Aspen High School
Student and Family Weekly Update
September 10th
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Dear students and families,
While fall has not officially arrived, the cooler temperatures this week certainly make it feel like the season is upon us. As we settle into September, there’s a wonderful sense of momentum building here at AHS.
I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended our Back to School Night last week. It was truly energizing to see so many families on campus. The enthusiasm was palpable—our teachers were thrilled to share their passion for teaching and learning, and to connect with you, our partners in education.
Mark Your Calendars
Friday Night Lights: September 12th at 7pm
Picture Day: September 17th
Virtual Parent Coffee: September 19th at 8:30am
Western Slope College Fair: Sunday, October 5th
Homecoming: October 6th-11th
Parent Teacher Conferences: Thursday, October 16th 10am-6pm & Friday, October 17th 8am-4pm
All AHS Conferences are 10 minute virtual meetings with teachers & counselors.
Students are required to attend!
You will receive an email closer to the start date to register for conferences.
IB Spotlight
Skier Spotlight
Aspen High School Mountain Biking Success:
Aspen High School had a strong showing at last weekend’s Crystal Region Cross Country Mountain Bike Championships in Eagle. Ten AHS athletes competed, and it was an outstanding weekend of results. We’re proud to share that two of our riders took first place and are now leading the series points race. Congratulations to Roger Farrell (1st), Hayden Fowler (1st), Andrew Dube (2nd), Tristan Abrahams (3rd), Norah Glasgow, Isla Rich, Jesse Kravitz, Marley Rich, Orson Morris, and Sherman Workman!
Eligibility
New This Year:
- Attendance & Tardy will impact Eligibility.
- Eligibility will apply to all Aspen High School Activities (athletics, choir concerts, band concerts, theater performance, field trips, Model UN, FBLA, etc.)
- In addition to grade checks, we will have a weekly attendance check, too.
- Once a student has 4 tardies in a week, they are ineligible.
- Once a student has 2 unexcused absences in a week, they are ineligible.
- We will be rolling this out slowly so that teachers, students, families, and coaches have time to understand the system and its consequences.
- No one will be held ineligible due to attendance until September 23rd, which means that any students with an F, 4+ tardies, and/or 2+ unexcused absences for the week of September 17th-September 22nd.
- We will send a reminder the week before to all students & families that tardies and attendance will count.
Annual Clubs' Fair
Aspen High School's Annual Clubs Fair will take place on Wednesday, September 17th, during lunch in the Skier Dome.
Completed applications are due to Josh Berro by Friday, September 12th, 2025.
All Clubs must have an ASD staff member as an advisor.
Anyone may start a club!
All Clubs must have a specific meeting day/time and meet at least 4 times a semester.
Picture Day- September 17th
Dear Parents,
School Pictures are coming on Wednesday, September 17th! The PDF is hyperlinked, click anywhere on either page and it will take you directly to the online ordering page.
You can also order online by going to www.mymjthomas.com and entering our school's event code. (Event Code: C363)
If you have any questions or concerns about pictures please call MJ Thomas Photo at 1-800-219-0199.
College Fair Prep & Information
9th Grade: Kelly Doherty, College Outreach, is attending MYP Seminar classes on Wednesday, September 15th to help register and prepare all 9th graders for the College Fair.
10th Grade: AHS Post Secondary & Admin will present to 10th graders next Thursday & Friday during MYP Personal Project classes to help register and prepare all 10th graders for the College Fair.
11th Grade: Kelly Doherty, College Outreach, is hosting lunch for 11th graders on Wednesday, September 24th to help register and prepare all 11th graders for the College Fair.
12th grade: Kelly Doherty, College Outreach, is hosting lunch for 12th graders on Thursday, September 25th to help register and prepare all 12th graders for the College Fair.
Parents:
College Fair Informational Night for Parents: What to Expect and How to Navigate the Fair! This meeting will be recorded
Thursday, September 18 · 5:30 – 6:30pm
Time zone: America/Denver
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/psk-rboi-fqb
Sarah’s Virtual Parent Coffee is on Friday 9/19 and Kelly Doherty will speak for a few minutes and answer any parent questions that may arise. Friday, September 19 · 8:30 – 9:30am Time zone: America/Denver Google Meet joining info Video call link: https://meet.google.com/eth-qycf-wxp
Athletics
- Follow AspenAthletics on Instagram!
- Tickets for all home games on the Turf and in the Gyms are on sale now!
- You can find them on gofan.co and search Aspen High School.
- Volleyball won their first Tournament of the Season at Olathe on Saturday!
- Boys Soccer beat Caprock Academy for their first Home Stand 7-0!
- Be on the lookout for the next week's schedule that will be released on Friday.
- A full Sports Recap will be released on Monday to see how all of our teams performed this past week.
Student Fees
We are working hard to assess all student course fees. Please note that this process is still underway, and all fees will be finalized by the end of this week. Thank you for your patience as we complete this important step.
Senior Recognition Ads & Business Ads Now on Sale!
