CHSS’ Early Childhood Development Program has acquired a grant from the Aspen Foundation to create a course with a new twist that families can attend together.
Family FIN1010 will provide families with dinner and tutoring for children while the students attend Financial Literacy courses, said Kalynn Pirkl Associate Dean in the School of Business and Information Technology.
Classes are offered with a hybrid section on Tuesdays, and a Spanish section on Thursdays, she said.
Although the financial literacy course Fin1010 is not new, it is usually a course that is offered to high school students doing dual credits, usually taken online with a high school facilitator, she said.
Instructor, Diane DeReyes, goes over the syllabus for FIN 1010 at the Montoya Campus on Tuesday evening with her class.
Fin1010 is open to everybody, not only current CNM students, the only requirement is having school aged kids who can attend and benefit from the tutoring services provided during this class, she said.
“I think financial literacy is a skill that everyone needs to know, I always tease that it is one of the biggest life lesson skills that you will have, I mean it’s the way we have to live our lives right?!” said Kalynn Pirkl.
Using the Aspen grant money, both parents and children will have dinner provided before each of their 12 classes, Pirkl shared.
Atrios catering, owned by a CNM employee and started by a CNM student has been chosen to cater dinner for the families, and will be bringing kid-friendly food to make sure that the kids eat, she said.
“The Montoya campus tutoring center had a wonderful idea to partner with an assisted living center named La Vida Llena Life Plan Community, and some of their residents have learned to do tutoring and excitedly volunteered to support this program,” Pirkl shared.
While the parents are in class, the children will get tutoring services from our tutoring department at Montoya campus, she said.
On those nights, it will be multi-generational, with not only CNM tutors but these volunteers from the Assisted Living Center that’s right next to Montoya campus who are so excited about tutoring and about all the interaction, she said.
“I know within CNM’s executive team, one of the missions is to involve children and child care into education with a multi-generational approach, I believe that is part of what has driven the creation of this program,” Kalynn Pirkl said.
It may be offered again this summer depending on what grant money is left over, she said.
This course is only being offered this Spring although depending on the success of this initial class and the funding available, there is potential Family FIN1010 will be ongoing, she said.
The only other issue that could impact offering this course is the fact that kids do not have homework over the summer and we would need to create a designed curriculum, she said.
The outside of Jennette Stromberg Library and the SRC.
Members of Main Campus’s library team shared with Chronicle readers tips that stuck with them throughout their academic careers.
Kyanna Facio, student employee
Always seize every opportunity, she said, particularly for scholarships that CNM offers and lists on its website from the Resources and Services tab under Financial Aid. She also said to know when your classes start and save your money.
Manuel DJ Lujan, instructional support technician
You can park anywhere for free after 4:30 p.m., he said, although you still need a free general parking pass.
Parking permits also don’t guarantee that you will have a spot, he said – if you want to be on time to class, give yourself plenty of time to find parking in case lots are full.
Robert Graff, an academic technology support manager
Once you’re in class, take advantage of office hours, he said.
Also, look at CNM for classes needed by UNM. Students can save money by staying at CNM until they must transfer to UNM, he said.
Students have access to free bus passes – all buses, not just to the school, he said.
You can do some things, like getting a parking permit, at all campuses, he added. Looking into this can save time and money by avoiding unnecessary trips.
Oceana Vasquez, a student employee
She said that her biggest recommendation would be to stop by one of the computer labs to get homework done, especially before going home if you’re already on campus for something else. By utilizing all of CNM’s resources, she hasn’t had to do any homework at home since she started, she said.
CNM Degree Works is one of those resources and she recommended using it. By showing students the classes needed for each program, it saves students time and financial aid, she said.
“I wish someone had told me that when I first started, that there was all this stuff available.”
She usually waits to get books for classes until after school starts, in case the teachers don’t need students to buy one of the online suggested books.
And don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your professors are there to help you and they really want you to succeed, she said.
Yvette Perez, a math tutor
“Panic early, beat the rush,” she said.
Students will panic toward midterms and finals, but it’s kind of late at that point, she said.
She suggests visiting the tutoring centers at any of CNM’s campuses early and often. Even if you’re not stuck, you can still go to do your homework there. If you have questions, you get past them right away.
