became a manicurist in a local barbershop. Meanwhile, her brothers served in the military during World War I and came home with stories of their time in France. Her brother John teased her because French women were allowed to learn how to fly airplanes and, in the United States, Coleman could not. Her brother's stories, along with other news of pilots in the war, inspired her to become a pilot. She applied to many flight schools across the country, but no school would take her because she was both African American and a woman. Robert Abbot, a famous African American newspaper publisher told her to move to France where she could learn how to fly. Since her application to flight schools needed to be written in French, she began taking French classes at night. Finally, Coleman was accepted at the Caudron Brothers' School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France. She received her international pilot’s license on June 15, 1921 from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. She then returned to the United States. Click the link to learn more about Bessie Coleman's life: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/bessie-coleman By Kerri Lee Alexander, NWHM Fellow, 2018 | Updated December 2022 by Rebecca Ljungren, Education Programs Manager

Today, 5th graders from Monte Vista Elementary School presented a bill they helped draft with New Mexico State Sen. Bill Soules. Students presented SB 188, before the Senate Committee during their legislative session. These young lobbyists asked legislators to consider adopting the smell of green chile roasting in the fall as New Mexico's official aroma. Students answered questions from the committee and highlighted that New Mexico would be the first state with an official aroma, which would help boost tourism. The bill passed unanimously, 5-0 by the committee and moves on. What a victory! Great job, students! More about SB 188: Senate Bill 188 establishes the official state aroma of New Mexico as the smell of green chile roasting in the fall. This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect June 16, 2023, (90 days after the Legislature adjourns) if signed into law. No fiscal impact.

Grab your dancing shoes and join us for our Sweetheart Dance! Flyers will be sent home with students today. For any questions regarding the dance or volunteering for setup, please contact our PTO members or any of our first grade teachers.

Winter Weather Forecast Prompts Delays, Cancelations — Inclement weather in Monday night’s forecast, expected into Tuesday, has prompted administrators at Las Cruces Public Schools to call a two-hour delay for all students and staff on Tuesday, Jan. 24. According to officials, bus schedules have been adjusted to accommodate the late start. Tuesday’s delay prompted the cancelation of all morning DD preschool classes. A girls basketball game Monday night between Mayfield and Alamogordo was also canceled and rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24. The ninth-grade teams will play at 4 p.m., followed by junior varsity at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m. All games will be held at Mayfield High School. Wrestling matches between Mayfield, Las Cruces and Organ Mountain high schools set for Tuesday, Jan. 24 at Mayfield were rescheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. Updates will be posted on the LCPS Athletics page, linked here. For any additional weather delays or updates, please monitor the LCPS homepage, www.lcps.net.

After a two year hiatus, the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras - EPSYO held its annual Concerto Competition on Monday, January 16, 2023. Las Cruces HS sophomore violinist, Chloe Morris, has won this year’s competition. As grand prize winner, she will be performing the 1st movement of Édouard Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole on March 26 at the EPSYO Side by Side concert with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra. The competition was open to all musicians under the age of 23. BRAVA, CHLOE!!! Las Cruces Public Schools is so very proud of you! #wearelcps p/c: Lauren Morris

The Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance brings you the 11th annual running of the Sierra Vista Trail Runs. This event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance, a 501 (c)(3) corporation. The 2023 event will include the 50k, half-marathon, 10k, 5k, and 1-mile kids fun run. We keep the registration cost low to make trail racing financially accessible for more people. As always, race registration requires the donation of an old pair of shoes. Bring the shoes to packet pick up or race day. Donated shoes will be offered to the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope, http://www.mvcommunityofhope.org/. Click here to register: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=98958 Runners in all distances get a pair of race socks. Sizes cannot be guaranteed after February 18, 2023. Extras will be ordered but sizes and quantities will be limited and available on a first come first serve basis. There will be awards for top three men and women in all distances. Post race food will be provided. All races will take place on Saturday, March 11, 2023. All distances will start at the Sierra Norte trailhead off of Dripping Springs Road. The 50k will begin at 7:00am The half-marathon will begin at 8:00am. The 10k will begin at 9:00am. The 5k will begin at 8:30am. The cutoff time to finish will be 5:00 pm. All proceeds will be donated to the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance to preserve and enhance the trails and outdoor recreation in the area. Visit us at snmta.org. Funds support trail work days, trail building workshops, training, and tools. Visit our website, Sierra Vista Trail Runs, for more information. Review the race manual at prior to the event. Come join us for a fun, low key community trail event. Banner photo of Ian Maddieson courtesy of Organ Mountain Outfitters, one of the past partners. The Sierra Vista Trail Runs is authorized under a Special Recreation Permit from the Bureau of Land Management Packet Pickup Packet pickup will be Friday, March 10, from 4-7 PM at Bluebird Running Company 300 N Main St, 2nd floor, Las Cruces, NM 88001

We have your dinner plans set for Tuesday, make it a Freddy’s night! All proceeds raised from this event will help fund our future goals to replace Sonoma’s track. Please help us out!! Our track is in dire need of replacement.