Celebrate your graduating senior with a personalized recognition ad, or promote your business in this year’s Aspen High School yearbook! Spots are limited, so reserve yours early. Detailed pricing, sizes, and submission instructions can be found below. Don’t miss the chance to be part of the 2025-26 yearbook!
- Yearbook Recognition Ads Are Now for Sale! Click here for instructions.
- Yearbook Business Ads Are Now for Sale! Click here for instructions.
Post Secondary Counseling- See Below for Important Dates for Juniors & Seniors
ALL STUDENTS:
*COLLEGE FAIR. Please mark your calendars for Sunday October 5 for the Western Slope College Fair. The Fair is a tremendous opportunity for students to meet and connect with college admissions reps at colleges they are applying to. Additionally, you can choose from 25+ workshops to learn about the application process, how admissions teams make decisions, financial aid and so much more! For information on the Fair, and registration link, please click here.
*COLLEGE REP VISITS. We encourage students to take advantage of college admissions reps who visit Aspen High School. This week, our admissions representative from CU Boulder will be at school on Friday September 12 from 11:35-12:15 at a table outside the Commons. We hope students will stop by her table outside the Commons and learn more about CU Boulder admissions and programs.
JUNIORS:
PSAT NMSQT: Reminder – We are offering the PSAT NMSQT test at Aspen High School on October 22 during the school day. 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 as soon as possible
SENIORS:
*COMMON APPLICATION AND SCOIR: ACTION REQUIRED. Seniors who have created their Common Application account need to follow these directions to merge their Common App and SCOIR accounts. This action should be done this week!
Parking
- Only seniors may park on campus. Our email distribution list was not working, so we apologize that most seniors did not receive the email; this has been rectified, so seniors should check their email.
- No other students may park on campus.
- Students who attempt to park on campus without a pass have 3 strikes and then lose parking privileges- this also goes for seniors who park illegally.
- Strike 1 - Warning sticker
- Strike 2 - Boot
- Strike 3 - Tow & Loss of parking privileges
Booster Club
Paint the stands RED this Friday for our football home game!
All Parents, Friends, and Families WEAR RED.
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!
Join the Aspen Teen Giving Circle- Bridging Communities Through Education and Service
We are excited to launch the second year of the Aspen Teen Giving Circle! This unique program empowers high school students to build interfaith understanding, explore shared Christian and Jewish values, and serve the Roaring Fork Valley with compassion and purpose.
Teens will learn how faith traditions encourage service and giving, and then, with the support of the Aspen Community Foundation (ACF), put those values into action through hands-on philanthropy and volunteer work.
Program Highlights:
Monthly educational sessions led by Rabbi Sima Oster (Aspen Jewish Congregation), Dan Dangler (Young Life Area Director), and Erica Snow (ACF President & CEO).
Exploration of ethical imperatives of giving back across religious traditions.
Learn fundraising principles and practical skills.
Participate in service projects and fundraising efforts benefiting local nonprofits.
***Last year we granted three $10,000 checks to 3 deserving local nonprofits!
Session Dates:
All sessions run Wednesdays, 7–9 pm at the Chapel at the Roundabout. Dinner is provided.
Sept 17, 2025
Oct 29, 2025
Nov 19, 2025
Dec 10, 2025
Jan 28, 2026
Feb 25, 2026
Mar 25, 2026
Apr 29, 2026
May 6, 2026 – End-of-Year Grant Award Ceremony. Parents welcome!
Cultural Immersion Trip Summer 2026- PORTUGAL!
Interested in traveling to Portugal this summer?
To learn more about this non school sponsored trip, please join us for an in-person meeting where we’ll share all the exciting details about this trip. Your attendance is essential to help us plan and ensure we can provide you with all the necessary information.
Meeting Details:
Seminar Room @ AHS
Tuesday, September 17 at 5:30 PM
Register here: https://bit.ly/3JWDx6v
Even if you cannot attend, we encourage you to register so you can receive all relevant information.
At the meeting, we’ll cover:
- Itinerary and activities
- Academic and scholarship opportunities
- Costs and payment options
- What makes this a life-changing experience for students
Contact Cory Parker or Kate Korn for more details.
Nutrition News Corner
Please click here for Aspen School District's Nutrition Newsletter from our very own Director of Nutrition Services, Tenille Folk! This newsletter covers all things nutrition from school menus to helpful information and instructions on how to fund your student's lunch accounts.
Family Engagement & Parent Volunteer Opportunities
Want to get involved at Aspen High School? Whether you're interested in joining the Aspen High School Parent Group, exploring volunteer opportunities, or simply staying connected to our school community, we’d love to hear from you! Please take a moment to fill out this form with your contact information and areas of interest. We are also seeking a few families to sponsor/co-sponsor our teacher appreciation back-to-school events. If you are interested in sponsoring or have any questions regarding parent involvement opportunities, please contact Alyssa at aspenhighschoolparentgroup@gmail.com.
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