Besides winning one of the door prizes of a gift bag filled with a pack of CD containers, marking pens and candy, Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School eighth-grader Jolyn Sam was rewarded for her academic efforts with a certificate and a $10 gift card to Border's bookstore.
Jolyn pointed to the back of her award showing her gains in several subjects during the school year. She said she became interested in the book, "The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things," which made her want to read more and also made a difference in her grades.
"I read it because I had to work on my primary reading grade," said Jolyn, 15. "I went up in reading and math. Doing better in reading brought my English grade up too."
Jolyn was one of 27 seventh- and eighth-grade students who were honored with an awards dinner hosted by the Washoe Tribe Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Youth Program and Education Department at the Washoe Housing Authority Office in Dresslerville on Wednesday.
About 50 students, parents and educators gathered for a spaghetti dinner and cake and to acknowledge the difference the new Circles of Support program at Pau-Wa-Lu and Douglas High School made in academic achievement in the past year.
"Circles of Support focuses on truancy and attendance," said TANF Youth Programs Coordinator Liz Garcia. "We found we had a 35-percent decrease in truancy within the native population."
She said 15 of the 27 native American students at Pau-Wa-Lu are involved in the tutoring program, which provides one-on-one guidance and transportation when needed.
"Working with the students at both schools, we'll have ninth-graders prepared to go to high school," said Garcia. "It's a better transition for them."
Pau-Wa-Lu Principal Robbin Pedrett attributed the program's success to the teamwork of Douglas education advisor Lori Pasqua, Meneley instructing aide Cheryl Villanueva and Pau-Wa-Lu program coordinator Barbara Garcia. Pedrett acknowledged Mark Kizer and his support of the education program as a chairman on the Washoe Tribal Council.
"The scores of the native American students in the past have never been so good. Do continue to stay involved," Pedrett said to parents.
Entertainment for the event was provided by Marty Montgomery, who was a graduate of the Dresslerville Head Start preschool program and a 1999 graduate of Douglas High School.
"I sing about simple things like moving on to the next grade," Montgomery said about the round dances he performed to a drumbeat representing the heart's beating. "God gave us all the same heartbeat and everyone here works together to help children - whether you're native or non-native - or we wouldn't be here tonight."
Indian Student Award recipients, 7th grade:
Everett Aguilar
Raul Castenada
Christian Cates
Danielle Christian
Vanessa Contreras
Hunter Czadek
Hunter Fillmore
Marlena Martin
Dalton Millar
Raymond Nevers
Marissa Sepulveda
Jeremy Scrape
8th grade:
Vanessa Carmona
Brennan Cruz-Pabon
Samantha Dressler
Sage Garcia
Corey James
Katrina Johnson
Stormy Kizer
Shantel Mayer
Kimberly McDonald
Chelsea Michael
Steven Pearce
Jolyn Sam
Timothy Scrape
Rueben Vasquez
Steven Williams
