Aspen High School
Student and Family Weekly Update
November 4th
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Dear Skier Families,
November is here, and as we head into a month centered on gratitude, I find myself especially thankful for the energy and spirit of our Aspen High School community. October was full of school spirit, connection, and opportunities to come together, and it has been wonderful to see our students show up for one another and celebrate what makes being a Skier special. We are hard at work as we move through another busy stretch of the school year, while our seniors are beginning to feel a little relief as college applications, early deadlines, and next steps start to come together. There is still plenty of learning and growing ahead, but this month is a good reminder to pause, appreciate the people around us, and recognize the many ways our students, staff, and families make AHS such a special place to be. Thank you for being part of our community. Go Skiers!
Warmly,
Nina Pulatie
Finals Week December 14-18!
The school calendar is structured to allow students to engage deeply with each of their courses during finals week. Families are respectfully requested to adhere to this schedule and avoid planning absences, vacations, or excursions during this period. Students are expected to attend all scheduled final examinations from December 14 through December 18 to demonstrate their mastery of course content following a semester of dedicated effort.
We appreciate your cooperation in aligning personal arrangements with the official academic calendar. Extenuating circumstances require a meeting with building administrators scheduled through Jill Stephens. Please note not all requests will be granted as this schedule has been posted on the website and we strongly encourage families to be present for the end of semester exams.
IB Spotlight
If you would like ASD to cover your cost please select that option in the Google Form. Thank you!
🏆 WEEKLY AHS ATHLETIC ROUNDUP
Our Aspen runners came out of the gates strong on Saturday! At the State Championships, the girls clinched a podium spot with a 3rd-place finish! Annabelle Case led the way for us with an 18th-place finish overall, followed by Molly McPhee in 35th, Livia Wesner in 36th, Edyn Roy in 46th, Daylee Davidson in 66th, Ellis Burggraf in 94th, and Augusta Berg in 144th. We couldn’t be more proud of these girls!
The boys also did extremely well with a respectable 13th-place finish in 3A! Jack Diaz led the way for the boys in 27th place, followed by Ryan Marcinkowski in 30th, Dominic DiMaria in 98th, William Goldfarb in 105th, Yaroslav Loboda in 114th, Vlad Loboda in 124th, and Lochlan Marsh in 138th. Overall, it was a tremendous season by all of these kids. They stocked the trophy case all fall and finished strong at State!
Volleyball finished off the regular season with one of the most exciting wins of the year against Vail Christian. The match went all 5 sets against the #3 ranked team in 2A. This win clinched a home stand for Regionals. We will host #14 Jefferson Academy and #26 Weld Central here in the Big Gym on Saturday, November 7th.
Regional Schedule:
1:30 PM: Aspen vs. Weld Central
3:30 PM: Jefferson Academy vs. Weld Central
5:30 PM: Aspen vs. Jefferson Academy
The winner will advance to the 12-team State Tournament. We would love to see everyone out there supporting the team!
For those in the Booster Club, please note that because this is a State event, your Booster Club Membership will not be valid at the door. You will need to purchase a ticket to enter.
The majority of our games are live-streamed, and we are also required to exchange game film per CHSAA rules. Please remember that audio is picked up during live streams and recordings. We do not want viewers or opposing schools hearing inappropriate language on these broadcasts.
As a reminder, Eligibility Reports are run every Tuesday morning. Please ensure your student-athlete stays on top of their grades and attendance. Additionally, a student-athlete is ineligible if they have any tardies or absences on game days, which means they will not be able to participate or travel with the team. It is imperative that they are on time and present in class on game days. If you have a doctor's appointment or another excused reason for a game-day delay/absence, please contact me in advance.
The Winter Sports Meeting will be held on November 5th in the Commons at 5:30 PM. We will start with updates from the Athletic Director before breaking out into individual sports meetings.
If you have not yet paid your Fall Sports Fees, please log into your account to complete the payment.
If you ever have questions or concerns, please reach out. I have an open-door policy and welcome the opportunity to connect. We cannot improve what we do not know. All conversations remain private and confidential, so please reach out if anything needs to be discussed.
Best,
Brett Beville, Athletic Director
Post Secondary
Join the post secondary team on November 12 for the Junior & Parent evening meeting at 5:30. We’ll go over how our office supports juniors, what students should be focusing on this year, the college application process, etc. Join the meeting here.
November Hope Notes from Aspen Hope Center
Each month, Aspen Hope Center shares a short message with hope, helpful information, and connections to local resources. Our goal is to build mental health literacy for students, staff, and families, support student mental health at home, and reduce stigma.
AHS Students! Want to Make a Real Impact? Become a Big Buddy!
Are you a kind, reliable, and positive Aspen High School student who enjoys connecting with others? If so, the Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program is a fun and meaningful way to give back—while building your own leadership and communication skills.
As a Big Buddy, you’ll be matched with an Aspen Elementary student and meet with them every Thursday from 11:40 AM – 12:30 PM.
You’ll hang out, play games, do creative projects, and be a consistent, supportive presence in your Little Buddy’s life.
