AES Community Connection 10/12/26
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Our mission is to...
Empower an innovative, mindful community of learners in a challenging and nurturing environment that promotes inquiry and academic excellence!
and
The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
Dear Aspen Elementary Community,
As we look forward to our upcoming 3-Way Conferences this week, we want to share our appreciation for the deep intentionality, energy, and care that students, families, and teachers will bring to these conversations. Bringing students into the center of their own learning discussions is a powerful experience which fosters self-reflection, builds agency, and helps students take true ownership of their educational journey.
When students articulate their progress, celebrate their growth, and set meaningful goals alongside their families and educators, it strengthens the connection between home and school in a truly transformative way. Thank you to everyone for making these upcoming conferences so meaningful!
As we approach Fall Break, we wish all of our students, staff, and families a restful, happy, and healthy time together. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready to continue learning!
This Week's Schedule
Here is the schedule for the upcoming week:
Monday: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday: Staff Work Day (No Classes)
A special thank you to the PTO for generously providing lunch for our staff during Wednesday's work day!
We've added a section to the newsletter which provides information and links to curriculum resources for families. Please check out these helpful links!
Warmly,
Ashley Bodkins, Principal
Dana Alderman, Assistant Principal
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
- Monday, Oct 12 & Tuesday, Oct 13 - IN-PERSON Parent, Student, Teacher (3-Way) Conferences (No regular school day for students)
- Wednesday, Oct 14-16 - Fall Break- NO SCHOOL for students
- Monday, Oct 12- Friday, October 30 - Food Drive with Lift Up
- Week of Oct 19th - Swim Week - bring swimsuit and towel for swimming lessons during Physical Education classes at the ARC.
- Week of Oct 19 - Transcend Leaps Surveys for 3rd and 4th graders. See below.
- Monday, October 19th - Pumpkin Carving Contest begins- send pics of your carved pumpkin to Virginia. Photos due October 28th 10:00pm. More info below!
- Oct 22- Nov 2- Dia De Los Muertos, more info below!
- Thursday, Oct 29 - Picture Retakes & 4th Grade
- Friday, Oct 30 - AES Halloween Parade and School Wide Treats, 2:15-3:00pm - ASD Turf/Track and AES Field, Trunk or Treat with Aspen Police and Fire.
Swim Weeks... October 19-23 ~ November 9-13 ~ December 7-11 ~ January 11-15 ~ February 8-12 ~ March 8-12 ~ April 12-16
Aspen School District Calendar - 2026-27 (Updated and approved as of 5.13.26)
Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest Is On!
Students and families work together to carve or decorate your Halloween pumpkin.
Once you’ve finished, snap a photo of your masterpiece and email it to vleffler@aspenk12.net; include your child(s) name, grade and teacher
Categories
Best traditional
Most original design
Silliest Face
Scariest
Photos must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct 27th at 10:00pm
Students will vote on Wednesday and the winners will be announced Friday! Winning photos will be included in the Community Connections newsletter. All pictures will be on display in the lobby.
High Mountain Harmony
High Mountain Harmony, our AES choir, is back!! Choir is available for any student in 3rd and 4th grade. Choir rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays, beginning October 27, from 12:15-12:55 during recess.
We will have two concerts this year, on December 15 and on March 16. We will perform during the day for the school and in the evening for families at 5:30 in the District Theatre. If your 3rd or 4th grader is interested in joining choir, you can sign them up at this website: https://bit.ly/3tyKD5E. Students must be registered before our first rehearsal on October 27 in order to participate. For more details about choir, including scholarship information, please click here. Please contact Marnie White at mwhite@aspenk12.net or x3023 with any questions.
Order Your Class Photos!
Place your order using your school's online access code:
C288
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Customer Service: 1-970-241-2467
Single Subjects Spotlight- Library
What's happening in the Library!
As October begins, all grade levels reflect on the Learner Profile Attribute of the Month. This month we are looking at characters in books that demonstrate being Inquirers!
This is a month full of celebrations and recognitions for many organizations. October 19-23 is Digital Citizenship week. I will be sending information home with students for families provided by Common Sense Media. Grades 3 and 4 continue to learn about being good Digital Citizens through the Common Sense Media curriculum.
We continue to recognize HIspanic Heritage month which runs through the middle of this month.
After fall break second grade will begin discussing "I Wonder" questions.
First grade students are getting ready for research and looking for books on their topics while refreshing their knowledge of the library's policies and procedures.
Kinder students are practicing checking books in and out and using their shelf markers.
I hope everyone has enjoyed sharing the joy of your student's library books! All grade levels and classes have had at least a couple weeks of check out! Such Fun!
