Aspen High School
Student and Family Weekly Update
October 15th
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Dear students and families,
Homecoming was a tremendous success! A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Boosters for making the entire week so memorable and special.
As you enjoy the first day of Fall Break, I hope everyone is taking time to relax and recharge. Teachers are looking forward to connecting with students and families during our virtual conferences tomorrow and Friday.
College season is in full swing for our seniors. Colorado Free Application Days saw a flurry of applications submitted—well done to all who took advantage of the opportunity! The first major college deadline, November 1st, is quickly approaching, and we’re here to support students every step of the way.
It’s hard to believe we’re already at the mid-term mark. With snow beginning to blanket the peaks, the ski swap just around the corner, and fall sports wrapping up in the coming weeks, the changing season is truly upon us. Wishing everyone a restful and productive break!
IB Spotlight
Skier Spotlight
Congratulations to Jackson Kravitz for receiving a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program for his outstanding performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. Well done, Jackson!
Midterm Reports
Parent Teacher Conferences & Fall Break- REMINDER
No school for students at AHS Wednesday-Friday, October 15-17th
Conferences are October 16th 10am-6pm & October 17th 8am-4pm
Students MUST attend with Parents; they should participate in conversations about their learning & progress.
All AHS conferences are Virtual and 10 minutes each.
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
For Juniors:
PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday, October 22
All Junior students were automatically registered to take the PSAT NMSQT on Wednesday October 22 at school (unless you used the opt-out form to opt your student out of taking the test). If your student is opted out, they should not come to school until 6th period that day.
Students will be taking the digital test on their school-managed Chromebooks. Students should make sure they can open Bluebook on their Chromebook. To open Bluebook, DO NOT sign into your computer. Click on the Apps button in bottom left, and then click on Bluebook.
Note: The PSAT NMSQT is a practice test for the SAT. It is also the National Merit Qualifying test, which can offer scholarships based on test scores (and is very competitive).
Test Day: Wednesday, October 22
Student Arrival: Students need to arrive at school promptly for an 8:00am check-in outside the Skier Dome. Students will then be assigned to their Testing Rooms.
Timing/Student schedule: The test will run approximately 2.5 hours. Students without accommodations can expect to be done by 11:30am and should go to lunch and then 6th period after the test. Students testing with accommodations can be expected to be done around 12:30, and should eat and then go to 7th period after the test.
A few things you need to bring on test day:
Your fully charged school-issued Chromebook. You must use your school computer AND NOT a personal computer. Your device should be able to hold a charge for 3–4 hours
A power cord. We cannot guarantee that all students will have access to an outlet during testing.
A pencil or pen.
Scratch paper will be provided—do not bring your own.
An approved calculator. There’s a graphing calculator built into the app, but students can bring their own if they like.
An external mouse if you use one.
An external keyboard if you use one (external keyboards are only allowed with tablets—not laptops.)
We recommend all students bring a snack and water in a clear water bottle. Students testing with accommodations might want to bring a larger snack for lunch.
Students cannot access the following during the test:
Phones smartwatches, fitness trackers, or other wearable technology (simple digital non-smartwatches or analog watches are acceptable)
Audio players, Bluetooth devices (like wireless earbuds/headphones), or any other electronic devices (except your testing device)
For any general testing questions, please contact the Post-Secondary office at postsecondarycounseling@aspenk12.net.
For questions related to your student’s accommodations, please contact Wendy Ferrara at wferrara@aspenk12.net.
For Seniors:
*TAKE YOUR TIME AND MANAGING APPLICATIONS AROUND SCHOOL BREAKS! Do not rush to submit your application. It's much better to make sure you have filled everything out properly, and your essay(s) are ready to go, versus submitting an application with errors. That said, if you have a December 1 deadline, best to try and submit the week of November 19 (before Thanksgiving) so you are not submitting on your own over Thanksgiving break. Same thing for early January deadlines. Do you really want to work on your college apps over winter break?!
