
LAPS Newsletter
Back to School Edition
Message from the Superintendent
Welcome back to the 2023-24 school year! I hope you and your family had a wonderful summer. I am excited to have your children back in our classrooms and am looking forward to a positive, productive school year. At LAPS, we are committed to ensuring that 100% of the students in our district are successful in three key areas: Academic Success, Social Emotional Well-being, and Civic Responsibility.
This year, our focus will be on providing consistent, rigorous instruction that builds strong foundations for learning, develops critical thinking skills, promotes collaboration among the students, and fosters engagement. We strongly believe that education is not just about acquiring knowledge, but also about nurturing creativity, creating safe learning environments, and honoring diversity so that our students are able to become caring adults with clear pathways to success and the ability to follow their passions and thrive.
Some exciting projects happening around the district include construction at Piñon and Chamisa. We are looking forward to using the construction at these schools as great learning opportunities for students. Work is happening at Sullivan Field to complete required safety upgrades by replacing the turf, repairing the track, and installing a new scoreboard. The previous turf was installed in 2011 and no longer meets basic safety standards. We are also making critical plumbing repairs at the high school so you will see activity near Griffith Gym. Barranca Mesa crews continue to work to complete the next phase of the playground installation. We are grateful for the support of the community and the state to complete these important projects to ensure our students have a safe, healthy learning environment. Your child's safety, well-being, and education are our top priorities.
Throughout the year, we will keep you informed about important dates, upcoming events, and any changes or updates through newsletters, emails, and the Los Alamos Public Schools website. You will receive regular communication from your children's teachers and school principals. We also encourage you to frequently check in with your children and talk with them about their experiences at school. Your support and partnership play a crucial role in your children's academic success. We greatly appreciate and value your involvement.
Once again, welcome back to school! We are thrilled to have your children as part of the Los Alamos Public Schools.
Wishing you a fantastic school year ahead!
Jennifer Guy
Superintendent
Los Alamos Public Schools
First Day of School
Students attending Los Alamos Public Schools will head back to the classroom on Wednesday, August 9 for the start of the 2023-2024 school year. All students in kindergarten through 6th grade will be dismissed at noon. It will be a full day for middle and high school students. Thursday, August 10 and Friday, August 11 will be full days for all students.
Wednesday will be a 7-period day at Los Alamos High School. Los Alamos Middle School will also follow a 7-period day schedule on the first day of school.
Flexible Days
Monday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 8 are flexible days for each school site to arrange activities including providing time for students to meet teachers, and pick up schedules and books. Students will not be at school all day on these days. Please watch for an email from your school principal with more details.
Students at Los Alamos Middle School will be able to pick up materials on Monday, August 7 at the following times:
8th Grade
Last Names A - G, 8:30 am - 9:30 am
Last NamesH - N, 9:30 am - 10:30 am
Last NamesO- Z, 10:30 am - 11:30 am
7th Grade
Last Names A - G, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Last Names H - N, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Last Names O - Z, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
On Tuesday, August 8, LAMS will host 7th Grade Orientation from 9:00 am - 11:30 am. The make-up time for students who missed picking up materials during their time slot will be from noon to 3 pm.
Los Alamos High School
Students attending Los Alamos High School will be able to pick up textbooks and Chromebooks on these days. Check out the schedule:
Sophomores and Seniors: Monday, August 7th from 1 pm-3 pm
Juniors: Tuesday, August 8th from 1 pm-3 pm
Freshman Orientation and Registration will be combined into a one-day event on August 8th starting at 7:50 am.
LAHS student leaders, under the sponsorship of Mr. Lathrop, will guide Freshmen through various activities to help prepare for high school. Students will pick up their schedules, LAHS Handbook, textbooks, Chromebooks, find their lockers, receive their class of 2027 t shirt, and take a tour of campus to find their classrooms. All other portions of registration will be handled online (e.g. paying fees and fines). Only students are expected to attend Freshman Orientation/Registration.
Buses will be provided at the locations and times below in order to assist with transportation needs to the Freshman Orientation/Registration. Freshmen are not required to take the buses to orientation, but may use this option if they choose. Freshman Orientation will start at Griffith Gymnasium once all the buses have arrived. Please note that these times and pick-up locations are subject to change.
