LAPS Newsletter
March 12, 2023
Weekly updates and information from around the district
Message from the Superintendent's Office
Happy Time Change! I hope you remembered to spring forward this morning!
The state is expected to change the law and require students to have more learning time. Currently, students in K-6 are required to have 990 hours of learning time. Students in 7-12 are required to have 1080. The new legal requirements proposed in HB 130 will most likely be for students to have 1140 hours each year. Nothing is final until the Legislative Session ends and the Governor has taken action on the bills.
We want to get feedback from you in order to be prepared for any changes required. We have been having discussions about the pros and cons of different calendars including a traditional calendar with 180 days like we have now but with longer school days, a calendar that adds days to school year, and a balanced calendar that spreads breaks through the year.
Please take some time to look over the calendar drafts in the survey. I encourage you to think about all three. There are pros and cons to all. These are NOT final calendars. The days may change slightly. These options are to give you an idea of what each type could look like.
The school board will make the final decision about school calendar. They will have access to all the feedback received.
https://forms.gle/iJD75BmfWg65J2u19
We will hold a community meeting through Zoom on Monday, March 20 from 5:30 - 7:00 to discuss calendar options and budget for the 2023-24 school year with the community. I hope you can join us.
Jennifer Guy
Acting Superintendent
March is Youth Art Appreciation Month
Important Dates
Sunday, March 12
Daylight Savings Time Begins
Tuesday, March 14
Pi Day
School Board Meeting
Monday, March 20
Community Calendar and Budget Zoom Meeting
Thursday, March 23
School Board Meeting, Mountain Elementary School
Tuesday, March 28 - Thursday, March 30
NM-ASR Testing (Grades 5, 8 and 11)
Friday, March 31
Scheduled Snow Day - no school for students and staff
Monday, April 3 - Friday, April 7
Spring Break
Wednesday, April 12
School Day SAT (LAHS Juniors)
Kindergarten Roundup
Thursday, April 13
Employee Council Meeting
Parent Council Meeting
Tuesday, April 18
School Board Meeting
Community Input Meeting About LAPS Budget
Los Alamos Public Schools invites the public to attend a community input and information session about the LAPS budget for the upcoming fiscal year and the 2023-2024 School Calendar on Monday, March 20th from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Click here for the meeting link.
The session will begin with a summary of legislative actions impacting the LAPS budget for the 2023-2024 school year. Building the budget proposal is a collaborative process involving many stakeholders. The objective is to develop an Operational Budget that supports the LAPS goal of supporting every student, every day.
The second part of the meeting will be devoted to reviewing new legislation impacting the amount of time students will be required to spend in school and looking at potential calendar options. We value your input and hope that you are able to attend.
The proposed 2023-2024 calendar will be presented to the school board for a decision on March 23, 2023 at 5:30. The budget will be presented to the School Board during the April 18, 2023 School Board meeting. It will then be sent to the New Mexico Public Education Department for state approval.
For more information, please contact Debbie Bell at 505-663-2230.
Around the District
LAPS Art Show Reception
Thank you to the LAPS Fine Arts staff including Britt Williams, Aspen Elementary; Kristi Carr, Barranca Mesa Elementary; Andrea Lynch, Chamisa Elementary; Jessica Ross, Mountain Elementary; Stephanie Rittner, Piñon Elementary; Elizabeth Fisher, Los Alamos Middle School; Claire Stewart, Los Alamos Middle School; Mary Grace, Los Alamos High School; Dot Lopez, Los Alamos High School; and Libby Lovejoy, Los Alamos High School.
Students' artwork will be on display at the Step Up Gallery in Mesa Public Library through March 27, 2023.
Elementary Choir Workshop
Following the workshop, students performed three numbers for staff and families, including You've Got a Friend in Me, Who Has Seen the Wind, and Chumbara, Kusimama.
Thank you to the elementary music teachers -- Jacob Lucero, Aspen Elementary; Valerie Collins, Barranca Mesa Elementary; Megan Tholen, Chamisa Elementary; Galina Austin, Mountain Elementary; and Nicholas Montoya-Valdez, Piñon Elementary -- for their instruction and leadership.
STEAM Lab Field Trip
Orchestra MPA
"Orchestra students are feeling satisfied, successful and their confidence continues to grow," reported Orchestra teacher Michelle Rosette. "As a teacher, for today anyway, my goals are met. Thanks again for your support."
The Los Alamos Middle School Orchestras received straight 1's (superior ratings).
USA Biolympiad Semifinalists
Los Alamos High School junior Willow Chartrand, sophomore Linnhtet Htoon, and senior Mary Couture qualified for the semifinals for the 2023 USA Biolympiad.
The open exam cutoff scores are 24 to 50 for semifinalists; 21 to 23 for Honorable Mention certificates; and 19 to 20 for Certificates of Merit. Honorable Mention recipients are the top 20%, and Certificate of Merit scores are the top 30% of students.
New Faces at LAPS
Mackenzie Kieltyka is a new Substitute Teacher.
