LAPS Newsletter

Monday, November 2 - Friday, November 6: National School Psychology Week

Tuesday, November 3: Election Day (no school for staff and students)

Tuesday, November 10: School Board Meeting in the School Board Room

Wednesday, November 11: Veterans Day (no school for staff and students)

Friday, November 13: World Kindness Day

Monday, November 16 - Friday, November 20: American Education Week

Friday, November 20: National Substitute Teacher Appreciation Day

Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Break (no school for staff and students)

Exciting news! Through a statewide partnership with the New Mexico Public Education Department, your child will receive four rounds of personalized Just Right Reader books to keep, starting Friday, November 20! These books were funded by NMPED to support SB 37, the governor's High Quality Literacy Act.

Each pack matches your child's reading skills. Just 10 minutes of reading together each day can help build skills and confidence!

Check out the FREE Family Literacy Kickoff Workshop for families with students in grades K-3,

Wednesday, November 4 | 10–11 AM or 6–7 PM MT

Learn simple, fun ways to use your child's new books and support reading at home.

Ten lucky attendees at EACH session will win a $50 Amazon gift card.

REGISTER FOR THE FREE FAMILY LITERACY WORKSHOP

FAMILY INFO FLYER

Check out the Barranca Mesa Elementary Student Council Weekly News broadcast.

Students donned costumes for parades at school sites and costume contests at the middle school and high school.

Chamisa and Piñon Elementary schools hosted the Glow-A-Lition and SEL Night: Scare to Care at Chamisa Elementary last week. The evening included fun activities for kids, snow cones, and the famous Glow Wall in the Coalition.

The Los Alamos Fire Department visited with students at Chamisa Elementary last week to wrap up Fire Prevention Month.

Each year, the Leopold Writing Program invites New Mexican students in grades 6–12 to write an essay responding to an environmental-themed writing prompt. The essays are assessed by a panel of judges, and the winning essayists receive monetary awards of up to $500 at a celebration on Earth Day.

The contest is being offered in both English and Spanish. See the 2027 Leopold Writing Contest for more information.

They are also seeking Spanish-speaking volunteers who are invested in environmental writing to join our Spanish-language Writing Contest judging panel and promotion team. Please email Nina at nina@leopoldwritingprogram.org if you are interested in volunteering.

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of New Mexico announces the 2026–27 UNM-PNM Statewide High School Mathematics Contest. The contest is designed at high-school level, and New Mexico students from grades 5–12 have been participating. Students should participate in the first round of the contest over a continuous three-hour period between Nov. 6 and Nov. 9. A range of times and test centers are available, and students may also arrange for one of their teachers to serve as a proctor.

Further information and both the school/club and participant registration forms are available at the UNM-PNM Statewide High School Mathematics Contest website.

PreK 4 and Elementary School hours are 8:10 am - 2:40 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:10 am - 1:40 pm on Friday. 3Y PreK morning session runs from 8:00 am - 11 am, and the afternoon session runs from 11:40 am - 2:40 pm, Monday through Thursday. There is no 3Y Preschool on Friday.

Tuesday, November 3: Election Day (no school for staff and students)

Wednesday, November 4: Barranca Mesa Elementary PTO Meeting

Friday, November 6: Chamisa Elementary Cheetah Champions

Tuesday, November 10: School Board Meeting in the School Board Room

Tuesday, November 10: Barranca Mesa Elementary Veteran's Day Breakfast

Tuesday, November 10: Chamisa Elementary Veteran's Day Pancake Breakfast and Concert

Tuesday, November 10: Mountain Elementary 3rd & 4th Grade Veteran's Day Concert

Tuesday, November 10 Mountain Elementary PreK Family Literacy Night @ Mesa Public Library

Tuesday, November 10: Piñon Elementary PreK Fall in Love with Reading Parent Night

Tuesday, November 10: School Board Meeting in the School Board Room

Wednesday, November 11: Veteran's Day (no school for staff and students)

