BACK TO SCHOOL EDITION
Week of August 21, 2026
Early Pick Up
If you need to pick up your child early from school, please make sure to pick up before 2:15 p.m.
We will ask you to wait until dismissal if you arrive after 2:15 p.m.
Please make every effort to make appointments after school or on breaks if you are able.
Building Our Culture. Our new Guiding Principles are officially underway! Students are continuing to earn Phoenix Tickets as they learn about RISE, our school wide framework for how we treat one another each day. We'll continue focusing on the R in RISE, Respect, through the end of this month, then shift our focus to Integrity next month.
Student/Parent Handbook. Please take a moment to review the updated Aurora Quest K-8 Student/Parent Handbook. It covers updates to our math placement process, discipline practices, and volunteer process.
Aurora Quest Swag. Gear is now available! Use this link or QR code and enter code GAMEON20 for 20% off, good until 8/24/26.
Check In on Parent Portal
Please do your check-in.
Need help? Don't hesitate to call Mrs. Alexis Garcia, Family Liaison for help with this. The best way to respond to reach out to her is replying to this email agarcia8@aurorak12.org
Community Eligibility Form
We have about 250 families who have not filled out the Community Eligibility Form. ðŸ˜
Need help? Contact: Alexis Garcia, Family Liaison 303-343-3664 ext. 23725 or agarcia8@aurorak12.org
Box Tops are Back!
Aurora Quest families, here's an easy way to earn cash for our school and win a $25 Walmart gift card! Box Tops for Education is a free program that turns everyday grocery purchases — like Cheerios, Pillsbury, and Betty Crocker products — into real money for Aurora Quest, just by scanning your receipt.
To celebrate, we're running a raffle now through August 31: sign up with our referral link, submit one qualifying purchase, and you're entered to win! Once you register, please send Savannah Thorpe an email to be entered in the raffle: auroraquestboxtops@gmail.com
Pumpkin is a certified therapy dog who works with Ms. Brynn at Aurora Quest! Therapy dogs are helper dogs who have special training. They can offer comfort to students and staff and support social and emotional needs. Pumpkin is a yellow Labrador Retriever. Her birthday is September 23rd. She is swee and playful and loves food and belly scratches! Ask Ms. Brynn if you have more questions about Pumpkin.
How to play with Pumpkin
- Please ask before petting Pumpkin. She might feel overwhelmed or confused if many people try to pet her at once.
- Pumpkin likes to be pet on her back, shoulders and on her belly. Her paws and tail are sensitive, so she does not prefer to be pet there.
- Pumpkin loves snacks and treats but she has a sensitive stomach, so please do not give her any food! If you want to bring something for Pumpkin, ask Ms. Brynn first!
- You can help Ms. Brynn with Pumpkin's training! If she hops or jumps, wait until all four feet are on the ground before petteing her.
National Junior Honor Society Selection Procedure
The National Junior Honor Society chapter of Aurora Quest is a duly chartered and affiliated chapter of this prestigious national organization. Membership is open to 8th grade students who meet the required standards in five areas of evaluation: scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship. Students are selected for membership by Aurora Quest faculty upon completion of an application for membership.
NJHS students meet during selected Tuesday mornings during Advisory (7:45-8:10). Outside of school commitments include the Middle School Fall Dance (October 23, 2:30-4:00 pm), Middle School Winter Dance (February 12, 2:30-4:00 pm), and the Elementary Spring Dance. (2:30-3:30 pm).
Students in 8th grade are eligible for membership. For the scholarship criterion, a student must have a cumulative middle school) GPA of 3.75 or better on a 4.0 scale. Students who meet this criterion are invited to complete a Candidate Application that provides information regarding the candidate’s leadership and service.
To evaluate a candidate, Quest faculty first reviews GPA and school disciplinary records. Second, faculty will review the applicant's previous leadership, service, character, and citizenship experiences along with essay questions which show how, if awarded membership, they would show these values in our chapter. Third, applicants will seek and submit 2 references from school faculty which will be reviewed as well.
Applications due September 3
Acceptance letters sent September 10
First NJHS meeting August 15, 7:45-8:10 am
NJHS Induction Ceremony September 17, 6:00 pm
Applicants can access the application here or from their Advisory Google Classroom.
For questions please contact Kim Opferman (kjopferman@aurorak12.org)
For information about National Junior Honor Society visit their website https://www.njhs.us/about/
Track and Field
We're excited for another great year of athletics! Sports and clubs are a fantastic way to meet new friends, build lifelong skills, and have fun.
A few quick announcements:
- Track began August 10th! There's still time to sign up, and we'd love to have you join us. Coaches will send out team communication once rosters are finalized.
