The Weekly Line

Friday, November 7, 2025

Dear AMS F-A-M-I-L-Y (Students, Parents/Guardians & Staffulty),

Last Wednesday, October 29th we emailed a Parent Information Letter about the voluntary and anonymous Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS), but we forgot to let you know Kayla Bailey, Aspen-Pitkin Healthy Futures Coalition Director (kbailey@aspenk12.net, 850-292-2934) was hosting a virtual information session on Wednesday, November 5th at 5:15pm to help parents learn more. We apologize for that oversight. Kayla has offered to host another virtual info. session on Monday, November 10th at 5:15pm to discuss the survey process, how results are used, and how the survey data helps her organization and others provide support to schools in the valley. Please use this Zoom link to join Kayla’s parent info. session. Here are the HKCS Middle School Survey Questions. We’ve also extended the opt out deadline to 7pm Tuesday, November 11th. Please complete this HKCS Opt Out Form if you want to opt your child out.

Here’s a summary of the optional HKCS survey being administered to students at AMS (and AHS and Aspen Community School) on Wednesday, November 12th:

• Why: To provide data to help guide organizations and programs that promote student wellness and need to secure additional funding for behavioral health and substance misuse prevention efforts in the Roaring Fork Valley.

• When: Wed., November 12th during grade 6, 7, and 8 W.I.N. (What I Need) periods.

• Grade Levels: 6th, 7th, and 8th (Not 5th).

• Time: Approximately 30 minutes to take the survey in grade 6 - 8 W.I.N. class (65 minutes). Students can skip questions they don’t understand or don’t feel comfortable answering.

• Questions: 78.

• Topics: Demographics (Race/Ethnicity, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity), Bullying, Violence, Mental Health, Racism, Substance Use, Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana, Prescription Pain Medicine, Nutrition, Physical Activity, Body Image and Eating Disorders, Home Life, School and Community, Other Health Topics, and Questions Added By Our School District.

• Opt Outs: Students who opt out of the survey will read quietly or do other schoolwork in their W.I.N classroom during the survey time.

Lastly, please see the HKCS FAQs 2025 and Aspen 2025 HKCS Consent Letter for more info. You're welcome to contact me if you have any questions (tdodd@aspenk12.net, 970-300-1644). Thank you.

Shine on,

Dr. Tom

Tom Dodd, PhD

#AMS All In #AMS F-A-M-I-L-Y #The AMS Difference

AMS Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), Tuesday, 11/18, 8:15 - 9:30am, AMS Conf. Rm.

Our next PTO meeting is Tuesday, 11/18, 8:15am - 9:30am in the AMS Conference Rm. The agenda will be a review of the proposed PTO budget for 2025-26, additional student and staffulty culture building activities this year, PTO’s insight on the outcome of ASD’s 4 November ballot measures, etc.

Standing Announcement Per the PTO’s Request

This AMS Staffulty's Favorite Things document helps parents know teachers' birthdays, and what gifts or kind gestures staffulty might appreciate over the holidays, during teacher appreciation week, etc. Just an FYI.

AMS School Accountability Committee (SAC) #2, Thursday, 12/11, 4 - 5pm, AMS Conf. Rm.

We had a great SAC meeting #1 on Thursday, 10/16: AMS SAC Mtg. Agendas 2025-26. The next AMS SAC quarterly meeting to discuss school performance will be December 11th. Dr. Tom will email a calendar invite to the parents/guardians who let him know of their interest in serving on the AMS SAC.

Lost & Found is full of lost sweatshirts, jackets, lunch boxes, water bottles and more. We have moved it up in the front vestibule as you walk in the main AMS doors. If your child is missing an item please have them check Lost & Found.

Dear 7th grade Parents & Students,

Informational meeting for Aspen Sister Cities student exchanges. Exchanges will take place when students are in 8th grade to Abetone, Italy; Shimukappu, Japan; and Bariloche, Argentina (we host the Bariloche group in April of 7th grade).

Please join virtually:

Wednesday, November 19th from 7:30pm – 8:30pm

OR

Thursday, December 4th from 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/zwp-vhyu-rzw

Applications will be due on Wednesday, January 7th. You can find more information on the AMS Sister Cities page and the Aspen Sister Cities website as well. You are encouraged to attend before applying, but it is not mandatory.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

el miércoles 19 de noviembre de las 7:30pm - 8:30 pm

O

el jueves 4 de diciembre de las 7:30pm - 8:30 pm

Enlace de Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/zwp-vhyu-rzw o para información en español, conéctese con Sarah Graber, sgraber@aspenk12.net o 970-315-3491.

Se debe entregar la solicitud de participación el miércoles 7 de enero de 2026. Puede encontrar más información en la página de AMS Sister Cities y también en el sitio web de Aspen Sister Cities. Se le recomienda asistir antes de presentar la solicitud, pero no es obligatorio.

Sarah Graber

Aspen Middle School CLD/ELL & Spanish

Aspen Sister Cities - Student Exchange Coordinator

sgraber@aspenk12.net

970-925-3760 ext. 2208

970-315-3491 - text or call

Every week the AMS Lunchroom is looking for volunteers to support our staff by volunteering from 11:40am - 12:30pm on Mondays - Fridays. Please sign up for a volunteer shift HERE!

Add our AMS Family Calendar to your Google calendar and see important upcoming dates:

• Saturday, November 8th ~ Boys Basketball Rifle Tournament - 7th Grade Red Team / 8th Grade Red & White Teams

• Tuesday, November 11th ~ 7th / 8th Grade Boys Basketball Games 4:30pm vs Carbondale - 7th Grade AMS Gym / 8th Grade at Carbondale
  

• Wednesday, November 12th ~ Healthy Kids CO Survey Grades 6th - 8th

• Thursday, November 13th ~ 7th / 8th Grade Boys Basketball Games 4:30pm vs Grand Valley - 7th Grade at Grand Valley (Parachute) / 8th Grade AMS Gym

• Saturday, November 15th ~ FLL Qualifier in Grand Junction

• Tuesday, November 18th ~ 7th / 8th Grade Boys Basketball Games 4:30pm vs Glenwood Springs - 7th Grade AMS Gym / 8th Grade at Glenwood

• Thursday, November 20th ~ 7th / 8th Grade Boys Basketball Games 4:30pm vs Riverview - 7th & 8th Grades both at AMS Gym - No Black Teams Games

• November 24th - 28th ~ THANKSGIVING BREAK / NO SCHOOL FOR STAFF & STUDENTS

Please keep your students home if they are sick. They should be free of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea for at least 24 hours without the use of medication, and symptoms should be improved before returning to school.

Thank you for caring about the health of your students and our school community.

Robin Strecker RN, BA

Aspen School District Nurse

235 High School Road | Aspen, Colorado 81611

p: 970.300.2721

e: rstrecker@aspenk12.net | www.aspenk12.net