Pagosa Springs Middle School

Pirate Families,

It has been a fabulous start to the school year! Our students have quickly settled into their routines and schedules, and deep learning is taking place across our classrooms. Students are asking thoughtful questions, sharing ideas, and working through challenges. It is exciting to see their engagement and the care our teachers bring to helping them grow.

We are especially proud of the work happening during WIN—What I Need. Students are strengthening skills, building confidence, and learning that persistence pays off. Teachers are closely monitoring progress, celebrating growth, and adjusting instruction when students need a different approach. Together, they are making this time a meaningful opportunity to move learning forward.

Middle school is also a time of tremendous personal growth. Students are discovering their interests, navigating friendships, becoming more independent, and figuring out who they want to be. Trying something unfamiliar or stepping beyond a comfort zone can feel intimidating. We want our students to know that they do not have to have everything figured out to take the next step—and they do not have to take it alone.

Sometimes growth looks like mastering a challenging concept. Other times, it looks like asking for help, including someone new, speaking up in class, or trying again after a disappointment. These moments matter, too. Our commitment to educating the whole child means helping students develop the confidence, kindness, resilience, and sense of belonging that support their learning and their lives.

Thank you for partnering with us and joining us for parent-teacher conferences. Your insights help us better understand your children—their strengths, their needs, and their hopes. Please keep those conversations going throughout the year. Share the celebrations, reach out with questions, and let us know when something feels difficult. Stronger Together means students have a team of caring adults who listen, communicate, and work together to help them thrive.

Every day offers a new opportunity to grow. A difficult moment does not define a student, and a setback does not close the door on what comes next. We will continue to hold high expectations, offer encouragement and support, and help our students recognize what they are capable of becoming.

Every Student. Every Day. Every Opportunity.

Janae Ash
Principal, Pagosa Springs Middle School

Please join us in congratulating our School Resource Officer, Brandon Bishop, on his well-deserved promotion to detective with the Town of Pagosa Springs Police Department! We are proud to celebrate this opportunity with him, though saying goodbye to his daily presence in our schools brings mixed emotions. He has become a trusted partner, a familiar friend, and an important part of our school community.

Since joining us in April 2023, Officer Bishop has made a lasting impact on our students, staff, and families. His steady, reassuring presence has brought comfort on difficult days and joy in everyday moments. From checking doors and supporting our safety protocols to greeting students in the hallways, he has shown how deeply he cares about the people in our schools.

Whether eating lunch with students, sharing a joke, or cheering them on at nearly every sporting event, Officer Bishop has taken the time to build relationships. Those moments matter. They tell our students that they are seen, valued, and worthy of someone’s time and attention. Through helping teach our L.E.A.D. program, he has also encouraged students to stay healthy, make positive choices, and think about the futures they are building.

When our school community has faced serious or challenging situations, Officer Bishop has been a calm, dependable partner. He has listened, worked alongside us, and approached difficult moments with care. We are grateful for the reassurance he has offered families, the support he has given staff, and the kindness he has shown our students.

Brandon, thank you for giving so much of yourself to our schools. We are forever grateful for your commitment, your patience, your humor, and your heart. You have made a remarkable difference in a short time, and we hope you know how much your presence has meant to us. We will miss the kind hellos, the shared laughter, and the comfort of knowing you are nearby.

Some people make a difference wherever they go, and you are one of those people. We know you will continue to serve our community with care and dedication in your new role. You have helped shape our school’s story, and we look forward to having you remain part of it in the years ahead.

Congratulations, Officer Bishop! Your promotion is well earned, and we celebrate it with full hearts—even as we wish we could keep you a little longer. You will always be part of our Pirate family.

Some of the most memorable learning happens when we step outside! At PSMS, adventure learning gives students opportunities to explore the beautiful outdoors around us, try something new, and discover strengths they may not have recognized in themselves.

Our sixth graders recently experienced this firsthand during two days and one night at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve! They hiked to the top of the tallest dune, learned about astronomy, explored the history of the people who have called the area home, and created unique sand art to name just a few things they experienced. Along the way, they had tons of fun, made memories, and experienced the excitement of learning beyond the classroom!

With guidance and encouragement, students take safe risks and stretch beyond their comfort zones. Something that feels intimidating at first can become a moment of pride: “I did it!” Whether climbing a towering dune or spending a first night away from home, students practice perseverance, independence, and supporting one another. Each experience helps build confidence they can carry back into the classroom and into everyday life.

Adventure learning also brings teachers and students together in a special way. They work side by side, share discoveries, tackle challenges, and celebrate accomplishments. A helping hand, an encouraging word, or a shared laugh can strengthen relationships and help students feel more connected to their school community.

We are fortunate to have extraordinary natural places around us, and we want our students to experience, appreciate, and care for them. Adventure learning invites students to be curious, look beyond the familiar, and see how much there is to discover.

Get outside. Try something new. Encourage each other. Discover what you can do. That is adventure learning at PSMS—and it is an important part of how we help our students grow together. We are already looking forward to more adventures this spring! Our fifth graders will head to Ghost Ranch in New Mexico, our seventh graders will explore Bandelier in New Mexico, and our eighth graders will create lasting memories in Moab, Utah. Each trip offers new opportunities to build confidence, strengthen friendships, and discover the world beyond our classrooms.