Join us for a Special Walk to School Wednesday this week.

Sonoma Dress up days are all this week.

Linda Peterson, Kath Natzke, Linda Tetu, Ceal Sayah, Linda Acosta, Ana Fe Coste, and Genevieve Trujillo participated in the Las Margaritas de Las Cruces Golf Tournament on November 3 and 4, to promote golfing for women. With money raised from the tournament, the team collectively decided to donate to the Mckinney-Vento Project Link Program at Las Cruces Public Schools. The group donated $1,400 to the program to purchase snacks, clothing, shoes, and supplies for students facing homelessness. The group is looking forward to keeping this donation going year after year. LCPS is thankful for this partnership as the funds will go directly towards helping students make sure they have what they need to be successful in the classroom. Thank you! Caption (L-R): Linda Peterson, Kath Natzke, Linda Tetu, Ceal Sayah, Linda Acosta, Mia Hope, Ana Fe Coste, and Genevieve Trujillo

Dear Friends of Las Cruces Public Schools, Together we can help make the season bright by sponsoring an LCPS student in the Migrant Education or McKinny-Vento Program. With your support, we can make this holiday a truly special one for them. A Star Tree has been set up in the front lobby of the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex, 505 S. Main, Loretto Town Centre, Suite 249. The tree has star ornaments with the names of students along with their clothing sizes and Christmas wish. Please select a star(s) and bring it to the receptionist or Federal Programs Department to register your star(s). Gifts will need to be wrapped and returned to the Federal Programs Department by 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 12, 2022. We appreciate your interest and support in participating in the 2022 Migrant Education “Wish Upon a Star” gift-giving project. To learn more or to refer others to join our efforts, please contact Iggy Campos in the Department of Federal Programs at 527-6643 or icampos@lcps.net. Happy Holidays! LCPS Migrant Education Programs Las Cruces Public Schools

Come join the Specials Team for a FREE outdoor movie night on the basketball court this Friday, December 2. The West side Gate opens at 5:30, movie starts at 6:00. We will provide popcorn and hot cocoa There will be a small concession with items starting at $.25, while they last. Dress warm and bring your chairs and blankets. Reach out to Coach Miller or Mr. Estep with any questions. 😊

Plan to have student pictures taken in the morning of Dec 8th, if they purchase. Only students that purchase will visit with Santa . Family and Group pictures (with or Without Santa ) are also available starting at 5pm in our school Cafeteria. Bring Mom, Dad , Grandma and the well behaved Dog too! Packages begin at just $20.

Join Sonoma's Walk to School Wednesday for a special Turkey Trot on 11-16-22.

Help support Sonoma Kindergarten on Thursday, November 17th by going to Raising Canes. When you mention Sonoma, a portion of your bill goes back to our school.

Next week Sonoma will be recognizing Juvenile Diabetes Awareness. We will be having a themed spirit week and a Kiss the Pig fundraiser. Please see the attached for more information.

Please help those in need with our Sonoma Food Drive.

Las Cruces Public Schools will be collecting general hygiene donations via drive-thru from 11am-2pm today out front of the Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex to supply Care Kits for Kids to help support LCPS students. Please stop by to help support this great cause.

From October 17 to November 4, you can help make a huge difference in the lives of Las Cruces Public Schools high school students! Our healthcare community is proud to come together to support the Las Cruces Public Schools Foundation, Inc. Care Kits for Kids personal hygiene supply drive. See the image for the two ways in which you can support this great cause. Drop-off bins will be located in the main lobbies of MountainView Regional Medical Center and Three Crosses Regional Hospital, and at Central Office in the Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex. #MakingCommuntiesHealthier #CareKits #ForKids

Students get ready for the return of the Las Cruces Space Festival poster contest!! The Las Cruces Space Festival is an annual celebration of space-related activity and interest in southern New Mexico and beyond. The mission is ‘Making Space for Everyone’. The festival is free to participate in, and open to all, with the cost of activities, presentations, displays, and exhibits all covered by sponsors. Please see the flyer for contest details. For more information, please visit: lcspacefestival.com.