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LAPS Newsletter

June 2025

LAPSNewsletterJune 2025

On the Calendar

Meetings

School Board

School Board Work Session

Thursday, June 26

School Boardroom

5:30 pm


Click here for more information about the School Board meetings.


2025-2026 School Board Meeting Calendar

Calendars

2024-2025 School Calendar

2025-2026 School Calendar

Multicultural Calendar of Events


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

Around the District

Student Volunteer Appreciation

Despite the cold weather and the busyness of this season, students and adult mentors enjoyed ice-cream and conversation at a volunteer appreciation event at LAHS. Appreciation to the Los Alamos Community Foundation and the Los Alamos Schools Credit Union for sponsoring the event which was hosted and organized by the LAHS Sources of Strength peer leader group.

Student volunteers at LAHS.

Adult mentors Kristine Coblentz, LAPS Prevention Program, Judge Elizabeth Allen, Los Alamos Rotary Club, and Elizabeth Martineau, Los Alamos Community Foundation.

Morrie Pongratz and students enjoy the celebration.

Chamisa Elementary Level Up Readers

Chamisa Elementary 4th grade DARE program graduates

Chamisa Elementary orchestra performs at Spring concert

Teddy Bear Clinic

Aspen Elementary kindergarten students participated in the Los Alamos Medical Center's teddy bear clinic.

Elementary Field Day

Fifth and sixth grade students from all five elementary schools converged on Sullivan Field for the annual elementary field day. They played a lot of games, including speed stack races and tug-of-war.

PreK Day

Preschoolers celebrated their last day of school at the annual PreK Day event at Ashley Pond. There were games, face painting and bubbles, along with a visit from the fire department. Goodbye preschool, and hello kindergarten!

Greek Olympics

Urban Park was transported back in time as LAHS students in Lori Thompson's Sports Lit classes hosted the Greek Olympics for 6th graders from Mountain Elementary School.

Safety Town

Incoming kindergartners learned about bus safety, water safety, bicycle safety and more at Safety Town. At the end of the week, they participated in a graduation ceremony where they sang songs they had learned during the week, watched a slide show highlighting the week's activities and received certificates.


Thank you to Los Alamos Public Schools and Los Alamos Police Department for hosting this annual event, and to Century Bank and the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation for providing each student with a bicycle helmet which they were able to take home.

Citizenship Awards

Los Alamos Public Schools recently presented the 2025 Devi Raju Citizenship Awards to students at each elementary school and the middle school.


This year’s award recipients are:

