Welcome Information

Dear Audubon Families,

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year!

To our returning families, welcome back. To those joining the Audubon community for the first time, we're so glad you're here. We are excited to begin another fantastic year of learning, growth, and partnership with all of you.

For those I haven't met, my name is Aaron Ford, and I am proud to be entering my 8th year as Principal of Audubon Elementary. It is truly an honor to serve this community and support our students as they grow academically, socially, emotionally, and as compassionate, confident young people.

Linked here is the 2026-2027 Family/School Partnership Handbook.

As we prepare for the start of school, there are a number of resources and reminders for you below.

• Principal - Aaron Ford
• Student Engagement and Agency Coordinator - Meagan Heacox
• Administrative Assistant - Irene O'Neal
• Staff Assistant - Cassie DeVinney
• Nurse - TBA
• Nurse Aide - Carrie McCulley

Teaching Staff:

• Preschool - Cassie Tapia (1/2 Day), Elene Velez (Full Day), Kim Wojtalewicz (Autism Program)
• K-2 Autism Program - Anna Bogdan and Gretta Walczak
• Kindergarten - Tish Thomas and Patricia Lucero
• 1st Grade - Regan Rutan and Alexandra Hamlin
• 2nd Grade - Melissa Graney and Michael Kanning
• 3rd Grade - Alison Speir and Heather Crowther
• 4th Grade - Nick Cartwright and Karina Hoeppner
• 5th Grade - Vanessa Garza and Sheryl Ortiz
• Essentials - Michele Starcher (Music/Choir), Alicia Pacheco (PE), Megan de Guzman (Art), Alan Combs (Band and Orchestra), Miguel Menendez (Spanish), Lacey Witt (Tech and Library)
• Instructional Staff - Marti Wilshusen (Building Embedded Coach), Delia Eberhart (Counselor), Jessica Jury and Tina McGee (Special Education), Jordan Frasier (Social Worker), Gladys Sanchez (Speech Pathologist) Stefanie Burgess (Interventionist), Melissa Phillips (Gifted), Aga Foster (Multi Lingual)

Education Support Staff

• Community Liaison - Christina Wagener
• Teacher and Classroom Assistants - Becky Gearhart, Allana Buhler, Beryl Mashing, Courtney Heiss, Katelinn Woodroof, Randi Roche, Mercury Cravens (Preschool), Courtney Sisneros and Alicia Ryan (Kindergarten), Alicia Montana, Ravyn Wagener, Madelyn Perkins, (Special Education), Karissa Harrell, DyAnn Smith, Alyssa McKinley (K-2 Autism), Maria Floyd (Multi-Lingual), Jennifer DeHerrera, Kim Lang, and Chelsea Robertson, (Kitchen), Janice Gostnell, Shirley Moffett, (Crossing Guards)
• Building Maintence - Teal Terry and Mark Campbell

Class lists will be posted at the school on August 7 prior to the Meet Your Teacher event. If you are connected to Power School, you will be able to see this prior to the event (around the 4th of August).

After you take care of things inside of the school please join us on the playground as we celebrate Audubon's 70th Birthday with a community BBQ with free hot dogs, chips, drinks and fun. Kona Ice will be available for purchase.

• Main Phone Line - 719-328-2600
• Attendance Line - 719-328-2613
• Address - 2400 E. Van Buren, Colorado Springs, CO 80909

School Day Info:

• 7:20 - Breakfast in cafeteria
• 7:40 - Students able to be dropped off (if not coming early for breakfast)
• 7:50 - School day starts
• 11:30/12:00 - Students lunch times
• 2:50 - Dismissal

Transportation:

• Some students are eligible to ride the bus depending on where they live
• D11 Transportation will be reaching out with specifics of pick-up/drop-off times and locations for the bus stops
• You can click here to see if your address qualifies you for district transportation (once on the site you can enter your address)
• If you have any questions about transportation please feel free to call our office or the district transportation office at 719-520-2940