Multicultural Fair March 15
LAPS Summer Learning: Making Discoveries
For Students
LAMS Selfie Booth Day
Hawk Hangout
Lifeguard Training
Staying in town for spring break? Are you 15 years or older? Then register for lifeguard training today! This course is designed to be flexible for the participants. Participants are required to complete work online prior to the start of each class. Half of the class is completed online at the participant's discretion, and half of the class is conducted at the facility for practice testing.
Cost is $240 per person.
Prerequisite: Lifeguard Training Pre-Course. (more information on the Los Alamos County Community Service Facebook Event Page)
Register in person at the Aquatic Center or online here: https://loom.ly/wbk_oyk
#discoverlatoday #lifeguarding #training #LosAlamosAquaticCenter
2023 Summer Internship Program
The Summer High School Internship Program provides qualified northern New Mexico high school seniors the opportunity to develop skills and gain work experience, while receiving exposure to a variety of career fields. Students who participate in this program have the opportunity to intern during the summer, prior to beginning their senior year of high school.
Students who wish to participate in the High School Internship Program must meet all the following requirements:
- Be at least 16 years of age and have senior standing at the time the internship begins
- Have and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Attend a high school located in northern New Mexico
- Pass a pre-employment drug test
- Apply during the spring semester of your junior year in order to be considered for an internship the summer prior to beginning your senior year
Click here for more information and to apply.
Rainbow for Girls
For Families
2023-2024 Registration
Kinder Roundup April 12
High Dosage Tutoring for Early Literacy
High Dosage Tutoring for Middle Math
Well-Being
Daylight Savings Time and Sleep
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the yearly practice of setting clocks forward one hour
Trusted SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM)AASM sets standards and promotes excellence in sleep medicine health care, education, and research.View Source between the months of March and November. The idea behind DST is to conserve – or “save” – natural light, since spring, summer, and early fall days typically get dark later in the evening compared to late fall and winter days. The non-DST period between November and March is known as Standard Time.
Adjusting the time by one hour may not seem like too drastic a change, but sleep experts have noted troubling trends that occur during the transition between Standard Time and DST, particularly in March. These issues include upticks in heart problems, mood disorders, and motor vehicle collisions. Furthermore, DST can cause sleep problems if circadian rhythms are not aligned with natural cycles of light and darkness. Some people also experience insomnia symptoms due to spring time changes.
Read more at https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm/daylight-saving-time.
Athletics
Upcoming Athletic Events
Tuesday, March 14
JV Softball @ West Las Vegas, 3 pm
Varsity Baseball vs. Albuquerque Academy, Bomber Field, 4 pm
JV Baseball vs. Albuquerque Academy, Senior Field, 4 pm
Wednesday, March 15
Varsity Softball @ APS Metro Tourney
JV Boys and Girls Track & Field @ Albuquerque Academy
Thursday, March 16
Varsity Softball @ APS Metro Tourney
Varsity Baseball vs. Miyamura, 4 pm (Tournament at Artesia High School)
Friday, March 17
JV Softball Home Tournament, Overlook Softball Fields
Varsity Softball @ APS Metro Tourney
Varsity Baseball @ Tournament at Artesia High School)
Saturday, March 18
JV Softball Home Tournament, Overlook Softball Fields
Varsity Softball @ APS Metro Tourney
Varsity Baseball @ Tournament at Artesia High School)
Varsity Boys and Girls Track & Field @ Buddy Robertson meet
Tuesday, March 21
JV Softball @ Rio Grande, 3:30 pm
Varsity Baseball vs. St. Michael's, Bomber Field, 4 pm
Boys and Girls Tennis @ Robertson
Thursday, March 23
Varsity Softball @ Rio Rancho Tournament
Baseball @ Santa Fe, Varsity 3 pm, JV 5 pm
Friday, March 24
Varsity Softball @ Rio Rancho Tournament
Boys and Girls Track & Field @ Bernalillo, JV and Varsity
Boys and Girls Tennis @ Bernalillo
Saturday, March 25
Varsity Softball @ Rio Rancho Tournament
Tuesday, March 28
JV Softball vs. Espanola, Overlook Softball Fields, 4 pm
JV Baseball vs. Espanola, Senior Field, 4 pm
Wednesday, March 29
Varsity Softball @ Espanola, 4 pm
Varsity Baseball @ Espanola, 4 pm
JV Boys and Girls Track & Field @ Cleveland
Friday, March 31
JV Softball vs. Taos, Overlook Softball Fields, 3 pm and 5 pm
JV Baseball vs. Taos, Senior Field, 3 pm and 5 pm
Varsity Boys and Girls Track & Field, @ Rio Rancho
Boys and Girls Tennis @ Capital
Monday, March 13
Baseball @ Pojoaque, 3 pm and 5 pm
Monday, March 20
Baseball vs. West Las Vegas, Senior Field, 3 pm and 5 pm
Softball vs. West Las Vegas, Overlook Softball Fields, 3 pm and 5 pm
Saturday, March 25
Track & Field @ Memorial
Tuesday, March 28
Softball vs. Moriarty, Overlook Softball Fields, 3 pm and 5 pm
Youth Activities
Soccer
Community Events
Ross and Lola Ramsey Stage Celebration
The celebration will include refreshments and the unveiling of a plaque honoring the Ramseys and their contribution to the community, along with the announcement of the first scholarship recipient of the Ross and Lola Ramsey Memorial Scholarship. The community and especially Los Alamos High School alumni are encouraged to attend the celebration and stay for the performance of Pippin.
