Aspen High School
Student and Family Weekly Update
November 5th
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Dear students and families,
Happy November, everyone! Daylight Savings always brings a bit of a tug-of-war for me — the brighter mornings are lovely, but the early darkness in the afternoons can feel a little heavy. Still, there’s something special about this time of year — the crisp air, the changing light, and the sense that ski season is just around the corner. Now, where is our snow?
As we look ahead to Thanksgiving, just two and a half weeks away, I want to remind everyone that we have school the entire week leading up to Thanksgiving break. Please make every effort to be here —teachers are counting on students' presence to ensure their success for final exams, which will occur the week of December 15th.
On the athletics front, Hockey kicks off this Monday, then Alpine, and the rest of our Winter sports begin the following week on November 17th. We’re still rolling with Volleyball, so come out and cheer on our Skiers in the playoffs this Saturday!
Let’s keep working hard, supporting one another, and finishing this stretch of the fall strong!
IB Spotlight
DP year 2 students in Spanish B visited other Spanish classes this week and presented on colors, flavors, and ways of being within different Hispanic Cultures. Jeisson’s students made presentations on the most representative festivals of several Latin American countries, as well as on a typical gastronomic recipe from each of those countries. Gavin Smith is shown below presenting on Chile. Jackson Kravitz is shown presenting on Uruguay. Maya Khan-Farooqi presented on the Incas.
Skier Spotlight: Athletics!
Senior Night on Friday was a great send off for Football, Dance, and Band!
Girls Cross Country finished 9th in the State this past weekend and Jack Diaz placed 20th in the State at Cross Country Championships! What a great finish for these kids!
Hockey starts on the next Monday (11/10) and Alpine starts on the 12th.
Boys/Girls Basketball, Nordic, and Girls Swimming start on the 17th.
*Students must have registered via the Athletic Home Page and uploaded page 4 of the Physical form to participate on the first day of practice.
The Girls Volleyball team has qualified for Regionals and will be hosting the Regional Volleyball Tournament for the first time in at least 15 years! The day is this Saturday with our first game starting at 1pm in the Big Gym. This is CHSAA playoffs so every adult and child has to pay the ticket price. I have it worked out with the State that our High School Kids and the opposing teams High School kids can get in free with their School ID. The girls would love to have as many people come support us as possible….let’s get this gym rocking!
Healthy Kids Colorado Survey
This November, students at Aspen High School, Aspen Middle School, and Aspen Community School will take part in the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey (HKCS)- a vital, statewide survey that helps us better understand and support the health and well-being of our youth.
The HKCS gathers anonymous information on topics such as mental health, school safety, physical activity, nutrition, and substance use. The data we receive is an essential tool for our schools and community. It helps guide programs that promote student wellness and provides valuable insight for securing additional funding for behavioral health and substance misuse prevention efforts here in our valley.
Students will complete the survey on Wednesday, November 12th, during class time. Participation is voluntary and anonymous, and students can skip any questions they don’t wish to answer. Attached you’ll find the HKCS Parent Letter and a Q&A Information Sheet with more details, including links to view the survey questions. To help parents learn more, we’ll be hosting a virtual information session on Wednesday, November 5th at 5:15 p.m. We encourage you to join us to hear more about the survey process, how results are used, and the positive impact this data has on shaping youth supports in our schools and community. Please use the following Zoom link to join the parent information session: https://aspenk12-net.zoom.us/j/9263247167?omn=89271437915
Thank you for your partnership in supporting the physical and behavioral health of our students and families. Together, we’re creating a healthier, more connected community for our kids to thrive.
If you would like to opt your student out please fill out the following Link
A Message from Hope Squad
What is Hope Week?
Hope Week is an exciting time in which our school's Hope Squad plans events and activities to help the entire student body understand the importance of connection and suicide prevention.
Why Hope Week?
Through Hope Week, our Hope Squad can spread important messages about suicide prevention, the power of connection, and mental health awareness to our wider school community.
When is Hope Week?
Hope Week begins on Monday, November 3rd, and ends on Friday, November 7th.
UPDATE: See Slideshow Below: New Course next Semester, Project Management with Virtual Internships!
Learn how to design and manage projects
7-8 week hands on Problem Solving Project /Virtual Internship with a business/organization- real world work experience!
Choose your project area & industry for your internship 11/13 during SET.
Internship Video (2 min)
Project Management Syllabus/ CTE Business Course
CLICK HERE to Register or talk to Josh or Kearstin! Limited space- act now!