Your voice matters at PSMS! We are looking for parent volunteers to join our School Accountability Committee (SAC) and help shape our school’s continued growth.

SAC brings parents, staff, and community members together to discuss school goals, review student achievement and school improvement efforts, and provide input on priorities and how resources can support students. It is an opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and offer recommendations that help guide our work.

You do not need a background in education—your perspective as a parent is valuable. We want to hear what is working well, where we can improve, and what you hope for your student’s school experience.

Stronger Together means making space for your voice and working together to help every student thrive. If you are interested in serving on SAC or learning more, please fill out the form below or contact Janae Ash at jash@pagosa.k12.co.us. We would love to have you join us!

Pirate families, we have had a phenomenal start to the school year! Our September average daily attendance was 96.51%—approximately three percentage points higher than last September!

Thank you for helping us create a culture of attendance at PSMS. Your efforts to establish routines, get students to school on time, and reinforce the importance of being present make a difference. Together, we are helping students see that showing up matters—for their learning, their friendships, and their place in our school community.

We are also encouraged by our chronic absenteeism rate, which is currently 22.55%, compared with 30.12% last school year. While this year is still young, this is a promising start, and we want to keep that number moving downward. Chronic absenteeism means missing 10% or more of school, including both excused and unexcused absences.

Our goal is for every student to maintain attendance of 93% or higher. Every class offers another opportunity to build skills, confidence, and connections. We want every student to benefit from those opportunities!

As part of the district’s updated attendance policy, beginning October 15, we will reach out every two weeks to families of students whose attendance is below 90%. These conversations will help us understand challenges and work together on strategies to support improvement. If your family is facing barriers to attendance, please reach out—we want to help.

This strong start belongs to all of us. Thank you for your partnership and for helping make PSMS a place where students want to be. Let’s keep this momentum going!

Our fall athletes have given us so much to celebrate! On the field, on the court, and along the race course, they have worked hard, supported their teammates, and discovered what they can accomplish through practice and perseverance.

Football

In a competitive league, our A and B teams showed steady improvement, growing in confidence and learning to work together through challenging games. Their season included opportunities to compete for third place, in which our A Team placed 4th—a reflection of the effort they put in throughout the fall. We are proud of their determination and the Pirate pride they brought to the field!

Cross Country

Our runners have covered countless miles—and their hard work has paid off! Every runner’s progress matters, whether it means a faster time, a stronger finish, or the confidence to keep going when the course gets tough. We are cheering them on as they complete in their meet this Friday.

Volleyball

Our Lady Pirates finished their season with a hard-fought effort at the league tournament. Although they did not advance beyond the first round, their growth throughout the season deserves recognition. Thank you, Lady Pirates, for bringing energy and commitment to the court!

The Growth Behind the Results

Some of the best moments in sports never appear on a scoreboard: encouraging a teammate after a mistake, accepting feedback, respecting an official’s call, or finding the determination to try again.

Our athletes have worked toward becoming Triple-Impact Competitors by improving themselves, helping their teammates succeed, and honoring the game. Those habits build character and confidence that students carry into their classrooms, friendships, and lives.

Thank you to our coaches for their guidance and encouragement, and to our families for the rides, early mornings, cheering, and support that make these experiences possible. Stronger Together comes to life when students know they have a whole community behind them.

Way to go, Pirates! We are proud of your progress, your effort, and the way you represent PSMS.

A huge thank-you to all the parents, teachers, and community members who made our fall sports season a success! Whether you ran the scoreboard, kept the athletic book, baked treats for a fundraiser, or worked in the concession stand, your time and effort made a tremendous difference. We truly couldn’t do it without you. Your support keeps our programs running and helps create the positive experience our athletes deserve. Thank you for showing what Pirate Pride is all about!

Boys basketball and cheer have officially started! We are excited to see our athletes building skills, connecting with teammates, and bringing Pirate spirit to the court. The good news also is it is still not to late to sign-up if you are in 7th or 8th grade.

Registration and Participation Requirements

We now use Arbiter Registration for athletic registration. Before participating in practice, all athletes must:

• Be registered for their sport in Arbiter.

• Have a current physical uploaded.

• Complete all required forms, including athlete and parent/guardian signatures.

If you have not completed these steps, please do so promptly so your student can participate.

For registration assistance or questions about participation, please contact the middle school office or District Athletic Director Curtis Nehring @ cnehring@pagosa.k12.co.us.

Looking ahead: Girls basketball begins in December, wrestling in January, and track and soccer in March. We look forward to more opportunities for our Pirates to get involved! Thank you, families, for supporting our athletes. We look forward to seasons of hard work, teamwork, and school pride. Go Pirates!

Last week, all of our eighth graders had the opportunity to visit Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado! Students toured the campus, checked out classrooms, and got a firsthand look at a college learning environment.

For students beginning to imagine life beyond middle and high school, this experience opened the door to new questions and possibilities. What might they want to study? What interests could become a career? What could their future hold? Seeing a campus in person helps make those possibilities feel more real.

Our eighth graders do not need to have their futures figured out yet. Experiences like this give them room to be curious, explore their interests, and dream big. We are grateful they had this wonderful opportunity to look ahead and begin imagining where their learning might take them!