A group of children sit in a circle with their feet pointed toward the middle. They wear brightly colored holiday-themed socks.

Holiday happenings brought plenty of cheer to APS, community

Brienne Green

February 25, 2026

The holidays are always an exciting time in the APS district, filled with learning opportunities that add an extra element of festive fun to our students' well-rounded educations. From activities that allowed Artesia's kids to engage with the community and vice versa to the chance of a lifetime to showcase the City of Champions on a national stage, here's a look back at the moments that made this past holiday season memorable.

Below, view highlight video from this year's Light Up Artesia Parade of Lights, which featured hundreds of our students and educators helping to usher the season (and the big man himself: Santa!) into downtown Artesia.

GRAND HEIGHTS

A group of male and female children pose for a photo in front of a classroom door that reads "Santa's Got Gifts for Us".

Grand Heights Early Childhood Center held its annual Door Decorating Contest in December, designed to usher Eager Beavers into their respective classrooms with a little extra holiday pizzazz. This year's winners were Stacia Estrada's Foxes, with Kenzie Lopez's Unicorns coming in second.

A small group of male and female children pose for a photo in front of a classroom door that features an image of the Grinch in an Artesia Bulldog football jersey.

Kindergarten students also got creative (and sparkly, and tinsel-topped, and Grinchy...) for a week of Holiday Spirit Dress-Up Days.

A group of male and female children pose for a photo. The children wear different holiday hats on their heads, including two with trees made of tinsel.

A group of male and female children smile for the camera while sitting in a circle with their feet together in the middle. The children wear brightly decorated Christmas socks.

A group of male and female children pose for a photo gathered around a person dressed as the Grinch. The Grinch holds one child and points to her shirt, which reads "Naughty".

A group of male and female children pose for a photo. The children wear brightly colored Christmas shirts and many also wear reindeer headbands.

A group of male and female children wearing pajamas pose for a photo around a person dressed as Santa Claus.

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY

America Celebrates Tree

Four women and a female child pose for a photo.

A female child sits in a chair adjacent a New Mexico flag in the White House.

The National Christmas Tree is shown lit in front of the White House, surrounded by smaller trees representing the states and territories.

The Bullpups of Central Elementary School were honored this past season to have ornaments designed by fourth-graders selected to participate during their third-grade year featured on the America Celebrates Christmas tree representing New Mexico in President's Park in Washington, D.C. "It was such an honor to represent the state of New Mexico," said Central Principal Susie Parker. "Central Elementary students worked really hard this summer in a two-week art camp designing these ornaments, along with writing a statement about their ornament and why they chose to design it." Shama Bootzin, Scott Kiemle, Annette Vazquez and Parker worked with participating students over the summer as they planned their designs and then brought them to life. In addition, Central fourth-grader Felicity Vazquez, above, along with Vazquez, Kimberly Allred and Kayla Parrish, were able to attend the National Tree Lighting in D.C. to further represent the City of Champions and the Land of Enchantment.

Click here to view all the Bullpups' beautiful ornament designs.

A Christmas ornament colored by a child depicts a roadrunner in browns and blues in front of a yellow and orange sunset.

A Christmas ornament colored by a child features a depiction of a Native American clay pot against a blue background.

A Christmas ornament colored by a child depicts male and female folklorico dancers against a blue background with an adobe church in the background.

School Festivities

A large group of children sit in a gymnasium as a female teacher leads a singalong.

The Bullpups enjoyed plenty of cozy Christmas activities back home in Artesia as well. Students were able to create their own cookie grab bags to enjoy with a warm cup of hot chocolate during the school's Cookie Exchange, hosted by the PTO. The event also included a fun carol singalong in the gym.

Children in pajamas make their way along tables in a school cafeteria, filling paper bags with cookies.

A female child in pink pajamas waits as a woman sprays whipped cream on top of a cup of hot chocolate.

Central's Student Ambassadors also took the time to spread cheer to local senior citizens, caroling, playing Bingo, and visiting with attendees at the Senior MealSite.

Children and senior citizens seated at a round table look at their green Bingo cards.

Four female children and an elderly woman pose for a photo while seated around a round table.

Two young boys play Bingo with an elderly woman.

Two young girls play Bingo with two elderly women.

HERMOSA ELEMENTARY

Children and adults make their way along a row of luminarias into a classroom decorated like Christmas in Mexico.

The Hermosa Elementary Superkids once again hosted their beautiful Christmas Around the World event this year for families and the community. Students spent their time between Thanksgiving and Christmas learning about celebrations and traditions in countries around the globe, then transformed the school into an interactive display of rich cultural festivities and warm holiday feelings.

Children listen as a woman holding a small child speaks to them from behind a table featuring items associated with Hanukkah.

Children and adults file past a table featuring items associated with Christmas in Sweden. Three women seated behind the table wear white outfits and wreaths of candles on their heads.

Three adults sit behind a table amidst a display detailing traditions associated with Kwanzaa.

An inflatable Santa Claus riding a surfboard is seen outside a classroom along a Christmas-light-decorated hallway.

