UNM-LA Campus Opening 10 AM Today Due To Snow
UNM-LA News:
The UNM-Los Alamos campus will open at 10 a.m. today due to inclement weather. Read More
Los Alamos Public Schools On Two-Hour Delay
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Public Schools is on a two-hour delay today, Feb. 17.
All schools will start 2 hours late and buses will arrive at their stops 2 hours late.
Children should dress warmly. Before school programs are canceled today.
“Please be cautious on roadways and watch for possible snow or ice on walkways,” Interim Superintendent Jennifer Guy said. “Travel when your family feels safe to do so. Tardiness due to weather will be excused.” Read More
LAPS 2022-2023 School Year Registration Opens March 7
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools will open online registration for the 2022-2023 school year at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 7, 2022 for all students planning to attend LAPS in the fall.
This includes returning students, new students, kindergarten and preschool.
LAPS uses SchoolMint Registration for this process each school year. The system is fully secure and environmentally conscientious, and allows the district to verify all student information prior to the start of the new school year. The registration system also allows for the electronic signing of all annual permission forms. The Read More
Heinrich Addresses NACo, Highlights Success Of Taking A Two-Generation Approach To Increase Education And Economic Opportunities For Families
From the Office of U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich:
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During remarks at the 2022 National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), announced that he will reintroduce the bipartisan Two-Generation Economic Empowerment Act to increase educational success and economic opportunities for families living in poverty.
“We need to alter the way that we think about service delivery to families who want to achieve economic security, educational success, and healthy outcomes. That starts with taking a two-generation approach that Read More
New Mexico Teacher Pay Hikes Head To Governor
New Mexico Education Secretary Dr. Kurt Steinhaus
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Advocates calling for teacher pay raises have reason to celebrate.
The House of Representatives voted unanimously late Monday night to approve Senate Bill 1, which would increase the minimum pay at each level of the state’s three-tiered teacher licensing system by $10,000. The measure is one strategy aimed at addressing a crisis-level teacher shortage across New Mexico.
SB 1 now heads to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who put her support behind the legislation early on. She called it the largest Read More
PEEC Executive Director Katie Bruell Stepping Down
Katie Bruell
PEEC News:
The Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) announces the resignation of its executive director, Katie Bruell, effective May 20.
Bruell was the first executive director of this formerly all-volunteer organization, and has been with PEEC since 2009.
“I love PEEC and the important work it does in our community and beyond. I believe it’s a good time for new ideas, new leadership, new energy, and new passion to lead our organization on to more great things,” Bruell said.
The organization has begun its search for a new leader. For more information on the job posting, Read More
Salary Increase For New Mexico Teachers Passes House
STATE News:
SANTA FE — The New Mexico House of Representatives voted unanimously Monday night to increase teacher pay to help New Mexico recruit and retain high quality teachers.
SB 1 would increase minimum educator salary levels in the state’s three-tier licensure system to $50,000, $60,000, and $70,000 for level 1, 2, and 3 teachers respectively.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Debra Sariñana (D-Albuquerque) and Senators Mimi Stewart (D-Albuquerque) and Siah Correa Hemphill (D-Silver City).
“In order for our students to thrive, New Mexico teachers should be the best-compensated teachers Read More
Call For Nominations For Centerra Los Alamos And LANL Foundation Annual Excellence In Teaching Award
Nominations are open for the Centerra Los Alamos & LANL Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award. Courtesy/LANLF
LANL Foundation News:
Nominations are now open for the annual Excellence in Teaching Award.
Centerra Los Alamos, the Laboratory’s proforce contractor, in partnership with the LANL Foundation, created the Excellence in Teaching Award to honor teachers and bring encouragement and support to the education profession in Rio Arriba County and Pojoaque, where the majority of Centerra’s employees reside and raise their families.
Since 2016, the Excellence in Teaching Award, Read More
Rotary Hosts Guest Speakers From France & South Africa
Rotarians Preggie Naidoo, left, and Martin Bucher, third from right, in September 2021 with math tutors at Mariannridge Secondary School in Pinetown, South Africa. Courtesy/Durban Umhlatuzana Rotary
By LINDA HULL
Vice President
Rotary Club of Los Alamos
The wide world of Rotary International was especially meaningful Feb. 1 when guest speakers and Rotarians Martin Bucher from France and Preggie Naidoo from South Africa, joined members of the Rotary Club of Los Alamos via Zoom.
Although well into the evening in both Paris and Durban, Bucher and Naidoo gave a presentation about the project Read More
Help Shower LAPS With Love!
By Jenny McCumber
Executive Director
LAPS Foundation
The LAPS Foundation is sponsoring a community-wide campaign starting on Valentine’s Day to “Shower” Los Alamos teachers with wish list items they have identified.
Go to https://showerlove.givesmart.com and donate money for resources teachers need for their classrooms.
Last spring our community donated over $14,000 to help all the schools get educational materials like books, curriculum, art supplies, outdoor learning items, etc.
With the Foundation’s additional match, over $28,000 went to our schools.
As a community let’s Read More
LAHS Eco Club Holding Climate Strike At Pond Friday
By ADALEE WITT
President
2021-22 LAHS Eco Club
In an effort to spread awareness about the necessity of political action for climate change, the Eco Club at Los Alamos High School is taking part in a Fridays For Future Strike 3-4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18 at Ashley Pond Park.