Thursday, November 12: Aspen Elementary 5th Grade Music Performance

Thursday November 12: Mountain Elementary PreK Literacy Night

Friday, November 13: Piñon Elementary PTO Meeting

Saturday, November 14: Turkey Trot Piñon Elementary Fun Run

Monday, November 16: Aspen Elementary Picture Retakes

Tuesday, November 17: Chamisa Elementary Picture Retakes

Tuesday, November 17: Aspen Elementary PreK Math Night

Wednesday, November 18: Piñon Elementary Picture Retakes

Thursday, November 19: Piñon Elementary 3rd/4th Grade Concert: Campfire Trails & American Tales

Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Break (no school for staff and students)

October 30 - November 6: Mountain Elementary

November 16 - November 20: Aspen Elementary

Middle School hours are 8:40 am - 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:40 am - 2:30 pm on Friday.

Tuesday, November 3: Election Day (no school for staff and students)

Friday, November 6: Hawktalkers @ NMAA Tournament

Tuesday, November 10: School Board Meeting in the School Board Room

Wednesday, November 11: Veteran's Day (no school for staff and students)

Thursday, November 12: Hawk Hangout @ Bradbury Science Museum

Wednesday, November 18: Band Showcase (LAMS Symphonic Band)

Monday, November 23: PTO Meeting

Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Break (no school for staff and students)

High School hours are 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 am - 2:30 pm on Friday.

Tuesday, November 3: Election Day (no school for staff and students)

Wednesday, November 4: TAC (Topper Advisory Council) Meeting

Friday, November 6 - Saturday, November 7: Hilltalkers @ V. Sue Cleveland High School

Saturday, November 7: SAT (for students who have registered)

Saturday, November 7: NJROTC @ Duke City Meet, Albuquerque

Tuesday, November 10: School Board Meeting in the School Board Room

Wednesday, November 11: Veteran's Day (no school for staff and students)

Thursday, November 12 - Saturday, November 14: NMAA One Acts

Friday, November 13: Honor Band

Saturday, November 14: NJROTC @ Area 20 Meet, Albuquerque

Tuesday, November 17: Jazz Concert

Wednesday, November 18: Band Concert

Monday, November 23: LACA Music Workshop

Wednesday, November 25 - Friday, November 27: Thanksgiving Break (no school for staff and students)

This Thursday, November 5 is the last day for students to either register for an AP exam or make a change to an exam registration without incurring any late fee.

Students who are enrolled in an AP course and do not register for the AP exam or take the AP exam in May will not receive a weighted grade for the AP course for either semester.

Students who do not want to take the AP exam associated with their AP course will need to complete the AP Exam Exemption Form.

If you still need the AP Join Code to register for an exam, please speak with your AP teacher.

Students who have registered are also reminded to turn in their completed AP contract to Jacqueline Nolen ASAP.

Attention Seniors: Do you have a great sense of Humor? Come try out as an Emcee for Topper Revue! This is the school talent show, and the proceeds go to pay for Prom. Emcee Auditions are on Thursday, November 12, during PowerHour and after school in the Black Box Theater. All talents are accepted. Please bring a 1-minute monologue and come try out!

Can you sing? Dance? Play an instrument? or have another amazing talent? Please come try out for Topper Revue 2027! Topper Revue is the school talent show, and the proceeds go to pay for Prom. All talents are accepted; please come try out.

Act Auditions are on Thursday, December 3, during PowerHour and after school in the Black Box Theater. The auditions continue on Friday, December 4, from 2:30-4:00 PM in the band room.

Hope to see you there!

The ASVAB will be given during the entire PowerHour on Monday, November 30. Any 10th, 11th, or 12th grade student may sign up and take this optional test. Even if they are not joining the Military, this test has career assessment aspects that can be helpful for all students.

