LAPS Newsletter
Week of November 17, 2025
School Board Meeting
Tuesday, November 18
Mountain Elementary School
Thanksgiving Break
Wednesday, November 26 - Friday, November 28
No school for staff and students
Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 27
Los Alamos Public Schools is encouraging all eligible students to ride the school bus to or from school on Monday, December 1 as part of “Ride the Bus” Day. This initiative not only helps the environment, but also funds the LAPS Transportation Department. The goal is to have 1,000 riders.
Two days a year, the New Mexico Public Education Department has each school district tally student ridership for transportation funding: once in December, and again in February. The school district receives funding for school bus transportation based on the number of students that ride the bus on those two days.
Electric Car Challenge Winners
Congratulations to the Chamisa Elementary School Electric Car Challenge team who were victorious at the recent New Mexico Electric Car Challenge held at Kennedy Middle School.
The New Mexico Electric Car Challenge, sponsored by Sandia National Labs and Los Alamos National Labs, provides an opportunity for middle school students to work together in a team to develop and use applied science and engineering skills and face technical challenges comparable to those that scientists and engineers face every day. It is open to students in grades 6 through 8.
Lt. Commander Stephen Glenn visited Barranca Mesa Elementary preschoolers as part of their Veterans Day recognition.
DECA Buddies Day
The Los Alamos High School DECA (international business association for high school and college students) hosted Capital High School DECA students for a day of activities and team building exercises that has become known as “DECA Buddies Day”.
The purpose of the event was to build partnerships and collegiality between the DECA students at the two schools. The day’s events included team building activities and competitions such as a banner decorating using previous national DECA themes, and a gratitude project in which the students created written thank you notes.
A second DECA Buddies Day will occur in mid-January when Los Alamos High School DECA Students will visit Capital High for another day of activities and team building.
Congratulations to all middle school and high school students who were selected to honor choirs, bands and orchestras. Your hard work and dedication to music is greatly appreciated.
School Hours
Preschool hours are 8:10 am - 2:40 pm, Monday through Friday.
The PreK3 program is in session Monday through Thursday. The morning session runs from 8:00 am - 11 am, and the afternoon session runs from 11:40 am - 2:40 pm.
School Hours and Schedules
Elementary School hours are 8:10 am - 2:40 pm.Check your school site for daily bell schedules.
School Hours and Schedules
School hours at the middle school are 8:40 am - 3:30 pm. Click below to view the A/B calendar and bell schedule.
Hawk Hangout
Hawk Hangout is a free event held every month during the school year for Middle School Teens. Events are held once a month on Thursday in different locations locally and regionally.
School Hours and Schedules
School hours at the high school are 8:30 am - 3:40 pm. Click below to view the A/B calendar and bell schedule.
Teen Movie Night in November
Nov. 29 – Stranger Things Final Season Episode 1 and 2 (new release)
Need to get caught up on missing assignments or late work? Sign up to attend Saturday School!
There are only three dates left before the end of the first semester: November 22, December 6 and December 13.
Saturday School is open to all Los Alamos Middle School and Los Alamos High School students as an opportunity to catch up on late work, complete missed assignments, take make-up tests and receive help with homework.
All Saturday School sessions for the 2025-2026 school year will be in person in E-wing at LAHS. Sessions run from 8:30 am - 12:00 pm.
To register, email lahssaturdayschool@laschools.net with the student's name and date requested.
Click here for more information.
The Los Alamos Public Schools Transportation Department is pleased to announce that all regular school bus route services have resumed as of Monday, November 17.
LAPS has been able to hire additional bus drivers that have completed all the training and licensing requirements to drive a school bus. Therefore, the district is now able to cover all routes, including those with service for high school students living on Barranca Mesa and North Mesa.
Please note that some Aspen Elementary, Barranca Elementary, high school, and middle school bus route numbers and the bus numbers which students will ride will change on Monday. You can find the updated bus route and bus number information may be found on the LAPS website: https://www.laschools.net/families-students/bus-services
LAPS would like to remind drivers to stop when the lights are flashing and the stop arm is out to ensure the safety of students who ride the school bus. Drivers should also never pass a bus that is stopped with the red lights flashing and the stop arm out.
Drivers should follow these school bus safety rules:
First, drive slowly and look for children waiting at the bus stop, walking or riding their bicycles to school.
Second, know what the flashing lights indicate. A red flashing light with the extended stop arm means traffic is required to stop, even in both directions of a two-lane road. Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop, so proceed with caution.
Be careful when pulling up to a bus stop because children might be running out to the bus.
Finally, follow all school zone speed limits, look for students in crosswalks and never pass a bus on the outside of a turn.