Pippin
Tickets are now on sale for the Los Alamos High School production of Pippin. Show dates are:
- Thursday, March 16th, 7pm
- Friday, March 17th, 7 pm
- Saturday, March 18th, 7 pm
- Friday, March 24th, 7 pm
- Saturday, March 25th, 2 pm
- Saturday, March 25th, 7 pm
All performances will be in Duane Smith Auditorium.
Purchase tickets here.
LASCU Annual Meeting
Spring Job Fair
Los Alamos ScienceFest
Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District have announced that Los Alamos ScienceFest 2023: Energy will run July 7-18 around Los Alamos County and feature a variety of workshops, lectures, interactive science activities, and more.
This year’s Discovery Day, featuring hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) demonstrations by local and regional businesses and organizations, along with entertainment, food vendors, and a beer garden, will take place 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 8 at Ashley Pond Park.
Each year, thousands flock to Los Alamos for ScienceFest, which celebrates New Mexico’s past and present contributions to science and fosters science curiosity for future generations.
This year’s Los Alamos ScienceFest runs even longer than previous years. Highlighted along with the “Energy” theme, will be a special historical thread in honor of Project Oppenheimer. Project Oppenheimer is a County-wide and regional effort to celebrate the life and legacy of Los Alamos National Laboratory’s first director and his role in the Manhattan Project. Spurred by the highly anticipated Christopher Nolan “Oppenheimer” film that was partially filmed in Los Alamos and is scheduled to debut in late July 2023, the celebration will continue into next year.
Those with an interactive STEAM activity appropriate for a variety of ages can register for booth space at Los Alamos ScienceFest Discovery Day on July 8 by visiting the registration link on the ScienceFest website. Registration is open until June 18.
For more information about the Los Alamos ScienceFest calendar of events or how to be a sponsor, visit www.LosAlamosScienceFest.com or contact Executive Director Jacquelyn Connolly of Los Alamos MainStreet and Creative District at jacquelyn@losalamos.org or 505.661.4844.
Summer Activities
PEEC Summer Camps
Get outside with PEEC this summer! We are offering a variety of day camps and clubs to help kids explore the outdoors, make new friends, and have fun.
For more information about summer camp offerings, go to https://peecnature.org/events/?topic%5B%5D=Summer+Camps
If you have questions about camps or would like to be notified about future camps, please contact kristen@peecnature.org or call 505-662-0460.
Find the best camp for your child by age. For all grades, the child must be entering that grade in the fall of 2023.
- Grades 1-3: Pathfinders (June and August)
- Grades 4-6: Nature Odyssey (June), Space Camp (June), or Trailblazers (August)
- Grade 7: Living Earth Adventure Program (June), Space Camp (June), or Mountain Biking Club (July)
- Grade 8: Living Earth Adventure Program (June) or Mountain Biking Club (July)
- Grades 9-12: Mountain Biking Club (July)
"Science is Everywhere" Summer Camps
The National Museum of Nuclear Science & History is thrilled to provide week-long "Science is Everywhere" Summer Camps from May 30th through August 4th. Students Pre-K through 6th grade can enroll in one, two, or all week-long camps, and they will experience exciting science and fun activities at the museum from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.
If interested in registering for our 'Counselor In Training' (CIT) program for students who are 13-17 years of age. Please click here.
Please note the two camps held after Memorial Day and July 4th are 4-day camps that will be held at a lower fee.
- Five-day camps are $330 per child/per week
- Four-day camps are $264 per child/per week
Our education team will divide camp topics into week-long camps that are multi-age collaborative camper experiences. The full-day camp programs run from 8:30 am-3:30 pm. Before-care is available from 7:30-8:30 am and after-care from 3:30-5:30 pm. There is no additional cost for before-and after-care, and they are available regardless of the camper's use.
We are thrilled to offer a $5.00 sibling discount, as well as a museum member discount of 10%. Please contact our Development Associate at mthomas@nuclearmuseum.org for your member discount code.
For more information, go to https://www.nuclearmuseum.org/educate/kids-camp/summer-camp-2023.
LAPS Newsletter
Please send any comments or questions to:
Editor: Connie Goettee
LAPS Website
Los Alamos Public Schools
Email: c.goettee@laschools.net
Website: http://laschools.net/
Location: 2075 Trinity Drive, Los Alamos, NM, USA
Phone: 505-663-2222