Take IT 1010 early, especially since you will have to write papers in most of your classes.
She also recommended taking a college success experience class pretty early, because it will help you build a network of friends and people who have things in common with you – resources, study partners, study groups, etc.
Work as a student employee if eligible, she said. There are a bunch of positions open right now that need filling – if you know anyone who gets financial aid, let them know, too.
It keeps students on campus, in the environment, and they are allowed to do their homework while working, she said. There are tutors readily available and you’re also getting paid.
“You’re in the right place with the right people and it sets you up for success,” she said.
If a student does really well in any subject and has taken some classes, they could get a job as a peer tutor, she added. One doesn’t have to be on financial aid to get that kind of position; there are funds that are allocated for peer tutors separately, she said.
Perla Juarez, student employee
In the library, people can check out reserve books, calculators, laptops, iPads, highlighters, markers for the white boards, colored pencils and Sharpies – a bunch of stuff, all for three hours, she said.
You always need your student ID to access CNM’s library resources, because you can’t check out anything without it – not even a highlighter, she said.
People who are not actual students, graduated or otherwise, may get guest a ID.
Although students may buy or rent books at the bookstore, sometimes the library has those books and it’s cheaper to just come in and check them out, she said. You can even scan them and send the images to your email, so you don’t have to keep returning to the library.
Inside Jeannette Stromberg Library.
The libraries have study rooms that you can reserve for big study groups or presentations, in addition to printers and copiers and plenty of computers, she said.
The tutoring center also helps people who are struggling with their homework.
“It’s just pretty chill, I think. We’re open and calm, you can always ask questions and we try our best to answer them,” she said.
When it comes to study areas on Main Campus, Juarez indicated the library, the SSC building and its cafeteria, and the adjoined room to the cafeteria, which has couches and chairs, she said. She added the SB building and its computer lab.
“It’s a bigger place, that building is super modern and it’s really nice,” she said. “Open and colorful.”
The L building is more personal because has little study rooms with closing glass doors and cool chairs that are weird and modern, she said. It’s better if you want a quiet space.
Students occupy study rooms in the L building, while the lobby remains open.
She said that work-study jobs are awesome and if students can, they should try to get one.
It’s easy, especially since you’ve got access to the school while you’re working, she said. When it’s slow, you have the opportunity to do homework, which makes you feel like you can get things done and not feel as much pressure since your classroom is right there.
As a final note to students, she said that it’s not too bad and that school gets easier.
“At first it was really difficult to adjust to the difference of how much more homework you have and responsibility, but I think you just kind of get used to it,” she said.
Brahm Woody, an instructional technician
Students receiving financial aid should stay on top of their credit hours, he said. Taking 12 credit hours each term can eat up one’s available aid, although there is an appeal process that students may use to apply for more.
Students should also keep two programs in mind, he said. Taking classes that feed into two programs can prevent you from running out of financial aid by switching mid-program.
“It’s good to keep an open mind as far as where you want to go. Because destiny changes,” he said.
He recommends that students visit Academic Advisors just to make sure they’re still where they need to be, and to not stop at one – if you get advice that discourages you or isn’t what you wanted it to be, go see somebody else and get a different perspective, he said.
It’s also possible that one advisor may know something that the last person did not, he said.
“Definitely seek advisement. Even if you don’t think you need it, it’s recommended,” he said.
If you take advantage of office hours, come prepared with questions, he said. Have a goal in mind or prepared questions that they’ll be ready to answer. You only have a certain amount of time and don’t want to spend more of it fishing for what you need than getting what you need.
And don’t blow up your teachers’ email, he said. There’s a limit to where it could be excessive.
Stay on target with your program, but to unwind take a fun class, such as art or music.
“Stay sane. Because all work and no play will drive anyone nuts…you’ll end up like Nicholson in The Shining,” he said.
Don’t take too many classes, he said. Overworking can have a physical impact on you as well as mental, and he has seen people crash and burn by trying to take too many credit hours.
And do you keep any of that? he asked. You must memorize a massive amount of material in a short amount of time and will be lucky to keep a quarter of it – unless you stay on top of it.
