APS Community Newsletter - November

What a season of gratitude and growth across Alamogordo Public Schools! As we move into November under our Be Here Alamo theme, Grateful to Be Here, Better Together, we are celebrating the spirit of community that makes our district so special. From honoring our outstanding students and staff recognized at the latest Board meeting to gearing up for our annual Thanksgiving Lunches with families, there is so much to be proud of this month.

Inside this issue, you’ll find updates on exciting winter sports and Friday’s football playoff game, details on New Mexico’s Kinder–3rd Grade Read at Home book program, and community support initiatives like our upcoming coat giveaway, mobile food pantry, and November toiletry drive. Plus, we’re honoring Native American Heritage Month, sharing a friendly reminder to finish your Federal Impact Aid survey, and looking ahead to key dates like the January Career and CTE Expo.

Grab a warm cider, cocoa, or coffee and scroll down to discover all the wonderful things happening across APS!

Click the graphic above to share your Awesome News with our communications team!

Celebrating Reading Achievement!

At last month’s Regular Board Meeting, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Laigha Boyle, presented this quarter's AMIRA Reading and Lexia Reading awards.

Congratulations to High Rolls Mountain Park Elementary for earning the first-quarter AMIRA Reading Recognition! AMIRA monitors students’ reading progress; the AMIRA Reading MAST Score measures progress toward mastering grade-level state reading standards. HRMP recorded the greatest overall increase in MAST scores among our elementary schools for the first quarter. Congratulations!

For our secondary schools, we would like to congratulate Holloman Middle School! HMS is our first-quarter Lexia Reading Recognition winner! Lexia strengthens students’ literacy skills, including word study, reading comprehension, and grammar. Completed units help teachers monitor students' progress through the program and recognize the work our students invest in becoming stronger readers. Holloman led our middle schools with an average of 106 Lexia units completed per student.

We are proud of our students and staff for their dedication to reading growth and literacy!

At last month’s Regular Board Meeting, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Laigha Boyle, presented the College Board AP Scholar Recognition Program Awards to 28 Alamogordo High School students. 🥳💛🐅Awards were presented across three categories: AP Scholars, AP Scholars with Honor, and AP Scholars with Distinction. 🎓✨

This award recognizes achievement on multiple Advanced Placement exams, challenging assessments that give students the opportunity to demonstrate college-level learning while still in high school. To learn more about the award and hear the names of all recipients, please watch the board meeting starting at minute 17:30. Congratulations!

#Congrats #TigerPride #GoTigers

The next School Board Meeting will be on Wednesday, November 18, at 6 PM

Find more information on our website.

We are thrilled to shine a spotlight on two incredible members of our APS family!

• Russel Hortilano (Former AHS Teacher): Named the 2026 School Health Professional of the Year by the American School Health Association! This national honor marks his second national award, following his recognition as a Project Lead The Way Outstanding Teacher. We celebrate his lasting impact on our AHS biomedical students and HOSA leaders.

• Kathleen VanNess (APS Onboarding & Records Specialist): Recognized for exceptional customer service and dedication after going above and beyond to help a community member locate employment records dating back over 60 years!

Join us in congratulating Mr. Hortilano and Kathleen for representing APS with such passion and care.

Want to read the full stories? Click the links below to check out the original posts, or click the graphic above to submit your own awesome news!

Russel: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Nbmq6kk1i/

Kathleen: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dw5rQe6fJ/

Please RSVP through Raptor using the link below. Once you RSVP, you will be directed to the page where you can purchase meal tickets. Tickets are $7 each. The menu includes roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, roll, and apple cobbler.

You must RSVP through the Raptor form on our website & purchase your ticket with Hometown Tickets. Please make sure your names match on both forms.

RSVP TODAY: https://www.alamogordoschools.org/page/thanksgiving-lunch-rsvps

We look forward to seeing you on:

• Wednesday, November 18th - High School
• Thursday, November 19th - Middle School
• Friday, November 20th - Elementary & Pre-K

We are thrilled to announce our participation in the NMPED-provided Read at Home plan, designed under the High-Quality Literacy Instruction Act to strengthen reading growth across grades K–3. Through this initiative, every student in Kindergarten through 3rd grade will receive four personalized Take-Everywhere Literacy Packs™ during the school year.

What is included in your child's Literacy Pack?

• Personalized Decodable Books: Each set contains books tailored to your child’s individual reading level and phonics focus, allowing them to practice skills learned in class.

• Books to Keep: Unlike library books, every book in these packs belongs to your student so you can build a permanent library at home.

