Column: Building Better Schools … Building Brighter Futures
By Dr. Gene Schmidt, superintendentOn Jan. 29, 2013, the voters of Los Alamos County will have the opportunity to build a brighter future for students with their vote on an all-mailed ballot for a $20 million construction bond that would not raise the tax rate.
The upcoming bond will fund the replacement of the academic wing of Aspen Elementary School.
The bond will also fund a variety of infrastructure costs such as new sewer and water lines Read More
Topper Band to Perform at Disneyland
Los Alamos High School Marching Band. Courtesy/LAHS
By Maire O’Neill
The Los Alamos High School Topper Band has been selected to perform at Disneyland in a coveted spot in the “Mainstreet USA” parade on Sunday, April 7, 2013, Director of Bands Zane Meek said.
Bands are selected by audition to perform in the parade. Additionally, the band will be working with Disney musicians and clinicians in a “Soundtrack Session” where they will learn what it is to record a music track for a movie scene.
“What a great honor it is to be chosen for this event,” Meek Read More
New Mexico Awarded $25 Million in Race to Top Funds
U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan
DEA News:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico’s Third District highlighted today $25 million in “Race to the Top” funds that New Mexico will receive to improve education in the state.
The grant from the Department of Education is part of the “Early Learning Challenge” that focuses on improving early learning and development programs for young children by supporting states’ efforts to:
· increase the number and percentage of low-income and disadvantaged children in each age group of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers Read More
Second Edition of ‘Los Alamos Place Names’ Is Here
Author Craig Martin
Book News:
Trinity Drive. Peggy Sue Bridge. Bathtub Row. The history of Los Alamos is written it the names given to locations around town.
The origins of those names and many more are discussed in the long-awaited second edition of Place Names of Los Alamos by local author Craig Martin.
“The first edition has been out of print since 2002 and I’ve been promising the Los Alamos Historical Society an update since 2005, so it’s about time,” Martin said.
The book chronicles the stories behind about 500 names, and the second edition includes two dozen new places that have acquired Read More
LAHS Staff Receives Royal Feast
Illustration
By Maire O’Neill
Los Alamos High School staff was treated to a magnificent feast for lunch on Friday catered by members of the Topper Parent Organization (TPO.)
Some 30 parents prepared everything from posole to some delicious, decadent chocolate mousse concoction containing fudge and Heath bars. Several parents were on hand to set up the luncheon and serve the staff.
PTO president Janine Tulenko has been involved in her son Jack’s schools as a parent volunteer since he was in second grade at Aspen Elementary School. This will be the last year on the committee for Tulenko, Read More
LAHS Students Tapped for All State Concert Ensembles
LAHS Marching Band. Courtesy/LAHS
By Maire O’Neill
Seventeen Los Alamos High School band students have been selected for participation or as alternates for the 2013 All State Concert Ensembles.
Some 1,000 entrants from around the state competed to perform at the all-state clinic and conference in Albuquerque Jan. 9-12, 2013.
Bandelier Screening ‘Canes of Power’ Dec. 4
Courtesy/indianartsandculture.orgThis is an 11th-hour announcement, but all Bandelier National Monument employees and the general public are invited to Bandelier National Monument Visitor Center for a screening of “Canes of Power.”
“Canes of Power” is a documentary about the governors’ canes given to the Pueblos by President Abe Lincoln.
Cochiti Pueblo Lt. Gov. Michael Pecos will present the screening at 2 p.m. for those who gather in the Visitor Center Auditorium.
With the recent big screen production on Lincoln, there has
Con Alma Awards $20K to Espanola Teen Center
Courtesy photo
YMCA News:
Española – Con Alma’s Northern New Mexico Health Grant Group has awarded $20,000 to the Española YMCA Teen Center in support of student achievement and to address risky behaviors.
Los Alamos Family YMCA Executive Director Linda Daly said NNMHGG’s award signifies a commitment to improving health outcomes for youth in northern New Mexico.
“Multi-agency partnering within communities is proving to be one of the most effective means of improving educational outcomes for youth and thus positively affect their health outcomes,” Daly said. “The skill building classes Read More
Was Hurricane Sandy New Storm Breed?
‘Inside the Megastorm’ takes viewers moment by moment through Hurricane Sandy, its impacts and the future of storm protection. Through first person accounts from those who survived, and from experts and scientists, ‘Inside the Megastorm’ gives scientific context to a new breed of storms. Courtesy/PBS
PBS News:
Was Hurricane Sandy a freak combination of weather systems? Or are hurricanes increasing in intensity due to warming climate?
Learn more at this month’s New Mexico PBS Science Café: “Inside the Megastorm.”
This Science Café will be held 10 a.m. Read More
LADOC Teaches Kids Dog Ownership Skills
Kayleen Lederman demonstrates ‘jump’ in agility with her dog Owen. Courtesy/LADOC
LADOC News:
This fall Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club (LADOC) has been offering a special class called the paRENT Free Club or “RENT” free club for children.
Local youth were instructed in responsible dog ownership and how to train their dogs in the class especially designed for them.
