LAPS Newsletter

The First Day of School for the 2026-2027 school year is Monday, August 10 (K-12).

The first day of Preschool is Wednesday, August 12.

Monday, August 10: First Day of School (K - 12)

Tuesday, August 11: School Board Meeting

Wednesday, August 12: First Day of Preschool

Thursday, August 27: School Board Work Session

Monday, September 7: Holiday - Labor Day

Friday, September 18: Homecoming 2026

Early dismissal for students

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

All LAPS students will be released one hour early on Fridays this school year.

Click below to access school supply lists for your school site.

New Mexico's back-to-school Gross Receipts Tax Holiday for 2026 runs from Friday, July 31 at 12:01 am to Sunday, August 2 at midnight. During this weekend, retailers can deduct the gross receipts tax on qualifying items. Note that retailer participation is voluntary.

Qualifying items and their price limits include:

• Clothing and footwear: Under $100 per item.

• Computers and tablets (desktop, laptop, notebook): Up to $1,000.

• Computer-related hardware/accessories: Up to $500 (e.g., monitors, keyboards, mice, speakers).

• Handheld calculators: Under $200.

• School supplies: Under $30 per item (items for general education use).

Items that do not qualify and remain fully taxable include jewelry, handbags, luggage, athletic gear, and accessories.

For a full list of eligible products, check the official state guidelines on the Taxation and Revenue New Mexico page.

Welcome preschool students and parents to Los Alamos Public Schools! Each elementary site will have 4 year old preschool classes. The school year will be filled with fun activities and learning opportunities. More information will be sent separately from each school site.

The 3 year old preschool program is in session Monday through Thursday. The morning session runs from 8:00 am - 11 am, and the afternoon session runs from 11:40 am - 2:40 pm. Three year old preschool classes are held at Barranca Mesa Elementary, Mountain Elementary and Piñon Elementary schools.

If you are in need of preschool school supplies, please let me know. The Backpack Project, through the Family Strengths Network, is available to provide school supplies to families in need.

Jennifer Washnok

Preschool Director

Wednesday, August 12: First Day of School

Full day for preschool students at all school sites

Elementary School hours are 8:10 am - 2:40 pm Monday -through Thursday, and 8:10 am - 1:40 pm on Friday. Each elementary school will share bell schedules with families and will also post bell schedules on their website.

Friday, August 7: Meet the Teacher

2 pm - 3 pm

All elementary school sites

Class lists will be posted at 2:00 pm. Students may also bring supplies to school.

Monday, August 10: First Day of School

Full day for all students in kindergarten through 6th grade at all school sites

Principals and assistant principals at each elementary site are busy getting ready for the first day of school.

Any 5th grade student interested in participating in beginning band at their school site during the 2026-2027 school year will need to complete the LAPS 5th Grade Beginning Band Registration.

For questions, contact Deanna Teague at d.teague@laschools.net.

The Los Alamos Middle School Admin Team is ready to greet students with a smile! Team members are Principal Alicia Cardiel, Assistant Principal Colby Holland and Assistant Principal Meagan Selis.

Wednesday, August 5: LAMS Materials Pick Up

Schedule listed below

Friday, August 7: 7th Grade and Students New to District Orientation

9:30 am - 11:30 am

Monday, August 10: First Day of School

Students follow A Day Schedule

Tuesday, August 11

Students follow B Day Schedule

Wednesday, August 12

Students follow A Day Schedule

Thursday, August 13

Students follow B Day Schedule

Friday, August 14

Students follow 7-Period Day Schedule

Materials Pick-Up Day

LAMS students will be able to pick up materials on Wednesday, August 5. Please plan to attend during your assigned time by grade and last name.

Please note that this year, we will not be issuing textbooks or PE uniforms during this time. These will be issued during the first week of school. Those with PE during the second semester will get their PE uniforms then.

Helpful hint: Avoid the long line by not coming at the very beginning of your time slot.

