Bobcat Bulletin

Hello Barranca Families!

A warm welcome to everyone! We are getting closer and closer to the beginning of the 24-25 school year, and all of the exciting changes it will bring. Below is the information you will need to get the year kicked off on solid ground. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to myself, Audrey Juliani, or our wonderful office staff. We are all here to support you and your child every step of the way.

We are excited for the new school year ahead!

Kristen Martines, Principal & Audrey Juliani, Assistant Principal

k.martines@laschools.net

au.juliani@laschools.net

School starts on Wednesday, August 7th for all students, preschool-6th grade. This week are all full school days from 8:10-2:40. Students should come to school with all of their supplies in a labelled backpack, a morning snack, a water bottle, and lunch (unless they are getting a hot lunch). Students should not arrive on campus until 7:55, thank you!

Monday, August 5th

• No School for students
• "Meet the Principal" on the back bus loop patio at 6:00-7:00

Tuesday, August 6th

• Class Lists Posted and Meet the Teacher Begins at 2:30-3:30
• **Correction New Family Orientation is at 3:00 pm in the cafeteria

Wednesday, August 7th

• ALL STUDENTS START TODAY! PK 3Y - 6th Grade
• Breakfast will be served starting at 7:55 in the gym
  
• No Scoops Before School program

Thursday, August 8th

• Breakfast will be served starting at 7:55 in the gym
• No Scoops Before School program

Friday, August 9th

• Breakfast will be served starting at 7:55 in the gym
• No 3Y preschool today
• No Scoops Before School program

We welcome 6 new staff members to our Bobcat Team this school year!

• Suzanna Silva - 4Y Preschool
• Sarah Yingst - 2nd Grade
• Alene Bennett - 3rd Grade
• Christine Bernstein - 5th Grade
• Shane Hunt - 5th Grade
• Angela Feathers - Math Lab

Our Barranca Family Handbook has been updated and should answer many of the questions you may have regarding our various policies and procedures. Please read through it as a family to ensure your understanding.

Barranca Mesa Family Handbook

Barranca Mesa Preschool Family Handbook

Barranca Mesa Hours

Student Hours: 8:10-2:40 weekdays

NM 4Y Pre-Kindergarten: 8:10 - 2:40 weekdays

NM 3Y Program: AM Session 8:00-11:00 & PM Session 11:50-2:50 (Monday -Thursday, No School on Fridays)

Office Hours: 7:45-3:45

Phone: (505) 663-2730

24 hour Barranca Absence Line: 663-2731

Absence Email: barrabsence@laschools.net

Please Note:

*There are no more half days of school during the week. All school days are full days, 8:10-2:40, including the first week of school.

*Students should not arrive on campus until 7:55, unless they are not signed up and participating in the before school Scoops program.

We will have our Meet the Teacher/Supply Drop-Off time on Tuesday, August 6th!

Class lists will be posted on the front doors at 2:30 pm. The doors will open at 2:30 for students/families to meet their teachers and drop off their supplies. This is meant to be a casual opportunity to introduce your child to their teacher and for them to see their room. We will have an open house at a later date for families to learn more about the curriculum and classroom procedures.

Meet the Teacher will end promptly at 3:30 to give teachers and staff enough time to prepare for the first day of school!

School supply lists can be found by grade level on the Barranca website. The link is below.

24-25 School Supply List

School begins promptly at 8:10am. While district policy allows for children to be on campus 15 minutes prior to the start of the school day (7:55am), we know that the start time may create logistical issues for some families.

Barranca offers Scoops a before school activity program for students from 7:30AM - 7:55AM. This is a free service. If your student needs to participate in the Scoops Program, please download the permission slip and turn it at the Barranca office.

At 7:55, the first bell will ring. At this time, Scoops students can choose to go to the cafeteria for breakfast, or go outside for recess. If students arrive between 7:55 and 8:10, they will also have those two options.

LAPS will continue to offer a free breakfast and lunch to all of our students. This year LAPS will be utilizing the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) model pertaining to USDA and NSLP requirements. This model will provide students with more of a choice for both breakfast and lunch service, however, it may slow down the service. We will be watching carefully and adjusting schedules as need to ensure that students getting a hot lunch have enough time to get through the line and eat.

If a student has a dietary need (this includes vegan requests), this must be communicated to the school site nurse. The school site will inform our food service partner so they can prepare the requested meal for the student. You can view menus online at https://laschools.nutrislice.com/menu.