* UPDATE SCOIR! When you hear back from your colleges, make sure to update SCOIR if you have an admittance, denial or waitlist. We celebrate your acceptances with you, and want to remind you that denials are also part of the process, and not to be too deflated if you get some denials. Please also be considerate of your classmates when discussing your college list/admissions decisions as some of your Foundation Schools may be Reach schools and top choices for your friends and classmates.
LAST CALL! Aspen Institute: 2025-26 Student Seminars-Registration Open!
Hurst High School Great Ideas Seminar
The Odyssey of the Human Spirit: The Promise of Governance
October 20-23, 2025
The Aspen Institute offers its Hurst Student Seminar: High School Great Ideas to students in the 10th and 11th grade valley-wide each year. This seminar, now in its 23rd year, is modeled after the Aspen Institute Executive Seminar which has been convening leaders from around the world for over 70 years. The four-day seminar is part of a broader tradition of engaging youth in meaningful conversations about the Good Society. Students are challenged to explore questions on human nature, how we live together, and what responsibilities we have towards ourselves and others. Our proven method of text-based dialogue offers participants a neutral forum in which to reflect on timeless human values, pursue common ground, and cultivate a richer understanding of the human condition. Participants emerge from the seminar with a new perspective as they confront the difficult choices of our ever-changing world.
Schedule: 2:00-6:00 p.m., Monday, October 20-Thursday, October 23
Fee: $175, includes all sessions, readings and light refreshments. Scholarships are available.
Register here.
November 7-9, 2025 | Rifle Branch Library
The Aspen Institute offers its Teen Socrates Seminar each year to teens between the ages of 15-17 from the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys, and beyond. Students convene to take part in this transformational experience and come away with a new perspective on their lives, their futures, and society. The three-day seminar is dedicated to enhancing leadership, problem solving, and critical thinking skills for high school students in a setting conducive to thought and fellowship. Students are challenged to think more critically and deeply about their values and ideas, and those that make the good society. Our proven method of text-based dialogue offers participants a neutral forum in which to reflect on timeless human values, pursue common ground, and cultivate a richer understanding of the human condition. Participants emerge from the seminar with a new perspective as they confront the difficult choices of our ever-changing world.
Each seminar convenes a dynamic group of students for lively, intensive roundtable discussions led by expert moderator Allyson Breyfogle. Classic and contemporary texts reflecting the breadth of human civilization form the starting points of a rich conversation in which the questions posed by the group are frequently as illuminating as the varied, timeless wisdom of the texts.
Schedule
2:30-6:00 p.m., Friday, November 7
2:30-6:00 p.m., Saturday, November 8
1:00-4:00 p.m., Sunday, November 9
Fee: $25, includes all sessions, readings and light refreshments. Scholarships are available.
Register here.
Program Manager, Aspen Community Programs
1000 North Third Street | Aspen, CO 81611
970/544-7992 office | 864/979-7281 mobile
Special Offer for Families: See Humans 2.0 at the Wheeler!
On Wednesday, October 22 at 6:30 PM, experience the jaw-dropping acrobatics of Humans 2.0 by Circa—an internationally acclaimed contemporary circus that blends movement, light, and sound into a powerful story of resilience and transformation.
Families can enjoy 4 tickets for just $80 (that's over 50% savings!) using promo code FAMILY4.
Tickets are available online at https://aspenshowtix.com, by phone at 970.920.5770, or in person at the box office (320 E. Hyman Ave., Aspen | Tues–Sat, 12–5 PM). You must sign in or create an account to use the promotion code.
Booster Club
Booster Club Volunteer Opportunities for the AHS Parent Community:
Join the AHS Booster Club in Raising Skier Spirit, Pride and Funds to support our Beloved Student Athletes. Help us to make our home games a success by donating a little of your time and/or TACO MEAT!
Football Games Concession and Merch Sign ups to Volunteer:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BA8AC2EA6FA7-58181552-ahsbooster
Volleyball Games Concession sign ups to Volunteer
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0D4BA8AC2EA6FA7-58287357-volleyball
Ready to join?
Become a Business/Corporate Sponsor
Questions? Email us at aspenbooster@gmail.com
Go Skiers!
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