When it comes to buying textbooks, look at their values and ask yourself a few questions – one may be cool for reference, but are you really going to reference it? Is it really something you’ll look at in five years? Would it be more worth it to rent it for a fraction of the price? Do you really need the physical copy?
Finally, take parking tickets seriously, he said – if you haven’t purchased a permit in a general lot and decide to park across the street, make sure to park according to the road signs.
“They will ticket you – it’s not if, it’s when,” he said.
The CNM chronicle has found some great V-day deals for all you hardworking students. Make sure to impress that special someone by booking your reservations soon!
Tucanos Brazilian Grille
Alfredo, Manager of Tucanos Brazilian Grille said they will be serving a Valentines dinner from February 13th-16th. For $31.95 per person. The dinner will include a Rosemary salmon, Roasted ribeye, grilled shrimp, along with a chocolate truffle for dessert. To make reservations please call (505) 246-9900. Further information can be found here.
Melting Pot
Amanda, a hostess at the Melting Pot said they have a Valentines 5-course meal and a shared bottle of wine for $140 per couple. The appetizer will be a shrimp cocktail, along with a choice of sparkling gruyere or green chile cheddar cheese, choice of Bacon Caesar or Strawberry Pecan salad, followed by an entrée of either Filet, Herb Crusted Chicken Breast, Shrimp, Memphis-style BBQ Pork Medallions, Angus Sirloin and Featured Pasta. For the dessert, a cookies n’ Cream Oreo Dream, Flaming Turtle, or White Chocolate Amaretto Meltdown. Other specials including a lunch champagne toast can be found on their website. Please call (505) 843-6358 or book a reservation here.
St. Clair Winery
Cathy, hostess at St. Clair Winery said they will be having a special four-course dinner for $50 per person. For the appetizer, you will have a choice of jalapeno bacon shrimp or warm brie, Red bell pepper bisque soup or poached pear salad, Prime rib or halibut for the main entrée, followed by a cheesecake and chocolate Bundt cake. Please call (505) 243-9916 to make a reservation. Further information can be found here.
The Fragrant Leaf, Chocolate & Roses Afternoon Tea
Lee, host at the Fragrant Leaf said they will be having a special afternoon tea with two seating’s available, 1:00-2:30 pm and 3:30-5 pm on Sunday February 17th for $35 per person. The tea service will include a Strawberry Chicken Salad Tea Sandwich, Pomegranate Glazed Turkey Meatball, Spicy Spinach Stuffed Mushroom Ham, Cream Cheese & Red Pepper Jelly Canape, White Chocolate Chip Scone with Rose Cream, Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie, Peppermint Rose Sugar Cookie, Rose, Raspberry & Lychee Parfait, Jasmine Pearls Green Tea, and a Lychee Fruit Black Tea. Please click here to make a reservation or call (505) 505-255-0522. Advanced reservations are required.
Star Brothers Brewing Company
Derek at Star Brothers Brewing said they are having a sweetheart dinner and beer pairing on Valentine’s day for $60 per couple from 5-9 pm. The dinner will include a four-course ribeye dinner, with five ounce beer pairings for each course, beginning with a homemade French onion soup, paired with a Double English brown ale, tossed seasonal salad with apricot balsamic vinaigrette paired with a Hazy IPA, 18 oz wood-grilled ribeye, Yukon parmesan mashed potatoes, with red ale gravy, with sautéed garlic broccolini paired with American Red ale, following a cheesecake topped with raspberries paired with a porter for dessert. Please call Derek at (505) 300-6126 to Reserve your Sweetheart Table. Reservations must be made by February 11th.
NM Escape Room
Zoë Hill, Manager, at NM Escape Room said they have open/public booking for any number of participants on Thursday, February 14th during their public hours, which have scheduled start times for all the rooms between 3 PM and 10 PM. They are offering a promo code for this occasion. Use the word SWEETHEART when booking a group of 2 and save $5. *Promo code is only valid for Thursday, February 14, 2019. For more information please click here or call (505)-289-1002 to book your fun filled day!