Even though all students can participate in the breakfast and lunch program we encourage all

families to complete the free and reduced meal program application. These applications are

used for other important funding opportunities which support the district and our students.

Also, students become eligible for reduced fees at school sites based on these applications.

Please use the online option at www.schoolcafe.com.

If you are unable to complete the online option please download a copy of the Free and

Reduced Meal Program Application. Instructions for this application can be found

at USDA Application Instructions.

Email the completed form to the Assistant Superintendent for Operations and Safety at m.johnson@laschools.net.

Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures:

For safety purposes, all vehicles will exit the parking lot and bus loop turning right only during drop off and pick up. Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our families safe!

Pre K:

Parents, please pull all the way up the parking lot to the curb in front of the pool, past the tan dumpster, continuing around the bend of the parking lot. Here you will be able to exit your car and help your Pre K out of the vehicle without blocking the flow of traffic. Pre K staff will be stationed on the sidewalk to assist and gather their students.

Kindergarten:

Parents, please pull all the way up to the end of the building to drop off your kindergartener, while staying in your vehicle. Please have your student exit your vehicle on the passenger side. Kinder students will walk around the end of the building to access the kinder playground. If your student needs assistance getting out of the car, we ask that you park your car in a parking spot and walk your student to the side walk.

1st - 3rd Grade:

Parents, your student will be dropped off in front of the school along the curb of the parking lot. Please ensure that your students are prepared to exit the vehicle and exit on the passenger side only! Please pull up as far as you can to the vehicle in front of you to drop your students off. Staff will be outside on the sidewalk to assist the students. If your student needs assistance getting out of the vehicle, please park in a parking spot and walk your student to the side walk.

4th - 6th Grade:

Parents, your student will be dropped off in the bus loop in front of the 2 story building. Please pull up all the way to the exit of the loop and to drop your child off. Please ensure your student exits your vehicle on the passenger side only!

Pick Up Pre K - 6th Grade:

Location will be the same as drop off. We ask that if your students need assistance getting into your vehicle that you park in a parking spot and do not leave your vehicle parked or unattended along the curb. For safety reasons, students will not be permitted to get into a vehicle that is stopped along the street or in the fire lane of the parking lot.

Each student that meets the requirements to ride the school bus must complete a 2024-2025 Student Bus Card. 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. Check out LAPS Transportation website for more information and to review bus routes. Bus Routes will be posted here: LAPS BUS ROUTES

If you have any specific transportation questions, please reach out to our Director of Transportation, Keith Rosenbaum: k.rosenbaum@laschools.net

Parents of 3Y preschool students should contact the Student Services Department at (505) 663-2208 regarding transportation. Please complete the Special Ed Bus Card if your student's IEP team has determined that your student is eligible for transportation as a related service.

Express Routes Schedules & Routes

• Route 10 - Barranca Mesa will depart at 2:45 pm onto the downtown area. Students will board the bus at Barranca's old bus loop in front of the 2 story building.
• Express Routes Map attached below.

You can visit our website for more information too. https://www.losalamosnm.us/Services/Atomic-City-Transit

If your 4th, 5th, or 6th grader will be participating in band or orchestra, please click here to read back to school information from our directors.

Hello Everyone!

We would love new parents and families to join the Barranca Mesa PTO this school year. We have many fun events planned already! If you would like to join the PTO please contact, Megan Parton and the BMES board at barrancamesapto@gmail.com. Please see the PTO events we have planned below. Popcorn Fridays start this Friday, August 9th. Wahoo! GO BOBCATS!

Parent Teacher Organization for BMES 24-25 Executive Board:
President: Megan Parton
Vice President: Megan Byrd
Treasurer: Adrienne Hidalgo
Asst. Treasurer Caroline Blackburn
Secretary: Jamie Cardon
Parent Reps: Betsy Hemphill & Jeanette Moss

BMES PTO Website

The BMES Spirit Wear Store has officially opened early! Scan the QR Code and check out our items for sale! Show your school spirit! Buying school spirit wear not only lets your family show school pride, but it also supports PTO—which supports our teachers and improves our school facilities.

https://barrancamesa.itemorder.com/shop/home/

Email: k.martines@laschools.net
Website: https://laschools.net/barranca/
Location: 57 Loma Del Escolar, Los Alamos, NM, USA
Phone: (505) 663-2730