8TH Grade Times:

• Last Names A - G, 9:00 am - 9:45 am
• Last Names H - N, 9:45 am - 10:30 am
• Last Name O - Z, 10:30 am - 11:15 am

7TH Grade Times

• Last Names A - G, 12 pm - 12:45 pm
• Last Names H - N, 12:45 pm - 1:30 pm
• Last Names O - Z, 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm

If you miss Wednesday, schedules and Chromebooks may be picked up on Friday, August 7:

For 7th and 8th Grades:

• Last Names A - G, 12 pm - 1:00 pm
• Last Names H - N, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
• Last Names O - Z, 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Middle School hours are 8:40 am - 3:30 pm Monday -through Thursday, and 8:40 am - 2:30 pm on Friday. Bell schedules and the A/B calendar are posted below.

Beginning Aug. 1, the YMCA Los Alamos Teen Center officially expanded membership eligibility to include rising 8th grade students who attend the Los Alamos Public Schools. Homeschooled 8th graders and private school students living in Los Alamos County are also welcome to join.

The Teen Center serves local teens through a variety of programs and activities, including recreation, arts programming, leadership opportunities, movie nights, gaming events, community collaborations, workshops, volunteer projects, and a supervised after-school space.

The YMCA Los Alamos Teen Center is a program of The Family YMCA and receives its operational funding through a contract with Los Alamos County. It works in collaboration with the schools, local organizations, and community partners to provide safe, supportive, and engaging opportunities for teens in Los Alamos County. Membership is free for Los Alamos County students in grades 8–12.

For more information about the Teen Center, or to register your teen, please visit https://laymca.org/los-alamos-teen-center. The Teen Center phone is 505.695.7415, email is latc@laymca.org, and address is 475 20th St.

Upgrades to the field at the middle school are complete. The first home football game for the Hawks will be on Tuesday, September 2.

Photo courtesy of Nate Limback Photography.

Admin team members at Los Alamos High School include Principal Jill Gonzales, Assistant Principal Suzanne Montoya, Assistant Principal Caron Inglis and Athletic Director Guy Meyer.

Thursday, August 6: 2026-2027 Class Schedules Available

Students may access their Powerschool class schedules at the end of the day

Friday, August 7: Orientation for Incoming Freshmen and New (to LAPS) Students

8:30 am -11 am

Start in Duane Smith Auditorium

Friday, August 7: Freshman Parent/Guardian Orientation

10:30 am - 11 am

Duane Smith Auditorium

Friday, August 7: New Student Luncheon & Orientation

11:30 am - 1 pm

Monday, August 10: First Day of School

Special Schedule

The first day of class this coming school year will be Monday, August 10. Orientation will be on Friday, August 7 for incoming Freshmen and New (to LAPS) Students. Information about this orientation may be found here.

In preparation for the coming year, please note::

• Schedules for the 2026-2027 school year will be viewable in PowerSchool on Thursday, August 6 by the end of the day.

• All students will take new ID photos along with their School Pictures on August 25 and August 26.. Additional details regarding Photo Days will be sent via email at a later date.

• Students who would like to request a locker should complete the Locker Request form. Hallway lockers are no longer automatically assigned to any student.

• Freshman and new students will pick up new Chromebooks.

• Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors will use the Chromebooks they currently have.

Fees can be paid online through Powerschool or with this link: https://laschools.revtrak.net/. If there are holes in your schedule or class errors, please wait to pay fees until the schedule in Powerschool is set for the semester. Please plan to pay your fee bill before the end of the first semester of the school year. Contact Deb Hogue at lahsbookkeeper@laschools.net if you have any questions.

High School hours are 8:30 am - 3:30 pm Monday -through Thursday, and 8:30 am - 2:30 pm on Friday. The A/B calendar is posted below. Bell schedules will be finalized before the start of the school year.

Varsity football begins practices on Monday, August 3. High school soccer, cross country, golf, tennis and volleyball practices begin on Monday, August 10. The fall sports season at the middle school starts on Wednesday, August 12.

Click here for more information about football, volleyball and cheer at the middle school.

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. Hard copies will not be accepted.

Click here for information about athletic registration.

If you have any questions, contact: the LAHS Athletics department at 505-663-2531 or email the Athletics Department at:

• Athletic Director: Guy Meyer, g.meyer@laschools.net
• Assistant Athletic Director: Doug Weiss, d.weiss@laschools.net
• Athletics Assistant: Sarah Morgan, s.morgan@laschools.net

Season passes and all tickets for fall athletic events will go on sale beginning August 10. They may be purchased in advance or with a debit/credit card at the gate. Cash will not be accepted at the gate. Click here to purchase tickets or season passes.

