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Aspen High School

Student and Family Weekly Update

Aspen High SchoolStudent and Family Weekly Update

December 18th

Para la versión en español, haga clic en este correo electrónico. Haga clic en la palabra "Traducir" (arriba a la derecha) y seleccione Español o el lenguaje de su preferencia en el menú.


Dear Students & Families,


I want to wish all of you a wonderful holiday vacation. I hope you are able to spend time with family and friends; rest and relax; and enjoy some time outside. May 2025 bring everyone much health and happiness. I look forward to seeing you all in January. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

IB Spotlight

IB Business HL students presented to the Aspen Ski Co. Marketing Department at Buttermilk on Dec 13. Five groups of students presented their marketing findings to three Ski Co. executive employees from their business development and marketing teams. Specifically, Ryan Rigney created this project idea and coordinated the event with Aspen Ski Co. These presentations were our business students' "real test" as they had to defend their findings and support their group projects. Thank you Aspen Ski Co for providing our students with this opportunity.

IB Spotlight

IB Diploma student, Chase Slesinger-Hall, helped to lead the staff in a conversation about grade standardization on December 12th. Chase is part of the AHS Instructional Leadership Team which meets after school on Thursdays

IB Spotlight

For their CAS Project, IB Business students, Oliver Auvray, Paul Anzalone, Jackson Rumbaugh, and Zachary Loeb, have put together a Speaker Series, where they invite business leaders from our community to speak and present during lunch. For their first Speaker Series, they invited Stephane De Baets to speak about entrepreneurship. It was a big success! Over 60 students attended!

IB MYP 10th Grade Personal Project

10th-graders have completed Criterion A of their Personal Project reports!
  • Students are working to make final edits for Criterion B and finish their products. Both Criterion B and student products are due by December 20th, THIS FRIDAY!
  • Once students return to school after winter break, they will reflect on their products and their process as they write Criterion C of their report. They are required to submit their report no later than January 16th.
  • The 10th-graders' hard work will be celebrated on February 12th when students present their projects and products at a Community Showcase in the Skier Dome.

Skier Spotlight

David Clark's high school ProStart culinary students created gingerbread masterpieces with Ms. Jamie’s first graders!

Virtual Parent Coffee

Join us December 20th for the next Virtual Parent Coffee with Sarah Strassburger.

The meeting will be recorded, and posted to our website, for those who cannot join.

https://meet.google.com/bed-vnim-jqo?hs=122&authuser=0

Aspen High School’s Shining Stars Club

Aspen High School’s Shining Stars Club asks for donations for the Annual Shining Stars Toy Drive.

Please bring toys for children ages 3 to 18: Gift Cards, Books, Art Supplies, Outdoor Gear, Action Figures, Dolls, Recreational Items, Board Games, Remote-Controlled Cars, Legos, Dolls, Stuffed Animals, Sports Equipment, Electronic Games and Smart Devices! Unopened and unwrapped toys. Your generosity and support will bring joy and relief to families facing the significant challenges associated with fighting cancer—financial strain, emotional hardships, hospital visits, and more than we can imagine. Together, we can brighten their holidays and bring smiles to so many kids!


Toy collection boxes are located outside the AHS front office. Friday is the last day to donate. Share with your friends and families! Thank you!

Colorado Digital Learning Solutions (CDLS) for the 2024-25 School Year

Aspen High School offers the opportunity for students to take online classes through Colorado Digital Learning Solutions (CDLS) for the 2024-25 school year. Students typically enroll in online classes for continuing credits for graduation or credit recovery (meaning a student has failed a course necessary for graduation and is regaining that credit).


Information for CDLS Spring Semester 2025


Información de Clases en Línea de CDLS


Email Josh Berro, jberro@aspenk12.net, or Kearstin Cameron, kcameron@aspenk12.net, individually with questions or if you need guidance selecting a course.

Booster Club & Skier Swag

From Post-Secondary Counseling

THIS FRIDAY! FIRST GENERATION STUDENTS:

Lunch with Lupita & Ricky - Fri. December 20


Students of any grade who will be the first in their family to attend college are invited to have lunch with AHS alumni Lupita Ortiz (‘21) and Ricky Saucedo (‘23) this Friday, December 20 in the BOE Room. Lupita and Ricky will share their experiences as first-generation college students, answer questions and offer words of encouragement. Students should email smorrison@aspenk12.net to sign-up.

