Cheetah News
October 2025

A message from our Health Office
What a wonderful start to the new year, getting to see old friends and make new ones. As we all know, friend, regardless if they are old or new, love to share. The one thing we don't want to share are the germs. Please remember to wash hands often and stay home when sick. Please 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.
October Events
📖 September 29th - October 3rd - Book Fair
📸 October 9th - School picture day
🎃 October 31st - Halloween!
eWallet for our Book Fair
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, “If 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.”
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 child’s 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
September Happenings
Homecoming Parade
We had a wonderful turnout at the Homecoming Parade! Thank you to everyone who helped and attended!
D.E.A.R.
Otero County Fair
Desert Star just set the new hi-score at the Otero County Fair. Way to go Ms. Shay and our DSES Cheetahs!
Wacky Hair
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