Keep Reading!
Lisa May Howard
Struggling with Reading at Home?
Check out this article from Scholastic, "5 Tips to get your Child Reading at Home."
- Create a reading space at home
- Set a schedule - "Relaxing Family Time"
- Use a calendar or monthly reading tracker
- Talk about it - discuss the books your child is reading with them
- Let your child choose - level matters less than interest (easy books build fluency, read harder books to your child)
PYP Coordinator's Corner - Jen Liddington
Learning in Action: A Peek Inside Our Classrooms!
There is amazing learning happening all over our building! Here is a quick snapshot of what our students have been up to:
- Kindergarten (Who We Are): Exploring Community by practicing what a strong school community looks, feels, and sounds like. They are also studying the five senses, which included a collaborative outdoor nature walk with Jared (PSPE).
- Grade 1 (Who We Are): Wrapping up a unit on inclusion and literacy by exploring how children around the world access books. To enhance this, Lisa May, Marnie, and ACES teachers taught storytelling and library skills, while Emily (Spanish) helped students write Spanish books for their classrooms.
- Grade 2 (How We Organize Ourselves): Studying Fall and seasonal change through reading, writing, and an ODE trip to Maroon Bells. They also collaborated with Hallie to create beautiful murals based on their literacy unit, now on display near their core.
- Grade 3 (Sharing the Planet): Diving into ocean exploration across science, math, and literacy. Students compared themselves to giant squids, researched ocean life, learned how oceanographers map with sound, and worked with Ms. Marnie and Ms. Hallie on arts integration, including an exclusive whale song film and a "Great Wave" mural.
- Grade 4 (How We Organize Ourselves): Concluding a unit on government by traveling to Denver to present research inside the State Capitol. They are also connecting year-long science and literacy through an upcoming elk heart dissection with Jared to study a "Great Heart."
See You Soon!
We cannot wait to share all of this learning with you during Student-Teacher-Parent Conferences on October 12th and 13th!
Digital Wellness at AES
Tune in weekly for Digital Wellness Family Guide tips and suggestions!
This week your family will receive a Tin Can phone! Help your child learn some landline phone etiquette and role play with them!
When you call a friend, say, “Hi! May I please speak to _______? This is _______.”
Decide as a family how you’d like the phone to be answered when someone calls.
Phone conversation topic ideas:
What are your weekend plans?
Want to hear a joke?
What is your favorite sports team?
Would you rather game
We know many families are thinking carefully about when to introduce personal devices. We encourage you to consider joining the Wait Until 8th pledge, which supports delaying smartphones and social media access until at least 8th grade. This helps students build strong social skills, independence, and healthy habits before navigating the digital world more fully.
Reach out to dwc.roaringfork@gmail.com if you’re interested in getting involved or learning more about the Digital Wellness Coalition (DWC).
Pitkin County Cares Recognition
AES Parent Mary Bloom received the Pitkin County Cares Education Award for her work as the chair of the Digital Wellness Coalition. It was wonderful to see her recognized for her outstanding volunteerism in Pitkin County! Mary saw a need, brought people together, and is helping create a healthier environment in which our kids can learn, grow, connect, and thrive. Thank you Mary, for all you do for AES and this community!
We Want to Keep Hearing from Our Students!
As we continue imagining the future of learning in Aspen, one of the most important voices in the conversation is our students’.
Last spring, Aspen students participated in the Leaps Student Voice Survey, a research-based survey designed to help us better understand how young people experience school and learning. This fall, students will take the survey again, giving us another opportunity to listen and to understand how their experiences may be changing over time. At AES the survey will be administered only to students in 3rd and 4th grades the week of October 19th.
The survey asks students to reflect on things like whether their learning feels meaningful and relevant, whether they feel connected to their school community, whether they are challenged and supported, and whether they have opportunities to make choices and take ownership of their learning.
The goal isn’t to evaluate individual students. It’s to help us better understand the learning experiences we are creating for students: what is working well today, where there may be opportunities to grow, and what we can learn by listening to students over time.
What we learn will provide another important source of student voice as our community continues exploring what we want learning in Aspen to look and feel like for every student.
Thank you Aspen Education Foundation!
- AEF Supported Programs & Initiatives
- AES Innovation Lab
- AES School Counselor Support
- ODE Coordinator & Ex Ed Scholarships
- Free & Reduced Breakfast Program
- After-School Robotics Club
- Anderson Ranch Creative Programming
- The International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
- Aspen Family Connections Alliance
- Mr G! Classroom Support
Fundraising with Minted Stationary & Gifts!
