News You Can Use
Week Ending January 25, 2025
Boy's Basketball registration is open. We've had the best participation in sports throughout the district! Let's keep the momentum going. To sign up go to:
https://aurorapublicschools-ar.rschooltoday.com/
Practices begin Tuesday, January 21st
Monday-Friday 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Games will be announced.
First Lego League Jr./ Explore
We will be starting our FIRST LEGO League Jr. session at Aurora Quest! This program is geared towards students in 1st through 3rd grade.
Students work in teams of up to 4-8 to explore and build their interest in STEM concepts through a real-world challenge that changes each season.
This season, through the guidance of adult coaches, students will build models using LEGO® Education WeDo 2.0 and create Show Me posters to present what they learned at a regional Expo which will be held a Saturday in April.
Additionally, the foundation of this program encourages students to learn and apply the use of FIRST Core Values:
Discovery: We explore new skills and ideas.
Innovation: We use creativity and persistence to solve problems.
Impact: We apply what we learn to improve our world.
Inclusion: We respect each other and embrace our differences.
Teamwork: We are stronger when we work together.
Fun: We enjoy and celebrate what we do!
We anticipate the FIRST LEGO League Jr. session at Quest to start the first week in February. It will run for roughly 10-11 sessions on Thursdays, once a week in the evenings. Exact time will be determined via survey during the virtual session.
Aurora Quest Robotics is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: First Lego League Robotics Jr./ Explore
Time: Jan 28th, 2025 06:30 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82943347339?pwd=Bq74sqLLzCbetpXsYWxBTNOwKv3nxO.1
Please reach out for any additional questions at: QuestRobotics.Junior@gmail.com
Girl's Swimming & Diving
There will be a parent meeting on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. in room 130.
Head Coach: Mallory Cook mlcook@aurorak12.org
Assistant Coach: Scott Alverson
- Practices will be at Gateway High School Monday - Thursday
- Swim Meets will be Held Saturday Morning at either Gateway, Hinkley, or Rangeview, respectively.
Please look back on this News You Can Use newsletter for up to date information.
Humane Education Club starting soon! Humane Education- Compassionate Changemakers Club (Grades 3-6 )
Teacher: Ms. Brynn Wiessner
Location: Ms Brynn’s room
Meeting Date and Time: Thursdays Weekly 2:30-3:30 Quarter 3 and 4 only
This club is for those who are interested in animals, the environment, and all living beings. We will look at the intersection of caring for each other, animals, and the earth. We will choose an area of interest based on the students in the club to create positive and compassionate change in. Sign up Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1pU45Q7O-A-oCC6df8qTZlI_SE2YG8p615DvCj-AbDMQ/edit
Girl Scout Opportunity at Aurora Quest!
Is your girl interested in joining girl scouts?! An opportunity for a free girl scout program is coming to Aurora Quest!
Grades 3-5: 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, starting February 4th
2:30 -3:30 after school! See attached flyer for sign up! :)
Email Ms. Brynn for questions! bmwiessner@aurorak12.org
Assessments
ACCESS:
A few students at Quest will be taking the English proficiency assessment (ACCESS) in January. The window for this will be from January 13 - February 14th.
8th graders Practice PSAT:
8th graders at Quest will be taking the Practice PSAT during the week of January 27. IT is important for all 8th-grade students to take this exam, as high schools use this information for class placement in 9th grade.
Birthday Party Invitations
We thoroughly enjoy celebrating your students. We have run into a few issues when it comes to wanting teachers to pass out invitations to your child's birthday celebration.
- If you ask the teacher to pass out invitations, you must invite ALL students in the classroom. We want to make sure no one feels excluded and that there are no hurt feelings.
- Invitations for the whole class must be given to the teacher at least 3 days before Friday to give them or their volunteer enough time to put them in the Friday Folders.
- Invitations must include the date, time, place and a contact number with your name.
- If your child insists on only inviting select students then they can hand out the invitations outside after dismissal.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation with this matter.
Bus Riding Rules
Parents,
If your student is not a designated bus rider, they will NOT be able to ride any bus.
Students may not switch school buses to go to their friends house.
Bus drivers know their riders and will not allow your student to board the bus.
This is a liability for them so please, make sure to make other arrangements for play dates, etc. Thank you!
Culture Fair - Coming Soon!
The 12th annual Aurora Quest Culture Fair will be held on
Thursday, February 27th from 5:30-7:00pm
Quest families and staff members are encouraged to share and celebrate your families cultural heritage. Applications for the cultural fair can be found in the front office and in Friday folders. Booths from previous years included food, dance, music, art, games, artifacts, informational posters, digital presentations and other culturally themed activities. We look forward to your participation.
Enrollment Plans for the 2025-26 School Year
We are evaluating applications for students interested in attending Aurora Quest K-8 next fall.
