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Native American Student Services

Native American Student Services | Roxanne Begay-James, Director | 6855 S. Mark, Tucson, AZ 85746 | (520) 908-3905 | Email Us

Native American Student Services Goals

NASS strives to collaboratively support the efforts of Tucson Unified School District to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Natives enrolled in Tucson Unified schools so that they can achieve the same challenging state standards as all students.

Office Hours

Please join Native American Student Services on the following days and times for office hours.

  • Get any questions answered
  • Voice your concerns
  • Find out more about us

Zoom Link: https://tusd1.zoom.us/j/86283427532?

Meeting ID: 862 8342 7532

Please email for password: nasstusd@gmail.com

Mondays
4pm - 5pm Priscilla Flores
5pm - 6pm Tyanna Billy
Tuesdays
4pm - 5pm Jolene Jose, Juanita Mesquita, Vanessa Arandules
Wednesdays
4pm - 5pm Anita Cuellar
Thursdays
4pm - 5pm Brianna Camacho
5pm - 6pm Kierstyn Tsosie

NASS Office Hours Flyer (pdf; 148KB)

Events and Announcements

  • Governing Board proclaims Indigenous Peoples' Day

    Indigenous Peoples' Day

    We appreciate that Tucson Unified School District recognizes the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples' Day. Indigenous Peoples' Day recognizes that Native people are the first inhabitants of the Americas. This includes land that became the United States of America. We encourage our schools to embrace the presence of Native students and their rich history, culture, traditions and accomplishments throughout the year.

    For more information, see the Indigenous Peoples' Day Proclamation.

  • Free Classes and Workshops for Parents
    Be sure to check out the Family Resource Centers for workshops, seminars, and free classes! With four Family Resource Centers, we've got one near you!

Resources for Families During School Closures

Travel Recommendations and Updates

Questions about travel? See Travel Recommendations and Updates (in PDF)

For more information and the latest advisories, please see CDC's Travel Notices

COVID-19 Notification - Sample Letter for Parents

If a positive COVID-19 case has been identified at a school, parents/guardians will receive a version of the following general notification letter: Sample Letter to Parents or Staff - COVID-19 Case On Site (in PDF)
Translations (in PDF): Arabic | Kirundi | Somali | Spanish | Swahili | Vietnamese

Get your Free Masks from AZ

Order Your Free Masks from Arizona Department of Health Services

La Frontera's Behavioral Health Services for Families and Children

If you need help with your children, La Frontera provides a range of services. See the La Frontera Child Services flier (in PDF) for more information, or call 884-9920 or email enroll@lafrontera.org.

Coronavirus Guide from tucson.com

This comprehensive guide provides useful information for the public.

Coronavirus Guide

Need help with rent or preventing eviction?

Eviction Prevention Assistance from Arizona Department of Housing

Federal Temporary Halt in Residential Evictions to Prevent the Further Spread of COVID-19

Rental Eviction Prevention Assistance - Apply here!

More

COVID-19 Exposure Reference and Guidelines For TUSD Staff, Students, and Families

Coronavirus Testing Sites

Coronavirus Testing Sites (in PDF)
FREE COVID-19 Tests at Kino Event Center - Register online at pima.gov/covid19testing

List of All ADHS/ASU Free Saliva Testing Sites in AZ by County:

Teachers and staff have access to sites in AZ:

  • free, saliva-based PCR testing
  • on a walk-in basis (no appointment needed)
  • for the remainder of the spring
  • use the Agency Code: TUSD1
  • see below for a list of all sites and hours of operation

Additionally, parents and students may use these sites:

  • register online ahead of time: asusalivatest.site
  • free testing using the code: SALIVATEST

Pima County Sites

Ellie Town
1660 W. Ruthrauff Road, Tucson 85705
W, F, & Sun 7-11 AM
Pima Community College, Desert Vista Campus
5901 S. Calle Santa Cruz, Tucson, AZ 85709
W 9AM-1PM
Pima Community College, East Campus
8181 E Irvington Road, Tucson, AZ 85709
F 9AM-1PM
Pima Community College, West Campus
2202 W Anklam Rd, Tucson, AZ 85709
M 9 AM-1 PM
Tucson, El Pueblo Center
101 W Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ 85714
Tuesday 2pm-6pm, Thursday 2pm-6pm, Saturday 7am-11am

Coconino County Sites

Coconino Community College
2800 S Lone Tree Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86005
M-F 10:00 AM-3:00 PM; Sat 8 :00AM-12:00 PM
NAU Fieldhouse
1050 S Knoles Dr., Flagstaff, AZ 86011
M-Sat 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sinagua Middle School
3950 E Butler Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86004
T & Th 11:00 AM-4:00 PM

Maricopa County Sites

Capital Mall Parking Garage
100 N 15th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85007
T & Th 6:00-9:30 AM
Mesa Convention Center
46 East Martin Luther King Junior Way, Mesa, AZ 85201
Th 3-7 PM; Sat & Sun 8AM-12PM
this site will be closing at the end of April
SkySong
1475 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85257
T-Sat 7-11 AM
State Farm Stadium
State Farm Stadium – 1 Cardinal Dr., Glendale, AZ 85305
Southeast corner of 95th Ave & Cardinals Way
Saturdays from 7-11 AM
Valley View Elementary School
8220 S 7th Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85041
Sat 8AM-12PM

Crisis Information

If you or a loved one are in  immediate crisis, please call:

Community Wide Crisis Line: 520-622-6000

Or 911

Other non-emergency numbers:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number: 1-800-273-8255

Crisis Text Line: Text 741741

More

Childcare

Childcare at TUSD Schools

If you need childcare while you work, we offer childcare at many of our schools through our Community School program and KIDCO. Learn more by reading Childcare options at TUSD Schools.