- We're working hard to get schedules posted on the Aurora Quest Athletics website. In the meantime, the district athletics page has updated schedules for some sports, along with step-by-step instructions for registering your child through Infinite Campus.
- Per district policy, families pay for a maximum of 2 sports per student or 3 sports per family. You may pay online for each sport individually or choose "Pay in Person." Once your family reaches the maximum, simply select "Pay in Person," and we'll adjust the remaining balance on your account.
Thank you for your patience as we navigate this new registration process. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Athletic Director, Tawnya Trail. We're looking forward to an amazing year. Go Phoenix!
Travel to Costa Rica next Spring!
Experience the incredible culture, wildlife, and natural beauty of Costa Rica while taking part in exciting adventures like:
- Kayaking on Lake Arenal
- Whitewater rafting on the Sarapiquà River
- Ziplining through the rainforest
- Snorkeling in the Pacific Ocean
- Exploring rainforests, volcanoes, and local communities
- ...and so much more!
Families are invited to an informational meeting on September 9 about our middle school educational tour to Costa Rica! This meeting is intended for next year (2028) but 8th grade families are welcome because we still have spots open for our 2027 trip as well!
Educational travel helps students build confidence, independence, curiosity, and perspective. RSVP: https://rsvp.eftours.com/wzhvpyp
Group Leader: Tawnya Trail Tjtrail@aurorak12.org
Chess Club Coming soon!
Chess Wizards offers challenging chess lessons, fun group activities, exciting tournaments, and more! If your child is brand-new to chess, we'll teach them the basics and get them playing right away. If they're a seasoned checkmate artist, they'll learn new ways to show their creativity on the chess board.
Grades: K - 8th
Dates: Starts Sept. 14th and Ends Nov. 30th
Mondays
2:45-3:45 pm
Room 217
Register at: www.chesswizards.com
Call for more info: 1-866-949-4386
Cost: $230
Girls on the Run is coming to Quest!
Parents of 3rd, 4th, 5th grade girls! Girls on the Run creates a welcoming environment where girls feel like they belong. Girls will learn tangible tools to build confidence to do hard things, strengthen their resilience with stick-with-it strategies, take on challenges and believe in themselves, and much more! Over the 10-week program, coaches help girls learn to unlock their unlimited potential. Girls on the Run will start the week of September 8. We will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:40-4:10 pm in Ms. Brynn's room at Quest. Open to all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade girls. Registration opens August 3. For more information about the program go to www.girlsontherunrockies.org. Questions or want to coach? Ask Brynn Wiessner, bmwiessner@aurorak12.org
Girls on the Run Coaches needed!
GIRLS ON THE RUN COACHES NEEDED! Girls on the Run is coming to our school in the fall! We need volunteers to coach (no running experience required!). The Girls on the Run program empowers girls to be happy, healthy, and confident while training for a 5K. Teams consist of 2-3 coaches and 16 girls. Coaches will be trained and receive the appropriate curriculum. Please email me to find out more: Brynn Wiessner bmwiessner@aurorak12.org. Visit www.girlsontherunrockies.org/coach for more information.
After School Music Clubs for Elementary and Middle School
Join School Chorus! Tuesdays after school for grades 3-5. Come learn to sing with classmates and friends! Students will learn harmony, melody, and vocal technique while learning all different types of music. Students will sing pop music, choir music, theatrical music, and even music in different languages. School Chorus is free to attend. Register Here: Elementary School Chorus Registration
Join Band Club! Wednesdays after school for grades 6-8. Learn or continue to learn an instrument in the band! Students can learn flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, french horn, baritone, tuba, or percussion. We will practice individually and play songs as a group. Experienced students will have advanced small-group opportunities. We will play different styles of music including pop, jazz, latin, marching, and more. If you wish to rent an Aurora Quest instrument, there will be a $20 rental fee. Register here: Band Club Registration
Science Matters Coming Soon!
K - 5th Grade
Space is limited !
Tuesdays - 2:35 3:35
Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29
Cost: $99
Science Mash-Up: Get ready for a thrilling mix of science, creativity, and mind-blowing discoveries! Each week, we’ll dive into a new world of fun—stretch and squish buttery soft slime, explore the forces of physics (can we defy gravity?), discover the weird world of mysterious microbes, and design a mechanical oscilloscope to project mesmerizing light patterns with your voice. Whether you love to create, experiment, or just be amazed, there’s something exciting waiting for you every week!
We’re so grateful for our Quest families who are willing to lend a helping hand! Upcoming volunteer opportunities will be shared in this section of our family newsletter, with sign-up links listed below.
Thank you for supporting our school and helping make Quest a wonderful place for our students and families!
- Library Volunteer Sign Up: https://forms.gle/QRNygr8XiDdGJyWDA