Any questions: See Diane Godfrey, office #1-164 (across from the weight room) or email dgodfrey@aspenk12.net.
Plan Ahead for Final Exam Week
December 15-18th
December 19th is the only make-up day.
We will not allow any students to take exams early due to vacations; please plan accordingly.
It's Senior Photo Time!
Below you will find important information regarding the submission of your senior portraits for the 2025-2026 Aspen High School yearbook. The yearbook is a publication with strict deadlines; therefore, the correct and timely submission of your senior photo is essential. Our goal is to include every senior in the yearbook, so please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Please give your photographer the requirements listed below:
All portraits should be cropped to a square at 300 dpi and saved in JPEG format.
All portraits should be from the waist up. Full body shots will be cropped.
Portraits featuring any clothing, items, or subjects that violate school policy or dress code will not be accepted.
No props of any kind (ex, weapons)
Please submit just one photo.
No AI-generated content
The yearbook staff reserves the right to decline submissions in violation of the established guidelines and/or the Aspen High Media Editorial Policy. The Silver Queen Yearbook team has final approval on all photos selected to appear in the Yearbook.
No portraits will be accepted after Monday, December 1st. If a portrait is not submitted, we will use your school photo. Please contact us before the final date if you have any questions or concerns.
Quote Requirements
Quote must not exceed 30 words
No links
Must credit the original speaker and include quotation marks
If the quote is duplicated, the first submitter receives priority, and we will email the others to request a new one.
Email Submissions to aspenhighyearbook@gmail.com
Our deadline for all senior portraits is December 1st, 2025
Need more information?
Email:
Haylen GonzalezPita- hgonzalezpita@aspenk12.net
Sasha Clifford- sashac12102@aspenk12.net
Zoe Owen- zoeo13477@aspenk12.net
MYP Reminders for 10th GRADE
Upcoming Due Dates:
Products due to school: October 30th & 31st
Criterion B: Applying Skills November 17th & 18th
Criterion C: December 8th & 9th
Personal Project Showcase: January 28th
Post Secondary
SENIORS:
Upcoming Deadlines
November 15: Some Early Action (including CU Boulder) and Early Decision Deadlines
December 1: Cal State and University of California – We recommend you submit before Thanksgiving break!
Financial Aid
U of Montana Scholarship opportunity.
Students with a 3.0+ GPA who apply before December 1 are automatically considered for the Western Undergraduate Exchange tuition discount award.
This award is the largest offered at the University of Montana, effectively saving each WUE student over $21,000 in tuition per year.
FAFSA and CAFSA. We highly recommend everyone fill out the FAFSA 2026-2027 form at fafsa.gov to see if you qualify for Federal need-based aid. Plus some schools use FAFSA to help determine scholarships. CAFSA. CASFA is a financial aid application for Colorado residents who are ineligible for federal aid via the FAFSA. See your counselor to determine which form you should fill out.
Scholarships. Every college has a financial aid webpage. You should be checking your college websites for any scholarships you can apply to through your colleges.
College Portals. Make sure you have set up your portals for the schools you have applied to, and check them regularly! When decisions come out, please update SCOIR on your admissions decision.
JUNIORS:
First Junior Parent Evening Meeting was last night. If you missed it, the recording and presentation are on the Class of 2027 webpage.
PSAT NMSQT Results. Results should be out this week. We will discuss your PSAT results at your first Junior meeting with your Post Secondary counselor. Here is a video to help you understand the scores.
1-1 Junior Meetings. Juniors can start scheduling meetings with their Post Secondary Counselor (Karen works with families A-K and Mateo works with families L-Z) for after Thanksgiving. The best way to schedule is on the Class of 2027 webpage or via this link. Students should only schedule when they do not have a class. Parents are welcome to join, virtually or in person – but are not required.
Junior Intake Forms. Before we meet, juniors must fill out this Student IntakeForm, and a parent should fill out this Parent Intake form.
AHS Community Hike
Please join us for the upcoming November and December AHS Community hikes!
Special Offer for Families: See Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure!
Wednesday, November 19 at 6 PM
The Wheeler Opera House is thrilled to present Doktor Kaboom: Under Pressure!, a high-energy blend of science, comedy, and life lessons designed to entertain and empower. Perfect for students and families, this Kennedy Center–commissioned show explores the pressures we face—both physical and emotional—with humor and heart.
Aspen High families can enjoy a special discount using promo code FAMILY4 when purchasing tickets. Come laugh, learn, and be inspired!
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