AFT Reacts To Governor’s Plan To Re-Open Schools
AFT News:
SANTA FE — American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly released the following statement:
“Since the initial closure of in-person learning throughout New Mexico’s public education system, our union has maintained a collaborative approach to not only addressing the on-going needs of the students, families, and educators we serve, but have also laid the groundwork for today’s announcement of expanded opportunities for a safer return to in-person education.
“Driven by science, and prioritizing Read More
New Mexico Land Commissioner And Game Commission Sign Four-Year Easement Agreement For Hunting Access
Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard
STATE LAND OFFICE News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico’s Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard and the New Mexico Game Commission have entered into a four-year easement agreement to give licensed hunters and anglers access to nearly nine million acres of state trust land.
Through the easement, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will pay an annual rate of $800,000 directly to the State Land Office for access, along with agreeing to spend an additional $200,000 annually on mutually-agreed upon projects to improve sportsperson access Read More
Office Of Renewable Energy Announces Two New Projects: 480 Acres Leased For Solar And 642 Acres Leased for Wind
Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard in her Office in Santa Fe. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
STATE LAND OFFICE News:
…New renewable energy projects will bring $5.2M in new revenue for New Mexico public schools
SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Land Office held auctions Jan. 8 for two renewable energy projects. The winning bidders – Wildcat Solar Power Plant, LLC and Boulevard Associates, LLC will move forward with development of new solar and wind energy projects that combined will bring an estimated $5.2 million in new revenue for the state trust land beneficiary.
In both Read More
New Mexico Schools Cleared To Re-Open In Hybrid
Executive Director Amanda Aragon
NewMexicoKidsCAN
Education News:
SANTA FE — During Tuesday’s State of the State address, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that New Mexico’s public schools can re-open under hybrid format at the discretion of their local school or governing boards.
Many of New Mexico’s approximately 330,000 students have not been able to attend school in-person since the initial school closure was announced 10 months ago.
“This is an important step forward in making sure that every student and family has the option to choose what is best for them, whether that is in-person Read More
LAPS Addresses Expansion Of In-Person Learning
LAPS News:
Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus and the Los Alamos Public Schools Leadership Team issued the following message this evening:
Dear LAPS Staff, Students and Families,
New Mexico news outlets are excitedly sharing Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s announcement from today’s State of the State address that, “Every school district in the state will be able to welcome all students safely back into the classroom on Feb. 8”.
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) is pleased to hear about this opportunity, if not a bit surprised by the date. The district has been planning for our students to return Read More
New Course Offered At Los Alamos High School Focuses On Native American Cultural Studies
New Course at LAHS Focuses on Native American Cultural Studies. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Ten LAHS students joined teacher Kimberly Engelking this semester for the inaugural New Mexico Native American Cultural Studies class.
Engelking pursued this course offering in response to the School Board’s resolution in recognition of Native American Heritage month in November 2018. The Board resolved to use Native American history and culture in our curriculum and activities at school to interact with tribal leadership as well as the Yazzie/Martinez court decision.
LAPS is fully aware of the Read More
LAPS Shares 2021 Los Alamos County Science Fair Results
LAMS 8th grader William Borovina earned 1st place in the Animal Science Junior Division and Best in Show in the Life Science Junior Division for his project on a comparison of hardness between collected Fossil shark teeth and Modern shark teeth. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Fifty-nine students participated in the 2021 Los Alamos County Science Fair this past weekend, with six projects being named best of show in the elementary, junior and senior categories.
Every student participant is considered to be a winner.
“We were able to host the Science Fair while sticking to the current COVID restrictions Read More
Los Alamos School Board Holds Work Session Jan. 28
Kick Off Great Kindness Week With Happy Heart Hunt
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) invites the community to kick off the Great Kindness Week with the Los Alamos Happy Heart Hunt.
There is no better time to remember the importance of small acts of kindness and finding the positive moments. Make a Happy Heart and put it in your window for the Happy Heart Hunt!
Cut out a heart of any size from any material (craft paper, cardboard, wrapping paper, newspaper, fabric or other.). Decorate your heart with a positive message or just leave it blank, and then tape your heart to a street-facing window to show your love to all.
Then, as you’re driving Read More
American Federation Of Teachers New Mexico And NEA New Mexico React To Cancellation Of Vaccines For Educators
AFT News:
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Stephanie Ly, National Education Association-New Mexico President Mary Parr-Sanchez, and Rio Rancho School Employees Union President Billie Helean released the following statement:
“Despite scheduling vaccination events in conjunction with Rio Rancho Public Schools, Sandoval County, and the Sandoval Regional Medical Center and educational staff being included in New Mexico’s vaccination Phase 1B, the last minute cancellation of distribution of vaccines to Rio Rancho Public School Employees is a cruel and short-sighted Read More
21 New Mexico Public Schools On COVID-19 Watchlist
NMPED News:
SANTA FE — Twenty-one New Mexico public school buildings appeared on the COVID-19 Watchlist in the week ending Friday, Jan. 22, signifying they had at least two Rapid Responses within a 14-day period.
