AES Community Connection 2/13/25

Normal Weekday Schedule for AES:

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

Wednesdays 8:00-1:45

This month, our learner profile focus is Caring. Valentine’s Day is a perfect opportunity to practice kindness, empathy, and thoughtfulness. Whether through a kind word, a small act of generosity, or simply taking time to listen to a friend, we encourage our students to show they care in meaningful ways—both in and out of the classroom.

In addition to fostering caring hearts, we also want to keep growing strong minds! Please continue to support your child’s learning at home by setting aside at least 20 minutes of reading each night. This habit builds vocabulary, comprehension, and a lifelong love of learning. Real-world math practice is also a great way to reinforce skills—whether measuring ingredients while cooking, estimating distances while driving, or counting change at the store, math is everywhere!

I have a few staffing updates to share with you. Meg Dangler, our MTSS Coordinator will be moving to kindergarten as our February 24th. She will continue to provide oversee 504 plans of your child has a plan. Other responsibilities will be shared among our leadership team. She will be replacing Madeline Baer who is relocating to Montana. We wish them both well on their next adventures. Next year I will be hiring an Assistant Principal. This position was eliminated a year ago and I am pleased we will be adding this back to our school leadership team. The position has been posted, and we will be interviewing in the coming weeks.

Finally, let’s all do our part to stay healthy during this season. Encouraging good sleep habits, regular handwashing, and proper nutrition helps keep our students feeling their best and ready to learn.

Thank you for being a part of our Aspen Elementary community. We appreciate your partnership in creating a safe, supportive, and enriching environment for our students.

Stay safe, stay warm, and stay caring!

All my best,

Ashley

EVERY WEDNESDAY IS EARLY RELEASE AT 1:45!

Wednesday, February 19- DATE CHANGE- 12:00-1:00 PTO Meeting! All are welcome! In person or remote with THIS LINK

Friday, February 14- Teacher & Staff Valentine's Appreciation- LINK to sign up to bring treats

Wednesday, February 19- AES Movie Afternoon- details below!

Monday, March 3 - Kindergarten Registration opens

Wed/Thurs, March 5 & 6 - Student Led Conferences 8am-3:30pm

Thursday, March 6- 12th Annual Bingo Night- details below!

Tuesday, March 18 - High Mountain Harmony Concert at 2:15 and 5:30

Thursday, April 17th, Monday, April 21 and Tuesday, April 22: 3rd and 4th grade CMAS testing - Please do not schedule appointments or vacations during this window. Thank you!

Sunday, May 11- 2nd-4th Grade Musical Performance, 6:00 District Theater

Tuesday, May 13 - Kindergarten Kick-Off 5PM at AES

Friday, May 16- AES Family Dance- details to come!

Monday, June 2- AES Field Day & Family BBQ- details to come!

Swim Weeks: Your child's swim day will be the day they have Physical Education. Remember to bring swimsuits and towels.

• Feb 24-28
• Mar 17-21
• Apr 14-18

• Friday, February 21st - Dental Health Assemblies: PK-1 from 8:30-9:00 and 2-4 from 9:15-10:00

Thank you All Kids Dental

Please be sure to send your child with plenty of healthy snacks to get them through the day. We have a lot of kiddos coming to the front office asking for snacks.

Please click HERE for the flyer!

Orders due by 2/28

The PTO would love to get volunteers to bring treats in to show the love to AES, PK and Cottage teachers and staff! Please use THIS LINK to signup!

Everyone is welcome to join the PTO meeting in person in the AES conference room or virtually with THIS LINK!

Students are invited to stay after school and join the PTO for a screening of Thelma the Unicorn in the District Theater on Wednesday, February 19th. The movie will start at 2:00 and parents should be here to pick up their kids in the front entry at 3:40 on the dot! (the event will be chaperoned- parents do not need to attend the movie) Snacks will be provided. You must RSVP for a spot for your child to attend the movie by clicking HERE!

We invite everyone to make a $5 suggested donation which will go to help with LA fire relief. Money can be dropped at the front desk, or Virginia can ring a CC or take a check.

We need parent chaperones to make this event happen. Please consider volunteering to make popcorn ahead of the movie, distribute treats, or monitor the theater! Please sign up HERE to volunteer!

Please click HERE for the flyer!

Battling the winter illnesses? Check out this resource, "Keep your child healthy and in school!"

click for English or Spanish

Mr. G Experiments!

Thank you to AEF for supporting Science in Schools!

The Historical Society

Please click HERE for the flyer in English.

Please click HERE for the flyer 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.

Check out this recent Aspen Daily News Article:

Margo: How Roblox robbed our child of his innocence

Anderson Ranch Art Break: Spring Celebrations
March 24-28, 9AM - 3PM, Ages 7-10

Did you know that cultures worldwide and throughout history have created traditions to celebrate spring? We honor some of the most famous spring holidays this spring break through artistic expression. We’ll explore Ancient Greek Anthesteria, Southern Ute Bear Dance, Persian Nowruz, Lunar New Year, Passover and Easter to create art that embodies the theme of renewal. Learn more.

Please see the attached flyers in English and Spanish.

ACES Summer Camp registration for grades K-8 begins next Wednesday, February 19!

Please click HERE for the flyers with more information!

Please click HERE for the link with more information.

Please click HERE for the flyer with more information.

Boys & Girls 5-13 Years Old

July 14-18, 2025

Register with THIS LINK.

View the flyer in English HERE and in Spanish 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.

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.

In the morning...

• 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.

From birthday to holiday parties throughout the school year, children, teachers, and families have numerous reasons to celebrate. Celebrations are a great way for children to feel part of the school community, where the learning environment is made festive and where everyone can come together to enjoy a break from the routine. Parties often center around food, such as cupcakes, cookies, candy, chips and sugary beverages. While these foods, in moderation, can be part of a healthy, well-balanced diet, these unhealthy choices have almost become daily norms in the classroom, rather than exceptions. Aspen School District staff are encouraged to promote school celebrations with healthy treats or non-food items which are recommended by the CDC's Healthy Schools program.

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