FUSD UPDATE: Face masks requirement amended

February 28, 2022

FUSD Families, 

The Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) has amended its requirement to encourage, but not require, face masks effective immediately.  The change was adopted to align with new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Coconino County Health and Human Services Department indicating Coconino County’s COVID-19 Community level is Medium.

Individuals may choose to wear a face mask at any time and to their comfort level, and decisions to mask or not to mask should be supported and respected.  

It is recommended that face masks be worn indoors when at the High (Orange) community level.  Individuals with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask regardless of community level. 

In accordance with the new guidance, individuals will no longer be required to wear face masks on buses or vehicles operated by the Flagstaff Unified School District or for its programs.

The Navajo Nation’s public health emergency order requiring face masks indoors at Leupp Elementary will be enforced until that order is rescinded.

The individual and collective prevention efforts which have contributed to the improving COVID-19 health conditions in our local communities are commendable.  The Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) continues to encourage all members of our school community to participate in free COVID-19 vaccination and testing opportunities, and while this is an exciting moment of this pandemic, to maintain self-care and be agile in case circumstances change.

Sincerely,

Michael Penca
Superintendent

FUSD Website Link:

Dear students, parents, guardians and relatives,

With the season of Christmas upon us, I want to wish you Happy Holidays and Happy New Year! I thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you. Yes, it has been tough times this year but we will continue to provide a safe and healthy environment for students in the coming new year.

Continue to be safe and follow federal, state, and tribal safety guidelines. We wish you all the best and look forward to seeing you in 2022.

With the coming new year, here are some announcements:

• Students will be assigned new Chromebooks to do school work and participate in new programs including Ripple Effects and Skooli
• FBD has received a number Verizon Jetpacks (hot spots) by donation from the National Indian Education Association. If a student needs a hot spot, please let our IT Tech know
• New 21st Century cohorts starting in January including: Teen Circle, CULTIVATE, KICC (Kinlani Indigenous Cooking Class), Wellbriety Warriors, and Boys and Girls Club
• New outdoor improvements are in the works including a new basket ball court and outdoor space where student can eat meals
• Board meeting agenda and Zoom link will be posted at the Kinlani Dorm website; board meetings are held the first Friday of every month
• Planned parent meetings via Zoom.

Take care and count all the blessings that are upon us during this holiday season.

Kindest regards,

Ms. Boone-Schuler, CEO

November 23, 2021

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Relatives,

Last year about this time we had already received our first snow fall by November. The weather is starting to get colder and it’s starting to feel like the holidays. I want to take this time to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for but at the same time we need to continue to be cautious and practice safety protocol which have become our second nature.

We have been very fortunate here at the dorm and have had minimal positive COVID-19 cases among staff and students. Our policy and procedures have helped minimize these infections and I want to personally thank you for your cooperation and support. Regarding the recent survey sent to parents, there were not enough responses to consider it a valid survey; for now, checkouts will remain the same.  

Congratulations to 51 of our 77 students who recently were treated out to dinner at Olive Garden for getting a 3.0 GPA or higher during the first quarter. It’s great to see these numbers and please help me to encourage our students to keep up this pace as we head into the final days of the first semester.

Our staff has provided a wide array of Native American Heritage Month activities. We’ve had everything from making ribbon skirts and dream catchers, Diné astronomy, to round dancing and the annual Miss Dook’o’oos[77d Pageant. Congratulations to Braydyn Calamity, 10^th grade student, from Shonto. She is our 2021-2022 “Miss D.”

Although we are limiting visitors to the dorm, we are continuing with our 21^st Century programs including Kinlani Film, Kinlani Indigenous Cooking Class (KICC), CULTIVE, Teen Circle and Wellbriety Warriors.  We are also implementing some new web-based programs to help our students with homework as well as promoting wellness. For academics, we have two new technology-based programs. The first is called Yup! The second is called Skooli. Both of these are technology-based tutoring program that are available 24/7 for students to get assistance with math, English and other core classes.  For social and emotional learning, there is a new program called Ripple Effect. Ripple Effects is a tool that helps students learn new coping skills when feeling the effects of many of the stresses of today. Our students are very technology savvy and these tools are intended to help them.

I attach some posters to remind us to stay safe as students go home for the holidays. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Please remember to keep your students at home if they are showing any symptoms of infectious diseases whether it be the common cold, flu or COVID-19.

Respectfully,

Ms. Boone-Schuler

Miss Braydyn Calamity, our new 2021-2022 Miss Dook’o’oos[77d.