• Multilingual Video Lessons: Scanning the QR code on each book cover unlocks a 2–3 minute video phonics lesson led by a teacher, available in up to 14 languages.

• Family Activity Guide & Trackers: Each pack includes simple games, discussion questions, and a "High-Five" tracker on the back cover to celebrate repeated readings.

A Simple 15–20 Minute Daily Reading Routine

You do not need to be a reading specialist to make a difference! Simply follow these four easy steps with your child’s book:

1. Watch (2–3 min): Scan the QR code together and watch the quick phonics lesson.

2. Read (7–10 min): Have your child read the book aloud to you, sounding out words.

3. Practice (3–5 min): Review 3–5 letter sounds or focus words from the story.

4. Talk (2–3 min): Ask simple questions about what happened in the story to build vocabulary and understanding.

Mark Your Calendar: Family Literacy Workshops

To help families get the most out of these resources, virtual family workshops will be offered alongside each box distribution. Click on the link below to register.

• Round 1 (Kickoff): Getting Started with Take-Everywhere Literacy Packs (Nov 4th)

• Round 2: Building String Reading Skills at Home (Dec 2nd)

• Round 3: Growing Confident Readers-Fluency & Vocabulary Boost (Feb 24th)

• Round 4: Celebrate Growth and Keep it Going: Comprehension & Summer Reading Momentum (April 29th)

⭐Join us for Parent University -Nov 12th from 5:00-6:30pm at the APS District HUB to learn all about the Read at Home Plan.

Native American Heritage Month, also known as American Indian Heritage Month and Alaska Native Heritage Month, is observed annually from November 1- 30. It recognizes and honors the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and important contributions of Native American and Alaskan native peoples.

# NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

The Career & CTE Expo is a wonderful partnership event that lets our local industry leaders showcase their businesses and potential career opportunities to Alamogordo students.

We are looking for Businesses, contractors, and skilled professionals in all industries to join us. Indoor and outdoor spaces are available, so think BIG! Don’t delay; register today and share your love and passion for your career with our students! The deadline to RSVP is Jan 8th.

Registration Form: https://trst.in/lUEjzO

If you have questions, please contact Anna Alday, CTE Coordinator at anna.alday@alamogordoschools.org or 575-430-6145.

This month, the team at The HUB is collecting toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotions, and more to support students in need. Items can be dropped off at any Alamogordo Public Schools campus, district office or The HUB!

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

As we settle into the school year, Alamogordo Public Schools asks all district families to complete the annual Federal Impact Aid Survey in their PowerSchool Parent Portal.

Because large portions of local land belong to federal installations and properties (including Holloman AFB, White Sands, and U.S. Forest Service lands), these properties are exempt from local property taxes. Federal Impact Aid reimburses local public schools to make up for this revenue deficit.

• Why It Matters: 100% of Impact Aid funds go directly into our district’s general operational fund. This revenue directly supports classroom technology, learning resources, competitive teaching staff, and extracurricular opportunities across all APS campuses.
• Who Qualifies? Many families assume this program only applies to active-duty military families. In reality, all federal connections count! If a parent works for the U.S. Postal Service, U.S. Forest Service, White Sands National Park, Mescalero Hospital, Border Patrol, or lives in federal housing, your submission brings vital funds to our schools!
• How to Submit: Log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal, click Forms, and complete the 2026 Impact Aid Survey for each child. The form takes less than 5 minutes, and all information is kept strictly confidential.

This November, our Be Here Alamo focus is Grateful to Be Here, Better Together; Showing Up for Our School Community! When students are present each day, they build meaningful connections and strengthen our entire school community.

With holiday closures this month, keeping up consistent attendance before and after Fall Break helps students stay on track. Be sure to look for the Interactive Gratitude Tree in your school’s main foyer or cafeteria when you attend Thanksgiving Lunch. We invite you to add a heart leaf sharing what you are thankful for!

#BeHereAlamo #BeHereNM #BetterTogether

Additional tools and resources can be found on our website at: https://www.alamogordoschools.org/page/attendance

Alamogordo Public Schools is proud to serve as a community partner by providing information on local events, programs, and activities that support and enrich the lives of our students and families. To ensure equal access for all members of our community, all shared content is formatted to meet federal digital accessibility standards. Community Opportunities Webpage

COMMUNITY INFORMATION NOTICE: Alamogordo Public Schools permits this material to be made available solely as a community-information service. APS does not sponsor, endorse, supervise, recommend, or independently verify the sponsoring organization, activity, program, service, fees, safety practices, or representations. Participation is voluntary and is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

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 our APS Call Center during regular business hours at 575-812-8573.