Aspen Salazar is our LCPS student athlete of the week from Centennial High School. Aspen plays basketball for the Hawks, averaging 19.2 points a game. Aspen recently scored her 1,000th career point. Her coach says she spends a lot of extra time practicing her skills on the court. When she isn’t preparing for a game, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Great job, Aspen!
The Organ Mountain High School Knights of Stage are getting ready for the premier of the new Broadway Musical, Anastasia. Check out these photos taken by OMHS student Sebastian Garcia, as he takes us behind the scenes for rehearsal.
Be sure to catch the show on February 2nd and 3rd at 7:00p.m. and on February 4 at 1:00p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Organ Mountain High School.
Click the link more information: https://5il.co/1o1ye
Every February, the CTE community celebrates CTE Month® to raise awareness of the role that CTE has in readying learners for college and career success. CTE Month is also a time to recognize and celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of our CTE partners at the local, state and national level.
Celebrating Black History Month —Historical Person in Focus: Bessie Coleman
1892-1926
Bessie Coleman soared across the sky as the first woman of African American and Native American descent to earn her pilot’s license in the U.S. Known for performing flying tricks, Coleman’s nicknames were: “Brave Bessie,” “Queen Bess,” and “The Only Race Aviatrix in the World.” Her goal was to encourage women and African Americans to reach their dreams – and this became her legacy. Though her life and career were cut short in a tragic plane crash, her life and legacy continue to inspire people around the world.
Born in Atlanta, Texas on January 26, 1892, Bessie Coleman had twelve brothers and sisters. Her mother, Susan Coleman, was an African American maid, and her father George Coleman was a sharecropper of mixed Native American and African American descent. In 1901, her father decided to move back to Oklahoma to try to escape discrimination. Coleman’s mother decided not to go with him. Instead, Coleman, her mother, and siblings stayed in Waxahachie, Texas. Coleman grew up helping her mother pick cotton and wash laundry to earn extra money. By the time she was eighteen, she saved enough money to attend the Colored Agricultural and Normal University (now Langston University) in Langston, Oklahoma. She dropped out of college after only one semester because she could no longer afford tuition.
At age 23, Coleman went to live with her brothers in Chicago. She went to the Burnham School of Beauty Culture in 1915 and became a manicurist in a local barbershop. Meanwhile, her brothers served in the military during World War I and came home with stories of their time in France. Her brother John teased her because French women were allowed to learn how to fly airplanes and, in the United States, Coleman could not. Her brother's stories, along with other news of pilots in the war, inspired her to become a pilot. She applied to many flight schools across the country, but no school would take her because she was both African American and a woman. Robert Abbot, a famous African American newspaper publisher told her to move to France where she could learn how to fly. Since her application to flight schools needed to be written in French, she began taking French classes at night. Finally, Coleman was accepted at the Caudron Brothers' School of Aviation in Le Crotoy, France. She received her international pilot’s license on June 15, 1921 from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale. She then returned to the United States.
Click the link to learn more about Bessie Coleman's life: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/bessie-coleman
By Kerri Lee Alexander, NWHM Fellow, 2018 | Updated December 2022 by Rebecca Ljungren, Education Programs Manager
Today, 5th graders from Monte Vista Elementary School presented a bill they helped draft with New Mexico State Sen. Bill Soules. Students presented SB 188 before the Senate Committee during their legislative session.
These young lobbyists asked legislators to consider adopting the smell of green chile roasting in the fall as New Mexico's official aroma.
Students answered questions from the committee and highlighted that New Mexico would be the first state with an official aroma, which would help boost tourism.
The bill passed unanimously, 5-0 by the committee and moves on. What a victory! Great job, students!
More about SB 188: Senate Bill 188 establishes the official state aroma of New Mexico as the smell of green chile roasting in the fall. This bill does not contain an effective date and, as a result, would go into effect June 16, 2023, (90 days after the Legislature adjourns) if signed into law. No fiscal impact.
#nmleg, Centennial High School students from Las Cruces were in the Senate Education Committee. It’s always a pleasure to meet with future health professional who are in the HOSA program. Career and Technical Education (CTE) is high level education of our future professionals.
A big congratulations are in order for OMHS Principal Jim Schapekahm! This week, Jim received the Tyson Brown Excellence Award from the Las Cruces Home Builders Association. Together with LCHBA and our students’ work at Education House, Jim has helped create meaningful experiences for students who are interested in trade skills. Congratulations, Mr. Schapekahm, for a job well done!
Please remind your seniors that the deadline to apply for any NMAA Foundation Scholarships is Feb. 1.
Click the link for more information: https://www.nmact.org/foundation/scholarship-forms/
Shout out to Yeh-Nhi Wilson, our LCPS student athlete of the week from Organ Mountain High School. Yeh-Nhi plays basketball for the Knights, averaging 14 points in his last two games. He was selected to play in the Hobbs City Tournament and the Hobbs Holiday Hoopla. His coach says Yeh-Nhi is a great student athlete that never falls under pressure. Way to go, Yeh-Nhi!
Congratulations to Caitlin Turnbow, she the LCPS student athlete of the week from Organ Mountain High School. Caitlin plays basketball for the Knights. She averages 19.8 points and 11.9 rebounds per game. She was All District in 2021-2022 and she made the All-Tournament Team in Rio Rancho. Her coach says she truly cares about her teammates and when she gets to practice, she always puts in 100% effort. Great job, Caitlin!
Winter Weather Forecast Prompts Delays, Cancelations —
Inclement weather in Monday night’s forecast, expected into Tuesday, has prompted administrators at Las Cruces Public Schools to call a two-hour delay for all students and staff on Tuesday, Jan. 24. According to officials, bus schedules have been adjusted to accommodate the late start.
