AVA Newsletter - October 5th, 2023

October 5th, 2023

Admin Address

As professionals at AVA embrace the start of October, our teachers and staff notice that student growth is a lot like the changing of the fall leaves. Our students are transforming right in front of us and revealing the vibrant colors of their potential. With a strong foundation laid in building student habits during our first weeks of school, fall is an especially exciting time in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grades. The innate potential of our young students who are ready to absorb knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and lay the foundation for future academic achievements are primed as we enter the school weeks of fall.

Fall is a special season in K-2 because our teachers are building up the foundational knowledge for their students in meaningful hands-on ways. Our curriculums, like Core Knowledge and Saxon Math, provide opportunities for explicit teaching that engages the young minds of our students. Watching teachers masterfully transform a cooperative learning project in reading into a lesson on communication skills to help students recognize other people’s perspectives and embrace the diversity of others is a picturesque moment. Knowledge that will serve as the basis for a child’s academic journey, daily learning opportunities to teach social and emotional development, and natural curiosity that teachers direct to create lifelong learners in their classroom is just as magical as the beauty of the leaves outside the window.

As our teachers and support staff work to shape young minds, build essential skills, and lay the groundwork for a successful educational journey, it is our partnership with parents that we are so grateful for. Our young children in primary grades grow their neurological pathways at an alarming rate. It is the connections outside of school that make their learning so meaningful. We appreciate all our parents who inform themselves by reading the grade level newsletters and seek to find real-world scenarios to connect this learning outside of the classroom. These moments enable the foundation of learning for our kids. Enjoy creating memories with your child; like finding time on a crisp autumn day to read a good book or write about the changing leaves. Modeling a love of learning will make a huge impact on your child’s growth this year. Embrace your favorite fall flavors, some cuddles with your little ones under a blanket, and know that you have a great team of people here at AVA working with you to make your child their best self. Thank you for partnering with us on their foundation of learning.

Kristen Krieger Ed.S.

K-2 Assistant Principal

Middle School Only News

Middle School Fall Sports

Check out the Athletic calendar on our website and come cheer on our AVA Wolves!

The Middle School Fright Night dance is on Saturday, October 28th from 6-8 PM.

Costumes are encouraged and welcomed (must be school appropriate and follow the AVA guidelines). Tickets are $5 in advance on myschoolbucks OR $10 at the door the night of the event.

Volunteers needed to donate food and to help at the dance.

Boys basketball for grades 6-8th grade is about to kick off!

Tryouts October 9th-12th from 4:15-5:45pm.

Boys basketball camp during the week of fall break, Oct. 16th-19th from 10am-12pm. To sign up for camp, click on the link here in my school bucks.

Please email Shannon Sherburne with any questions.

General Announcements

Donut Day Friday, TOMORROW October 6th

We hope you can join us tomorrow, October 6th at 7:30am for Donut Day! All AVA students are invited to bring a special guest(s) to enjoy a donut before school begins. This event will be held outside near the playground area. Please walk around to the back the school to join us as the front doors will not be unlocked for Donut Day access. All students attending must have an adult with them. Click here to volunteer during Donut Day.

Family Movie Night

PTO is hosting the first annual Family Movie Night on Friday, October 6th on the AVA field! We will be showing Super Mario Bros. Join us at 5:30pm for lawn games, to grab dinner from The Pig Rig Food Truck and enjoy a picnic. Popcorn will be provided and a concession stand will be available. The movie will begin at 7:00pm. Click here to volunteer during Family Movie Night.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Parent Teacher conferences are scheduled for:

Tuesday October 10th from 4:15 - 8:00 pm and

Thursday October 12th from 4:15 - 8:00 pm

Please click here to sign up with your child's teacher. Students will attend school as a regular school day on these two conference days.

Save the Date - Picture Retake

Wednesday, October 11th is Picture retake day.

If your child had their picture taken in August and you would like a retake or if your child did not get their picture taken at all in August, this is the last opportunity to get their picture taken for their student ID and to be in the yearbook. You do not need to purchase photos to have them photographed. All yearbook photos will have students in their uniform.

