PANTHER PRESS NORTH ELEMENTARY

NORTH ELEMENTARY

To serve, support, educate, and elevate ALL students.

We are ALL IN!

The mission of the Public School System is to ensure that all students acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become productive citizens. We are also committed to helping our community of parents, teachers and faculty build better connections to improve student outcome.

https://nor.alamogordoschools.org

Please follow our facebook page for daily pictures and info! https://www.facebook.com/APSNorthElementary

Welcome to the 2026–2027 school year at North Elementary! Whether you are returning to our Panther family or joining us for the first time, I am honored to serve as your principal. I look forward to getting to know our students and families and working together to make this a wonderful year.

At North, we know that strong partnerships between home and school help students succeed. Our dedicated staff is committed to creating a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment where every student feels valued, challenged, and supported. We are also excited to continue building on the success of our House system and the sense of community it brings to our school.

I bring 31 years of experience in education, serving as a teacher, program coordinator, district administrator, and principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. I hold degrees in Instrumental Music Education from Western Kentucky University and Educational Leadership from the American College of Education, and I am currently pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership.

I am proud to call Alamogordo home and to be part of the Alamogordo Public Schools community. Together, we will build on the traditions that make North Elementary special and ensure that every Panther has opportunities to learn, grow, and succeed.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. We are excited about the year ahead and look forward to partnering with you along the way.

Here are a few important reminders as we continue the school year:

• Morning Drop Off: Gates close at 7:50am. After 7:50, please bring your child to the front entrance on Florida to check in.
• Breakfast: Breakfast is available until 8:50 each morning at student request. Students are to eat breakfast in the cafeteria before going to class.
• Dismissal: Monday through Thursday dismissal is at 2:50. Friday dismissal is at 1:20.

Welcome back, Panthers! Let’s make it a great year!

Ms. Jody Alexander, Principal

jody.alexander@alamogordoschools.org

575-812-5400

Hello Families! My name is Astrid Sepulveda and I am the school counselor at North

Elementary. In my role, I will be supporting students in their social, emotional, and academic

growth. This means that I will be working with students individually, in small groups, and in

classrooms to help build important skills, such as problem-solving, emotional regulation, making

friends, conflict resolution, and goal setting. I will also work closely with teachers and families

to create a supportive environment where all students can thrive. Whether it’s helping a student

navigate big feelings, teaching strategies for focus, or promoting kindness and respect across

campus, my goal is to make sure every student feels seen, heard, and valued.

Every month I will be introducing a topic to the student population. Since it is the

beginning of the school year, I will be assisting students in further understanding my role as their

school counselor, allowing them to know that I am here to help them thrive during their

academic journeys. An “Annual Notice of School Counseling Services” form will be included

with permission forms, which will further explain my role as school counselor and my

limitations. Response forms will be sent home and will need to be signed and returned if ongoing

counseling is to occur. I look forward to partnering with you to make this school year a positive

and successful one! Please feel free to reach out to me at

astrid.sepulveda@alamogordoschools.org or at (575) 495-2893 with any questions, comments, or

concerns.

Astrid Sepulveda

School Counselor

Every Day & Every Student Counts at North Elementary!

Welcome back, North Families, we're so happy you're here!

Regular attendance is one of the most important things we can give our children as they grow and learn. Every school day is an opportunity to learn, grow, connect with friends, and be part of the North Elementary family!

We absolutely understand that children get sick. If your child has a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea, please keep them home, allow them time to recover, and follow our school attendance procedures. But when your child is healthy and ready to learn, we want to see them at school. It's also important for families to know that state law requires children to attend school regularly. Consistent attendance is not only essential for learning, but it is also a legal responsibility for families.

Last school year, we had only ONE student achieve perfect attendance! This year, we are hoping to see that number grow. Our goal is to celebrate and award even more perfect-attendance medals at the end of the school year. Hopefully YOUR student will be one of our medal recipients in May 2027!

North families, YOU deserve some recognition, too! Over the past couple of years, our parents/guardians, students, and staff have worked hard to improve our attendance rate and we are incredibly proud of the progress we've made! We are focused on continuing this upward trend and ask that each family commit to having their student(s) in school each day because every day and every student counts! Last school year we fell a little short and didn't receive the district's attendance trophy during any month, but we believe in each of YOU and know that you'll all help us achieve even greater attendance. This year we’re shooting for the moon and WANT to win the district's attendance trophy (and for more than just one month)!

Let’s work together to make every school day count. Healthy kids at school. Strong attendance. Strong Parents. Stronger Panthers!

Thank you for helping North Lead the Way to a great school year with GREAT ATTENDANCE!

Thank you!

Mrs. Michele Bagwell

PLEASE JOIN US WEDNESDAY 26th AUGUST FOR OUR 1st PTO MTG OF THE YEAR! 3:15 IN THE CAFETERIA!

We are excited that our school, once again will be implementing a program called the House System this year. This system was created by the Ron Clark Academy (RCA), and it has a proven track record of creating a positive school climate and culture that is embraced by students, staff, and families. We want our students to look forward to coming to school each day, and schools around the world that have implemented the program have reported many positive outcomes, such as a decrease in discipline referrals, more positive relationships among peers and staff, better school attendance, and improvements in academic performance. This is because the system encourages students to take ownership of their learning and behavior while working together to achieve common goals.

A key element of the House System is the way that it increases students’ motivation to succeed in school by fostering a sense of belonging among all students and staff, and parents often report feeling more connected to the school community as well. To achieve this, each student will be a part of one of four houses and will have the opportunity to participate in house-specific events and activities throughout the year. (Parents will have some opportunities to participate, too!) By being a part of a house, every child has a smaller group within the larger school community. In other words, every student will have “a crew and a cause.” Additionally, students will have the opportunity to take on leadership roles within their houses, such as serving as heads of house, heads of committees, or organizers of house events.

Throughout the school year, students will have the opportunity to receive points for their houses. Points are awarded for going above and beyond expectations in areas such as academic achievement, character, school spirit, and uplifting others. While points are not the primary purpose of this program, when students work together to earn points for their houses, they celebrate, support, and encourage one another to achieve excellence. The house who earns the most points at the end of the year will be named the House Champions!

We are confident that the RCA House System is a valuable addition to our school community, and we look forward to its continuous positive impact on our students. Thank you for your support!

Parents, North students have PE everyday! Closed toe tennis shoes are the best and safest for our students. Please no high heels, sandles or crocs. Thank you!

Coach Lindley