When Was the Last Time You Had a Great Conversation?
LOS ALAMOS PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION News
Great Conversations is an afternoon of appetizers and desserts and an in-depth conversation with a subject area expert. The 3rd Annual Great Conversations will take place on April 22nd from 2:00-4:30 p.m. at Los Alamos High School in the new building. Tickets are $50 per person and can be obtained by filling out a registration form available at https:////lapsfoundation.com/greatconversations.shtml
Your completed registration form and payment can be mailed to the Foundation office at 1900 Diamond Drive, Read More
Common Core State Standards Initiative Coming to Local Schools
Los Alamos School Board President Kevin Honnell, left, watches a presentation with other board members and school officials at Thursday’s LAPS work session at Pinon Elementary School. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By Kirsten Laskey
Several principals at Los Alamos Public Schools attended a recent Math MC2 workshop in preparation for the implementation of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, which begins in the school district this fall.
Chamisa Elementary School Principal Debbie Smith, Pinon Elementary School Principal Jill Gonzales and Barranca Elementary Read More
Rotary Club Program and Highlights
LAPS Reading Coordinator Suzanne Lynne will present a program at 11:45 a.m., Tuesday at Central Avenue Grill on Teach Like A Champion, effective teaching methods designed to help all teachers, especially those new to the classroom. Introduction by Karen Hawkins.
Also, March Student of the Month: Nathan Robbins, will join the luncheon meeting with his parents and mentor, Gary Washburn. Introduction by Allison Majure.
LA Cares Collection: Remember to bring donations of canned foods or personal hygiene products as the Rotary Club continues its support this year of LA Cares, the local food Read More
Blade Runner: ‘What might these cyborgs teach us about voter education and preferences?’
SFI News:
Nathan Collins
Blade Runner is the featured film at the Santa Fe Institute’s Science on Screen Series at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe.
The “Science On Screen” series in Santa Fe is a joint collaboration of the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) and the Santa Fe Institute (SFI).
During each event, visionaries from SFI present some of their favorite films, offering eye-opening perspectives from their own research and the world of science. It’s an idea-rich spin on the movies.
Abstract: Though Ridley Read More
Chamisa Musical “Working On the Hill” a Huge Success!
By Debbie Smith, Principal, Chamisa Elementary
Chamisa third and fourth graders performed a musical revue of Los Alamos history before a packed audience on Thursday, March 15th.
“On the Hill” shows children, moms, scientists, ranch boys, conquistadores, and settlers from the Hill’s history.
Beginning with the first inhabitants, the ancient pueblo people, the program progressed forward in time featuring the conquistadores, the Hispanic settlers, the Santa Fe Trail, and the Ranch School Boys.
General Groves and Robert J. Oppenheimer took the stage with solos, Read More
PEEC’s Star, Planet and Telescope Party Set for Monday
Crescent moon of four days old. Courtesy Photo
For all those adults, kids and families who missed last week’s PEEC Star Party or would like to see more, PEEC astronomers are going to repeat it at 7 p.m. Monday March 26.
One highlight will be the crescent Moon of four days old, which should be pretty spectacular through the telescope.
Venus, Jupiter and Mars will still be there, and the Orion Nebula will be well placed for a great view including its “arms.”
Venus is best seen in twilight because its extreme brightness dazzles the telescope viewer.
It should be quite a sight since Read More
Nanopower: Avoiding Electrolyte Failure in Nanoscale Lithum Batteries
Using a transmission electron microscope, NIST reearchers were able to watch individual nanosized batteries with electrolytes of different thicknesses charge and discharge. The NIST team discovered that there is likely a lower limit to how thin an electrolyte layer can be made before it causes the battery to malfunction. Photo by Talin/NIST
From NIST Tech Beat:
It turns out you can be too thin—especially if you’re a nanoscale battery.
Researchers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the University of Maryland, College Park, and Sandia National Laboratories Read More
PEEC Summer Adventure Programs Open for Registration
Spectacular! The volcanic Jemez Mountains rise up from the high desert like an island in the sky surrounded by a desert sea. The Rio Grande rift splits the Colorado Plateau and a sparkling ribbon of water flows along its path. Northern New Mexico’s rich diversity of ecosystems awaits the curious. This June, PEEC offers children the opportunity to explore this wild and enchanting landscape. Programs are for children entering grades 4-6 (Nature Odyssey) and grades 7-8 (LEAP). Each week is a chance for them to spend their days outdoors, make new friends, Read More
School Board Special Meeting & Work Session Agendas
Los Alamos Public Schools Board is conducting both a Special School Board Meeting and a work session on Thursday, March 22, 2011 beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Pinon Elementary School.
The Special Board Meeting is scheduled to approve a charter for the Los Alamos High School Bus Loop Committee.