All season passes include entry to all middle school games as well as high school regular season games. Passes are good for admission to all regular season home games but will not be accepted for any postseason events. The cost for a season pass is $85 for an individual, $50 for a student (K-6), military or senior citizen (65+) or $175 for a family of four.

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

Each student that meets the requirements to ride the school bus must complete a 2026-2027 Student Bus Card. Check out LAPS Bus Services for more information and to review bus routes.

If your student's IEP team has determined that your child is eligible for transportation as a related service, please complete the Special Education Bus Card.

Please note that all route stops are subject to change and/or elimination based on the bus cards received. Students that meets the requirements to ride the school bus must complete a 2026-2027 Student Bus Card.

DRIVERS

• STOP for a school bus with the red flashing light and the stop arm extended. All traffic is required to stop, even in both directions of a two-lane road. Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop, so proceed with caution.
• DRIVE SLOWLY and look for children waiting at the bus stop, walking or riding their bicycles to school.
• BE ALERT when pulling up to a bus stop because children might be running out to the bus.
• OBEY all school zone speed limits, look for students in crosswalks and NEVER pass a bus on the outside of a turn.
• DO NOT STOP in crosswalks.
• NEVER PASS a vehicle stopped for pedestrians or a school bus.

STUDENT DROP OFFS

• Pull up in the designated drop-off area.
• Follow all instructions given by school staff.
• Do not stop in the roadway to drop off children.
• Encourage children to use crosswalks.

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

Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) is pleased to offer a free breakfast and lunch to all of our students.

LAPS utilizes the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) model pertaining to USDA and NSLP requirements. This model provides students with more of a choice for both breakfast and lunch service.

Our food service provider will make substitutions for students with disabilities that restrict diet, on a case-by-case basis. These substitutions must be supported by a written statement from a licensed physician. If a student has a dietary need this must be communicated to the school site nurse. The school site will inform our food service partner so they can prepare the requested meal for the student. You can view menus online at https://laschools.nutrislice.com/menu.

Even though all students can participate in the breakfast and lunch program we encourage all families to complete the free and reduced meal program application. These applications are used for other important funding opportunities which support the district and our students. Also, students become eligible for reduced fees at school sites based on these applications. Please use the online option at www.schoolcafe.com.

If you are unable to complete the online option please download a copy of the Free and Reduced Meal Program Application (en español). Instructions for this application can be found at USDA Application Instructions. Email the completed form to the Assistant Superintendent for Operations and Safety at m.johnson@laschools.net.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the school lunch program please send an email to m.johnson@laschools.net.

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Instrucciones en español
Aplicación en español

Just a reminder that all students planning to attend any LAPS site must complete the online registration process. Middle and high school students who completed course selection are also required to complete registration, as this is a different process than course selection.

Students and families are strongly encouraged to complete registration prior to the first day of school. Click the button below if you have not completed registration for the 2026-2027 school year.

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

LAPS uses the School Messenger system to notify parents for reasons that impact safety and academic performance of students.

Once your child is enrolled at LAPS, you will be automatically enrolled to receive email notifications from School Messenger. LAPS highly recommends that parents also sign up for text messaging so that they may receive important announcements via text, such as emergency notifications. To sign up for text messaging, please follow these instructions in English or Spanish.

If you have a student in one of our schools, please ensure that your school contact information and emergency contact information is up-to-date.

by Rhonda L. Randall, D.O., Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare, Employer & Individual

As families prepare for the upcoming school year, many are focused on school supplies, schedules and getting back into routines. But one of the most important back-to-school steps happens before the first day of class: scheduling a well-child visit.

Because many pediatric and family practice schedules often fill quickly throughout the summer, now is an ideal time for parents to make appointments. These preventive visits help ensure children and adolescents are ready for the year ahead, not only academically, but physically, emotionally and developmentally.

What is a well-child visit?

Well-child visits are annual preventive appointments with a pediatrician or family medicine provider. Sometimes referred to as physicals, these visits help track a child’s overall health and development, including:

• Growth and developmental milestones
• Immunizations and preventive screenings
• Vision and hearing checks
• Emotional and behavioral health

Beyond these clinical measures, well-child visits also give parents a chance to complete school or sports forms and raise any concerns before the school year begins. More importantly, they create dedicated time for families and providers to discuss a child’s overall wellbeing, connecting physical health with emotional wellness and any developmental concerns that may affect success in school and at home.

