Ute Mountain Ute tribal elder Alfred Wall, center, speaks to the children at Kwiyagat Community Academy, before his blessing Monday during the first day of school in Towaoc for the academy with tribal council members Lyndreth Wall, left, Archie House Jr., near right, and Head of School Danny Porter. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Michael Beard, 5, shows his excitement on the first day of school at the Kwiyagat Community Academy on Monday in Towaoc. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Students lineup for recess Monday during the first day of school at Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Students at Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc play hide and seek at recess on Monday during the first day of school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Students at Kwiyagat Community Academy go back into their classroom after recess on Monday during the first day of school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Archie House Jr., Ute Mountain Ute council member, speaks to the children at Kwiyagat Community Academy on Monday during the first day of school in Towaoc for the academy. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Redsky Lang, 5, holds her drawing that she did on her first day of school at the Kwiyagat Community Academy on Monday in Towaoc. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Kobrah Root, 7, spins in the air on Monday during recess at Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc during the first day of school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Students at Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc take off running at the start of recess on Monday during the first day of school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Students at Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc play hide-and-seek at recess on Monday during the first day of school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Teacher, Eddie Loughran, sounds the train whistle to get students to lineup for recess on Monday during the first day of school at Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Teacher, Jennifer Flaherty at Kwiyagat Community Academy, gets students to lineup to go back inside after recess on Monday during the first day of school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Teacher, Jennifer Flaherty at Kwiyagat Community Academy, talks with students about the importance of washing hands before lunch on Monday during the first day of school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Danny Porter, head of school at Kwiyagat Community Academy, pours water for students after recess on Monday during the first day of school. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
Lyndreth Wall, Ute Mountain Ute council member and education liaison, speaks to the children at Kwiyagat Community Academy on Monday during the academy’s first day of school in Towaoc. Photo by Jerry McBride/Durango Herald
