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I've always loved the pithy witticisms of Mark Twain. One of my favorite quotes goes, "When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years." It gives a good description of the mindset of many of our middle school kids.
I love listening in on conversations between our students here at school - mostly I get to eavesdrop on them during lunches and recess. They love to debate with one another. Sometimes it is something about their immediate classroom and school context, sometimes the merits of something viewed on TikTok, and sometimes it is about current events in the world. What is refreshingly different with the way our young adolescents debate and argue is that they have an ability to hold strong opinions and ideas without it so easily tipping over into personal attacks and spiraling hostilities. I suspect it is because they are aware that they are tentatively holding on to their own position while they grapple to grasp the other's. Maybe it is just they don't feel the same sense of 'win at all costs' that adults tend to when taking a stance. Ironically, as we mature into adulthood we lose some of this pliability in our thinking. We can become more rigid.
As people, we seem to be hardwired to pursue and reconnect to what is good, noble, and beautiful. Or, in the lyrics of Joni Mitchell, humans are compelled to try to "get ourselves back to the garden." And quite appropriately, we become quite resentful when we see things in the world that we perceive as incongruent with our vision for how we get there. Deep down we all want the same thing - to create and live in a world that is good and beautiful and whole.
I do believe that underneath all of the anger, yelling, and vitriol that permeates our world right now are actually profoundly shared values? Common ground that gets so plowed up with scorched-earth rhetoric we forget to notice we are tending the same garden. We have very different ideas of how best to bring this about, and it should result in robust debate, but we should not lose sight of the shared vision that undergirds it. Every parent I talk to believes deeply in doing right by their kids. We will disagree on how best to raise them and prepare them for life, but that does not diminish the truth that parents love their kids more than life itself. We all want clean water and fresh air - how is it that this basic desire gets so lost and convoluted in our political discourse and posturing?
We don't have to agree on politicians, policies, or positions. In fact, we shouldn't and we won't. But, we can teach our children to listen deeply to the other, to invite him or her to share more about the world they see, and then to notice and name the shared value. Discussion, debate, and discourse can take a decidedly more positive and productive trajectory. It's not about abandoning one's beliefs and acquiescing, it is about honoring the shared humanity between us that ultimately wants the same things. Becoming a sturdy human being is being able to listen to what really matters to the other person down below the surface - what they deeply care about - and then finding ways to bridge the gap between you.
Kevin O'Bryant
Assistant Principal Middle School
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2024 Washington D.C./New York Trip
Final Parent/Student Mandatory Meeting!!
Tonight, April 11th 6-7pm in the Middle School Commons
Please click on the picture below for more information
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Middle School Winter Sports
Check out the Athletic calendar on our website and come cheer on our AVA Wolves!
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Spirit Wear Day Tomorrow, Friday, April 12th
On AVA Spirit Wear day students can wear any AVA t-shirt or sweatshirt purchased from the Wolf Shack or from a Wolf Run and they must wear their uniform bottoms. If you are not participating in Spirit Wear, uniforms will be required.
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As parents and educators, we desire the same thing for our children - the best possible education in a safe and caring environment. At AVA, we are committed to every child's success. As part of that process, we strive to create balanced classes that meet the academic and social needs of your child.
Meetings for placement into K-8 grades will take place during the April teacher in-service day. At each grade level, the classroom teachers and all of our professional staff will meet to provide input for placement in the 2024-2025 school year.
As you may know, each of our classes is a heterogeneous group of children. When we develop our classes, we consider reading and math abilities, learning style/teaching style, behavioral patterns, peer relationships and overall class balance.
The professional staff has the responsibility to determine the best placement for each child. If your child has needs that are not already known to the school, please communicate that with your child's assistant principal as soon as possible. We are not able to consider requests for specific teachers or friends, but I assure you that we strive to make the best placement for each child.
Through a collaborative effort, I am confident that we will provide the best possible instructional program for every student.
AVA Administration
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Who’s the Best?
It seems obvious that Aspen View Academy is. While we all know this is true, let’s make it official. It’s time to recognize metro Denver’s best by voting in Colorado Community Media’s 2024 Best of the Best contest, which gives readers a chance to weigh in on what they love most about their communities.
“Best of the Best gives our community bragging rights to say, `we’re the best,’” said Mindy Nelon, CCM marketing and community engagement specialist. “When we reach out to the winners and let them know they won, they are super excited. Best of the Best continues to grow year after year, which means our community loves it and that makes me proud to be involved.”
Contest voting is open and will continue through April 15th. Readers can vote on their favorites in many different categories, including automotive, beauty and wellness, community, entertainment and lifestyle, events, finance, fitness, food and beverage, home and garden, medical, pets and animals, professional, real estate, religion, retail, retirement, and travel.
