Aspen High School
Student and Family Weekly Update
August 13th
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Dear students and families,
We had a wonderful first day of school yesterday, filled with positive energy, big smiles, and excitement. Throughout the day, students participated in Ex Ed meetings to reconnect with their groups and set the tone for their courses. Classes were in full swing, and it was great to see students engaged, curious, and ready to learn. The day ended with an uplifting Welcome Back Assembly on the turf, where students and staff gathered to kick off the new school year with enthusiasm. We're excited for the year to come and grateful for such a strong start!
Skier Spotlight
IB Spotlight
Schedules
Ex Ed
- Students are required to participate in Ex Ed every year that they attend Aspen High School.
- We have Ex Ed meetings every day the first 3 days of school, and then, Friday, August 15th, is all day prep day for Ex Ed. Students are required to attend all of these meetings to ensure a successful Ex Ed course.
Mark Your Calendars!
Back to School Night- This is a night for parents to go to all of their student’s classes!
Thursday, September 4th 5:30pm
Athletics- Come Support our Skiers!
1st Home Softball Game: Thursday, September 4th
1st Home Soccer Game: Saturday, September 6th
1st Home Tennis Match: Tuesday, September 9th
1st Home Football Game: Friday, September 12th
1st Home Volleyball: Thursday, September 18th
Cross Country Home Meet (Chris Severy Invitational): Saturday, October 4th
Reminder: Cellphones, Headphones, Personal Computers
We are a cellphone free school. No phones may be visible in the building until after 3:25pm; students may not use personal devices like Mac Books; and students may only use wired headphones during class time at a teacher’s direction.
Reminder: Doors
To ensure the safety and security of our school, students and visitors may only enter the high school via the main doors facing Tiehack. The buzzer at the staff doors behind the school has been disabled.
Attendance & Tardies
Students may only have 7 unexcused or parent excused absences per semester, or they risk losing credit (either WF or F). The Tardy policy has changed: students have 10 minutes to be marked tardy. At 11 minutes they are absent.
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.) Students may not have an F in any course or they are ineligible. 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 until late September.
REMINDER: 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.
The fee is $75 and students must have their fees paid in full before they can purchase a pass.
Seniors may only park in the AMS lot; they may not park in the AHS lot or they risk losing their parking privileges.
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
Be Sure to Notice the Schedule for the First Week of School!
Aspen High School Bell Schedule 25-26
- AHS classes begin at 8am and end at 3:20. Click here for the Bell Schedule.
- We will have Early Release Wednesday once a month. See the link above for the exact dates.
Closed/Open Campus Policy
- Reminder, Juniors and Seniors may leave campus for lunch; they may not come and go during free periods, just lunch. All 9th & 10th graders must stay on campus until they are dismissed for the day.
- Click here to learn more!
Fall Sports
- Please reach out to our new AD, Brett Beville with questions, or just to say a quick hello. bbeville@aspenk12.net. You may also reach out to his assistant, Bryce Sandoval bsandoval@aspenk12.net
- Students must be registered, with a current physical uploaded, in order to practice on Day 1. PAGE 4
- All students/families sign a code of conduct to participate in Athletics. Students will receive an athletic consequence for any and all violations of the drug/alcohol/tobacco policy regardless of when and where the infraction takes place. Students who reach 3 total infractions at AHS will be ineligible to participate in athletics for one calendar year.
- To ensure a smooth participation process, please take a moment to explore our Aspen High School Athletics website for detailed information about our offerings: Aspen High School Athletics website
- Aspen Student-Athlete Registration: All students participating in athletics must complete this registration, which includes critical information, insurance details, and a physical examination valid for 365 days from the examination date. Please complete this registration using the following link for your convenience: Student-Athlete Registration
- CHSAA Eligibility: IF YOU ARE NEW TO AHS and entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade, please contact us at your earliest convenience so we can initiate the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Transfer Portal. This step is essential to determine your child's eligibility to compete in CHSAA sanctioned events at Aspen High School.
Booster Club!
Welcome to the 2025–26 AHS Booster Club!