Aspen Elementary

Kindergarten: Milo Klein, Josiah Rodriguez and Jericho Salazar

First grade: Tallie Dickman, Julia Granja-Revy and Shaphira Mitchell

Second grade: Valeria Chavez Erives, Ava Plants and Abraham Ver Burg

Third grade: Anikka Gallegos, Anthony (AJ) Johnson and Elke Klagmann

Fourth grade: Rebecca Kelley, Adlai Plants and Owen Riede

Fifth grade: Ally Mackey, Emelia Pena and Nevaeh Rodriguez

Sixth grade: Declan Jaworski, Sofia Padilla and Aven Tyson

Barranca Mesa Elementary

Kindergarten: Jacquelyn Bejarano, Natalie Rodarte and Adaline Zimmerman

First grade: Aislinn Escarcega-Ontivero, Amanda Montoya and Evie Travers

Second grade: Emery Appewrson, Cora Cardon and Yazmin Jackson

Third grade: Ellie Hemphill, Juliana Mueller and Cyera Valencia

Fourth grade: Kvetak Caruthers, Bradlyn Porto and Jaslynn Sauer

Fifth grade: Quentin Adams, Rylee Brooks and Graylan Lloyd

Sixth grade: Adan Ortiz, Emma Silva and Nora Tucker

Chamisa Elementary

Kindergarten: Harry Daughton Hemphill and Carmen Ouellette

First grade: Bella Doughty and Gurmukh Khalsa

Second grade: Benjamin Gilmour and Lora Stupka

Third grade: Tresdin Beaux and Dawon Hond

Fourth grade: Finn Gauss and Julia Rodriguez

Fifth grade: Natalia Archuleta and Alyssa Brown

Sixth grade: Elle Lambson and Sophie Stewart

Los Alamos Online Learning Academy

Fifth grade: Aaliyah Blea

Mountain Elementary

Kindergarten: Ellie Gonzalez, Ava Maestas and Pietro Mereghetti

First grade: Hudson Baker, Azaylea Borrego and Maren Hanson

Second grade: Greycin Borrego, Scout Cleveland and Shilo Ulrich

Third grade: Anastasia Chandler, Reece GArcia and Madison Gatewood

Fourth grade: Lucy Lindsay, Sean Ortiz and Althea Sayre

Fifth grade: Glyn Lo, Astraea Matteson and Emilie Peterson

Sixth grade: Connor Caldwell, Iris Hoffman-Morgan and Ethan Smidt

Piñon Elementary

Kindergarten: Evan Nichols and Macie Rice

First grade: Adley Fountain and Claire Pack

Second grade: Olivia Medina and Lillian Petring

Third grade: Heather Gauss and Claire Robinson

Fourth grade: Lauren Gartz and Emma Gonzalez Mendoza

Fifth grade: Mason Englert and Kimberly Gates

Sixth grade: Kira Frye and Connor Linnel

Los Alamos Middle School

Seventh grade: Leann Harwell, Bodie Holmes and Will Lincoln

Eighth grade: Lauren Evenhus, Cynthia Fu and Ayden Lovato

Class of 2025

Senior Scholarships

Los Alamos High School seniors were presented with 125 local scholarships during the Senior Scholarship Ceremony held during senior week at the high school. Congratulations to this year’s recipients and thank you to the organizations who provide these scholarships.


Explorer Post 20 Scholarship: Miles Iverson, Caleb Moss, and Tristan Von Reyn

Eastern Star Scholarship: Annabelle Rosette

Aspen Elementary School PTO Scholarship: Michael Bane

Barranca Mesa Elementary School PTO Scholarship: Xiaran “Jonathan” Chen

Chamisa Elementary School PTO Scholarship: Uxue Sansinena

Mountain Elementary School PTA Scholarship: Andrea Alarid and Xylin Patterson

Piñon Elementary School PTO Scholarship: Sophie Bathrick-Price and Linnhtet Htoon

Aaron S. Goldman Memorial Scholarship: Michael Bane, Eddie Gartz, Lena Ronning, Dani Trellue and Claire Whitley

Wally Walters Scholarship: Rebecca Beaux and Eddie Gartz

Coca-Cola Scholarship: Jaydon Dudley, Jack Dunwoody and JoyMei Lincoln

J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Committee Scholarships

  • The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship in memory of Satch Cowan, funded by the Delle Foundation, is awarded for excellent academic achievement and outstanding promise in science or medicine: Uxue Sansinena
  • The J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship awarded to one student for outstanding promise in science and mathematics: Linnhtet Htoon
  • J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Scholarship in Memory of Nancy Laubach Freed and J. Arthur Freed awarded to one student for outstanding academic achievements: Ian Corey
  • The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship in Memory of Nicholas C. Metropolis awarded to one student who demonstrates outstanding promise in the mathematical sciences: Zoe Bent and Jane Mocko
  • The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship in memory of Leon and Rosalie Heller awarded to one student with an exceptional academic record who has demonstrated a significant interest in classical music: Xiaran “Jonathan” Chen
  • The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship awarded to one student who shows exceptional promise for future contributions to society and plans to attend a NM school of higher education: Sean Lucero
  • The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship awards a scholarship for outstanding achievement: Radhman Azad andTirryn Kubicek-Sutherland
  • The J. Robert Oppenheimer Scholarship in memory of Richard C. Swenson awarded to one student with outstanding academic achievements and who demonstrates exceptional promise in physics or mathematical sciences: Hayden Kim