Pickup and Dropoff Locations on August 8th:
- Aspen Elementary Bus Lane 7:30 am
- Barranca Elementary Bus Lane 7:20 am
- Middle School Bus Lane 7:20 am
- Arizona Ave @ Country Lane 7:30 am
- Pinon Bus Lane 7:15 am
- Chamisa Bus Lane 7:15 am
Elementary Class Lists and Meet the Teacher
Preschool
The first day of school for PreK4 students will be Thursday, August 10. Students in the PreK4 program attend school Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. There are no PreK4 classes on Wednesdays.
The first day of school for the PreK3 morning program will be Thursday, August 10 from 8:30 am - 11:30 am. The first day for the PreK3 afternoon program will be Friday, August 11 from 8:30 am - 11:30 am. The regular schedule for the PreK3 morning and afternoon programs will start on Monday, August 14. There are no PreK3 classes on Wednesdays.
Registration
Meet Our School Leaders
Principal Liz Janusz
Assistant Principal Shannon Trujillo
Principal Davine Jones
Assistant Principal Audrey Juliani
Principal Craig Washnok
Principal Megan Lee
Assistant Principal Becky Littleton
Principal Ivanna Austell
Assistant Principal Jennifer Kieltyka
Principal Kati Steinberg
Principal Jill Gonzales
Assistant Principal Alicia Edgin
Dean of Students Colby Holland
Principal Renee Dunwoody
Assistant Principal Suzanne Montoya
Assistant Principal Ryan Finn
Dean of Students Eric Ziegler
Athletic Director Ann Stewart
School Supply Lists
Click on your school site below to access the 2023-2024 school supply lists.
Los Alamos Online Learning Academy (LAOLA)
Students should bring their Chromebooks (fully charged) and a pencil to the first day of class. Teachers will provide any additional school supply requests for a specific course on the first day of class.
Tax Holiday Aug. 5 - 7
If you have school-age children, it’s nothing short of a bonanza. For that weekend the state suspends collection of gross receipts tax on sales of qualifying items so you can buy the items tax free. Because many merchants also absorb the tax on a number of non-qualifying items, you are the beneficiary all around.
During that time the law provides a deduction from gross receipts for retail sales of qualifying tangible personal property; in effect allowing the retailer to sell the items “tax free.”
FYI-203,Gross Receipts Tax Holiday contains list divided into categories, but please note that within some categories there is a set dollar maximum. To qualify for the deduction, clothing or shoes must be priced at less than $100 per unit. The price limit for desktop, laptop, tablets or notebook computers is $1,000, and for related computer hardware it is $500. School supplies for use in standard, general-education classrooms must be under $30 per unit. There are items specifically excluded by statute in all categories. Those items are always taxable.
For more specific information on the legislation, definitions, types of sales, (rain checks, exchanges, refunds, gift cards, layaways, Internet, mail order and telephone sales) please see FYI-203,Gross Receipts Tax Holiday.
Transportation
LAPS provides bus service for all Los Alamos County elementary students who live at least 1 mile from the school, for middle school students who live 1.5 miles from the school, and for high school students who live 2 miles from the school.
Please complete the 2023-2024 Student Bus Card.
When you have submitted the bus card(s) you will not receive a confirmation email.
We can provide transportation for students who live outside of Los Alamos County as space is available. Please complete the 2023-2024 Student Bus Card to be on the waiting list.
Parents of 3Y PRE K students should contact the Student Services Department at (505) 663-2208 to arrange for transportation.
Please complete the Special Education Bus Card if your student's IEP team has determined that your student is eligible for transportation as a related service.
2023-2024 Bus Routes
Barranca Mesa Elementary School
Los Alamos Middle School Morning and Afternoon
Los Alamos High School Morning and Afternoon
For questions about transportation, please contact Keith Rosenbaum or Chris Smith at 663-2255 or email Keith at k.rosenbaum@laschools.net.
Food Services
Los Alamos Public Schools is pleased to offer free breakfast and lunch to all of our students. As we transition to feeding all of our students, we would like to highlight some items for you. Breakfast at our elementary schools will be a sack option to ensure all students who want a meal are served in a timely manner.
Free lunch service will be available for all Los Alamos Public Schools. This will be a serve option that meets the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) guidelines for each grade level. During the fall semester none of our school sites will serve a la carte options. This is so we can ensure that our food service partner is able to focus on quality, speed of service and presentation. Students are still able to bring a lunch from home if that is their preference.
