Greetings Ospreys,

What a sweet first week of school! Those of you who have been around Animas for a bit are familiar with a practice we use called "roses and thorns," a way to check in on what's going well and what might feel a bit...prickly. At our staff meeting this week, we heard so many roses connected to our students, ranging from the way our new students are jumping right in to our learning community to how seniors are already coming up with creative and exciting Senior Project ideas. The thorns were small in comparison with the roses. It's going to be a good year!

We appreciated having so many families on campus last night for the Back-to-School Open House. One parent reached out this morning to say that “the ethos of the school was clear and the whole vibe was filled with the goodness and enthusiasm of the teaching body. I really enjoyed being there.” We enjoyed connecting teachers and parents!

Since it was just last December that we moved into our building, this is the first start-of-year at our campus at Fort Lewis College. That, along with a growing partnership with Pueblo Community College Southwest has led to a significant increase in the number of students taking advantage of concurrent enrollment opportunities. About 70 students are enrolled in the concurrent enrollment classes we are offering here at AHS, and 20 are taking classes on the FLC campus. We're so grateful for generous financial support from the Coutts & Clark Western Foundation that is helping make this possible.

Osprey Blocks Begin Monday!

Osprey Blocks start Monday and run through Friday, September 15. Regular classes will not meet during these three weeks. While different groups' schedules may vary due to excursions and overnight trips, Osprey Block classes will run for the full school day and students are expected to be with their group from 8:30 to 3:20 daily with the exception of a lunch break. Juniors and seniors will have off-campus privileges during lunch as usual, but not free periods.

Thank you to the families who have already stepped forward with offers to chaperone or transport students. We're still looking for help in a few places. Please email libby.cowles@animashighschool.com if you are able to help drive students any of the following times next week:

• Monday, August 28, 12:30pm--transport Aquaponics students from AHS to Escalante Middle School
• Monday, August 28, 2:40pm--transport Aquaponics students from Escalante Middle School to AHS
• Tuesday, August 29, 8:45am--transport Emergency Response students from AHS to Bayfield Middle School
• Tuesday, August 29, 12:00pm--transport Emergency Response students from Bayfield Middle School to AHS
• Thursday, August 31, 8:45am-3:00pm--transport Special Relativity students from AHS to San Juan College in Farmington and back (stay with the group for the day)

Osprey Block letters include more specific information and are linked below:

• Adventures in Aquaponics, Madi Neukirch, Lauren Lucky, Antonio Accuna
• Baja Bound, Kat Jackson, Jenny McKenzie
• Documentary Film: Transformative Educational Experiences, Drew Semel, Jessica McCallum
• Emergency Response in our Community, Elliot Baglini, Peter Bradley
• In Search of Ikigai, Erin Skyles, Ashley Carruth, Ande Lloyd, Salome Raiszadeh
• Native Warriors of the Southwest, Rebecca Ruland, Genevieve Buzan-Dansereau, Sarah Brockett, Oliver Kennedy
• Special Relativity, Kyle Edmondson, John Grotenhuis, Emma Boone
• Water in the West, Julian Springer, Lori Fisher, Mike Bienkowski
• Wilderness Exploration and Landscape Studies, Britt Bladsell, Dave Farkas, Cameron Elder

Some Osprey Blocks have fees associated with them. These fees have been entered into Infinite Campus. To pay course fees in IC, login to your parent portal and click through on the Fees tab. You will see a list and be able to pay with credit card.

We're excited to launch this new, innovative AHS program!

Welcome to the Board, Marin!

We're thrilled to welcome Osprey parent Maren Bicknell mom to Hayden '25, to the AHS Board of Directors. Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr said “The function of education is to teach intensively and to think critically.  Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education” and Maren has tried to serve the educational institutions and students she has worked with over the years with that goal in mind. As a current parent, she sees similar practice in place by teachers at AHS and this motivated her to get involved--first as a member of the parent capital campaign team, and subsequently as a member of the Development Committee and a TWIGS Bud.

Maren brings to the AHS Board of Directors a vast knowledge of educational institutions, working previously as a high school teacher in both public and private school, a certified athletic trainer at both the high school and college level, a college wellness educator and a K-12 school administrator. Maren is a strong believer in school choice and aims to bring her skills and knowledge in education to her role as an AHS Board member.  She wishes to help Animas High School continue to grow and thrive upon the strong foundation its founders provided and continue to become a school of choice for students in Durango and Southwest Colorado.  We're so happy she's decided to support our school in this important role!

Attendance Reminders

Parents/guardians should call Bridget Stowers in the main office at (970) 247-2474 or email mainoffice@animashighschool.com when a student misses school. Students can check teachers' digital portfolios to see what work they've missed, and are encouraged to email teachers directly when possible.

The Pre-Excused Absence Form is available in the main office for times when students will miss school due to sports or other pre-planned activities. Students should bring the form to all teachers ahead of time as a way to check in on what they will miss.

Finally, if you need to pick your student up at any point before the end of the day, please come inside the main office to sign them out. If your student is driving themself to an appointment during the day and will miss class, please call or email Bridget to provide permission for them to leave.

Forms, Forms, Forms!

Please be sure you've completed all start-of year forms that apply:

• Hub Bus Registration if your student will ride the bus or AHS Parking Registration Form if your student will drive
• AHS Meal Benefit Application even if you believe you do not qualify for benefits, as it helps us access critical funding
• Annual Loaner Laptop Agreement if your student needs a computer
• Medication Self Carry Form
• Authorization to Administer Medication at School Form

Thank you to our entire school community for all the ways you've contributed to a strong start to the 23/24 school year and best of luck to the AHS Mountain Biking Team in their first race of the season this weekend in Leadville!

Have a great weekend and thanks for all you do to help the Ospreys soar!

Upcoming Events

AHS Mountain Biking Team Race in Leadville: Sun. 8/27

Fall Osprey Blocks (regular classes do not meet): Mon. 8/28 through Fri. 9/15

Add/Drop Period Ends: Fri. 9/1

Labor Day Holiday (no classes): Mon. 9/4

TWIGS Buds Meeting: Mon. 9/11, 6pm

Men in Heels Fundraiser for Women's Resource Center: Tues. 9/12, 5:30pm

Professional Development Day (no classes): Mon. 9/18

Regular Classes Resume: Tues. 9/19

1st Quarter XBlock Classes Begin: Wed. 9/20

Durango Open Studio Tour: Sat. 9/23 and Sun. 9/24

Fall Break (no classes): Fri. 10/6 through Mon. 10/9