LAPS Newsletter

Remember to set your clocks ahead on Sunday, March 9.

Monday, March 17 - Friday, March 21 (no school for students and staff)

Monday, March 17

2025 All Schools Student Art Show

Thursday, February 20 - Wednesday, March 12

Step Up Gallery, Mesa Public Library

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

March 7, March 8, March 9

Click here to purchase tickets.

March 3 - March 7

Friday, March 14

Orchestra MPA Preview Performance

Tuesday, March 4

Music Performance Assessments

Thursday, March 6 - Friday, March 7

Band MPA Preview Concet

Monday, March 10

Choir MPA Preview Concert

Tuesday, March 11

Music Performance Assessments

Wednesday, March 12 - Thursday, March 13

Join us for Drugs, Sex and Phones Part 2: Tips and Skills for Families to Navigate Smart Phones, Social Media and Gaming on Tuesday, March 4 starting at 6 pm in the Los Alamos High School Topper Library. This interactive workshop is for parents and caregivers of students in all grades.

Thursday, March 13 and Friday, March 14 (no school for elementary students)

The next School Board Meeting is Tuesday, March 11 in the School Boardroom. Click here for more information about the School Board meetings.

2024-2025 School Calendar

Multicultural Calendar of Events

For other events and activities, check out the school site calendars on the LAPS website.

Members of the Los Alamos Middle School Hawktalkers and the Los Alamos High School Hilltalkers left last Friday for the state competition.

The Los Alamos High School NJROTC held its annual Area 20 inspection last week in Griffith Gymnasium. Area Manager George Murga was on hand to witness the events as cadets performed and were judged on close order drills. They passed with flying colors.

Click here to watch the drills.

Dr. Rebecca Kilburn, Research Professor at UNM’s Prevention Research Center and Dylan Pell, Mental Health Epidemiologist at the NM Department of Health presented highlights from the Los Alamos High School 2023 Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey findings last week.

The New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (NM-YRRS) is a tool to assess the health risk behaviors and resiliency (protective) factors of New Mexico high school and middle school students. Topic areas for the NM-YRRS include risk behaviors related to issues like alcohol and drug use, and health status issues such as body weight and asthma.

Link to the video

Link to the audio

Link to the closed captioning transcript

Link to the 2023 High School report

Link to the 2023 Middle School report

Elementary choir students attended the annual music festival in Santa Fe. Aspen Elementary School music teacher Jacob Lucero was in charge of organizing this event and did an excellent job. Students from schools in northern New Mexico had the opportunity to learn drumming, marimba, drama, and more.

The Arrive Alive tour made a stop at Los Alamos High School last week to learn about distracted driving awareness. The Arrive Alive Tour uses a high-tech, state-of-the-art simulator that allows participants to drive while distracted, drunk, or drugged in a fully functioning vehicle—without moving or being intoxicated.

The School Board met at Los Alamos Middle School last Thursday for a work session. LAPS music teachers were recognized at the start of the meeting and reminded everyone that March is Music in Our Schools Month.

The Los Alamos Middle School admin team gave the middle school report, citing ways the school is on the move toward 100% in student wellbeing and academic excellence. Test scores from the beginning of the year to the middle of the year have seen improvements in reading, ELA and math. Math teacher Christina Wadlington noted that the changes implemented this year in the math department, especially the professional learning community (PLC) training opportunities and common assessments, has made a difference.

School Board members approved a $300,000 one time allocation from leased facilities funding to expand the Summer Institute this June. This program provides professional development for teachers.

The 2025-2026 school calendar was also approved. Staff will return for the 2025-2026 school year on August 5; students return to class on August 13. The last day of school will be May 29, 2026.

The next School Board meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11 in the School Boardroom.

Los Alamos Public Schools will open online registration for the 2025-2026 school year at 8:00 am on Monday, March 3, 2025 for students planning to attend LAPS in the fall. This includes new and returning students, kindergarten and preschool.

Go to www.laschools.net/registration for more information and to register beginning on March 3 using either a computer or smartphone.

The Returning student registration form will be available through the parent PowerSchool portal at https://laps.powerschool.com/public

All students planning to attend any LAPS site must complete the registration process. Students in grades 6th-11th who completed course selection are also required to complete the returning student registration form, as this is in addition to course selection. Please make sure to select the 2025-2026 school year when registering.

Students planning to participate on a sports team at the middle school or high school must also complete the athletics registration process. Physicals must be completed after April 1.