We invite anyone from the community to join us as we meet 3-3:30 p.m. at the Ashley Pond stage and march 3:30-4:30 p.m. around the downtown area.
Fridays For Future is an international movement started by activist Greta Thunberg.
The Eco Club is participating to show its dedication and concern for the situation surrounding current Read More
Los Alamos High School Alumni Seek To Name Stage At Duane Smith Auditorium After Ross & Lola Ramsey
Toper Review Cast 1972. Courtesy/LAPS Foundation
Ross and Lola Ramsey. Courtesy/LAPS Foundation
LAPS Foundation News:
Two Los Alamos High School alumni are working with the Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Foundation and LAHS Principal Carter Payne to name the stage at the Duane Smith Auditorium “The Ramsey Stage” in honor of Ross and Lola Ramsey.
The Ramseys founded The Olions and managed the auditorium between its opening in 1951 and 1974 when they both retired. In addition to their work with high school students, they supported the Little Theatre and the Light Opera organizations.
The Read More
New Mexico Governor Celebrates Bipartisan Passage Of Priority Bill Opportunity Scholarship Act In Senate
Sen. Liz Stefanics
From the Office of the Governor:
SANTA FE – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham issued the following statement today after the state Senate voted with bipartisan support to pass Senate Bill 140, the Opportunity Scholarship Act, which would provide free college to up to 35,000 New Mexico students:
“With the passage of Senate Bill 140, we will continue to lead the nation in providing the opportunity for anyone who wishes to pursue a higher education to do so. Whether it’s a certificate in welding or a four-year degree in education, the Opportunity Scholarship clears a pathway for all Read More
Amateur Naturalist: Why Are There Piles Of Boulders?
Picture 1: A boulder pile attracting children to its top. Photo by Robert Dryja
Picture 2: The gently sloping shore line of the lake that had been in the Valle Grande. Photo by Robert Dryja
By ROBERT DRYJA
Los Alamos
Areas of the Valles Caldera have remarkable boulders. The boulders are in piles that may be 20 to 30 feet high. They are set in fields of level grass.
Picture 1 above shows such a pile. It is irresistible to children who then clamber to the top and explore caves at its base. How were piles of boulders created such as this one? Several factors may have come together.
The first major eruption in Read More
Kenner: Educators Need Feedback Just Like Students Do
By CHRIS KENNER
Teach Plus New Mexico
“Ms. Kenner, can you look at this please?” “Wow Edgar! Your writing has come far this year! Let’s take a quick look from the beginning of the year.” I flipped to the beginning of his writing notebook to a page in August, then to today’s writing page, so that Edgar, one of my 5th graders, could see just how far he’s grown. Edgar smiled all the way back to his desk as I also beamed with pride.
There’s something magical when a student recognizes their own growth through feedback. They strut to their desk with a little more confidence, they’re a little more Read More
Chart 602: COVID Diagnoses For LAPS Feb. 5 – Feb. 11
The bars in this chart display the number of COVID-19 diagnoses by school for the past week. Source: Los Alamos Public Schools. Created by Eli Ben-NaimTwo Minute Legislative Action: Send Letter To Senate Finance Committee In Support Of Educational Funding
By WHITNEY HOLLAND
President
AFT NM New Mexico
As we head into the weekend, your union is still hard at work fighting for our profession and our students through advocating for a few, targeted additions to the budget for Fiscal Year ’23.
Part of the fight is for additional funding for ancillary educators and educational assistant minimum salaries. Our Legislative allies are also fighting for these issues, so we encourage you to act TODAY!
As members of the Senate Finance Committee put Read More
Longenecker & Associates Awards Two $5,000 Scholarships To Northern New Mexico College Students
Check presentation, from left, L&A Project Analyst Ruby Rincon, L&A Manager Lindsay Wallace, L&A President John Longenecker, NNMC Major Gifts Officer Judith Pepper and Former NNMC Vice President for Finance and Administration Ricky Bajarano. Courtesy/Longenecker & Associates
NNMC News:
ESPAÑOLA — Longenecker & Associates (L&A), a subcontractor of Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) and the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract, has established a scholarship fund to help Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) students prepare for careers in the Department Read More
Follow The Steps To A Career With LAPS
Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Follow the steps to a career with Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS).
LAPS is hiring several positions, including custodial staff and instructional assistants.
LAPS also is looking for maintenance technician staff, including grounds, lock and key, preventative and electricians helper. Starting pay is $15 per hour.
LAPS employees also receive paid holidays, paid vacation, medical, dental and vision coverage, life insurance, YMCA membership and a retirement plan. In addition, there are opportunities for continuing education and advancement.
For more information Read More
LAMS Hosts ‘Future Hawk Day’ For LAPS 6th Graders
Future Hawks check out art elective classes during the Hawk Sampler. Courtesy/LAMS
Parents and students visit classrooms and talk to teachers about electives during the Hawk Sampler. Courtesy/LAMS
LAMS News:
More than 280 6th graders from all five elementary schools in the district participated Monday in Future Hawk Day at Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS).
Principal Suzanne Lynne and Assistant Principal Andy Ainsworth and LAMS staff were on hand to welcome students as they gathered in the courtyard before breaking out into groups.
Students then moved through five rotations, including Read More
