PAPA Filmmakers

Before we dive into finals and end-of-semester performances, we want to take a moment to pause, connect, and celebrate all of your hard work. Today we’re hosting a Hot Cocoa Social!  This is your chance to: Take a short break from the stress of exams and rehearsals.  Connect with friends, classmates, and teachers in a fun, relaxed setting.  Celebrate your effort, dedication, and the amazing community we’ve built together.  Performing at your best isn’t just about practice—it’s also about feeling grounded, supported, and part of a team. So grab a cup, enjoy a treat, and remember: strong performances emerge from strong communities!  We’ll see you there, and thanks for all the energy you’ve brought this semester. You’ve earned it! We also have a special treat from our PAPA film and media department, the debut screening of “The Bad and the Ugly”. We look forward to celebrating our PAPA filmmakers this afternoon. Congratulations, all students and staff, for a successful semester of learning, growing, failing, trying again, practicing, performance, and community, the PAPA way.

Chromebooks

Parents and students: We will be transitioning from student-owned devices to school-issued Chromebooks. This change is designed to enhance the security of our school network and ensure that all students have access to the school’s technology safety measures, including firewalls and monitoring tools, which help protect students and maintain a safe digital learning environment.

Fundraiser

Do you love Chipotle? Well, Thespian Troupe is doing a fundraiser TOMORROW, December 16th, from 4-8 pm at the Chipotle on Juan Tabo! By purchasing online with our code or showing our flyer (on your phone counts!),  25% of sales go towards Troupe! This is a limited-time event, so if you’re in that Chipotle mood, go get some using the code 8A9CG4A. Help get us to DramaFEST!

PAPA PTSO

PAPA PTSO is planning to welcome the PAPA teachers and staff back in style after the winter break with a delicious nacho bar on Tuesday, January 6th! Please sign up to contribute ingredients or warm items here: PTSO Nacho Lunch

Cold ingredients can be delivered to the school on January 5th or 6th before 11 am. Warm items (in crock pots) should be delivered on January 6th before 11 am.

Thank you for your contributions and generosity!

Also, mark your calendars for PAPA PTSO’s 2026 meetings:

Thursday, 1/22/26 – 6:45-7:30 pm

Thursday, 2/26/26 – 6:45-7:30 pm

Thursday, 3/26/26 – 6:45-7:30 pm

Thursday, 4/23/26 – 6:45-7:30 pm

Car Pool

Car Pool update: Do you need to make connections for transportation for semester 2? Sign up for the carpool list to gain access to other parents looking to connect rides for students to and from school. https://forms.gle/phrd1hrocyDkxpKs7

Weather Updates

Inclement Weather at PAPA: Should we encounter inclement weather and need to cancel school, guardians/parents will be notified through school messenger. Local radio & television stations post APS delays and school closings. PAPA follows its own policies and procedures regarding delays and closings. If APS delays or has asynchronous snow days DISTRICT WIDE, PAPA will cancel school for the day.   If APS delays or cancels East Mountain schools only, PAPA will be in session. Residents of the East Mountains can make informed decisions for their own safety to come to school on time or be delayed.  Parents/Guardians must report absences to the attendance phone line or email attendance@paparts.org.

Drop Off/Pick Up

This is a reminder that students may not be dropped off or enter the building before 7:30 a.m. per our Student Handbook. This expectation is essential to ensuring student safety on campus, as there is no supervision before 7:30 a.m.  The building will remain locked until 7:30 a.m. Students arriving early will need to wait with their parent/guardian until doors open. In addition, we ask that all students be picked up promptly at the end of the school day. If a student is not picked up promptly, staff will attempt to contact parents/guardians. If we are unable to reach anyone, we may contact CYFD or APD as appropriate to ensure the student’s safety.

Scholarships

Scholarship Information: https://www.artandwriting.org/?eml=marketing/e/20251015/////////

Community Support

At the Public Academy for Performing Arts, we care deeply about the well-being of our students and their families. We understand that it can be challenging to focus on learning and creativity when basic needs are difficult to meet. To help, we’ve gathered a list of food, housing, and clothing resources available in our community.  These organizations offer support for families who may need assistance, whether temporarily or on an ongoing basis. Please reach out to the school social worker if you’d like help connecting with any of these resources — we’re here to support you. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LdjiPVcE8EdSpUL_cH1qe0bIm0EgMtQ6E-VbUOQy9Ck/edit?usp=sharing

Final Exams

Final Exam Schedule: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF1es9pSy8/fB87pWYNBTGi3ldhJZn63w/edit?utm_content=DAF1es9pSy8&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Prohibited Items

Possession or distribution of tobacco products, e-cigarettes, nicotine liquid containers, alcohol, mood-altering substances, and illicit drugs in school buildings, school premises, and away from school grounds at school-sponsored activities is prohibited for all. This includes students, staff, and families.

General Info

Student Drop-off & Pick-up Safety Reminders

• Be patient during drop-off and pick-up.

• Have your child ready with belongings before stopping in the loading/unloading zone.

• If your child needs extra time, please park on the street or in a parking spot.

• Do not block crosswalks, entrances, or exits.

• Refrain from honking, yelling, or using inappropriate language.

• If you’re running late, do not speed—safety comes first.

• We’ve had a few close calls; please help us keep all students and families safe.

Students not enrolled in 8th-period class may not stay on campus unless they have an appointment with a teacher. Students may not loiter on campus.

Per the NM Legislature, students are not permitted to be on cell phones during instructional time. Instructional time means during class time. Take a moment right now and put yours in your backpack out of sight. Students must have a pass from their teachers if they need to be out of class for any reason. Leave your phone in the classroom if you need to leave in the middle of class. Please review the cell phone policy in the student handbook. Students who violate this rule will have their phones taken away or locked in a pouch. If you don’t want this to happen to you, make sure your phone is out of sight during instructional time.

College Prep

Did you know that even though some colleges are test-optional, there is still a standard to meet for admission?  At UNM, you must have a 3.0 G.P.A.. and a 1030 on the SAT or a 20 on the ACT. All grades at PAPA are striving to improve their grades, attendance, and scores on standardized testing. All students will record their interim test scores in their PAPA data folder and track their progress. Is your score college-ready?  If not, are you working to get college-ready?

5•7•10 RULE 

● Five unexcused absences: When a child has accumulated five unexcused absences, school personnel will arrange a meeting at the school with the parent or legal guardian to discuss the unexcused absences. A plan to improve attendance will be developed and implemented.

● Seven unexcused absences: When a child has accumulated seven unexcused absences, school personnel will arrange a second meeting at the school with the parent or legal guardian to review the attendance plan and discuss the impact of truancy on the future of the child. At this time, the child may enter into an attendance contract requiring him or her to attend school regularly, or other consequences may be applied (i.e., removal from PAPA to attend the child’s home school in the case of transportation issues).

● Ten unexcused absences: If a student has accumulated an equivalent of ten or more unexcused absences within a school year, the parent shall be given written notice by personal service or certified mail that the student is habitually truant and is not in compliance with the Compulsory Attendance School Law. At that time, the student shall be reported to the probation services office of the judicial district where the student resides for an investigation as to whether the student shall be considered to be a neglected child or a child in a family in need of services because of habitual truancy.

Being Present Matters!