LAPS Newsletter

Monday, February 3

Future Topper Day (no school for middle school and high school students)

Current 8th graders visit Los Alamos High School

Current 6th graders visit Los Alamos Middle School

Current 6th grade students and their parents/guardians

Los Alamos Middle School

5:30 pm - 7 pm

Monday, February 17 (no school for staff and students)

The next School Board meeting is Tuesday, February 11. Click here for more information about the School Board meetings.

Tuesday, February 18

Thursday, February 20

In response to several snow days, late starts, and an early release that have resulted in the need to make up some of this time at the secondary level., LAPS has revised the 2024-2025 school calendar. Click here to access the revised 2024-2025 school calendar.

Several options were considered while keeping in mind the goal was to create minimal disruption for families. The only change at this time is to the middle and high school calendars. Elementary school days will remain the same.

March 13-14 were originally scheduled as parent conferences for all schools with no school for any students in elementary, middle, or high schools. Now, March 13-14 will be regular school days for middle and high school students. These two days will remain parent conference days at the elementary schools with no school for elementary students.

LAPS is aware that some families have already made plans on these days. If your secondary student will not be at school, please notify your school attendance line and the absences will be excused.

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.

Los Alamos High School senior Uxue Sansinena has been selected as one of only two outstanding young leaders to represent New Mexico as a delegate to the United States Senate Youth Program (USSYP) this spring. She will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.

The USSYP was founded by Senate Resolution in 1962. Each year two of the highest-achieving high-school student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education system overseas, are selected to serve as delegates to the program, through an extremely competitive merit-based selection process held at the state departments of education nationwide.

The 63rd Annual United States Senate Youth Program Washington Week will be held March 1–8, 2025 in Washington, DC. Delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials of the Departments of State and Defense, leaders of other federal agencies and senior members of the national media. Delegates also traditionally participate in a meeting with a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and the president of the United States.

Read more here.

Sixty-nine students participated in the Los Alamos County Science Fair over the weekend. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success, including the Science Fair committee, County Science Fair directors, over 100 judges and numerous sponsors.

Students who qualified will next compete at the Regional Science Fair at Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM on March 22.

Barranca Mesa 5th and 6th graders performed the musical "Dig It".

Students in Los Alamos High School teacher Lori Thompson's 9th grade English class are currently reading "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer. She invited staff from the Bradbury Science Museum/s Science on Wheels program to teach students how to make windmills, combining reading and science.

Barranca Mesa Elementary School teachers Aedin Loychik and Laura Haynes reported during last week's School Board Work Session that Reading and Math Proficiency scores have seen considerable improvements. Reading scores for Kindergarten - 2nd grade students have increased 11% over the beginning of the year testing, and scores for 3rd - 6th grade students have increased 7%.

In Math, K - 2 scores increased by 19%, and 24% for students in grades 3rd through 6th.

The Great Kindness Challenge is a proactive, positive program that fosters kindness in schools and communities worldwide. Using a kindness checklist, schools, families and businesses are challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as possible. The School Edition takes place annually during the last week of January, while the Family Edition is available year-round. Participation is free and open to all at www.greatkindnesschallenge.org.

"Kindness is a powerful force that moves us toward greater empathy and unity," said Jill McManigal, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Kids for Peace. "Kindness is not just a nicety; it's a necessity for creating lasting change in our schools, our communities, and our world. We are deeply thankful to educators who champion and teach this essential skill and create environments where students can truly thrive."

Course selection at Los Alamos High School is now open for all current 9th - 11th graders. Course selection for current 8th graders who will be attending LAHS in 2025-2026 will open on Monday, February 3.

Course selection for all current 8th - 11th graders will close on Monday, February 10.

Elective selection for current 6th and 7th graders will open by the end of Hawk Sampler on Monday, February 3 and will close at 7 pm on Monday, February 10.

Parents and students are encouraged to email their grade level school counselor if they have any questions about a class before completing the course selection process.

• Incoming 7th grade Counselor e.gartz@laschools.net

• Incoming 8th grade Counselor c.michel@laschools.net

LAPS welcomes and encourages all parents and citizens of the community to volunteer their time in our schools. Parents who volunteer regularly, or who will be supervising or instructing students must:

• Complete a Volunteer Background Check and Screening administered through the Human Resources office.

• Report to the office to show their red Volunteer ID Card and sign-in at the office

• Not bring guests, non-school age siblings, or pets with them when volunteering in classrooms

Visitors include any adults assisting with instruction, grading papers, working in small groups, chaperoning on field trips

LAPS Policy/Regulation 1210/1210R

Visitors/parents are welcome on campus with prior notice to the teacher. The following guidelines have been established for the safety of all students. For safety of students and staff, all school visitors must report to the school’s main office upon arrival before proceeding to any part of the school or school grounds.

Visitors must:

• show a legal ID card, sign-in at the office, and sign the Parent Volunteer Confidentiality Form

• be issued an appropriate identification badge from the Piñon main office Raptor System

• report to the office if dropping off lunches, backpacks, or other items for the student or class - we do not send parents directly to classrooms

• not bring guests, non-school age siblings, or pets with them when visiting in classrooms

Visitors include guest speakers, parent observers, helpers during class parties or events, or general helpers during PTO events (unless supervising small groups or individual students).

LAPS Policy/Regulation 1240/1240R

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.

All Saturday School sessions for the 2024-2025 school year will be in person in E-wing at LAHS.