Be part of something special at Aspen High School! The AHS Booster Club is a fun, parent-run group that supports our student-athletes, clubs & activities all year long. From Homecoming and Senior Celebrations to Supplemental Team Swag & Equipment—we make the magic happen behind the scenes.
Why Join?
Whether you’re a Family Member or a Business Sponsor, you’ll get awesome perks:
- Free entry to home games & events
- $20 concession card
- One-time 15% off merch
- Your name or logo on our Interactive Wall of Fame
- Business (or Family) Sponsors also get banners in the stadium & gym, shoutouts on video displays, in print, and recognition at events
Make a real impact!
Your support also fuels team gear, spirit events, banquets, rose ceremonies, scholarships, and so much more.
This year, we’re expanding our Wall of Fame in the main gym lobby—come be a part of it!
Ready to join?
Become a Business/Corporate Sponsor
Questions? Email us at aspenbooster@gmail.com
Go Skiers!
Theatre Aspen After School Programming
BYE BYE BIRDIE: 7-12th FALL MUSICAL :
Teen idol Conrad Birdie is being drafted- and one lucky fan gets a farewell kiss! This lighthearted satire of the 1950s hits the District Theatre stage this fall, directed by our incoming Co-Director of Education, Caitlin Cremins.
Grade Range: Actors in grades 7-12 are eligible to audition.
In-Person Auditions and Callbacks: August 26th & 27th (Tuesday and Wednesday), 4:30-7:30 PM at The Black Box at Aspen High School (235 High School Rd Aspen CO 81611)
Rehearsals:
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 4:30-7:30pm
Rehearsal Period: Monday, September 1st - Wednesday, October 29th
No rehearsals during ASD Fall Break
Tech Rehearsals:
Monday, Nov 3rd - Friday, Nov 7th - 4:30-7:30 pm
Saturday, Nov 8th - 11:00 am-6:00 pm
Monday, Nov 10th - Wednesday, Nov 12th - 4:30-9:00pm
Performances:
November 13th, 14th, & 15th @ 7pm, November 16th @ 2pm in the District Theater
Post Secondary Counseling
Welcome to the first week of school! We are so excited to work with our Seniors this Fall, and get to know our Juniors, Sophomores and Freshman as well! We have a few new faces in our office. Mateo Leaño is our new Post Secondary Counselor, who joins us from Chapman University, and a year in Spain – (and he’s Spanish speaking!). Mateo works with students last names L-Z. Sarah Sachs is our new Administrative Assistant and is key to keeping our office running smoothly and getting all your students’ documents out on time, helping with scholarships and so many other things! Karen Hawkes is still here as our other Post Secondary Counselor, and she works with students last names A-K. Please stop by and say hello!
In the Fall, we really focus on our Seniors. Seniors book meetings with their counselors through the Class of 2026 webpage. They should only book meetings for a time when they do not have a class. Parents are always welcome to join whether in person, or via zoom. New this year, we will be holding application help sessions every Wednesday during all periods 1-8 in the Seminar Room B. Seniors should drop in if they have a free period and work on their applications with Mateo or Karen.
We begin meeting with Juniors and Sophomores after Thanksgiving, and we do drop into Freshman Seminar classes to introduce ourselves and talk about Post Secondary planning. Of course, if you have any questions, you should feel free to reach out to our office at any time.
Karen, Mateo and Sarah are here to support all students in making an individualized plan for life after high school, whatever that path may be. Your student (and you) will have all the support you will need to navigate this process successfully!
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.
Unlock Your Future: The AHS Virtual Internship Pilot Course/ Semester 2, 2026
Get a head start on your career interests with the AHS Virtual Internship Program! This unique semester-long pilot course offers rising 10th and 11th grade students hands-on experience solving real business challenges working for a real company or organization in diverse fields of interest. Beyond the virtual internship, students will master resume building, interviewing, and professional communication, preparing for college and career beyond. Discover passions, explore exciting career paths, and gain the confidence and skills to succeed outside of school!
This pilot course will be offered next year Semester 2. If you or your student would like to enroll, please contact your counselor, Josh or Kearstin. If you have any questions about the course, please contact Diane Godfrey at dgodfrey@aspenk12.net or (970) 300-2144.
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