September 5-9
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SHERWOOD and GRAND CANYON CONSTRUCTION
Here is some important information regarding construction and traffic delays starting next week, September 6, 2022. This will directly affect access to and from Piñon Elementary via Grand Canyon for pedestrians, motorists, and bicycles.
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This Week:
Monday
- NO SCHOOL - Labor Day
Tuesday
- Band and Orchestra 7:30 & 8:30
- Early Bird Club 7:30 AM
- Care Team 7:45
Wednesday
- Early Bird Club 7:30 AM
- No Preschool
- K-6 Noon Dismissal
- Piñon Choir 12:00-1:00
Thursday
- Band and Orchestra 7:30 & 8:30
- Early Bird Club 7:30 AM
- Homework Club 3:30-4:30 in Mrs. Martin's Room
Friday
- Early Bird Club 7:30 AM
- College and Career Day! Wear a college or military t-shirt!
- Chess Club 12:00-12:45
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ELEMENTARY LUNCH MENU - Week of Sept 5th
PLEASE BE ADVISED: Lunch Menus can change without notice.
There is often a first and second choice for the main entree.
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Piñon Spiritwear Central!!
Now you can order spirit wear at ANY time!!
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LAPS Parent District Council
We need two Pinon Representatives
I am looking for two parents will to be our Pinon representatives at District Parent Council. They meet one Thursday a month in the mornings. Please let me know if you are interested.
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Clubs and Activities
Join A Club
Pinon offers a variety of clubs and activities bother within the school day and extracurricularly.
We are currently enlisting membership in Pinon Choir, Pinon Safety Patrol, and Homework Club.
Feel free to contact the staff sponsor of clubs you are interested in for your student:
NOT ALL CLUBS ARE OPEN TO ALL GRADES - SOME DO NOT START UNTIL SECOND SEMESTER.
Pinon Chess Club - Starts Friday, September 9th
We have a new Chess Club sponsor who will work with two staff members:
James Byerly
David Krell
Nicholas Montoya-Valdez
Because we have a split lunch period is is hard to schedule two separate groups. For the time being we will schedule a 4th-6th grade Chess Club on Fridays at lunch time, 12:00-12:45. It is open to beginners and experienced players.
Sewing Club - Starts September 20th
We will be starting this BEFORE SCHOOL enrichment club on September 20th. Our school staff sponsor is Mrs. Christina Herman, and she could use a helper or two.
At this time we will accept students in grades 3-6, any level of experience. The club will meet Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30-8:15.
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JJAB One Circle
One Circle groups, sponsored and run on campus by JJAB, provides structured support groups to improve resiliency in Los Alamos youth by creating a secure environment for kids to engage with each other – and an adult facilitator – on the topics that most affect them: boundaries, body image, creating and maintaining friendships, stereotypes around culture and gender, and relationships.
Each group consists of 6-10 youth of the same age and gender, and a trained adult facilitator, and they meet right at school during lunch time. One Circle is for anyone and everyone who is looking for a safe, encouraging place to express themselves and learn valuable life skills.
Contact the School Guidance Counselor if you are interested in One Circle for your child. Yvette Byers y.byers@lashools.net or JOIN HERE
To learn more, visit One Circle Foundation’s website here, or JJAB’s One Circle page here. Or contact JJAB’s One Circle Coordinator Luke Eigelbach directly with questions: luke@losalamosjjab.com, (505) 274-1943 (text or call).
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Homecoming Spirit Week
Join the Fun!!
Remember: Friday is a half day of school this week!
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Parent Volunteers
Parent Volunteers need to get re-badged every year, in the same way that staff get a new badge every year. You only have to do the background check every OTHER year.
For those of you who routinely volunteer on campus, you will need to stop by the main District Office and get an updated badge for the school year.
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Parent and Family Handbooks
Important references for the whole year...
PINON PARENT & FAMILY HANDBOOK 22-23
PINON PRESCHOOL FAMILY HANDBOOK
Visitors/parents are welcome on campus with prior notice to the teacher. The following guidelines have been established for the safety of all students.
Parents who volunteer regularly must complete a background check facilitated by the LAPS Human Resource office
All visitors must report to the office to sign in - Volunteer Badges must be worn.
Parents should not pick up other children (neighbors) without a written note from the parent.
