Greetings Ospreys,

Last Friday's Ribbon Cutting Ceremony had the building abuzz with community supporters, families and alumni from many graduating classes and plenty of excitement at finally seeing this dream come to fruition! Read all about it in the story from our student journalists below.

AHS Student Ambassadors have completed their training and are now offering tours to prospective families and visitors. We're loving showing off the new campus, and just this week enjoyed welcomed community partners from Animas Surgical Hospital, Sexual Assault Services Organization and the Fort Lewis College Adventure Education Department into the building. Interested in a visit? Sign up here or email libby.cowles@animashighschool.com. Our next Campus Tour for Prospective Families is Tuesday evening at 5:30pm. RSVP here.

Look for our ambassadors at the Snowdown Chili Cook Off at the County Fairgrounds next Saturday, February 4, where they'll be selling sodas as a fundraiser for the school. Swing by to say hello!

director of career and college counseling Erin Cummins-Roper shares important planning information with students and their families at this week's Sophomore Postsecondary Night

Next Week's Events

The class of 2026 will meet community professionals from a wide variety of careers when they come to share their passion and expertise with the 9th grade for next Wednesday morning's Career Fair. They'll follow up that experience with Career Site Visits, so they can visit with folks in their place of business. If you're able to help transport students for The Career Site Visits on Wednesday, March 1, please sign up here.

Our Snowdown Spellebration team, Something Wicked: The AHS Weird Sisters, is brushing up on their Macbeth and studying Shakespearian words in preparation for the big event on Wednesday at 5:30 at the Gaslight Theater. Lori, Jessica and Tory--all Humanities teachers--will surely be a fierce force of spelling power! To aid in their witchy costuming, we are looking to borrow 2 witches hats, a cauldron...and maybe an eye of newt or two? If you have any great costuming or props, please drop them by the main office by Tuesday afternoon. This Snowdown event is family-friendly and super fun--plus it's a fundraiser for our friends at the Durango Adult Education Center!

We would love Osprey support in two important ways: 1) make a donation to the Adult Ed Center via the AHS website to help us cover the $250 entry fee while supporting community education (indicate the donation is for Spellebration) and 2) join us at the Gaslight Theatre on Wednesday, February 1, 5:30pm to cheer on our team! 

Traffic Flow at Student Pick Up

In our ongoing efforts to minimize impact of AHS cars on the FLC campus, we have changed the flow of traffic for student pick up at the end of the day. Please drive to the east entrance (furthest from 8th Ave.) and proceed west, then east to exit. This will help us reduce the number of AHS cars that idle on Talon Lane at pick up. Thank you for your cooperation!

Catered Lunch Ordering Extended

Students now may order catered lunch up until 9am on the day that they will pick it up, rather than needing to order by noon the day before. Thank you to the local restaurants who make this possible!

Varsity Girls' Hockey Senior Night

Four Ospreys--Maddy and Julia Glotfelty, Harper Jones and Klara Absolonova will be among the players celebrated at the DHS Women's Varsity Hockey Team's Senior Night this Saturday at 6:45pm at Chapman Ice Arena. We'd love to see some Osprey love--bundle up and come cheer them on!

Genevieve Buzan-Dansereau's Ecology students enjoy a little snow science with the help of San Juan Mountains Association staff and biology teacher Mike Bienkowski

juniors Illyria Brunner, Jo Downing and Sophia Prestipino study precipitation reactions in Madi Neukirch's Chemistry class as part of their Art of Chemistry Project

AHS Community Cuts the Ribbon at Long Last

Rosie LeCompte '25, Animas Quill

It was a night of nostalgia and celebration as the Animas community gathered for a symbolic Ribbon Cutting ceremony years in the making last Friday, January 20. Perched next to Fort Lewis College, overlooking the Animas Valley, our new building is a gift to be shared with generations of Ospreys.

The Skyhawk Nation Drummers opened the gathering with a ceremonial blessing, and FLC Dean of Education Dr. Jenni Trujillo delivered the FLC land acknowledgment, which AHS has adopted as part of our own practice as the newest tenants of this sacred land. These pieces of the ceremony honored the history of our shared place and our growing connections to Fort Lewis College. 