Returning Students

A student who is currently attending any LAPS school will be considered a returning student for the 2025-2026 school year. This includes out-of-district students who attended during the 2024-2025 school year, and students currently enrolled in the PreK program.

Students currently in 6th grade moving from a LAPS elementary school to the middle school, or 8th grade students at the middle school moving to the high school for the 2025-2026 school year are also considered returning students.

New Students

New students including Out-of-district students and those who did not attend a LAPS school during the 2024-2025 school year must apply using the New Student Registration Form.

Kindergarten

Admission to kindergarten as required by New Mexico State Statute (N.M. Stat. Ann. § 22-13-3), shall be made solely on the basis of chronological age. A child who is 5 years of age prior to 12:01 am MDT on September 1 of the school year can enter kindergarten at the beginning of that school year. Students who were part of the PreK program enrolling in kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year may enroll as returning students for kindergarten enrollment.

Preschool

Preschool programs are available at all five elementary schools. A child who is 4 years of age prior to 12:01 am MDT on September 1, 2025 may enroll for preschool for the 2025-2026 school year.

Questions

For questions, please contact Rosa Schmitz at r.schmitz@laschools.net or (505) 663-2201.

As the community knows, there is a major outbreak of measles in Texas, which has expanded into New Mexico. So far, there are 124 cases in Texas, mostly among children, and last week a child in Texas died of measles. There are 9 cases in Lea County, NM, four among children below 18 years of age and 5 among people over 18.

Some community members have asked us about vaccination against measles, especially if adults need a booster shot. Here are the CDC recommendations on measles vaccine:

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/vaccine-considerations/index.html#:~:text=Routine%20recommendations-,Children,6%20years%20(before%20school%20entry)

In addition, here are the CDC recommendations for specific groups, including people at high-risk:

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/hcp/vaccine-considerations/specific-groups.html

The key points concerning adults are:

• If you were born before 1957, it is presumed that you have immunity to measles and do not need a vaccine now
• If you got a vaccine prior to 1968, CDC recommends that you get one or two more doses of the present vaccine
• If you got vaccinated after 1968, it is presumed that you are immune to measles and do not need another vaccine.

The last recommendation is based on evidence that shows that two dose measles vaccination offered since 1968 is 97% effective and considered to confer lifelong immunity for most people.

However, in the face of the present measles outbreak, if adults have concerns about their continuing immunity to measles, we encourage them to speak with their healthcare provider. They may discuss with you a blood test to check if you are still immune to measles and whether or not additional vaccination would be warranted.

If the measles outbreak continues to expand in New Mexico, we hope that the New Mexico Department of Health will offer additional guidance on measles vaccination, particularly for children not yet fully vaccinated. For now, parents of such children who are concerned about measles may wish to speak with their children's healthcare provider about the scheduling of vaccines for those children not yet vaccinated or fully vaccinated. This is covered in the CDC recommendations on vaccination for "groups at increased risk during measles outbreaks."

If you have any questions you should reach out to your health care provider or your school nurse.

Make a teacher's wish come true!

From Valentine's Day through March 14, you can show a teacher a little extra love through the LAPS Foundation's Shower with Love campaign. It's easy! Go to https://showerlove25.givesmart.com, select a teacher, and donate any amount toward their wish list item. The Foundation will purchase the item once the donation amount is fulfilled. It’s a simple but effective way to show our teachers how much they are appreciated. In addition to supporting teachers, your donations directly impact students and provide them with extra learning opportunities they wouldn’t have without community support.

Let’s shower them with love again this year!

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.Click here for more information.

March sessions are March 8 and March 29. To register, email lahssaturdayschool@laschools.net with the student's name and date requested.

Topper Wrestlers Compete In 2025 State Tournament

Los Alamos High School NJROTC Passes Annual Area 20 Inspection With Flying Colors

School Of Rock Family Movie Night March 7

Hilltopper Swim And Dive Team Goes To State

Arrive Alive Tour Friday Brings Drunk & Distracted Driving Simulator To Los Alamos High School

Topper Swim Teams Place In 2025 State Tournament

Los Alamos Public Schools is hiring for several positions around the district. Click here to learn more.

Our Benefits Package Includes medical, dental/vision, LTD and STD, life insurance, pension and competitive salary. Other benefits of working for LAPS include preferential placement for out-of-district students who are children of school employees and a "Grow Your Own" program for licensed employees adding degrees and credentials -- LAPS pays for Masters' degrees, additional certification.

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.

