Canku Ota - November 29, 2003 - Greyhills Academy Diné Studies Staff

	Canku Ota
	(Many Paths)
	An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America
	November 29, 2003 - Issue 101


	Greyhills Academy Diné Studies Staff Promotes Indigenous Perspectives
	by Ray Baldwin Louis - Public Relations - Greyhills Academy
	credits: Diné studies staff provide assistance in classroom instruction as tutors and/or cultural enrichment presenters, and assist teachers with students who need their personal attention with academics.

TUBA CITY — The staff of Diné Studies at Greyhills Academy High School shows their commitment and dedication to the students by staying beyond school hours, including evenings. They provide tutoring services and cultural-related activities, which contribute to the students' personal motivation, development and acquisition of knowledge. The role of the Diné studies staff is unique at Greyhills Academy. They provide assistance in classroom instruction as tutors and/or cultural enrichment presenters, and assist teachers with students who need their personal attention with academics. This may require them to provide instruction in Diné language, cultural advisement or historical background about traditional values as seen through indigenous perspectives.

"We have a staff that is very dedicated to helping our students learn," said Stella Claw, director of Diné Studies. "The important key is that we provide a student with a positive experience here at Greyhills, and that's why the staff does not hesitate to go and apply extra effort in various cultural activities being performed in our educational institution.

"They come to school early, stay and cover lunch duties, or they sponsor clubs, and stay after school, all for the sake of the students. They do not hesitate to volunteer their time."

Claw works with four staff members, Charlene Nez, academic tutor; Peggy Rafelito, cultural resource instructor; Phil Tree Jr., bilingual instructor; and Ward Tsingine, academic tutor. Each of the staff members works with different classrooms, youth groups, clubs and teams to provide motivation and to help students build on a quality educational experience.

"The students have changed over the last couple of years," said Rafelito. "They are not as rowdy as they used to be."

"The students we have now have better manners and they respect the teachers and staff more."

Tree said that his continued interest in working with the youth keeps him in the field of education. He also is an entrepreneur as he is an associate of a small business in Flagstaff.

"It's always encouraging to see students do well, especially those students who return to work or share their experiences here at Greyhills, or any other educational site, school or community," said Tree. "We're glad to be a support to them, whether it's in the classroom or extracurricular activity."

Tsingine is an assistant football coach and said he's glad to be involved with student athletes. He finds academic work with students to be challenging and an important task. He said he wants the students to succeed in high school as well as after they leave.

"I believe all education and life experiences are directly related to each other, whether it is in the classroom or on the athletic field," said Tsingine. "I know that hard work, dedication, respect, and positive reinforcement from role models contribute to a student's confidence, and it pays off now in the classroom, and in career choices after high school."

Presently, Navajo I and Navajo II language courses are taught by Meretta Robbins and LaTanya McCabe at Greyhills Academy. The staff said that this is enough because of the academic challenges confronting the students as education in general is pressured heavily by numerous standards. The Diné Studies Program is available to provide cultural infusion or integration when it is needed.

Tuba City, AZ Map

www.expedia.com







	Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107.

	Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry.

	The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the
	Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 of Paul C. Barry.
	All Rights Reserved.

Thank You