Aspen Parent News
Preparing Today's Learners for Tomorrow's Opportunities!
March 29, 2020
New Mexico schools received direction from the Governor on Friday. The health of all New Mexicans depends on how well we prevent the spread of Corona Virus, which in turn depends on how well we collectively use public health guidelines for social distancing. Consequently, our school facility will be closed to its traditional use but learning will continue in a different fashion for the remainder of the year.
Your children’s teachers have been anticipating the new teaching and learning paradigm shift and have great ideas for continuous learning. We do not expect students to learn all the things they would as if they were in school. Teachers will be offering a mix of review lessons and new learning activities. Not only will our classroom teachers be in touch with you, but also all our special education, GATE, EL, and speech teachers will too. We understand that families have a lot on their plates right now and we will be mindful of this as we support you and you child in furthering their learning. We are a community that cares about each other. Please let your teacher, Ms. Pulliam, or myself know if you feel unclear about an assignment or overwhelmed by circumstances.
Dr. Steinhaus and I are planning an Aspen Community Online Gathering during which we can update you and answer questions. The staff and I will develop office hours this week. Please look for more information later in the week.
I am happy to announce that we are developing a plan to distribute Chromebooks to those students who need one for their learning. First the Chromebooks need to be sanitized and loaded with appropriate software for home learning. More details will follow this coming week. The distribution process will keep in line with public health guidelines.
Also I want to assure our families that we will set up distribution times for PTO items purchased and the return of students’ school supplies and medications. We will keep in line with public health guidelines and will keep you informed as plans develop.
This is new territory for all of us and we appreciate your support and understanding as we develop new means of doing our important work to support your child’s learning.
I wish you well,
Mrs. Altherr
News Bites
PTO, Yearbook Orders Due April 10th
Please look for an email from PTO with updates. There will be an online PTO meeting on Wednesday, April 1st at 4pm.
Currently the staff at the Yearbook Company is working from home. Therefore we are not sure how their traditional timeline will be impacted. PTO will keep you posted. The distribution plan will follow public health guidelines.
Home Learning Pages
PTO has the great idea of dedicating a page or two of the yearbook to pictures of children learning from home. If you have any fun pictures of you teaching from home, please send them to Emily Christiansen as soon since she has deadline this week for submission. Click Here
How To Order
The deadline for ordering has been extended to April 10th.
- Step 1: Visit http://www.memorybook.com/online-pay/parent-pay/
- Step 2 : Enter Aspen’s school code : 141013
- Step 3: Click on the link below the school name.
- Step 4: Register as a “new user”
- Step 5: Buy a yearbook for $20!
Los Alamos County Summer Camps
Summer camps through various organizations are still being planned. You might want to register, but understand that their is the possibility of cancelation.
- YMCA Summer Camp, Click Here
- Nature Center, Outdoor Adventures, Click Here
- Fuller Lodge Art Center’s 2020 Summer Art Camp, Click Here
- Los Alamos STEAM Lab, Click Here
- Los Alamos School of Gymnastics, Click Here
- The Lab Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Camp, Click Here
- Los Alamos High Flyers Recreational Classes, Click Here
- Safety Town, Click Here
- 2020 Summer Physics Camp for Young Women (High School), Click Here
- Young Life (middle and high school), Click Here
Los Alamos County has many programs and events. For current information click here.
JJAB and More Resources
Los Alamos Public Schools has a webpage devoted to Wellness resources. Please click here. Ms. Pulliam is also available in her role as school counselor. Please click here.
JJAB
One local resource is the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB). The JJAB family resource specialists partners with other community organizations to support families in need of food, medical services, or just navigating paperwork to apply for assistance. There are many other ways that they help families in need of support. Below is a link to a PDF document of compiled community resources. For active links, please click here.Facebook group "Los Alamos Helping Each Other During COVID-19"
Information about any informal and formal offers of assistance with food, childcare, elder care, supply runs, and community programs is available at the Facebook group "Los Alamos Helping Each Other During COVID-19". Click here.
Donated Food Distribution
Contact LA Cares at (505) 661-8015 for emergency food. A monthly food box is available by prior arrangement only on the second Friday of the month and the Thursday night before.
