Hello AHS 10th Grade Students and Caregivers,

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing health and wellness education for our students, we will offer substance use and misuse education to all of our 10th grade students this semester. Erin Skyles (LSW, Dean of Student Wellness), in collaboration with 2 of our senior students, will provide 6 total class periods of parts of the Safety First curriculum for 10th graders in their core classes over the next month. These classes will take place in Humanities classes on 4/4 and 4/5, in Math classes on 4/9 and 4/11 and in Physics classes on 4/22, 4/23 and 4/24.

You can read more about the Safety First educational program HERE and HERE.

Safety First is an evidence-informed curriculum created by the Drug Policy Alliance in partnership with Stanford Medicine’s REACH Lab. The curriculum strives to educate teenagers on substance use and misuse through compassionate, scientifically accurate and honest information. Topics we will be covering include: What is a Drug?, How Drugs Work, The Impact of Drugs on the Developing Brain/Body, Harm Reduction, Important Information on Specific Drugs (such as marijuana, nicotine and alcohol), and Mental Health and Coping. 

Research shows that caregivers have significant influence on their youth’s decision-making process when it comes to trying or using illegal substances. Here are some resources for caregivers on this topic:

• Safety First Informational Booklet 
• SAMHSA: Why You Should Talk With Your Child About Alcohol and Other Drugs
• Partnership to End Addiction: Prevention and Early Action
• Child Mind Institute: How to Talk to Your Teen About Substance Use

Please contact Erin Skyles at [email protected] or (970)247-2474 x2270 if you would like to opt your student out of this program, receive more information or ask any follow up questions.

Upcoming Events

Senior Project TED Talks (12th grade): Mon. 4/1 through Wed. 4/10; see TED Talk Schedule

Osprey Theatre Company presents An Evening of Original One-Act Plays: Fri. 4/5 and Sat. 4/6, 7pm at the Durango Arts Center

CMAS Science Test (11th grade): Wed. 4/10

AHS Campus Tour: Thurs. 4/11, 8:45am; RSVP here

TWIGS Parent Coffee: Fri. 4/12, 8:30am

Application Case Study Workshop: Sat. 4/13, 9am to 12:15pm

Professional Development Day (no school): Mon. 4/15

PSAT10 (10th grade): Wed. 4/17

SAT (11th grade): Thurs. 4/18

PSAT8/9 (9th grade): Fri. 4/19

Animas Wilderness Experience: Fri. 4/19 through Thurs. 4/25

TWIGS Event: Increasing Protective Factors to Support Teens: Tues. 4/23, 6pm



AHS Prom: Sat. 4/27

Sophomore Inspire Week (10th grade): Thurs. 4/25 through Wed. 5/1

TWIGS Happy Hour: Fri. 5/1, 6pm at 11th Street Station

LINK Internships (11th grade): Wed. 5/1 through Tues. 5/21

Class Trip to Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park (9th grade): Tues. 5/7 through Thurs. 5/8

Professional Development Day (no school): Mon. 5/6

Teacher Appreciation Week: Tues. 5/7 through Fri. 5/10

TWIGS Parent Coffee: Fri. 5/10, 8:30am

All School Exhibition: Thurs. 5/16, 4-7pm

Graduation: Fri. 5/24, 4pm at Community Concert Hall

Transitional Presentations of Learning: Tues. 5/28 through Thurs. 5/30

Last Day of School: Thurs. 5/30