Academic Support

Academic Counseling

The Academic Counseling Department is committed to a student-centered guidance program that supports the personal growth of each student in attaining their maximum potential by helping students identify their academic strengths, weaknesses, ​interests, and intellectual abilities.

The Academic Counselor serves as a resource to students, teachers, parents, and community groups and provides information for educational planning and course selection.

The Counseling Department complements services provided by staff members. Major services include Discovery Days, New Student Orientation, Freshman Academy, Junior Seminar, and Senior Seminar. The Academic Counselor meets with all students individually to review progress and develop future secondary and post-secondary plans.

The Academic Counselor takes an active role in educating parents of their vital role and responsibilities to help student(s) meet greater academic demands while establishing appropriate timelines and goals. Parents are encouraged to help guide and support their student(s) to plan for life after high school.

Contact the Counseling Department
Phone: 505-326-6571 x137
Fax: 505-564-8099

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Gifted and Talented Education at Navajo Preparatory Education

Navajo Preparatory School, Inc. is a college preparatory school with a mission to educate students of exceptional talents, abilities, and leadership skills. The purpose of the Navajo Preparatory School Gifted and Talented Program is to identify highly gifted Native American youth in grades 9-12 and provide them with a greater depth of enrichment opportunities.  The Gifted and Talented Program is designed to address student specific services in the five (5) areas of giftedness as outlined in the Bureau of Indian Education Rules and Regulations 25CFR.  It is our belief that by assisting these students in developing and strengthening individual skills, they will be leaders in their communities and subsequently in society.

Program Enrollment and Administration

Prospective Gifted students are selected by instructors or parents, or can be self-nominated.  Candidates for the Gifted and Talented Program are identified utilizing the Gifted and Talented Evaluation Scales (GATES).  If the prospective student shows giftedness, the Gifted and Talented Coordinator in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team will convene to discuss the needs of the identified students.  Parents and students are notified in a timely manner, and a conference is set up to develop the students IEP.

Students participating in the Gifted and Talented Program have a variety of programs to enhance and enrich their area(s) of giftedness. The following programs are offered throughout the school year:

Naataani Youth Council

In this program, students will serve as active and outgoing youth leaders for Navajo Preparatory School. This program will utilize a curriculum developed by Futures for Children. The curriculum emphasizes a “Self-Help” philosophy that guides students through a series of team-building activities. These activities promote education, teamwork, and community service. The “Self-Help” philosophy encourages critical thinking, problem solving, and communication that are specific to Native American High School students. In addition, participants will also serve as members of the United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. and apply leadership training to the program. Participation in this G & T will help students prepare for their future through planning for education and careers. The instructor is Mrs. Denise Jensen.

Naataani Youth Council Objectives

Students who participate in Youth Leadership will be able to:

• • Identify and justify the importance of cultural values.
  • Demonstrate good decision-making skills.
  • Develop positive communication skills.
  • Participate and lead team building activities.
  • Recognize the importance of post-secondary education planning & career development.
  • Identify the importance of having and being a good role model.
  • Complete community service projects that emphasize the importance of: culture, environment, and healthy lifestyles.

Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA)

NM MESA is a pre-college program that prepares students for college and careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. NM MESA students participate in a variety of enriched STEM activities including field trips, speakers, workshops, regional and statewide academic competitions, and community service and leadership development projects. The instructor is Mr. Paul Stewart.

MESA Course Objectives:

• Students will participate in all workshops/speakers/service learning projects offered by MESA.
• Students will compete in at least one competition, STEM, non-MESA.
• Students will demonstrate teamwork and creative problem-solving skills by working collaboratively to complete short answer and multiple choice questions that pertain to brain anatomy and its functions.
• Students will demonstrate their ability to program using the Codebender application, which is used to program an Arduino board.
• Students will build a low-cost Prosthetic Arm for use by a classmate who recently lost part of their arm below the elbow. The device should be designed to allow them to complete daily tasks in school and at play.

Reading & Cooking Across the Continents

Reading and Cooking Across the Continents is designed to offer advanced reading students the opportunity to invest in challenging literature, engage in lively debates, and produce cuisine from cultures other than their own. In this G&T Advanced Reading Group, readers will be given the opportunity to connect with a wide range of titles from around the world. Students will begin to build a life-long bookshelf for themselves and learn to respect and admire authors of differing world backgrounds. There will be in depth research into not only literary elements such as plot, character, setting, theme, irony and symbolism, but also cultural history and cuisines that will help students develop an awareness of the world. Students will identify recipes and prepare meals that are described in the literature read. They will experience foods that are not native to their own backgrounds and culture. The instructor is Mrs. Lesley Tohtsoni.

Reading and Cooking Across the Continents Objectives:

• The student will read college level books and discuss them openly in formal and informal settings.
• The student will read and discuss literature on the literal, figurative, and thematic level.
• The student will research, make, and eat dishes associated with the settings in the selections we read.
• The student will participate in and attend events emphasizing reading (field trips to bookstores, libraries, and book fairs).
• The student will create visual representations of various characters in the books read.
• The student will be able to cite outside examples to illustrate their points and observations.
• The student will make cultural connections via food, music and media.
• The student will make relevant connections to their life through the reading.

Science

The Science Gifted and Talented Program is designed for students who have met the criteria as gifted and talented students and who want to explore and enhance their talents and skills along the areas of science, math, engineering and technology. This program promotes a strong academic foundation in mathematics and science as key to college admission and success. The program will give the students the opportunity to explore college majors and career interests with a group of peers interested in attending college. Hands-on activities and team competitions focused on mathematics, engineering, technology and science are highlighted in order to increase students’ confidence and mastery in these areas. The instructor is Mrs. Yolanda Flores.

Science Course Objectives:

• The student will develop a realistic concept of self and work cooperatively with peers and adults.
• The student will create original projects that reflect critical thinking skills as supplemental learning to regular classroom curriculum to showcase their independent research as they compete for awards and scholarships.
• To introduce, encourage and accelerate the gifted students into the world of science, engineering, math and technology by enabling and integrating their participation and membership into the social, cultural and scientific activities of different Science Associations, Organizations, Symposia and Conferences.
• To allow students to experience the world of scientific research firsthand.
• To explore college majors and career interests with a group of peers interested in attending college.
• To encourage the students to participate in community service and in turn, encourage a dedication to the pursuit of scientific knowledge that benefits humankind.

Program Compliance and Accountability

The Gifted and Talented instructors are expected to develop and maintain a challenging course with two (2) hours of service weekly.  It is expected that the course prepares students to achieve in a variety of competitions, produce projects for exhibition, and be positive leadership role models.

Instructors, in collaboration with the Gifted and Talented Coordinator, will be responsible for the development and progress monitoring of Individualized Education Plans for each identified student.   Documentation of attendance and progress of students’ goals is required as well as working with Navajo Preparatory School Administration to exit students when necessary.

A Gifted and Talented Coordinator will oversee the overall program to ensure that all regulations and criteria are implemented for a successful audit by the BIE.

Parent Permission: Download the parent permission form