Rio Bravo Brewing Company
Rio Bravo Brewing Company is having a four-course meal with beer pairings, including their velvet utters milk stout for $35 per person. The menu is TBA. Please call (505) 900-3909 for more information.
Calibers Shooting Range
Robert Pohl, Manager of Calibers shooting range, said they will be having a Valentine special on February 14th where $84.99 gets you a $40 gift card that can be used for any items on the menu to either Daily Grind on their east side location or M’Tuccis on their west side location for a lovely dinner along with range time for two people, one hand gun rental, one rifle rental and box of ammunition with two targets of your choice. Tickets can be purchased here.
Speaking to hundreds of Women’s March participants gathered at Civic Plaza, newly elected NM Congresswoman Deb Haaland encouraged the crowd, reminding that anyone can enter politics, there are people and organizations ready and willing to help people get started, and anyone who is interested just needs to take the first step.
“It’s going to take every single one of us to take back the White House in 2020, but I know we can do it, the door is open, the ceiling is broken, and I intend to leave the ladder down for all women to run for office, I will be there to make sure that they do, that YOU do!”, she exclaimed.
There is more to do, more women are needed in elected offices, in the sciences, and CEO positions and women need to be paid equally, she said.
Deb Haaland speaks at Civic Plaza during the 2019 Albuquerque Women’s March . Photo courtesy of Sienna Burkett
“To this day women and women of color are paid as little as $0.53 on the dollar compared to a white male-booo! -Don’t boo, vote. Right?!”, Congresswoman Haaland asked the crowd.
It is a historic time for women in leadership in our state and in our country because of you in 2016 we woke up the country, Haaland said.
“Here’s what happened, we elected more women than ever before to Congress; 131 women representing districts across the country, the first Hispanic women from Texas, the youngest woman in Congress ever elected, the first two Muslim women, and the first two Native American women”, Haaland cheered along with the crowd.
31 of our 70 State House Seats are held by women, five seats short of a majority with Congresswoman Xochitl Torres Small, the first woman to represent the southern part of our state but our fight is not over, it is just beginning, she said.
Many New Mexicans have stated loud and clear that bridges should be built, not walls so keep marching, keep donating, keep volunteering and keep resisting, she said
“Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. said ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter’, so my sisters keep singing!” Congresswoman Haaland said before she left the stage.
We have a simple vision for this city, that working together we can continue to create a city that is safe, inclusive and innovative that works for all, began Albuquerque’s First Lady Elizabeth J. Kistin Keller, PhD.
“But we know that the most important part, inclusion is what makes safety and innovation possible in our city and what we have learned over the last year is that we can and we must do better, it’s going to take all of us working together as one Albuquerque but we have learned from all of you that we are a resourceful and a resilient bunch”, said Albuquerque’s First Lady.
As a community we have a lot to celebrate in this city and state, we are particularly excited as a city to have for the first time ever, a leadership team on City Council that is all female run, she said.
Everything needed to face our most pressing challenges head-on is right here in our community, she said.
“We’ve got the energy, we’ve got the creativity, and we’ve got the expertise to ensure that everyone in this community feels protected and respected and able to thrive.”
The City of Albuquerque’s first female Chief Administrative Officer Sarita Nair addressed the theme of this year’s march as the Women’s Wave, which speaks to the momentum of the women’s movement, but she also uses the term Women’s Glacier, because just like a glacier there is nothing that is going away about this Women’s Wave, said Nair.
“So I ask of you all keep speaking out, when we sit up there in City Hall it is so easy to forget all of the different issues that are so urgent to all of you, so we need all of you to speak on what is most important to you, so that we remember all of those issues when we continue to give attention across the board, whether it is ADA accessibility or backlogs of untested rape kits or making sure that our streets are safe for women and people of all levels of ability”, said Albuquerque’s Chief Administrative Officer.
Skye Morris-Devore is a Brewing and Beverage instructor on campus, as well as the co-owner and President of Tractor brewery.
CNM has a certificate program and an associate’s program that combines brewing classes along with science and business classes to try and give you a well-rounded approach to getting into the industry, she said.
Morris-Devore loves teaching about beer styles and flavors, and she finds this to be the coolest part of her job, she said.
