Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) is pleased to offer a free breakfast and lunch to all of our students. This year LAPS will be utilizing the Offer Versus Serve (OVS) model pertaining to USDA and NSLP requirements. This model will provide students with more of a choice for both breakfast and lunch service. 

Our food service provider will make substitutions for students with disabilities that restrict diet, on a case-by-case basis. These substitutions must be supported by a written statement from a licensed physician. If a student has a dietary need this must be communicated to the school site nurse. The school site will inform our food service partner so they can prepare the requested meal for the student. You can view menus online at https://laschools.nutrislice.com/menu. 

Even though all students can participate in the breakfast and lunch program we encourage all families to complete the free and reduced meal program application.  These applications are used for other important funding opportunities which support the district and our students. Also, students become eligible for reduced fees at school sites based on these applications. Please use the online option at www.schoolcafe.com.

If you are unable to complete the online option please download a copy of the  Free and Reduced Meal Program Application (en español). Instructions for this application can be found at USDA Application Instructions. Email the completed form to the Assistant Superintendent for Operations and Safety at m.johnson@laschools.net.

If you have any questions or comments regarding the school lunch program please send an email to m.johnson@laschools.net.

Español

Instrucciones en español

Aplicación en español

Aspen Breakfast and Lunch Menus

 

LAPS provides bus service for all Los Alamos County elementary students who live at least 1 mile from the school, for middle school students who live 1.5 miles from the school, and for high school students who live 2 miles from the school. 

Please complete the 2024-2025 Student Bus Card. 

Aspen Elementary Bus Routes

My name is Kimberly Holladay, and I've been Aspen Elementary's school counselor since 2014.

I have a BA in Psychology and an MA in Art Therapy and Counseling.  I'm a Level 3 New Mexico licensed PreK-12 school counselor as well as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) through the NBCC. 

I absolutely love my job, and I love this school! 

 

Some of the services that I am able to provide as a school counselor at Aspen are:

• Classroom Instruction
• Weekly Small Groups
• Crisis Interventions at School
• Academic supports for struggling students through the Student Success Team (SST) process
• Connecting students and families to local resources
• Providing some necessities for students, such as school supplies and various winter clothing

Please always feel free to contact me with questions or concerns regarding your child at:

• k.pulliam@laschools.net
• 663-2295

PLEASE NOTE: The school counseling system provides students with short-term emotional and social support in order for them to be able to learn in their classrooms.  If a student struggles with ongoing, mental health issues, the school counselor is not a sufficient replacement for a personal therapist or psychologist.

 

Should an emergency or disaster situation ever arise in our area while school is in session, we want you to be aware that the schools have made preparations to respond effectively to such situations. In fact, public schools in New Mexico are built to meet stringent construction standards, and they may be safer than your own home in the event of a disaster.

Should we have a major disaster during school hours, your student(s) will be cared for at this school. Los Alamos Public Schools have detailed emergency response plans, which have been formulated to respond to a major catastrophe. While the specific details of these plans cannot be made public, we will provide any information necessary for your emergency planning needs and peace of mind, in case of an emergency. After you have thoughtfully reviewed this process, please sit with your child(ren) and help them to understand that it is necessary for them to follow the directions of any school personnel in times of an emergency drill or actual emergency situation. The safety of all depends on all personnel and students treating drills and emergency directions with serious respect.

Your cooperation is necessary in any emergency:

1. Do not telephone. You can receive updated information through an emergency communication system, provided by the school district and Los Alamos County. Telephone lines may be needed for emergency communication.
2. In the event of a serious emergency, students will be kept at their schools until they can be picked up by an identified, responsible adult who has been listed as such on a LAPS emergency card, which is required to be completed by parents/guardians at the beginning of each school year. Please be sure you consider the following criteria when you authorize another person to pick up your child at school:
   • S/He is 18 years of age or
   • S/He is usually home during the
   • S/He could walk to school, if
   • S/He is known to your
   • S/He is both aware and able to assume this

During an extreme emergency, students will be released at designated reunion sites, to be identified by the Incident Commander and located on school campuses. Please instruct your student to remain at the school until you or your designee arrives.

