Aspen High School
Student and Family Weekly Update
October 1st
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Dear students and families,
Happy October to all! To those observing Yom Kippur, heartfelt wishes for a meaningful and reflective day tomorrow.
There is so much excitement unfolding at AHS right now. Our seniors are diligently working on their college applications, fall sports teams are gearing up for regionals, and the Western Slope College Fair is coming up this Sunday.
Today, I had the privilege of joining our students and their incredible teacher and Advisor, Sarah Ward, at the annual Journalism Day at CU Boulder, where it was inspiring to see their enthusiasm and deepening understanding of the journalism field.
Looking ahead, next week is packed with Homecoming festivities. We invite you to come out and support our Skiers, starting this Saturday with our only home cross-country meet of the season for both AMS and AHS students.
Go Skiers!
IB Spotlight
Skier Spotlight
Congratulations to Jackson Kravitz for receiving a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation!
Please join us for a Virtual Meeting hosted by AHS Junior, Hallie Zilberman: “Understanding Teen Girls’ Mental Health: A Parent Conversation”
- Monday, October 13 · 5:30 – 6:30pm
- Google Meet joining info: https://meet.google.com/ehp-zsxr-jda
Hallie is the founder of Her Mind Matters, a teen-led movement that creates honest, data-driven content and practical tools to help teenage girls - and the adults who care about them - engage in open, respectful conversations about mental health. She uses stories, data, and science-backed resources to break the silence, build trust, and give girls what they need to feel safe and speak up. In this session, Hallie will share key findings from her research, highlight stories behind the numbers, and offer parents perspectives on what their daughters may be going through beneath the surface. The evening will also focus on how parents can better understand, support, and communicate with their teens around mental health.
Homecoming is NEXT WEEK!
Monday: Senior Breakfast 7:15am & Power Puff Football on the Turf 7pm
Wednesday: Field Day ALL DAY & Booster Club Bonfire & Pep Rally in town at 6pm
Friday: Pep Rally and the Homecoming Football Game with Royalty announced at half time 7pm
Saturday: Homecoming Dance 8-10pm at AHS
Students must arrive by 8:30pm
All Students will be Breathalyzed at the Door
The Dance ends at 10pm after the Royalty Winners are announced
If a student wants to bring a guest who does not attend AHS, they must get a permission form from the front office and have it signed and approved by the end of the day THURSDAY, October 9th.
Spirit Days:
- Monday: Virtual Interview Day (Business on the Top/ Casual on the Bottom)
- Tuesday: Jersey Day
- Wednesday: Field Day - Ex Ed Groups choose costumes
- Thursday: Pink Out
- Friday: Class Colors 12th Black, 11th White, 10th/9th Red
Mark Your Calendars
2nd Virtual Parent Coffee of 25-26 is on Friday 10/3 8:30 – 9:30am
A text reminder will go out Friday morning; you can join from this link or via the public calendar on the homepage. This will be recorded and posted if you are unable to attend.
Topics: Safety, Conferences, Homecoming, and more
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/eth-qycf-wxp
IB Junior Parent Virtual Meeting For all Junior parents: Friday, 10/10 · 8:30 – 9:00am
Join DP Coordinator, Eileen Knapp, to learn about the IB DP
Topics: Expectations, IAs, Exams, Cost, College Credit and more
Friday, October 10 · 8:30 – 9:00am
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cmc-vkwa-ekv
Athletics
Please join us for the only HOME Cross Country Race on Saturday, October 4th.
- Community Race at 8am
- AMS Races begin at 9am
- AHS Races begin at 10:15am
The Boys Golf Team has Qualified for States!
Any kids that are interested in Nordic, please come by Brett Beville’s office for an interest meeting.
Parent Teacher Conferences & Fall Break
- No school for students at AHS Wednesday-Friday, October 15-17th
- AHS has regularly scheduled classes on Monday & Tuesday
- Conferences are October 16th 10am-6pm & October 17th 8am-4pm
- Students MUST attend with Parents; they should participate in conversations about their learning & progress.
- All AHS conferences are Virtual and 10 minutes each.
- You will receive an email closer to the date to sign up for conferences.
Plan Ahead for Final Exam Week
December 15-18th
December 19th is the only make-up day.
We will not allow any students to take exams early due to vacations; please plan accordingly.
MYP Reminders for 10th GRADE
Students are currently writing Criterion A of their personal project reports in their MYP Personal Project Class. Check in with your 10th grade student about their project's learning and product goal!
Major Due Dates:
- Criterion A: Planning: September 25th & 26th
- Product due to school: October 30th & 31st
- Criterion B: Skills: November 17th & 18th
- Criterion C: Reflection: December 8th & 9th
- Personal Project Community Showcase: January 28th
Hearing/Vision Screening for 9th Graders
The health office will be conducting state-required hearing and vision screenings for all 9th grade students this month. Please notify the health office if you wish to opt your student out of these screenings.
Post Secondary
FOR SENIORS:
* COLORADO FREE APPLICATION DAYS AND APPLICATION REVIEW MEETINGS: Most Colorado colleges/universities participate in Colorado Free Application days which are October 7-9 this year (which you should note falls during Homecoming week). On these days, you can apply to Colorado institutions without paying an application fee. So, if your application is ready, plan to submit your Colorado apps on these days with your Counselor. We have set up 20 minute application review meetings on October 6th, 7th and 9th (Oct 8th is Field Day all day). Please book on the Class of 2026 webpage and click on CO Free App Days Submission Review. Book times when you do not have a class. If a slot is not available during a period when you are free, you may be excused from class for 20 minutes on October 6th 7th and 9th if you alert your teacher that it is for an application submission review. Of course, you can also book meetings with your counselor this week if your applications are ready for review.
