School Board Extends Middle School Construction Completion Date to Nov. 26
The Los Alamos School Board held a Special Board meeting Thursday. Board President Jim Hall was absent. Board Vice-president Judy Bjarke-McKenzie participated via telephone. Dave Wharram of Gerald Martin, who serves as the owner representative for the Los Alamos Middle School construction project, briefed the Los Alamos School Board on the progress of the final phase of construction by McCarthy Building Companies. The Board voted unanimously to a material change request, extending the construction completion date to Nov. 26, as previously discussed during an Aug. 23 meeting. WharramSmith’s Contributes $43,060 to Local Education
More than 20 local schools and educational entities recieved checks Wednesday from Smith’s Food & Drugs. Courtesy photo
Staff Report
Los Alamos K-12 schools and other local educational entities are the beneficiaries of a $43,060 donation from Smith’s Food & Drug Store, a result of participation in the grocer’s “Earn & Learn” rewards program.
A check presentation to each school or organization was held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Smith’s Food & Drug Store at 535 Central Ave. in Los Alamos.
More than 20 educational entities received funds. The top Read More
Jr. Toppers Have New Locations
JR. TOPPER News:
Jr. Toppers Basketball Clinics have moved this Saturday, Sept. 28.
Grades K-3 will meet 9-10 a.m. at Mountain Elementary School. Grades 4-6 will meet 9-10:30 a.m. at Los Alamos Middle School gymnasium.
Parents may begin at 8:45 a.m. to check in their Jr. Toppers. Read More
Student Body President Soumyo Lahiri-Gupta Does Much For Los Alamos
Los Alamos High School Student Body President Soumyo Lahiri-Gupta: ‘I also feel like I have a purpose when I do community service.’ Courtesy photo LAHS Homecoming Bonfire Ignites Sept. 30
Several of the LAYL members who worked on the bonfire project from left, Melissa Teter, Rachel Wallstrom, Mikayla Pullium, Cory Carnes, Esteban Abeyta, Cottrell Fox, and Ethan Clements. Courtesy photo
LAYL News:
As fall approaches, so do the homecoming celebrations! These hectic seven days, full of dances, parades, and football games are also packed with crazy spirit days, and fun activities.
Los Alamos Youth Leadership (LAYL) is proud to bring the community the annual homecoming bonfire! Scheduled for Monday, Sept. 30, everyone is welcome to stop by, support the football Read More
Spaces Available for Shark’s Tooth Ridge Trip
Fossilized shark teeth. Courtesy photo
PEEC News:
During the Cretaceous Period, much of New Mexico was beneath the sea. Because of this, remains of sharks’ teeth can be found at a site aptly named Shark’s Tooth Ridge near Cabezon, N.M
Local Geologist Patrick Rowe will lead a Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) trip to the site Saturday, Sept. 28. The group will meet at PEEC just before 8 a.m. to carpool to the site. Those who live in Santa Fe or Albuquerque can alternatively meet the group at 9:30 a.m. in San Ysidro, which is near the site. Participants of all ages are welcome to join, and Read More
Policy Agenda to Address State’s 50th Ranking in KIDS COUNT Report
STATE News:
ALBUQUERQUE—In response to New Mexico’s fall to dead last in the nation in child well-being in the national KIDS COUNT Data Book, New Mexico Voices for Children is launching a policy campaign to improve child well-being. Advocates hope the campaign, called NM KIDS are COUNTing on Us, will be embraced by elected officials and other leaders.
“New Mexico has real problems when it comes to the well-being of our children, but they are not insurmountable,” said Veronica C. García, Ed.D., Executive Director of the child advocacy organization. “There is no single solution. Read More
Barranca Mesa Elementary Holding Bobcat Pizza Day With Papa Murphy’s Sept. 25!
Barranca Mesa Elementary
Staff Report:
Barranca Mesa Elementary is holding its fall Bobcat Pizza Day with Papa Murphy’s Wednesday, Sept. 25.
Papa Murphy’s will donate $1 for each pizza ordered on Bobcat Pizza Day to the Barranca Elementary PTO. The PTO uses this and other fundraising events to support the teachers, staff and students of Barranca Elementary.
This year, the PTO’s goal is to provide Barranca School with iPads for each student in Kindergarten – 2nd grade to help enhance class lessons. Enjoy Papa Murphy’s Pizza for lunch or dinner Wednesday, Read More
LANL Announces Scholarship Winners
LANL FOUNDATION News:
Thirteen Northern New Mexicans have received $1,000 Returning Student/Regional College scholarships from the Los Alamos National Laboratory Employees’ Scholarship Fund.
The awards help students returning to a formal education for certification or a two-year degree at an accredited regional college. Many are pursuing new careers.
Funding comes from donations by LANL employees and a matching amount from Los Alamos National Security, LLC., and the scholarships are administered by the LANL Foundation.
