Upcoming Events

• 9/7 No School
• 9/8 Senior Showcase Panel #1
  Senior Parking Space Painting
  PAPA Staff In-Service
• 9/9 Progress Reports for Quarter 1
  Visual Art Competition at NM State Fair, 6p-8p
  HS Musical Monologue Auditions, 8th period
• 9/10 HS Musical Singing Auditions, 8th period
• 9/11 Spotlight Performance (during lunch)
  HS Musical Dance Auditions, 8th period
• 8/17 Governing Council Meeting
• 9/24 PAPA PTSO Meeting (all welcome!)

Early Release Dates

• 9/16, 9/30, 10/21, 11/18, 12/2, 1/13, 1/27, 2/10, 2/24, 3/17, 4/7, 4/21, and 5/5.
• Dismissal at 2:15 pm. Study Hall is available in the cafe on these dates until 3:18 pm.

Health and Wellness

• The Health and Wellness Team will begin visiting classrooms this week to engage students in discussions over topics that support their wellbeing and future success. September’s theme is “Decision Making and Substance Abuse Education.”

Senior Announcements

• College Application Day: PAPA seniors will have the chance to begin the process for applying to colleges on 9/23 during the school day. Stay tuned for fun announcements from Student Council about the event.
• Senior Showcase: Seniors attended their first panel for this year’s Senior Showcase on Tuesday, 9/8. Seniors who were absent should speak with Radcliffe to get the information they missed. Seniors, don’t forget to work on your project. The next panel is October 8th and we expect to see progress toward your goals.

Community

Voting is open for 2026 Best of the City from Albuquerque the Magazine. 

Vote for PAPA for Best Charter School here: https://www.abqthemag.com/best-of-the-city/

• Free books for students. Information here: https://www.rallyreadernewmexico.com/
• The SpongeBob SquarePants Musical Auditions: High School Musical Theatre’s SpongeBob Squarepants Musical auditions are NEXT WEEK! Students must sign up for auditions by clicking the link posted to High School Google Classroom. All auditions will be held during 8th period in the South Dance Portable. Monologue Auditions are Wednesday, September 9th; Singing Auditions are Thursday, September 10th; and Dance Auditions are Friday, September 11th. (Mr. Bennett will teach everyone a combination during Friday dance audition. Come dressed to dance!) Audition details, including what you need to prepare, are on the audition posters hanging around campus. If you have any questions, please see Mr. Bennett. Call backs will take place on Monday and Tuesday September 14th and 15th.
• Nominate a PAPA Student: The PAPA way is all about creativity, expression, and kindness. This means we hold the door open for others, we take care of our space and belongings, we leave things better than we found it.  Did you notice a PAPA student demonstrating kindness? Nominate them for PAPAPAWsitivity by completing the form outside the front office or emailing info@paparts.org.
• Nominate a PAPA Staff Member: Help us recognize an awesome PAPA staff member. Thank you for taking a moment to tell us about a positive impact or interaction.  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd0pQgi9k-xB4I8YWJIgq9occjuGXb2dKGD6caJDP1M2KrdqQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=114791415821990573038
• Student Drivers: students who drive must display a student parking decal and park in the west lot, which will be secured from 8:30 AM until dismissal. Anyone needing access to this lot during the school day must contact the front office: 505-830-3128”
• PAPA PTSO invites all PAPA families to attend our meetings. Our next meeting is on September 24, 2026 at 7:00pm. We meet via zoom.
  • Link to Join Zoom Meeting: https://hsc-unm.zoom.us/j/92781115142?pwd=ytBQEarScTK2b6n591aSKLgjIaRaKN.1
  • Meeting ID: 927 8111 5142
  • Passcode: panda
  • The mission of PAPA PTSO is to support our students, celebrate our incredible staff, and build vibrant, connected school community. We will be voting in our new executive board at the August meeting. We are still looking for parent volunteers to support the PTSO! Please reach out to Tara at tkonecny@paparts.org for more information.

Clubs

• Garden Club will have its next meeting on Wednesday, September 23rd, during 8th period. Meet in Mrs. Walker’s room to touch some grass.
• High School Poetry Club will have its first meeting on Tuesday, September 18th, in room 7, during high school lunch. If you’re in high school and are interested returning to or joining high school poetry club it would be GREATLY appreciated that you show up to our first official meeting. However, if you decide to join later you’re welcome to join ANY meeting with a poem or piece of literature that means something to you. High school poetry club is a safe space for all writers, so please join us in room 7 every Tuesday during lunch.
• Middle School Debate Club meets every Wednesday during lunch in Room 13 with Ms. Dominguez. Join us and learn how to craft an excellent argument.
• Middle School Poetry Club meets every Tuesday during lunch in Room 13 with Ms. Dominguez. Bring a poem to share!
• Middle School Social Club meets Mondays and Thursdays during middle school lunch. If you like to eat and play games, play with legos or just color and meet new people, come hang out in room 16 (Mrs. Torrez’s room).

Technology

It is not too late to sign up for Chromebook insurance. Here is the link: www.smarttechins.com/papa

School Policies

• Tardies: When a student has three tardies in one class period, students will receive one lunch detention. The cycle will start over again when that detention is served.
• Technology: Cell phones, wireless headphones, smart watches, smart glasses, personal tablets, iPads and gaming systems are to be put out of sight upon arrival on campus. Items seen or heard during the school day will be taken to the front office for pick up by a parent or guardian.
• Dual Credit Classes: The PAPA Governing Council has approved an update to the Dual Credit weight policy (June 2026). All dual credit courses which UNM will accept for transfer credit towards a degree will be weighted. Previously only courses in English, Math, Science, and History were weighted. Current students that have already completed a dual credit course will have transcript review and weight adjusted to retroactively apply this new policy through a transcript audit this fall.
• Employee Policies: The following policies are being shared for public comment. To make a comment send an email to Director Lopez at tlopez@paparts.org  |  Furlough Policy  |  RIF Policy

Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Statement

PAPA Is a Drug-, Alcohol-, and Nicotine-Free Campus

As we begin the new school year, we want to remind our entire PAPA community of an important expectation designed to keep our campus safe, healthy, and focused on learning.

Public Academy for Performing Arts is a drug-, alcohol-, tobacco-, and nicotine-free school.

In accordance with New Mexico Administrative Code 6.12.4 (Tobacco, Alcohol and Drug Free School Districts), schools are required to prohibit the use and possession of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs by students, school staff, parents, and visitors on school property and at school functions held away from school property. (NMPED)

Therefore, the following are not permitted:

• Alcohol or illegal drugs
• Marijuana/cannabis products
• Cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, or other tobacco products
• Vapes, e-cigarettes, and electronic smoking devices
• Nicotine pouches, nicotine products, or other alternative nicotine products
• The possession, use, or distribution of these products

This policy applies to all students, parents/guardians, staff, volunteers, and guests:

• On the PAPA campus and school property
• In school buildings, parking areas, and athletic/performing arts spaces
• On school buses and school transportation
• At school-sponsored concerts, performances, dances, field trips, and activities—even when they take place off campus

We ask everyone in our PAPA community to help us maintain a safe and healthy environment for our students. Please leave all tobacco, nicotine, vaping, alcohol, and drug products at home.

Thank you for helping us protect our students and uphold our commitment to a safe, respectful, and healthy school community.