In particular, she enjoys teaching students who already believe they are knowledgeable about beer, she said.
“Whenever you have someone that introduces themselves as a home-brewer or a beer geek and then you’re able to teach them something, then you feel like what you’re doing is really validating,” she said.
Even if you’re not thinking about getting the certificate or degree, just taking the classes is a good idea if you’re working in the industry, she said.
Sometimes our employees from Tractor are offered to take drafting classes for free because it’s important to know how to do something, especially if you’re alone on your shift on a Friday night, she said.
On top of being a mother to four-year-old twins, a wife, and instructor, Morris-Devore is also the co-owner and president of Tractor brewery.
“I’m a workaholic. I think that’s a big component of being able to juggle both. I love my work and you just have to honor your commitments and sometimes that personal stuff just falls by the waist side and you have to be ok with that for a little while,” she said.
Morris-Devore is able to juggle both jobs by the loving support of her family and friends, she said.
“I have a really supportive family and it’s important for people to know to that it’s great to have family, but family is what you make it, and that network of people who are friends is also really important,” she said.
She got into this industry by accident and didn’t know anything about beer, she said.
Her background is in manufacturing, and while she was working at a manufacturing company, her boss, who owned a brewery asked her if she’d like to run a brewery in her spare time, she said.
Morris-Devore was twenty-five and said sure, and that is how she ended up at Tractor, she said.
This is a type of beer called Luna De Los Muertos Russian Imperial Stout, taken at Tractor’s Nob Hill location.
Morris-Devore started working there in 2007, and in 2014 her and her partner bought out the original owner and have been there ever since, she said.
“I found out that I was pregnant, so I quit my day job and began working at Tractor and doing the beer thing full time,” she said.
After coming back from maternity leave, she realized she had never took the time to learn about craft beer the way she should have, she said.
During the time Morris-Devore wanted to learn about craft beer, Santa-Fe Brewing was starting a study group for the cicerone program for the level 2 exam, she said.
A cicerone is defined as a beer expert and/or beer sommelier.
Morris-Devore spent six months studying three hours a week, and received her cicerone certification in October of 2015, she said.
Having completed all of these studies, the certification, and a MBA, Morris-Devore was able apply and receive a teaching position with the CNM brewing and beverage program, she said.
She believes that people who want to learn should figure out what job they want to do in the beer industry and go shadow someone for a day.
“You might find that you want to work in beer, but just not in the job you thought you did, so that can be an interesting transition. Be open to that,” she said.
There are challenges that come with being a brewery owner, she said.
Something that Morris-Devore hears from her students a lot is, they want to start their own brewery so they can be their own boss and make their own schedule. That’s just a lie though, they don’t actually end up doing that because it’s their job to make sure that everyone else has everything they need to do their job, she said.
Students have access to discounted season passes for unlimited New Mexico Philharmonic performances, said their Director of Outreach and YMI (Young Musician Initiative) Alexis Corbin.
The $30 NMPhil Sound Card allows students to attend any of at least 20 concerts in a season and bring a friend for free to certain shows on dates listed on their website. There are three more this season and the guest does not have to be a student, she said.
“It’s hard to be a student, but everybody deserves to have access to beautiful music,” she said.
A lot of people wonder if adult students count, she said, and they do.
It’s for all students age 6 or older. Sometimes students will get the card and bring parents along – especially high schoolers and middle schoolers, she said.
As long as you are taking one class at CNM, you qualify.
“It’s an affordable way to listen to classical music,” she said.
Students may choose from any seats remaining three days before the performance, or they may reserve seats a week in advance in the student section.
Corbin is excited about this outreach, she said.
“It’s about getting people in,” she said. “Many people will go for the first time and tell me it was amazing.”
The program gets students involved, but also helps with future attendees. It is both student outreach and community outreach, she said.
She added that there is a wide range of educational programs many don’t know about, in which they reach out to 4th and 5th graders by playing at their schools or bringing them to Popejoy for a full symphony.
“Everyone deserves access to beautiful music,” she said.
The 2018/19 season spans from September 1, 2018, through August 31, 2019.
Students may complete their membership form online or get access to more information at nmphil.org/soundcard.
