The Weekly Line

Friday, September 4, 2026

Dear AMS Students, Parents/Guardians & Staffulty,

“Relational trust” is the key element in improving schools (Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement, Bryk and Schneider, 2004). It’s also a key element for improving families and communities. The success of new school initiatives (The Tough Middler High Altitude Adventure Race, Student-Led Conferences, Back-to-School Night, Professional Learning Communities, etc.) and level of staffulty buy-in increase with strong relational trust when staffulty and administration feel safe to experiment with new practices. Trust is when people:

• Do what they say they’re going to do and follow through.

• Consider the needs of others.

• Respect and value each other's skills and ideas.

• Share a commitment to achieving a common goal.

• Do not deceive each other, and share all the information they have.

• Go to the source and don’t bypass people, if they don’t like the answer they get, they don't go to someone else.

Some techniques to build trust include:

• Sharing thoughts, facts, and the rationale for every decision.

• Making commitments we can and will keep, if we can’t, we explain why.

• Admitting mistakes, it’s ok to make mistakes, but wrong to not admit them.

• Requesting and accepting feedback, reciprocally, being comfortable getting and giving feedback.

• Testing assumptions to best evaluate our policies, programs and practices.

Here’s a pic of our new 7th/8th grade language and literature teacher Libby Kiker TRUSTING her volunteer guide at the Superman station during 8th grade outdoor Ed.’s climbing day this week!

I’m trying hard to foster a culture of relational trust amongst our students, staffulty and families at AMS. I invite you all to be my accountability partners in that effort. Fear-based thinking is the root of most of our problems. We can accomplish great things if we trust the process, and even more so, if we trust each other. F-A-M-I-L-Y. Forget About Me I Love You!

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

All In,

T. DODD

Tom Dodd, PhD

Principal

#AMSAllIn #AMSF-A-M-I-L-Y #TheAMSDifference

• Toddle Family Access: Parents who need support accessing their child’s family Toddle account can contact Harpreet Mehta (hmehta@aspenk12.net) or Catherina Lemons clemons@aspenk12.net) for their child-specific Family Invite Code. We can provide the code by email or in print. Here is a sample of what the Family Invite Code document will look like. Alternatively, we can send the Toddle login invitation directly to the parent’s preferred email address.

• New Parent Guide to MYP: For families who are new to the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), please see our MYP One-Page Guide, which provides a quick overview of MYP and what parents can expect.

• 2026-27 AMS Weekly Bell Schedule

• 2026-27 ASD Calendars UPDATED

• 1st period starts at 8am with traditional classes. Please BE ON TIME. :)

• Main office open: 7:30am – 4:00pm

• Cafe breakfast M – F: 7:45am – 7:55am

• Cafe lunch M/T & Th/F: 11:25am - 12:10pm & Early Release Wed. (ERW): 11:35am - 12:20pm

• Student school day: 8:00am – 3:20pm

• Teacher work day: 7:45am – 3:45pm

• Early Release Wed.: Student dismissal 1:50pm & Staffulty PD 2:05pm - 3:50pm

CAMPUS SAFETY Please stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk at our main entrance, pull as far forward as possible in the drop off/pick up line to keep the line moving, obey traffic signs and speed limits, do not park in handicapped spaces, double park, or leave a vehicle unattended.

AMS ATHLETICS Visit our AMS Athletics page for fall sports info.

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

• Wednesday, September 9th ~ 7th / 8th Volleyball vs Rifle 4:30pm - 7th at Rifle / 8th AMS Gym.

• Wednesday, September 9th ~ EF Tours Costa Rica June Trip Informational Meeting 5:30pm - AMS Library.

• Thursday, September 10th ~ 7th / 8th Football vs Riverside @ New Castle 4:30pm 7th / 8th 5:30pm.

• Monday, September 14th ~ 7th / 8th Volleyball vs Glenwood 4:30pm - 7th AMS Gym / 8th at Glenwood.

• Tuesday, September 15th ~ EF Tours French Trip Informational Meeting 5:30pm - AMS Library

• Wednesday, September 16th ~ Student Picture Day.

• Wednesday, September 16th ~ 7th / 8th Football vs Glenwood @ ASD Turf 4:30pm 7th Grade / 8th 5:30pm.

• Wednesday, September 16th ~ 7th / 8th Volleyball vs Carbondale 4:30pm - 7th AMS Gym / 8th at Carbondale.

• Thursday, September 17th ~ AMS Tough Middler 10:00am - Lower Moore Field

• Saturday, September 19th ~ Cross Country Meet @ Avon

• Tuesday, September 22nd ~ Cross Country Meet @ Eagle

• Wednesday, September 23rd~ 7th / 8th Volleyball vs Riverview 4:30pm - 7th AMS Gym / 8th at Riverview.

• Thursday, September 24th ~ 7th / 8th Football @ Rifle 4:30pm 7th Grade / 8th 5:30pm.

• Monday, September 28th ~ 7th / 8th Football vs Carbondale @ ASD Turf 4:30pm 7th Grade / 8th 5:30pm.

• Monday, September 28th~ 7th / 8th Volleyball vs Riverside 4:30pm - 7th New Castle / 8th at AMS Gym.

• Wednesday, September 30th~ 7th / 8th Volleyball vs Grand Valley 4:30pm - 7th Parachute /8th AMS Gym

• Thursday, October 1st ~ 7th / 8th Football @ Basalt 4:30pm 7th Grade / 8th 5:30pm.

• Saturday, October 3rd ~ 8th / 8th Volleyball League Tournament - 7th at Glenwood Springs High School / 8th at Riverside Middle School.

• Saturday, October 3rd & 4th ~ ASD College Fair - ASD Campus

• Monday, October 12th ~ AHS & AMS Teacher Workday - NO SCHOOL STUDENTS

• Tuesday, October 13th & 14th ~ AHS Parent, Teacher Conferences & AMS Student-Led Conferences

• Thursday, October 15th & 16th ~ Fall Break - NO SCHOOL STUDENTS & STAFF

• Monday, October 19th - 23rd ~ Aspen Words Poetry Workshop Week

• Friday, October 30th ~ AMS Halloween Fun Run

• Monday, November 23rd - 27th ~ Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL STUDENTS & STAFF

AMS Outdoor Education Fall Dates:

5th GRADE ODE ~ Utah Camping & Hiking

• Tuesday, September 22nd - Friday, September 25th ~ Amy G & Kari S

• Monday, September 28th - Thursday, October 1st ~ Georgina L

• Tuesday, October 6th - Friday, October 9th ~ Evan W & Alex M