WELCOME TOPPER PARENTS
Don’t Just Be A Bystander, Help Keep Our School Safe!
Two Ways to Report: Call: (505) 663-2570 • E-mail: lahshelp@laschools.net
Dear Hilltopper Students and Families,
Los Alamos High School staff are excited to start the new school year on Thursday, August 13, 2020! Over the summer our staff has been training on new technology tools and teaching strategies for remote learning. No one expected a completely remote classroom environment in March, but our staff have been rapidly learning and testing new strategies to make remote learning as engaging and effective as possible for the start of the 2020-21 school year.
The first day of class this year is Thursday, August 13. We will begin the year with all LAHS classes taught via a fully remote environment.
- LAHS students will attend school every day in a remote learning model, following their daily class period schedule, both synchronous and asynchronous. (LAHS Remote Learning Schedule).
- Student class schedules will be available by Friday, August 7, 2020 through PowerSchool.
- Enhanced remote learning will meet our school’s high academic expectations and requirements for attendance, grading, class sessions, and assessments.
- Parents will be critical partners in the learning process. Teachers will empower parents with information to allow them to help their students stay engaged and accountable.
- Our school and district have extensive plans in place to pivot to Hybrid and fully in-person learning as state guidance allows.
- Efforts to meet social emotional needs of students within academic instruction and curriculum have been further developed.
We want to assure LAHS families that the enhanced remote learning model will look different than the crisis-response remote learning in the spring. LAHS has spent the past several months developing a more robust, sustainable, and engaging learning experience for all students. As conditions permit, LAHS is prepared to transition to a hybrid model that includes in-person instruction for students.
The voices of students, staff, and families continue to be a critical part of our fluid planning process. The LAPS Safe Start Task Force and subcommittees, which included teachers, students, parents, non-instructional staff, and administrators, worked throughout the summer to develop plans that support student learning and safety in remote, hybrid, and in-person models. As a learning organization, our work to improve is never done. In light of continually shifting circumstances, our staff is committed to remaining flexible and responsive.
Please see the following links for specific information:
- Drive-Thru Student Registration & Textbook pickup – August 10 & 11, 2020.
- Drive-Thru Registration Map
- Fall 2020 Remote Learning Schedule
- Remote Learning Guidelines
- LAPS FAQ for Safety, COVID-19 and the 2020-21 School Year
During our fully virtual schooling staff are working remotely, and our building is not open to in-person visits. Our teachers are back on contract on Wednesday, August 5, and will be available by email and phone to answer your questions. We will continue to communicate via email, the LAHS and LAPS website, social media, and select virtual events. The strength and solidarity of our LAHS community will be more important than ever. Thank you for your care, compassion, and attention to safety as we head into an unprecedented school year at LAHS. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about the start of school. Email the school at lahs.info@laschools.net, or call (505) 663-2510.
We look forward to seeing you (virtually) soon!
~Your LAHS Administrative Team
School Song: Our Alma Mater, Praises now we sing.
From mountains, high will come our spirit bold. Soon we will dream of golden days gone by; our love will never fade for L. A. HIGH and when we leave our dear old hilltop high, oh, let us cheer for all the green and gold. We’re stronger than giants; we’ll march to victory. With such an alliance for L. A. HIGH
Fight Song: Go, Toppers go, or the green and the gold. On down, the field, may our battle cry be bold. Fight, fight to win. May our Victory begin! Go, Toppers go. And we’ll win, win, win!
Teacher’s Office Hours: Throughout the year teachers hold office hours in their classrooms from 2:40 to 3:10 p.m. to assist students with make-up work and homework problems.
Checking Students Out of School: If arrangements have not been made in advance with attendance to pick up a student from school, the parent or guardian must come into the school and have a driver’s license or a picture ID that verifies his or her identity as a custodial parent in order to check the student out of school.
Drop-Off & Pick-Up of Students: In order to increase student safety and to reduce the risk of accidents, students and parents will not be able to enter the Smith parking lot from Diamond Drive from 7:30 am to 7:45 am, as it is reserved for school buses. Students should use the entrance off Orange Street. We recommend parents to drop their students off the Sullivan Field parking lot. Please do not drop students off at the faculty parking lot behind the Auxiliary Gym or its access drive off Canyon Road
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.
