LAPS Newsletter

2025 All Schools Student Art Show

Thursday, February 20 - Wednesday, March 12

Step Up Gallery, Mesa Public Library

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

February 28, March 1, March 2

March 7, March 8, March 9

Click here to purchase tickets.

March 3 - March 7

Join us for Drugs, Sex and Phones Part 2: Tips and Skills for Families to Navigate Smart Phones, Social Media and Gaming on Tuesday, March 4 starting at 6 pm in the Los Alamos High School Topper Library. This interactive workshop is for parents and caregivers of students in all grades.

The next School Board Work Session is Thursday, February 27 at Los Alamos Middle School. Click here for more information about the School Board meetings.

2024-2025 School Calendar

Multicultural Calendar of Events

2025-2026 DRAFT School Calendar

2026-2027 DRAFT School Calendar

For other events and activities, check out the school site calendars on the LAPS website.

Saturday, February 22 was designated as School Bus Driver Appreciation Day. Thank you to our school bus drivers (and bus assistants) for all that you do EVERY day to keep our students safe and help them to thrive!

The 2025 All Schools Student Art Show opened last week, featuring all types of artwork by elementary, middle and high school students. The show runs through March 12 in the Step Up Gallery at Mesa Public Library.

Acclaimed drummer Akeem Ayanniyi will be performing African drum music at all school sites. Thanks to Southwest Roots Music and long time Los Alamos resident, Dennis Derkacs, students and staff are fortunate to experience this art in our schools this week.

Akeem is a 9th-generation Nigerian drummer whose mission is to keep alive traditional Yoruba stories, rituals and mythology through drumming, storytelling and dance. He leads an engaging, interactive African drumming program that engages both kids and adults in conversation about the continent of Africa, framed within his own personal story about growing up as a drummer in Nigeria. In addition to stories and song, he demonstrates the traditional talking drum, ashiko, djembe and bata drums, which folks have the opportunity to play and experience.

Enjoy a sampling of his performance at Chamisa Elementary School.

Los Alamos Public Schools will open online registration for the 2025-2026 school year at 8:00 am on Monday, March 3, 2025 for students planning to attend LAPS in the fall. This includes new and returning students, kindergarten and preschool.

Go to www.laschools.net/registration for more information and to register beginning on March 3 using either a computer or smartphone.

LAPS is using PowerSchool Enrollment for registration. The district has streamlined this process for parents to minimize the time it takes for parents to complete the registration process.

The system is fully secure and environmentally conscientious, and allows the district to verify all student information prior to the start of the new school year. The registration system also allows for the electronic signing of all annual permission forms.

All students planning to attend any LAPS site must complete the registration process. Students in grades 6th-11th who completed course selection are also required to complete the returning student registration form, as this is in addition to course selection. Please make sure to select the 2025-2026 school year when registering.

Students planning to participate on a sports team at the middle school or high school must also complete the athletics registration process. Physicals must be completed after April 1.

Returning Students

A student who is currently attending any LAPS school will be considered a returning student for the 2025-2026 school year. This includes out-of-district students who attended during the 2024-2025 school year, and students currently enrolled in the PreK program.

Students currently in 6th grade moving from a LAPS elementary school to the middle school, or 8th grade students at the middle school moving to the high school for the 2025-2026 school year are also considered returning students.

The Returning student registration form will be available through the parent PowerSchool portal at https://laps.powerschool.com/public

New Students

New students including Out-of-district students and those who did not attend a LAPS school during the 2024-2025 school year must apply using the New Student Registration Form.

Kindergarten

Admission to kindergarten as required by New Mexico State Statute (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-13-3), shall be made solely on the basis of chronological age. A child who is 5 years of age prior to 12:01 am MDT on September 1 of the school year can enter kindergarten at the beginning of that school year. Students who were part of the PreK program enrolling in kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year may enroll as returning students for kindergarten enrollment.

Preschool

Preschool programs are available at all five elementary schools. A child who is 4 years of age prior to 12:01 am MDT on September 1, 2025 may enroll for preschool for the 2025-2026 school year. Students enrolling in the Preschool program should use the New Student Registration.

Questions

For questions, please contact Rosa Schmitz at r.schmitz@laschools.net or (505) 663-2201.

Make a teacher's wish come true!

From Valentine's Day through March 14, you can show a teacher a little extra love through the LAPS Foundation's Shower with Love campaign. It's easy! Go to https://showerlove25.givesmart.com, select a teacher, and donate any amount toward their wish list item. The Foundation will purchase the item once the donation amount is fulfilled. It’s a simple but effective way to show our teachers how much they are appreciated. In addition to supporting teachers, your donations directly impact students and provide them with extra learning opportunities they wouldn’t have without community support.

Let’s shower them with love again this year!

