Roots and Wings Community School (a free, public, state-authorized charter school) started its 23rd year Aug. 15 and welcomed back 57 students in K-8 grade. RWCS’s mission is to inspire students to academic and personal excellence. Our innovative learning community creates classroom, farm and wilderness adventures – engaging the head, hands and heart – enabling students to achieve more than they think possible and to take an active role in our ever-changing world!
COVID-Related Info
We have returned fully in-person and masks are optional while indoors. We are still using our enhanced air filtration system and asking parents to be cautious if their child is feeling sick before sending them to school. Again this year, our GOAL is to keep the school open all year, with students learning in person, which will take the whole community working together.
Fall and Spring Trips-go7
A unique piece of our curriculum is all students do at least one fall and one spring multi-day trip with their classes. These trips help classes build teamwork, trust, and cooperation among classmates and teachers. The 6th through 8th grade class will be backpacking in the Sangre de Cristo mountains above the school’s campus in Lama. The 3rd through 5th grade class will be heading into the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument for their backpacking trip. Students in grades K–2 head out for their adventure right from the school, and use a local summer camp for their three-day trip to learn the basics of camping and ease them into being away overnight.
Exciting News
RWCS was awarded a direct appropriation from the NM Legislature during its last session to help purchase the current school facilities and grounds. We are in negotiations currently, so the school will own its campus! In addition, the school owns land adjacent to the current school facility and has submitted an application with the county to add two portable classrooms to the campus. The addition of these buildings will allow the school to have larger classrooms for our 60 students, and provide better breakout rooms for students and staff.
Enrollment
RWCS enrollment is capped at 60 students in our multi-grade classrooms. RWCS utilizes three grade cohorts that are divided into K-2nd, 3rd – 5th, and 6th -8th. Our K-2 and 3 -5 classrooms are full, with waiting lists. We do still have a few spots available for new students in our 6th – 8th grade classroom. If interested in attending RWCS call the school office at (575) 586-2076.
RWCS Welcomes New Teacher, Jaclyn Tregle
Jaclyn Tregle had touched base with some of our staff a couple of years ago while working with Red Willow on the Taos Pueblo and then was back in the area for the summer and learned of our open position. She has been teaching at charter schools in New Orleans. We are excited and pleased to welcome her to our school community!
My name is Jaclyn Tregle, and I am thrilled to join the RWCS family. I was born and raised in New Orleans. I attended Louisiana State University where I earned my Bachelors and Masters in Elementary Education. Taos is the only other place I have lived other than southeast Louisiana. While in Taos, I have had the privilege to learn from the land by growing food on a couple of farms and forming genuine relationships with the community. Being a facilitator of learning is my passion. I am fulfilled when I am working and learning with children. One of my greatest strengths as an educator is creating an environment, inside and outside the classroom, that is filled with comfort, joy, and love.
