UNM-LA SBDC Offers Business Skills Workshops
UNM-LA SBDC News:
The Los Alamos Branch of the Small Business Development Center is conducting three seminars in October to help small business owners and entrepreneurs improve their business skills.
Effective Techniques for Working with People
Oct. 22, 3-5 p.m., room 214, UNM-LA campus.
Topics to be covered will include:
- How to work with those younger/older people that you don’t understand/don’t understand you.
- What workers are really looking for in a job.
- Three secrets to leadership that will make everyone’s life easier, whether or not they’re a leader.
- More effective
Pinon and Chamisa Join Forces for Fall Fun
Pumpkin Patch fun. Photo by Kelly BennerLAPS News:
The Eighth Annual Pinon Elementary Pumpkin Patch and the Annual Chamisa Elementary Arts and Craft Fair is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 at Pinon Elementary, 90 Grand Canyon Dr. in White Rock. It has become a huge White Rock fall festival.
The Pumpkin Patch has lots of new and exciting events this year, organizers said. In addition to all the pumpkins for sale, there will be a rock wall for the kids to climb, a Hay Maze three bales high, rubber duck races, a cardboard “alpine slide,” angry birds catapult, hair painting, face painting, Read More
UNM-LA to Show Gandhi in Composition Cinema Lecture Series Oct. 24
UNM-LA News:
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) will feature Gandhi, Oct. 24, as the fourth installment in the Composition Cinema I: A Film and Lecture Series, which will run through Nov. 14.
The host for Gandhi will be UNM-LA Adjunct Faculty member, Dora Akleksandrova, and the discussion will center around her course theme “free will.”
Gandhi is a biography about Mohandas Gandhi, the spiritual and political leader of the non-violent resistance movement (Satyagraha) in India against the United Kingdom’s rule during the 20th century.
The film is free and open to the public and Read More
School Board Holds Work Session Thursday
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board has scheduled a work session at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24 at Los Alamos Middle School, Room 149.
Agenda items include a Strategic Plan Fiscal report, Azazo Lease Report, a progress update on the Study Group for Teachers’ Concerns, Los Alamos Middle School Principal’s Report and a policy review. Read More
UNM-LA Faculty to Attend National Science Foundation Conference
By VINT MILLER Three faculty members from the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos, will be attending a National Science Foundation (NSF) conference Oct. 23-25 in Washington, DC.
Dr. Irina Alvestad, Dr. Kate Massengale and Professor Don Davis will be attending ATE@20: Sustaining Success and Advancing Innovation. ATE stands for Advanced Technological Education and is a special grant opportunity offered to two-year schools by the NSF.
Attendees represent two-year colleges, business and industry, secondary school systems, four-year colleges and research and development centers Read More
Teacher Book Groups Get Food For Thought
Piñon Elementary School teachers show off the books they’ll be reading thanks to the LAPS Foundation. Courtesy photo
LAPS FOUNDATION News:
Professional Book Groups for Los Alamos Public Schools teachers and instructional assistants are a rewarding and low-cost way for the LAPS Foundation to provide professional development. Two types of professional book groups were considered for funding:
- Educators will examine instructional techniques with the goal of implementing new or refined practices in the classroom or broadening their pedagogical knowledge.
- Educators will select
Judges Needed for Speech and Debate Tournament
HILLTALKERS News:
The Los Alamos Hilltalkers Speech and Debate Team’s annual invitational tournament is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 1 and Saturday, Nov. 2 at Los Alamos High School.
This local event has built a strong reputation drawing teams from around the state eager for rigorous competition and high-quality feedback from engaged, trained judges.
The tournament serves as the team’s largest fundraiser and educational event and offers an opportunity for Los Alamos community members to participate and support the team by serving as judges.
There are numerous speech and debate sessions Read More
School Board Moves to Ease Teacher Burdens
Dist. 43 Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, center, and others listen to Assistant Superintendent Gerry Washburn as he gives an overview of the history of the New Mexico Teacher Evaluation System. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Mountain Principal James Ivanovich explains how the new Teacher Evaluation System affects principals. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.comThe mood was cautiously optimistic at the close of Tuesday’s special meeting of the Los Alamos School Board.
The purpose of the meeting was to draft Read More
Checkout Special School Board Meeting Videos
Superintendent Gene Schmidt. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
The Los Alamos School Board held a special meeting Tuesday evening in the Los Alamos High School Speech Theater to discuss reducing the work load involved with teacher evaluation procedures being developed by the New Mexico Public Education Department.
The board voted 5-0 to find ways to reduce the work load on principals and teachers in regard to the new procedures. A full story of the special meeting will follow shortly in the Los Alamos Daily Post.
Also, the Los Alamos Daily Post streamed Tuesday’s Read More
Watch Tuesday’s School Board Meeting Live on ladailypost.com
LA DAILY POST News:
Anyone unable to attend Tuesday’s Special Board Meeting at 5 p.m. at the Speech Theater at Los Alamos High School can watch it streamed live on the Los Alamos Daily Post.
