Welcome back from Fall Break. We hope you had an opportunity to rest, relax and recharge. The next nine weeks of the semester will be busy. Mark your calendars for Ride the Bus Day (80th day of school) on Friday, December 1.

Fall is definitely here in Los Alamos. Days are getting chillier and shorter, so it's a good idea to remember to have a warmer layer with you. Clocks will “fall back” one hour at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

This month we celebrate Unity Day - united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion - on Wednesday, October 18th. October is national bullying prevention month and this year's theme - Building CommUNITY - fits perfectly with our prevention program's emphasis on strengthening CONNECTIONS as a primary protective factor. We can help prevent bullying by making sure 100% of students, families, staff and community members are connected and by creating healthy and inclusive environments for all.

What are some simple ways to celebrate Unity Day? Wear orange on the 18th and...

Engage in acts of kindness

• Ask someone if you can help them out.
• Notice when someone is feeling down and let them know you care.
• Offer a friendly greeting and hold the door for someone.

Show acceptance

• Stand up for a friend.
• Be curious about other points of view.
• Learn about someone else's culture.

Practice inclusion

• Invite someone to join your group.
• Make sure everyone gets a chance to talk.
• Evaluate if your activity or event is accessible to all.

Check out the LAPS Community Events page for information about events and activities in the community for students and families.Or view the Los Alamos County Fall for the Season.

2023-2024 School Calendar

Multicultural Events Calendar

All LAHS sophomores, and any juniors (who signed up), are registered for the PSAT on Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The test will begin at 7:50am and end at approximately 11:15am. Lunch will be served at the regular time, 11:15 am - 12:00 pm. Students will report to their regular 3B and 4th period classes after lunch. Students who are testing are asked to make every effort to arrive by 7:45am to help ensure that testing begins at 7:50 am.

All freshmen, juniors who have not signed up for the PSAT and all seniors will have regular classes.

The 16th Annual Elementary Mile Run will be held on Friday, October 27 during the Los Alamos High School Cross Country home meet at the Los Alamos Golf Course. Open to students in kindergarten thru 6th grade. Click here to register.

The final LAHS Varsity home football game will be on Friday, October 27 starting at 7 pm. It is Senior Night so come out and celebrate this year's Class of 2024 varsity players.

The Barranca Mesa Elementary Annual Trick-or-Trot 5K and 1 Miler will be held on Saturday, October 28. The 1-Miler begins at 9 am, followed by the 5K at 9:30 am. Registration fees, including a shirt are $35 for adults and $20 for kids ages 5 - 12; registration fees without a shirt are $20 for adults and $10 for kids ages 5 -12. Prizes awarded for race winners and costumes.

Piñon Elementary School will host a Pete the Cat Math Preschool Family Night for students currently enrolled in their 4Y preschool program and their families on Wednesday, October 25 from 5 pm - 6:30 pm. Watch for more information coming soon.

Early voting has started and we encourage all registered Los Alamos County voters to vote. Please support the Los Alamos Public Schools General Obligation Bond on this year’s ballot. LAPS uses tax payer money for important repairs and construction including leaky roofs!

Los Alamos 2023 Voter Guide

Are you unable to vote in person? Do you have a student away at college or technical school? Voters may cast an absentee ballot or vote in person at their local County Clerk’s office or an early voting location prior to Election Day. No excuse is required to vote with an absentee ballot. Visit NMVote.org to request an absentee ballot, find an early voting location, and more!

Request an Absentee Ballot

Request an absentee ballot by filling out an application and returning it to your local County Clerk. Applications can be obtained by:

• Filling out an application online by Clicking Here
• Contacting your County Clerk’s Office in person, phone, mail or email
• Downloading an Absentee Ballot Application here and mailing it or hand delivering it to your County Clerk’s Office

A ballot will be sent to voters who have properly filled out the application.

To check the status of your Absentee Application, go here or contact your County Clerk’s Office.

If you do not receive the absentee ballot, please contact the County Clerk’s Office.

Return an Absentee Ballot

All absentee ballots may be returned to the County Clerk’s Office or any Election Day polling location no later than 7:00 PM – Election Day.

Early Voting

Please check locations and hours of operation by visiting NMVote.org or by contacting your County Clerk’s Office.

LAPS partnered with the YMCA to hold fall break camps at all five elementary school sites. Students attending camp enjoyed games, arts and crafts, dance contests and outdoor play time. Several Los Alamos High School student interns assisted YMCA staff.