Because student enrollment here is limited, it is important to know the plans of our current students. (Remember: Aurora Quest students DO NOT need to reapply to Quest for next year). We have not yet heard from your family about what your plans are for next school year
Would you please take a moment to fill out the form below to let us know your plans for next fall?
We realize that plans can change, but this will give us a basis for establishing our classrooms and hiring our staff for next year.
Please complete the form by Friday, January 24, 2025.
Houseware Drive
Next week Friday, January 31, 2025, between 7:00am and 8:30am, we will hold our first Houseware Drive for our Welcome Center and Newcomer families. I am looking for 2 to 4 volunteers to help receive the houseware from our parents during drop-off. Information about the drive can be found here.
Immigrant Family Resources
The district has provided information on resources available for immigrant families. Please visit the APS Resources for Immigrant students and their families.
No Parking in the Kiss-n-Go Drop Off/Pick Up Lane
We have had a few issues with families parking their car in the kiss-n-go lane to pick up a student and sometimes to drop off a student. This is not an area for parking. Please park in the parking lot to avoid accidents and unpleasant feelings from other parents following kiss-n-go procedures. You should not be stopped in this lane for more than 2 minutes - Especially during the peak drop off and pick up times.
APS Student Technology Contract Now Includes Damage Costs
Now that remote learning at most schools has ended and additional federal funding for devices is no longer available, schools will again begin charging families for any damages incurred to district devices during the 2024-25 school year. Please note that the first incident of damage will not be charged. Any following incidents will be charged based on the type of damage. See student technology device contract that you agreed to during check-in at the beginning of the year.
If you have any questions about the new technology device contract and the possible damage costs, please contact 303-326-1985.
World's Finest Chocolate Sales Update
We still have two more weeks to sell, sell, sell! Stock up for Valentine's Day! Here are the top-selling classrooms so far:
K-2: 1st Place, Haley
2nd Place, Smith (2nd grade)
3-5: 1st Place, Horner
2nd Place, Bousquet
6-8: 1st Place, Wilson
2nd Place, (tied) Ramsey & Whelan
There are two students tied for first place, each with 8 boxes sold! Student Council is looking forward to purchasing something amazing to enhance student learning. We will let you know what the Building Council decides on purchasing after the sale is finalized.
THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!
Thank you to the following volunteers for your help in the classroom, cafeteria, field trips and our chocolate funds collection!
Michael Dixon-Moran, Estella Escobar, Ramon Flores, Pedro Gonzalez, Ashleigh Hall, Tvhorkne Harjo, Senait Isayas, Julie Johnson, Mallory Lale, Brian Nettles, Krista Pfeifer, Kathryn Pottle, Jamie Ramirez, Valerie Schowinsky, Matthew Scott, Sean and Lynn Vair, John Vecchioni, and Imelda Yanez.
Dates to Look Out For:
-February 6th Skate CIty 4-6
-2/11 PTA Meeting in the Tech Room
-February 26th Dining Out night 4-8 (details to be shared at a later time)
Where does the money go?
PTA looks very different from what we thought, until we joined and learned all the stuff that PTA either supports or is responsible for funding throughout the school year. We provide the funds for transportation to field trips, which has increased by 50% in the last year and estimated to be around $22,000. We provide teachers with a budget for classroom enrichment (averaging around $15 per student) as well as a small allowance for class supplies. It’s also our goal to fund teacher appreciation in a different way this year by spreading it out in different ways. We would love any feedback or ideas you may have.
King Soopers Rewards:
(EASIEST way to passively fundraise without trying!)
LAST QUARTER: We had an increase of participating households. We are now at 180!!!! we would love to see this increase from 32% of enrolled households to 50% by the end of the year. When you shopped at King Soopers last quarter you helped create a donation of $1599.01 that will be added into our budget! Thank you!!!!!!!!
Help our school by buying your groceries!
This is the easiest fundraiser and takes less than 10 minutes to set up so sign up if you haven't already. A huge THANK YOU to our current participants!! 181 families are currently contributing money towards our school.
• Go to: www.kingsooperscommunityrewards.com
• Click on Enroll Now.
• Sign in to your account.
• Click on Community Rewards
Enter Aurora Quest K8 PTA or “BX352”
Shop as usual using your rewards card or alternate ID
We Have A Facebook Group!
Wondering what is going on? Curious about upcoming events? Wanting to volunteer during fundraisers or at school events but not sure how? This is your one stop shop for how to support the school, fundraisers and overall school community. Please be sure to answer the questions when you ask to join. It's a way that we ensure that our Quest information stays within our community.
www.facebook.com/groups/1743613152521317/
Thank You for all you do to help grow and nurture our community!
2024/2025 Aurora Quest K8 PTA Board
Dre Sneddon, President
Angelica Upton, Secretary
Susan Milo, Treasurer