Kindergarten

• August 11: Kindergarten Only - Full Day; 7:50 a.m. - 2:50 p.m.
• Students will have a readiness assessment completed to help determine class lists
• 7:50: Families encouraged to stay and complete a first day craft with their child.
• 8:20: BooHoo Breakfast in the gym with Q&A
• 2:30: Families can join us for ice cream at the end of the day to celebrate our first day and see class lists
• 2:50: End of School Day and families head home

1st - 5th Grade and our K-2 Autism Program

• August 12: First Day - Regular School Hours; 7:50 a.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Preschool

• August 17: First Day - Normal School Times
• Full Day Preschool: 7:50 - 2:50; Mon - Fri
• 1/2 Day Preschool: AM 7:45 - 10:20; Tue - Fri and PM 11:50 - 2:50; Mon - Fri

• Backpack
• Lunchbox (optional)
• Water bottle
• Headphones (wired)

All other supplies are provided by the district or by the school. If you need assistance with any of the above items, please let Mr. Ford or Mrs. Eberhart know and they will assist your family.

If your family would like to donate any extra supplies, especially kleenex, the office is always willing to accept them.

2026-2027 Supply List

We are proud to build a partnership with Leading Edge After School Enrichment.

• Available every school day until 6:00 p.m.
• Licensed for up to 50 students
• Approximately 15 spots remain
• Cost: $25 per student per week

If your family is interested, we encourage you to register soon before spots fill.

Click here for information from Leading Edge

One of our local real estate agents sponsors an event each summer to give away school supplies and have some fun in Audubon Park.

The event is on July 26 from 2:00 - 4:00.

Join District 11 and many local charities for the Annual Backpack Bash at Mitchell High School. We are expecting over 3500 families to join us for a free backpack with supplies, fun, and games. Stop by the Audubon table and say hi if you are there. Pre-registration is required for the event!

Linked here is more information and how to sign-up.

Ongoing Communication with Teachers/Staff

• Class Dojo will be a highly used app that streamlines communication between the school and families. You will receive a Class Dojo code from your child's teacher at the meet and greet or on the first day.
• Email through the District Mass Email system
• Social Media - Facebook and Instagram

Monthly Newsletter

• Delivered via email, Class Dojo and on Social Media

Social Media

• As events and news come
• Facebook - Click Here
• Instagram - Click Here

Beginning last school year, students are not be able to have our utilize their cell phones or smart watches during the school day. At the elementary level it is required that any cell phone be turned off and placed in the students backpack, along with any smart watch or earbuds. Students will be able to check their phone after school for any updated messages. This policy also applies to smart watches - students should not have them on, even in airplane mode, during the day.

If you need to get ahold of your child during the school day, please call our office. This is the most reliable way to ensure your student receives the message that they need.

You can find more information about the district Cell Phone Policy by clicking here.

Continuing in the 2026-2027 school year, there we will be free breakfast and lunch daily for all students. This is as a result to state legislation to ensure all students eat daily. Students will still have to use a card in the cafeteria to get lunch, but families will not have to put money on an account to get meals.

Click here to view the monthly meal calendars

Students that are in Kindergarten - 1st grade will receive an iPad and those students in 2nd-5th grade will receive a Google Chromebook. Students will be taught how to use the devices in school. If you have questions about the device you can contact Ms. Witt, our schools Library Technology Educator, at lacey.witt@d11.org or call at 719-328-2624.

The SAC is a group of parents, community and staff that meet quarterly to discuss things happening at the school including activities, budget, and testing just to name a few. The primary focus of this group is to serve as an accountability committee for the school and ensure that Audubon is moving in the appropriate direction to make sure students are getting what they need. Our first SAC meeting for 2026-2027 will be Thursday, September 10 at 8:00 in the school library. The SAC meetings will be held quarterly on Thursday mornings at 8:00 in our library. Doughnuts and Coffee are always part of these meetings.

The PTA in a dedicated group of adults and students connected with the school that plan and support a variety of school events. Our PTA supports with volunteer times at many school events and will be sponsoring and offering some of their own events this school year. The first PTA meeting this year will be on September 1, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. in the school library.

Email: aaron.ford@d11.org
Website: www.d11.org/audubon
Location: 2400 East Van Buren Street, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
Phone: 719-328-2600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AudubonElementary

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audubonblackhawksd11/