LAPS Newsletter
November 12, 2023
Thank You Los Alamos Voters
Los Alamos Public Schools would like to thank the Los Alamos community for supporting the General Obligation Bond in this yearâs election.
The November 7, 2023 election in Los Alamos resulted in 81 percent of the Los Alamos voters voting âyesâ for the Los Alamos Public Schools general obligation bond.
The general obligation bond will generate $30 million for critical updates to school buildings throughout the district, including the replacement of PiĂąon and Chamisa Elementary Schools. Having high quality facilities and learning environments benefits our community. We are thankful to the Los Alamos voters for prioritizing our children and taking the time to vote.
Parent Council Meeting
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2023, 12:00 PM
School Board Meeting
Tuesday, Nov 14, 2023, 05:30 PM
School Boardroom
Aspen Elementary 3rd/4th Grade Music Performance
Performance for parents and families
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023, 06:00 PM
Aspen Elementary School, 33rd Street, Los Alamos, NM, USA
Mountain Elementary Science Fair
Thursday, Nov 16, 2023, 03:30 PM
Mountain Elementary School, North Road, Los Alamos, NM, USA
Employee Council Meeting
Thursday, Nov 16, 2023, 03:45 PM
Honor Band
Selected middle school and high school students will be in rehearsals on Friday and Saturday. Performances for parents and families will be on Saturday.
Friday, Nov 17, 2023, 09:00 AM
Rock Your Mocs Nov. 13 - Nov. 17
Students across LAPS are encouraged to participate in "Rock Your Mocs" the week of November 13th-17th by wearing moccasins, traditional clothing or anything that celebrates Native pride!
For the history behind the event, go to https://rockyourmocs.org/sample-page/
High School and Middle School club members will plan to take group photos on Thursday, Nov. 16th - please stop by Ms. EQ's room at LAHS and Mr. Fox' room at the middle school during lunch time for a group photo.
"A Thousand Voices" Nov. 16
Join us on Nov. 16th at 6:30 pm at the SALA Event Center for a special screening of âA Thousand Voices,â a documentary by Silver Bullet Productions, followed by a discussion with producer and CEO Pam Pierce.
Admission is free. Popcorn and drinks will be provided.
Sponsored by Los Alamos High School Native American Culture Club, LAPS Native American Parent Advisory Council and made possible by a grant from the LANL Foundation.
Upcoming Events
Monday, November 20 - Friday, November 24
Thanksgiving Break - no school for staff and students
Thursday, November 23
Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, November 30
Hawk Hangout
Friday, December 1
Ride the Bus Day (80th Day of School)
Events in Los Alamos
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 100 Days of Winter.
Get your tickets online to guarantee your seat today for Frozen, presented by Los Alamos High School.
Remaining performance dates are Thursday, Nov. 16; Friday, Nov. 17; and Saturday, Nov. 18. All performances begin at 7 pm in Duane Smith Auditorium.
2023-2024 Calendars
Future School Calendars
Happenings Around the District
LAHS NJROTC Earns Six 1st Place Awards
Congratulations to Los Alamos NJROTC for their efforts at the Duke City Invitational Drill Meet at Del Norte High School. They got 1st place unarmed drill, 1st place armed drill, 1st place female color guard, 1st place male color guard, 1st place female physical fitness, 1st place male physical fitness, 2nd place precision marksmanship, 2nd place unit inspection, and 1st place overall, along with numerous individual awards. Great job, Topper Company!
Read the full story here.
State Champs
The Los Alamos High School Boys Cross Country team won their third State Championship in a row on Saturday.
Photo by Blake Wood
Cheer Garners 1st Place
Members of the Los Alamos High School Cheer Team won first place at the High School Varsity Game Day. Congratulations!
Spelling Bees
Chamisa Spelling Bee winners are Dawson Belobrajdic, 1st place;, EJ Atkinson, 2nd place; and Chris Beavers, 3rd place. They will compete in the District Spelling Bee on January 17, 2024. Dylan Rodriguez, 4th place runner-up, is the alternate.
LAOLA Adventure Day
Field Trips and Class Presentations
Students at Work
Barranca Mesa Elementary Math Lab
Fire Department visit
Part of the Frozen camera crew
Frozen Dress Rehearsal
Electric Car Challenge
Chamisa Elementary School GATE teacher Susan Hettingaâs 6th grade students recently participated in the New Mexico Middle School Electric Car Challenge. Chamisa had three teams participate in all three events of the competition. They did the race challenge, the design challenge and the oral research presentation event.
The event was sponsored by Sandia National Laboratories in association with Los Alamos National Laboratory. The event consists of teams building battery-powered model cars in order to compete in three challenges: a race for time, design competition, and research for an oral presentation. The main goal of the competition is to generate enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills for middle school students, grades 6th - 8th.
Veterans Day Celebrations
Schools around the district honored local veterans on Veterans Day to say thank you for your service.
