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Welcome to the January 2025 Edition of the
APS Board of Education Newsletter!
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Out and About: Board Members in Our Schools and Community | |
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APS Wraps Up 2024 Strong!
Our APS staff, teachers and of course our students gave it their all in 2024. Thank you to each of you for believing in us to serve you for another year and supporting our shared vision towards Destination APS. We have so much to reflect on and celebrate this past year and we look forward to continuing to build community engagement and representing our community.
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Counterclockwise from top middle: Magnet Schools Director Jessica Brown, Burrell Arts K-8 Principal Anne Ferris, Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr., Aurora Central Principal Kurtis Quig, Mr. Charles Burrell, and Board Director Vicki Reinhard with Aurora Central High School students and teachers attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Performing Arts wing at the Charles Burrell Visual and Performing Arts Campus | |
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Notes and Events from Vicki Reinhard
When we operate as all and not as separate cogs in the wheel, our successes and achievements grow. I have seen so much energy and excitement as I have visited a number of sites over the past couple of months that it’s become contagious! From preschool to high school to our support sites, APS is quite dynamic. Community engagement is high, we are all working as a team toward the growth and successes of our students, and opportunity is everywhere.
I have visited and/or attended events at Meadowood CDC (the cutest picture day ever!), Clyde Miller P-8, Charles Burrell, Montview Elementary, East Middle, Rangeview, Vista PEAK, Gateway and Hinkley High Schools, and Pickens Technical College. Transportation hosted an exciting and fun trick-or-treat event for its neighboring schools where I even got to help hand out treats to goblins, witches, superheroes and princesses!
Family engagement is strong in our district and is a welcome sight to see! Parent coffees, seasonal gatherings and performances bring us all together to share in our success and set our focus for what is before us.
Our community once again voiced its commitment to providing the best possible facilities, resources and opportunities to our students by voting to pass the Bond and Capital Mill Levy. Our gratitude is deep for this continued investment in the future of our students. Thank you, Aurora voters!
In December, Board members, along with members of the district Leadership Team, confirmed their commitment to our staff and students when they participated in the state CASB conference in Colorado Springs. We attended varying sessions on relevant topics in public education, sharing insights and conversation around observations, new learnings and updates taken from this time.
As a team of all, with a mutual commitment to further explore what is best for the students of APS, we are well on our way to achieving recognition as a Destination District! Thank you to all who put in the work every day to support our students’ very diverse needs!
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Trunk or Treat celebration at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus | |
Montview Elementary Winter Celebration with Board Director Vicki Reinhard (center right) and Community Liaison Susan Gershwin (center left) | |
Community partners help create excitement at Clyde Miller’s Trunk or Treat. | |
Board members hard at work during the CASB Conference Retreat Day | |
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Notes and Events from Dr. Debbie Gerkin
School Visits
It was great fun to visit Lansing Elementary, Aurora Quest K-8 and William Smith High School. Principals at each school had many things to celebrate! As always, the best part was getting into classrooms and seeing our teachers and students in action. Below you see students at Quest practicing their discourse skills in literacy; and in science, they were timing how long their paper structures could support a can of vegetables. I saw great student engagement!
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Aurora Quest K-8 students in literacy and science classes | |
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Rangeview Winter Concert
I had the pleasure of attending Rangeview High School’s Winter Concert on December 10. The concert included several different student groups, a combined choir number and the inaugural performance of their new faculty choir!
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Rangeview High School Faculty Choir | |
Just one of the new books for classroom libraries | |
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Rotary Club of Aurora Delivers Books
As a member of Rotary Club of Aurora, it was my pleasure to deliver books to third grade classrooms across the district. This Rotary Club bought and delivered books to every third-grade classroom in both APS and Cherry Creek. Students were delighted, and the teachers were just as excited!
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Notes and Events from Michael Carter | |
2024 was a year of both accomplishment and growth. We navigated complexities, pushed boundaries and together we embraced the challenges that came our way. We celebrated victories and learned from each other. I look forward to continuing this journey in 2025 with renewed purpose and enthusiasm. | |
From left: Board President Dr. Anne Keke, Board Vice President Michael Carter and Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr., participated in the Board of Education retreat at the 84th Annual CASB Conference. | |
Mid-Year Graduation Ceremony. Congratulations to all of our graduates! | |
Notes and Events from Tiffany Tasker | |
As I reflect on 2024, I feel honored to be serving you all and the most memorable moments have always been meeting our teachers, students and families. We refined our practices, learned new strategies and deepened our commitment to fostering a culture of diversity. Looking back, I am proud of the knowledge shared and the growth that occurred, and I look forward to continuing this journey in 2025. | |
From left: Board Director Vicki Reinhard, Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin, Board President Dr. Anne Keke, Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing and Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker attended the CASB Conference. | |
From left: Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker, Chief Financial Officer Brett Johnson and Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing attended the APS Bond celebration with community partners and education leaders. | |
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Notes and Events from Tramaine Duncan
“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge.” - Napoleon Hill
2024 was a year of challenging ourselves to think differently, foster engagement and listen actively. I look forward to continuing to lean in and hearing from all of you!
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Board Director Tramaine Duncan visits Clara Brown Entrepreneurial Academy. | |
Board Member and Superintendent Michael Giles, Jr. attend a retreat at the CASB Conference. | |
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Notes and Events from Danielle Tomwing
I cannot believe that we wrapped up 2024 already and my first year serving on the APS Board of Education! It was a year of growth and connection. Our APS teachers and students continue to be engaged and to shine. There were school visits, concerts, awards recognizing our teachers and students, sports events, cultural celebrations, parent coffee chats, graduations, hours analyzing data, learning from each other, and time for reflection. You all have so much to be proud of!
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From left: Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin, Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing and Board Director Vicki Reinhard attending the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Performing Arts wing at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus | |
Aurora Central High School students performing at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Performing Arts wing at the Charles Burrell Visual & Performing Arts Campus | |
Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing (top left), Vanguard Classical West Principal Keria McCafferty (top right) and Vanguard Classical West students celebrating at their annual Cultural Night | |
From left: Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing, Board Director Vicki Reinhard, Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin and Chief Financial Officer Brett Johnson attending PEBC Evening to Elevate Educators function | |
From left: Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing and Clara Brown Entrepreneurial Academy's teacher Candice Lewis, who was acknowledged during this year’s PEBC Evening to Elevate Educators function! Congratulations Ms. Lewis! | | |
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Aurora Central Parent Coffee
I attended a parent coffee chat at Aurora Central High School. The session engaged parents in topics such as school safety, including the impact of technology.
| Principal Kurtis Quig (left) welcoming parents at the Aurora Central High School parent coffee chat | |
From left: Deputy Superintendent Dr. Jesús Rodríguez, Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin and Instructional High School Director Dr. Shawn Graziani attending the Mid-Year Graduation Ceremony | |
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Aurora Public Schools Board of Education
Educational Services Center 1
15701 E. 1st. Ave., Suite 206
Aurora, CO 80011
boe.aurorak12.org
Aurora Public Schools Boardroom
APS Professional Learning & Conference Center
15771 E. 1st. Ave.
Aurora, CO 80011
Questions or comments? Email Board Assistant Claudia Paz-Blossick at cpaz@aurorak12.org or call 303-344-8060, extension 28988.
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