Aspen High School
Student and Family Weekly Update
February 25th
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Dear students and families,
As February winds down, the pace of the school year seems to be hitting warp speed. Between the start of spring sports, the longer & lighter days, and the transition into course planning for next year, May 22nd will be here before we know it. Amidst the rush, remember to slow down: lean into your learning, practice hard—whether in sports, music, or theater-and, above all, be kind. In the end, that is what truly matters.
IB Spotlight
Skier Spotlight
Congratulations to Owen Cruz-Abrams and Khalil Khan-Farooqi who have both advanced to the Finalist category for the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. In addition, both Owen and Khalil are candidates for the US Presidential Scholars Program. Well done!
Kudos to the following students for submitting a play to Theater Masters Aspiring Playwrights Festival where the plays were performed Monday, February 23rd at TACAW: Congratulations to Katie Daniels, Brooklyn Nottingham, Logan Novak, Jimmy Chuluun, Ryley Olsen, Bode Philen, and Sam Wilson!
We had a wonderful group of AHS students attend the Aspen Institute's Teen Socrates seminar last weekend! Kudos to Taj Clarence, Arslan Finesilver, Emerson Hemstreet, Liv Mandelblatt, Ione Pappas, Mia Piatowski, and Lewis Yang for their stellar participation.
From the Institute: We are still recruiting for our Hurst Great Ideas Seminar (March 16-19, more information below/attached) and we just announced the themes. If any students were interested in Teen Socrates but couldn't make it work for their schedule, please encourage them to join us in March!
Congratulations to Eli Genshaft, Sloane Alexander, Liam Daniels, Jesse Kravitz, and Parker Loeb for representing our school in the Honor Jazz Band performance on February 6–7 at Carbondale Middle School. Each student successfully auditioned for this prestigious opportunity and then spent two full days learning new music before showcasing their hard work in a final performance. We are so proud of their dedication and talent! 🎶
Ex Ed Virtual Parent Meeting Next Tuesday, March 3rd! This meeting will be recorded.
Tuesday, March 3 · 5:30 – 6:30pm
Time zone: America/Denver
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/fxr-kjei-uzr
Or dial: (US) +1 508-694-3517 PIN: 635 554 641#
The meeting will be recorded and available on the AHS Ex Ed website after the meeting. Closed captioning will be available in Spanish.
- Please remember that students are required to participate in Ex Ed for every year that they attend AHS; there are no exceptions and no parent-led college tours.
- AHS Students will review courses and auction information in SET on March 10th.
SKI DAY REMINDER!
Wednesday, March 4th is our annual “Ski Day.” This day is meant to build community and celebrate the beautiful place we call home. While it is a fun day, it still counts towards attendance, so please plan accordingly. We begin with Powerpuff Volleyball and then students ski/ride Buttermilk or Highlands; or they may swim, skate, & sled at the ARC.
ASL
Are you interested in learning ASL (American Sign Language)?
Aspen School District is exploring a short Spring ASL Club pilot in collaboration with The Aspen Camp for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB).
Students would have the opportunity to start with ASL fundamentals, common signs, the alphabet, and simple phrases, and build toward simple, guided practice during lunch or in a morning session, based on participation levels.
Please fill out this form if you are interested in learning more!
Final Exams
Please mark your calendars for our May Examination week schedule for all 9th-11th graders. Reminder, we will not allow students to take their exams early, so please plan accordingly for your summer travel plans.
Athletics
Alpine competed well this past week. The Girls’ Finished 3rd in the State and the Boys finished 4th. Josh Stephen finished 2nd on both days. This gave him the most points earned in the season and he WON the Colorado Cup as the Best Skier in Colorado! The Girls Swim Team outperformed the expectations and finished 11th in the State as a team and we did this with only 5 qualifying swimmers! The Boys Hockey team finished their season by doubling up their win total from last year. The future looks bright for these guys. Nordic had their State Meet this past weekend and they kept up their great work and finished the season strong. The Boys Team will likely be hosting the first 2 rounds of the playoffs here at home on 3/6 and 3/7.
