UNM Department of Physics and Astronomy

We wish to invite you, your students, and family members to our Spring Lecture Demonstration Show. This event is hosted by the UNM Department of Physics and Astronomy and will take place on Saturday, April 18, at noon in Regener Hall, room 103. In about an hour, undergraduates from the Society of Physics Students will showcase many of the demonstrations that are used for our introductory physics lectures.  These demonstrations are both edifying and exciting, with lots of sound and fury, signifying many important physical principles!

Attached to this email is a flier to distribute to your students.  UNM does not require permits in any regular permit space in the A, B, C, or P zones on the weekends. But please do not park in handicap spaces, metered/pay spaces, fire lanes, and loading zones. Parking is restricted in the R zone at all times. You are welcome to park on campus or the P/B lot. Please have them be mindful of the restricted spaces and areas outlined above. Here’s a link to the UNM Transportation map for your reference.

https://pats.unm.edu/maps/2024-pats-system-map.v7.pdf

Final Exam Schedule and end of school events: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10t7Ol6EJ3Bxczy06Y6CV-6BUg-F2Adzk0v8_v_R747o/edit?usp=sharing

Senior Locker Strip (new this year)

This is a way to celebrate your senior’s final month at PAPA. PAPA provides the template for the locker strip at no cost; families purchase decorations and magnets. The template fits PAPA lockers, and decorations must stay within the template border. If a student does not have a locker, we will assign an empty locker for the strip.

We will have a Locker Strip Installation Day where families can escort their student and watch them hang their strip, with the option to pay and eat at the Spring Family Luncheon on April 9th. Strips can be removed by the student on senior check-out day, May 5, 2026.

Accessibility

It’s important to keep our bathrooms clean and free of inhalants. Accessibility stalls are there for physical and mental impairments and for those who need a little extra support. Some disabilities or impairments are visible, while others are invisible. Even if it seems like someone doesn’t need the stall, your judgment shouldn’t determine their usage. Vaping or taking up the stall, if you don’t need it, is unfair to those who do. The chemicals released from nicotine products cause secondhand smoke exposure. This exposure is especially damaging to individuals with invisible disabilities like asthma or lung disease. It also removes individual choice for students to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. Your choices impact others around you. Thank you for helping create a healthy space and considering other people’s needs.

PAPA Calendar 26/27

The Governing Council has approved a calendar for next year. Please review: https://www.paparts.org/papa_uploads/2026/01/PAPA-Calendar-26.27.pdf

Teacher Updates

Parents, please be on the lookout for updates from teachers that review weekly educational plans, the week at a glance. Teachers will be putting at least 2 grades in the gradebook each week. Please check PowerSchool for updates in grades weekly. If you need help logging in to your PowerSchool account, email or call our Registrar, Mrs. Lucero; llucero@paparts.org.

Emailing Staff

When emailing staff, please use the .org email address. Staff emails are first name initial, last name @paparts.org. The .net emails are for students and Google Classroom only. If you need any help or assistance, contact the front office or email info@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.

General Info

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.

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.

Cell Phones

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 Readiness

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!