A. Montoya Monthly Newsletter

Hello A. Montoya Families,

Can you believe we are already in the month of April? The school year is moving quickly, and we still have so much meaningful learning ahead of us. These final two months are incredibly important, and consistent attendance each day makes a big difference in your child’s success. Thank you for your continued support in ensuring your student arrives at school ready to learn.

As a reminder, student drop-off begins at 7:45 a.m. There is no supervision available prior to that time, so please plan accordingly to ensure student safety.

We are also excited to share that registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open! We encourage you to spread the word to friends, family, and neighbors. A flyer is attached—please feel free to share it with anyone who may be interested in joining our A. Montoya community.

If you have any questions, concerns, or need support, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We are always here to help.

Thank you for being such an important part of our school community!

We will begin the NM-ASR assessment, which is the science test,

on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. The testing sessions will start at the beginning of the day and take place on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday for fifth graders.

The following week, Monday April 13th, 3rd-5th grade students will begin the NM-MSSA in ELA and Math. Students will only take one test per day.

Here is the testing schedule per day:

Tuesday, April 7: 5th Grade ASR1

Thursday, April 9: 5th Grade ASR2

Friday, April 10: 5th Grade ASR3

Monday, April 13: Grades 3-5 ELA1

Tuesday, April 14: Grades 3-5 ELA2

Thursday, April 15: Grades 3-5 Math1

Friday, April 16: Grades 3-5 Math2

Please ensure your student comes to school well-rested and ready to test on those days. Once the testing has begun students will not be permitted to leave until they complete the seesion so please plan accordingly.

• April 6: Bunny Grams delivery
• April 7: 5th Grade ASR Testing (morning)
• April 8: Instructional Council Meeting 3 p.m.
• April 8: Academies of Albuquerque Trailblazer Showcase, Berna Facio, 5 p.m.-7:30
• April 9: 5th Grade ASR Testing (morning)
• April 10: 5th Grade ASR Testing (morning)
• April 10: Show your Monty Pride
• April 10: PAWSS Meeting 3 p.m.
• April 13: Grades 3-5 ELA1 Testing (morning)
• April 14: Grades 3-5 ELA2 Testing (morning)
• April 16: Grades 3-5 Math1 Testing (morning)
• April 17: Grades 3-5 Math2 Testing (morning)
• April 17: Show your Monty Pride
• April 22: Administrative Assistant's Day
• April 22: Instructional Council Meeting 3 p.m.
• April 24: Hat Day
• April 28: School Bus Driver's Day
• April 28: Explora Night! 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Time is almost up to get a yearbook!

You can purchase online at https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=10144010144337

(see attached flyer) Soft covers and Hard covers are available. You get 2 free custom pages so take advantage of personalizing your students' yearbook.

Soft covers can be purchased by cash, check or money order for $25.00 send in an envelope with your child's full name and teacher and that it is for yearbook to the front office.

• All visitors must check in at the Administration entrance and wear a visible badge.
• A photo ID is required to access the school or to check out a student.
• Only cleared volunteers (with prior teacher/admin permission and updated background checks) may stay on campus to volunteer.
• Supervised allows you to volunteer within in the classroom while the teacher can monitor you.
• Unsupervised allows you to attend field trips, work in the teacher workroom, etc. Please see the attached form if you are interested in being a parent volunteer.
• Volunteer info: https://www.aps.edu/police/background-and-fingerprinting/background-checks-for-prospective-volunteers

• All items must be dropped off at the front office. Office staff will deliver them to the appropriate classroom. For minimal disruption, families are not permitted to deliver items directly. If preferred, the office can call the student out of class to retrieve the item upon request.

If you have a background check please be sure to email a copy of the documentation to our clerk, Kristin Bunnel at kristin.bunnel@aps.edu, so we can update our records.

• Adult supervision is required for students crossing both of the crosswalks
• At the end of the day, students must stand near the sidewalk in front of the tree and watch for their vehicle
• Students must enter and exit the vehicle from the curb side only. If your student is seated behind the driver's side please use the left lane.

• Parents and guardians are reminded to remain in their vehicles to help keep traffic moving.
• If you are in the right line please follow the lane all the way around, under the awning, as we need to keep the parking lot safe for all.
• Please see the attached picture as a reminder of the drop-off/pick-up procedures

Hello families,
Spring has arrived, and with it comes sunshine, outdoor fun, and a few seasonal health reminders to help keep our students feeling their best. Here’s what’s happening in the health office this month.