Those school buildings are:
ALBUQUERQUE:
- Hope Christian Elementary
- Menaul School
BAYARD
- Cobre High
BLOOMFIELD
- Bloomfield High
CARLSBAD
- Hillcrest Preschool
CLOVIS
- Mesa Elementary
DEMING
- Deming Public Schools-Administration Office
FARMINGTON
- Farmington Municipal Schools — Plant Op
HOBBS
- College Lane Elementary
- Houston Middle
JEMEZ PUEBLO
- Jemez Valley Elementary
Attorney General Hector Balderas And Wife Denise Balderas Give Back To New Mexico Highlands University
Hector and Denise Balderas
NMHU News:
LAS VEGAS, NM — New Mexico Highlands University alumnus Hector Balderas, the New Mexico Attorney General, is giving back to his alma mater through working with students in the university’s Legislative Fellowship Program.
Denise Balderas, the attorney general’s wife, also is a Highlands alumna. She is working with the university’s Facundo Valdez School of Social Work to develop a field practicum for a student at New Mexico ABLE, which she directs.
“I was raised in a vulnerable and impoverished small community in Northern New Mexico,” Hector Balderas Read More
LAPS Update On COVID And Safe Learning Environments
By Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus
Los Alamos Public Schools
Los Alamos Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kurt Steinhaus today sent the following message to LAPS parents and families:
Dear LAPS Parents and Families,
This message is part of a series of updates about coronavirus and what LAPS is doing to support healthy learning environments.
Let me begin by stating that student and staff safety is paramount and that we are learning more every day about the virus and the growing number of variants.
Click here to see the LAPS Community Promise for a Healthy School Environment. With this in Read More
JJAB Announces Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings
LAHS Introduces New Course Offering For 2021-2022
LAPS News:
With course selection opening for Los Alamos High School students, upcoming juniors and seniors will have another option to fulfill their English credit requirement toward graduation.
English teachers Margo Batha and Suzanne Montoya have partnered to teach Southwest Narratives: Life and Literature of New Mexico.
Click here to view the video that Montoya created to promote this new course offering.
“Mrs. Montoya and I believe in the power of place-based learning and community-based education for our students,” Batha said. “We want to offer juniors and seniors at Los Alamos Read More
Lawmaker Proposes Overhaul To Graduation Requirements
Rep. G. Andrés Romero
By ROBERT NOTT
SFNM
A New Mexico lawmaker who works in education is proposing an overhaul to the state’s high school graduation criteria in a bill that would reduce the number of required classes and give students the option of skipping Algebra 2.
Rep. G. Andrés Romero, D-Albuquerque, has introduced House Bill 83, which also would allow students to choose a capstone class — a long-term project exploring an interest, such as a profession or social issue — in lieu of a core subject.
Under the bill, a high school student opting for the capstone would have to work with an educator Read More
Legislators Look At Safely Reopening New Mexico Schools
Sen. William Soules
Chair Senate Education Committee
By ROBERT NOTT
SFNM
As state education officials continue to look for ways to safely reopen schools to students, Republican legislators want that power to be put in the hands of local school boards.
“The goal is to try to get as many kids back into in-house schooling as soon as possible — safely,” said Sen. David Gallegos, R-Eunice, who said he plans to file legislation giving school boards, rather than the state, the authority to do that.
He said the bill will include an emergency clause making it law as soon as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Read More
LAPS Launches Great Kindness Challenge
River Irving, Eliana Padilla, Jaia Tyson, Ian Vest and Jewel Jaramillo help celebrate the Great Kindness Week in 2020 at Aspen Elementary School. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools is participating in the 10th annual Great Kindness Challenge the week of Jan. 25-29 and invites the entire community to join in.
The Great Kindness Challenge is a positive and uplifting program that creates a culture of kindness in schools, communities and the world. Using a simple kindness checklist, schools and families are challenged to complete as many acts of kindness as possible.
Some of the Read More
Canceled: In-person Learning At LAPS Elementary Schools
LAPS News:
All in-person learning at Los Alamos elementary schools is canceled today due to inclement weather.
Food service also is canceled for today. Meals for pick-up will be available 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pinon and Aspen elementary schools in White Rock.
Principals are available to help answer questions.
Walkways are slick so everyone is encouraged to wear weather appropriate shoes and boots. Read More
UNM-Los Alamos Now Closed Due To Inclement Weather
UNM-LA News:
UNM-Los Alamos is no longer on a 2-hour delay but has closed due to the continued inclement weather blanketing the area.
The closure at UNM-LA includes online and remote operations. Read More
