Holland: A Huge Day For AFT NM-Supported Legislation
By WHITNEY HOLLAND
President
AFT New Mexico
As we have conveyed throughout the legislative session, sometime progress is slow and in other cases, it seems like everything happens all at once.
Wednesday was an “all at once” day for legislation that our union supports and has been advocating for on behalf of our members.
Wednesday, five major pieces of legislation advanced in their respective committees, and we are beginning to see more clarity about legislative outcomes relating to both healthcare and minimum hours of instruction in our schools.
Read below to see what happened Wednesday:
Wednesday, Read More
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham Nominates 10 Regents For New Mexico Colleges And Universities
By MARGARET O’HARA
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday nominated 10 people, including five students, to serve as regents at six public colleges and universities in the state.
The regent nominees must be confirmed by the Legislature to assume or continue their roles. If confirmed, they will serve a six-year term ending Dec. 31, 2028.
Lujan Grisham’s nominees included two new appointees to the University of New Mexico Board of Regents: Paul Blanchard and Paula Tackett.
Blanchard has extensive experience in construction and development and served as an executive Read More
SFCC Offers Free Online Financial Aid Workshops
SFCC News:
SANTA FE – Santa Fe Community College (SFCC) is offering free online FAFSA (Financial Aid for Federal Student Aid form) workshops for current and prospective students at 11 a.m. Wednesdays in English and 11 a.m. Thursdays in Spanish.
The SFCC Financial Aid staff will be available to help students fill out the FAFSA application. The office also offers in-person FAFSA assistance by appointment.
English-speakers can get more information about joining the online workshops at https://www.sfcc.edu/fafsa-workshops/. Spanish-speakers can read about Spanish online workshops at Read More
Heinrich Honored With Best Of Green Schools Award
U.S. SENATE News:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) was honored with the “Best of Green Schools Award” for his work on the Living Schoolyards Act by the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, in collaboration with the Green Schools National Network. The award celebrates the leaders—individuals, schools, campuses and organizations—advancing the organizations’ shared vision of green schools. Heinrich accepted the award in a video message played at the 2023 Green Schools Conference in New Orleans.
LAHS NJROTC Hosts Cowboy Breakfast Sunday March 5
LAHS NJROTC Cadets Score Well In Cibola Military Skills Competition In Albuquerque
Unarmed Regulation Drill Team marching for the judges. Courtesy/Miranda Lopez
Mixed Color Guard concluding their competition. Courtesy/Miranda Lopez
By C/ENS Miranda Lopez
Public Affairs Officer
LAHS NJROTC
The Los Alamos Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) traveled Saturday, Feb. 25 to Cibola High School in Albuquerque to compete in a military skills meet. They competed in color guard, unarmed regulation drill and physical fitness, along with sporter and precision marksmanship.
Team awards included 1st place female physical fitness team, 1st place female color Read More
K-6 LAPS Summer Learning Opportunities Registration Open
LAPS News:
Registration for the Los Alamos Public Schools Summer Learning Opportunities: Making Discoveries is now open.
All LAPS students who are currently enrolled in kindergarten through 6th grade are eligible to participate in the program where they will engage in learning activities that promote continued growth in reading and math skills.
The K-6 summer school program will take place at Mountain Elementary School June 5 through July 14, 2023. Core instruction will take place 8:30 a.m. to noon, Mondays through Thursdays.
In addition, LAPS also will offer a separate, optional afternoon Read More
Bilingual Education Advocates Push For Increased Focus
Carlos Medina, 6, waves a New Mexico flag while singing with the West Las Vegas bilingual program Friday during Bilingual Day at the Capitol. Luis Sánchez Saturno/The Santa Fe New Mexican
By Margaret O’Hara
The Santa Fe New Mexican
Students from José Eduardo Cervantes’ third-grade class at Bernalillo Elementary School are in agreement: It’s good to be bilingual.
“You can speak two languages, and you can translate to other people that don’t know a language,” Luis Martinez said.
“You can be a bilingual teacher and help other kids learn other languages,” Jared Marquez Gonzalez added.
Not only Read More
House Committee Endorses New Special Education Agency
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
A bill that would create a New Mexico Office of Special Education moved a step forward Friday as members of the House Education Committee voted to endorse it.
The vote on House Bill 285 was by a narrow margin — 6-5 — raising questions about its chances of passing both chambers with just two weeks left in the legislative session.
Several members of the committee, including at least one lawmaker who supported the measure, questioned whether such an agency would make much of a difference when it comes to improving the education of the state’s roughly 50,600 Read More
LAPS On March Prevention Theme: Sleep Awareness
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) is addressing the March Prevention Theme: Sleep Awareness. Are you or someone you know struggling with irritability or feeling overwhelmed? Having trouble managing your emotions and staying focused? Feeling sluggish and unmotivated? It might be a good time to check in on the amount and quality of sleep you’re getting.
Sleep is a time for the body to rest and repair and for the brain to integrate and process the day’s information and events. Lack of sleep can have negative impacts on mental and physical health for children, youth and adults.
Adequate Read More
PEEC Hosts Talk On Beaver Reintroduction At Bandelier
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn about the beaver reintroduction program at Bandelier. Courtesy/PEEC
PEEC News:
Bandelier National Monument’s Biological Science Technician Priscilla Hare will present a talk about the Beaver reintroduction program at Bandelier at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 at the Los Alamos Nature Center or via Zoom.
