Greetings Ospreys,

We were honored to host members of the Colorado Department of Education’s State Board of Education, Colorado Education Commissioner Susana Córdova and leadership from our authorizer, Colordo Charter School Institute (CSI) to the Nest Thursday afternoon for a visit and conversation about the important role charters play in providing educational choice in our region. Thank you to Dr. Jenni Trujillo, Dean of the Fort Lewis College School of Education, for sharing her perspective on the value of our growing partnership with the college at the gathering. AHS was the final stop of the day for our guests; earlier in the day they visited fellow CSI schools Kwiyagat Community Academy in Towaoc and Mountain Middle School here in Durango. We appreciate the opportunity to share our school in this way and received plenty of positive feedback about school.

The Student Activity Fair this week provided Ospreys with information about clubs being offered this year and networking opportunities with community partners. Thank you to the groups that tabled, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwestern Colorado, Four Corners Rainbow Youth Center, Durango SASO and La Plata County Suicide Prevention Collaborative.

The AHS Men in Heels team gave it their all on Tuesday evening and made it to the semifinals, but ultimately the team from Alpine Bank was just too fast to catch. We're glad to have been part of this fun fundraiser for the Women's Resource Center, which raised over $30,000 to go towards their work supporting women and families in our community. Thank you to all who donated and came to cheer on the team. Check out the video below for glimpse of our speedy team--Dave, John, Zoell and Cyrus.

Charles Darwin--or, rather, Chautauqua performer Brian Fox Ellis--visited with our 9th grade this morning to share stories of his career and life as a naturalist, geologist and biologist. You can catch Eillis' next performance tonight at 7pm at the Powerhouse Science Center as part of the History Live Durango program. We recommend it as he was very entertaining and informative! Ellis performs nationally as 30 different historical figures; learn more here.

Animas Quill Media

Our journalism students are starting to create content for their online platforms, the Quill Media Instagram feed and the Animas Quill website. Check them out, and look for Quill reporters' articles in future editions of News from the Nest.

Next Week's Events

Our Dean of College and Career Counseling Erin Cummins-Roper and Work-Based Learning Coordinator Elliott Baglini will travel to Aspen this weekend with a crew of 17 Ospreys for the Western Slope College Fair. Thank you to Osprey mom Shaine Gans for helping chaperone! Erin will be moderating a panel for a workshop at the Fair called "How Colleges Make Decisions and the Impact of the Affirmative Action Ruling."

Mike Bienkowski's Ecology students will travel to Ophir Pass for.a field trip next for the full school day next Thursday to work alongside Mountain Studies Institute on high alpine wetlands fen restoration. We are seeking a volunteer to drive students and help chaperone this fieldwork. Email [email protected] if you are interested in spending the day in the mountains with our students.

Fall Break, a four-day weekend, begins next Friday, with no school October 6-9.

AHS Enrollment

Enrollment for fall semester will close Monday. To transfer in for spring semester, visit the enrollment page on the AHS website and complete the January 2024 Intent to Enroll Form after we post it at 8am next Tuesday, October 3. We offer seats for January enrollment in the order families complete the form, as they become available. Fall 2024 enrollment opens January 17. Student ambassador-led tours begin October 19. View dates and RSVP here. Contact [email protected] with questions.

Enjoy the weekend and thanks for all you do to help the Ospreys soar!

Upcoming Events

January 2024 Enrollment Opens: Tues. 10/3

Ecology Field Trip: Thurs. 10/12

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

PSAT/NMSQT (11th grade): Tues. 10/10 and Wed. 10/11

Student Council Election: Wed. 10/11

Biology Field Trip to Silverton with Mountain Studies Institute (9th grade): Thurs. 10/12

Geology Field Trip: Thurs. 10/12

Junior Postsecondary Night: Thurs. 10/12, 5:30pm

TWIGS Coffee: Fri. 10/13, 8:30am

Professional Development Day (no classes): Mon. 10/16

Advancement Committee Meeting: Tues. 10/17, 1pm

TWIGS Buds Meeting: Tues. 10/17, 6pm

AHS Campus Tour: Thurs. 10/19, 8:45am RSVP here

Student-Led Conferences (9th-11th grades): Thurs. 10/19, 4-6pm

AHS Board Meeting: Thurs. 10/19, 5:30pm