Go to https://forms.gle/gdYs4zWGk7LLnTzRA to sign up, or email J.nolen@laschools.net

The next Teen Movie Night will be Saturday, November 14th. The movie will be the new release of Godzilla Minus Zero.The movie trailer and additional details are available at www.losalamosjjab.com.

The SALA lobby is open 7:30 - 11:00 pm for high school teens to hangout. The free movie starts at 8:30 pm. First 25 teens get a free small popcorn and drink.

Families and guardians can access their students’ reports online.

• View MSSA, iMSSA, and ASR test results (BOY iMSSA results will be posted to the Family Portal on October 9th)
• View results across multiple years to track changes in performance over time
• Identify bright spots and areas for improvement to guide conversations with teachers
• Mobile-device friendly

Family Portal Link to Get Started: https://nmparentportal.emetric.net/login

Family Portal Training Slides: Click Here

Middle school and high school sports schedules are published on RankOne.

The Atomic City Transit is also available. Click here to view bus schedules.

Hilltopper Girls Cross Country Wins District Championship; Boys Narrowly 2nd To Taos

LAHS Softball Sends Out Big Thank You For Support

Hilltoppers Varsity Girls Soccer Advance to State Semifinals

Hilltoppers Close Out Season with Dominant 48-8 Victory Over Miyamura

Lady Toppers Cruise Past Valley Vikings 9-1, Advance To Quarterfinals Set For 11 AM Today At Sullivan Field

Chamisa Elementary School Rocks Scare To Care Glow Wall & SEL Night

Toppers Varsity Soccer Falls to Sartans in Playoff Match

Topper Marching Band Earns Back-to-Back State Championships

LAMS Social Studies Teachers Bring History To Life As Students Experience Taxation Week

The Taos Knighthawks are hosting a Chess Tourney on Tuestday, Nov 3 at Taos High School (Little Gym). This tournament is non-rated (no USCF Membership needed).

Tournament Details:

Check-in goes from 9:00 am - 9:30 am.

Five Rounds 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm

Awards will be presented at 3:00 pm
Swiss Pairings G20

Six sections(may change based on entries) :

• K-12 Ch
• K-6 Ch
• K-3 Ch
• K-12 Reserve
• K-6 Reserve
• K-3 Reserve

Reserve Sections for newer players or "B" Teams and below.

Medals will be awarded to the top "3" in all sections.

Pre-registration - $10 (On-site registration 9:00 am - 9:30 am: $20)

For more information and to register, go to www.Kingregistration.com/event/Taos_Nov_3_Tourney.

Read more about afterschool programs, events and activities in the Community Programs newsletter.

There are many opportunities for students and families outside of school. Check out the Community Events page on the LAPS website to see what is happening around town.

Please note that 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. Some fliers/brochures may contain links to external websites.

Upcoming Events

Check out the Los Alamos County Winter Activity Guide for more events and activities happening around town.

Board Members

Current members of the LAPS School Board include President Sondra Wyman (District 5); Vice President Lauren Coupland (District 3); Secretary Melanie Colgan (District 4); Elisa Baker (District 1) and Antonio Jaurigue (District 2)

Secret City eSports is looking for a new Head Coach, as well as Assistant Coaches for a number of video game titles. Please consider being a coach if you are a gamer and would like to work with students.

Coaches are needed for these game titles: Overwatch 2, Splatoon 3, Marvel Rivals, MarioKart 8, Rocket League, Fortnite: Elimination Wars, Brawlhalla, and Tetris Effect Connected.

If you don't know how to play, but would like to help out, we are still needing Volunteer Coaches on Wednesdays from 4 pm - 7 pm. Please reach out to Libbi Lovejoy at l.lovejoy@laschools.net if you are interested, or have any questions.

Los Alamos High School is looking for a Head Coach for Girls Wrestling. Go to https://laschools.schoolspring.com/ for more information (posting 578).

Join the LAPS team as an Educational Assistant. Positions available at all school sites. Go to https://laschools.schoolspring.com/ for more information and to apply.