Help raise money for AES and get a discount for yourself doing something you may be doing anyway! If you shop at Minted, use code FUNDRAISEASPENES when you check out to get 20% off your order AND have 10% of the purchase donated to AES with no effort on your part! You can shop for Holiday Stationary and gifts all season. Some exclusions apply.
Backcountry Symposium at TACAW
Join Aspen Public Radio and TACAW for a new kid-focused event at the third-annual Backcountry Symposium: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. at The Arts Campus at Willits. Jill Sheeley reads from her latest book in the "Adventures of Fraser the Yellow Dog" series, “Rescue at Aspen Highlands," joined by Ute Mountaineer founder Bob Wade with reminders for how to stay safe in the woods. This event is aimed at elementary and middle school-aged children, but all ages are welcome to attend. More information at aspenpublicradio.org.
Click HERE for the flyer with more information.
Science, History, and Geography Bees in Aspen! 11.14.26
Mark your calendars! On November 14th, Aspen School District will be hosting the IAC Regional Academic Bees (History, Geography, and Science) for 2nd-8th graders. Any interested students will get a chance to take qualifying exams during the school day. If they earn a qualifying score, they will be invited to attend the in-person buzzer competition. If you'd like to get an idea of what the content may be like, you can access some study guides here. Parents, we need some volunteers to help the day run smoothly. Please sign up to help for a half day, full day, or concession sales shift here!
Please click HERE for the flyer to register & learn more.
Earth Scouts: Unplugged! 10/14-10/16
Earth Scouts: Unplugged! Looking for engaging full-day plans when school is out? Join Earth Scouts during October break (14th, 15, and 16th) and other upcoming no-school days for outdoor adventure from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM! Kids will spend the day outdoors exploring nature, meeting farm animals, creating seasonal crafts, and discovering the lands around us. Please click HERE for the link.
Spaces fill quickly! Register today at farmco.org or contact liz@farmco.org with any questions.
October Arts & Culture Opportunities at the Wheeler
Celebrate culture, creativity, and community this October at the Wheeler Opera House. Join us for Mexican folklórico dance workshops inspired by Sugar Skull!, experience National Geographic photographer and filmmaker Kiliii Yuyan as part of the Changemaker Speaker Series, and enjoy family-friendly theater with Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure.
Students and educators can purchase $5 tickets to select performances with promo code OCTOBER5!
Learn More & Register:
- Sugar Skull Dance Workshops: https://wheeleroperahouse.com/explore-mexican-dance-traditions-with-sugar-skull/
- Sugar Skull! A Día de Muertos Musical Adventure (use promo code): https://wheeleroperahouse.com/event/sugar-skull-a-dia-de-muertos-musical-adventure/
- Kiliii Yuyan | Changemaker Speaker Series (use promo code): https://wheeleroperahouse.com/event/kiliii-yuyan-indigenous-wisdom-for-a-modern-world/
Parent Workshops
Executive Function and Zones of Regulation: learn about the developing brain and the Zones of Regulation to support your child's nervous system and executive functions.
Wednesday, October 23, 12:00 Virtual
Connecting with your child through play.
Friday, October 23, 12:00 Virtual
Click HERE for the flyer and information to RSVP.
Safety and Security at AES
Keeping students safe is our number one priority at ASD. Therefore, during the school day you will find all AES doors locked. However, please know you are WELCOME to visit and volunteer at AES.
- Visiting - Please remember your ID (driver's license) if you are visiting the building for any reason. Virginia and Carrie will meet you in the office with a smile and issue you a sticker/ visitor badge that must be worn while in the building.
- Volunteering - We love including "fingerprinted" parent volunteers in the classroom or on field trips. If this interests you, be proactive and get ASD Fingerprinting for Volunteers Procedure completed ASAP. Fingerprinting is done in the District Offices. (the little blue building up by the High School)
Below are the protocols we follow in an emergency. Families will be notified in the event of an emergency. Please do not come to or call the school.
Who are we? We are IB!
Aspen Elementary School is an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
The MTSS Minute
At Aspen Elementary School, we use a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to ensure that every student receives the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support they need to succeed. MTSS is a proactive, team-based framework.
Please click HERE to learn more.
A note from the Nurses...
- 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.
- Friendly reminder: Per school policy, all medications including prescription, over-the-counter, creams, and cough drops require a physician’s order signed by a parent or guardian before administration. Medications must be delivered directly to the health office by a parent or guardian. Students may not transport or self-carry medications. When in doubt, please contact the health office for clarification.
Thank you for caring about the health of your students and our school community.
Healthy Choices for Celebrations
Alternatives include: stickers, pencils, extra recess, dance party, cards, star student etc.