LAPS Newsletter

Monday, September 7: Holiday - Labor Day (no school)

Tuesday, September 8: New Mexico Statewide Be Here Day

Tuesday, September 8: School Board Meeting

Friday, September 18: Homecoming 2026

Parade 2:30 pm

Football Game 7 pm

Thursday, October 8 and Friday, October 9: Parent/Teacher Conferences (elementary schools)

No school for elementary students

Conferences will be scheduled by school sites

Monday, October 12: Holiday - Indegenous Peoples Day (no school)

Friendship Month

Suicide Prevention Month

Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)

The Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation is turning 20, and we’re celebrating two decades of supporting teachers, students, and public education in Los Alamos!

Join us for an evening of food, music, and community at Blue Window on Sunday, September 13, from 4–7 p.m. Enjoy live music from Heather and the Bad Breaks, a local cover band, while artist Margarita Ryan creates a live painting during the celebration. It’s a chance to celebrate the people and partnerships that have made the Foundation’s work possible — and look ahead to the next 20 years.

Sunday, September 13 | 4–7 p.m. | Blue Window

Tickets and event details: 20th Anniversary Celebration & Tickets

Get ready for Homecoming 2026 in Los Alamos!

Homecoming Week is September 14-19, 2026 and will feature a number of events and activities for students, staff and community members.

The Homecoming Parade will be held on Friday, September 18th. This year's Grand Marshall is Los Alamos High School Art Teacher Mary Grace. The theme for the parade is “Crush the Cougars”.

The parade route has been changed this year. The parade will start on Central at Ashley Pond Park, and proceed up Central to the Mari Mac parking lot. This ensures adequate shelter is available for all our participants should there be a thunderstorm before the event like last year, and the roundabout does not have to be closed at Central and 502. The parade will begin at 2:30 pm at Ashley Pond Park, and judges will be seated outside the post office. Check out the Parade Instructions.

Completed Homecoming Parade Application and payments are due to the Los Alamos High School Bookkeeper by 4:00 pm on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The fee for all float/vehicle entries is $30 and $20 for walkers only. Checks may be made payable to LAPS. Online payment is available through HomeTown Fan.

Staging begins at 1:30 pm at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church Parking lot. Floats and vehicles may not be parked at the lot before this time. Enter through the east entrance via Canyon Road. Float riders can be dropped off in the far west parking lot behind the church.

Students will be released earlier on Friday, September 18. Elementary schools will dismiss at 12 pm,. Los Alamos Middle School will dismiss at 12:45 pm, and Los Alamos High School will dismiss at 1 pm.

The Hilltoppers will host the Cibola High School Cougars in the Homecoming football game Friday night. Gates will open at 5 pm. Tickets and season passes can be purchased in advance either through the HomeTown Fan app or online through HomeTown Fan. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate with a credit card. Cash will not be accepted at the gate.

Go to www.laschools.net for more information about Homecoming 2026.

Questions? Contact LAHSactivities@laschools.net

Recess fun at Chamisa Elementary

Los Alamos High School hosted Clubs and Activities Week, where students were able to check out over 35 clubs and activities.

DECA club members practiced the making the symbol during Clubs and Activities Week.

High school life

PreK 4 and Elementary School hours are 8:10 am - 2:40 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:10 am - 1:40 pm on Friday. 3Y PreK morning session runs from 8:00 am - 11 am, and the afternoon session runs from 11:40 am - 2:40 pm, Monday through Thursday. There is no 3Y Preschool on Friday.

Monday, September 7: Labor Day - no school

Friday, September 11: Piñon PTO Meeting

Monday, September 14: Barranca Mesa Elementary Constitution Day Assembly

Wednesday, September 15: Chamisa PTO Dinner

Thursday, September 17: Constitution Day

Friday, September 18: Bobcat Bolt

Friday, September 18: Homecoming Parade 2:30 pm; students dismissed at 12 pm

Friday, September 21: Chamisa PTO Meeting

Wednesday, September 30: Barranca Mesa Elementary Picture Day

Please review this information regarding the executive function assessment.

Middle School hours are 8:40 am - 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:40 am - 2:30 pm on Friday.

Monday, September 7: Labor Day - no school

Friday, September 18: Homecoming Parade 2:30 pm; students dismissed at 12:45 pm

Hawk Tennis

Wednesday, September 9: Parent Meeting

Friday, September 11: First Practice

Reminder: In order to participate in any sport at Los Alamos Public Schools, all athletes must complete the following items prior to participation in practices and competitions. ALL paperwork will be submitted electronically via RankOne Sport. Go to the Athletics page for more information.

High School hours are 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 am - 2:30 pm on Friday.

Monday, September 7: Labor Day - no school

Friday, September 18: Homecoming Parade 2:30 pm; students dismissed at 1 pm

Sunday, September 20: RMCAC New Mexico College Fair, Albuquerque Convention Center. Click here for more information and to register.