There is much interest in the meeting called by Board President Jim Hall to formalize the guidance given to administration at the Oct. 8 Board Meeting. At that meeting, 29 teachers expressed to the board their concern with the new state-mandated teacher evaluation program.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Hall is expected to present the following motion for discussion and possible action. “I move that the Read More
Education Funding 101: It’s Time to Address Education Funding
It’s Time to Address Education FundingThis school year, Los Alamos Public Schools received $33M from State ($25M) and Federal ($8M) governments but is operating at a budget of $36M. The gap between revenue and expense ($3M) was paid primarily from the Los Alamos Public Schools lease fund.
Even though Los Alamos Public Schools spent about $3M over the State and Federal allotments, some Los Alamos families have been negatively impacted by a shortage of school funds. Ask the parents of second graders at Mountain, Barranca and Aspen Elementary Schools Read More
Special Board Meeting to Formalize Guidance Given on Teacher Concerns
LAPS News:
Special Board Meeting at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 has moved to the Speech Theater at Los Alamos High School.
- Pledge of Allegiance
- Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Approval of Agenda
- Public Comment
- Presentation and Recommendation of the Superintendent and information for the Board
Board President Jim Hall called this special meeting of the Board to formalize the guidance given to administration at the Oct. 8 Board Meeting.
Hall will present the following motion for discussion and possible action. “I move that the administration work with teaching staff to give priority to the following Read More
Letter to the Editor: A Reasonable and Measured Approach
A Reasonable and Measured Approach
Education in New Mexico and throughout the nation is undergoing significant change. Newly introduced Common Core Standards are replacing learning benchmarks that required a generation of students to be “proficient.” Federal “No Child Left Behind” assessments used in past years called for students to be proficient as measured by Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). The failure of these standards is demonstrated by the oft-reported failure of NM high school graduates to be prepared for college Read More
Potential Liability Claim Looms If LAMS Contractor Misses Extended Deadline
The School Board from left, Matt Williams, David Foster, President Jim Hall, Judy Bjarke-McKenzie and Kevin Honnell. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/lladailypost.com
Staff Report
The School Board approved a motion to send forward a material change request to the contract with McCarthy Building Companies, changing the completion date of the Los Alamos Middle School construction project from Oct. 31 to Nov. 26. Council Member Kevin Honnell cast the sole nay vote.
Dave Wharram of Gerald Martin, who serves as the owner representative for the LAMS construction project said he did not believe that Read More
Letter to the Editor: When Will Enough Be Enough?
By MIKE BAKERTeachers like other professionals don’t normally speak out about the unbearable conditions they work under and how over worked they are. Yes, they speak about this with small groups of co-workers as they set out to accomplish their tasks. Now is the time you must speak out, and exercise your 1st amendment right to FREE SPEECH guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States. If you don’t speak out conditions will not change and change it must. As education professionals you are not just talking about change Read More
UNM-LA Artistic Pumpkin Carving Class Perfect for Entire Family
Courtesy photo
UNM-LA News:
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) will offer a class in artistic pumpkin carving taught by expert pumpkin carver Lori Dauelsberg. The class meets 6-8 p.m. for two consecutive Thursdays, Oct. 17-24, in room 614 on the UNM-LA campus.
“Pumpkin carving has become a much more sophisticated undertaking,” says Eva Artschwager, Director of Community Education. “The simple Jack-O-Lanterns that you may remember from childhood have been replaced by elaborate silhouettes of faces, spiders, and complex scenes. It’s really amazing.”
When it comes to pumpkin Read More
Special Meeting Targets Teacher Concerns
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board will hold a Special School Board Meeting at 5 p.m., Tuesday at the District Office, 2075 Trinity Dr., Suite V.
The agenda items for the meeting include the board taking action on concerns raised by teachers regarding state and district initiatives and programs, request district administration to present a plan in response to teachers’ concerns, and to direct administration to draft a letter to the State Department of Education. Read More
Frustration With Teacher Evaluation System Boils Over
Educators listen to fellow teachers express their frustrations at Tuesday’s School Board Meeting. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.com
LAHS U.S. History Teacher Jonathon Lathrop speaks about how over-regulation and paperwork are driving teachers from the district. Photo by Salvador Zapien/ladailypost.comMore than 50 Los Alamos teachers and their supporters, many wearing red to signify their support for Los Alamos teachers, attended the Oct. 8 meeting of the Los Alamos School Board to voice their frustration
Mountain School’s Halloween Carnival Oct. 18
MOUNTAIN SCHOOL News:
Mountain Elementary School’s annual Halloween Carnival has a new time and day: 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18.
This is a week earlier than previous years and the start time is a little earlier for families with little ones. Weather permitting, game booths will be outdoors on the upper playground.
The carnival began in the 1970s as a safe and fun alternative to trick-or-treating. This year, the festivities include the popular haunted house, silent auction, book fair, cake walk, face painting, game booths and prizes.
Tickets are $5 for 20; games are 3 tickets each,
Chamisa Cheetah William Ramsey Awarded New Bike!
Chamisa Cheetah William Ramsey, a kindergarten student, was rewarded with a bicycle by Rick Garland and the Masonic Lodge after a summer of reading. The donated bikes inspired Ramsey to read 3,855 minutes. Additional student winners included Maddox Martinez (4th grade) 1,980 minutes (kindle), Isabelle Romero (4th grade) 6,668 minutes (bike) and Gloria Ramos (6th grade) 19,035 minutes (kindle). Courtesy photo Read More