If you have any questions about school bus stops or school bus safety, please contact the Transportation Department at 663-2255.
Athletic Hall of Fame
Los Alamos Public Schools is accepting nominations for the 2026 Athletic Hall of Fame. All submissions are due no later than Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026.
Nomination forms are available on the Athletics webpage or at this link: Hall of Fame Nomination Form.
New inductees will be notified by Feb. 1, 2026. The Hall of Fame brunch will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
View a list of past inductees here or click here for more information about the program.
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) is pleased to offer a free breakfast and lunch to all of our students.
LAPS utilizes the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) model pertaining to USDA and NSLP requirements. This model provides students with more of a choice for both breakfast and lunch service.
If you have any questions or comments regarding the school lunch program please send an email to m.johnson@laschools.net.
Los Alamos High School Hosts DECA Buddies Day
LAHS DECA Collecting Socks For Homeless Shelters
Topper Football Closes 2025 Season With 31-13 Loss
LAHS Gridiron Booster Club Paints Rock With Team Spirit
LAPS To Resume Regular Bus Route Services Nov. 17
Still Time To Submit Nominations For Los Alamos High School 2026 Athletic Hall Of Fame
Los Alamos Public Schools is hiring for several positions, in particular Educational Assistants and Substitutes. Click here for more information about working for LAPS and all current job openings.
America's Field Trip—Student Essay Contest
America’s Field Trip is a nationwide student contest sponsored by America250, the official nonpartisan entity charged by Congress with planning the nation’s Semiquincentennial, also known as the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. America’s Field Trip invites students in grades 3–12 to be part of this historic milestone by sharing their perspectives on what America means to them — with the chance to earn a once-in-a-lifetime field trip experience at one of 16 different iconic American landmarks or cultural sites, including Mount Rushmore, the National Archives Museum, Kennedy Space Center, and Yellowstone National Park — just to name a few.
View the America's Field Trip Flyer for contest details.
Los Alamos Public Schools is pleased to announce that, for the second time, all seven schools in the district were designated as Spotlight schools by NM Vistas. This is the highest ranking in the state.
The data reflects reporting for the 2024-2025 school year.
Click on the school site to access that school's NM Vistas report.
Gratitude Month
November is National Gratitude Month
Gratitude improves our physical health. People who practice gratitude experience fewer aches and pains and they report feeling healthier than other people. This is because grateful people are more likely to take care of their health. They exercise more and take better care of themselves, which contributes to good health.
Gratitude improves psychological health. Gratitude helps in reducing harmful emotions, ranging from envy and resentment to anger and frustration. According to research, grateful people have higher levels of positive emotion which effectively increases happiness and reduces depression.
Gratitude is good for relationships. Showing appreciation not only improves existing relationships but can also help you win new friends. One study states that thanking a new acquaintance makes them more likely to seek an ongoing relationship. Not only does acknowledging other people’s contributions lead to better relationships; it does also lead to new opportunities.
DECA Sock Drive
The Los Alamos High School (LAHS) DECA Chapter is collecting socks for homeless shelters in Santa Fe and Espanola during the month of November. Collection boxes are located at the high school in A-Wing, D-Wing, and E-Wing (Activities Office), Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) Front Office and the lobby of Los Alamos Schools Credit Union.
Socks are donated to the homeless shelters in Santa Fe and Espanola. For hygiene purposes, we can only accept new socks.
Contact Dr. Sharon Hurley for more information.
Eco Club Thrift Sale
The LAHS Eco Club is sponsoring a Thrift Sale for students and staff on Friday, November 21st during lunch in the Speech Theater.Lunch in Speech Theater
The sale will be open to the public on Saturday, November 22nd from 9-12:00PM in the Los Alamos High Speech Theater.
The Eco Club is in need of donations of gently worn clothing, shoes and accessories for the sale.Drop your donations at the front office in A Wing at LAHS through Thursday, November 20.
LASCU Member Assistance
The Los Alamos Schools Credit Union is also offering assistance to members with a 0% emergency loan and loan extension option. Contact LASCU for more information.
Grow Your Mind Life Skills
Smart Recovery
Good News Clubs
Fall Art Classes
Community Night
Piano Concert
Holiday Pops Concert
Children's Christmas Bazaar
Breakfast with Santa
Hang @ The Wall
Youth Rec Basketball
Martial Arts
Start Smart
Fencing
Youth Volleyball
Hockey Time
Registration is now open for Los Alamos hockey.
Jazz Project
Youth Orchestra
Youth Philharmonic
Youth Mariachi
Children's Chorus
