APS Community Newsletter - October

October is a season of growth and abundance, and our schools are truly harvesting success in every sense of the word! From Alamogordo High School students gathering pumpkins, chiles, tomatoes, and even a 17-pound watermelon from their gardens, to Holloman Middle School students proudly pulling their very first beet, and Chaparral Middle School students planting the seeds of future learning, our classrooms are buzzing with hands-on opportunities that bring lessons to life. Beyond the gardens, students are building leadership skills through Anchored4Life, celebrating school spirit at Homecoming, and benefiting from innovative new learning initiatives like DiversiMath. Together, these moments reflect the dedication of our students, staff, and community as we cultivate a thriving year across every campus at Alamogordo Public Schools.

As we move deeper into the school year, we’re proud to see the seeds of hard work, creativity, and community already bearing fruit. Together, we will continue harvesting success, one student, one classroom, and one achievement at a time. 🌱✨

At last month's Regular Board Meeting, Holloman Middle School's Principal Anna Weaver recognized Mrs. Avery Herrera for being one of the Recipients of the Dr. Arthur H. and Joan Guenther Advisor Achievement Award, awarded by NM MESA.

Mrs. Herrera is a second-year teacher at Holloman Middle School, having previously served for four years in Alamogordo Public Schools as an Educational Assistant. She teaches STEM and Computer Science, and this year will mark her second year as the MESA advisor at Holloman. Congratulations, Mrs. Herrera, it is an honor to have you as part of the APS team! Thanks for all you do for HMS students.

Dr. Arthur H. and Joan Guenther Advisor Achievement Award honors the legacy of Dr. Guenther and his wife, while recognizing the wonderful and important work done by MESA advisors who perpetuate Dr. Guenther's vision each year.

Learn more at: https://www.nmmesa.org/news-item/2025-guenther-award/

The next School Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, October 15th, at 6 pm

Find more information on our website.

Our Guiding Principles are Alamogordo Public Schools' updated Vision and Mission.

Vision

All are empowered to lead with heart and learn with purpose to thrive as lifelong learners.

Mission

Our mission is to foster engagement, exploration, and discovery through exceptional educational experiences for all.

The Learner Profile, shaped by students, parents, teachers, and community input, highlights the skills all APS students will have when they graduate. They include being a Skilled Communicator, Resilient Achiever, Innovative Thinkers, Self-Aware Learner, and Global Citizen.

Learn more about the Framework for the Future and the Instructional Roadmap that guides this work as it is implemented throughout our schools.

The Framework for the Future (strategic plan) survey deadline has been extended to Monday, Oct 6th. Your feedback matters. Click the graphic below, and please take ten minutes to share your valuable insight. Thank you!

Take the Survey

Alamogordo Public Schools was awarded a DoDEA student-centered learning grant to launch the DiversiMath professional learning project!

Recently, 3rd-8th-grade math teachers from Holloman Middle, Holloman Elementary, Desert Star Elementary, Yucca Elementary, Sierra Elementary, Buena Vista Elementary, and High Rolls Mountain Park Elementary Schools came together for the first training session.

During the training, our teachers explored new instructional math strategies such as number sense routines, rich math tasks, and collaborative math engagement activities that they can incorporate in their classrooms!

We are excited to see the impact this professional learning project brings to our students as we #RiseUpAlamo and continue to implement our new Framework for the Future.

The Alamogordo High School 2025 Homecoming Parade was a total success!

A huge thank you to the City of Alamogordo, the Alamogordo Police Department, the Alamogordo Fire Department, Mesa Verde Enterprises, Otero Federal Credit Union, KHII Radio 88-9/100.5 FM, numerous local businesses and organizations, and the entire Alamogordo community for all the support! Your love and pride for our students always shines bright, and we are forever grateful!

Also, a huge thank you to the Holloman AFB - 49th Wing for the flyover! It definitely made this year's parade extra special for the APS students, families, and entire Alamogordo community.

Last but not least, a special thank you to the judges for evaluating the parade entries and selecting the 2025 winners!