Bandelier has been reintroducing beavers to Frijoles Canyon since 2019. Learn about the reintroduction program and how beavers help the ecosystem and provide habitat for many species.
For more information about this event and registration, visit the Read More
Northern New Mexico College Alumnus Brenda ‘G Precious’ Atencio Wins Native American Music Award
NNMC alumnus Brenda ‘G Precious’ Atencio wins Native American Music Award. Courtesy/NNMC
NNMC News:
ESPAÑOLA — It sounds like a plot from a Hollywood movie: a chance conversation opens the door for a hip-hop/R & B artist from Ohkay Owingeh to write lyrics and record a song with Grammy Award Winner Macy Gray. But that is what happened to Northern New Mexico College (NNMC) alumnus Brenda “G Precious” Atencio. That recording, “Unforgettable”, won the Native American Music Awards 2022 “Best Song of the Year.”
“During COVID, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time in the right Read More
Los Alamos Middle & High School Jazz Bands Perform At Albuquerque Jazz Festival
Los Alamos High School and middle school Jazz Bands perform Feb. 17 at Albuquerque Jazz Festival. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Middle School and high school jazz bands performed Feb. 17, along with their directors, Ryan Finn, Alexander Mancino and William Finn, at the 2023 Albuquerque/UNM Jazz Festival.
Students in all four ensembles played works by Herbie Hancock, Sammy Nestico, Cole Porter, Tito Puente, Thelonious Monk, Victor López and more.
Part of this event included performing for an expert panel. Three judges provided written and voice recorded comments for the bands. Read More
Bill To Provide Free School Lunches Heads To Senate Floor
The Roundhouse in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
By ROBERT NOTT
The Santa Fe New Mexican
When it comes to school lunches, Alejandro Najera laid it out straight for the lawmakers.
Senate Bill 4, the fifth grader from East San Jose Elementary School in Albuquerque told the Senate Finance Committee Thursday morning, might mean school kids “have better lunches that taste fresher, better.”
SB 4 would provide funding for public schools to offer two free meals a day — breakfast and lunch — to all students, regardless of whether they can pay for the meals or not.
It also encourages districts to prepare healthier Read More
Los Alamos High School Celebrates Naming Of Ramsey Stage At Duane Smith Auditorium
Ross and Lola Ramsey. Courtesy/LAPS Foundation
LAPS Foundation News:
The community of Los Alamos is invited to the celebration for the Ross and Lola Ramsey Stage at 6 p.m. March 17 in the Duane Smith Auditorium lobby, prior to the Olions 7 p.m. performance of Pippin. The celebration will include refreshments and the unveiling of a plaque honoring the Ramseys and their contribution to the community, along with the announcement of the first scholarship recipient of the Ross and Lola Ramsey Memorial Scholarship. The community and especially Los Alamos High School alumni are encouraged to attend Read More
LAHS Teachers Lori Thompson & Ellen McBee Introduce Students To Exciting World Of Literature And Sports
Los Alamos High School Teacher Lori Thompson visited the Los Alamos Daily Post Monday afternoon to present the news team with flowers and a large thank you card signed by all of her students expressing appreciation for the support the Post has given them this school year. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
By CAROL A. CLARK
Los Alamos Daily Post
caclark@ladailypost.com
In the first year of the Literature and Composition in Sports (Sports Lit) program at Los Alamos High School, English teachers Lori Thompson and Ellen McBee have been introducing their students to an exciting new world. Read More
Books Can Change The World For The Better
Packing parties for the books going to Malawi had help from 6 year olds to 80+ year olds. Courtesy photo
Packing parties for the books going to Malawi had help from 6 year olds to 80+ year olds. Courtesy photo
KIWANIS News:
While March 2, the birthday of Dr. Seuss, is widely celebrated as Read Across America Day, Los Alamos Kiwanis school clubs would like to extend that to “Read Across Africa Day” too!
The recent drive to collect loads of children’s books over the past few months in Los Alamos to make 8 school libraries in Malawi, through the African Library Project, was a HUGE success! Very close Read More
UNM-LA Closed For Today Due To Weather Conditions
UNM-LA News:
The UNM-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) campus has closed for today due to inclement weather conditions.
All on-site classes and activities are canceled. Read More
Winners Of Heart Smart Poster Contest
Courtesy photo
The Family Y News:
February is often associated with love and hearts, but it also is American Heart Month. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; one in every three deaths is from heart disease and stroke, equal to 2,200 deaths per day.
This month the Family YMCA is highlighting ways to prevent heart disease and teach youth early on how to stay Heart Smart.
The Y gave a challenge to the community’s kids (Kindergarten-6th grade) to make posters that creatively teach about ways of fighting heart disease and living a healthy life. The competition was Read More
LAHS Basketball Hosts 1st Round State Tournament Friday
LAHS News:
The Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Varsity Girls Basketball team will host the Valley High School Vikings this Friday in Griffith Gymnasium in the first round of the state tournament.
The game starts at 6 p.m. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.
There will be no cash sales and all sales are through GoFan. Passes will not be accepted.
The link to purchase tickets for Friday’s game is: https://gofan.co/app/events/931383?schoolId=NMAA
Concessions will be available. Only cash is accepted for concession sales.
Come out and cheer for our players. Go Toppers! Read More