Sewing ribbon skirts

Making Zuni Shuttlecocks

Drum making at Puento de Hozho

August 11, 2021

Dear students, parents and guardians,

It’s with great pleasure that I welcome you back to the 2021-2022 school year! Thank you for choosing Flagstaff Bordertown Dormitory (FBD), Kinlani Dorm, as your residency for this school year. We have been working tirelessly to ensure that all safety precautions are in place to provide a safe and comfortable environment for your student(s). There are many new features throughout the dorm as well as updated landscaping and improvements.

We encourage you to maintain vigilance and encourage your student(s) as well to practice safety precautions of wearing a mask, washing and/or sanitizing hands, and social distancing due to the rising number of COVID-19 infections. The Flagstaff Unified School District is now mandating mask wearing during the school hours as of August 11, 2021. Please let us know if your student needs masks. We appreciate your cooperation and assistance in this matter. The FBD Governing Board has adopted the FBD COVID-19 policy. We are also implementing the FBD Parent Acknowledgement Form and the FBD Reopening Plans.

The FBD COVID-19 and FBD Reopening Plans are posted at our website, www.kinlanidorm.org. The FBD Reopening Plan will be updated as needed, and if warranted we could initiate a return Phase two of the plan and we will let you know if that becomes necessary. We will rely on weekly data we receive from the Coconino County Health & Human Services Department.

Let’s have a great year! Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,

Ms. Boone-Schuler,

Chief Executive Office

ISEP 2021 Packet (click here)

November 20, 2020

Parents, guardians, and students,

What a year! I am assured though that with each other’s support and perseverance we will get through these tough times.  We miss you students but want you and your families to stay safe. Due to the recent surge in the COVID-19 virus, the dorm will continue to remain closed through January 5, 2021. The reopening date will depend on the state of the pandemic as well on the Flagstaff Unified School District governing board decision. 

We have been busy preparing for students to arrive on campus.  Some of our 21^st Century grant initiatives are being conducted virtually.  Our tutors, Erin and Tyler, are available to students who need help with their class assignments.  They are in the office Monday through Thursday, 3:00 – 6:00 pm, or by appointment.  You can email them and they can schedule virtual meetings on Zoom. Mrs. Yazzie, our rec tech, recently offered a Zoom physical activity.  There is more to come such as Country line dancing, yoga, and tai chi, to name a few.

Teen Circle and Wellbriety Warriors are also continuing with our staff, Mr. Curley and Little Owl. These two programs are designed to promote wellbeing and help students learn coping and other skills. Other components of this program will not be available until we are back in person. Please contact them if you are interested in joining either of these groups which meet weekly.

Native Cooking consultant, Vicki Anderson, recently shipped out pots and pans and food stuff to students who will be cooking delightful treats for peers and family members.  Oakley Anderson-Moore, Kinlani Film and CULTIVATE consultant, will also be sending out hands-on activity kits for students to complete at home.  Kinlani Film’s main goal is to engage students in the creative process while learning how to make films. All three programs made available internships.

Lauren Kiabetoney with our partner the Boys and Girls Club (BGC) of Flagstaff is offering weekly workshops on College and Career readiness, life skills development, and other fun activities. BGC also hosts a weekly tutoring hour.  Please contact Lauren at lauren@bgcflag.org if you want more information.  The Boys and Girls Club also offers an annual college scholarship for all members in their senior year.

Due to the pandemic we only enrolled 53% of our normal capacity of 160 students.  There are currently 85 students admitted to the dorm.  In most cases, there is only one student per room except in the case of siblings or latecomers.  We have also converted one additional wing for girls. So, there are now three wings for females, and one wing for males. 

When you return you will notice many improvements.  Not only have many of the rooms been repainted throughout the whole dorm, the outside has been landscaped and looking good.  There is signage around the dorm reminding us to stay safe from the COVID-19 virus. We will continue with protective strategies when students return as well.  We have adopted a new COVID-19 policy to ensure staff and student safety. Our reopening plan has also been shared and reviewed by the Division of Diné Education, the Bureau of Indian Education and Coconino County Health and Human Service.  

Kudos to all the many students who did well during the first quarter of the semester!  Over 75% of our students were on FBD honor roll. 

I hope you all have a blessed holiday. Stay safe and warm. 

Kind regards,

Ms. Boone-Schuler, CEO

Before paint job, summer 2020

New paint on Cafeteria/Gym

Real grass out front

Newly painted North Upper wing for girls

Signage around dorm