Parents wanting to visit a classroom or dropping off lunch, snacks or other items for the class, must check with the office. Prior arrangements for classroom visits are required.
You may be asked for a photo ID when picking up a student during the day.
Handbook Tid-Bits
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is essential to learning. It also reinforces skills that are essential to students for future education and employment. For these reasons, the New Mexico Compulsory School Attendance Law requires that all students of appropriate age and condition attend classes regularly (NMSA 22-12-1, et seq., 2009).
If your student will be absent, please call the absence line. Do not email the teacher with absence notes or medical notes - these must come to the school office.
To Excuse an Absence : Piñon School Attendance Phone Number: 505-663-2681
Provide the following information via email, phone call, or written note prior to the absence or within 24 hours of the absence:
Student name & grade level.
A brief reason for the absence with the date and time away from school. (Illness, Bereavement, etc.).
Parent name, daytime phone number, and signature (if sending a written note).
Excused Absences
Parents or an adult student may excuse up to ten days of absences per academic year. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian or adult student to notify the school of every absence within 24 hours. Please notify the school office by contacting the attendance phone line or attendance email on the day of the student’s absence. Absences may be excused for the following reasons with proper notification:
Illness (including chronic illness documented on a health plan, IEP or 504 plan)
Limited family emergencies
Family deaths
Hazardous weather conditions
Late bus arrivals
Medical, health or legal appointments
Suspensions
Religious observance
College or University visits
Deployment of a military parent
Parent or Adult Student Requested absences for educational travel as approved in advance by the school principal
Limited extenuating circumstances as approved in advance by the school principal
Travel And Pre-arranged Absence Notification
Students planning a family trip lasting more than two days must obtain and complete a Pre-Arranged Absence Form from the main office. Please submit the form to the main office for the principal’s approval no fewer than 5 days prior to departure. Absences for travel are included in the 10 allowed excused days per year. Travel that extends beyond 10 days will be considered unexcused.
Unexcused Absences
All absences for reasons not included under excused absences shall be considered unexcused. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Non-school sponsored activities or trips
Family vacations outside of the normally scheduled school breaks
Excused absences greater than 10 will be considered unexcused
Early Pick-Up
Please be aware that when you pick up your child from school in the middle of the day, it is considered an absence and counts towards your 10 allowed days. We ask you to do this only when absolutely necessary. Every minute of school missed is a minute that can never be regained.
It is also critical that students not be pulled at the very end of the day when teachers are trying to wrap up their teaching and get students packed up for dismissal. It creates confusion and disruption that often ends up with your student forgetting something at school such as homework or their musical instrument. We ask that you please do not ask to have students signed out later than 3:00 as this is a very busy time for teachers and the office staff.
Make-up Work and Grades
Students and/or families are responsible for requesting makeup assignments. Teachers may need one school day (for each missed day) from the time of the request to compile work for each school day missed. Makeup work must be submitted within a period of time equal to the number of school days absent, unless arrangements have been made with the teacher in advance. Teachers are not required to accept work missed during unexcused absences unless otherwise notified by administration. Individual teachers may require students to complete assignments prior to a scheduled school-related absence or family trip.
LAPS Policy/Regulation 5110/5110R
Inclement Weather
The decision to close school or delay the start of school will usually be made by 5:30 A.M. We will be coordinating with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Los Alamos County on all decisions about a delayed start, cancellation, or early dismissal In general, if the Lab is on a delay, school opening will be delayed; if the Lab is closed due to weather, our schools will usually be closed. When school is dismissed early or canceled for the day, all after school programs including athletics (both home and away contests) and activities are canceled.
School Cancellation
A “snow day” plan will be declared when snow and weather conditions warrant.
Visit the District Office homepage announcements at www.laschools.net
SchoolMessenger will send out email/text notifications. If the parent or guardian is signed up to receive messages
Tune in to KRSN AM 1490
Watch one of the local morning news programs
Information Lines:
District Office: 663-2223
Piñon Elementary: 663-2682
Los Alamos Middle School: 663-2377
Topper Freshman Academy and Los Alamos High School: 663-2512
Delayed Start
Any activities before school are canceled on snow days.