- Learn about Parent Controls
- Understand Usage/Sites
- How to use tools to promote digital citizenship
- How to receive Parent Google Classroom updates
- Understanding student Google Classroom Gradebook
- Understanding student View Assignments (missing assignments or zero assignments)
- Learn how to identify signs, signals and threats of someone in crisis
- Three ways to report
- How reports are triaged and referred to police and school administration
Click here to view.
Absences must be excused before 10 a.m., but no later than 24 hours following the absence.
TO EXCUSE AN ABSENCE:
• Call the LAHS Absence Line – 663-2511 or
• Email the Attendance Office – lahsattendance@laschools.net or
• Take a parent/guardian note to the Attendance Office or
• Take a medical/dental slip to the Attendance Office
Remember to include:
• the student’s full name
• parent/guardian’s name
• daytime phone number
• reason for absence
• date and time of absence
Long Term Absence Request Form
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
How do I get out of class for a medical/dental appointment?
Before the appointment, get a slip from the Attendance Office and give it to your teacher. When you return to school, stop by the Attendance Office to drop off your medical/dental slip and get a slip to return to class.
PowerSchool shows an absence for me, but I was in class. What should I do to clear this absence?
Speak to your teacher and if an error was made, ask them to notify the Attendance Office.
My parent/guardian needs to get me out of class immediately because of an emergency. What does he/she need to do?
Your parent/guardian must come in person to the Main Office and bring their driver’s licenses. Your student will be brought to the Main Office.
How long does my parent/guardian have to excuse an absence?
Your parent/guardian has until 3 p.m. the following day to excuse your absence.
My parent/guardian is taking me on an extended trip (more than two days). What do I need to do beforehand?
At least five days before the proposed trip, print the Student Travel Request (link) or get a copy from the Attendance Office. Have each of your teachers and your parent/guardian sign the form. Take the form to the Main Office for review by the Principal.
Why does my parent/guardian receive absence/tardy emails from the Attendance Office that do not specify to which student and which period the email refers?
Because of the number of students at our school, a generic email is generated from a PowerSchool report of all absences and tardies. The parent/guardian may check the specifics of the absence/tardy on PowerSchool.
Where do parents/guardians and students get their user name and password for PowerSchool?
Parents/Guardians may obtain their PowerSchool access information by calling 663-2519. Students may obtain their access codes at the Data Specialist’s Office in the Counseling area.
TFA/LAHS Bell Schedules
Daily Schedule
7:50 ‐ 9:25 Period 1 A/B
9:35 – 11:15 Period 2 A/B
11:15 – 11:50 Lunch
12:00 – 1:35 Period 3 A/B
1:45 – 2:35 Period 4
2:40 – 3:10 Academic Time
7 Period Schedule
Used after a cancellation or sometimes before finals.
- Period 1A: 7:50 – 8:38
- Period 1B: 8:44 – 9:32
- Period 2A: 9:38 – 10:26
- Period 2B: 10:32 – 11:20
- Lunch: 11:20 – 12:00
- Period 3A: 12:00 – 12:48
- Period 3B: 12:54 – 1:42
- Period 4: 1:48 – 2:35
- Academic Time: 2:40 – 3:10
Homecoming Assembly Bell Schedule
1 7:50 – 8:55
2 9:02 – 10:02
3 10:09 – 11:14
4 11:21 – 12:00
A 12:10 – 12:50
Notes:
- 7 minute passing periods
- 4th per teachers are to escort their classes as a group to the gym following a route that they describe to their students before releasing.
- Teachers with 4th period prep are asked to monitor students heading to gym to make sure all students head to the gym.
- All teachers and staff are to monitor students in the gym.
- Students are released for the day from the assembly at 12:50. School Busses Leave at 1:00 PM
- No lunch will be served after the assembly.
- No Academic Time
- Homecoming Parade Begins 2:30 PM. Staging on floats begins at 1:30 PM.
- Staff work day ends: 3:10 PM.
- Staff attending the parade do not need to take leave.
Textbooks at LAHS are issued through the book depository.
Textbooks are the property of the State of New Mexico. Books are on loan to students for their use. Any lost, stolen, or damaged books are the responsibility of the student to whom the texts were issued. Students must report stolen textbooks to school security and file a report. Books will be reissued. A school ID is required to check out any textbook. Fines will be assessed at the end of the year for damaged or lost books.
