From left, Teacher Lynn Ovaska poses with LAHS Student Council CYFD team Andrea Chapman next to Rep. Christine Chandler, Lourdes LeDoux, Deeanna Foster and counselor Cristin Haake. Courtesy/Lynn Ovaska
Students with CYFD Cabinet Secretary Barbara Vigil, center. Courtesy/Lynn Ovaska
By LYNN OVASKA, NBCT
AP Psychology and Psychology Teacher
Student Leadership Co-Teacher
As we continue to celebrate our students, Wednesday was a big day for the Student Council members who led the NM CYFD (Children, Youth, & Families Department) Donation Drive last month.
They were invited to the New Mexico Roundhouse to be recognized and present the items they collected for children entering foster care.
Thank you to all of you who had your classes donate toiletries!
Senior Andrea Chapman spearheaded the campaign last semester and invited schools from around northern New Mexico to participate, too for our state Student Council Project.
Student Leadership class worked with Drea to organize the items into ~200 “first night kit” bags and added individualized notes. We delivered the bags, as well as donated stuffed animals and books, directly to CYFD yesterday.
Drea, Deeanna Foster and Lourdes LeDoux then represented LAHS and received much gratitude for our donations from everyone they met at the Roundhouse. And they had many surprises. They were able to talk with our State Rep. Christine Chandler about their work and hers. They saw the Governor’s speech on higher education. They were invited to sit in the Speakers Rostrum (on the floor right next to Speaker!) and be introduced to legislators right before they voted to declare March 1 New Mexico Foster Care Day. And, they delivered the donations directly to CYFD office and meet retired NM Supreme Court justice and newly confirmed secretary of CYFD, Barbara Vigil.
Thank you again for encouraging your students to donate and helping make a difference in New Mexico.
If you really love the legislative process, you can see our students at 11:27 in the video when they voted to make Wednesday New Mexico Foster Care & Child Welfare Day! (Link)
LAHS students loading donations for children Wednesday. Courtesy/Lynn Ovaska
LAHS Student Council CYFD team Andrea Chapman, Lourdes LeDoux and Deeanna Foster speak with Rep. Christine Chandler in her office Wednesday at the Roundhouse. Courtesy/Lynn Ovaska
From left, LAHS Student Council CYFD team Deeanna Foster, Andrea Chapman and Lourdes LeDoux point to Los Alamos on the map at the Roundhouse. Courtesy/Lynn Ovaska
LAHS Student Council CYFD team watch Gov. Michele Lujan Grisham speak Wednesday at the Roundhouse. Courtesy/Lynn Ovaska
LAHS students recognized on the House floor Wednesday at the Roundhouse. Courtesy/Lynn Ovaska