• Best Float: Lady Tiger Basketball
• Best Use of Theme (Night at the Oscars): Alamogordo High School Class of 2005 - 20th Reunion
• Most Spirit: Desert Star Elementary
• Best Marching Unit: AHS Tiger Band
• Most Creative: AHS International Club/J1 Teachers Club
• Judge's Choice: Mountain View Middle School Cheer & Student Council

Check out the gallery of HOCO Parade photos on Facebook!

Check out the gallery of HOCO Football Game photos on Facebook!

Check out the gallery of Let's Go Alamo! photos on Facebook!

🧦✨ It’s Socktober – and we’re collecting new socks all month long to support students in need across our district!

Did you know that socks are one of the most requested, but least donated items for people experiencing hardship? Let’s change that – one pair at a time. 💛

We are leading this effort to bring comfort and care to our students, and we’re inviting schools and community members to join in!

📍 Look for collection boxes at every APS school and locations throughout the community.

🧦 All donations go directly to students who need them most.

🎯 Goal: Warm feet, full hearts, and a stronger, more connected community.

Let’s make this the coziest and kindest Socktober yet! 🧦💛

For more information on how you can help, please contact Family Engagement Coordinator, Monica Steeby at (575) 430-8177 or Monica.Steeby@alamogordoschools.org

Find the athletics calendar of events and printable schedules on the APS website.

Need Tickets? All sports Season Passes are available now! Your one-time purchase will give you access to all sports at all levels all year long, or you can purchase individual game tickets on our website or through the Hometown Tickets app.

Don't forget, there is Free admission to all regular season sporting events for APS staff, APS students, and children five and under!

Alamogordo Public Schools is proud to join the national movement to promote healthy, drug-free lifestyles for our students and community.

This year’s Red Ribbon Week is all about making informed choices and standing strong against the dangers of alcohol, drugs, vaping, and tobacco use. 💪

Through education, awareness, and support, we’re empowering students to rise above peer pressure and lead lives full of potential, purpose, and promise.

🚫 Say no to drugs.

💬 Talk about the risks.

❤️ Choose to live drug-free.

Together, with the support of families, staff, and the APS HOPE & Health Services Teams, we can create a safer, healthier future for every student.

This October, our Be Here Alamo theme is “Be Here & Be Fearless” with the reminder: “Don’t ghost your goals—be here and be bold!” The focus for the month is empowerment, confidence, and pushing through challenges. Schools will encourage students to stay engaged, set meaningful goals, and believe in their ability to succeed. Below you’ll find themed resources, including daily quotes to inspire students, fillable “Don’t Ghost Your Goals” cards, and a flyer to highlight this month’s theme. Additional tools and information are always available on our Attendance Matters webpage.

https://www.alamogordoschools.org/page/attendance

On Monday, September 29th, all APS schools participated in the first Be Here Day of the year, joining schools across New Mexico in promoting 100% attendance! Campuses celebrated with special incentives and activities, from The Great Yucca Balloon Race and Buena Vista Students Shine Bright day, to pajama parties, popsicles, prize drawings, and even a “Pie a Teacher in the Face” challenge at Holloman Middle School. 🎉 Our district’s average daily attendance so far this year has been 92%, on Be Here Day we reached 92.95% attendance, a great success with all but 2 schools exceeding their average daily attendance so far for this year. Numerous schools had 94% attendance or more including Holloman Middle School with 97.75% attendance!

The Be Here Alamo initiative, together with the Be Here NM movement, is bringing students, families, and schools together to celebrate connection and the power of showing up. Remember, missing just two days a month can impact a child’s ability to learn and grow. By investing in attendance, we are investing in every student and building a strong, supportive community of learners. Families can stay involved and learn more on our APS Attendance Matters website.

Click the graphic below to view Be Here Day photos from across the district!

The Alamogordo Public Schools Chatbot is available 24/7 to answer frequently asked questions. Start chatting now to get your questions answered. You can also call or text Let's Talk! during regular business hours at 575-812-8573.