Construction Projects
Students at Pinon Elementary were able to watch crews pour concrete for the new school last week. And at Barranca Mesa Elementary, work continues on the new playground and track.
đŻ Social Emotional Well-Being
đŻ Civic Responsibility
LAHS Girls Wrestling Team Members Create 80 Handmade Thanksgiving Cards For Homebound Senior Citizens
The Los Alamos High School Girls Wrestling Team gathered at the Betty Ehart Senior Center Thursday to make Thanksgiving cards for homebound senior citizens in the Los Alamos community.
âWe were so pleased to work with Jacci Gruninger of the Senior Center and come up with such a fun, creative and rewarding community service opportunity the girls could experience together.â Brian Weaver, a team member parent, said. âThey had a great time creating the 80 heartfelt and detailed cards that will hopefully bring some Thanksgiving warmth to many senior citizens.â
Nurse Notes
10 Useful Tips for Staying Healthy When Traveling This Holiday Season
BY ASHLEY MARTENS PUBLISHED: OCT 2, 2023
The holidays are all about reconnecting with friends and family, which means you might be doing a lot of traveling. Whether youâre taking a plane, bus, train, or any other mode of transportation to reunite with your loved ones, itâs important you check in with your body and take care of yourself. At the same time, we get it. When youâre on the go, this is easier said than done. This is why weâve made things a breeze by rounding up all our most useful tips for staying healthy when traveling for the holidays.
- Be Selective. Itâs easy to say yes to everything and overcommit. Instead of feeling overwhelmed and possibly running down your immune system, figure out whatâs doable for your schedule and learn to say no.
- Get Quality Sleep. One of the easiest ways to stay healthy is by simply getting good sleep. Donât forget a sleep mask or noise-cancelling headphones for your flight and if you're staying with your friends or family, make sure you actually make time to rest.
- Eat Well. A major challenge when traveling is finding healthy food. Seek out fresh options like salads or nuts and trail mix as snacks throughout the day.
- Choose Vitamin C-Rich Foods. Unfortunately, the holidays also happen to be the start of cold and flu season, so take extra precautions and add immune-supporting foods to your daily meals and snacks. Citrus fruits are excellent sources of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamin C, so always make it part of your day-to-day.
- Go Outside. Traveling can leave us feeling frazzled and stressed, but a simple walk outside (even in the cold) can instantly change your mood and is hands down the pick-me-up you need.
- Stay Hydrated. Moving from place to place is dehydrating and can leave you feeling sluggish, but drinking water helps combat those unwanted feelings. Itâll also help you stay radiant for your holiday celebrations.
- Move, Move, Move. Donât just sit around over the holidaysâgo out of your way to be active. Whether you do lunges in a hotel room or work out at a local gym, get moving.
- Prioritize Your Mental Health. All the emotions and effort that goes into the holidays can be mentally and emotionally draining. Make sure you take time to decompress by listening to a podcast or getting a massage. All in all, your mental health shouldnât take a backseat to the festivities.
- Wash and Sanitize Your Hands. Washing and sanitizing your hands while in transit is key. Bring hand sanitizer (just make sure the bottle isn't too big for your carry-on) or towelettes with you to keep germs and viruses away.
- Consider Supplements. Want to give your body an extra boost? Do your research and ask your doctor about which supplements you should take throughout the holiday season.
đ° LAPS in the News
Topper Boys XC Wins State Championship; Girls Place 2nd
Bulldogs Bounce Toppers In Second Round Of Quarterfinals
LAPS Facilities Employees Honored For Excellence
LAHS Sports Lit Students Hear Details On Manhattan Project
Hilltopper Varsity Girls Volleyball Team Wins District Title
Thank You Community For Supporting Los Alamos High Schoolâs NJROTC Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser
Topper Girls Soccer Closes Out Season At State Semifinals
State, School, Family Traditions Preserved: Duncan Henderson & Anna Wetteland Named High School Swimming All-Americans
LAHS Athlete Anna Wetteland Signs National Letter Of Intent
LAHS Students Share Stories Of Local Veterans
âRainbowâ Promises New School For Pinon Elementary
Info for Families
Student Reminders
Sports This Week and Next
To check out the complete Sports Schedule, go to RankOne.
Tuesday, November 14
LAMS Girls Basketball vs. Pojoaque Middle School, LAMS Brousseau Gym, 7th grade 4 pm, 8th grade 5:30 pm
Thursday, November 16
LAHS Volleyball vs. Silver High School, Rio Rancho Event Center, 10 am (First Round State Tournament)
Tickets are $17 for a day pass; $12 Adults; $7 Student (K-12), Senior (65+) and Military
Tickets must be purchased online via GoFan
Friday, November 17
LAMS Girls Basketball at Taos Tournament
Saturday, November 18
LAMS Girls Basketball at Taos Tournament
Help Wanted
Los Alamos Public Schools is hiring high school custodians and substitutes. Click here for more information about working for LAPS and all current job openings.