Book Depository Hours
A Days: 7:40- 11:30am/ 1:35 – 3:00 pm
Closed 3A
B Days: 7:40- 11:30am/ 1:35 – 3:00 pm
Closed 3B
TBC phone number: 663-2559
Contact: b.baker@laschools.net with any questions
GENERAL BEHAVIOR
By nature of being enrolled as a student at LAHS, you agree to accept and follow all school board and LAHS policies as stated in the Code of Conduct.
All students are expected to behave in a manner appropriate to a high school age student while on campus and/or while participating in any school sponsored activities. Students are expected to carefully consider their choices and to be prepared to accept the consequences of their decisions. Students are expected to:
– Attend every class on time.
– Complete the work given on time.
– Be respectful and expect the same from others both in and outside the classroom.
Students are expected to behave in an appropriate manner that does not interfere with the rights of others, does not interfere with the educational process, and does not create an unsafe environment. These include, but are not limited to, the following prohibited acts:
– Congregating in the halls and disrupting the flow of traffic during passing periods;
– Actions (verbal or written) that threaten the safety or well-being of students and staff (e.g., expressions of violence, verbal or physical assault, et. al.);
– Bullying, intimidation and/or harassment;
– Refusal to cooperate with school personnel;
– Refusal to adhere to the Dress Code;
– Refusal to adhere to the Electronic Signaling Devices Policy;
– Refusal to identify one’s self;
– Falsely identifying one’s self when asked for name from school personnel (including but not limited to attendance call-in either for calling in to excused one’s self or another person for an absence);
– Failure to carry a school issued identification card;
– Obscenity, profanity, libel, slander and “Fighting” words or symbols;
– Sexual harassment;
– Participating in initiations and/or hazing;
– Presence in hallways or on campus during unsupervised periods;
– Leaving the room without having the teacher write his/her initials and the time in the agenda book on the day/date student leaves the room for a bathroom pass, getting materials, etc.;
– Recording or filming anything on campus without permission by certified staff and/or administration;
– Selling for personal profit, including but not limited to cigarettes, sodas, burritos, jewelry, etc.;
– Gambling;
– Defacing, graffiti, and/or vandalism to school property including the use of shoe polish, paint, markers, etc.;
– Criminal damage to property, criminal trespass, and criminal libel;
– Extortion;
– Larceny, robbery, burglary, or theft;
– Leaving campus during a scheduled class time without parental permission;
– Interfering with the educational process;
– Pulling of false alarms;
– Calling in to excuse one’s self or another person for an absence;
– Forging a signature;
– Snowball throwing or tossing;
– Skateboarding/rollerblading, scooters, roller skating shoes, and/or bicycle or unicycle riding on campus;
– Using laser/pointer pens;
– Failure to use the overpass.
Disruption of the Educational Process or any act of misconduct shall be subject to the discretionary action by appropriate school personnel. Consequences for violation of a prohibited act may include but are not limited to any of the following: a verbal warning, loss of access to a particular area or to certain activities or a class, an out-of-school suspension, lunch detention, clean-up, restitution and/or a fine. In situations involving a violation of municipal, state or federal statute, police will be notified and a report will be filed.
Two or more of the same violations of the code of conduct may result in a suspension to a long term suspension (LTS) or expulsion hearing.
ANY of the above infractions that occur during the last two weeks of school may have consequences that are completed during the following school year.
NOTE: The following prohibited acts are considered “non-negotiable” and WILL result in an out-of-school suspension, which MAY lead to a hearing with the superintendent, and MAY result in an out-of-school long term suspension (LTS) or expulsion. In situations involving a violation of municipal, state or federal statute, police will be notified and a report will be filed.
– Verbal or physical abuse of staff;
– Fighting, assault, and/or battery;
– Gang activity or activities;
– Use / possession of alcohol and/or drugs and drug look-alikes, and/or drug paraphernalia;
– Use / possession of weapons or any item or device that may be used as a weapon;
– Bomb threats and other acts of violence, including but not limited to gangs, hate groups, et.al.
– Promoting, initiating, or encouraging behavior in others that may result in physical, emotional, or social harm.
– Repeated inappropriate behavior for which consequences have not deterred.
¿HABLA ESPAÑOL?
Estoy a su disposición si tiene alguna duda, problema o necesita cualquier información relacionada con la escuela.
Patricia Burnside p.burnside@laschools.net