Awards go to:
- Oakley Blasdel, Rowe, who is pursuing a degree
Learn to Coexist Peacefully with Coyotes
Coyote on a city street. Courtesy/Project Coyote
PEEC News:
Coyotes are persistent survivors of human persecution and habitat modifications. As extremely adaptable animals, they have learned to live in human-dominated landscapes. But what can we, as humans, do to coexist peacefully with them, and what do we need to know not to be afraid of them?
This will be the topic of a presentation given by David Parsons, a regional representative of Project Coyote, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC).
As a basis for understanding coyotes, Parsons will cover
UNM-LA Composition Cinema Lecture Series Presents Tsotsi
Tsotsi (Presley Chweneyagae), cares for a baby accidentally taken in a car jacking. Courtesy/Tsotsi Pictures
UNM-LA News:
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) will feature Tsotsi, Sept. 28, as the second installment in the Composition Cinema I: A Film and Lecture Series, which will run through Nov. 14.
The host for Tsotsi will be UNM-LA Adjunct Faculty member, Zandree Stidham, and the discussion will center around her course theme “Resilience: Why Things Bounce Back.”
Tsotsi presents six days in the life of a young gang leader in Johannesburg, South Africa as he cares for a baby Read More
Topper Parent Organization Presents Teacher Wish List
TPO News:
One of the ongoing activities of the Los Alamos High School Topper Parent Organization is to present a list of items needed by LAHS teachers to meet or enhance educational needs.
Parents, community groups and individuals are encouraged to donate. Based on available funds and priorities, the TPO may also acquire items for staff use.
By providing items on the LAHS Wish List, community members can help cover the gaps in supply funding, so teachers don’t have to purchase so many supplies themselves.
Drop off items at the LAHS front office with a note indicating which department and teacher Read More
Ross Szabo Addresses Suicide and Mental Health Today
Ross Szabo
Staff Report
As part of Suicide Awareness and Prevention Week at Los Alamos High School, Ross Szabo will speak at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 20 at Duane Smith Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public.
Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 16, and hospitalized at age 17 for attempting suicide, Szabo resolved to help others understand their own mental illness, that there is no shame in it and that there are ways to get help, heal and get better, by sharing his own experience.
Szabo advocates mental health by talking to hundreds of thousands of young people across the U.S. He is the Read More
Mohit Dubey National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist
National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist Mohit Dubey at the keyboard. Courtesy photoNMSA News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico School for the Arts (NMSA) senior, Mohit Dubey, has been named a semifinalist in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
The program provides academically talented high school seniors an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring.
“This is a big honor,” NMSA-Art Institute Director Riis Gonzales said. “We’re very excited for him. Mohit is a Read More
NM School for the Arts Accepting Applications
NMSA News:
SANTA FE – New Mexico School for the Arts is now accepting applications for the 2014-15 school year for the grades 9-11 (NMSA does not accept 12th grade students.)
Openings are limited and anyone interested in attending the statewide charter school is encouraged to apply and schedule a “shadow day” as soon as possible.
Admission applications can be found online at https:////www.nmschoolforthearts.org under “Admissions.”
Completed applications including the required student essay must be received by mail or fax to NMSA no later than Jan. 17, 2014.
The curriculum at NMSA Read More
Common Core Parent Institute 8 a.m. Friday
Common Core Parent Institute Hosted by LAPS
Parents and community members are invited to a Common Core Parent Institute Friday, Sept. 20, hosted by Los Alamos Public Schools.
The institute begins with registration at 8 a.m. and concludes at 4 p.m. at Crossroads Bible Church.
To successfully implement Common Core across the Los Alamos school system, parents need to understand what we are doing and why. For example, there are new expectations of skills and knowledge for K-12 students in literacy and math. Common Core standards identify Read More
School Board Holds Special Meeting and Work Session Sept. 26
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos School Board has scheduled a Special School Board meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept.26 at the Los Alamos High School Speech Theater.
The agenda item for this meeting is a “material change request” to change the completion date of the Los Alamos Middle School.
Following the Special School Board Meeting at 5:45 p.m., the Board will hold a Work Session. Agenda items include community relations and administration matters. Read More
Letter to the Editor: Shame On Us Los Alamos!
By PATRICK SORANShame on us! We are a town built on higher education and we can’t even support our community college.
Disappointing. Perhaps we are just selfish and don’t really care about future generations. After all we got ours. Read More
Letter to the Editor: Thank You Letter to Residents of Los Alamos from UNM-LA
By CEDRIC PAGE, Ph.D.Dear Residents of Los Alamos,
As Executive Director for UNM-Los Alamos, I want to extend my sincere thanks for the community support we’ve received during our recent special election. It is very rewarding to hear personal stories from our students and alumni about their many positive experiences at UNM-LA. Our contributions to the quality of life in Los Alamos are amplified in the testimonials from those who have had rewarding and, for some, life-altering experiences as a result of their participation in our programs at UNM-LA. We are proud and Read More
