Greetings Ospreys,

Congratulations to our AHS Mountain Biking Team, who took 1st place last weekend in their division at the race in Eagle! Next up, the Snowmass race, in just over a week. 

We may not have taken a trophy home at the Men in Heels fundraiser for Women's Resource Center on Tuesday, but we certainly had plenty of fun, and we raised over $700 for women and families in our community--so we're calling this one a win, too. Thanks to all the Ospreys who donated and who turned out to cheer on the team--and to our stellar stiletto-heeled runners, John, Todd, Zoell and Jake!

Did you happen to catch the front page of the Durango Herald this morning? Reporter Megan K. Olsen's story, "Exchange program immerses Japanese student in Durango culture," profiled our very own junior Aoi Yamagishi, who is staying with freshman Tucker Owen's family for the year. International students bring such a valuable global perspective to our school community and we're grateful for Osprey Families like the Owens' who open their homes. We're also glad to have 9th grader Teresia Jantscher at AHS this fall on exchange from Austria, staying with her aunt Christina Rinderle. Heading out in the other direction, Gisella Hughes is off to Argentina next week for her junior year abroad. We'll miss her, but know she's in for a transformative experience! 

Returning students received their PSAT and SAT score reports from last spring in advisory this week, which include information about how to login to the College Board website to access free, customized test prep. Read more about this year's schedule for standardized testing, including the PSAT/NMSQT for juniors on October 12, here

We had a great visit with folks from the Colorado Charter School Institute today, who were here as part of our reauthorization process. After sitting in on classes and meeting with students, staff, board members and parents, they shared how impressed they were with the high levels of engagement, academic rigor and caring culture they saw on campus. One CSI Board Member remarked that the 10 minutes of Kyle's Calculus class he observed was better than the full year he took as a high schooler. We're grateful for their time and glad to hear their positive feedback!

Upcoming Events  

Mark your calendar and plan to join us next Friday, 5:30pm at Rotary Park for our Osprey Back-to-School Social, an informal gathering for students and families. We'll eat some food, play lawn games, mix and mingle. Please bring a dish to share.

There is a Professional Development Day scheduled for staff on Monday, September 26; no school for students that day. 

We’ve decided to bring back an old tradition not seen at AHS for a number of years. On the afternoon of September 28 from 2-3:30 at Santa Rita Whitewater Park, students and staff will be celebrate our school by racing watercraft across the river and back in the AHS Regatta. For the next two weeks, advisory groups will design and build cardboard watercraft with the goal of paddling them across the river and back. We'll bus students from school to the park after Advisory and will release from Santa Rita at 3:30. Each family must complete a permission slip and return it to the main office or email to [email protected] no later than Tuesday, September 27.

Next weekend, As You Like It opens at the Merely Players Underground in the Tech Center. Get your tickets now to see AHS Spanish and Journalism teacher Jessica McCallum moonlighting in the role of Audrey in this groovy version of Shakespeare's pastoral comedy. As is her way, Jessica wrote a sonnet when asked by her director,Mona Wood-Patterson, to describe her perfect day:

"There are countless paths to a groovy day;

I could have one in the rain or the shine.

I much like days full of laughter and play,

But the tear-filled ones, too, can be divine.

I bounce through most days in search of the mirth

To frolic and dance and love as I please,

But oft I’m content to stroll ‘cross the Earth

And contemplate life with my friends, the trees.

Any day holds the potential to thrive;

I stay thus grateful for the chance I get

To mark the times I feel extra alive

And inspir’d to write a sudden sonnet.

A day as you like it marry depends

On viewing it through the grooviest lens."

Senior College Essays: Stories of Our Seniors' Lives

Cassidy Novak '23 and Ella Hansen '23, Animas Quill

For the past two weeks seniors have brainstormed, written and revised their important life stories to fit the Common Application and other college essay prompts. 

Senior Humanities teacher Lori Fisher shared two main reasons that this is the first project of the year. The first reason is the valuable storytelling and creative writing skills that prepare students for the rest of the year. Second, “it’s important for [our] sanity and mental health,” according to Lori. With large projects coming up in fall, it is important to stay ahead of the workload and the college application process. 

Lori’s favorite part of college essays is getting to know people really well from only a few hundred words. She relayed, “typically [students] used storytelling and they have used creative writing techniques and words to really bring themselves to life on the page.” 

View a few exceptional sample essays from Za Barrett, Roan Harvey and Julia Glotfelty.

The next time you are in the East building, you can get to know our seniors and get a closer look at their essays, the colleges they are applying to, and their amazing photographs. The display will be exhibited through November.

We hope you all have a "groovy" weekend and thanks for all you do to help the Ospreys soar!

Upcoming Events

RMACAC College Fair: Sun. 9/18, 12-3 in Albuquerque (more info)

Board Meeting: New Campus Budget Review: Tues. 9/20 via meet.google.com/buh-dfws-poc

Osprey Back-to-School Social: Fri. 9/23, 5:30pm at Rotary Park

AHS Mountain Biking Team Race: Sat. 9/24 in Snowmass

Professional Development Day (no classes): Mon. 9/26

Non-Partisan Voter Registration Drive: Tues. 9/27

Student Council Election: Wed. 9/28

AHS Regatta: Wed. 9/28, 1:40-3:30 at Santa Rita Park (permission slip)

TWIGS Happy Hour: Wed. 9/28, 6pm at Lola's Place, 725 East 2nd Ave

TWIGS Hike with Osprey Parent/Dog Trainer Cheryl Albrecht: Fri. 9/30, 8:30am at Twin Buttes Trailhead

School Excellence Committee: Fri. 9/30, 11:45am

Western Slope College Fair: Sun. 10/9, 10am-2pm in Aspen (more info)

TWIGS Parent/Guardian Coffee: Mon. 10/10, 8:30am at AHS

PSAT/NMSQT (11th grade): Wed. 10/12, 8:30am-12:00pm at AHS

Development Committee: Thurs. 10/13, 1pm

Fall Break (no classes): Fri. 10/14

Professional Development Day (no classes): Mon. 10/17