physics teacher Julian Springer is clearly finding inspiration from Albert Einstein as he grows his hair out this spring

today's Romeo & Juliet performance in Cameron Elder's Humanities 9 class included creative takes on the Shakespearian classic

Greetings Ospreys,

Seniors are putting the finishing touches on their Senior Project thesis papers, due Monday and we're just a week away from sending juniors off on their 3-week-long, full-time LINK Internships--must be spring at AHS! It's exciting to see our older students connecting their learning to individual passions and goals as they dive into these uniques aspects of their Animas education. Senior Action Projects are underway, with efforts including the construction of a glider that will be powered by ionic thrust, assisting with efforts to better understand a protein that can suppress parasites in the Fort Lewis College microbiology lab and working with the local climbing community to reset routes in order to improve safety. Our juniors have landed internships ranging from fighting for clean water with American Rivers, to working alongside a local interior decorator, to aiding with IT work in Farmington, to farming kelp in Alaska. Clearly, Ospreys have diverse interests and we love supporting them as they follow their unique, individual paths.

Next Week's Events

Before our juniors fly out of the Nest, Student Council is encouraging a week of costuming to build school spirit. Don't forget to dress in your very best early 2000s attire on Monday!

Osprey families are invited to join Rebecca Monday morning at 8:30 in the Commons for the April TWIGS Parent Coffee. Bring your questions, ideas and feedback--monthly coffees are a great way to connect with other families and the school.

All 9th through 11th grade students will participate in standardized testing on Wednesday with early release once they have finished the PSAT/SAT. For most students, the day will end around noon. No regular classes will meet this day and seniors will be off-campus working on Senior Action Projects. The Hub Bus will run on Wednesday afternoon as usual, but there will be no catered lunch available that day. Students should bring a nonprogrammable calculator if they have one; we will have calculators to lend out as well.

Juniors will also take the CMAS Science test on Thursday morning, but will not have early release that day, but rather will return to regularly scheduled classes once finished.

Please refer to the 22/23 Testing Letter for all the details. Remember that families who choose to opt students out of any standardized test must submit a signed letter to the Main Office or via email to dave.farkas@animashighschool.com.

Getting a good night's rest and arriving having eaten breakfast help students do their best. Please sign up here to donate healthy snacks for our testing day so we can ensure all Ospreys are well fed. Snacks can be dropped off in the main office Monday or Tuesday. Thank you for supporting our students' success in this way!

We'll have a NEST Meeting at the end of the day on Friday to celebrate Osprey Week adventures, get a sneak preview of the Osprey Theatre Company's Spring Cabaret (premiering May 8) and send our juniors off on their internships. Our schedule will be adapted that day as follows:

8:20-9:05 1st period

9:10-9:55 2nd period

10:00-10:45 3rd period

10:50-11:35 4th period

11:40-12:25 5th period

12:30-1:05 Lunch

1:05-1:50 6th period

1:55-2:40 7th period

2:45-3:35 NEST Meeting

Yearbook Orders Due in Two Weeks

Pre-order your yearbook here for $40 by April 21! Yearbooks will be delivered in mid-June at a summer signing party. Questions? Email quill@animashighschool.com.

Graduation Deadlines

By Friday, April 14

• SENIORS: Complete the Senior Celebration Booklet Input Survey here to let us know what you'd like to have us include on your page

• SENIORS: Complete the Speakers and Class Song Survey here to share your nominations for musical performers, teacher speakers and class song

• SENIOR FAMILIES: Purchase a Family Encouragement Ad to feature how far your graduate has come. Mail or drop off checks to AHS with “SCB Family Ad” in the subject line (mailing address: AHS, c/o Christine Imming, PO Box 3496, Durango, CO 81302), or pay by credit card online by visiting animashighschool.com, clicking on “Support AHS – DONATE”, then clicking “DONATE NOW” next to “School Fees and Donations”. Fill out the form with “SCB Family Ad” next to “What is this payment/donation for?” Questions? Please email your questions or your preferred ad size + text + photo to Cindy Atchison at cindyatchison2@gmail.com. Cindy will email you an ad proof to approve before printing.

By Friday, April 28

• SENIORS: Email your graduation speech to Libby if you're interested in being considered as a Student Speaker

• SENIORS/FAMILIES: Complete the Graduation Ticket Survey here; each family is guaranteed 10 reserved tickets if needed, and can request more.

Dual Enrollment for 2023/24 School Year

Students interested in taking college classes for Animas and college credit in the fall should view Erin Cummins-Roper's recording from the concurrent enrollment information session and review the slides from the presentation which include links to necessary forms and applications. View FLC course offerings for the fall in the searchable course catalog and reach out to Erin with questions.

We are aiming to have the 23/24 AHS Course Catalogue available for students to review in early May, so they can request electives and we can create next year's student schedules by the end of the school year.

School Safety Updates

We have received funding through the School Security Disbursement Grant Program to update and implement security measures tailored to our new facility. This week, we invited Durango 9R Director of Safety and Security Kathy Morris and Chief Brett Demming from Fort Lewis College Campus Police to our staff meeting. Together, we reviewed the Standard Response Protocol in preparation for a conversation that took place in Wednesday's advisory. Students watched a safety drill video, preparing them for a secure drill we conducted this morning (what used to be called a lockout) and a lockdown drill we will do next Tuesday during 7th period. We encourage families to review the safety drill video together and to continue conversations at home. Student safety is a key part of our work, and increasing everyone's familiarity with the Standard Response Protocol is an important way to support it. Thank you for your help with this.

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

Upcoming Events

TWIGS Parent Coffee: Mon. 4/10, 8:30am

Spirit Week: Mon. 4/10 through Fri. 4/15

PSAT/SAT Testing Date (9th-11th grades): early release after testing for all: Wed. 4/12

CMAS Testing Date (11th grade): no early release: Thurs. 4/13

Junior/Senior Prom: Sat. 4/15, 7:30-10pm

LINK Internships (11th grade): Mon. 4/17 through Fri. 5/5

Career Exploration Field Trip (9th grade): Wed. 4/19, 8:30am-12pm

TWIGS Event: Supporting Teen Mental Health: Wed. 4/19, 6pm

TWIGS HIke with Osprey Alum Parent Mimi Gates: Fri. 4/21, 3:30pm

Sophomore Inspire Week (10th grade): Mon. 4/24 through Fri. 4/28

Fort Lewis College Rising Senior Night (11th grade): Thurs. 4/27

TWIGS HIke with AHS Co-Founder Jesse Hutt: Tues. 5/2, 9am

Transition to College Workshop (12th grade): Wed. 5/3, 5:30pm

TWIGS Happy Hour: Thurs. 5/4, 6pm at 11th St. Station

Osprey Theatre Company: This is Me! A Cabaret: Mon. 5/8, 7pm

Spring Junior Postsecondary Night (11th grade): Tues. 5/9, 5:30pm

All School Exhibition: Thurs. 5/11, 4-7pm

Senior Project TED Talks: Thurs. 5/11 through Thurs. 5/18

Final NEST Meeting (special schedule): Thurs. 5/18

Senior Supper: Thurs. 5/18, 6-8pm

Advisory Olympics: Fri. 5/19

Graduation: Fri. 5/19, 4pm

TPOL Prep (special schedule): Mon. 5/22 and Tues. 5/23

Transitional Presentations of Learning: Wed. 5/24 through Tues. 5/31

Last Day of School: Tues. 5/31