AVA Newsletter - September 28th, 2023

September 28th, 2023

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More than eight years ago I started my journey with the Aspen View Academy family. I call it a family because we spend so much time with each other in this building. As a family, Aspen View has grown into a thriving school that families want to attend. The school has not only grown in student population, but in staff, curriculum offerings, and even building size. We are giving our students and families opportunities that they can’t get in other places.

The question becomes how does that happen? It starts with the core values of the school. When I started at Aspen View a group of about 15 new staff members traveled for 3 days to learn about Capturing Kids Hearts. We walked away with some new ideas, but the most important wasn’t a new idea. It was the importance of building positive relationships with our students, parents, and staff members. It was the ability to capture their hearts.

We believe that capturing the heart is where it all begins. We all know that students come to school with a wide range of comfort when entering a classroom. Some students are confident in what they do at school and are risk takers who will try almost anything. Others are less confident and need some encouragement to take chances. For them to take chances though, they need to feel safe and cared for and we need the ability to dig deeper into who they are as a person.

In order to capture our students’ hearts, we need to know what our students are passionate about. That doesn’t just mean their favorite subject in school, but what are they interested in outside of school as well. What sport do they like? What is their favorite TV show? What did they do over the weekend? But just asking these questions alone does not mean that you have captured their heart. Listening to their answers and asking more questions to get a better understanding is important. Following up with them after their big game or event means more to them than we will ever truly know.

It is also important to understand where our students are at. Some of them make mistakes that have consequences that they didn’t want or intend for. Students can also feel that their teachers view them in a bad light after some of these mistakes. Students need to be and are held accountable for their bad choices, but we work with them to help them understand the why behind the decisions. We give them some grace when possible and always give them tools and skills that are needed to make better choices. They get opportunities to grow as a person in a safe place. These are learning opportunities for students so that they can trust that we have their best interests in mind. We capture their hearts to show them that they are cared for and are with them through this journey.

Showing students that they are not just another student in school is important to their success. It makes them feel special when we come alongside them on this journey that we call school. It gives them the courage to take chances and to make mistakes, but it also helps them raise their own bar. When supported, it allows students to feel celebrated for their triumphs and held accountable to do better when they fall short. This allows them to grow inside and outside of school.

Capturing a student’s heart is the first step in helping our students grow as a student, an athlete, an artist, a musician, or any other passion they are following, but the most important part is that it allows them to grow as a person. Aspen View continues to capture the hearts of our students, staff, parents, and visitors as it has for more than ten years. It is one of the many things that makes Aspen View special.

Dave Bodiker

AVA Climate and Culture

Middle School Only News

Middle School Fall Sports

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

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

Official Pupil Count Day-Monday October 2nd!

Just a reminder to parents that the Official DCSD Pupil Count Day is coming!

The pupil count window will be Sept. 25th-Oct. 10th.

The official count being Oct. 2nd.

Please try to schedule appointments outside this timeframe.

Please make sure your student is in attendance on Monday, Oct. 2nd, the official count day.

We appreciate your help in making sure every student counts!

Tomorrow, Friday September 29th is Dress of Choice

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

Look for an email next Wednesday for the sign ups. Please note 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.

Be on the lookout for pictures coming home this week with your child.

The Wolf Shack will be closed Wednesday, September 27th. Any online orders placed between September 20th and October 3rd will be delivered to classrooms on October 4th, and we will resume in-person shopping hours from 3:00-4:00 that day as well. Thank you for supporting the Wolf Shack!

Donut Day Friday, October 6th

We hope you can join us on Friday, 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. Grab dinner from a local spirit night restaurant (more details coming soon) 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.

Staff Spotlight

This great group of ladies make up the 2nd Grade Team. Second grade is a huge transition year for our students, and these ladies support each other so well to help students grow into confident students.

Jennifer Harman (Paraprofessional) is patient, caring and hardworking and uses her gifts well to support her team. Mrs. Harman works in 2nd grade classrooms to support teachers, works with students individually and in small groups. Outside of school she loves camping, biking and hiking with her family.

Tori Thomson (2nd Grade Teacher) is new to Aspen View this year, but has 6 years of teaching experience. Mrs. Thomson is kind and warm, which makes her a great addition to the team. She enjoys baking, being with her family, and playing instruments, including the bass guitar!

Kelly Huffman (2nd Grade Teacher) is a newer teacher, but through her work ethic, dedication, creativity, and love for the kids, she is such an asset to her team and students. When Mrs. Huffman isn't working, she loves to travel, camp and be outdoors with her family.

Brandye Conley (Paraprofessional) is dependable, loving and works tirelessly to care for her team and the students. Mrs. Conley also works in the classrooms to assist teachers and students individually and as a group. She loves to be with her family, read and travel.

Amy Monheiser (2nd Grade Teacher) is gifted in meeting each kid where they are, she is a supportive teammate, has a great sense of humor and works so hard to help her students excel. Mrs. Monheiser loves watching college football, hiking, reading and going to museums.

Joni Telarico (2nd Grade Teacher) has been a teacher for 17 years, which is one of the reasons she is a valuable mentor, ever calm, encouraging and supportive to all around her. Mrs. Telarico enjoys yoga, paddleboarding, hiking, biking and spending time with family.

Saturday, October 7th

5:00-9:00pm

Accepting Donations

Aspen View Academy is collecting gently used Halloween costumes for Rylie’s Ark Halloween BOOtique. Please consider donating any gently used Halloween costumes. All sizes, infant through adult will be accepted and donated to Rylie’s Ark.

Donations accepted until Wednesday, October 4. There is a donation box inside the front of the school. For every 2 costumes that you donate, you may log 1 volunteer hour (max. of 3 hours).

Rylie’s Ark believes every child should be able to experience the joy of dressing up on Halloween without the burden of cost.

Lost and Found

All items will be donated on the morning of Friday, September 29th. We have a lot of water bottles and lunch boxes! Please stop by the lost and found to claim your items before they are donated.

After School Clubs

Listed below are all of the available clubs that will run during the 2^nd quarter. All after school club registration will occur in My School Bucks and clubs will remain open until filled or October 6th, whichever comes first. The list of clubs that are available for the quarter are below:

Hands to Hearts with Mrs. Lopez (K-4th)

Outdoor Sports with Mrs. Chambless (2nd-5th)

Wolf Pup Cheer with Mrs. Robertson and Mrs. Coffelt (K-4th)-FULL

Volleyball Developmental Clinic with Mrs. Farrell (5th-8th)

Board Games & Treats with Ms. Alvarez (3rd-6th)

Happy Crafts with Mrs. Miller (K-6th)

Crochet Club with Mrs. Quattrone (3rd-6th)

Holidays Around the World with Mrs. Reynolds (K-6th)

Lego Masters with Mrs. Hainer and Mrs. Reynolds (1st-5th)

Battle of the Books with Mrs. Hainer (3rd-4th)

Battle of the Books with Mrs. Lipnick (5th-6th)-FULL

Wolf Den Game Club with Mrs. Ness (2nd-5th)

Unraveled Yarn Club with Mrs. Rossi (2nd-5th)

Let's Get in Gear and Engineer! With Mrs. Reynolds (2nd-6th)

Dungeons & Dragons Club with Mr. Thomas (5th-8th)

Coding Club with Ms.Orness (2nd-8th)

Yoga Club with Mrs. Ness (2nd-5th)

What is the Birthday Book Club?

Birthday Book Club invites families to recognize their child’s birthday by donating a book to the school library. Each donation is recognized by placing a bookplate with the child’s name on the front endpaper of the new book.