Boys & Girls Club Tucson

Flier for Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson - 2020-2021 (in PDF)

Looking for a safe place where your child can engage in recreation, arts, and other enrichment activities? The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson are open to serve working families during the pandemic.

Program Details:

  • Ages 7 to 17 years old
  • Masks/face coverings required in the Clubs and safety measures must be followed
  • Meals provided through partnership TUSD Meals Program
  • Members asked to bring their school-provided devices to the Club

Register and Learn More at the Boys & Girls Club website

10 Things You Can Do to Prepare for Returning Back to School

Ready to prepare for returning to school?

Please review 10 Things You Can Do to Prepare for Returning Back to School (in PDF).

Screening Questions - Asked before entry to schools and district offices

Screening Questions: These questions will be asked of everyone before they are permitted to enter schools or district offices.

Help for Speakers of Arabic, Kirundi, Somali, and Swahili

Please call the number below and leave a message, including a phone number where we can reach you. We will call you back. Thank you!
  • 225-6591 = Swahili
  • 225-6592 = Arabic
  • 225-6593 = Kirundi
  • 225-6594 = Somali

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT)

Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) provides assistance to households with children who are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, while schools are out of session due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona P-EBT Pandemic School Meal Replacement Benefits program is a partnership between DES, the Arizona Department of Education, and the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

For more information, see DES's Arizona P-EBT webpage .

Community Resources for Family Support

Free WiFi Map for Arizona

Use this free WiFi map from Connect Arizona to find free public WiFi hotspots at public libraries, schools, businesses, and other sites. Some sites may offer indoor public access during business hours, others provide access in the parking lot only. Everyone using the sites - outside or inside - is encouraged to practice social distancing precautions, including staying in your vehicle or at least six feet from other users and wearing a mask if necessary.

Internet Access for TUSD Families

TUSD will help you with Internet access through loaner hotspots. Learn more at the TUSD Loaner Hotspot FAQ.

You can also look into several of the low-cost Internet programs available to TUSD families. See the following information for details: Low-Cost Internet Programs

Coping with Stress and Anxiety

For suggestions on coping with stress and anxiety during this time, please see these resources.

Food Banks and Pantries

Dental Issues - What to do

Wondering what to do about dental issues? See these dental issues guidelines from Pima County Health Department.

Health Tips

Please check the CDC website for the latest prevention tips and information.

Prevention Measures

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds (the time needed to sing happy birthday) or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.
  • Keep children home when sick, and stay home when you are sick.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze, then immediately discard any tissues.
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
  • Avoid unnecessary physical contact, like holding hands.

Note: Please be aware the District has suspended Attendance Award tracking for the 4th quarter. Thus please have students remain home if not feeling well.

Positive Parenting

Section 504

Section 504 Guidance during School Closures - 03/24/20

Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers and Parents

More

Beginning in April 2021, Benefits Issued for Food Purchases (P-EBT)

Pandemic-Electronic Benefit Transfer (P-EBT), authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides families of eligible children additional funds to purchase food during this school year for the months of August 2020-May 2021.

P-EBT is intended for children who did not have access to receive free or reduced price meals at school due to schools being closed or learning remotely this school year.

To ensure the information being provided to DES is current, please make sure that you update your student information (such as current address, parent/guardian, phone number etc) at your child’s school.

For more details, visit School Meal Programs from Food Services.

Social Stream

Native American Heritage Day at Lawrence Intermediate

About Us

History

In 1972 Indian Education Act, the current version of which is Title VII Part A of the No Child Left Behind Act, was the landmark legislation establishing a comprehensive approach to meeting the unique needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students. Through the use of federal funds provided by the newly created Office of Indian Education and supplementary financial assistance through Johnson O'Malley, another federal aid program for Indian students, TUSD established the Native American Student Services Department in 1976 to provide supplementary academic and cultural support for Native American and Alaska Native students.

NASS Mission

NASS strives to collaboratively support the efforts of Tucson Unified School District to meet the unique educational and culturally related academic needs of American Indian and Alaska Natives enrolled in TUSD schools so that they can achieve the same challenging state standards as all students.

Native Student Enrollment

pie chart of total TUSD student enrollment

Total TUSD Enrollment, 52,115 students - 4% Native American

 

pie chart of TUSD Native American student enrollment from 2011-2012 by tribe

Native American Students by Tribe

Tribal Breakdown

Arapaho

Hopi

Navajo

Shoshone

Athabaskan

Hualapai

Oglala Sioux

Tigua

Blackfoot

Iroquious

Onondaga

Tohono O'odham

Chemehuevi

Isleta Pueblo

Osage

Ute

Cherokee

Kiowa

Paiute

White Mountain Apache

Cheyenne River Sioux

Kumeyaay

Pima

Wichita

Chippewa-Cree

Laguna Pueblo

Pima-Gila River

Winnebago

Chippewa-Saginaw

Lakota Sioux

Pima-Maricopa

Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota

Choctaw

Lumbee

Pima-Salt River

Yaqui

Cocopah

Maliseet Nation

Pueblo

Yavapai Apache

Colorado River Indian

Menominee

Quechan

Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo

Cree

Mescalero Apache

Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians

Yurok

Ft. Mohave

Metis

Rosebud Sioux

Zuni Pueblo

Fort Peck Sioux

Minnesota Chippewa Tribe

San Carlos Apache

Havasupai

Narragansett

Seneca

Information

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