This is a group mentoring program, supervised by Buddy Program staff and supported by school staff. You’ll receive training before the program begins, including tips on building strong connections, setting boundaries, and being a great mentor.
Big Buddy Applications due: Nov. 16
Big Buddy Interviews take place: week of Nov. 30, at AHS
Big Buddy Training takes place: week of Dec. 7, at AHS
First day of program: Jan. 7 (runs through April 29)
Please contact Josh Berro with questions or concerns.
Tech Center Reminders!
Forgot your Chromebook at home or don't have it charged? You can borrow a Chromebook or charger for the period or the day from the library. You must leave collateral: phone, wallet, or keys. No shoes, clothing or jewelry; no loans without collateral of some kind, at the librarian's discretion. You may not take borrowed devices home. Failure to return devices will result in a charge on your account.
Cost of Chargers: If you wish to purchase a charger, the price is now $18 as we have new, higher quality chargers in stock. You may see Jill in the front office to purchase.
You may also see Zach in the library for Chromebook repairs or replacements, and for help with printing and copying. Many issues can be resolved by restarting your computer and/or a powerwash: Ctrl alt shift R.
Attendance Reminder:
Student attendance matters. We’re noticing an increase in absences during these fall months. Please log in to PowerSchool to view your student’s attendance. Reminder: 7 absences can start to impact student learning and growth in a class. 7 absences is equivalent to missing 20% of a class which is a lot of missed learning time. With block scheduling, 7 days missed is about 2 weeks of class missed.
THIS WEEK! HS and Theatre Aspen Present: Carrie! The Musical- Tickets on Sale! Shows November 5th-8th
Carrie White is a teenage outcast who longs to fit in. At school, she’s bullied by the popular crowd, and virtually invisible to everyone else. At home, she’s dominated by her loving but cruelly controlling mother. What none of them know is that Carrie’s just discovered she’s got a special power, and if pushed too far, she’s not afraid to use it.
Click here for more information and to buy your tickets!
Next Book Club Meeting-January 13th!
Disengaged Teen strategies to support your child through the 4 learner modes 5:30-7:00 PM AHS Library
Attention Freshmen and Sophomores! Colorado Youth Climate Program
Empower Colorado youth for climate action! The Colorado Youth Climate Program (CYCP), led by Wild Rose Education and ACES, sparks climate leadership in high schoolers, especially from rural areas. During the annual CO Youth Climate Summit, develop climate action plans, connect with experts, and explore green careers. Fulfill Seal of Climate Literacy requirements.
2027 Project Graduation Needs Volunteers!
Calling Senior Parents:
Project Graduation is a long-standing tradition that keeps our graduates safe while giving them one final unforgettable night together as a class and we cannot do it without the support of the AHS senior parents.
Senior parents, please join us on Tuesday, November 10 at 6 p.m. for our 2027 Project Graduation Kick off meeting and find out how you can get involved! Check your email inbox for further details.
If you have any questions or need any additional information, please contact aspenprojectgraduation@aspenk12.net.
💗💗AHS Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) 💗💗
Thank you for the families that have donated to our PTO and offered to join our new AHS PTO! We have raised funds to help with staff appreciation and our next goal is to continue raising funds to support student clubs and spirit gear for student swag. Our goal this year is to bring back the SKIER SPIRIT and we would love your help with this work!
Want to help spread glimmers of joy to AHS Teachers and Staff?
⌚⌚⌚To volunteer your time click here. ⌚⌚⌚
💲💲💲To donate click here. 💲💲💲
We are still looking for a enthusiastic parent representative to head up the AHS Parent Teacher Organization for this school year.
Our teachers, administrators, custodians, and support staff work tirelessly for our students. As the Squad Lead, you’ll help organize simple, high-impact acts of appreciation throughout the year, from organizing seasonal snack drops and coffee bars to coordinating small token gifts and festive pick-me-ups.
What’s involved?
Flexible Commitment: Perfect for sharing with a co-lead and volunteers!
Core Goal: Brainstorming and coordinating year-round staff recognition events.
Impact: Direct, visible gratitude for the people who make AHS great every single day.
If you love bringing people together, spreading positivity, and showing our staff some well-deserved love, we would love to have you on board!
Nutrition News & Updates
Stay Connected with ASD!
To receive important Aspen School District text messages through BrightArrow, text YES to 79041.
This is especially helpful for anyone who may not currently be receiving district text messages or who previously opted out.
Thank you for helping us get the word out and keep our families connected!
Personal Device Policy- we are a Cell Phone and Personal Device Free School!
Reminder, cellphones and personal devices are NOT allowed to be visible on campus until after the last class ends at 3:20; this means that as soon as a student enters the building, earbuds & phones must be put away.
NEW this year: Parent or Guardians MUST be the person to pick up a device that is taken during the school day. Students will no longer be allowed to negotiate about who can pick up their device. Parents & Guardians will receive an email notification if a device has been taken.
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 should stay on campus until they are dismissed for the day. Please have this conversation at home as we are noticing several Sophomores (Class of 2029) taking advantage of this opportunity.
Nina Pulatie
Principal, Aspen High School
School Phone #: (970) 300-1786
Email: npulatie@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