AES Community Connection 12/17/24

As we head deeper into the holiday season, please remember that while this time can bring joy, fun, and family togetherness, it may also bring stress and anxiety for some children due to changes in routines or high expectations. As caregivers, your role in providing stability is essential. You can support your children by maintaining routines, managing expectations, creating a calm and safe environment, and practicing self-care. It’s also important to prioritize school attendance during this season. Events like Outdoor Education and holiday celebrations are integral parts of our school program, and we value the unique learning opportunities they provide.

One of our school goals this year is to reduce chronic absenteeism. To that end, tomorrow I will be sending home "Attendance Success Plans" to all parents/guardians of students who have been absent greater that 10% of days. If you receive one of these plans, we are here to help. Please complete and return the form to your child's teacher by Friday. Currently, we have 96 students, or 21% of our students who are considered chronically absent. Many of our highest performing "match" schools in Colorado have less than 10% chronic absenteeism. Attending school has a huge impact on student achievement and social skills development. Let's work together to set all students up for success!

Warm regards,

Ashley Bodkins

Normal Weekday Schedule for AES:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00-3:15

Wednesdays 8:00-1:45

EVERY WEDNESDAY IS EARLY RELEASE AT 1:45!

All Week:

• Swim Week on the days your child has Physical Education!
• Participate in the Lift-Up Holiday Food Drive

Friday, December 20 - Festive Friday - Festive Friday! Go all out with sweaters, hats, socks or dress as a favorite holiday character.

December 23- January 3- Happy Winter Break- No School!

Monday, January 13- PTO Meeting AES Conference room or virtual with THIS link.

Swim Weeks: Your child's swim day will be the day they have Physical Education

• Dec 16-20
• Jan 27-31
• Feb 24-28
• Mar 17-21
• Apr 14-18

Looking Ahead: 3rd and 4th grade CMAS testing

Thursday, April 17th, Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22

Please do not schedule appointments or vacations during this window. Thank you!

AES is proud to announce that it will be partnering with LIFT-UP for a food drive during the first two weeks of December. LIFT-UP is an organization that works to provide access to fresh, healthy, and sustainable food for members of our community. In 2023, LIFT-UP saw an increase in the number of meals served in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River Valleys of over 128% and there has been an additional increase of 60% thus far in 2024 as food insecurity continues to grow in our area.

Please read THIS FLYER for more information on the food items that are needed. You can bring them anytime to the front office!

Shout out to Lisa May, Alyssa Shenk, and the PTO for organizing and running a VERY successful Book Fair! Hands down this is one of the most exciting events for our school.

Join us in making reading a daily family activity! Whether it’s a bedtime story, a family trip to the library, or writing a story together, every moment counts. Let’s inspire a lifelong love of learning—together!

Take some time to check out our Literacy Landing for Families to learn more about the resources we use for instruction as well as some curated resources for home support!

If your child has been absent more than 10% of the school year, you will be receiving an Attendance Success Packet this week. We are here to support you and your family in getting your child to school. Regular attendance matters and impacts ALL students!

Congratulations to High Mountain Harmony on their fabulous concerts! What a wonderful way kick-off the holiday season! Thanks to Marnie and everyone for their hard work!

Please click HERE to see the performances.

High School chefs helping Jamie's 1st Grade class with gingerbread houses!

Cross Country Skiing has Begun!

There will be a FREE Covid-19, flu, HepA, MMR, Varicella and DTap and TDap vaccination clinic on Monday, Dec. 16th at the Pitkin County Public Library (120 N Mills St. Aspen Co. 81611) from 1:30pm-5:30pm

Click HERE for the flyer in English.

Click HERE for the flyer in Spanish.

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Author and Illustrator, Julianne Stokes will be the guest reader at this week’s Children’s Story Hour at Explore Booksellers on Main Street in Aspen! The author will read, “ABC Healthy,” “Dolphins Don’t Eat Donuts,” and “Ski Bird and Powder Piggy: Race to the Top.”

12/21 11:00 am

Click HERE for the flyer.

12/21 3:00 CP Burger Silver Circle

12/24 12:00 pm Snowmass Base Village Rink

Click HERE for the Flyer.

This year, ACES' Winter Explorers holiday break camp for students in grades K-4 will be offered on December 30-31 and Jan 2-3.

Flyers for both are below:

Flyer in English & Spanish for Winter Explorers HERE.

Click HERE for the flyer in Spanish.

This year, every Wednesday at AES is an early release Wednesday. Students are released for the day at 1:45. Please mark your calendars and prepare accordingly. We will not be sending weekly reminders.

Keeping students safe is our number one priority at ASD. Therefore, during the school day you will find all AES doors locked. However, please know you are WELCOME to visit and volunteer at AES.

• Visiting - Please remember your ID (driver's license) if you are visiting the building for any reason. Virginia and Carrie will meet you in the office with a smile and issue you a sticker/ visitor badge that must be worn while in the building.

• Volunteering - We love including "fingerprinted" parent volunteers in the classroom or on field trips. If this interests you, be proactive and get ASD Fingerprinting for Volunteers Procedure completed ASAP. This certification will last five years and you can get it done up at the District Office connected to the High School.

