August 25th, 2022

Dear Parents,

We are very fortunate to have a great school community at Aspen View Academy. The parents, staff and students are tremendous and have created a wonderful sense of community. This sense of community extends beyond our hallways and beyond our property into the surrounding areas as well.

I am asking you all to think what it would be like to live next to a school or have a school open in your neighborhood; perhaps this is a reality for some of you. Now think how your daily commute or simply running an errand could be impacted with an increase in the number of cars parking in your neighborhood, especially in no parking zones. Add to that the fact that some of these cars are making U-turns in the neighborhood, parking and blocking driveways/sidewalks, potentially causing a safety hazard. Most of us can agree that we would not like that.

We have seen and heard about a number of parents doing these things on Low Meadow Blvd, Treetop Dr., and Moonfire Way. Understandably, this is causing concerns with the local residents. We need to minimize AVA parents parking on those streets and the surrounding area.

We have a responsibility to be good neighbors and to do what we can to minimize the impact of AVA parents parking in local neighborhoods. People think they are saving time by parking there, but that really is not the case. With improvements in our carpool procedures, the wait times during afternoon pick up are minimal. There is an initial log jam of cars during the beginning of carpool, however, that clears up fairly quickly. Most people can arrive on property between 3:40 - 3:50 p.m. and get through the carpool line and pick up their child in a matter of minutes - minimal waiting! Please use the carpool line and do not park on the surrounding streets or in the surrounding neighborhoods. If you must, please obey all traffic signs, especially the no parking signs. 

In addition, if you need to pick up your child early from school for an appointment, please do so no later than 3:00 p.m. This will get you in and out before carpool starts and reduce possible congestion.

Thank you so much for helping with this. The bottom line is that we are committed to providing the safest carpool for your children while being good neighbors to a group of people that really do support Aspen View Academy.

Bob Barber

AVA Principal

Middle School Soccer Coach Needed

We are in need of a boys soccer coach(es). Please contact Shannon Sherburne if you are interested in coaching or just need some information. This is a paid coaching position or you can trade your coaching time for your volunteer hours. Thank you all so much.

Tomorrow, Friday August 26th is Dress of Choice

Early Pick Up Guidelines

If you need to pick up your student early because of an appointment right after school please plan to pick up your student by 3pm. The front office will NOT be able to call a student out after 3pm.

Aspen View Academy uses GoGuardian for web filtering of students. As a parent, you have access to the GoGuardian Parent app, which provides you with insight into your students' online activity when on school-owned devices.

The GoGuardian Parent app provides an overview of your children's online activity on school-managed devices and accounts - this overview includes the apps, extensions, documents, and websites your student visited. 

What is included in this app:

• Top 5 overview of your student's online activity
• Any teacher interventions related to your student's online activity (5th-8th grade only)
• 30-day overview of your student's online activity

To access the app, please follow the below instructions:

1. Download the app

       1.  Download via Apple Store

       2.  Download via Google Play Store

2. After the app is successfully downloaded and installed, open it up and enter the parent email address registered in Infinite Campus. Note: If you forgot your registered email address, please reach out to techsupport@aspenviewacademy.org

3. Login/Check Email: Check your email on your phone for a link to log in to the app. Tap the "Verify your email", and it will take you straight to the app. Note: If you don't have access to your email through the device you used to log in, tap on "Login with verification code", and copy and paste the verification code from the email into the app.

That's it! You will now be able to see and monitor your students' internet use on school devices.

Carpool Reminders

While safety is always the top priority here at AVA, it is especially important at carpool. We appreciate your patience as all of our families get used to our new routines. Please review these rules carefully and reach out to one of our administrators if you have any questions.  

• Times: 
• Middle School Carpool: starts at 7:45 (classes start at 8:00)
• Elementary Carpool: starts at 7:45 (classes start at 8:15)
• PreK parking is at the front of the school (this is only for PreK families) from 7:45-8:15 and 3:15-3:45
• Loading and Unloading:
• Students need to enter or exit only where staff members are present
• Parents need to remain in their vehicle at all times in the active carpool line
• If your child needs help, flag a staff member to assist
• The parking lot is our queue zone for our afternoon carpool. Do not park and exit your vehicle as you are in the active carpool line
• Please have your child(ren) ready to exit the vehicle as soon you come to a stop
• Pull all the way forward in the line so we can load and unload vehicles in a timely manner (when you stop in the middle you shorten our line) 
• Safety First:
• DO NOT use your cellphone while in active carpool
• Crosswalks are manned by our staff (please do not use crosswalks without a crossing guard) from 7:45-8:15 and 3:15-3:45
• Follow the posted traffic laws- NO turning left on Fiddle Road from Low Meadow Blvd
• RESPECT: follow the same expectations we have for students
• Respect the directions of our carpool attendants
• Speak and behave respectfully to neighbors (don’t park in front of driveways)
• Show patience with staff members trying to help you connect with your children

REGISTRATION

Just a reminder that all families must complete a two-step registration process every year. The first is through Douglas County School District (DCSD). This is the Express Check-in process. All families also need to complete several AVA-specific forms which are available on the AVA website. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL REQUIRED SUPPLY

Just a reminder that all middle school students must have a headset marked with their name in a baggie that can be kept at school in a locker. Several classes this year will require them. More information can be found here. 

COMMUNICATIONS

There are several ways the school sends out communication. For many communications we use Infinite Campus to send messages. Please do not unsubscribe or you will not receive any communications through that means. Also please be sure your contact information in Infinite Campus is up-to-date.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE

Report Absence or Late Arrival:

To report a student absent or late arrival please call the Attendance Line: 303.660.5940 This is available 24 hours a day. Or report their absence through the AVA Website, click on the Attendance button.