Wednesday, October 21: PSAT/NMSQT (Registration information for juniors interested in taking the test will be available soon).

Saturday, September 12: Teen Movie Night

The next Teen Movie Night will be Saturday, September 12th featuring the new release RUNNER. The movie trailer and additional details are available on the JJAB website www.losalamosjjab.com.

Seniors are invited to attend help sessions during Power Hour on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday through September 15. Contact Jacqueline Nolen in the College and Career Center for more information.

New Mexico high schools are encouraged to have current 11th and 12th grade students who are serving in elected leadership positions in the current school year apply for the USSYP scholarship competition this year. Elected student leadership positions within your high school’s Student Council, NHS, and other student service organizations may qualify. See program guidelines for rules. Application materials, guidelines and program information can be accessed under the ‘USSY Program’ tab at http://nmassp.org/.

Two scholarship recipients in NM will be selected for a trip to Washington DC this spring and a $12,500 scholarship funded by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation.

Application deadline is Oct. 9, 2026.

Middle school and high school sports schedules are published on RankOne.

The Atomic City Transit is also available. Click here to view bus schedules.

1. Reading on Grade Level 📖
Studies show that consistent attendance from Pre-K gives the best start for early literacy development. Students who aren't reading on grade level by 3rd grade have a lower chance of graduating. It starts that early!

2. Joining Classmates on Exciting Field Trips 🚌
Don't miss out on hands-on learning experiences outside the classroom, like visits to museums, nature centers, science centers, parks, and performances of all kinds. These enriching experiences help students figure out their passions.

3. Forming Lasting Friendships 😍
Attending daily allows students to foster strong social bonds and an inclusive peer network. Even if not all friendships work out, developing the skills is only possible with ongoing interaction. Students who develop their social skills through school attendance have more positive relationships, overall.

4. Developing Effective Study Habits Early ⏰
Good attendance instills vital skills like punctuality, time management and self-discipline. A big part of succeeding is learning how to learn. Daily attendance from elementary onwards helps students build their toolbox of strategies for success.

5. Demonstrating Responsibility and Commitment 🙌
Fewer disruptions means more personalized learning and academic support. Sometimes, students don't come to school because they're struggling with the material in class and staying home is a way to avoid it. But the better choice is to come to school -- that's where the support is. The more time students have with their teachers, the more successful they will be.

7. Greater Self-Esteem and Confidence 😁
Not having to play catch-up reduces stress and boosts self-assurance. This is exactly what will carry students successfully through graduation and beyond.

8. Higher Grade Point Averages 🚀
Abundant research links stellar attendance to higher GPAs and test scores. In fact, one study shows that the #1 reason students fail a course is from being absent.

9. More Scholarship and College Opportunities 🎓
Colleges want applicants with strong attendance showing perseverance. And it's not just colleges! If you're choosing a new school for middle school or high school, students must demonstrate good attendance above all.

10. Increased Lifetime Earnings and Success 💰
Excellent attendance correlates to higher career achievement and earnings potential. And not just that! It correlates to better physical and mental health, healthier relationships, and a happier quality of life. Something we want for every child!

Toppers Boys Varsity Soccer Falls To Los Lunas In Shootout

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library & The African Library Project

Toppers Volleyball Wins 3-0 Over Bosque Bobcats

Hilltoppers Battle Sundevils In Season Opener On Sullivan Field

Pizza Night Fundraiser

The LAMS PTO is having a pizza night fundraiser. Make planning dinner easy and support the LAMS PTO at the same time.

Sports Activities

Check out these sports activities around the community.

Social Emotional Wellbeing and Resources

Read more about afterschool programs, events and activities in the Community Programs newsletter.

There are many opportunities for students and families outside of school. Check out the Community Events page on the LAPS website for more events.

Please note that the Los Alamos Public Schools neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity promoted in this document. The distribution of this material is provided on an equal basis as a community service. Some fliers/brochures may contain links to external websites.

Upcoming Events

Check out the Los Alamos County Fall Activity Guide for more events and activities happening around town. Go to https://issuu.com/laccsd/docs/2026_los_alamos_county_fall_activity_guide.

Board Members

Current members of the LAPS School Board include President Sondra Wyman (District 5); Vice President Lauren Coupland (District 3); Secretary Melanie Colgan (District 4); Elisa Baker (District 1) and Antonio Jaurigue (District 2)

Secret City ESports is looking for a new Head Coach, as well as Assistant Coaches for a number of video game titles. Please consider being a coach if you are a gamer and would like to work with students.

We don't have a coach for these game titles:

Overwatch 2, Splatoon 3, Marvel Rivals, MarioKart 8, Rocket League, Fortnite: Elimination Wars, Brawlhalla, and Tetris Effect Connected.

If you don't know how to play, but would like to help out, we are still needing Volunteer Coaches on Wednesdays from 4 pm - 7 pm. Please reach out to Libbi Lovejoy at l.lovejoy@laschools.net if you are interested, or have any questions.