Below are the protocols we follow in an emergency. Families will be notified in the event of an emergency. Please do not come to or call the school.

• Standard Response Protocol
• Spanish Version

• Academic achievement: Students who attend school regularly are more likely to succeed academically. Research shows that attendance is a strong indicator of success.

• Learning: Students who attend school regularly are able to learn more and participate in classroom discussions and activities. They can ask questions and get clarification from their teachers.
  
• Building relationships: Students who attend school regularly can build relationships with their peers and teachers.
  
• Developing good habits: Regular attendance helps students build routines and develop good habits for the future.
  
• Foundation for learning: School is critical to building a strong foundation for learning that will help students succeed in middle school, high school, and beyond.
  
• Missed opportunities: Each day a student is not in school is a missed opportunity to learn something they will need in order to understand more difficult material later.
  

We know that many families rely on schools for meals. We encourage families to submit a Free & Reduced Meal application, which provides families with access to additional benefits as well. Please know that even if you qualified in previous years, an application must be submitted every school year. To access the application and instructions click HERE. If you have any questions or problems please reach out to the finance department, or, if you need a paper form, please reach out to Virginia.

We love dogs!! However, only approved or authorized service animals, including dogs, are allowed on campus. Thank you for respecting our campus guidelines.

Click HERE for the poster in English.

Click HERE for the poster in Spanish.

Join the many AES families who have already taken the pledge to Wait Unitl 8th grade and delay giving children smartphones. Interested in learning more? Click here.

All students were assessed an $85 supply fee and a $25 technology fee on August 15th. If you have not paid your fees yet please do so as soon as possible. The Supply Fee covers all the supplies your child will need for the year. The technology fee covers your child’s device and licenses for the year. These can be paid through e~Funds, or you can bring cash or check attention Virginia to the front office.

Are you passionate about promoting healthy eating habits and making a positive impact in our community? Come and join us as a lunchroom volunteer!

Our dedicated chef prepares delicious and nutritious meals, and we're looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help serve these wholesome lunches. By contributing your time, you'll play a pivotal role in ensuring that everyone in Aspen Elementary School has access to healthy, balanced meals.

Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Assisting in serving lunches
• Engaging with our AES community members in a friendly manner
• Collaborating with our team to maintain a welcoming lunch environment

Benefits of Volunteering:

• Being part of a meaningful initiative promoting healthy eating
• Connecting with our vibrant community
• Contributing to the well-being of our [school/organization/company]

Details: Sign up here!

Please check in with the front office of the building you are visiting. You will receive a badge and a temporary parking pass. Please make sure your pass is clearly visible on the dashboard of your vehicle. If you do not have a parking pass, your vehicle may get a ticket or be booted.

Parking is available in the middle school lot. The parking lot located behind the high school is for staff only.

• Be sure to stay in your car if you are in the active loading and unloading zone. Parking and walking up to the school is highly discouraged.
• All kindergarten and 1st grade students play on the Little Playground at the side of the building before the bell rings. They will alternate going into the Library if they would like.
• All 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students will cross the plaza and go down to the Big Playground.
• Students who would like to buy breakfast may enter the front doors and go down to the cafeteria.
• The bell rings at 7:55am for students to line-up and enter the building.

At the end of the day...

• The dismissal bell rings at 3:15pm
• Teachers on duty will walk the pick-up students down to the gate and will wait with children until their ride has arrived. Please do not walk up to the school. This will help to reduce congestion and ensure we have a smooth dismissal.

Adults will be on duty to help direct students to the proper locations.

Alternatives include: stickers, pencils, extra recess, dance party, cards, star student etc.

• Haga clic AQUÍ para obtener instrucciones sobre cómo traducir este boletín.
• Click HERE for the Bus Change Request Form.
• Aspen Family Connections
• Aspen School District Absences and Excuses Policy (Click here for Spanish)
  
• AES Attendance (Click here for Spanish)
• Pre-Arranged Absence Form
• Click HERE for information about fingerprinting for volunteers.
• Volunteer to work in the Cafeteria.
• Click HERE for the latest document from the state about when to exclude students and staff from school/work because of illness. How Sick is too Sick Spanish version.
  
• Please click HERE to see the staff's favorite things!
  
• Order SPIRIT WEAR anytime with this link!

Students will be able to enter the building at 7:35am. Please be sure to talk to your child about whether or not they have your permission to purchase breakfast. The cost is $3.50 and there are NO free seconds. (if your child gets seconds there will be another charge for $3.50).

Breakfast follows Free & Reduced guidelines. If your child qualified for Free/Reduced lunch they also qualify for Free/Reduced breakfast and will be charged accordingly. We want to make sure no child is hungry during the school day.

Please click HERE for more details.

Last year, Aspen Elementary School became an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Aspen Elementary

To empower an innovative, mindful community of learners in a challenging and nurturing environment that promotes inquiry and academic excellence.

International Baccalaureatae

The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Website: https://www.aspenk12.net/Domain/8
Location: 235 High School Road, Aspen, Colorado, USA
Phone: 970-925-3760