ARTESIA HIGH SCHOOL
AHS Student Council hosts Fall Conference
The AHS Student Council hosted this year's New Mexico Association of Student Councils' Southeast District Fall Conference Oct. 23, where students from around the district were able to network, share ideas, and build skills that will improve their councils. This year's keynote speaker was Mike Hall, host of "The Moments That Made Us" podcast, who challenged students to realize their full potential.
Click here for more photos!
Snacks and Apps
AHS seniors were able to enjoy snacks while completing college applications with Senior Counselor Debbie Kinnibrugh. More than 40 applications were completed.
Voter Registration Drive
On Oct. 22, students turning 18 by Nov. 5 were able to register to vote in the 2024 General Election with help from a Voter Registration Drive organized by social studies teachers from AHS and Park Junior High.
Bulldogs Care Week raises funds for AGH
During Bulldogs Care Week Oct. 7-11, AHS students wore a different color each day to raise awareness of five different types of cancer: blue for prostate cancer, yellow for bone cancer, green for lymphoma, pink for breast cancer, and orange for leukemia. The classes also competed through a Coin War to raise funds for the Artesia General Hospital Foundation, with $1,282.14 raised.
CSWCD offers hands-on science learning
Carlsbad Soil and Water Conservation District Manager Sandi Wilkie paid a visit to AHS early in the month to teach earth-science students about erosion with hands-on help from the Rolling Rivers model.
Tate Branch Senior Students of the Month
Emilie Fuksa and Hattie Harrison
The Tate Branch Auto Group has initiated a new program to honor Artesia High School seniors who display the following qualities:
• Act with integrity and honesty
• Look for ways to give back
• Use leadership skills for positivity and change
• Be willing to help
• Work to be a team player
• Strive to do the right thing every time
The first two winners of the Tate Branch Senior Student of the Month award for August and September, respectively, were Hattie Harrison and Emilie Fuksa. Congratulations!
College and Career Day
On Wednesday, Oct. 2, AHS students were able to take some time to look to the future with the school's annual College and Career Day.
More than 30 colleges and trade schools were on hand to provide Bulldog seniors and juniors with information on admissions and scholarships, and more than 40 companies and organizations were represented at the Career Fair to offer all students a glimpse down a variety of career paths.
Click here for a photo album from the event!
PARK JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Health and Wellness Day
Park students were able to learn about physical, mental and social health while playing games, winning prizes, and creating vision boards during the school's Health and Wellness Day Oct. 25.
Students give back to Dexter
Students, faculty and volunteers gathered following the devastating flooding in Chaves County to collect supplies for the community of Dexter, including donations of water, snacks, toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
APD hosts safe-driving clinic
The Artesia Police Department and its School Resource Officers paid a visit to Park Oct. 4 to conduct a safe-driving clinic with the school's driver's education classes.
ZIA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
Media tech students pickling and grinning
Students in Kimberly Key's media technology class pickled... er, PICKED up some new skills in tech, coding and music recently, creating pickle pianos on which they were able to tap out such tunes as "Do-Re-Mi," "Happy Birthday" and Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."
Click here for a video!
The students also used AI prompts to generate promos for Red Ribbon Week!
Art students channel Andy Warhol
In early October, Zia's art students began working on mixed-media pieces featuring famous artists of their choice.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Fourth-graders saddle up
(Photos Courtesy The Eddy County Fair)
Fourth-graders from the Artesia Public Schools elementaries got a crash course in rodeo Friday, Oct. 4, at the Eddy County Fairgrounds. Students listened as local participants in the weekend's New Mexico High School and Junior High School Rodeo Associations event explained their sport and were able to watch some exciting demonstrations.
You can find results from the rodeo on the NMHSRA's website.
CENTRAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Bullpups take flight
Central closed out the month of October with a Take Flight event in conjunction with the Balloons & Tunes Festival. Bullpup fifth-graders were able to learn how hot air balloons work before creating and launching their own.
Click here for a video!
Students meet math, reading goals
Central students who met both their Math IXL and Accelerated Reading goals were treated to a trip to Jamaica Park. Click here for more photos!
