Aspen Parent News
Preparing Today's Learners for Tomorrow's Opportunities!
March 10, 2020
Parent conferences will be going on this week. So there will be no school on Wednesday afternoon, as well as, all day Thursday and Friday. The YMCA will be set up to provide child care in the Aspen Gym for registered children. A conference is a two-way conversation and a chance to focus on your child's learning. Teachers prepare samples of student work to go over and discuss challenges and opportunities. Please arrive at your scheduled time or call to reschedule the time. Below is a tip sheet for a successful conferences. We look forward to seeing you.
I wish you well!
Mrs. Altherr
Celebrations!
This week we celebrated children's art with the opening of the All School Art Show. It will be open for viewing for the remainder of the month on the third floor of the Mesa Public Library. Thank you to Aspen's art teacher, Britt Williams
Dr. Seuss' Birthday
Also, we celebrated reading and Dr. Seuss all week long. PTO raised $300 through Stuck on Reading. More information is below.
Science Fair
The Regional Science Fair was held in Las Vegas, NM this weekend! The first and second place winners below will go to the state competition. Congratulations to all the students who attended and Heather Coy, their science teacher!
- Kiowa Carlson : 1st Place, Animal Science
- Ciara Nichearnaigh : 1st Place, Behavioral & Social Science
- Carson Ulrich : 3rd Place, Physics & Astronomy
1st Elementary Music Festival
Jacob Lucero took four Aspen students to the 1st Elementary Music Festival. He said, "There were over 100 kids from all over Central and Northern New Mexico. They participated in 3 different sessions and held a concert at the end of the day." Below are the Aspen students that participated in this fun event.
- Sadie V.
- Kiera F.
- Valentina K.
- Cora P.
Enrollment for Returning Students, May 4
Returning Student Registration will open for the 2020-21 school year on May 4, 2020. The Returning Student Application is for all students who attended ANY Los Alamos Public School last year, and who currently reside in Los Alamos County, or is an approved out-of-district student.
Please note: If your child previously attended a Los Alamos Public School and you have moved out of Los Alamos County in the last 12 months, you must complete an Open Enrollment Application rather than the Returning Student Registration Form. In addition, if your child has moved outside of the school boundary for their current Elementary School, you must complete the Open Enrollment Application. Returning students are not required to provide proof of residency.
The form for new and returning students will become available on the LAPS website on May 4th.
The form for Kindergarten Enrollment opens on April 1.
The form for Open Enrollment and In-District Transfers became available on March 2.
The best source for information is on the LAPS website, https://laschools.net/home/registration/
Kindergarten Registration, April 1
We ask that parents attend the school's Kindergarten Roundup (Registration) in which they are zoned to go to. They can register at the event and learn about Aspen's Kindergarten program. Otherwise parents can go to LAPS website noted below.
Admission to kindergarten as required by New Mexico State Statute, shall be made solely on the basis of chronological age. A child who is 5 years of age prior to 12:01 a.m. MDT on September 1 of the school year can enter kindergarten at the beginning of that school year.
Only a parent with legal custody or a person, who serves as a formal guardian, with a Power of Attorney for educational and medical purposes, may enroll a child in the Los Alamos Public Schools." A list of documents to submit is found on the website.
LAPS Registration Information at https://laschools.net/home/registration/
Hygiene
At Aspen, Nurse Amy and Mrs. Altherr started our hand washing campaign back in October and visited each classroom. We modeled effective hand washing techniques and discussed when to wash hands.
At home you can model frequent hand washing. Below are times to wash hands.
- Before preparing or eating food.
- After going to the bathroom.
- When hands appear dirty.
- After blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
- After changing diapers or cleaning up a child who has gone to the bathroom.
- Before and after tending to someone who is sick.
- After handling an animal or animal waste.
- After handling garbage.
- Before and after treating a cut or wound.
Other Measures
- Cover your nose and mouth with a flexed elbow or paper tissue when coughing or sneezing and disposing immediately of the tissue and performing hand hygiene.
- Refrain from touching mouth and nose.
The school is designed with a hand washing station outside the dinning hall and near a playground entry point. Also, our custodians are being extra vigilante about cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
Summer School, June 15-July 16
If you are interested in Summer School 2020, please talk with your classroom teacher at your conference.
This year Summer School will be hosted at Aspen School. We are very excited to be able to offer an expanded full day program this summer that focuses on reading, writing, science, and math. We will have more opportunity and flexibility for teachers to integrate STEM and thematic activities along with social emotional learning. We will leverage community resources through speakers, activities, and field trips. Summer school will be from 8:15 - 2:15 on Mondays - Thursdays. There will be no school on Fridays. We will provide free breakfast and lunch each day.
Calling All 5th Graders! Design a Bookmark for the State Land Office!
US Census
Tiger Paws in the Gym, Pitch in and Help Aspen!
Help add a little school spirit to the Aspen gym! We have made great progress and should finish after 1-2 more shifts.
We will meet Thursday, March 12 from 10:00 AM -1:00 PM. If you can join us for part of the time, great.
