Native American After-School Program

Dear Friends,

We’re so excited to share everything happening in GuVo District right now. 

The After-School Program kicked off the 2022-2023 school year on August 8th. Attendance is back to fully in-person, with 41 enrolled students between GuVo and our NEW second location at the Al Jek Rec Center in Ali Chugk community. NAAF's education team of Monica, Selina, Malena, and Addy have developed an exciting curriculum, including STEAM activities, I:mig (Tohono O'odham language immersion), traditional wreath making, music lessons with Tucson Girls Chorus, harvesting butternut squash, beans, and melons in the oidag, and caring for the flock of 12 hens, who are laying up to 10 eggs every few days, shared with community members. 

Evidence-based learning is incorporated throughout each week with curriculums such as Botvin LifeSkills, including lessons and activities adapted to honor culture as prevention. The student-artists are flourishing after their art classes this summer, as evidenced by some really stellar entries in NAAF’s annual Holiday in the Desert greeting card art contest, and Program Coordinator Addy weaves O’odham language into drawing classes; students learn about babad (frog) and s-ce:dag`(green) while drawing adorable frog pictures and playing math leapfrog games with O’odham numbers. Ethan is teaching the students traditional songs and round dances for all ages. 

In more great news, we are taking field trips again!  Addy recently chaperoned a group of ASP students to the Peace Parade in Ajo, where they learned poi spinning, and the kids also traveled to Marana, Arizona for a Halloween pumpkin patch festival with a zipline and a petting zoo. On October 14, NAAF hosted its own all-ages carnival-style Fall Festival for GuVo District, complete with educational booths, face painting, outdoor games, arts and crafts, a costume contest, and a Fun Run. NAAF also unveiled our brand new Library Kits! Students can borrow take-home kits for Alphabet, STEM, Dinosaurs, and other fun learning adventures for the whole family. 

Staff have been working hard on outreach, with our new Prevention Specialist Christie Manuel visiting San Simon Elementary School kids during Red Ribbon Week for a culture as prevention presentation centering healthy, fun alternatives to substance abuse - a graduate of San Simon herself, Christie was a big hit, and she will be continuing these visits in the future! The Early Ed team also gave a talk at the Tohono O’odham Community College symposium on language immersion; NAAF’s Early Ed program is the first of its kind among the four sister tribes. As always, NAAF’s goal is to share our strategies for educational success throughout the Tohono O’odham Nation so that we can uplift all community members.

NAAF’s Learning Center has continued to serve as a tutoring and college counseling access point for multiple District students, becoming an educational resource that has far surpassed our vision when it was established during the pandemic. The RLC served over 30 students in person last quarter, with more accessing virtual resources. 

Big congratulations are in order for NAAF's Garden Assistant MJ Ramon, who recently received his GED! He advised new GED students to study hard, and that this will positively impact his life by giving him new opportunities. MJ is a valued member of the community and has been a major advocate for GuVo District's Free as a Bird Skatepark, soon to open this Winter!  

All the best to you and your loved ones,

NAAF