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Welcome to the September 2024 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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Welcome Back, APS Students!
Aurora Public Schools kicked off our school year strong and we have just gotten started! There was no better way to start the school year than being surrounded by all of those smiling faces of our teachers, staff and of course our students who showed up at the APS Back to School Kickoff event at the Town Center at Aurora.
We are wishing you all an amazing school year!
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From left: Chief Operating Officer Mark Seglem, Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin, Board President Dr. Anne Keke, Board Director Vicki Reinhard and Board Vice President Michael Carter attending the APS Back to School Kickoff | |
From left: Board Director Vicki Reinhard, Board Director Tramaine Duncan, Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker and Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing attending the APS Back to School event | |
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Notes and Events from Vicki Reinhard
This year is already crazy busy, but I am honored to be serving our APS teachers, staff and of course our students! It was great seeing so many familiar faces at the APS Back to School Kickoff, and I look forward to seeing you all at our upcoming APS events.
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APS Stadium Grand Reopening | |
I had a lovely day at the APS Stadium Grand Reopening. We could not have asked for a more perfect day to celebrate the reopening of the APS Stadium. The students came out ready to give it their all and have some fun. | |
From left: Board Director Vicki Reinhard, Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin, Board Vice President Michael Carter, Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing and Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker | |
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Notes and Events from Dr. Debbie Gerkin
APS Back to School Kickoff
Every year this event just keeps getting better! It is always wonderful to reconnect with our teachers and students at our annual APS Back to School Kickoff event, and this year did not disappoint.
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From left: Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin, the Jewell Jaguar Mascot and Board Vice President Michael Carter | |
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Tollgate Elementary Visit
On August 12, I had the great pleasure to visit Tollgate Elementary School! I met some staff, visited classrooms and talked with Principal Shanna Martin about the exciting things that are happening there as students and staff learn together what it means to be crew, not passengers.
Go Timberwolves!
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Tollgate mural reminds students of crew actions. | |
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Harmony Ridge P-8 Visit
On August 16, I had a great visit at Harmony Ridge P-8! I saw lots of great instruction and lots of student engagement. And the best part? A second grader asked me if I wanted a hug. You bet I did! Thanks to Principal Dr. Erik Cohen for being a great host!
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Community-created murals outside Crawford’s Media Center | |
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Crawford Elementary Visit
It’s been 15 years since I retired as the principal of Crawford Elementary School. What a fun visit I had there on August 29, receiving hugs from teachers I hired long ago; hearing about the success of their community school model; and taking in their beautiful, community-created murals. Thanks to Principal Aubri Dunkin and Assistant Principal Jennifer Biviano for hosting such a great morning!
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APS Bond Campaign Kickoff
I spent the afternoon at the APS Bond Campaign Kickoff. It is so important for us to continue to invest in our schools, students and teachers. These measures allow us to do so. Say “Yes” to measures 5A and 5B!
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Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin attending the APS Bond Campaign Kickoff | |
Notes and Events from Michael Carter | |
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APS Back to School Kickoff
Welcome back, APS! It is only the beginning of the school year and the excitement is contagious. I got to kick off the school year with you all at the APS Back to School Kickoff event at the Town Center at Aurora. I am wishing you all an amazing school year!
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From left: Board Vice President Michael Carter and Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin attending the Back to School Kickoff | |
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APS Bond Campaign Kickoff
I had the privilege to attend the APS Bond Campaign Kickoff with my other APS Board Directors, which was hosted at North Middle School. The APS Leadership team did a great job pulling this bond together to invest in our school community.
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Board members and others attending the APS Bond Campaign Kickoff | |
From left: Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin, Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing, Board President Dr. Anne Keke and Board Vice President Michael Carter | | |
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Aurora Meet and Eat
The 4th Annual APS Meet and Eat did not disappoint! Director Danielle Tomwing and I attended this event and it was definitely the most delicious. There were dozens of vendors and it was hard to try them all, but I was up to the challenge. I highly recommend the fried chicken!
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From left: Board Vice President Michael Carter and APS Nutrition Services Director Shannon Solomon enjoying the variety of dishes at the Aurora Meet and Eat | |
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Notes and Events from Dr. Anne Keke
APS Back to School Kickoff
I attended this year’s APS Back to School Kickoff event at the Town Center at Aurora, and it was just as rewarding as it always is. This is the reason why we do what we do. So many smiling faces not only from our staff and teachers but also from our APS students! The air was buzzing with renewed energy and excitement.