“Best of the Best is 100% reader voted, therefore winners are truly the Best of the Best for the communities they serve,” said CCM Advertising Director Erin Addenbrooke. “For all winners, it is an honor to display the Best of the Best logo for the entire year showing each community they are the best at what they do.”
We hope you agree that Aspen View Academy is the best school in Castle Rock and that you are willing to take a couple minutes of your time to officially vote for AVA.
AVA is represented is a few categories:
- Charter school
- School, college, or university
- After School Program (this is a write-in category)
- Teacher
- Summer Camp
To vote in Castle Rock, visit: Vote for the best school in Castle Rock You will need to open the “community tab” and then scroll down to find the 5 categories listed above.
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Pay for Dress of Choice on Wednesday, April 17th
All Funds raised will be donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation To Learn more about this Foundation, click here. Any amount is appreciated.
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AVA has started the state mandated testing, the Colorado Measurement of Academic Success (CMAS). 3rd-5th graders will be testing on April 9th-11th. 5th and 8th graders will be testing on April 15th and 16th.
Parents, please make appointments around your student's testing schedule as we will not be calling into the classrooms during their testing time.
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Have you logged your volunteer hours?
Please log your hours on the HelpCounter Website. All AVA families who have completed their 30 hours (15 for single parents) by April 15th will be invited to The End of the Year Volunteer Event on May 5th at Ubergrippen. Watch your email for your invite.
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Please RSVP here.
We need some volunteers to make this a successful event. Sign up here to volunteer.
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This last group of men and women make up our Administration Team. They carry a lot on their shoulders making our school the great place that it is, and they do it with smiles on their faces, love for your children, passion for each student's education and support of the staff.
Kristin Krieger (Assistant Principal K-2) is described as genuine, compassionate and diligent. Mrs. Krieger loves the way our staff, teachers and families collaborate to bring out the best in each of the children. When she isn't at school, she loves cheering on her kids in a variety of sports, hiking and traveling.
Debi Stalker (Pre-K Director) loves creating lasting relationships with her students. This year will be the 2nd year that she's had Pre-K students graduate as 8th graders! She loves being in the sunshine, outside working or playing. Mrs. Debi is passionate, imaginative and dedicated.
Alex Marino (Finance Director) is reliable, resourceful and supportive. He enjoys cheering for his kids in baseball, soccer and volleyball, and also enjoys hiking, skiing and swimming. Mr. Marino likes working at Aspen View because we all contribute to shaping kids' futures and I am able to meet various members of the community.
Bob Barber (Principal) loves coming to school every day and working with the amazing students and staff. Watching students come to school with a smile and leaving with a smile validates everything we are doing to make sure our students are receiving an amazing education. Mr. Barber is caring, personable and hilarious. Outside of school he enjoys collecting sports memorabilia.
Kevin O'Bryant (Assistant Principal 6-8) spends his free time hiking, camping and taking landscape pictures. He is adventurous, funny and efficient. Mr. O'Bryant understands that working with middle school students today requires patience, flexibility, and a genuine commitment to supporting their growth and development during this critical stage of adolescence.
Dave Bodiker (Dean of Climate & Culture) is excited to come to AVA everyday because of our community, as we all have one goal in mind and that is to help these students grow not only in academics, but as a whole person. Mr. Bodiker is passionate about coaching volleyball and crafting with a laser printer with his wife. He is described as sincere, kind and patient.
Jean Fanning (Assistant Principal 3-5) is thoughtful, friendly and flexible. Mrs. Fanning finds joy in coming to work each day and working with the community to make AVA the best school ever! She loves reading books, traveling, watching sports and seeing movies.
Donia Garcia (Human Resources) believes the AVA staff truly care about the students and the value of every person in the building. Mrs. Garcia enjoys traveling, shopping, going on walks, going to the movies, and spending time with her family. She is fun loving, compassionate and empathetic.
Our hope through sharing these Staff Profiles this year has been to heighten our sense of community, both inside and outside of the school. To help the families of AVA know the faces they see in the carpool lane, in the hallways, or the names that pop up in your inbox. We hope you've learned more about the great people that make up our AVA Staff.
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WOW! The Spring Soiree was a HUGE success this year! The event raised $20,800 dollars! Thank you Tara Landen and Christine Ashburn for heading the committee, and thank you to the many committee members for making it such an amazing event! Also, A HUGE THANKS to our event and drink sponsors this year, Fortis Structural, Quiver Investments, Keystone Experts & Engineers and Ambulatory Healthcare Innovations! The funds raised from this event will go towards a Rock Climbing Wall and Lego Robotics for the school!
If you are interested in joining the committee for next year’s Soiree, please email PTO@aspenviewacademy.org! Planning for this event will begin soon!
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