3. Turn your radio to AM 1610 for emergency If students are to be kept at school, radio stations will be notified. If electrical service is not affected, information will be relayed via LAPS to the radio and television broadcast media. In addition, information regarding day-to-day school operations will be available by accessing our website, or subscribing to our E-Alerts web-based system. All sites have hotline numbers, which will be updated.
4. In the event that any emergency takes place during the time that students expect to be transported to or from school:
   • If students are on the bus at the time, they will be kept on the bus, and the driver will ask for assistance through radio contact with the school and district
   • Any child who is home waiting for the bus will not be picked up and remains the responsibility of the parent or
   • In any situation, if the student’s bus does not arrive at the stop within fifteen (15) minutes, the student should return
   • In the event that an emergency occurs in the afternoon, the driver will make every attempt to continue delivering the students to their homes. Should road conditions prevent the driver from delivering students to their home or to school in the morning, the students will be delivered to the nearest district site, and that site’s personnel will communicate with home school personnel to inform them of the students’
5. In case of a hazardous release event (i.e. chemical spill) near the school area, Shelter procedures will be implemented to provide “in place” All students and staff will clear the fields, report to their rooms, and all efforts will be made to prevent outside air from entering the classrooms during the emergency. “Shelter-In-Place” signs will be placed in classroom windows or hung outside classroom doors during a drill or emergency. Students arriving at school during a Shelter drill or event should report to the school office or to a previously designated area at the school because classrooms will be inaccessible. When the dangerous incident has subsided, an “all clear” signal will be given.

In the case of a county-wide evacuation, which would include the schools, that evacuation would proceed in accordance with the protocols established in the Los Alamos County Emergency Operations Plan. Please access the County’s website for this county-wide evacuation plan.

Parental Roles in Emergency Preparedness

• Discuss the Standard Response Protocol with your child(ren)
• Please make sure to update your student’s school emergency Call or come by the school to update. Remember to update again when necessary.
• Sign up for E-Alerts on the school and district You’ll be notified by email whenever an emergency results in a delay, cancellation, or early dismissal.
• As part of your family plan, know your student’s Please check the accuracy of this schedule with your child.
• Parents with students currently taking emergency medication (i.e. medication for diabetes, seizures, anaphylaxis, asthma, etc.), please provide the nurse with a three-day supply of medication in a prescription container that is clearly marked with your child’s name and Please include doctor’s orders for the prescription and parental permission for a dispensation of the medication and any special storage instructions.
• Notify and provide the school with the special dietary needs of your

You might want to think about having your student have a change of clothes and personal hygiene articles (toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, contact lens kit) in their locker.

Please discuss these matters with your immediate family. Planning ahead will help alleviate concern during emergencies.

Permission to Publish

Kindergarten Developmental History

Transfer of Student Records

Prearranged Absence/Activity

Are you planning a move?

Elementary Student Withdrawal

The decision to close school or delay the start of school will usually be made by 5:30 A.M. We will be coordinating with Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Los Alamos County on all decisions about a delayed start, cancellation, or early dismissal In general, if the Lab is on a delay, school opening will be delayed; if the Lab is closed due to weather, our schools will usually be closed. When school is dismissed early or canceled for the day, all after school programs including athletics (both home and away contests) and activities are canceled.

School Cancellation
A “snow day” plan will be declared when snow and weather conditions warrant.   

• Visit the District Office homepage announcements at www.laschools.net 

• SchoolMessenger will send out email/text notifications. If the parent or guardian is signed up to receive messages

• Watch one of the local morning news programs 

• Information Lines: 

  • District Office: 663-2223

  • Aspen Elementary: 663-2277 

  • Barranca Mesa Elementary: 663-2732 

  • >Chamisa Elementary: 663-2472 

  • Mountain Elementary: 663-2327 

  • Pinon Elementary: 663-2682 

  • Los Alamos Middle School: 663-2377 

  • Los Alamos High School: 663-2512

 

Delayed Start
Any activities before school are canceled on snow days.

Students should arrive at school for these start times:

• 10:10 A.M. - Elementary schools 

• Busses will arrive at bus stops two hours later than the usual pickup time

• Parking lots will usually be cleared and ready for buses and cars by 7:30 A.M. Please allow our maintenance staff to clear the parking lots.

• Sidewalks will usually be cleared by 8:00 A.M.

 

Early Dismissal
On rare occasions, schools will dismiss early because of unusually heavy snowfall during the day. The Superintendent, in collaboration with Los Alamos National Laboratory and Los Alamos County staff, makes this decision. When the decision to dismiss school early occurs, it generally precedes county and laboratory closings. For that reason, it is important for students and school staff to proceed home quickly in order to avoid traffic congestion within the county. If your personal information changes, especially the phone number, you must inform the school office so that we can contact parents.

 

More information coming soon.

Dear Parents/Guardians: 
 
It is always a pleasure to care for your children each school year. As the school nurse, my job is to help keep your child healthy and in school. Our door is always open to discuss any health problems or other care issues. Children learn best when they are healthy, well rested, and have had nutritious meals and snacks. 