Barranca Mesa Elementary librarian Erin Manzanares reports that the school's Fall Book Fair was a HUGE success. Thank you for supporting reading as a habit - by acknowledging students reading for pleasure.

Los Alamos Middle School Art teachers Elizabeth Fisher and Claire Stewart created art displays at the Los Alamos Credit Union, the District Office, Board Room and Los Alamos Medical Center. They are very proud of the work their students have produced in such a short time since the beginning of the school year. Scan the attached code to visit their instagram account artsy_hawks.

Students in the Piñon Elementary Math Lab recently tackled a building for hurricanes engineering design challenge.

At the end of the school year last spring, Piñon Elementary School PE teacher Haley Gayner handed out a Summer 200 Hour Challenge game board to her students. Students were able to color in a square for every hour they spent outside over the summer being active. Twenty-seven students spent 200 hours being active and completed the board. Four names were drawn for grand prizes, including Sydney Lombardi and Hudson Ayers.

Congratulations to all participants!

The Topper Marching Band held a March-a-Thon fundraiser last week. The community is invited to see the band perform their show "A Pirate's Journey" on Wednesday at Sullivan Field beginning at 7 pm.

The marching band will be competing at the Rio Rancho Invitational on Saturday, October 21 and the Zia Marching Fiesta on Saturday, October 28.

Kudos to Los Alamos High School on being named to the 2023 AP School Honor Roll! The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools who AP program are delivering results and broadening access for students.

Schools can earn the Honor Roll recognition annually based on their ability to increase their school’s college-going culture, to provide opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. The AP School Honor Roll offers four levels of distinction: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

National Bullying Prevention Month (NBPM) is an important time to elevate the conversation about addressing and preventing bullying of K-12 children and youth. PACER founded NBPM in 2006 as a week-long event; it became a month-long one in 2010.

Bullying is the aggressive use of power, targeting another person or group of people with repeated, unwanted words or action, hurting them emotionally or physically. Bullying impacts the education, health, and safety of K-12 youth.

“The negative effects of bullying can last a lifetime,” said Julie Hertzog, director of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. “Calling out bullying behavior and supporting those who are bullied can make a big difference for those who experience bullying.”

National Bullying Prevention Month is an opportunity to:

• Encourage our nation to take action at the local level to create safe and supportive schools, communities, and online environments
• Offer information and education, with tangible steps to address and prevent bullying
• Provide a platform to host school and community events
• Share bullying prevention information through news media, social media, videos, and print publications
• Speak with education and public policy leaders about their role in bullying prevention
• Promote dialogue between educators, parents, and students on their roles in addressing and preventing bullying
• Invite organizations to share information about their bullying prevention resources
• Inspire everyone to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion to help prevent bullying
• Help create a world without bullying

What you need to know:

• Bullying is a common form of violence for youth. One in five students report they have been bullied; chances are, is happening to a young person you know and care about. And the issue affects not only the youth who are bullied, but those who witness it say the behavior impacts them as well. Witnesses to bullying report feeling less safe, helpless to stop it, and intimidated. Plus, youth who bully are at a greater risk for adverse physical or emotional health or issues with the legal system.
• Laws and policies govern bullying prevention and intervention. Every state has bullying prevention legislation and most schools have bullying prevention policies.
• Bullying can happen anywhere. It not just a school issue; bullying can happen wherever youth come together: youth groups, athletic and academic competitions, neighborhoods, and online.
• Ignoring bullying will not make it go away. Silence and inaction are not acceptable responses to bullying. Everyone needs to be empowered with options for responding to bullying situations.
• A unified message helps amplify the conversation. It is important to reinforce the message that all students deserve to feel safe and supported, and to promote acting with kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
• Everyone’s actions matter: we all have a role to play in bullying prevention. It’s vital for adults to know how to respond, to be there for those involved in bullying situations, to hold youth accountable for bullying behavior, and to support and educate youth about how to advocate for themselves and for others.
  

PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center offers age-appropriate resources to help students, parents, educators, and community members address bullying. The message is stronger when united by the common belief that bullying is wrong and shouldn’t happen to anyone. Opportunities to get involved include:

• Be informed. Watch the video overview of PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Month, created in 2021 by Medha, a student from Virginia.
• Take action. Learn ways you can get involved through activities, conversation or education.
• Inspire youth. Use the four-week student activity kit featuring theme weeks and classroom projects to promote kindness, acceptance and inclusion
• Share information. Color our virtual world with a collection of downloadable promotional images
• Celebrate Unity Day, the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month, with a simple call to action to wear and share the color orange to send a universal message that bullying is never acceptable. Order a free Unity Day poster or purchase the official Unity Day t-shirt.