All School Directory

Every year we provide this great tool to the AVA Community. The All School Directory is provided on the AVA website and it is password protected. The password will only be emailed to the parents or guardians listed on their student registration. But before it can be published, those families wishing to opt out must complete this form. Please note that you may opt out to all or partial information. If you wish to opt out of all your information, please know your student's name will still be listed in the classroom list within the directory.

The directory will be available on the website beginning of September. Once the directory is available it will be password protected so please look for the password in an email in early September. All families are automatically opted in to the directory.

To  OPT  OUT of the All School Directory you MUST complete this form. The deadline to complete this form is Sunday, August 28th.

School Pool by Way to Go

Each year we provide families with resources to help with carpooling to and from school. This service is provided by a third party, Way to Go. We share the information with them and they will mail families vicinity maps to help you in coordinating a carpool with other AVA families who live in your area. We give families the opportunity to opt out of this program if they do not wish to have their information shared with other AVA families in your area. If you choose to opt out please click here. You will have until August 28th to opt out. 

IMPORTANT IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION  

Colorado law requires all students attending Colorado schools and licensed child cares to be vaccinated against certain diseases, unless an exemption is filed. Below are the vaccines required for students attending Colorado licensed child cares and schools.  

Vaccines required to enter school (K-12)  

Hepatitis B.  

Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (DTap).*  

Inactivated poliovirus (IPV).*  

 Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR).*  

Varicella (chicken pox).*  

Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap).**  

*Students 4 through 6 years of age are required to have their final doses of DTaP, IPV, MMR and Varicella prior to kindergarten entry.  

**Students are required to have Tdap prior to entry into 6th grade. One dose of Tdap is required for 6th through 12th grades. 

If you choose not to have your student vaccinated according to the current recommended schedule because of personal or religious reasons, you must submit a Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption to AVA when school begins in August.  

Nonmedical exemptions must be submitted annually, which means parents must submit the certificate every new school year. (The school year begins on July 1 and runs through June 30 of the following year.) There are two ways to file a nonmedical exemption:

File the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption WITH a signature from an immunizing provider, OR 

File the Certificate of Nonmedical Exemption received upon the completion of the online education module.

Downloadable certificates and the online education module are available at 

https://cdphe.colorado.gov/vaccine-exemptions

For additional information: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/schoolrequiredvaccines

School Accountability Committee (SAC)

The SAC’s purpose is to inform, encourage and provide opportunities for parent and community members to be involved in the planning and evaluation of the school’s instructional program and quality improvement processes.

We have an open at-large parent position for SAC. This is a 2 year term. Contact the SAC committee by emailing SAC@aspenviewacademy.org with any questions.

Saturday August 27th 5:00-9:00pm

Looking for all 3rd, 6th & 7th Graders wanting to join Girl Scouts!! 

Troop 67728 is having a parent meeting

September 7th from 5-6pm at the Castle Rock PS Miller Library 

PTO NEWS

Please stop by the front office to pick up your money and unsold uniforms from the used uniform sale. If the money is not picked up by August 31st, the money will be donated to the PTO.

Welcome Back Party Friday, September 9th 

Let's celebrate the new school year. The party will be from 4:30pm until 7:30pm at Zach Parrish Park. Everything will be included, except for food trucks that will be available if families choose to purchase anything. Families will need to check in at the welcome table to verify they are an AVA family, due to this being at a public park. If you'd like to help out at the event, please sign up here.

Help Us Choose the Charity for Our 1st Pay to Dress of Choice this Year

We'd love your ideas for this year's charity drives during our Dress of Choice days. All ideas will remain in the selection pool and will be randomly chosen during the school year. Please provide your input here and we'll inform everyone of the charity randomly selected for the next Dress of Choice.

Business Directory

Hey Aspen View Families! Do you have a locally owned business? Want a FREE way to bring attention to your business? Aspen View Academy PTO will be providing a business directory for families. It’s a great way for our Aspen View families to support our local community. Click the Google Forms Link below, and fill in your name, business name, business email, phone number, logo, address (if applicable) and your social media link: https://forms.gle/s99pWwxQPSFCFvGi7. Please sign up by Sept 25th. Email pto@aspenviewacademy.org with any questions. 

Donuts with Grandparents September 9th

Calling all students and their special guests: Grandparents or any supervising adult is welcome!  Join us in the cafeteria on Friday, September 9th for donuts at 7:30am. Please RSVP so we can get a proper head count.

Welcome to another school year at Aspen View. We have a lot of volunteer opportunities so keep a look out for Sign-up Genius', Newsletter announcements and emails from the PTO. Below is an excerpt from the AVA Handbook.

VOLUNTEERING COMMITMENT – AVA believes that the success of each student will be a shared responsibility of students, teachers, parents, staff, and community leaders. Volunteers enhance the school and its culture and character through their involvement. Accordingly, a strong family involvement program will be implemented. AVA expects 30 volunteer hours per family per school year. Single-parent families are expected to volunteer 15 hours per school year. The volunteer school year shall coincide with AVA’s fiscal year, and hours shall accrue from July 1 through June 30. If your family has special circumstances that make it difficult for you to meet the expected volunteer hours, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator. Many volunteer opportunities exist within AVA’s PTO. The PTO is an organization comprised of parent volunteers for the purpose of providing community support, fundraising and planning various events within our school community.

Preregistration on the Raptor Volunteer site is required, this only needs to be completed one time.

To log volunteer hours, please visit the Volunteer Portal.

These volunteer opportunities can also be found on the volunteer page of our website.

Morning Carpool

Lunch Recess

Afternoon Carpool

Watch D.O.G.S.

Lost and Found