Sessions run from 8:30 am - 11:30 am for 7th and 8th graders, and 8:30 am - 12:00 pm for high school students.

To register, email lahssaturdayschool@laschools.net with the student's name and date requested.

Click here for more information.

Upcoming Saturday School Dates

February 1 and 22

March 8 and 29

April 12 and 26

May 10 and 17

There are no Saturday School sessions in January.

Attention Los Alamos High School seniors: Log in to MaiaLearning account to view the 2025 Local Scholarship packet featuring a number of scholarships funded by local organizations.

Ignite your passion for STEM at our upcoming STEM Pathway for Girls Monthly Workshops 9:30–11:30 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 at Santa Fe Community College. Join us for fun hands-on workshops, and incredible insights from women leading the way in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Read more here.

"Did you wash your hands?" How many times did you hear that today? Probably a lot. But why are adults so hung up on hand washing? Why are they so in love with lather?

Why Is Hand Washing So Important?

Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Think about all of the things that you touched today — from the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose in a tissue and then went outside to dig around the dirt.

Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs. It's easy for a germ on your hand to end up in your mouth. Think about how many foods you eat with your hands.

You can't wear rubber gloves all day long, but you can wash your hands so those germs don't get a chance to make you or someone else sick.

When Should I Wash My Hands?

So when are the best times to wash your hands?

• when your hands are dirty
• before eating or touching food (like if you're helping cook or bake, for example)
• after using the bathroom
• after blowing your nose or coughing
• after touching pets or other animals
• after playing outside
• before and after visiting a sick relative or friend

What's the Best Way to Wash My Hands?

Now you have the when and the why of hand washing. But did you know that a lot of people don't know how to get their paws perfectly clean?

The next time you're told to step up to the sink and scrub up, remember these handy hints:

1. Use warm or cold (not hot) water when you wash your hands.
2. Use whatever soap you like. Some soaps come in cool shapes and colors or smell nice, but whatever kind gets you scrubbing is the kind you should use. Antibacterial soaps are OK to use, but regular soap works fine.
3. Work up some lather on both sides of your hands (front and back!), your wrists, and between your fingers. Don't forget to wash around your nails. This is one place germs like to hide. Wash for about 10 to 15 seconds — about how long it takes to sing "Happy Birthday." (Sing it quickly two times or just once if you go nice and slow.)
4. Rinse and dry well with a clean towel.

Courtesy of KidsHealth

Nominations Open For 2025 NMSBA Excellence In Student Achievement Award Through Feb. 21

Topper Girls Basketball Team Lose Home Conference Game To Moriarty Pintos 42-28

LAPS Schools Designated Spotlight Schools By NM Vistas

We would like to invite you to come see Topper Revue 2025! The show has an Open Dress Rehearsal on January 30th at 7pm, Opening Night Jan 31st, and two shows on February 1st, at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are Free for Staff, $5 for students/children, and $10 for adults.

This is the school talent show that has been running since 1953. For the last five years, Ms Grace and Ms Lovejoy have been working together with amazingly talented students to put on the show. Proceeds go to help pay for Prom. We hope to see you there!

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

Boys Basketball

Friday, January 31 - Saturday, February 1, Taos Middle School Tournament @ Taos Middle School

Monday, February 3 vs. Memorial Middle School @ Memorial Middle School, 7th grade 4 pm, 8th grade 5:30 pm

Wednesday, February 5 vs. Pecos Middle School @ Los Alamos Middle School Brousseau Gym,

7th grade 4 pm, 8th grade 5:30 pm

Los Alamos High School

Boys Basketball

Thursday, January 30 vs. Espanola Valley High School @ Griffith Gym, 9th grade 4 pm, JV 5:30 pm, Varsity 7 pm

Saturday, February 1 vs. Taos High School @ Taos High School, 9th grade 12 pm, JV 1:30 pm,

Varsity 3 pm

Tuesday, February 4 vs. Pojoaque Valley High School @ Griffith Gym, 9th grade 4 pm, JV 5:30 pm, Varsity 7 pm

Friday, February 7 vs. Moriarty High School @ Griffith Gym, 9th grade 4 pm, JV 5:30 pm,

Varsity 7 pm

Girls Basketball

Tuesday, January 28 vs. Espanola Valley High School @ Espanola Valley High School,

9th grade 4 pm, JV 5:30 pm, Varsity 7 pm

Friday, January 31 vs. Taos High School @ Griffith Gym, JV 4 pm, Varsity 5:30 pm

Thursday, February 6 vs. Pojoaque Valley High School @ Pojoaque Valley High School,

9th grade 4 pm, JV 5:30 pm, Varsity 7 pm

Saturday, February 8 vs. Moriarty High School @ Moriarty High School, 9th grade 12 pm, JV 1:30 pm, Varsity 3 pm

Boys Wrestling

Saturday, February 8, District Duals

Girls Wrestling

Friday, February 7 - Saturday, February 8, Regionals

Swimming and Diving

Friday, February 7, District Meet

Cheer

Saturday, February 8, Cheer Competition @ Capital High School

Saturday, February 15, Cheer Competition @ Santa Fe High School

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.

Hawktalkers and Hilltalkers

Friday, January 31 - Saturday, February 1, V.Sue Cleveland Speech & Debate Invitational

NJROTC

Friday, February 7 - Sunday, February 9, Regional Competition

Thursday, February 27, Annual Inspection

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