For more information about National Bullying Prevention Month, visit our innovative websites for parents and professionals, middle and high school students , and elementary students .

The Barranca Mesa Elementary Student Council is already busy with their first project this year. they are helping to organize Unity Day which is October 18, and have already hung pamphlets around the chool about Unity Day. Student Council members include 6th graders Savannah Whitner, Kailey Garcia, Layla Larsen, Brianna Tatro, Ayla Hawkley and Ava Martinez.

Leanne Hick, RN, BSN

Los Alamos High School Nurse

l.hick@laschools.net

Just a friendly reminder that all 11th grade students are required by the state of New Mexico to receive a 2nd Meningococcal Vaccine (a new requirement for the 2023-2024 school year). Students receive their 1st Meningococcal vaccine when entering the 7th grade. Meningococcal disease refers to any illness caused by bacteria called Neisseria Meningitidis. These illnesses are often severe, can be deadly, and include infections of the lining of the brain, spinal cord (Meningitis) and bloodstream.

The 2nd Meningococcal vaccine is available at;

• Smith’s Pharmacies (White Rock- 505-672-9457 and Los Alamos 505-661-2770)
• Nambe Drugs, Los Alamos 505-661-9560
• Los Alamos Public Health Office (1183 Diamond Dr. Unit D, Los Alamos, 505-662-4038)
• Your doctor’s office

LAPD SRO Team

In the last couple weeks Los Alamos Police Department School Resource Officers and School Administration have spent a large amount of time investigating and testing medication/unidentifiable substances, brought by students, on our campuses. Fortunately, all substances tested to this point have not been illegal nor harmful substances.

In order to mitigate students bringing:

• OTC medications
• Vitamins (pills, gummies, powder)
• Prescription Medications

please contact your school nurse for guidance on authorized use on campus.

In addition, please remind your children about the potential dangers of ingesting any substances that are unknown to them.

Editor's Note: The LAPS School Resource Officers (SROs) will be offering a Tip of the Month starting in October.

Sports Lit Students Learn Journalism From Post Reporters

Los Alamos Hilltopper XC C-Team Steps Up Admirably In Varsity And JV Races At Santa Fe Indian School

Look To Sky Saturday! Los Alamos Is On The Path Of A Solar Eclipse!

Hilltopper Volleyball Downs Sundevels In 3 Straight Sets

Topper Boys & Girls Finish First In Taos Golf Tournament

Varsity Hilltopper Boys Soccer Falls To Academy Chargers

Topper Girls Varsity Loses Close Clash With Chargers

LAHS NJROTC Raises $7,500 For Veterans Charity

Los Alamos High School: Homecoming Parade Winners

Los Alamos Middle School Recreational Reading Success

LAHS Freshman Tate Plohr Named Finalist In Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge

LAHS NJROTC Cadets Raise $1,700 During Sept. 30 Car Wash Fundraiser

The LAHS counselors will be hosting another virtual senior parent meeting on Monday, October 16 at 6 pm. Mrs. Black will be facilitating and hopes to share her wealth of knowledge on supporting your student as they start to consider their post-secondary plans.

Please join us using the link below (Google Meet). ***You will need to be signed into your Google/Gmail account or you may join by phone.***

Senior Parent Night (#2)
Monday, October 16 · 6:00 – 7:00pm
Time zone: America/Denver
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cva-iyfo-rif
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 442-900-4257‬ PIN: ‪325 586 817‬#

Bring any questions you might have, as all of the LAHS counselors will be represented.

If you are unable to attend, we will be recording the presentation and uploading it into the Class of 2024 Google Classroom.

Senior Parent Night Handouts

LAHS Counseling website

Piñon Elementary: October 20 - October 27

Aspen Elementary: November 3 - November 9

How many people have dyslexia?

We do not really know how many people have dyslexia. Since there has not been a generally accepted definition until recently, estimates have varied widely. The National Institutes of Health have estimated that 15% of the population may have dyslexia.

What causes dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a consequence of the way a person’s brain is organized. Learning to read requires making the association between printed symbols and spoken words and spoken sounds. These associations must become firmly fixed in memory for reading to be fluent. People with dyslexia have great difficulty establishing these associations. The exact cause of the difference in the brain is not known, but recent research and new technology make it possible to identify some of the differences in the brains of people with dyslexia. Also, dyslexia often appears in families across generations. Currently, the search for the genetic basis of dyslexia is underway in various locations around the world.

