Chamisa Elementary School art teacher Andrea Lynch has been named the Elementary Art Educator of the Year by the New Mexico Art Education Association (NMAEA).

The 2025 NMAEA Professional Awards are given to educators for their dedication and service to art education in the state of New Mexico. The Awards honor those whose exemplary classroom practices and / or community contributions in the field of Visual or Media Arts are deserving of recognition.

Ms. Lynch has been employed with Los Alamos Public Schools for 19 years, and has been teaching art at Chamisa Elementary for the four years.She has been instrumental in creating the annual Glow Tunnel at the school and has been a coordinator of the White Rock Multicultural Art Fair for the past several years.

Principal Craig Washnok noted in his letter recommending Ms. Lynch for this award that “she is innovative and can move from teaching her PreK students to a 6th grade classroom seamlessly,” and that she “tirelessly works to find challenging and engaging subjects to teach her students. Andrea’s lessons are diverse; from 3D drawings, glass sculpting, and skateboard designs, students are exposed to so many different forms of art.”

He added, “Andrea Lynch’s dedication to her job is second to none. Her energy and positive attitude towards teaching art, allow students to love her class.”

This year’s recipients will receive their award during the annual New Mexico Art Education Association’s professional development conference on Saturday, November 9, 2024. The Awards Recognition Ceremony will take place from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm in the Jemez Ballroom at the Santa Fe Community College.

Chamisa will be celebrating Halloween on Thursday, October 31. Students may wear costumes. Please be mindful that costumes are not gory, or violent, or include weapons. Please ensure that students can still see clearly if their costume includes a mask. Masks can only be worn during the parade. We will allow accessories to brought to school, but they will be put away until the parade. Finally, any student wearing a blow up costume should only blow it up during the parade. We have many of those costumes fail/fall apart during the school day.

The annual Chamisa Halloween parade will begin at 1:30 pm and include all grades. Class parties will be held after the parade. For more information on class celebrations, please contact your student's teacher.

Come to Chamisa on Thursday, October 31, from 5:00-8:00 to experience the Glow Wall and get some goodies.

We are accepting donations of candy and snacks (wrapped and unopened) for trick-or-treaters. Join us between 5:00-8:00 for some Halloween fun!

Los Alamos Hilltoppers Football Team came to play and encourage our students this morning before school.

Thank you, Hilltoppers; the students loved it. Good luck tonight!

Here is the presentation that Mr. Washnok did for the School Board Thursday Night. It encapsulates the goals of Chamisa for the 24-25 school year.

Happy Friday!

We need and value your feedback. Below is a link to the Panorama School Climate survey that all school districts in New Mexico are asked to use this year. We will survey parents and caregivers, staff, and students. These surveys give us important data to help guide our practice and improve our programs for students and families. We will use the data when developing school programs and school budgets.

It is important that we have feedback from all of you. We appreciate feedback on the things that are working well so that we know what programs to continue as well as opportunities for improvement. Your feedback is critical.

You may complete a survey for each school your children attend. If you want to complete a survey for each child within one school you may but do not have to. You can do one for each school. The survey will take you about 5 minutes. You can change the language for your survey in the top left hand corner. Your survey is anonymous. The school will not be able to connect the answers to you.

https://surveys.panoramaed.com/losalamosps/family24/surveys

Thank you for taking the time! Have a wonderful weekend! We have a Topper football game and lot's of other events and activities. Enjoy and be safe!

Jennifer Guy

Superintendent

Los Alamos Public Schools

Fall is in the air! This means that we may start seeing some winter weather soon.

During inclement weather, I will work closely with our school district team, LANL, and Los Alamos County to monitor the weather and the need for any school delays or closures. We will keep you updated and communicate any closures as quickly as possible typically by 5:30 in the morning.

There are several places that we will update with any announcements about delays or closures including:

• District website: www.laschools.net
• Emails to all parents, staff, and students
• Local media and social media
• School telephone information lines:
  • Chamisa Elementary 663-2472, LAOLA 663-2403
  • Middle School 663-2375
  • Topper Freshman Academy 663-2512
  • High School 663-2512
  • District Office 663-2223

In the case of Inclement Weather:

• Announcements, usually by 5:30 am, will be sent via the media, district web page, LAPS School Messenger, and information lines.
• In general, if the Lab is on a delay, school opening will be delayed; if the Lab is closed due to weather, our schools will be closed.
• When school is dismissed early or cancelled for the day, all after school programs including athletics (both home and away contests) and activities are cancelled.

If we have a Two-Hour Delayed Start:

Buses will arrive at bus stops two hours later than the usual pickup time.

School start times:

• Elementary schools - 10:10 am (including PreK 4Y)
• Mid School - 10:45 am
• High School - 10:30 am

If there is a 2 hour delay:

• Morning 3Y Pre-School will be cancelled, afternoon 3Y will be on a regular schedule.

We will always send you more information regarding inclement weather as soon as possible during weather events.

Enjoy the cooler temperatures this weekend!

Chamisa students had the opportunity to contribute to polio awareness. Their donation got them a purple pinkie!

There will be no school on Tuesday, November 5 for Election Day. Please get out and vote!

Thurs, Oct 31: Chamisa Halloween Parade, 1:30pm

Thurs, Oct 31: Chamisa Glow Tunnel Trick-or-Treat, 5:00-8:00 - All are welcome!

Sat, Nov 2: Daylight Savings Time Ends, Fall Back

Mon, Nov 4, Sixth Gr Fundraiser at SALA . Showing of INSIDE OUT at 6 pm

Tues, Nov 5: Election Day, No School

Thurs, Nov 7: Creede Repertory Theater

Fri, Nov 8: PTO Veterans Pancake Breakfast

Fri, Nov 8: MT Veterans Day Musical Program, 8:30

Mon, Nov 11: Veterans Day - No School

Wed, Nov 20: PTO Meeting, Principal Time, 7:00pm in Library

Wed, Nov 27- Sun, Dec 1: Thanksgiving Break

Wed, Dec. 4: Chamisa Spelling Bee, 3:00pm PT pod