Immediately following the Special Board Meeting, the work session includes a presentation on bullying by two Pinon students, a presentation by three principals on the Math MC2 workshop and a presentation by the Pinon principal, Jill Gonzales. Read More
Learn the Art of Writing
Author Speaks Series: Rio Grande River’s Past and Future
Call for Artists: Naked
Amy Bjarke
FULLER LODGE ART CENTER News
As the season warms up and life starts bursting forth, Fuller Lodge Art Center challenges you to explore your vulnerabilities.
The Art Center will host an exhibit called Naked between from May 18 – June 23. Strip away the mask, expose the hidden, and pare off the extra frills.
Uncover hidden beauty and help us come face to face with the world around us. All media are welcome. If you have questions, give Ken Nebel a call at 662-1635. Download the application at https:////library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1103899759177-299/CFA_Naked_form.pdf Read More
Watch Los Alamos Compete in FIRST Robotics Competition
The team from Los Alamos competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition in Salt Lake City, had a fantastic day yesterday. People at the competetition were shocked to learn they are a rookie team. To watch the matches in real time, click on the link below.
https:////www.ustream.tv/channel/utah-s-2012-regional-first-robotics-competition
The match schedule is below (Match, Time – all times Mountain Standard):
4 9:51
14 11:01
18 11:29
25 1:38
32 2:34
41 3:46
44 4:07
52 5:03
Read More
Education Department Secretary-designate Joins LAMS for Pi Day
LAPS News:
Pi-rates Amy Bartlett and Sharon Fogle, math teachers at LAMS, compare notes on how to measure eggs at Tuesday’s Pi Day event. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com
New Mexico Public Education Department Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera was a special guest at Los Alamos Middle School for the fourth annual PI Day to celebrate the birthday of Albert Einstein.
Secretary Hanna Skandera creates a mask at Pi Day. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com
Skandera expressed enthusiasm for the staff’s effort to celebrate math in such a fun fashion.
Los Alamos Public Schools Board Secretary Read More
Community Garden Takes Root
By Kirsten Laskey
An idea was planted in a Los Alamos Middle School (LAMS) classroom and through the efforts of community organizations such as the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB), has sprouted into a full-fledged program – the Los Alamos Youth Food Project.
Photo: Sylvan Argo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com
The program continued to germinate during Tuesday night’s Los Alamos Board of Education meeting as members unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement to provide a piece of land on the middle school grounds for the program’s community garden.
In the general conditions of Read More
School Board Elects New Officers
LAPS News:
The Los Alamos Board of Education held an election of officers during Tuesday night’s meeting.
Kevin Honnel was elected president.
Dawn Venhaus is vice president.
Melanie McKinley is the new board secretary.
The remaining two board members include:
David Foster
Judith Bjarke-McKenzie Read More
Pinon’s Chihuly Exhibit Reveals Student’s Artistic Talents
The source of inspiration for the show and some of the pieces. TK Thompson/ladailypost.com
Monday’s Dale Chihuly Art Exhibit at Pinon Elementary School in White Rock revealed a wealth of talent within the local student community.
The event wasn’t an exhibit of renowned artist Chihuly’s work, but he served as an inspiration to the students to create artworks resembling his style.
Students used a plastic sheet media that could be softened in warm water and bent into any desired shape, which was then painted/stained using special colored materials.
Pinon Art Teacher Stephanie Read More
What the Community Read the Week of March 6-12
- The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins
- American Medical Association Boy’s Guide to Becoming a Teen, Kate Gruenwald Pfeifer and and Amy B. Middleman
- Wonder, R. J. Palacio
- Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins
- Mal and Chad: the Biggest, Bestest Time Ever! Stephen McCranie*
- The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb, Philip Taubman
- The Green Glass Sea, Ellen Klages
- 109 East Palace, Jennet Conant
- Los Alamos Trails, Craig Martin*
- True Brit: Beatrice – 1940, Rosemary Zibart
Local Hoop Shooting Robot Now Locked in Bag
Staff Report
Steve Aumack and Nate Phillips work on the robot operator control panel as the team gets ready for the competition in Salt Lake City March 15. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com
A team of 14 Los Alamos High School students and 10 adult mentors built a robot that can shoot hoops. The team began work Jan. 7 and wrapped up the project Feb 21.
The group is competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The competition involves short games played by robots. The students build and program their robots, which are remotely controlled during the competition.
Each team receives a kit of parts Read More
School Board Holding Several Meetings This Week
Los Alamos Public Schools News:
The Los Alamos School Board is set to meet three times this coming week:
- 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Los Alamos High School Speech Theater to discuss district construction, a preventative maintenance plan an Excellence for Student Achievement Award nominee, Trinity Renovations, Quality of Education Survey questions, the School Board’s meeting schedule and the donation of Los Alamos Middle School Garden Shed and agreement with the Family YMCA on the Garden Shed. Also on the agenda is the superintendent’s Professional Development Plan, the superintendent’s