Los Alamos County Businesses
From the Governor's Office: Starting March 24, under order of the governor, all businesses deemed inessential must cease their in-person operations. Grocery stores, all food and beverage stores, supermarkets, food banks, and convenience stores are considered essential. So are gas stations, auto repair facilities, hardware stores, laundromats, and dry cleaner services, and others are also excluded. Restaurants may remain open for carryout only.
If possible, please continue to support our small businesses. Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce has made a list of all Los Alamos businesses with their status, hours, and capability for drive-through or delivery service: here.
Kindergarten Enrollment
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 shall enter kindergarten at the beginning of that school year.
REGISTER ONLINE Register your child at the district website (laschools.net) or use the following link: Kindergarten
In addition to registering on line you will need to supply some documents. A plan is being developed for obtaining the required documentation and immunization records.
NM PreK Online Lottery Opens, April 6
Note: Enrollment for this program is by lottery
New Mexico Pre-K is a voluntary program created by the Pre-Kindergarten Act of 2005 and is jointly administered by the Public Education Department (PED) and the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD). LAPS hopes to receive funding to expand New Mexico PreK programs in Los Alamos for the 2020-2021 school year.
To participate in this program, your child must:
- be 4 years old on or before August 31, 2020.
- reside in Los Alamos County (this program is not eligible for open enrollment).
If your child lives within the school zone of a NM Pre-K program, bus transportation will be available. Parents of students who reside outside of the school zone must transport their child to school.
The NM Pre-K Lottery will open on Monday, April 6, 2020, and will close at 5:00 pm on Monday, June 8, 2020. The lottery will be conducted on June 15, 2020, and parents will be notified. Students who are not chosen in the lottery will be placed on a waiting list.
More information at this link: PreK.
For questions or more information, contact Sandra Osborn at s.osborn@laschools.net or 505.663.2228.
New Mexico Information Links and Phone Numbers
- NM hotline for health questions: 1-855-600-3453
- NM hotline for everything else: 1-833-551-0518
- COVID-19 FAQ from the NM DOH (Department of Health) https://cv.nmhealth.org/faq/
About Children
- New Mexico Kids, Links to Various Assistance Programs https://www.newmexicokids.org/
- New Mexico Education Page for COVID19 Resources https://www.newmexico.gov/education/
Talking to children about COVID-19: https://webnew.ped.state.nm.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/NASN-Guide-for-Parents-Talking-to-Kids-About-Coronavirus.pdf
Parents can find a variety of resources to keep kids engaged at home at: http://www.amazingeducationalresources.com/
PEEC Take It Outside Challenges: https://peecnature.org/take-it-outside/
Did You Know?
Did you know that online learning can take two forms?
Synchronous learning is when we’re all learning at the same time but in different places. A Zoom session is a good example is a synchronous learning environment–we’re all logged in at the same time and the teachers is talking to us live. Asynchronous learning is when we’re learning neither in the same place nor at the same time. Sending the class a link to practice math facts or reading fluency is asynchronous learning. So is a videotaped lesson that students can watch when they want.At the elementary level we are offering continuous learning opportunities that are asynchronous. Some teachers may schedule a classroom meeting to connect and see each other.
Calendar
Upcoming Events
The most current public health alerts will impact many events. So please stay tuned for changes.
April 6
Return to School, Check for Updates to Confirm
Kindergarten Online Registration Opens, NEW DATE
Preschool Lottery Online Application Submission Opens, NEW DATE
April 10
Deadline for ordering yearbooks online
April 22
Earth Day!
April 20 - April 24
Aspen NM-MSSA for 3rd and 6th CANCELED for 2020
April 27 - May 1
Aspen NM-MSSA for 4th and 5th CANCELED for 2020
May 4
New student application opens online
Returning student re-enrollment opens online
May 6
10:30 am and 5:30pm, 3rd/4th Performance CANCELED
May 20
District Field Day for Grades 5/6 at LAMS CANCELED
May 21
2:30 -3:20 Improv Performance for 5th/6th grade CANCELED
June 1
NM PreK Lottery closes
June 3
YMCA summer program begins at Aspen, Pending Updated Announcements
June 8
NM PreK Lottery conducted
June 8-12
Kindergarten Safety Town, Session 1, Pending Updated Announcements
June 15-19
Kindergarten Safety Town, Session 2, Pending Updated Announcements
June 15- July 16
Summer School and Extended Learning at Aspen, Pending Updated Announcements
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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