A Message From Our Superintendent

October 2026

Dear Cloudcroft Bears,

October may be one of my favorite times of year in Cloudcroft. The mornings are crisp, the aspens begin showing off their beautiful colors, and there is a special feeling in the air as our community settles into fall. Around town, you can feel the excitement that comes with this season—and that same energy can be felt throughout our schools.

As we reach the midpoint of the first semester, I want to take a moment to recognize how much our students and staff have already accomplished. The first quarter comes to an end on October 9, and report cards will be sent home on October 15. These milestones give us an opportunity to celebrate the progress our students have made while also thinking about where we want to grow during the remainder of the semester.

Growing and Learning Together

One of the things I appreciate most about Cloudcroft Municipal Schools is that learning extends far beyond the classroom. Our students have opportunities to grow academically, athletically,

Our teachers and staff are also continuing their work behind the scenes to strengthen instruction throughout the district. Vertical alignment and professional development provide opportunities for our educators to collaborate across grade levels, examine student needs and data, and ensure that what we teach builds intentionally from one grade to the next.

This work may not always be visible outside our classrooms, but it is an important part of our commitment to continuous improvement. Being recognized as Spotlight schools is certainly something to celebrate, but it does not mean our work is finished. We will continue asking ourselves: What do our students need next, and how can we continue to improve?

October is also a month when we continue to strengthen the connections between our schools and the larger educational community. Our School Board plays an important role in that continued growth, learning, and strength. This month, Board members will participate in the NMSBA Regional Meeting at Alamogordo High School and later travel to Albuquerque for additional training and professional development. These opportunities bring school board members and district leaders together to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing New Mexico schools. Just as we ask our students and staff to continue learning and growing, our Board remains committed to strengthening its knowledge and leadership in support of our students, staff, and community.

A Reason to Celebrate – All Three Schools Earn Spotlight Designation!

We also have something very special to celebrate this fall. According to the 2025–2026 NMVistas School Report Cards, Cloudcroft Elementary, Cloudcroft Middle School, and Cloudcroft High School have ALL received a Spotlight designation!

Spotlight is the highest school designation reported by NMVistas and represents schools among the top 25% in New Mexico. Having all three of our campuses receive this recognition is something our entire Bear community can be proud of. It reflects the hard work of our students, teachers, administrators, support staff, and families—and, most importantly, our continued commitment to helping every student grow and succeed.

I encourage our families and community members to visit NMVistas to explore Cloudcroft’s results and learn more about how our schools are performing:

NMVistas: https://nmvistas.org

Student Voice Matters

As we continue looking for ways to strengthen our schools, we also want our students to have a voice in that work. Students have an important perspective on what is happening in our classrooms, hallways, activities, and school community. Opportunities such as our Equity Council allow students to represent their peers, share real experiences and concerns, and help shape decisions that make our schools more welcoming, fair, and supportive for every student.

We want our students to know that their ideas matter—and that being part of positive change begins with being willing to participate.

Attendance for Success: Every Day Matters

As we move further into the school year, I also want to remind our families about the importance of regular school attendance. Missing even a few days can quickly add up, making it more difficult for students to keep pace with instruction, assignments, activities, and their classmates.

Attendance is about much more than simply being counted as present. When students are at school, they are learning, building relationships, participating, and staying connected. Every day in school is another opportunity to learn and grow.

Families are an essential part of our Attendance for Success efforts. Please continue helping your student establish good attendance habits, arrive at school on time, and communicate with the school whenever circumstances interfere with regular attendance.

Bear Athletics

Fall is also a special time in Bear Country because our student-athletes are hard at work representing Cloudcroft.

Fall is also a busy and exciting time in our schools! Our student-athletes continue to represent Cloudcroft with pride. From the Mountain Top Volleyball Tournament to cross country, football, and our other fall activities, our Bears have been working hard both in competition and in the classroom. Thank you to our families, coaches, staff, and community members who continue to show up and support our students.

Homecoming is another opportunity to celebrate what makes Cloudcroft special. The Homecoming football game, parade and pep rally on Burro Avenue brought our schools and community together in a way that is uniquely Cloudcroft. These traditions are about more than a game or a parade—they give our students memories, connections, and a sense of belonging that they will carry with them long after graduation.

For current schedules, updates, and information about all of our athletic programs, please visit the CMS Athletics page.

Fall Festival Is Coming!

And, of course, October wouldn’t be October in Cloudcroft without some good old-fashioned community fun!

Our Fall Festival will be held on October 30, and we are looking forward to bringing our students, families, and community together for an evening of fun. Our Board of Education will be cooking hotdogs and hamburgers, and we hope you’ll stop by, enjoy some food, visit with friends, and celebrate the wonderful community we are fortunate to call home.

Events like our Fall Festival remind us that schools are not just buildings where students go to class. They are gathering places for our community—places where generations of Cloudcroft families come together, make memories, and cheer on our kids.

Important October Dates

October 2 – Career Fair, ES/MS
October 8 – Fire Prevention, K-5
October 9 – End of 1st Quarter
October 14 – College Board Testing
October 15 – Report Cards
October 20 – Regular School Board Meeting
October 21 – Honor Roll Assemblies – Middle School 11:30 a.m., Elementary School 2:30 p.m.
October 22 – NHS Induction
October 29 – 4-H Meeting 6:00 p.m.
October 30 – Fall Festival

Please continue to check the CMS school calendar for the most current dates, events, and schedule information.

As the leaves begin to change and the mountains around us take on their beautiful fall colors, I am reminded once again of what makes Cloudcroft such a special place to live and learn.

In a community our size, we know each other, we look out for one another, and we celebrate our kids together. We see our students at school, at the ball field, at the store, at community events, and around town. We get to watch them grow—not just from one grade to the next, but from little Bears into young adults ready to take on the world.

That is something worth celebrating.

Thank you to our teachers and staff for the work you do each day. Thank you to our families for partnering with us and supporting your children. And thank you to our community for continuing to show up for our schools and our students.

I hope to see many of you at the Fall Festival on October 30. Come hungry, come ready to have some fun, and most importantly, come ready to celebrate our Bears!

Happy Fall, Cloudcroft—Let’s go, Bears!

Jocelyne Driscoll-Gillespie

Jocelyne Driscoll-Gillespie
Superintendent
Cloudcroft Municipal Schools