Cory Parker picked up his 100 win as the Head Boys Basketball Coach! It is the fast to 100 wins in school history. This is a huge achievement and we are honored to have him him lead our Boys to such great success!
Spring Sports started on Monday and we have a great turn out of kids competing. If your Student Athlete wants to play you need to make sure you registration is up to date and there is a current physical on file. The physicals have to be on the CHSAA physical form for it to be recognized.
We are working hard to ensure all students have the proper equipment and team gear for their respective sports seasons. This is made possible through the $200 participation fee. Fees for all fall and winter sports have been loaded into PowerSchool, and we ask that families log in and submit payment as soon as possible. Paying fees now helps prevent supplemental charges at the end of the year. We cannot run a successful athletic program without these funds, and the participation fee plays an essential role in supporting our teams. Thank you for taking the time to submit your payment and for your continued support of AHS Athletics.
If you have any questions, please contact AD Brett Beville or his Assistant, Bryce Sandoval. bbeville@aspenk12.net and bsandoval@aspenk12.net
Cell Phone and Airpod Reminder
NO MACBOOKS ALLOWED. We are 1 to 1 school issued Chromebooks. Macbooks will be confiscated the same as cellphones and airpods.
AHS Heads to the Youthentity Career Expo: Tuesday, March 17th During the School Day
The Youthentity Career Expo is an outstanding opportunity for Aspen High School students to step beyond the classroom and engage with industry leaders from across the Roaring Fork Valley. This Expo allows our students to explore diverse careers, practice professional networking, and discover pathways for college and career after graduation. (Available for 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students to participate)
Important Attendance Details:
The Expo will take place on Tuesday, March 17th. Buses depart at 9:30 and return at 1:30. Students participating in this event will be excused from the following periods:
SET
6th Period
Lunch
7th Period
Field Trip forms must be completed by March 5th and sent to Mateo Leano (mleano@aspenk12.net) in person or electronically.
AHS Booster Club
AHS Booster Club Membership: Not a Member? Support OUR Athletes & CHSSA Clubs! New Nike Uniforms for all Athletes coming soon. Support this update today!!
Join Today and Enjoy FREE ENTRY to all Winter and Spring Sporting Events, $20 Concessions card and 15% off AHS Spirit Wear! Join Now!
AHS Booster Club Sponsorship: Become a Sponsor and see your Business or Family Name on the FIELD & COURT for all to see WHO supports our AHS athletes. Sponsor Today!
THANK YOU SKIER NATION!!
TONIGHT: College Outreach Virtual Summer Opportunities Seminar (Part 1)
College Outreach 2026 Virtual Events for Colorado Western Slope Students (Grades 7-12) & Families
Scholarships Seminar - VIRTUAL
February 25th, 7:00–8:15 p.m. MST
A game plan for applying whether you are in middle school, high school, or already in college
How to find scholarships that fit YOU—beyond local opportunities, including regional, state, and national scholarships for rural students
Learn how to write successful scholarship applications
For students grades 7-12, families, and educators
Live Spanish interpretation available
Q&A included
Visit www.cwscollegeoutreach.org for registration and the virtual link
More 2026 Events:
March | Understanding Your Financial Aid Package
March | Gap Year Seminar
April | Environmental Global Citizen Seminar
May | Student Athletic Recruiting Seminar
May | Arts College Applications: Portfolios & Auditions Seminar
May | Summer Opportunities Part II / College Success Strategies Seminar
May | Career & Technical Programs Seminar
May | Exceptional Students Seminar
More details at: www.cwscollegeoutreach.org
Save the Date: 22nd Annual Colorado Western Slope College Fair | Sunday, October 4, 2026 | in person on the Aspen School District Campus
Wheeler Opera House- Family Programming
- Bugs Created by Kaki King and GLITCH | March 7th @ 4pm
- “Infinitely Yours” and other works by Miwa Matreyek | April 21st @ 6:30pm
- Flying Karamazov Brothers | April 23rd @ 6pm
Aspen School District Nutrition News
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