Los Alamos Middle School

Baseball

Tuesday, March 11 vs. Santa Fe Indian School @ Senior Field, 3 pm and 5 pm

Thursday, March 13 vs. Albuquerque Academy Middle School

@ Albuquerque Academy, 3 pm and 5 pm

Softball

Monday, March 3 vs. Rio Rancho Middle School @ Rio Rancho High School, 3 pm and 4:30 pm

Tuesday, March 4 vs. St. Michael's Middle School @ Bun Ryan Softball Field, 4 pm

Tuesday, March 11 vs. Santa Fe Indian School @ Bun Ryan Softball Field, 3 pm and 5 pm

Thursday, March 13 vs. Albuquerque Academy Middle School @ Oun Ryan Softball Field,

3 pm and 5 pm

Thursday, March 27 vs. Santo Domingo Middle School @ Bun Ryan Softball Field 3 pm and 5 pm

Track & Field

Wednesday, March 26 vs. Rio Rancho @ Cleveland High School, 4 pm

Los Alamos High School

JV Baseball

Monday, March 3 vs. Santa Fe Indian School @ Senior Field, 3 pm and 5 pm

Monday, March 10 vs. Capital High School @ Senior Field, 3 pm and 5 pm

Monday, March 24 vs. Santa Fe Indian School @ Santa Fe Indian School, 3 pm and 5 pm

Wednesday, March 26 vs. Santa Fe High School @ Senior Field, 3 pm and 5 pm

Varsity Baseball

Thursday, March 6, Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8, St. Pius Tourney @ St. Pius High School

Tuesday, March 11 vs. Robertson High School @ Robertson High School, 4 pm

Thursday, March 13 vs. Sandia Prep High School @ Sandia Prep High School, 4 pm

Thursday, March 20, Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22, Artesia Invitational @ Artesia High School

Wednesday, March 26 vs. Santa Fe High School @ Bomber Field, 3 pm and 5 pm

JV Softball

Monday, March 3 vs. Belen High School @ Overlook Softball Fields, 4 pm

Thursday, March 6 vs. Valencia High School @ Valencia High School, 4 pm

Monday, March 10 vs. Capital High School @ Lovato Field, Overlook Softball Fields, 3 pm and 5 pm

Tuesday, March 25 vs. Santa Fe High School @ Overlook Softball Fields, 3:30 pm and 5 pm

Varsity Softball

Monday, March 3 vs. Belen High School @ Overlook Softball Fields, 4 pm

Thursday, March 6 vs. Valencia High School @ Valencia High School, 6 pm

Saturday, March 8 vs. Albuquerque Academy @ Albuquerque Academy, 11 am

Wednesday, March 19 - Saturday, March 22, APS Tournament

Tuesday, March 25 vs. Santa Fe High School @ Overlook Softball Fields, 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm

Thursday, March 27 vs. Capital High School @ Capital High School, 4 pm and 6 pm

Tennis

Tuesday, March 11 vs. Rio Rancho High School @ Mesa Tennis Courts

Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15, Santa Fe High School Quad

Tuesday, March 25 vs. Taos High School @ Taos High School

Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29, Espanola Quad

Track & Field

Saturday, March 8, Chile Quad @ Sandia Prep

Saturday, March 15, Rio Rancho Rust Buster @ Rio Rancho High School

Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22, Chandler Invite in Chandler, AZ

Thursday, March 27, Bernalillo Relays @ Bernalillo High School

eSports

Splatoon 3 and Street Fighter 6 play at 4pm on Tuesdays. Super Smash Bros Unlimited plays at

4 pm on Wednesdays. Rocket League, Madden, MarioKart 8, and Hearthstone all play at 4 pm on Thursdays.

March 24 - April 4, Playoffs

March 28 - March 30, NMSU Invitational

April 10 - April 12, State Competition

Each day/week we show a different group on our stream, which can be viewed here: https://www.twitch.tv/secretcityesports/videos

Check out RankOne for schedules.

Olions

Friday, March 7, Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, Spring Production, "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

Music Performance Assessments

Friday, March 7, LAMS Orchestra

National History Day

Friday, March 7

Science Bowl Competition

Saturday, March 8

NJROTC Drill Meet

Saturday, March 8

Spring Choir Workshop

Thursday, March 13 (Elementary choir students)

Regional Science Fair

Saturday, March 22

Find out more information about your school.

Aspen Elementary

Barranca Mesa Elementary

Chamisa Elementary

Mountain Elementary

Piñon Elementary

LAOLA

Los Alamos Middle School

Los Alamos High School