Aspen School District Newsletter
Fall 2026
A Message from the Superintendent
As we wrap up September, it has been a busy and exciting month across the Aspen School District. Our students and staff have been engaged in learning, exploring new opportunities, and representing our schools exceptionally well throughout the community.
Our third- and fifth-grade students have also had excellent ODE trips, with students learning, exploring, and enjoying the experience allwhile somehow managing to stay dry despite the weather! These experiences are a great reminder that some of the best learning happens beyond the classroom.
A special congratulations to Aspen High School for being recognized as the second-highest-performing school in Colorado. This accomplishment reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, staff, and families. We are incredibly proud of the AHS community and the continued focus on student achievement.
One of the greatest strengths of the Aspen School District is the engagement of our community. I encourage families and community members to stay involved by participating in School Accountability Committee meetings, Booster organizations, and other opportunities to support our schools. Your voice, time, and involvement make a meaningful difference.
We are continuing to move forward with our district bond planning. District advisory groups are actively working through priorities and gathering information to help shape the work ahead. As we move into the next phase, we will be looking for opportunities to hear directly from our community and gather your input. More information and opportunities to participate will be shared soon.
Our work with Transcend is also moving forward. This process gives us an opportunity to think differently about how we support students and how we can continue to improve learning across the district. I encourage staff, families, and community members to participate in this work and share their ideas and perspectives as opportunities become available. (See tech and innovation below)
AES is continuing its work around digital wellness and helping students develop healthy, responsible relationships with technology. This is an important part of supporting the whole child and helping students develop the skills they need to navigate an increasingly digital world.
Thank you to our students, staff, families, and community for another great month. There is a tremendous amount of positive work happening across the district, and I appreciate everything our community does to support our students. I look forward to all that October will bring!
Tech & Innovation
A Heartfelt Thank You for September 2nd! We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone across the district and community who participated in professional development or attended a community design meeting on September 2nd. It was truly amazing to see the entire district and so many members of our community come together in unified effort and collaboration. Your energy, dedication, and active engagement set a wonderful tone for the school year as we work together toward creating even more extraordinary learning experiences for our students.
Looking Ahead: Last spring, Aspen students participated in the Leaps Student Voice Survey, a research-based survey designed to help us better understand how young people experience school and learning. This fall, students will take the survey again, giving us another opportunity to listen and to understand how their experiences may be changing over time. ASD will be re-issuing the Student LEAPS the week of October 19th across grades 3-12. The survey asks students to reflect on things like whether their learning feels meaningful and relevant, whether they feel connected to their school community, whether they are challenged and supported, and whether they have opportunities to make choices and take ownership of their learning.
What we learn will provide another important source of student voice as our community continues exploring what we want learning in Aspen to look and feel like for every student.
Community Design Team in Action: A diverse group of 24 called the “Community Design Team” (CDT) met for the first time two weeks ago, and we are excited for our upcoming meeting on October 1st. It is such a unique and inspiring experience to have community members, caregivers, teachers, administrators, and students all in the same room together, dreaming big about the future of ASD!
Transcend will be back! We will welcome Andy and Leanna from Transcend back to Aspen on Tuesday-Thursday, October 27th-29th. We will spend another early release Wednesday taking a first glance at the work produced during the CDT meetings to gain consensus and expand on the CDT ideas. We’ll also be running another community design event. More info coming soon!!
In the meantime, it might be worth it to glance at the most recent study on student engagement that was just released by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation. During our early release, some people felt uncomfortable reading student feedback but rest assured, it’s not our school or district, it’s a national problem and it’s up to us to be the change! As Tharyn says, ‘If not in Aspen, then where?’
Innovation in Action
Last but not least, Kim, Dave and Jack had a great time working with the 3rd grade at AES on a fun VR experience! We took students on a ‘deep dive’ to the ocean floor where they investigated sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, butterfly fish and coral reefs. Of course the kids were amazing but we loved when Ashley Bodkins hopped on a headset and joined us under the sea! Kim is honing in her VR teaching skills and we look forward to bringing these experiences to more of ASD this year. Kim and Dave will be attending a VR conference and working with other schools who use the same software to plan more curriculum. Stay tuned!
From the Transportation Department
Winterizing Your Vehicle definitive signs of chilly weather mean snow isn't far behind! Get ahead of the game by preparing your vehicle for winter conditions:
Wiper Blades: If your blades leave streaks or spots, replace them. Winter Tip: Lift your wiper blades up overnight so they don't freeze to the windshield—this simple trick helps them last longer.
Tires: Inspect your snow or all-season tires to ensure they have adequate tread depth for icy roads and no sidewall damage. Tires are your primary safety defense on winter roads.
Brakes: Ensure your brake pads have sufficient lining to guarantee safe stopping power.
Heaters & Defrosters: Verify your heating system works properly. If you can't clear your windshield, you're going to have a hard time navigating winter commutes!
RFTA Flyer Fall Schedule Update: September 21st the RFTA Flyer direct route from the Brush Creek Intercept Lot to campus switched to its fall schedule.
Morning Schedule: Departures are shifted 10 minutes earlier, departures every 40 minutes until 9:25 AM.
6:45 AM departure → 7:00 AM arrival
7:25 AM departure → 7:40 AM arrival
Afternoon Schedule: Unchanged. Departures run from campus between 3:32 PM and 6:12 PM every 40 minutes.
Green Commuting Wins Over the past two years, our district has participated in the regional Transportation Coalition to tackle upper-valley traffic congestion along Highway 82.