Mental health is part of overall health

The broader view of a checkup may be especially important when it comes to mental health. A child’s emotional wellbeing may be closely linked to their physical health. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 5 children ages 3 to 17 in the US has a diagnosable mental, emotional or behavioral disorder. Mental health needs can look different depending on age and stage of development.

Young children may experience separation anxiety or behavioral outbursts. School-age children may struggle with focus, stress or social challenges. Teens may show changes in mood, sleep or engagement. While many of these changes are a normal part of growing up, they can also signal when additional support may be needed.

The good news is that early conversations with a pediatrician can make a difference. A well-child visit is a natural time to check in and help children understand that it’s okay to talk about how they’re feeling. These conversations may also help normalize emotional health as an essential part of routine care.

To help support these conversations and preventive care visits, families are encouraged to review their health plan benefits and available resources as many plans include behavioral health support and programs like Child & Family Behavioral Coaching, which may help families navigate everyday emotional and behavioral challenges.

The importance of dental & vision care

Don’t forget to take advantage of vision and dental benefits to help make sure kiddos are ready to learn.

Vision benefits may include annual eye exams that can detect changes in eyesight that may affect learning in the classroom. More than 600,000 children and teens in the U.S. suffer from some form of vision loss. School-based screenings are valuable but may not detect more complex issues. Annual comprehensive eye exams are recommended throughout the school years.

Dental benefits may include routine cleanings and exams that help catch concerns before they become more serious. Tooth decay, or cavities, is one of the most common chronic diseases among children and may contribute to missed days at school. Help monitor teeth and gum health with dental exams twice a year. Ensure your children are brushing for 2 minutes twice a day and flossing daily.

Don’t forget a healthy diet

Proper nutrition is essential when it comes to supporting your child’s physical and emotional health, plus their growth and development. That includes meals with a variety of vegetables, whole fruits, grains, dairy and proteins. It’s best to avoid foods high in added sugars, saturated fats and sodium.

Scheduling a well-child visit is a simple but important step that gives families the opportunity to address concerns support a child’s overall wellbeing throughout the year.

New Mexico children can get free required back-to-school vaccinations at clinics statewide from June 13 through Aug. 29, with more than 60 participating locations offering hours that include evenings and weekends.

The Got Shots special immunization clinics, offered through the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), the New Mexico Primary Care Association and the New Mexico Immunization Coalition are open to all children from birth through age 18. No insurance is required, though parents should bring their child's vaccination record and insurance card if they have one. No child will be turned away for lack of coverage.

“Back-to-school vaccinations play a vital role in protecting children and communities from many serious diseases, and getting vaccinated helps protect you and your loved ones’ health,” said Andrea Romero, the NMDOH immunization program section manager.

At least 63 public health offices, community health centers and private practices are participating in the Got Shots campaign, with some providers holding clinic hours evenings and weekends to accommodate parents’ busy schedules. Parents should call ahead to the clinic to see if an appointment is needed.

NMDOH offers easy ways to see what shots your child needs and where to get them:

• Click here to view or download a copy of the New Mexico Childcare/Pre-School/School Entry Immunization Requirements for 2026-27 vaccination season.

• Find a shot clinic nearest you by visiting our Don’t wait, Vaccinate webpage at https://vaccine.doh.nm.gov/. There you can schedule appointments with your local primary care provider or pharmacy or NMDOH public health office in your community.

• If you need help making an appointment or finding a provider, call the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833 796-8773) or text questions to 6636

The US just set a record for the most measles cases in a single year since 1991. Read this Op-Ed piece by Richard Skolnik, former Director for Health for South Asia at the World Bank. and the New Mexico lead for Grandparents for Vaccines, for more information about the seriousness of measles.

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)

Meetings

The Los Alamos Public Schools Board meets on the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month with the exception of April, November and December. All meetings are held in person and live streamed via Zoom beginning at 5:30 pm. Click here for more information about the School Board meetings.

Upcoming Meetings/Work Sessions

Tuesday, August 11 in the School Boardroom

Thursday, August 27 at Piñon Elementary School