ROSELAWN ELEMENTARY

A large group of children, all dressed in green and/or Grinch-related attire, poses for a photo.

Roselawn Elementary's Roadrunners ushered in the festive season with a week of fun and funny dress-up days, including Grinch Day and Ugly/Cute Sweater Day.

A large group of children dressed in festive and amusing holiday-themed sweaters poses for a photo in front of a backdrop depicting a winter scene.

A large group of children wearing green and/or Grinch-related attire poses for a photo in a gym in front of a backdrop depicting a winter scene.

A large group of children wearing holiday-themed sweaters poses for a photo in front of a winter backdrop.

YESO ELEMENTARY

As soon from above, luminaries spell out the word "Yeso" and depict a Zia sun symbol and a thunderbird.

Yeso Elementary hosted its annual Luminarias and Literacy night Dec. 11, featuring wonderful luminaria designs on the school playground, created by the Thunderbird fourth-grade classes, along with hot chocolate and biscochos. Click here to view a short video of the event.

The school also presented its annual fifth-grade Christmas Program Dec. 17, and that presentation can be viewed in its entirety by clicking here and scrolling to Artesia Public Schools Special Events.

YUCCA ELEMENTARY

Children pose for a photo while eating pizza at their desks in a classroom.

Children pose for a photo while eating pizza at their desks in a classroom.

The Yucca Elementary Bulldog Bandits dedicated a portion of their pre-Christmas activities to giving back to the community. Students participated in a canned food drive, hosted by J&J Home Care, which saw five truckloads of food delivered to Grammy's House. Jenna Herrera's second-grade class collected the most food items and were rewarded with a pizza party, above. The school also gathered donations for Operation Christmas Child, with Margarita Ruiz's third-grade class earning a milk-and-cookie party for gathering the most items.

A group of children pose for a photo while holding up small bags of cookies and cartons of milk.

In addition, the Bandits jingled all the bells and decked plenty of halls in their Christmas jammies during a schoolwide singalong in the gym.

A large group of children in holiday pajamas sit on the floor of a gym.

A large group of children wearing holiday pajamas stands in a gym and performs hand motions amidst a dance.

A very large group of children wearing holiday pajamas and seated on the floor of a gym look toward the camera as they sing a song.

ZIA INTERMEDIATE

A large group of preteens are seen seated in a band hall, playing instruments.

The Artesia Public Schools band programs put in many days of hard work in preparation for the annual Winter Concert, and the Zia Intermediate bands were no exception. Pictured is one of the bands' many after-school rehearsals in preparation from the concert (also including the Park Junior High and Artesia High School bands), which can be viewed in its entirety here under Artesia Public Schools Special Events. The Zia choir's Jingle Bell Jukebox concert can also be viewed by following the same link.

A large group of preteens is seen in a band hall, playing instruments as a male band director leads them.

The Zia PTO also treated the faculty to a pre-Christmas Break brunch that offered educators a warm, eggy, cheesy thank-you for their hard work during the first semester.

A female teacher in a pink top and pajama pants is seen walking along a buffet filled with quiches.

PARK JUNIOR HIGH

A small group of teens is seen standing in front of a winter window backdrop alongside a Christmas tree.

The Park Junior High School hospitality class made spirits bright at Artesia Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, visiting with residents and adding to their holiday cheer with goodwill and games.

Two male teens are seen stacking red Solo cups for a game as two elderly residents of a nursing facility look on.

The Park PTO also treated the faculty to a pre-Christmas Break feast of Alma's enchiladas and homemade desserts to thank them for a great first semester.

In a photo of a school cafeteria, one table is laden with enchiladas, chips and salsa, beans, rice, plates and napkins. Other tables in the distance hold goodie and gift bags.

ARTESIA HIGH SCHOOL

A large Christmas tree with large wrapped gifts in front of it sits next to a giant Adirondack chair.

In addition to the festive tree, above, greeting students each day near the main office, the Bulldogs brought holiday cheer to the commons area this season, with each class putting their own unique touch on a tree. The sophomore offering stood out in candy-cane tones with its red balloon ornaments and polka-dotted bow topper. The junior tree warmed hearts as well as feet and hands, collecting socks and gloves for decoration and distribution. But it was the senior tree's touch of nostalgia that won over the voters. Baby and childhood photos of members of the Class of 2026 were collected and crafted into ornaments for a tree that embodied Christmas past, present, and future.

A Christmas tree in a school commons area is decorated with the numbers "2026" and baby photos of senior students.

A Christmas tree in a school commons area is decorated with holiday-themed socks and gloves.

A Christmas tree sitting in a school commons area is decorated with red balloons.

The AHS Student Council also helped staff members fend off the cold with a hot chocolate bar, complete with customizable flavors and all the fixings.

A female and male student smile for the camera while standing in front of a cabinet filled with hot chocolate supplies.

A cabinet is seen laden with hot chocolate packets, marshmallows, candies, whipped cream, cups, and bottles of flavoring.