STEM storms
Amy Walker's fifth-grade class was able to learn about the water cycle by creating "Storms in a Cup" as part of a special STEM lab project.
Books and Bingo Family Night
On Oct. 3, Central invited its students and their families to add a little extra fun to the school's book fair. Prior to heading to the fair to shop for new reads, a game of bingo was held in the cafeteria, with winners receiving books from the fair.
Click here for more photos from the event!
HERMOSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Halloween hijinks
Hermosa celebrated Halloween Oct. 31 with a special Caramel Apple Bar.
Minute to Win It
Superkids celebrated meeting their Accelerated Reading goals by enjoying a variety of Minute to Win It games in the school gymnasium.
Spirit Run fundraiser
Hermosa Elementary held its annual Spirit Run fundraiser Oct. 11, with students from all grades running laps around the playground after collecting pledge donations. Click here for more photos!
Hermosa Principal Kaci Whitmire also gave Nickelodeon flashbacks, agreeing to be "slimed" by the fundraiser's highest earner!
ROSELAWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Roadrunners cash in AR points
Students who met their Accelerated Reading goals were able to cash in their points through the school's AR Point Club Rewards program. Principal Leslie Catano manned the rewards cart, congratulating students as they selected items ranging from bookmarks, pencils and "brag tags" to popcorn, pickles and beverages.
Roselawn celebrates Unity Day
Unity Day was Oct. 16, and Roadrunner students spent the day learning how to create a culture of kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Older students also spent time with ACCESS students, learning about them and their needs and presenting them with gifts.
Roadrunners stand up to bullying
Roselawn students wore blue on World Day of Bullying Prevention, Oct. 7, as part of their commitment to stomp out bullying. Students spent the month learning what bullying looks like, how to stand up to bullies, and how to keep bullying out of their school.
YESO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Up, up and away
Yeso students closed out the month of October with a learning experience in conjunction with the Balloons & Tunes Festival. Click here for a video of Thunderbirds exploring the inside of a retired hot-air balloon.
Creative characters
Thunderbirds enhanced book reports over their favorite stories by turning pumpkins into some of their favorite characters from the books.
Superhero Readers
Yeso's Level Up Reading Challenge students made reading a priority in October and were rewarded with a Superhero Reader designation and a special lunch.
Heirloom Acres trip
Yeso students in grades 1-3 were able to enjoy a fun and educational field trip to the Heirloom Acres pumpkin patch.
Yeso donates to hurricane relief
Yeso Elementary School joined in an effort to collect donations for hurricane relief in Florida. The school's Student Leadership Council helped load the items and send them on their way.
YUCCA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Paper Takes Flight
The Bandits bid farewell to a breezy October with a Paper Takes Flight workshop, in conjunction with the Balloons & Tunes Festival. To cap off the learning experience, teacher Rita Harden took a brief flight in a hot-air balloon. Click here for a video of a balloon flight.
Radical Recess goes to second grade
Yucca's second-grade Bandits were celebrated as the Radical Recess winners for the month of October after 15 days with no recess issues.
iStation iStars
Yucca celebrated students who showed the most growth in iStation reading and math for the month of October. Click here for a photo gallery.
GRAND HEIGHTS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
High-flying fun
Grand Heights students joined other schools in the district in learning about hot-air balloons in conjunction with the Balloons & Tunes Festival. Click here for more photos and click here for a video.
Ticket raffle a success
The Eager Beavers wrapped up their ticket raffle fundraiser, with top ticket sellers including Brynnleigh Orquiz, Liam Herrera-Simer, Cheyenne Havens, Santiago Pando, Karter Barnes, Major Baldwin, Aiden Doporto, Calvin Buck, Ashton Conn and Victoria Lafferry.
GHECC students Levelling Up
Grand Heights students are participating in the N.M. Public Education Department's Level Up Reading Challenge and saw great growth in iStation reading during the month of October. Click here for a full photo gallery!
Eager Beavers visit Bulldog Bowl
On Oct. 9, Grand Heights students took their annual field trip to Bulldog Bowl, where AHS head football coach Jeremy Maupin and members of the team treated them to a grand tour.