 Fostering these connections was a major theme of the remarks of FLC President Dr. Tom Stritikus, who delivered the first speech of the evening. “Part of the Fort Lewis College vision is students at the center and putting knowledge into action. Students at the core is part of the shared vision between Fort Lewis and Animas.” He spoke excitedly about the potential for future collaboration between the students and faculty of the two institutions, an excitement shared by the AHS community. 

Many faces from Animas history were present in the crowd: former and current teachers, students, families, founders, and board members were on hand to experience this pivotal moment. “I've been in all three buildings,” shared 10th grade Math teacher and alumnus Ande Lloyd ‘15. “Having been with Animas since I was a student, you kinda always see the full potential of this school, but it has always been hard to show this potential. But now with this new building, I feel like we can really show outward into the community the cool stuff we do here.”

The energy and excitement in the school in the last few weeks has been infectious, and has been felt by everyone who set foot in our hallways. Former Chemistry teacher Steve Smith shared his sentiments. “As someone who has helped work on the project of securing this permanent campus, I feel relief, gratitude, and joy. Now all of the efforts that went towards finding this permanent home can instead be devoted to AHS' primary mission of providing transformational educational experiences.” “It’s been a long time coming,” said current Board President Jeff King. “It took a lot of hard work from a lot of people, not only current folks, but also from previous folks, including the most committed Head of School Sean Woytek, who pushed this project forward. And we are equally as fortunate to have Rebecca Ruland as our new Head of School to take it forward.” 

"Moving into this new space, and a new chapter in Animas history, is incredibly exciting, “but also [it's important] that we remember our roots,” said long-time board member Tom Morrissey, who has been a part of the AHS journey as long as just about anyone. He reminisced about the journey that started in a strip mall, sharing, “I remember spending weekends climbing up in the suspended ceilings of the Chinese restaurant to run computer wires. Thinking back on those memories, never in my wildest dreams could have imagined that we would be where we are today.” 

Founder Jesse Hutt shared her hopes for the school when the original ideas were born around her dining room table starting in 2005. “[The other founders and I] hoped to create an environment that encourages curiosity and creativity, collaboration, learning authentically; the sky is the limit, and it is now up to the students to do what they do. I want it to be known as a school of innovation and welcoming environment that can grow so more students that are interested can come here.” 

“The future is looming on the horizon, and I’ve got big plans,” exclaimed sophomore Cassidy Hayden in her inspired closing speech. “With the new building comes some new opportunities… Along with insane views, [our proximity to FLC] also gives us the chance to do concurrent enrollment….In the next two years, I’m hoping to take classes at the Fort and understand what college is like. Conveniently enough, we’re also a college prep school, and it’s pretty easy to prepare with a college right next door.”

The Animas community is beyond excited to see what comes next for us in this new phenomenal space built in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. As current Physics teacher Julian Springer put it, “The roof has been raised, literally, and now the sky is the limit for Ospreys to soar and reach their full potential.”

The Ribbon Cutting Slideshow: AHS' Journey to our Nest at Fort Lewis College

Enjoy your weekends out there, and thanks for all you do to help the Ospreys soar!

Upcoming Events

Campus Tour and Information Session for Prospective Families: Tuesl 1/31, 5:30pm; RSVP here

9th Grade Career Exploration Fair: Wed. 2/1, 8:30am-12pm

Snowdown Spellebration Fundraiser for Durango Adult Education Center (come cheer for the AHS team!): Wed. 2/1, 5:30pm at Gaslight Theater

What is Harm Reduction? Tues. 2/7, 4:30pm

9th Grade postsecondary Night: Wed. 2/8, 5:30pm

Campus Tour and Information Session for Prospective Families: Tues 2/9, 8:45am; RSVP here

Development Committee Meeting: Thurs. 2/9, 1pm

Sophomore Physics Exhibition: Space Travel: Thurs. 2/9, 4:30-6:30pm

Empty Nest Sale: Sat. 2/11, 8am-4pm at old AHS campus, 271 Twin Buttes Ave.

TWIGS Parent Coffee: Mon. 2/13, 8:30am

Osprey Week Group Meetings: Wed. 2/15, 12:50-1:35pm

Professional Development Day (no classes): Fri. 2/17

Presidents' Day Holiday (no classes): Mon. 2/20