You are invited to participate in the 12th annual Multicultural Fair- Around The World in White Rock on Monday, May 5 from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm at Piñon Elementary School.

Contact Stephanie Rittner, Piñon Art Teacher, at S.Rittner@laschools.net or Andrea Lynch, Chamisa Art Teacher, at A.Lynch@laschools.net for more information.

Applications are being accepted now for the FREE 2025 Summer Physics Camp to be held June 2 - June 15 at the New Mexico School for the Arts.

The 9th annual Summer Physics Camp offers a unique opportunity for young students to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with STEM professionals including scientists and researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories.

Students will learn the principles of physics, engineering, bioengineering, chemistry, computer programming and cybersecurity, and will apply their knowledge in a range of exciting hands-on multi-day projects. They will also explore different energy sources, including solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear power, to better understand the challenges faced by our modern society.

The application is due April 1, 2025.

For more information see the Summer Physics Camp Flyer.

Saturday School is open to all Los Alamos Middle School and Los Alamos High School students as an opportunity to catch up on late work, complete missed assignments, take make-up tests and receive help with homework.Click here for more information.

The next session is Saturday, February 22. To register, email lahssaturdayschool@laschools.net with the student's name and date requested.

On Friday, February 28th, students in LAHS drivers ed and auto shop classes will have the opportunity to participate in the Arrive Alive Tour. The Arrive Alive Tour program uses a high-tech simulator to educate the public about the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. The simulator allows participants to experience the potential consequences of impaired or distracted driving in a controlled environment.

Scenes From All Schools Student Art Show

LAHS Seniors Named 2025 National Merit Finalists

Registration For 2025-2026 School Year Opens March 3

UNITE’s Arrive Alive Tour® To Visit Los Alamos High School

Scenes From Senior Night At Topper Home Game

Los Alamos High School Literary Magazine Receives Excellent Distinction In REALM Contest

Toppers Fall To The Taos Tigers 39-54

Hilltopper Swim & Dive Girls Are District Champs—Boys Hold On For Fourth

Step Up Gallery Exhibit To Feature Student Artwork Feb. 20

Los Alamos Basketball Falls To Española Sundevils 42-53

Los Alamos Public Schools is hiring for several positions around the district. Click here to learn more.

Our Benefits Package Includes medical, dental/vision, LTD and STD, life insurance, pension and competitive salary. Other benefits of working for LAPS include preferential placement for out-of-district students who are children of school employees and a "Grow Your Own" program for licensed employees adding degrees and credentials -- LAPS pays for Masters' degrees, additional certification.

The Los Alamos Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity promoted in this document. The distribution of this material is provided on an equal basis as a community service.

Check out the LAPS Community Events page for information about events and activities in the community for students and families.You can also check out the Los Alamos County 100 Days of Winter.

Los Alamos Middle School

Softball

Thursday, February 27 vs. St. Michael's Middle School @ St. Michael's High School, 4 pm

Monday, March 3 vs. Rio Rancho Middle School @ Rio Rancho High School, 3 pm

Tuesday, March 4 vs. St. Michael's Middle School @ Overlook Softball Field

Los Alamos High School

Baseball

Monday, March 3 v s. Santa Fe Indian School @ Senior Field, 3 pm and 5 pm, JV

Thursday, March 6, Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, St. Pius Tourney @ St. Pius High School, Varsity

Softball

Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1, Rio Rancho JV Tournament, JV

Monday, March 3 vs. Belen High School @ Overlook Softball Fields, JV 4 pm, Varsity 4 pm

Thursday, March 6 vs. Valencia High School @ Valencia High School, JV 4 pm, Varsity 6 pm

Saturday, March 8 vs. Albuquerque Academy @ Albuquerque Academy, Varsity 11 am

Tennis

Friday, February 28 - Saturday, March 1 @ Albuquerque Tournament

Track & Field

Saturday, March 8, Chile Quad @ Sandia Prep

eSports

Splatoon 3 and Street Fighter 6 play at 4pm on Tuesdays. Super Smash Bros Unlimited plays at

4 pm on Wednesdays. Rocket League, Madden, MarioKart 8, and Hearthstone all play at 4 pm on Thursdays.

Each day/week we show a different group on our stream, which can be viewed here: https://www.twitch.tv/secretcityesports/videos

Check out RankOne for schedules.

Hilltalkers

Friday, February 28 - Saturday, March 1, State Competition, La Cueva

NJROTC

Thursday, February 27, Annual Inspection

Olions

Thursday, February 27, Friday, February 28 and Saturday, March 1, Spring Production, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

Brain Bee

Saturday, March 1, Brain Bee Competition, UNM

National History Day

Friday, March 7

Find out more information about your school.

Aspen Elementary

Barranca Mesa Elementary

Chamisa Elementary

Mountain Elementary

Piñon Elementary

LAOLA

Los Alamos Middle School

Los Alamos High School