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Board Vice President Michael Carter (left) and Board President Dr. Anne Keke (right) with Dr. Keke’s daughter | |
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APS Stadium Grand Reopening
On August 17, we celebrated the grand reopening of the APS Stadium. It was such a pleasure to be there and see our students and staff kicking off the sports season in the newly renovated stadium.
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Board President Dr. Anne Keke (right) with a representative from Kelly Education Services at the APS Stadium Grand Reopening | |
Board President Dr. Anne Keke (left) visits the AEA table at the APS Grand Reopening, with AES President Linnea Reed-Ellis (second from right) and AEA teachers. | |
Board President Dr. Anne Keke attending the APS Stadium Grand Reopening | | |
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APS Bond Campaign Kickoff
I attended the APS Bond Campaign Kickoff at North Middle School together with our APS Leadership team and Board Directors. We stand in unity to support measures 5A and 5B, which means investing in all of our schools in APS.
| Board President Dr. Anne Keke attending the APS Bond Campaign Kickoff at North Middle School | |
Notes and Events from Tiffany Tasker | |
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APS Back to School Kickoff
Well, this was a pleasant surprise! Current Aurora Central High School Assistant Principal Ms. Angelique Green was my English elementary school teacher. It was lovely catching up with her and so many others at the APS Back to School Kickoff event this year.
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From left: Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker and Aurora Central High School Assistant Principal Angelique Green | |
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APS Stadium Grand Reopening
I was all smiles attending the grand reopening of the APS Stadium. It felt like I was here just yesterday as a proud APS student.
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From left: Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing, Board Director Dr. Debbie Gerkin, Board President Dr. Anne Keke and Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker | |
View of the newly renovated APS Stadium | |
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Notes and Events from Tramaine Duncan
APS Back to School Kickoff
The APS Board of Education table at the APS Back to School Kickoff at the Town Center at Aurora was busy with the excitement of our APS students returning to school. I spent the day handing out school supplies with Board Director Vicki Reinhard.
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Board Directors Tramaine Duncan (borrom left) and Vicki Reinhard (top left) attending the APS Back to School Kickoff | |
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Notes and Events from Danielle Tomwing
The beginning of the school year created an incredible energy that I am hoping to carry with us throughout the rest of the school year. It has been a busy few weeks from the APS Back to School Kickoff to the Aurora Meet and Eat. I love meeting you all and reconnecting with our teachers and students!
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APS Back to School Kickoff
It is always a pleasure to see these familiar faces! Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker and I had to stop and say hello to the Aurora Central High School leadership team.
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Principal Kurtis Quig (left) and his leadership team with Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker (second from left) and Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing (third from right) | |
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APS Bond Campaign Kickoff
The $1 billion bond and $30 million levy benefits all of our APS schools, which includes investing in infrastructure, safety, innovation and our teachers. We support measures 5A and 5B.
| Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing attending the game between Vista PEAK and East H.S. at the APS Stadium while handing out bond campaign flyers | |
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APS Stadium Grand Reopening | From left: Board Treasurer Tiffany Tasker, Gateway High School Principal Dr. Scott Fiske, Board President Dr. Anne Keke and Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing attending the APS Stadium Grand Reopening | |
I attended the launch of ImpactAPS, an online hub that connects our community partners with us, our schools and our students. This was a huge initiative for our district, which not only involved our leadership team but also included student involvement. It is very exciting to see this being executed and the excitement it has generated among our community partners. | |
From left: Employment Engagement Coordinator Junho Doo, College & Career Success Director Dave West, Chief of School Leadership & Support Craig Lyle, Executive Director of Culture, Equity & Engagement Jaelyn Coates, Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing and Community Engagement Coordinator Amanda Young attending the ImpactAPS event | |
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Aurora Meet and Eat
With dozens of delicious food to taste from, no wonder our students and their families filled the building to taste them all… and I was one of them!
| (At right) Denver Broncos mascot Miles welcomes students at the Aurora Meet and Eat | |
(At left) Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing attending the 4th Annual Aurora Meet and Eat | |
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Hinkley High School Tour
A shout out to these Hinkley High School students who led us on a tour of the biomedical and engineering labs at their school. They walked us through innovative projects they are engaged in and shared what it is like competing across the state with other students. They displayed true dedication and passion for their craft.
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APS Foundation Executive Director Jill Ruiter (left) and Board Secretary Danielle Tomwing (second from right) with APS Foundation board members and Hinkley High School students | |
Hinkley High School students presenting with APS Foundation board members | |
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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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