Cheetah News
October 2025

November Events
ππ»ββοΈββ‘οΈ October 30th - Jog-a-thon
π October 31st - Halloween parade and costume contest
π November 4th - Election Day - No school
πΆ November 10th - Veterans' Day Assembly
ποΈ November 11th - Veterans' Day - No school
πΈNovember 17th - Picture Retake Day
π₯§November 20th - Thanksgiving Parade π½π§π»βπ¦½ββ‘οΈπ§π»βππΆπ»ββοΈββ‘οΈπ¦Ήπ»ββοΈ
π November 21st - Thanksgiving Lunch
π¦ November 24th - 28th - Thanksgiving Break - No school
Cheetah Chase!
Veterans' Day Assembly
Event Information
Please remember to park and enter through the back of the school. Handicap parking is available in the front of the school. Don't forget to bring your ID!
Picture Retake Day
Thanksgiving Lunch with your Student
October Happenings
Math and Science Night
Desert Star Cheetahs, their parents, and staff had a lot of fun during our annual Math and Science Night. Thank you to everyone who joined us, especially the Christus Volunteers!
Awards Ceremonies
Reading Celebration
At Desert Star, we always celebrate achievements, big or small. These two did great on their reading challenge!
In October We Wear Pink!
A message from our Health Office
Please remember to wash hands often and stay home when sick. Please see the chart to know when to keep students home and when they can return.
As a reminder, if you have a kindergarten or 1st grade student, please send them with a change of clothes (to be kept in their backpack), for any accidents or spills.
Student Pick Ups
Desert Star Parents and Guardians,
Recently, we have experienced an influx of parents and guardians picking up students and/or calling in to change transportation methods close to the end of the day. This creates a disruption of the dismissal process and increases the risk of a student being sent home in the incorrect manner.
According to our handbook, βIf you provide after-school transportation for your child, please be there promptly at the dismissal time to prevent unnecessary worry for your child. If there is to be a change in routine or transportation, send a note and ensure your child understands. If a note or phone call is not made prior to 2:15 p.m., your child will follow the original mode of transportation.β
Friday does change that time since dismissal is at 1:20 p.m. If a note or phone call is not made prior to 12:45, your child will follow the original mode of transportation.
To expedite school pickup, please ensure that anyone who will pick up your child is added to the pickup list in the main office. If someone not on the list comes to pick up your child, we will not release your child without contacting you first.
In addition, please do not take your child out of a bus line without speaking to a staff member, as this creates confusion with the staff who are tasked with your childβs safety.
If you have any questions please direct them to Mr. Shriver or Mr. Turner.
Sincerely,
David Shriver
Principal
2nd Grade After School Pickup
Dear Parents and Guardians,
To help us keep dismissal safe and efficient, we are asking all 2nd-grade parents to wait for their children by the purple cement balls in front of the school during pickup.
Currently, the congestion directly in front of the building is making it difficult for our staff to safely guide students to their buses. By waiting at the purple cement balls, you will be helping reduce congestion and ensuring that both bus riders and parent pickups can get to where they need to go smoothly and safely.
We appreciate your cooperation and support as we work together to make dismissal safer and more organized for everyone.
Thank you,
Bill Turner
Assistant Principal
School Hours
- School starts at 7:50 am., doors open at 7:20 for breakfast
- Monday through Thursday dismissal is at 2:50 p.m.
- Friday is early dismissal at 1:20 p.m.
Menus
Calendar
LET'S TALK
We encourage parents/guardians to contact our district's Call Center by calling the Let's Talk line to excuse student absences. Folks at the central office are ready to help. This allows the school's office staff to direct more of their attention to the needs of our students, staff and parents throughout the day.
If you are unable to speak to someone directly at the APS Call Center, please leave a detailed voicemail with your name, your child's first/last name, the name of the school, the date of the absence, and the absence reason.
In addition to assisting with attendance matters, Call Center personnel are also available to help you access your parent Powerschool account, provide information about upcoming school event dates/times, answer general questions about a variety of topics (or put you in touch with the appropriate department or staff member who can), and listen to any concerns or suggestions for improvement, as well as shout-outs or celebrations. For these additional topics, you may call, text, use the Let's Talk app, or submit a message via that area within the district's website (found on the Contact page).
Helpful links
District Website - https://www.alamogordoschools.org/
Lunch Menus - https://www.alamogordoschools.org/page/menus
Contact
400 S Washington Ave, Alamogordo, NM 88310
Website: https://dst.alamogordoschools.org/
Phone: (575) 812-5750