Spring Allergies

As trees and plants wake up, so do seasonal allergies. Common symptoms include:

• Sneezing
• Itchy or watery eyes
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Scratchy throat

If your child has known allergies, this is a great time to:

• Make sure they take their allergy medication before school (as directed by your healthcare provider)
• Pack tissues in their backpack
• Let me know if they need to keep any doctor-prescribed medications in the health office

A Note on Student Medications

If your child needs medication during the school day, please remember:

• All medications must be brought to the health office by an adult
• Medications must be in their original container
• A medication form signed by a parent/guardian (and sometimes a provider) is required

Feel free to reach out if you need a new form or have questions.

Handwashing

Spring also brings an uptick in colds and stomach bugs. Handwashing is still our best defense. We’re encouraging students to:

• Wash hands before eating
• Wash after using the restroom
• Wash after recess or outdoor play

A quick refresher at home helps reinforce these habits.

Sun Safety for Warmer Days

As temperatures rise, students spend more time outside. Please consider:

• Applying sunscreen before school
• Send a hat or sunglasses with your child if preferred
• Making sure they bring a water bottle to stay hydrated

Hydration is especially important as we head into warmer weather.

Clothing for Active Play

Students are running, climbing, and exploring more during spring. Closed-toe shoes help prevent injuries on the playground. If your child wears sandals or Crocs, please pack sneakers for recess and PE days.

Healthy Habits Spotlight: Sleep

With longer daylight hours, bedtime routines can slip. Elementary students still need 9–12 hours of sleep to stay focused and energized. A consistent bedtime helps with mood, learning, and overall health.

Wishing You a Healthy, Happy April

Thank you for helping us to keep our students safe, healthy, and ready to learn. If you ever have questions or concerns, my door is always open.

Warmly,
Nurse Holly

Thank you to everyone who participated in this year’s final "Bunny Grams" fundraiser. These gifts will be delivered on Monday, April 6. It was wonderful to see our students spreading joy throughout the school.

As state testing begins this month, PAWSS will be providing nutritious snacks to help our students remain fueled and focused.

Additionally, corded headphones remain available for purchase through the front office or our online store.

We are also planning a campus cleanup day for the end of April; further details will be shared soon.

Our next PAWSS meeting is scheduled for Friday, April 10, at 3:00 PM. We will be discussing Field Day, Teacher Appreciation Week, and 5th-grade promotion.

Elections for next year’s PAWSS officers will be held in May. We are currently recruiting board members interested in serving our school community. If you have questions regarding these positions or wish to express interest in joining, please email amontoyapawss@gmail.com or attend our meeting on the 10th.

We hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful spring break and we look forward to a productive end to the school year.

Best regards,

PAWSS

San Antonito STEM Magnet with APS/NMPED Partnership is offering a free Summer Reading Program at our site! Please click here to register your student today.

Interested families should select Tijeras when completing the process as the site doesn’t list individual schools. Once you are in the registration area you can select up to 3 locations and that is where you will find SASM.

Program Dates:

• June 8, 2026 - July 17, 2026

• No program on Juneteenth (June 19th)

• No program week of June 29 - July 3, 2026

Key points:

• School Hours M-F 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

• Breakfast 8:00 am & Lunch 12:00 pm served each day

• After School program 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm (details still coming)

• Transportation provided (bus times released in May) via Super Stop Locations

• Address: 12555 North HWY 14 Sandia Park, NM 87047

• Open to ALL New Mexico students Kindergarten through 5th grade

• It's time to register now! See website below or the flyer for the QR code

• Contact us at (505) 281-3931 or email Principal Gallegos gallegos_pat@aps.edu with any questions.

• I’m still looking for additional tutors and subs for the program. If you are interested please apply at literacy.nm.gov . The salary is $35 an hour. Please email me if interested gallegos_pat@aps.edu.

Lots more information can be found on the Extended Learning Website. The website has a link to register students, Before/After School Provider information for each site for families to sign up for the summer and bus routes in MAY.

Respectfully,

Mrs. Gallegos~Proud Principal of San Antonito STEM Magnet