Gus Macker Basketball Tournament Comes to Las Cruces!
The Mayfield High School Football 12th Man Club, in partnership with the City of Las Cruces, proudly welcomes you to the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament!
A longtime favorite in our community, Gus Macker is known for bringing energy, competition, and fun to the streets of Las Cruces. With Mayfield Football’s proud tradition of excellence leading the way, the goal is to bring an unforgettable tournament experience for players and fans alike.
We invite everyone to be part of the action! Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome, whether you’re competing for the championship or just playing for fun.
Scan the QR code or click the link to register your team and learn more: https://macker.com/local/las-cruces-nm
Columbia has received a donation of jackets from a community partner. If your child is in need of a jacket, please reach out to Annette Lopez at 575-527-1561. We will be giving the jackets out at the school on Monday, February 9th from 1:00 -3:00 and Tuesday, February 10th from 8:00 -10:00 am. If you are not able to come to the school, please contact Ms. Lopez to make arrangements to send the jacket home with your child.
Estimados padres:
Columbia ha recibido una donación de chaquetas de un colaborador de la comunidad. Si su hijo necesita una chaqueta, comuníquese con Annette Lopez al 575-527-1561. Entregaremos las chaquetas en la escuela el lunes 9 de febrero de 13:00 a 15:00 y el martes 10 de febrero de 8:00 a 10:00. Si no puede venir a la escuela, comuníquese con la Sra. Lopez para coordinar la entrega de la chaqueta a su hijo.
This photograph from the 1941 Las Cruces Union High School Yearbook captures a generation of student-athletes who helped lay the foundation for school pride in the Mesilla Valley.
In 1941, C.S. Conlee served as the Las Cruces Superintendent of Schools, J.L. Gill was the Principal, and Mel Ritchey led the football team as head coach.
Among the players pictured is Rudy Camunez (#77), whose name now lives on through the LCPS Field of Dreams Walk of Fame - a reminder that the impact of our students lasts far beyond their school years.
These faces, uniforms, and moments tell a story bigger than a season. They remind us that LCPS has always been about more than classrooms. It’s been about belonging, perseverance, and generations connected by school spirit.
If this photo brings back a memory, or if you recognize a name, we invite you to share your story.
This is Las Cruces Public Schools, then and now.
Esta será una distribución tipo drive-thru, y los alimentos estarán disponibles por orden de llegada para las primeras 75 familias. Las familias suelen comenzar a formarse un par de horas antes de la hora programada, por lo que les recomendamos amablemente llegar antes de las 9:00 a.m.
Un agradecimiento especial a Roadrunner Food Bank y a todos nuestros increíbles voluntarios que hacen esto posible. ¡Esperamos poder servir a nuestra comunidad!
This will be a drive-thru distribution and food will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for the first 75 families.
Families often begin lining up a couple of hours before the scheduled start time, so we kindly encourage you to plan to arrive before 9:00 a.m.
Special thanks to Roadrunner Food Bank and all of our amazing volunteers who make it all possible. We look forward to serving our community!
Attention LCPS families! You’re invited to join us at MacArthur Community Elementary School for a family-friendly workshop focused on building healthy sleep habits for children.
This is a family event, all are welcome. Join us on at MacArthur, 655 N Fourth St., Thursday, Jan. 29, in the cafeteria from 5:30pm-7:30pm, where we’ll be learning the importance of sleep through a routine building activity.
Dinner will be provided along with a token of appreciation.
Better rest helps students arrive at school focused, engaged, and ready to thrive. See the flyer to learn more.
For any questions contact: Julie Estrada @ (575) 386-5131 or jestrada@aitkids.com
¡Operación: Éxito con el Sueño!
¡Atención familias de LCPS! Están invitados a acompañarnos en la Escuela Primaria Comunitaria MacArthur para un taller familiar enfocado en la creación de hábitos de sueño saludables para los niños.
Este es un evento familiar, todos son bienvenidos. Acompáñennos en MacArthur, 655 N Fourth St., el jueves 29 de enero, en la cafetería, de 5:30 p. m. a 7:30 p. m., donde aprenderemos sobre la importancia del sueño mediante una actividad para desarrollar rutinas.
Se ofrecerá cena, así como un pequeño obsequio de agradecimiento.