Required Paperwork:

• Current Immunization record, up to date
• Annual Physical Exam*
• Annual Dental Exam*
• Medication Permission Forms

*Physical and Dental exams are not required annually. Only for PreK, Kindergarten, and new incoming students to the district must submit these forms. 

 

How Sick Is Too Sick for School?
Whether or not to keep a child home from school isn’t always an easy decision. It is obvious that a very ill child does not belong at school, but there are lots of days when common sense isn’t enough to make the choice. The following discussion may give parents some helpful guidelines.

To begin, children with fevers should not be in school. Remember that ill children sometimes have normal temperatures in the morning but become feverish by afternoon. Returning to school is appropriate after 24 hours of being fever free. Definitions of “fever” vary, but it is generally accepted that 100.4 degrees F constitutes a fever. 

Conditions making students too uncomfortable to participate in class are also reasonable grounds for remaining at home. Examples are urinary tract infections, painful injuries, and nagging coughs. Parents may also consult the school nurse with questions about whether or not to keep a child home from school, or with questions about how the school environment might be modified to accommodate a student’s problems.

Finally, children with contagious diseases, spread by contact or coughing or sneezing, should stay home. Examples of these are influenza, chicken pox, and strep throat. A child with strep throat may return to school after 24 hours of antibiotics if feeling well enough. Children with colds should be kept home as appropriate. Constant coughing and sneezing are sufficient reasons to do so. Another infection condition is conjunctivitis, or “pink eye”. Though the state Department of Health no longer requires exclusion of students with pink eye from school, most Los Alamos pediatricians recommend staying at home for the first 24 hours of treatment. 

Of course, every child with a sniffle cannot miss school, but consideration for other students and staff is expected and appreciated. Children should be reminded to use tissues to cover coughs and sneezes and ESPECIALLY to wash hands frequently. 

Please, use the checklist below as a tool to determine whether or not to keep your child home from school.                                     

1. Does your child have a fever of 100.4 or greater ?                                
2. Has your child vomited one or more times in a 24-hour period?               
3. Has your child had diarrhea one or more times in a 24-hour period?     
4. Does your child have complaints of a sore throat that is accompanied by fever, headache, stomachache, or swollen glands?             
5. Does your child have complaints of a stomach ache that is accompanied by a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, sharp pain, and/ or hard belly?    
6. Does your child have a persistent, phlegmy cough?                   

If you answered yes to any of these questions, please keep your child home from school and consider seeking medical attention, your child could have a serious or contagious illness. 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Aspen's School Nurse, Micaela (Misha) Brown, RN m.brown@laschools.net or 505-663-2305.

Nurse Forms:
Administration of Medication at School
Agreement for Self-Administration of Inhaler Medication
Medication Receipt Form

Aspen Elementary Parent and Family Handbook 

ASPEN ELEMENTARY STUDENT HANDBOOK

 

Parent Newsletter: Tiger Tales

Aspen Elementary School PTO

Board Officers
Tiffany Warren, President
Amelia Epperson, Vice President
Lisa Euler, Treasurer
Kayla Yokono, Secretary 
Laura Regele, Volunteer Coordinator

Tiger Birthdays

 

Celebrate your child's birthday by having their name on the Aspen Marquee and/or have Aspen the Tiger visit at school! Aspen will bring your child a small gift and have the students sing Happy Birthday to your child. A photo can also be emailed to the parent, by request.

 

Please fill out the form at least two weeks before the birthday and submit payment online after submitting the form.

Sign up form is ready!

 

Please submit payment online - Venmo or PayPal.

PowerSchool is where you obtain information about your child’s grades and attendance. If you need a parent password, please contact Aspen's office.

LAPS uses the School Messenger system to notify parents for reasons that impact safety and academic performance of students.

Once your child is enrolled at LAPS, you will be automatically enrolled to receive email notifications from School Messenger. LAPS highly recommends that parents also sign up for text messaging so that they may receive important announcements via text, such as emergency notifications. To sign up for text messaging, please follow these instructions in English or Spanish.

If you have a student in one of our schools, please ensure that your school contact information and emergency contact information is up-to-date.

If you need to make a change to your contact information, please call or visit your school office.

 

2024-2025 School Supplies Lists

Pre-K	Kinder	1st Grade	2ND Grade
3RD Grade	Fourth Grade	Fifth Grade	Sixth Grade

IELP/ilp

gate

STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND EXPECTATIONS

LAPS Student Conduct Policy

Students are expected to be prepared for and participate in each class, meet performance standards, have the necessary class materials, complete classwork and homework accurately and on time and be prepared to participate in state and district assessment tests. 

