When a community comes together to support students, it’s a win for education. That’s why Las Cruces Public Schools is proud to announce Sunrise Elementary’s designation as the district’s newest community school.
Students joined school staff, city leaders, district administrators and the LCPS Board of Education on Friday, March 6, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony officially designating Sunrise Community Elementary School as the eighth community school in LCPS.
“This is going to continue to bring resources to our students, our families, and our educators,” said Dora Solis, principal at Sunrise Community Elementary School. “It’s going to continue to not only bring resources but also align our resources. We’re also going to be more empowered to bring in our parents, to help us have that equity and voice in making decisions,” Solis added.
Sunrise Community Elementary School will help support the needs of students living on the East Mesa side of Las Cruces. Community schools at LCPS provide a variety of support services such as mental health resources, medical services, social-emotional support, and nutrition assistance.
While programs may differ from campus to campus, they all share the same mission, to empower students, families, and communities to thrive in a nurturing environment that helps them reach their full potential.
Community Schools in the district build on local partnerships with Doña Ana Community College, New Mexico State University, the NMSU College of Health, Education and Social Transformation (HEST) with Dr. Rick Marlett, La Clinica de Familia, Casa de Mi Alma to expand resources and opportunities for students and families.
Community School coordinators work on campus alongside school staff to support students through regular check-ins, helping to build a positive school culture while addressing and reducing chronic absenteeism. Through these ongoing connections, coordinators identify ways to best support students.
“Once you listen to students and families about what they want to see here on the campus, those community partnerships can really find where they fit,” said Johnny Rivera, LCPS Community Schools manager.
At Las Cruces Public Schools, community schools focus on six key components: strong student and family engagement; collaborative leadership; expanded and enriched learning opportunities; community-connected classroom instruction; a culture of belonging; and integrated systems of support.
Watch the Sunrise Community Elementary ribbon cutting event video produced by LCPS.TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCLhOj6PRbY
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