Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) Pre-Kindergarten staff are celebrated during a professional development event sponsored by LAPS Foundation May 17 at Pig & Fig. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
From left, LAPS Foundation Executive Director Jenny McCumber, Board President Judy Bjarke-McKenzie and Board Member Rita Sanchez. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
LAPS FOUNDATION News:
Pre-Kindergarten staff from Los Alamos Public Schools gathered for a professional development event May 17 at Pig & Fig Café, sponsored by the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation (LAPS Foundation).
In addition to experiencing a special meal created by Chef Laura Crucet, the Pre-K teachers and instructional assistants spent time collaborating with colleagues and joined in table discussions about best practices.
“Having time to be together, celebrate their hard work, receive fun classroom materials and discuss ideas resulted in a wonderful evening,” LAPS Foundation Executive Director Jenny McCumber said.
“The evening was about recognizing and honoring our Pre-K staff for their time, commitment and dedication to early childhood education,” LAPS Pre-K Director Gina Terrazas said. “The laughter, the camaraderie, and the feedback were invaluable and is something we all learned from. The amount of time, trainings, classes and meetings they attend does not go unnoticed and we wanted all of our Pre-K staff to know that we ‘see’ them, we value them and we are encouraged by them.”
The staff have worked diligently in building the foundation of early literacy, social/emotional development and improving each child’s growth with kindergarten readiness in mind, Terrazas said.
“This event was such an important opportunity for our teachers, and at the end of the evening, the smiles and the laughter was worth every minute of it,” she said.
The Pre-K program at LAPS has grown this year. Many more children in Los Alamos have been able to participate than in past years, McCumber said. Previously only two elementary schools had Pre-K programs and numbers were limited for children who could participate. This school year LAPS expanded Pre-K to four of the elementary schools in Los Alamos, with 160 Pre-K students.
“Next year all five elementary schools will have Pre-K and the program will include an additional class for 3 year olds at Mountain and an additional class for 4 year olds at Chamisa,” she said. “Thanks to this expansion, LAPS is able to serve many more families in Los Alamos with pre-kindergarten age children.”
For information about the Pre-K program, visit https://sites.google.com/laschools.net/registration/home.
LAPS Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Guy, left, and LAPS Pre-K Director Gina Terrazas welcome Pre-School staff to a professional development event May 17 at Pig & Fig. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com
These party favors for teachers may look mad now, but when turned inside out, show a happy face. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon/ladailypost.com