Aspen High School
Student and Family Weekly Update
September 24th
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Dear students and families,
We had a fantastic Early Release Wednesday — it was fast-paced and full of energy, with a great deal of meaningful learning taking place throughout the day. With fresh snow now gracing the mountain tops and the annual Ski Swap officially on the calendar, it’s clear that winter is on its way.
Be sure to read all the way to the end of this message — there are so many exciting opportunities and upcoming events that you won’t want to miss!
IB Spotlight
Skier Spotlight- Girls' Softball
Congratulations to our Girls' Softball for their 2nd win of the season, and their 1st Varsity win in nine seasons. Well Done!
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
- 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.
Homecoming- More details to follow, but mark your calendars
- AHS Homecoming week is October 6-11th
- Monday: Senior Breakfast & Power Puff Football on the Turf
- Wednesday: Field Day & Booster Club Bonfire & Pep Rally in town
- Friday: Homecoming Football Game with Royalty announced at half time
- Saturday: Homecoming Dance 8-10pm at AHS
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.
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
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, try to submit your Colorado apps on these days with your Counselor. We have set up 20 minute application review meetings October 3rd and 6th-9th. Please book on the Class of 2026 webpage and click on CO Free App Days Submission Review.
*SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS: Before you submit your first application via the Common Application, your counselor should review your application to make sure everything is filled out properly. If you are submitting applications that are not on the Common App (ie UC, Cal State or other online applications,, please make sure to move those colleges to the Applied to column in your SCOIR account. Otherwise we will not know to send your documents to that school and your application will be incomplete.
FOR 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
JUNIOR MEETINGS WITH COUNSELORS: We begin meeting with Juniors 1-1 after Thanksgiving. If you have pressing questions, please email your counselor.
SOPHOMORES: We look forward to working with you, but we are fully busy helping Seniors apply to college this fall. We will make meeting appointments available to you this Spring to meet your counselor.
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