 

• Demonstrate respect, safety and responsibility

• Act with courtesy, fairness and honesty

• Behave with consideration for the health and safety of others and themselves

• Take care of school property

• Take no action which disrupts activity within the school

• Observe modesty, appropriateness, and neatness in clothing and personal appearance

• Refrain from using profane or indecent language, gestures, or slogans

• Be at school on time and attend school each day

• Obey the rules of the school site 

LAPS Policy/Regulation 5131/5131R

 

Aspen School’s Behavior Management Plan

Aspen Elementary School is proud of the positive behavior demonstrated by its students. The Aspen community believes that a child-centered school environment helps promote personal growth and learning.

 

The Aspen staff has implemented a discipline plan that delineates expected student behaviors as well as consequences for misbehavior. These guidelines enable the school to carry out district-level discipline policies as well.

 

Aspen follows a PBIS or “Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports” model that promotes healthy character traits such as respect and kindness. Please visit www.pbis.org for more information.

 

Students are expected to:

Be Safe

Be Responsible

Be Respectful

Be Mindful

 

When a student misbehaves and does not follow established expectations, staff will first redirect that student and discuss better options.  If the behavior occurs repeatedly and/or intentionally or is serious enough even after being warned, Aspen staff use an alert slip for recording and reporting behavior issues. 

 

This card serves two purposes. First, it provides a visual, concrete reminder to the student of expectations not met, and second it provides data and notification to the student’s teacher (if needed) or administration of an on-going behavior problem.

 

In addition, each teacher has developed a classroom behavior managemmet plan specific to classroom expectations. These are shared with families at the beginning of each year.

 

Basic School Rules

1. Students may arrive no earlier than 7:55 am unless they are in Early Birds.

2. Remain on the playground before school and during recess.

3. Enter and exit through the main front door. All parents, volunteers, and late students must sign in.

4. Walk in the halls.

5. Be quiet in the halls.

6. Use respectful language.

7. Do not bring toys, trading cards, or personal digital devices to school.

8. Bicycles, skateboards, and scooters may be ridden to school, but not on campus. Solve disagreements with words and conflict resolution strategies.  

9. No fighting.

10. Always respect the duty staff on the playground. No arguing or talking back.

11. Do not throw anything such as rocks, sticks, etc. 

12. Do not play contact sports or games. 

13. Stay off icy patches and snow piles.

 

Aspen’s Dining Hall

Los Alamos Public School has chosen Chartwells to provide breakfast and hot lunch for students.  Otherwise, parents are responsible for providing a nutritious lunch for their children.  

 

Educational assistants will provide supervision in the dining hall and on the playground after lunch.

 

Dining Hall  Rules

1. Students will stay in the line while getting hot lunch

2. Students should NOT be sharing any food

3. When the lights go off, voices are off

4. Students will ensure table and floor is clean before being dismissed

 

Please Note

• Glass containers and cans with pull-tab lids should not be packed in student lunches.  Please mark all lunch boxes with your student’s name and remind your child(ren) to bring them home each day.  Parents are welcome to join their children for lunch, but should first sign in at the office.

• Bring eating utensils with your lunch. The school does not provide forks and spoons.

• The school does not provide microwaves in the lunchroom for student use.  Warm water will be provided in the office for soup and ready-to-heat meals.

With Clever, each student has a personalized portal with a single login for all of their online programs and resources. Students easily log in and immerse themselves in learning while teachers save precious instruction time.

The purpose of any computer utilization is to enhance the educational experience. All students and staff are required to have a signed district Technology Agreement on file. Use of computers is a privilege and not a right. Inappropriate use will result in the cancellation of those privileges. LAHS administration will determine what is inappropriate use and that decision will be final. Inappropriate use will result in the closing of an account at any time or by removal from a computer-based class.

Acceptable Use of Technology 6144.1R
Acceptable Use of Technology Addendum 1 Grade K-6

Volunteer 

LAPS welcomes and encourages all parents and citizens of the community to volunteer their time in our schools. Individuals who volunteer their services and are provided unsupervised access to students shall be subject to reference checks, background checks and fingerprinting as provided by law and shall be subject to Los Alamos Public Schools District policies and regulations.  All other volunteers will be supervised. Background checks, conducted by LAPS are to be paid for by the volunteer. The school site will be notified by the Human Resources Department if the volunteer’s background check returns with no discrepancies.  Volunteers will then be issued an appropriate identification badge from Human Resources. 

LAPS Policy/Regulation 1210/1210R