Un mejor descanso ayuda a que los estudiantes lleguen a la escuela concentrados, comprometidos y listos para prosperar. Consulte el volante para obtener más información.
Para cualquier pregunta, comuníquese con: Julie Estrada al (575) 386-5131 or jestrada@aitkids.com
• Shout out to our Student Advisor, Alexa of Organ Mountain High School, for her outstanding leadership and her work with the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education as a student representative for our high schools at LCPS!
• Thank you to Aiden from Tombaugh Elementary for leading the Pledge of Allegiance and the Salute to the State Flag in both English and Spanish during the School Board of Education meeting this week.
• Thank you to the Centennial Chamber Choir, under the direction of Jenna Batista, for their wonderful performance Tuesday night of a Canadian folk song from Quebec, arranged by Donald Patriquin.
• Congratulations to Karin Hite, Principal of Sonoma Elementary, on being recognized as the 2025 National Education Association New Mexico Administrator of the Year. This honor reflects decades of leadership, dedication, and heart. Principal Hite was proudly nominated by Irma Valdespino, President of CSEC-LC. Thank you for more than 30 years of service. Your leadership continues to inspire the staff, students, and families you serve.
• We’d like to wish a happy retirement to Cynthia Donnelly, Chief of Human Resources at Las Cruces Public Schools, and thank her for her dedication and leadership from 2020–2026. Jesse Perrio, who has stepped in to lead HR on an interim basis, shared that since joining the team five years ago, Cindy has been his colleague, role model, leader, and greatest supporter.
You’re invited to Impact 2026, a FREE educator conference happening February 21, 2026, at Arrowhead Park Early College High School.
From PreK–12 and across all content areas, Impact 2026 brings educators together to share real classroom practices, collaborate, and elevate instruction rooted in Challenge, Support, and Equity.
Impact26 highlights sessions that center on:
• Practical strategies that challenge students academically
• Systems of support that meet diverse learner needs
• Equity-centered approaches that uplift every student and community
Together, we can amplify what works, strengthen our practice, and create a lasting impact for LCPS students and their families.
Click here to learn more and reserve your free ticket:
https://impact26amplifyingbestpract.sched.com/about
https://shop.yearbookmarket.com/columbiaelementarylascruces
The LCPS food distribution will be starting at 9am today in front of the LCPS Family Support Center at the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex
La distribución de alimentos de LCPS comenzará hoy a las 9 a. m. frente al Centro de Apoyo Familiar de LCPS, en el Complejo Administrativo Dra. Karen M. Trujillo.
We still have some spaces in our after school program. We start on January 20 and would love to have all our sessions full. https://bit.ly/springOST26
*Wonder Word 1 will be Generation Genius 1.
*See fliers for descriptions for the programs being offered.
**There is NO BUS service for the after school program.
UPDATE: Las Cruces Public Schools will host another food distribution on Friday, Dec. 19, beginning at 9 a.m. at the Nutrition Services warehouse next to the Field of Dreams, 2101 Tashiro Drive. Children do not need to be present to receive food boxes. Additional information will be posted soon.
LCPS is proud to congratulate Shawna Bailey, Director of Health Services, on receiving the New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care Award.
Thank you, Shawna, for your leadership and dedication to keeping our students and staff healthy.
More than 400 kids from throughout Dona Ana County and 200-plus volunteers from law enforcement and various organizations participated in the Cops and Kids shopping experience Saturday morning at the Walmart on Rinconada Boulevard.
The event is sponsored by the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 8, in partnership with the Las Cruces Public Schools’ Title 1 Part C program and Walmart. All area Walmart stores helped make this experience possible.
A big THANK YOU to all who participated! You brought smiles to many families. ❤️
We also had a great day today with our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade families at our holiday lunch. It was great to see everyone who could make it.
One more week before our Winter Break. Let's make it a great last week of our 1st Semester back at our new Columbia home and try to have 100% perfect attendance.
Congratulations to the team at the Challenger Learning Center of Las Cruces!
Time to celebrate some milestones! Today, Commander Jensen flew his 1000th mission. Commander Switzer hit that mark just last month. Commander Guitar has now surpassed 1250 missions and is looking forward to 1500. Help us in congratulating our flight directors for their work with Las Cruces youth. Their mission is to inspire students to pursue STEM related careers.