FAFSA is Open! FAFSA – the application for Federal Aid is now open for 2026-2027 application. We encourage everyone to fill out the FAFSA form. Please click here for instructions on how to set up the student and parent accounts that are required for you to submit the FAFSA
To Submit Test Scores or Not – Read this insightful blog post from University of Southern California admissions….. And meet with Karen or Mateo to discuss as well!
FOR JUNIORS:
PSAT NMSQT: We are offering the PSAT NMSQT test at Aspen High School on October 22 during the school day in lieu of morning classes. The PSAT NMSQT is a practice test to prepare for the SAT, but it is also the National Merit Qualifying Test, where the top scores may be used to recognize and provide scholarships to the top-performing test takers nationwide. All Juniors are automatically registered for the test, but if you would like to opt your student out of the test, please do so by filling out this form before October 20. If your student opts out, there are no classes Periods 1-4 on October 22– so your student should not come to school in the morning – but your student needs to attend classes Periods 5-8.
JUNIOR INDIVIDUAL MEETINGS: We look forward to meeting with your students after Thanksgiving when we start our 1-1 meetings with Juniors. Until then, we are focusing on Seniors and their college applications. If you have any questions in the meantime, please reach out to Mateo (last names L-Z) or Karen (last names A-K).
Special Offer for Families: See Humans 2.0 at the Wheeler!
On Wednesday, October 22 at 6:30 PM, experience the jaw-dropping acrobatics of Humans 2.0 by Circa—an internationally acclaimed contemporary circus that blends movement, light, and sound into a powerful story of resilience and transformation.
Families can enjoy 4 tickets for just $80 (that's over 50% savings!) using promo code FAMILY4.
Tickets are available online at https://aspenshowtix.com, by phone at 970.920.5770, or in person at the box office (320 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen | Tues–Sat, 12–5 PM). You must sign in or create an account to use the promotion code.
Aspen Institute: 2025-26 Student Seminars-Registration Open!
Hurst High School Great Ideas Seminar
The Odyssey of the Human Spirit: The Promise of Governance
October 20-23, 2025
The Aspen Institute offers its Hurst Student Seminar: High School Great Ideas to students in the 10th and 11th grade valley-wide each year. This seminar, now in its 23rd year, is modeled after the Aspen Institute Executive Seminar which has been convening leaders from around the world for over 70 years. The four-day seminar is part of a broader tradition of engaging youth in meaningful conversations about the Good Society. Students are challenged to explore questions on human nature, how we live together, and what responsibilities we have towards ourselves and others. Our proven method of text-based dialogue offers participants a neutral forum in which to reflect on timeless human values, pursue common ground, and cultivate a richer understanding of the human condition. Participants emerge from the seminar with a new perspective as they confront the difficult choices of our ever-changing world.
Schedule: 2:00-6:00 p.m., Monday, October 20-Thursday, October 23
Fee: $175, includes all sessions, readings and light refreshments. Scholarships are available.
Register here.
November 7-9, 2025 | Rifle Branch Library
The Aspen Institute offers its Teen Socrates Seminar each year to teens between the ages of 15-17 from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, and beyond. Students convene to take part in this transformational experience and come away with a new perspective on their lives, their futures, and society. The three-day seminar is dedicated to enhancing leadership, problem solving, and critical thinking skills for high school students in a setting conducive to thought and fellowship. Students are challenged to think more critically and deeply about their values and ideas, and those that make the good society. Our proven method of text-based dialogue offers participants a neutral forum in which to reflect on timeless human values, pursue common ground, and cultivate a richer understanding of the human condition. Participants emerge from the seminar with a new perspective as they confront the difficult choices of our ever-changing world.
Each seminar convenes a dynamic group of students for lively, intensive roundtable discussions led by expert moderator Allyson Breyfogle. Classic and contemporary texts reflecting the breadth of human civilization form the starting points of a rich conversation in which the questions posed by the group are frequently as illuminating as the varied, timeless wisdom of the texts.
Schedule
2:30-6:00 p.m., Friday, November 7
2:30-6:00 p.m., Saturday, November 8
1:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, November 9
Fee: $25, includes all sessions, readings and light refreshments. Scholarships are available.
Register here.
Program Manager, Aspen Community Programs
1000 North Third Street | Aspen, CO 81611
970/544-7992 office | 864/979-7281 mobile
Booster Club
Booster Club Volunteer Opportunities for the AHS Parent Community:
Join the AHS Booster Club in Raising Skier Spirit, Pride and Funds to support our Beloved Student Athletes. Help us to make our home games a success by donating a little of your time and/or TACO MEAT!
Football Games Concession and Merch Sign ups to Volunteer:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BA8AC2EA6FA7-58181552-ahsbooster
Volleyball Games Concession sign ups to Volunteer
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BA8AC2EA6FA7-58287357-volleyball
Ready to join?
Become a Business/Corporate Sponsor
Questions? Email us at aspenbooster@gmail.com
Go Skiers!
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