Did you know that traffic traveling from the Aspen/Cemetery Lane area to campus adds up to 13 minutes of delay at the roundabout for incoming Highway 82 commuters? Our ongoing goal is to relieve that bottleneck.
Thanks to our collective efforts, we have achieved major milestones:
Reimagined our bus loop to reduce congestion in front of AMS and at the roundabout.
Added WE-cycle stations to campus.
Ran alternative transportation challenges with gift card incentives.
Expanded staff carpool routes and provide free RFTA bus passes to staff.
RFTA Flyer pilot with direct service from the intercept lot to campus.
Standardized parking policies and enforcement.
Optimized student bus routes within our current fleet capacity.
Formed the ASD Transportation Committee to develop long-term mobility solutions.
These achievements represent huge strides toward a greener, less stressful commute. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our drivers, mechanics, and trainer.
Thank you to the entire department for keeping our district moving forward!
From the Facilities Department
As our campus fills with the energy of a new school year, our Facilities Operations teams are hard at work maintaining safe, safe, functional, and efficient environments across all Aspen School District properties.
Here is a look at recent campus improvements, upcoming safety measures, and facility developments across our district.
Campus Infrastructure & Maintenance
Roofing Upgrades: Critical re-roofing projects are wrapping up across our residential and school facilities—including Assay Hill, Cooper, and Owl Creek complexes—ensuring our buildings remain weather-resistant and secure for years to come.
Winterization & Heating Systems: Facilities teams are currently servicing heating equipment, clearing drainage pathways, and winterizing irrigation lines across all campuses ahead of the first autumn snowfall.
Parking & Campus Safety Reminders
Campus Traffic & Parking Management: With busy autumn schedules and athletic events in full swing, parking spaces across campus lots remain tightly monitored. Designated spaces must remain clear for daily school operations and safety vehicles.
Facility Use Requests: Outside organizations or community groups seeking to utilize district grounds or reserve parking areas for private events must submit a request in advance via our online Facility Use Request portal. All reservations require standard rental fees and proof of insurance.
Our team takes great pride in stewarding the community’s investment in public education infrastructure. For questions regarding facilities operations, property management, or campus usage, please feel free to reach out to our office.
From the Nutrition Services Department
From the Academics Department
September has been a month of building momentum across our IB continuum, with a shared focus on putting students at the center of our work. Across AES, AMS, and AHS, teachers are using beginning of year data from Dibels, STAR, and NWEA to better understand where students are in their learning and identify areas for growth. Our data dialogues are designed to move beyond numbers to help teachers make informed instructional decisions and meet students where they are.
This student centered approach reflects the IB philosophy, where engagement, agency, inquiry, and meaningful learning experiences are at the core. Teachers are strengthening the connection between what is planned, taught, assessed, and experienced by students. Toddle Unit Planners are becoming more authentic reflections of classroom learning, while PYP, MYP, and DP teams continue to refine inquiry and assessment practices.
We are working to ensure that curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student learning are meaningfully connected to IB objectives and Colorado Academic Standards. At AES, teachers are strengthening transdisciplinary learning by connecting single subject instruction to PYP inquiries. At AMS, subject teams are connecting standards, Success Criteria, and MYP Summative Assessments. At AHS, teams are using feedback from the May 2026 MYP and DP examination results to inform instructional practice.
Across the district, we are thinking about student engagement and belonging: how do we give students more agency, voice, and choice in their learning? Our goal is simple: to understand our students, meet them where they are, and create engaging learning experiences that help every student thrive and grow.
From the Safety Department
Our Safety and Security work continues to focus on prevention, preparedness, and creating safe and supportive learning environments for all students and staff.
Recently, administrators and mental health staff participated in a Threat Assessment Refresher Course to strengthen our ability to identify, assess, and respond to potential concerns. During the week of October 12, we will also offer CPI training for our Student Services team.
We are continuing our monthly Safety Team meetings and building-level drills, along with Standard Response Protocol (SRP) training for all staff and Incident Command training for administrators. We are also working to coordinate a tabletop exercise with community partners to strengthen communication and coordination during an emergency.
A reminder about bikes and e-bikes on campus: For everyone's safety, please dismount and walk your bike or e-bike while on campus. Thank you for helping us maintain a safe, welcoming, and accessible campuses for everyone.
Keeping our students safe is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the classroom. Aspen School District is sharing an educational resource from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s (CDPHE) Office of Gun Violence Prevention for parents, guardians, and legal custodians of K–12 students.
This resource outlines steps families can take to help reduce the risks of unintentional firearm injuries, suicide, and firearm theft.
View the Firearm Safety Resource for Families
We encourage families to review this information and staff and community partners to share it through newsletters, school communications, and other family outreach efforts.
For additional information and resources, visit the CDPHE Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Thank you for your partnership in supporting the safety and well-being of our students and community.
Community Announcements
Join Us for Oktoberfest to Support Our Public Schools!
Mark your calendars for Oktoberfest on October 17, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM! Hosted by the Carbondale Education Foundation, this annual fundraiser is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate our local public school teachers and raise vital funds for our schools.
Bring the whole family for an exciting day packed with live music, great food, local beer, and plenty of fun including the KidZone (12–5 PM) featuring a bounce house, games, crafts, and the RosyBell Art Bus, plus a cornhole tournament and stein hoisting!
An event like this takes a village. We are looking for energetic parents and community members to help make the day a success. Please consider signing up for a volunteer shift to lend a hand and join in on the fun!
Come out, enjoy the festivities, support our teachers, and strengthen our public school community! Visit our website for more info.