Native American Student Update

Reaching Out

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Here at Los Alamos Public Schools, we are working hard to meet the needs of our students and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Included in this newsletter are some resources for your family and your community. We are all learning as we navigate uncharted waters. While we are trying to anticipate the needs of our students and families, there will be things that we over look. Please do not hesitate to reach out with questions and concerns. Please let us know what you need and how we can be of assistance.

By now, students should have been contacted by homeroom/ELA teachers to see if students need a computer. Any students still in need of a computer can contact me j.dare@laschools.net (505-412-1727) or Assistant Superintendent, Jennifer Guy j.guy@laschools.net. We can also suggest resources for families without internet.

A list of school contacts is provided at the end of this newsletter. Please reach out to your principals and counselors for help - they are here for you too.

The sudden and abrupt nature of this event has been hard on students, families and educators. Students and educators are adjusting to not having another day to be physically together in the classroom. Hopefully the opportunities to meet with classroom communities online and in some cases, via telephone, will help to ease the feelings of loss which many are experiencing.

Brighter times are ahead. We all look forward to being able to gather together again. Graduating Seniors won't experience education from within the walls of LAPS again, but surely the education they take with them has prepared them for the many wonderful adventures awaiting them. We will keep you up to date on LAPS' plans for celebrating our graduating seniors.

Sincerely,

Julie Dare

Liaison for Native American Students and Families


Los Alamos Public Schools' Free Meal Program Chartwells and LAPS are partaking in the free Emergency Meal Program for any child 18 and under.	Daily TV and Web Content for K-5 Students In response to the COVID-19 crisis that has resulted in the closures of all New Mexico public schools, NMPBS and the Albuquerque Public Schools announce an ambitious and vital broadcast initiative to support at-home learning for K-5 students and their families, by broadcasting a new weekday morning schedule of televised APS classes.	Free Internet Hotspots in Northern New Mexico https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1U8-wQ9Cc-PXEgzWPPfo_ntV_Z81E1fqU&ll=35.869798635674%2C-106.35303145133685&z=11

Los Alamos Public Schools' Free Meal Program

Chartwells and LAPS are partaking in the free Emergency Meal Program for any child 18 and under.

Daily TV and Web Content for K-5 Students

In response to the COVID-19 crisis that has resulted in the closures of all New Mexico public schools, NMPBS and the Albuquerque Public Schools announce an ambitious and vital broadcast initiative to support at-home learning for K-5 students and their families, by broadcasting a new weekday morning schedule of televised APS classes.

Free Internet Hotspots in Northern New Mexico

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1U8-wQ9Cc-PXEgzWPPfo_ntV_Z81E1fqU&ll=35.869798635674%2C-106.35303145133685&z=11


Pojoaque Valley Schools are Providing Lunch for In-district Students PVS is providing free meals to in-district students M-F from 8:30 - 1:00 at the high school. Please call 455-2282 for more information.	Espanola Public Schools School Meal Service Distribution Announcement	Espanola Public Schools Community Meal Delivery Locations and Delivery Times

Pojoaque Valley Schools are Providing Lunch for In-district Students

PVS is providing free meals to in-district students M-F from 8:30 - 1:00 at the high school. Please call 455-2282 for more information.

Espanola Public Schools School Meal Service Distribution Announcement

Espanola Public Schools Community Meal Delivery Locations and Delivery Times


Dr. Francis presented on "Native Representation in Popular Culture" Dr. Francis presented during three periods to up to 163 students at a time. Students were divided into a live audience and among classrooms via livestream in order to comply with 100 room limit mandated by Governor.	Highschool students Kira Tsoodle, Zachery Moquino and Daniel Gonzales introduced Dr. Francis Students introduced Dr. Francis and Daniel welcomed him in Tewa.	Highschool students Muira Mowrer and Leah Mountain introduced Dr. Francis. Leah welcomed Dr. Francis and said a Tewa prayer.

Dr. Francis presented on "Native Representation in Popular Culture"

Dr. Francis presented during three periods to up to 163 students at a time. Students were divided into a live audience and among classrooms via livestream in order to comply with 100 room limit mandated by Governor.

Highschool students Kira Tsoodle, Zachery Moquino and Daniel Gonzales introduced Dr. Francis

Students introduced Dr. Francis and Daniel welcomed him in Tewa.

Highschool students Muira Mowrer and Leah Mountain introduced Dr. Francis.

Leah welcomed Dr. Francis and said a Tewa prayer.


Kindergarten Registration Begins on April 6th!	Anxiety Tools for Families	Innovative LA Learning Relationship over Rigor Patience before Programs Quality over Quantity

Kindergarten Registration Begins on April 6th!

Anxiety Tools for Families

Innovative LA Learning

Relationship over Rigor
Patience before Programs
Quality over Quantity

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How can students with limited to no computer and internet access participate in school during the COVID-19 crisis?

A: Los Alamos Public Schools are working hard to make sure that every student who does not have a computer is given one to borrow. If your student is in need of a computer, please contact his/her homeroom teacher, or contact me (412-1727) and I will be happy to arrange for your student to receive a device. Internet access is a little harder to address for students who live in remote areas with limited internet service. For Students who are unable to access wifi from home, many locations throughout Northern New Mexico are currently opening up hotspots where the community can access internet service for free. Go to this link for map of hotspot locations: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1U8-wQ9Cc-PXEgzWPPfo_ntV_Z81E1fqU&ll=35.88879939763818%2C-106.30299961316672&z=13

If students are in a position where education cannot be accessed through technology, teachers will make every effort to stay in contact with the student via telephone and will make every attempt to encourage enrichment opportunities through alternative means.

Q: Will Students be graded for work assigned during the 4th quarter?

A: No. Any assignments given to students during the remainder of the year are purely for the purpose of enrichment and they will not be graded. When students complete an assignment they may share it with their teacher but it will not be graded and will not count against them if they do not do it. No new curriculum will be introduced in the fourth quarter. Students are encouraged to maintain daily connection with their teachers and fellow classmates by keeping up with teacher emails and by checking in with google classroom.

Q: Will students have the opportunity to improve 3rd quarter grades?

A: Students will have the opportunity to improve 3rd quarter grades by participating in "credit recovery" where teachers will work with each student on an individual basis to complete assignments covering 3rd quarter curriculum. Extra credit assignments may also be offered as a means of brining up student grades.

Q: Will students receive letter grades for the second semester of the 2019/2020 school year?

A: No, students will be assigned either pass or fail on their transcripts. A semester Passing grade will be assigned to students who have a cumulative score of 60 percent or above, once the semester has been closed out at the end of May.

Q: Will seniors be able to graduate?

A: Yes, The New Mexico Public Education Department has made it a priority to help New Mexico seniors graduate despite the extenuating circumstances presented by the COVID-19 crisis.

Q: Will we have a graduation ceremony

A: Yes, but we do not know what it will look like yet.

Q: My student still has belongings in his/her classroom or locker. Will we be able to pick up these items.

A: Yes, students will be allowed to pick up items from school. We have to wait on guidance from Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to know when it is safe to allow students to enter school buildings on an as needed basis. We will keep you posted on when we think this might happen.