Parents of youth attending the paRENT Free Club arrived at the end to watch a demonstration of what their child and dog learned each week.
Saturday, Dec. 1, the fall session ended with a demonstration of skills Read More
Nominations Sought for PBS Teacher Innovators
PBS News:
Attention New Mexico teachers – New Mexico PBS, Ch. 5.1 invites you to enter the PBS Teacher Innovator Competition.
Are you an innovative educator? Show us how you inspire your students and you could win a trip to the Henry Ford in Dearborn, Mich. for a weeklong “Innovation Immersion Experience.”
The deadline to enter is Dec. 12.
New Mexico PBS, Ch.5.1 (Albuquerque/Santa Fe), PBS LearningMedia (pbslearningmedia.org) and The Henry Ford (thehenryford.org) are proud to bring you the third annual PBS Teacher Innovator Awards to recognize innovative PreK-12 classroom educators, Read More
Pontsettia Pick Up Location Changed!
The location has changed for the poinsettia pick-up from the student Europe 2013 fundraiser. Poinsettias can be picked up at First Baptist Church until noon today, Dec. 1, instead of Crossroads Bible Church. Students sold 198 poinsettias and 147 bags of coffee, raising more than $2,000 toward this summer’s European trip. Photo by Lynn Ovaska Read More
Family YMCA Hosts Scholastic Book Fair
A little girl kisses Clifford the Big Red Dog during the Los Alamos Family YMCA’s Scholastic Book Fair Friday. Photo by Diana Martinez/YMCA
Geronimo Stilton and Clifford the Big Red Dog are ready to pose for photos with children who attended Friday’s Scholastic Book Fair hosted by the Los Alamos Family YMCA. Photo by Diana Martinez/YMCAUNM-LA Hosts Native American Heritage Day
Eagle Dance and Buffalo Dance were performed at Native American Heritage Day Thursday, Nov. 29 on the UNM-Los Alamos campus. The college hosted the festive event. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon
A young dancer shows off his colorful clothes lined with feathers. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon Read More
Column: School Board Election Slated for Feb. 6, 2013
By Dr. Gene SchmidtIt is not too soon to begin thinking about the School Board election slated for Feb. 5, 2013.
Two White Rock positions will be up for election.
Current Pinon Elementary School Board representative Dawn Venhaus and Chamisa Elementary School Board representative Melanie McKinley announced that they would not seek re-election.
The school district and community is grateful for their years of service on the Board.
To help inform the public about these open Board positions, a special information night is set for 5:30 p.m. Dec. 4, at Read More
Meet Local Reptiles and Amphibians Sunday at PEEC
PEEC News:
Come to PEEC at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2 to meet some local reptiles and amphibians you might find on the Pajarito Plateau.
Scott Bulgrin, president of the New Mexico Herpetological Society, will give a presentation on New Mexico Reptiles and Amphibians.
He will also have a few friends with him, including toads, turtles, lizards and snakes.
Bulgrin has lived in New Mexico for the last 13 years. He has extensive experience with herpetofauna and has conducted outreach and education for the Herpetological Society for many years.
This event is free, no registration is required. Read More
Traveling the World
Jason, Sydney and Kerri Frazier prepare to spend the next two years traveling the world. Photo by Teralene Foxx
Our youngest daughter, Kerri (1991 graduate of Los Alamos High School) and her husband Jason Frazier told us six years ago they were planning on quitting their jobs, selling everything, and sailing around the world when they were in mid-life.
All I could think of was pirates, large waves and being cramped together on a small boat for days. That is something I could not imagine.
It certainly did not appeal to me, but it was their lives. Read More
Baldrige in Education: Roots and Reasons for Hope
By Christine Schaefer
How did a quality awards program originally aimed at helping U.S. manufacturers become more competitive evolve to help school districts and other education institutions improve their performance, too?
Long story, and it starts before 1999, when Congress expanded the eligibility of the Baldrige Awards to health care and education organizations.
In fact, the Baldrige Program began preparing for that expansion in the mid-1990s. Early efforts included outreach to education organizations to seek their input on the criteria and to develop other resources to help such Read More
Full Slate of Public Affairs Coverage on Friday’s New Mexico In Focus
“NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS” is back after the holiday with a full slate of public affairs coverage.
Airs this Friday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. on Ch. 5.1 – There is no Sunday repeat this week:
Fred Nathan
• After voters overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the New Mexico Constitution requiring qualifications for Public Regulation Commissioners, the legislature must now decide on those standards. Fred Nathan of the influential think tank Think New Mexico talks about how he shepherded the amendments through the legislature and what PRC qualifications he’ll push for in the coming session Read More
Community Bids Farewell to Nikolas Ventura-Arencon
Mourners say goodbye to Nikolas Ventura-Arencon at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church this morning. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
Community members, family and friends filled Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church on Canyon Road this morning to say goodbye to Los Alamos High School student Nikolas Ventura-Arencon.
Ventura-Arencon, 14, was a ninth grade student at Los Alamos High School who died in a head-on collision Nov. 21 on N.M. 4 near the White Rock “Y.”
Los Alamos Public Schools is providing grief counseling to students and staff.
The principals Read More