Tuesday’s delay prompted the cancelation of all morning DD preschool classes. A girls basketball game Monday night between Mayfield and Alamogordo was also canceled and rescheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 24. The ninth-grade teams will play at 4 p.m., followed by junior varsity at 5:30 p.m. and varsity at 7 p.m. All games will be held at Mayfield High School.
Wrestling matches between Mayfield, Las Cruces and Organ Mountain high schools set for Tuesday, Jan. 24 at Mayfield were rescheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 5 p.m. Updates will be posted on the LCPS Athletics page, linked here.
For any additional weather delays or updates, please monitor the LCPS homepage, www.lcps.net.
Due to an inclement weather forecast in our area, the Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent has issued a two-hour delay for students and all LCPS staff on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Bus schedules have been adjusted to accommodate the delay. Please be advised that all morning DD preschool classes (7:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.) as well as DD pre AU classes are canceled tomorrow.
For updates, please visit www.lcps.net.
Thank you, Joe Hayes, Southwestern author/storyteller for spending the day at Jornada Elementary reading to students K-5. If you haven't read one of his books already, you're in for a real treat!
You can catch more about his visit to Jornada Elementary on our next episode of Super News, coming out in February!
After a two year hiatus, the El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras - EPSYO held its annual Concerto Competition on Monday, January 16, 2023. Las Cruces HS sophomore violinist, Chloe Morris, has won this year’s competition. As grand prize winner, she will be performing the 1st movement of Édouard Lalo’s Symphonie Espagnole on March 26 at the EPSYO Side by Side concert with the El Paso Symphony Orchestra. The competition was open to all musicians under the age of 23. BRAVA, CHLOE!!! Las Cruces Public Schools is so very proud of you! #wearelcps p/c: Lauren Morris
The Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance brings you the 11th annual running of the Sierra Vista Trail Runs. This event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance, a 501 (c)(3) corporation.
The 2023 event will include the 50k, half-marathon, 10k, 5k, and 1-mile kids fun run.
We keep the registration cost low to make trail racing financially accessible for more people. As always, race registration requires the donation of an old pair of shoes. Bring the shoes to packet pick up or race day. Donated shoes will be offered to the Mesilla Valley Community of Hope,
http://www.mvcommunityofhope.org/.
Click here to register: https://ultrasignup.com/register.aspx?did=98958
Runners in all distances get a pair of race socks. Sizes cannot be guaranteed after February 18, 2023. Extras will be ordered but sizes and quantities will be limited and available on a first come first serve basis. There will be awards for top three men and women in all distances. Post race food will be provided.
All races will take place on Saturday, March 11, 2023. All distances will start at the Sierra Norte trailhead off of Dripping Springs Road.
The 50k will begin at 7:00am
The half-marathon will begin at 8:00am.
The 10k will begin at 9:00am.
The 5k will begin at 8:30am.
The cutoff time to finish will be 5:00 pm.
All proceeds will be donated to the Southern New Mexico Trail Alliance to preserve and enhance the trails and outdoor recreation in the area. Visit us at snmta.org. Funds support trail work days, trail building workshops, training, and tools.
Visit our website, Sierra Vista Trail Runs, for more information. Review the race manual at prior to the event. Come join us for a fun, low key community trail event.
Banner photo of Ian Maddieson courtesy of Organ Mountain Outfitters, one of the past partners.
The Sierra Vista Trail Runs is authorized under a Special Recreation Permit from the Bureau of Land Management
Packet Pickup
Packet pickup will be Friday, March 10, from 4-7 PM at
Bluebird Running Company
300 N Main St, 2nd floor, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Congratulations to Lyric Corona, our LCPS student athlete of the week from Mayfield High School. Lyric plays basketball for the Trojans, she averages 17.1 points per game. Her coach says she is a hard worker and a great teammate who is always dependable. Great job, Lyric!
Shout out to AC Muñoz, our LCPS student athlete of the week from Mayfield High School. AC is a shooting guard for the Trojans, he averages 22 points & 6 rebounds per game. His coach says AC is a great listener, puts his team first, & is always doing what’s right. Way to go, AC!
Interested in learning more about the Virtual Learning Academy? Join us tomorrow, Jan. 11, for our Parent Information Meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Zoom. Here's the link:
https://lcps.zoom.us/j/89924787551
Applications for VLA are due Friday, Jan. 20.
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Open House at Rio Grande Preparatory Institute scheduled for Wednesday, January 11, 2023, has been postponed until March. More information will be forthcoming when an exact date has been selected.
During the next month or so, current 8th grade students will have the opportunity to reserve their spot for next year at one of the high schools within the Las Cruces Public School District (LCPS). We would like to encourage you to keep Rio Grande Preparatory Institute (RGPI) in mind as one of your student’s high school choices next year.
RGPI is a public high school serving grades 9-12 and is located in Mesilla, NM. RGPI offers academic pathways in Culinary Arts Media, and Career Exploration which are woven together into a Project-Based curriculum with serves as the foundation for our school. Bus transportation and free meals are available for all LCPS students. Please see the attached flyer that provides a snapshot of RGPI’s school structure, programs, and contacts for enrollment.
Applications for incoming 9th grade students are currently available until January 20, 2023 by clicking this link: https://form.jotform.com/223134961813151.
An in-person interview is required as part of the application process and both students and parents/guardians are required to attend.
Thank you for considering RGPI as your student’s high school of choice. We can’t wait to meet our new students next year! Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Michelle Ronga, Principal
mronga@lcps.net
575-527-6058
Norma Arrieta, School Counselor
narrieta@lcps.net
575-527-6058
Lynn MS parents: As of 11:20 a.m., the lockdown has been lifted at Lynn and they are now sheltering in place. All students and staff are safe.