Will colored lenses help a person with dyslexia read better?

There is no solid research evidence that using colored lenses will improve reading for individuals with dyslexia. For people with dyslexia to learn to read, they must receive many hours of careful, systematic instruction in the sound system of the language. Any other treatments which may be recommended and attempted should not replace direct instruction in reading and writing.

How do I know if my child has dyslexia?

If your child has had difficulty learning to read words and spell, she might have dyslexia. Young children with dyslexia typically have difficulty learning the alphabet, rhyming, and dividing words into their sounds. Many parents of students with dyslexia describe their children as bright and eager learners unti they encounter instruction in reading. At such time, they often become frustrated. Sometimes these children are able to memorize enough words to appear as if they are reading. When the number of words they must memorize becomes overwhelming (about third grade), the difficulty with reading becomes apparent. Simply stated, if your child has unusual difficulty pronouncing the words when he/she reads and spelling the words he/she writes (compared to others of the same age), you should consider an assessment for dyslexia.

How can I have my child assessed for dyslexia?

If you think your child may have dyslexia, contact your school principal and explain your concern. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA Reauthorization 2004) and Public Law 94-142, the Education for all Handicapped Children Act of 1978, parents have the right to request an evaluation from the school, if a disability is suspected. Generally, schools provide a basic evaluation, and are required by state law to conduct testing to determine if a student struggles with reading due to characteristics of dyslexia. Should you wish to pursue the diagnosis privately, you should seek a qualified evaluator. If you decide to use a private evaluator, ask if this individual is familiar with diagnosing dyslexia and which areas she will be testing. An evaluation for dyslexia may include measures of word recognition, word attack (sounding out words), spelling, reading comprehension, phonological processing and written expression. In addition, a comprehensive evaluation should include assessment of receptive language skills (i.e., listening comprehension) which affect learning to read and write and must be included to help identify potential cause of any identified area of underachievement in reading comprehension.

Can a person have dyslexia and have an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

Yes. Research indicates that individuals with dyslexia also can have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which includes the predominately inattentive subtype, the predominately hyperactive-subtype, and the combined subtype.

Can dyslexia be cured?

No. Dyslexia is a lifelong condition. However, with appropriate remediation, individuals with dyslexia can learn to read and write. With good instruction, dyslexia becomes much less debilitating. Many students with dyslexia attend college and become successful in positions which require considerable reading and writing. Without this instruction, many people with dyslexia will suffer from frustration, decreased self-esteem, and difficulty maintaining employment commensurate with their ability.

This overview of dyslexia is presented by Dr. Tim Odegard, Professor of Psychology, at the Tennessee Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klG8vHRLtJU&t=9s

If you have concerns about your child, please contact your classroom teacher, the building principal or LAPS district office. Our district reading specialist, Sigrid Wurthmann, (s.wurthmann@laschools.net) 663-3218 is available to address questions and concerns.

Students who are 18 are eligible to vote in the upcoming election in November. Go to www.NMVote.org for more information.

It’s time to sign up for this year’s annual 8th grade Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) spring break trip to Washington, D.C., to be held March 23-26, 2024.

The trip is available to Los Alamos Middle School 8th graders and Los Alamos home school students. The sign-up deadline is Oct. 13.

After Oct. 13, it will still be possible to sign up for the trip, however, a price increase might occur because of increases from airlines, restaurants and hotels. Signing up with a $99 deposit will lock in this year’s trip price! Payment plans, financial assistance and fundraising tools are available.

All first responders and military families can receive a 5 percent discount. The trip is a private trip and not a school sponsored trip and has been offered to Los Alamos Middle School students for over 35 years.

The trip will include round trip air transportation, sightseeing, transportation in and around Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland, all meals and admissions, hotel accommodations, night chaperones in hotel, accident and health insurance. An on-call doctor is available for student illness or emergencies. Highlights of the trip include the White House, the International Spy Museum, a Capitol tour, the Pentagon Memorial, the Washington Monument, the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian museums, the National Zoo, Arlington National Cemetery, night tours of the Presidential Monuments, the Iwo Jima, Korean, and the Vietnam Memorials, the National Aquarium in Baltimore and much more.

Four students will be selected to lay the morning wreath at Arlington National Cemetery Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The trip will be four days and three nights in duration. The group will stay in a five-star hotel in Arlington or Crystal City, minutes from the DC sites.

Open to Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees in Any Field of Study

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Foundation is now accepting applications for its four-year undergraduate scholarship awards. Whether pursuing a degree in STEAM, healthcare, education, business, or the humanities, students who meet the eligible criteria are welcome to apply.