If we do not finish on March 12, we will organize another shift on 3/16 from 6-8pm. Let me know if you want to be notified of this shift.
Email Mrs. Altherr (mi.altherr@laschools.net) or the Aspen PTO
Stuck on Reading
Dr. Seuss Celebration of Reading
Los Alamos Reporter https://losalamosreporter.com/2020/03/07/aspen-principal-michele-altherr-is-stuck-on-reading-to-the-wall/
PTO News
Pot Luck lunch for staff, March 11
We would like to thank our fantastic Aspen teachers and staff for all their hard work during Parent-Teacher Conferences! But we need your help. Please sign up to bring the staff food THIS Wednesday of Spring Parent-Teacher conferences. Make sure to bring food by 11:45am so they have time to eat before conferences begin. Read the notes under each request. Here's how the sign up works in 3 easy steps:
- Click this link to see our SignUp on SignUp.com: https://signup.com/go/ErDCcuu
- Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
- Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.
Yearbook orders due March 31
Order one of our full color year book with lots of photos! They are $20 each and can be ordered at http://www.memorybook.com/online-pay/parent-pay/. Please use the school code: 141013
Aspen School's Spring Fling and Recycled Art Show, April 3rd
This is an annual event that the children look forward to. The Recycled Art Show is a new event and your children have been busy creating their artworks! Please contact the PTO if you would like to help.
Nature's Visions April/May
Coming soon Nature's Vision Fundraising. Purchases promote environmental awareness and helps raise money for both the PTO and environmental causes.
PTO Meetings
Just a reminder, you are always welcome to come to our meetings - kids too! Our next meeting is Monday, March 30th at 3:30pm in the teacher lounge. The meeting minutes can be found here (our website!): https://aspenpto.weebly.com/meetings.html
Aspen PTO Email: mailto:helpaspenpto@gmail.com
National Sleep Awareness Week, March 8-14
Please read the Youth Resiliency Newsletter below for information on sleep and wellness.
Busy Kids at Aspen!
Stuck on Reading Kids!
Stuck on Reading Volunteers
Aspen Helps Too
Ms. D/L's Kindergarten
Lunch Trays Are Great!
Ms. Combs Third Grade
If I Ran the Zoo, Animal Spirit Day
If I Ran the Zoo, Animal Spirit Day
If I Ran the Zoo, Animal Spirit Day
All Elementary Art Show
All Elementary Art Show
All Elementary Art Show
If I Ran the Zoo, by Dr. Seuss
Dr. Seuss Week
Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Cultural Fair, 3rd Grade
Fractions with a Kite, 3rd Grade
4th Grade Novel, Wonder
Calendar
Upcoming Events
March 11
11:45 Potluck lunch for Aspen's Staff
March 11-13
Parent Conferences
End of 3rd Quarter, Mid-Semester Reports
March 16
9:30-12:00 Aspen Speech Contest (5th and 6th grade winners participate)
March 17
5th Grade Assessment of Science Readiness Test (ASR)
March 18
EL Family Night
PTO China Moon Dinner Fundraiser ( a portion of profits go to the PTO)
March 19
10-10:20 LAMS Jazz Band Performance for 2-6 grades
March 23 -27
Spring Break
March 31
Yearbook orders due
April 1
Kindergarten Roundup/Registration Opens
Preschool Lottery Registration Opens
April 3
Aspen School Spring Fling and Recycled Art Show!
April 10
No School (If we do NOT have another snow day)
Aspen NM-MSSA for grades 3rd and 6th
April 22
Earth Day!
April 27 - May 1
Aspen NM-MSSA for rades 4th and 5th
May 4
New student application opens
Returning student re-enrollment opens
May 20
District Field Day for Grades 5/6 at LAMS
May 21
2:30 -3:20 Improv Performance for 5th/6th grade
June 1
NM PreK Lottery closes
June 3
YMCA summer program begins at Aspen
June 8
NM PreK Lottery conducted
June 8-19
Kindergarten Safety Town
June 15- July 16
Summer School and Extended Learning at Aspen
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Aspen School . . .
Mission
Aspen is a student-centered learning community that prepares today’s learners for tomorrow’s opportunities.
Vision
All students will achieve mastery of core subject knowledge and thinking skills at each grade level as well as the dispositions and habits to use it.
The Aspen School community believes in . . .
Supportive Culture: OUR school teaches, models, and provides opportunities to practice kindness, empathy, and compassion.
- Engaged Learning: OUR teachers use differentiated learning strategies that promote students’ curiosity, critical thinking, and passion to learn.
- Challenges as Opportunities: OUR school fosters a growth mindset by encouraging resourcefulness and resilience in response to challenges.
Helpful Links
Michele Altherr
Aspen Elementary School Principal
Aspen Absence Line: (505) 663-2276
Aspen Information Line: (505) 663-2277
Email: mi.altherr@laschools.net
Website: http://laschools.net/aspen/
Location: Aspen Elementary School, 33rd Street, Los Alamos, NM, USA
Phone: 505-663-2321