Please fill out this form if you would like your child to have their picture taken on retake day.

If you are not satisfied with your original pictures. Your student may bring their entire picture package to the photographer. The photographer will retake the picture and we will reorder the package that was originally ordered.

Here is the link to order pictures online for picture retake day.

Spirit Wear Day Thursday, October 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.

Our volunteers have logged 585 hours in the month of September. Every month we will be doing a monthly drawing to win a gift card or AVA swag. Please visit our volunteer page to see upcoming opportunities.

Our volunteer of the month is Hannah Denlinger! Please stop by the front office to pick up your gift card.

October PTO Pipeline is live & updated for September. Check it out for upcoming events + volunteer opportunities.

From Roblox to TikTok, technology is changing fast, and many of us are struggling to stay one step ahead of our kids. Please join us on October 25th at 6:00pm for an expert Zoom presentation and Q&A about how to help your children stay safe online.

Staff Spotlight

This group of ladies makes up just part of our Student Support Team. Student support encompasses a variety of specialists who help bridge support between student success and the general education teacher. In other words, they enable AVA to meet the needs of your children on an individualized level. Their specialties allow them to work both individually and in small groups with students.

Brittany Zellmer (5-8 Gifted Facilitator) brings a lot of passion, determination and energy to her team and students. Mrs. Zellmer loves building personal and authentic relationships with her students to enable them to achieve their goals. Outside of work, she loves to read, hike and cheer for her kids on the sidelines.

Bre Premschack (504, Intervention & School Assessment Coordinator) wears a lot of hats for our school! She is a valuable resource to us, with not only her experience, but because she is flexible, supportive, thoughtful and patient. Mrs. Premschack is a great support not only to teachers and students, but to the parents as they navigate the needs of their children. When she has free-time, she loves to be on the water, hike or ski with her family.

Beth Straley (Literacy Specialist) is in her 25th year in education! Needless to say, she is a tremendous resource with her expertise, but is also kind, patient, and so warm with the kids. Mrs. Straley loves to challenge and help kids achieve more than they thought possible. She also loves cooking, reading and spending time with her family.

Ashley Gentille (Literacy Specialist) is compassionate, talented, warm and gracious. Mrs. Gentille finds joy in each of the kids she works with and deeply cares for each of them. In her freetime she loves mountain biking and hiking with her husband and kids.

Megan Pedersen (BASE Assistant Director and Behavior Specialist) is valuable in her ability to build relationships with kids in order to help them become their best selves. Mrs. Pedersen is calm, intuitive and beyond patient in dealing with students. She loves watching hockey, crafting and spending time with her family.

Kimberly Mayne (K-4 Gifted Facilitator) is creative in her teaching approach to venture outside of their comfort zone and challenge them in new ways. Mrs. Mayne is positive, upbeat, kind and innovative with her teammates and her students. She loves running the trails, hiking with her dog and watching her girls play soccer.

Trunk or Treat

PTO is so excited for our 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 27th from 5:30pm-7:30pm. This year, we will have food trucks, a DJ, an entertainer with some magical fun, a photo spot, and plenty of prizes! If you would like to host a trunk (or table) please sign up here. If you'd like to donate candy or small prizes, please sign up here.

Mrs. Lund, our elementary Art Teacher would like to share Artsonia with you. Click on the image to find out more information.

Community is at the heart of all that we do. Our desire is for every student and their family to succeed not only in school, but also within the community. We recognize that many of our Aspen View families own or operate a business. We would like to support our families through this Business Directory. Click on the image to the right to access the Business Directory.

Nominate an Amazing Teacher or Staff Member through Nov 12!

Nominate an educator or staff member that has had a positive impact on your student or your family.

2024 Apple Awards nominations are now open, and we have so many wonderful Aspen View Academy staff deserving of a nomination and this award.

Nomination Window:

October 2 - November 12, 2023

Each year, the DCSD community celebrates its outstanding teachers and staff through the annual Apple Awards.

To nominate a favorite educator or staff member, visit the 2024 Apple Award Site. It only takes a few minutes, but means so much to our teachers and staff!