Pre-K teacher Tiffany Ziegler gets class started the first day of school at Chamisa Elementary. Courtesy/LAPS
LAPS News:
Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) has expanded PreSchool for the 2021-22 school year to include programs at four elementary schools.
The district is now able to provide Pre-K to 137 4-year-old students.
“We are excited to be able to offer this program to more children this year,” Interim Superintendent Jennifer Guy said.
Pre-K programs for 4 year olds have been available at Barranca and Piñon Elementary schools for several years.
This year, programs were created at Chamisa and Mountain Elementary schools. The program that was to be available at Aspen Elementary was moved to Mountain for this year, but will be available next school year.
Gina Terrazas is the new director of Preschool Programs at LAPS.
“I work with many different administrators within the district and with many folks from PED (Public Education Department,” Terrazas said. “In the short time we have been in session, I have worked with transportation, food services, curriculum and have had the opportunity to visit all elementary campuses and observe, assist and take data.
Students in the Pre-K program attend school 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. five days a week with time for lunch. Teachers are using Three Cheers for Pre-K in their classrooms.
“It’s the all-new Pre-Kindergarten curriculum that helps get young children ready for kindergarten,” Terrazas said. “It incorporates skills-based experiences and purposeful play and initiates learning around quality children’s literature.”
The LAPS Pre-K program follows state guidelines that include curriculum, FOCUS training for teachers, instructional assistants and administrators.
“As part of the guidelines, we must follow the PreK Standards which are based on seven essential elements: Health, Safety & Nutrition, Full Participation of Each Child, Developmentally Appropriate Content, Assessment, Evaluation And Improvement of Programs, Professionalism, and Administration of NM Preschool Programs,” Terrazas said.
The demand for early childhood services was not being met with the limited resources available in Los Alamos.
“Based on the enrollment numbers in Kindergarten every year, approximately 100 4 year olds were unserved in the district,” Terrazas said. “By expanding the program to additional school sites, LAPS is better able to serve families in the Los Alamos area by providing access to a pre-kindergarten program.”
There are nine teachers in the Pre-K program for 4-year-old students. Abigail Lopez and Fe West are teaching at Barranca, Jeannine Rey and Carrie Johnson are at Mountain, Raeann Harp and Donica Fortin are at Piñon and Tiffany Ziegler is teaching at Chamisa. Jodi Smith and Lisa Pike are the Aspen Elementary Pre-K teachers working at Mountain this year. The program also includes 20 instructional assistants.
There also are 24 3-year-old students in Pre-K 3 programs at Barranca and Piñon Elementary schools. Secilli Keeler teaches Pre-K 3 at Barranca and Amanda Babicke is at Piñon. The Pre-K 3 schedule is four days a week. Students attend either an 8:30-11:30 a.m. morning session or 12:30-3:30 p.m. afternoon session. There are no sessions on Wednesdays.
“I see the Pre-K program moving in a positive direction where children have access to a developmentally appropriate environment, which fosters creativity, social emotional growth and provides the foundation for early learning,” Terrazas said. “The Pre-K program will set the stage for a lifetime love of learning.”
Los Alamos Public Schools
P.O. Box 90
2075 Trinity Drive
Los Alamos, New Mexico 87544