Students should arrive at school for these start times
10:30 A.M. - Elementary schools (On Wednesdays, no school when there is a two-hour delay)
Busses will arrive at bus stops two hours later than the usual pickup time
Parking lots will usually be cleared and ready for buses and cars by 7:30 A.M. Please allow our maintenance staff to clear the parking lots.
Sidewalks will usually be cleared by 8:00 A.M.
Early Dismissal
On rare occasions, schools will dismiss early because of unusually heavy snowfall during the day. The Superintendent, in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory and Los Alamos County staff, makes this decision. When the decision to dismiss school early occurs, it generally precedes county and laboratory closings. If your personal information changes, especially the phone number, you must inform the school office so that we can contact parents.
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Love & Logic For Parents
Visit the website
Never before in history have parents faced so many challenges! That’s why the Love and Logic approach provides a variety of simple and effective strategies for parenting children birth to adulthood. Whether your child is a newborn or teenager, you’ll find information and handouts for dealing with a range of situations, including potty training, toddler aggression, homework assignments, internet safety, accountability, appropriate consequences and more!
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Earn Money for Pinon
Smiths Community Rewards
Smith’s Food and Drug Inspiring Donations!
Go to smithsfoodanddrug.com and sign in or create an account
Once signed in you can enroll in the Inspiring Donations Program to link your rewards card to Pinon Elementary School PTO
Smith’s will donate .5%!
Amazon Smile
Always start at smile.amazon.com
You will be prompted to enter your charity of choice.
Select Pinon Elementary School PTO or go directly to https://smile.amazon.com/ch/85-0382207
Amazon will donate .5% of all purchases!
Box Tops for Education
Clip box tops from qualifying items you buy at the store and bring them to your child’s classroom.
You can also download the Box Tops for Education app to scan your receipts for qualifying purchases.
Every little bit that you can contribute helps the school tremendously!
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Piñon Parent-Teacher Organization
Join us in Support of Our Students
Meet your 2022-23 PTO Board Members!
From the left: Kellee Beddeson (treasurer), Lisken Mason (vice president), Tera Deines (secretary), Jennifer McNeel (president), and Christin Whitton (treasurer).
If you see us around school, come say hi!
OLD SPIRIT WEAR?
We would love to start a collection of lightly used spirit wear that no longer fits your students. You can bring these items to the school lobby where there is a box for collection.
PTO Meeting Schedule
2022-2023 School Year
(Meetings are held every 4th Tuesday of the month at 12pm unless otherwise specified)
September 27, 2022
October 25, 2022
November 22, 2022
December – No meeting
January 24, 2023
February 28, 2023
March 28, 2023
April 25, 2023
May 23, 2023
*Meetings are open to everyone! *Kids are welcome. *
We hope to see you there!
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Upcoming Events
SAVE THE DATE
September 2022
September 12-16 --- Homecoming Spirit Week!!
Fri, September 16 --- 12:00 PM --- Early Dismissal for Homecoming Parade
Fri, September 16 --- 2:30 PM --- Homecoming Parade
Fri September 23 --- CraZe-Science with CraZe Dave --- Assemblies by grade levels
Wed, September 28 --- 9:00-12:30 PM --- LAPS Elementary Fall Choir Workshop
Wed, September 28 - Fri, September 30 --- Elementary Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences (No School Thursday and Friday)
October 2022
Mon, October 10 --- Indigenous Peoples’ Day - NO SCHOOL
Fri, October 14 --- 3:45-5:00 PM --- End of First Quarter
Mon, October 31 --- 2:15-3:15 --- Halloween Parade & Parties
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Piñon’s Guiding Principles
Piñon’s Vision Statement
All Piñon students will be Kind and Learn.
Piñon’s Mission Statement
Piñon Elementary provides the skills and values for student success now and in their future.
Piñon’s Core Values:
- Character: Piñon Elementary School teaches, models, and practices kindness, integrity, and resiliency.
- Community: Piñon Elementary School fosters a mindset of safety and respect in school and home communities.
- Commitment to Learning: Piñon Elementary School utilizes learning strategies that promote academic rigor and students' passion to learn.
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PIÑON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Principal Email: Ivanna Austell, iv.austell@laschools.net
Asst. Principal Email: Jennifer Kieltyka, j.kieltyka@laschools.net
Website: https://laschools.net/pinon/
Location: 90 Grand Canyon Drive, White Rock, NM, USA
Phone: 505-663-2680