Mikey Aslam Memorial Scholarship: Xiaran “Jonathan” Chen, Jack Dunwoody and Martin Sayre

Los Alamos Light Opera Scot Johnson Memorial Scholarship: Heidi Johnson

Los Alamos Little Theatre Scholarship in memory of Warren Houghteling: Luisa Schmitz

Los Alamos Symphony Orchestra Scholarship: Claire Bullock, Xiaran “Jonathan” Chen, Miles Iverson, Anna Jacobson, and Annabelle Rosette

Los Alamos Golf Association Scholarships: Munayo Ferreira and Maddox Martines

Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos Scholarships: Zoe Bent, Xiaran “Jonathan” Chen, Hyunoo Kim, JoyMei Lincoln, Uxue Sansinena, and Sofia West

Los Alamos Garden Club Scholarship: Linnea Mason

Pat Edmonds and Sue Graves Memorial Scholarship: Annabelle Rosette

Zia Credit Union Merit Scholarship: Samuel Carmer, Hayden Kim, Ella Miranda, Malaika Philip, and David M. Vigil

Los Alamos Schools Credit Union Scholarship: Sadie Evans, Zane Kretz, and Annabelle Rosette

LAHS Alumni Scholarship: Anna Jacobson, Libby Nolen, and Estella Remillieux

Rotary Great Expectation Award for Solid B Students: Sophie Bathrick-Price, Miles Iverson, and Libby Nolen

Rotary Service Award: Michael Bane, JoyMei Lincoln, Sean Lucero, and Uxue Sansinena

Ruth J. Sherman Memorial Scholarship: JoyMei Lincoln

Masonic Scholarship: Kiowa Carlson

Music-Filled Life Scholarship: Miles Iverson and JoyMei Lincoln

Knights of Columbus Scholarship: Jade Blackhart, Nuala Colgan, JoyMei Lincoln, Linnea Mason, and Sophia Pieck

Hospital Auxiliary of LAMC Scholarship: Libby Nolen, Xylin Patterson, Sophia Pieck and Annabelle Rosette,

Phi Beta Kappa of Los Alamos Scholarship: Isabella Blair, Hayden Kim, and Uxue Sansinena,

Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation and Los Alamos Employees Fund

Scholarships

  • Gold Scholarship: Uxue Sansinena
  • Dr Charles McMillian Tribute Scholarship: Samuel Carmer
  • Howard Menlove & Jean Marshall Memorial Scholarship: Radhman Azad
  • Bryan Fearey & Maureen Connolly Endowed Scholarship fo rScience and the Arts: Caden Fichtl
  • John and Marti Browne Leadership Scholarship: Sofia West
  • Senator Pete Domenici Endowed Scholarships: Priya Gardner and Annabelle Rosette
  • Blaine Meyer Hadden Memorial Scholarship: Xiaran “Jonathan” Chen
  • Bronze Scholarship: Michael Bane,Isabella Blair, Linnhtet Htoon, Tirryn Kubicek-Sutherland, and Lena Ronning
  • Dell Technologies/ Wildflower Scholarship: Hayden Kim

Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation Student Board Member Scholarship: Uxue Sansinena

Friends of Los Alamos County Libraries Scholarship: Sophie Bathrick-Price, Samuel Carmer, Linnea Mason, and Claire Whitley

June Ettinger Memorial Scholarship: Nuala Colgan

Irene Boone Memorial Scholarship: Alayna “Andie” Kelly and Annabelle Rosette

Kristin Kosiewicz Memorial Scholarship: Sophie Bathrick-Price, Samuel Carmer, JoyMei Lincoln, and Malaika Philip

Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation Community Service Scholarships: Michael Bane, Isabella Blair, Xiaran “Jonathan” Chen and Hayden Kim

Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation Vocational/Technical Scholarships: Elijah Duran

Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation Future Teacher Scholarship: Harmony Gutierrez

Sophia Feldman Memorial Scholarship: Zoe Bent, Isabella Blair, Hayden Kim, and Sofia West

Raymon “Ray” Maldonado Memorial Scholarship: Jack Dunwoody, Mikayla Padilla, and Sophia Pieck

Ross and Lola Ramsey Memorial Scholarship: Alayna “Andie” Kelly

Military Signing

Four LAHS seniors were recognized during a signing ceremony for military service. They are (left to right) William Hamilton, Marines; Quentin Nichols, Marines; Trinity Lucero, Army National Guard; and Jenae Velarde, Army.

Senior Picnic

Seniors enjoyed a picnic at Urban Park followed by the traditional powder paint war.

Senior Walks

Seniors visited the elementary schools and the middle school for the traditional senior walks after receiving their caps and gowns the day before.

Graduation

Congratulations to the LAHS Class of 2025!

Registration

Only 310 to go! LAPS is getting closer to 100% re-enrollments for the 2025-2026 school year. Currently, 3085 out of 3395 eligible returning students (90.9%) have completed registration for the 2025-2026 school year. The Returning student registration form is available through the parent PowerSchool portal at https://laps.powerschool.com/public/home.html.


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

Transportation

LAPS provides bus service for all Los Alamos County elementary students who live at least 1 mile from the school; for middle school students who live 1.5 miles from the school; and for high school students who live 2 miles from the school.


Los Alamos County residents should click on the button below to access the 2025-2026 Student Bus Card. Please complete a Student Bus Card for each student that may ride the bus.


The district does not provide transportation for students who live outside of Los Alamos County. All parents or guardians who would like to request that their student(s) be placed on a waiting list should complete the 2025-2026 Student Bus Card. It will take up to two weeks for permission to be granted for an non-Los Alamos County student(s).


Please note: When you have submitted the bus card(s) you will not receive a confirmation email.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please email Keith Rosenbaum at k.rosenbaum@laschools.net.

For Students

Youth Cadet Program

The inaugural launch of the Los Alamos Police Department’s (LAPD) Youth Cadet Program is coming in August 2025! This program is for high school freshmen through senior grade levels. It will be held 5-8 p.m. once a month, August through April.


Participating young adults will learn about de-escalation, laws and application, public safety interactions, public speaking, public safety history, and career opportunities.


There is also an optional air gun and bow program for interested cadets.

The Youth Cadet Program centers on giving real-world career experiences and leadership growth opportunities to young adults interested in the vocation of public safety. To achieve this, the program will deliver engaging academic curricula, character-based leadership philosophies, and career-focused programs that align to state and national standards, guiding students to their full potential.


Highlights of what will be taught in the program:

  • Virtual Reality Training;
  • Criminal and Traffic Investigations;
  • Mock Trials;
  • Public Safety Models in the United States;
  • Professional Development;
  • Value of Community Outreach and Engagement; and
  • Building Social and Professional Relationships.


This program is limited to 20 participants for the 2025-2026 school year.


Please visit LACNM.COM/CADET to obtain an application and survey. Please submit these documents to Sgt. Benjamin Irving at police-youthcadets@lacnm.us.

LAPS in the News

Work at LAPS

Los Alamos Public Schools is hiring for several positions around the district, including teachers, educational assistants, coaches and bus drivers.


There are also job postings in our Business Services, Transportation, Facilities and Technology departments. And we are hiring Student Interns.


Click here to learn more.

Bus Drivers Needed

The LAPS Transportation Department is hiring bus drivers and substitute bus drivers. Training is available.


LAPS employees are eligible for PTO, medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, YMCA membership and a retirement plan. In addition, there are opportunities for continuing education and advancement. Substitutes are not eligible for benefits.


For more information regarding positions in Transportation, call (505) 663-2222 or click here for more information and to apply.

Around Town

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School Websites

Connie Goettee, Editor
c.goettee@laschools.net