While most applicants are high school seniors, undergraduate students pursuing a bachelor’s degree at an accredited, post-secondary educational institution are also encouraged to apply.

Awards range from $1,000 up to $20,000 for students from Northern New Mexico pursuing undergraduate degrees in any field of study. One application enables students to be considered for over 30 scholarship opportunities. The Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund (LAESF) Advisory Committee evaluates all applications to match applicants with any awards for which they are eligible and selects the strongest candidates in each category to receive the award.

Applicants are evaluated based on academic merit, demonstrated leadership, and a commitment to service. Certain awards have additional criteria, including financial need, specific fields of study, Native American ancestry, resilience and determination, and affiliation with designated schools, programs, and communities.

Applicants must be residents of Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Sandoval, Santa Fe or Taos counties, and must meet a minimum GPA requirement. US citizenship is not required, and preference is not given to students with an affiliation to LANL.

Scholarships are made possible by donations from LANL employees, retirees, and community members across Northern New Mexico. To donate to the scholarship fund, click here.

For more information on how to apply, click here. The application deadline is Jan. 16, 2024.

Since 1997, the LANL Foundation has been investing in education, learning, and human potential in Northern New Mexico. Through diverse programming and collaboration with key partners, the LANL Foundation works to ensure that all New Mexicans have the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient lifelong learners who are engaged in their communities. LANL Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of students’ access to academic and technical opportunities, leading to quality jobs by supporting college and career readiness in schools, districts,

Los Alamos Public Schools is pleased to offer all students in the 7th - 12th grade in all subjects live, 1:1 tutoring through TutorMe. TutorMe is available whenever and from wherever you need it.

Here's how to access TutorMe:

1. Open your Clever Portal, and click on the TutorMe icon to launch the platform.
2. Click the “Request a Live Tutor” button.
3. Answer a couple quick, easy questions to help TutorMe find the best-match tutor for you. Once you submit your request, we’ll match you as fast as we can but please understand it may take a couple minutes for us to find the perfect match.
4. Click the “Request a tutor” button to submit your request.
5. Once you’re paired with a tutor, you’ll be taken to the Lesson Space where you’ll have access to all the tools you need for your tutoring session.

Click on the image below to download these roadmap tips to help you get the most out of TutorMe.

Los Alamos High School counselors are available every Wednesday in the Topper Library during lunch to help students with their college applications, or by appointment.

LAHS students are encouraged to Fall into Fun at the Topper Library.

The Los Alamos YMCA is now accepting registrations for the upcoming youth basketball program for students in 1st grade through 6th grade. For more information, go to www.laymca.org.

The One Circle Group for high school girls starts October 24th. For additional information and registration, visit www.losalamosjjab.com/one-circle-girls-and-boys/

To check out the complete Sports Schedule, go to RankOne.

Tuesday, October 17

LAHS Boys Soccer vs. Pojoaque High School, Pojoaque High School, Varsity 6 pm

LAHS Girls Soccer vs. Pojoaque High School, Pojoaque High School, Varsity 4 pm

LAHS JV Football vs. Santa Fe High School, Sullivan Field, 5:15 pm

LAHS Volleyball vs. Taos High School, Taos High School, 9th Grade 4 pm, JV 5 pm, Varsity 6 pm

Wednesday, October 18

LAMS Football vs. Ortiz Middle School, LAMS Football Field, 4 pm

LAHS Boys and Girls Cross Country, Cleveland High School, C team and JV

Thursday, October 19

LAHS Boys Soccer vs. Moriarty High School, Moriarty High School, JV 4 pm, Varsity 6 pm

LAHS Girls Soccer vs. Moriarty High School, Sullivan Field, Varsity 4 pm

LAHS Varsity Football vs. Valley High School, Milne Stadium, 7 pm

LAHS Volleyball vs. Moriarty High School, Griffith Gym, 9th Grade 4 pm, JV 5 pm, Varsity 6 pm

Saturday, October 21

LAHS Boys and Girls Cross Country, Albuquerque Academy Extravaganza

LAHS Volleyball vs. Hope High School, Griffith Gym, 9th Grade 12 pm, JV 1 pm, Varsity 2:30 pm

Los Alamos Public Schools is in need of Substitutes. Click here for more information about working for LAPS and current job openings.

The Los Alamos YMCA is looking for referees, time/scorekeepers for the upcoming youth basketball season. For more information, go to www.laymca.org.