If a student has a dietary need (this includes vegan requests), this must be communicated with the school site nurse. The school site will inform our food service partner so they can prepare the requested meal for the student. In addition to our one hot lunch option, the district will offer a sack lunch option as well. You can view menus online at https://laschools.nutrislice.com/menu. The August menu will be posted no later than August 7, 2023.
Even though all students can participate in the breakfast and lunch program we are asking that families fill out the free and reduced meal program application. This is important as our free and reduced numbers are used for other important funding opportunities which support the district and our students. Please use the online option at www.schoolcafe.com.
If you are unable to complete the online option please download a copy of the Free and Reduced Meal Program application. Email the completed form to s.salazar@laschools.net.
Fall Sports
Los Alamos Middle School
Attention all incoming 7th and 8th grade students. If you are planning to participate in any LAMS Sports Programs, you must have a complete physical dated after April 1st of 2023 and have all Rank One requirements uploaded before you can begin. Go to the LAMS Athletics webpage for Rank One requirements.
Football: Non-cut sport and no experience is necessary but all participants should bring cleats, shorts, T-Shirt, and plenty of water in a labeled water bottle. Official practice begins on Monday August 7, 3:15 pm - 5:30 pm at the LAMS Football Field.
Cross Country: Non-cut sport and no experience necessary. Boys and Girls Cross Country will begin official practices on Monday August 14th, 3:15 pm - 5:00 pm at the LAMS Track. Interested athletes can contact coaches at: lams.crosscountry@gmail.com
Volleyball: This is a cut sport and all interested 7th and 8th grade girls will have tryouts Monday, August 14th and Tuesday, August 15th at the LAHS Auxiliary Gym as follows: 7th grade, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm and 8th grade, 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. You will need to have all requirements completed to try out. For details contact Joseph Palmer at j.palmer@laschools.net
Cheer: This is a cut sport and tryouts will be held Friday August 19th at LAMS, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm. Contact Coach Bohlen at a.bohlen@laschools.net for questions.
The Mandatory Parent Meeting will beTBD.
Los Alamos High School
Any high school athlete planning to participate in a LAHS sport must have a complete physical dated after April 1st of 2023 and have all Rank One requirements uploaded before you can begin.
The first official practice for football is Monday, July 31st. For all other fall sports, the first official practice date is Monday, August 14th.
LAHS Fall Sport Head Coach Contact Information
Football - Garett Williams ga.williams@laschools.net
Volleyball - Joe Palmer j.palmer@laschools.net
Boys Cross Country - Steven Montoya st.montoya@laschools.net or losalamosxc@gmail.com
Girls Cross Country - Lindsey Montoya li.montoya@laschools.net
Boys Soccer - Vance Boone- v.boone@laschools.net
Girls Soccer - Jessica Kubicek-Sutherland jessicaksutherland@gmail.com
Cheer - Lauren Sandoval l.sandoval@laschools.net
Fall Golf -Boys - TBD
Fall Golf - Girls - TBD
Job Opportunities with LAPS
Come work for one of the best school districts in New Mexico. Los Alamos Public Schools is hiring for a number of positions including teachers, educational assistants, bus drivers and more. Working as an educational assistant at your child's school site may be a great chance to get involved. Flexible hours are available. Competitive pay, great benefits and more! Click here to find your new position with LAPS.
Important Dates
Monday, August 7 and Tuesday, August 8
Flexible School Days
Tuesday, August 8
New LAPS Family Orientation
School Board Meeting
Wednesday, August 9
First Day of School
Open Houses
Open Houses at all elementary schools are scheduled from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Open houses at the middle school, high school and the online academy are from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
Aspen Elementary: Wednesday, August 16
Barranca Mesa Elementary: Tuesday, August 22
Chamisa Elementary: Thursday, August 17
Mountain Elementary: Tuesday, August 15
Piñon Elementary: Wednesday, August 23
Los Alamos Middle School: Tuesday, August 29
Los Alamos High School: Wednesday, August 30
Los Alamos Online Learning Academy: Thursday, August 31
Homecoming Festivities
Homecoming Football Game: Friday, September 22, 7 pm
Watch for more information at www.laschools.net.
Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences
Friday, October 6
Fall Break
LAPS Newsletters
Los Alamos Public Schools
Website: http://laschools.net/
Location: 2075 Trinity Drive, Los Alamos, NM, USA
Phone: 505-663-2222