MESCALERO, NM

March 20, 2020. Late last night, the Mescalero Apache Tribal President Gabe Aguilar proclaimed a state of emergency on the Mescalero Apache Reservation. This action came at the request of the Mescalero Apache Tribal Council.

President Aguilar stated, “The health and safety of our community is of paramount importance to the leadership of the Tribe. We are doing everything in our power to respond to the coronavirus health crisis.” The Proclamation allows the Tribal President to take emergency actions to mitigate the spread of, prepare for, mobilize Tribal resources, and request federal and state funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting today, the Tribe plans to send non-essential employees home for at least two weeks. Other measures are planned and will be communicated to the Tribal community.

The Tribe is also encouraging Tribal members to self-isolate. Speaking to the Tribal community, President Aguilar requested: “Please check on your loved ones. But, make sure you do not endanger them – call them on the phone if possible and keep family gatherings to a minimum. We must all work together to protect ourselves and our community.”

PDF format for printing:

• 2020-03-19 Emergency Proclamation & Resolution EXECUTED

• 2020-03-20 Press Release – Emergency Declaration

Food for Students

Mescalero Schools – UPDATE: 03/24/20

Mescalero Apache Schools will be providing one meal and snacks to all students during the continuation of our school closure.  We have designated 7 locations where students can go to pick up this meal/snack. 

We will be located at these sites Monday-Friday from 10:45- 12:15 (or when meals are all gone).

The locations for pick up are:

• Pena (playground)
• Carrizo Trails (by the stop sign in the middle)
• Mud Canyon (playground)
• School (front drive through)
• Community Center (front)
• Eight Canyon (old tool shed)
• A & B Side (playground)
• Palmer Loop can go to Carrizo Trails or Pena

**Parents will receive a call from Mescalero schools if the re-opening date changes. As of yet, the re-opening date is March 30th.**

Tularosa Schools

Offering meals March 16th – 20th and March 30th – April 3rd

Monday, March 23, 2020 4 meals will be provided for Monday’s and Tuesday’s breakfast and lunch meals from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Mescalero Community Center

Wednesday, March 25, 2020 6 meals will be provided for Wednesday’s, Thursday’s and Friday’s breakfast and lunch meals from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm at the Mescalero Community Center

8:30 am – 9:30 am Breakfast

11:30 am – 12:30 pm Lunch

At Mescalero Community Center

**Will not distribute meals during Tularosa Spring Break.**

Ruidoso Schools

Student Meal pick-up

Duration: 3 week mandatory school closure (March 16th – April 6th)

Monday – Friday

7:30 am – 8:30 am Breakfast

12 pm – 1 pm Lunch

At drive-thru service at White Mountain Elementary School

Student name required for meal pick up.

**Backpack for Kids food program will continue during mandated school closure with food available for weekends.**

Last week, the Mescalero Boys & Girls Club attended Legislative Days at the New Mexico State Capital. Club members met with Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham and were recognized on the Senate floor by Senator Cliff Pirtle.

Mescalero Elementary is about to join with 15 million students in 28,000+ schools and 115 countries to spread kindness across campus, the community and the world from Feb.11-21. As part of THE GREAT KINDNESS CHALLENGE, kids PK-5 are asked to complete a checklist of Acts of Kindness by Thursday 2/20, cover the school with messages of kindness, and involve their families in community service and a poster making contest.

The celebration assemblies will be held in the Mescalero Apache School Auditorium the morning of Friday, February 21. Grades PK-2 will gather at 9 am and grades 3-5 will meet at 10 am. ALL ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND! If you are not a staff member, please arrive early to check-in with the wonderful women at the Front Desk.

If you are interested in making a donation for any of the prize drawings for kids who complete the Great Kindness Challenge checklist (see below), please contact Hilary Gunby at email: [email protected] or by phone 817-705-6698.

There will be prize drawings for grades PK-2 and for 3-5, as well as a group winner for the Family Poster Contest. Every participating student receives a certificate and a small prize.