SENIORS:

Reminder - WINTER BREAK OFFICE CLOSURE

Keep in mind that the Post-Secondary Counseling office is closed during winter break, so please plan accordingly - especially regarding any early January EDII and Regular Decision deadlines. Schedule meetings with either Karen or Brennan this week if you need help with any upcoming deadlines. Students are not allowed to miss class to meet with their Post-Secondary Counselor. If there is not an appointment slot that fits your schedule, email Karen (khawkes@aspenk12.net) or Brennan (bdignan@aspenk12.net) directly and they will find room for you. Because of the way the holiday falls this year, we strongly encourage students to submit all applications with early January deadlines before leaving for winter break. Over the break, Susanne will submit supporting documents for all schools that are moved into the “Applied” column in SCOIR. Please do not forget to update SCOIR!


Decision Season

Now is the season when some colleges begin notifying applicants about admissions decisions. Click here for words of advice and other important reminders.


Save the Date! Wednesday, January 8th (right after winter break!)

LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP INFO SESSIONS

Learn about the 30+ Community donor groups that provide $400,000 in scholarships for AHS graduates.

  • During lunch in the Black Box for students

  • 5:30pm virtual for parents


FAFSA

2025/26 FAFSA application is now open and all senior families are encouraged to submit. Click here for FAFSA and Financial Aid Tips.


JUNIORS:

Individual Meetings

All juniors are encouraged to schedule an individual meeting with their Post-Secondary Counselor. Students with last names beginning A-K will work with Karen Hawkes, L-Z with Brennan Dignan. Parents are welcome (but not required) to join the meeting either in person or virtually. Please note, meetings may not be scheduled during class time, but rather during SET, lunch or a free period. Before the 1st Individual Meeting, both students and parents are asked to complete short intake surveys. Intake for Students|Intake for Parents.

S1 Final Exams

    • Click here for the S1 Final Exam Schedule

    • All Students are required to sit for exams at the appointed time. Students may not take exams at an alternate time without pre-approval from Sarah or Becky.

    • Next week, students will be filling out the Final Exam Prep Sheet in all of their classes; this sheet allows students to capture the format of each final, the rubric and how it will be assessed, plans for how to prepare or study, and the expectation and deadline for any late work. Please note: all work (if the department allows late work) must be completed and turned in by January 10th.


Headphone Reminder

Students must use wired headphones at school; they may plug these into their chromebooks during class time or even on free periods. Students may not use airpods or wireless headphones in keeping with our cell phone free learning environment.

Buddy Program

Aspen Middle School will be starting the high school buddy program (for AHS Juniors and Seniors) again on Thursday 1/9/2025.


If you would like to help mentor a middle school student during their Thursday lunch/recess 11.45 - 12.15, and earn service hours, please reach out to Sheri Smith ssmith@aspenk12.net and Andrea Williamson awilliamson@aspenk12.net.


The middle school counselors are looking for students who will eat lunch with a middle schooler, play chess or another board game, play cards, shoot some hoops, or talk about interests and goals while using encouraging and positive language. We ask that high school buddies not use devices while engaging with middle school students.

Mental Health Support

Please remember that the holiday season can be very difficult for some people. Please reach out if you or someone you know struggles at this time of year. You may call the Colorado Crisis Service 24/hr hotline at 1-844-493-8255 or Text “TALK” to 38255, or call the Aspen Hope Center Hopeline at 970-925-5858.

Safe2Tell Update

Please use Safe2Tell to anonymously report any concerns! These reports go directly to law enforcement and school administration. Please be sure to say on the report so that the intake operator can ask more questions; there is no way for any of this information to be traced back to you!

Sarah Strassburger

Principal, Aspen High School

School Phone #: (970) 315-3516

Email: sstrassburger@aspenk12.net
Website: https://ahs.aspenk12.net/en-US
Location: 235 High School Road, Aspen, CO, USA
Aspen School District Main Phone #: (970) 925-3760
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AspenHighSchool

Maria Eshelman
Aspen High School Administrative Assistant
meshelman@aspenk12.net