The Weekly Line

Monday, November 24, 2025

Dear AMS F-A-M-I-L-Y (Students, Parents/Guardians & Staffulty),

Thanksgiving originated in 1621 when the colonists in what's now Plymouth, Massachusetts shared a harvest feast with the indigenous Wampanoag people who helped the colonists survive their first winter. The event was an alliance, even though the groups had conflicts in future years. President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national day of thanks in 1863 during the Civil War to foster unity, and the date was standardized annually as the 4th Thursday of November in 1941 by Congress and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

I wish you all a week of rest, relaxation and thankfulness surrounded by friends and family who bring you happiness. I also wish you all a week of purpose, remembering those who may not find rest, relaxation, or joy next week. Here at AMS we rolled out a school-wide Gratitude Graffiti Project on purpose. While Thanksgiving week may include travel, visitors, meal planning and execution, and even holiday shopping, let us all remember the blessings we have in our lives and provide for those whose cups may not be as full as ours. True Thanksgiving, IMHO, involves looking inward, an examination of conscience, and seeking ways to share our time, talent and treasure with others. For my wife Amy and me, that includes food and gift donations for families as they prepare for Christmas and Hanukkah. It’s reminding ourselves that for some of our students a week out of school may not be a celebration of peace or joy. While we may not be able to provide for our students while they’re not in school, we can provide understanding upon their return because awareness drives compassion, and compassion drives empathy, and empathy drives action.

I’m thankful for all of you, and the opportunity to serve you, our AMS F-A-M-I-L-Y (Forget About Me I Love You). As President Teddy Roosevelt said, “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”

All In,

Dr. Tom

Tom Dodd, PhD

#AMSAllIn #AMS F-A-M-I-L-Y #The AMS Difference

ANNOUNCEMENTS 11-24-25

AMS Lift Up Holiday Food Drive is being held December 1- 5, 2025. There will be Lift Up donation boxes in each grade level core area and the AMS foyer.

Standing Announcement Per the PTO’s Request

This AMS Staffulty's Favorite Things document helps parents know teachers' birthdays, and what gifts or kind gestures staffulty might appreciate over the holidays, during teacher appreciation week, etc. Just an FYI.

AMS School Accountability Committee (SAC) #2, Thursday, 12/11, 4:00pm - 5pm, AMS Conf. Rm.

We had a great SAC meeting #1 on Thursday, 10/16: AMS SAC Mtg. Agendas 2025-26. The next AMS SAC quarterly meeting to discuss school performance will be December 11th. Dr. Tom will email a calendar invite to the parents/guardians who let him know of their interest in serving on the AMS SAC.

Dear 7th grade Parents & Students,

Informational meeting for Aspen Sister Cities student exchanges. Exchanges will take place when students are in 8th grade to Abetone, Italy; Shimukappu, Japan; and Bariloche, Argentina (we host the Bariloche group in April of 7th grade).

Please join virtually:

Thursday, December 4th from 7:30pm – 8:30pm

Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/zwp-vhyu-rzw

Applications will be due on Wednesday, January 7th. You can find more information on the AMS Sister Cities page and the Aspen Sister Cities website as well. You are encouraged to attend before applying, but it is not mandatory.

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el jueves 4 de diciembre de las 7:30pm - 8:30pm

Enlace de Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/zwp-vhyu-rzw o para información en español, conéctese con Sarah Graber, sgraber@aspenk12.net o 970-315-3491.

Se debe entregar la solicitud de participación el miércoles 7 de enero de 2026. Puede encontrar más información en la página de AMS Sister Cities y también en el sitio web de Aspen Sister Cities. Se le recomienda asistir antes de presentar la solicitud, pero no es obligatorio.

Sarah Graber

Aspen Middle School CLD/ELL & Spanish

Aspen Sister Cities - Student Exchange Coordinator

sgraber@aspenk12.net

970-925-3760 ext. 2208

970-315-3491 - text or call

Every week the AMS Lunchroom is looking for volunteers to support our staff by volunteering from 11:40am - 12:30pm on Mondays - Fridays. Please sign up for a volunteer shift HERE!

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

• November 24th - 28th ~ THANKSGIVING BREAK / NO SCHOOL FOR STAFF & STUDENTS

• Tuesday, December 2nd ~ 7th / 8th Grade Boys Basketball Games 4:30pm vs Basalt - 7th Grade at Basalt / 8th Grade - AMS Gym

• Wednesday, December 3rd ~ 6th Grade ODE Parent Meeting 5:00pm in 6th Grade Core of AMS

• Thursday, December 4th ~ 7th Grade Informational Meeting for Aspen Sister Cities Student Exchange 7:30pm - Google Meet Link

• Saturday, December 6th ~ 7th / 8th Grade Boys Basketball Tournament Black Teams @ Grand Valley High School

• Wednesday, December 10th ~ AMS Winter Choir Concert 6:00pm - ASD Theater

• Saturday, December 13th ~ AEF Flamingo 2025 6:00pm - St. Regis Hotel

• Wednesday, December 17th ~ 7th Grade Exposition - Morning at the Museum 9:00am

• Thursday, December 18th ~ Viceroy Tree Lighting 6th - 8th Grade Choir Caroling 6:30pm - Viceroy Snowmass Village

• Friday, December 19th ~ NO SCHOOL STUDENTS - Staff Workday

• December 22nd - January 4th ~ WINTER BREAK / NO SCHOOL FOR STAFF & STUDENTS

AMS Outdoor Education Dates:

6th Grade ODE Hut Trips

• February 9th - 11th / Alex Farmer’s Group

• February 23rd - 25th / Katherine Gleason’s Group

• February 25th - 27th / Matt Field’s Group

• March 9th - 11th / Tara Marolda’s Group

• March 11th - 13th / Ivette Mejia’s Group

7th Grade ODE River Trips

• April 27th - May 1st - Week 1

• May 4th - 8th - Week 2

Please keep your students home if they are sick. They should be free of fever, vomiting, and diarrhea for at least 24 hours without the use of medication, and symptoms should be improved before returning to school.

Thank you for caring about the health of your students and our school community.

Start gathering your old shoes. Soles4Souls will be returning to AMS December 1st - 15th

Soles4Souls turns unwanted gently used shoes into opportunity by keeping them from going to waste and putting them to good use. It is hard to believe, but millons of children around the world go barefoot because they can't afford shoes. Make a difference, collect your slightly used shoes and bring them to the AMS drop off starting December 1st.

By donating you helping the planet and changing someone's life!