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Newsletter

May 23rd, 2019

Admin Address

Dear Parents,

Six Years and Counting

It is hard to believe that we are completing our sixth year of operation. Aspen View Academy has grown so much in six years and gained a great reputation in the community as a school where kids feel they belong and learn in a safe and caring environment.

Thank you for an amazing year and trusting us with your child. I'm not sure if you realize just how many people are involved in the success of your child at AVA. From the office staff who are the first faces many people see as they enter the school, the cleaning crew who keeps AVA in top shape, the PARAs who work closely with all students, the lunch room staff who make sure your kids eat healthy food in a safe environment, the specialists who provide students extra opportunities to practice various skills and concepts, the health room staff who provide that extra care when an accident happens, all of the teachers who give their time and efforts to provide an outstanding education to all children, the governing Board who volunteer their time to make sure the school stays true to our mission and vision and, finally, to the administration who have an unwavering commitment to making AVA the absolute best educational option for your child. Thank you to the committees and foundation that also go above and beyond the call of duty to help establish that sense of community that I think is so important for any school to have. I also want to thank you, the parents, for your time and dedication to the school. I truly appreciate everything you do for the staff and students. I am honored to lead such an amazing school.

Two things really define Aspen View Academy – climate and culture:

School climate refers to the quality and character of school life. School climate is based on patterns of students', parents' and school personnel's experience of school life and reflects norms, goals, values, interpersonal relationships, teaching and learning practices and organizational structures. At AVA, we work hard to make sure we maintain a positive school climate at all times.

School culture refers to the way teachers and other staff members work together and the set of beliefs, values, and assumptions they share. A positive school climate and school culture promote students' ability to learn. You and your child need to know you belong at AVA, and this is a place you enjoy coming to. Seeing kids running into school with smiles on their faces and leaving school with smiles on their faces shows us that we are doing things right. We will challenge your kids to perform their best and to take chances. We will give them the tools and resources to conquer those challenges.

I wish you all a fun, safe, and relaxing summer break!

Sincerely,

Bob Barber

A Message From the Principal

Exciting academic changes coming to AVA for the 2019-2020 school year

I am continually impressed by what an amazing school AVA is. We truly have the best staff, parents, and students anyone could hope for. While I believe we have a great academic program, I always strive to be better and to make sure all of our students are ready for high school and beyond. There is a saying, “if you keep doing what you have always done, you will keep getting the same results”. With our standards and expectations, that is good. However, at AVA, we don’t settle for good, we expect great.

AVA has always offered an amazing academic program rich with Core Knowledge and has set high expectations for our students. We provide the resources and support to help our students achieve and grow academically and emotionally. I previously mentioned that we need to always explore how we can do even better. I am excited to share these changes for the upcoming school year:

1. Adding a STEM Lab rotation for students in grades K-5.

AVA will have a dedicated K-5 STEM Lab for the next school year. Mr.

Barstad will be our STEM Lab teacher. Each week, all K-5 students have

the opportunity to participate in STEM Lab with our designated STEM lab

teacher. The STEM Lab incorporates all aspects of STEM through:

Engagement in the scientific process and completion of hands-on experiments;
Use of computers, tablets, and microscopes;
Employment of drafting techniques and construction of various projects;
Drawing pictures of results and looking for patterns; and
Calculating and analyzing results, as well as performing various measurements.

2. Adding Spanish for students on grades K-5.

We have heard the feedback from our parent surveys loud and clear –

parents would like our students to have Spanish in elementary school. It’s

never too early to begin learning a language: it’s fun, it promotes healthy

development, and the many cognitive and social benefits will last a

lifetime. Spanish is the second most common language in the U.S., and

learning a language is easier at a younger age. I am excited to share that

Ms. Amescua will be AVA’s elementary Spanish teacher.

Students in grades K-5 will now have two specials per day; one which is a fairly traditional specials rotation and another that we refer to as STEAM Power. The class content of the rotations will look like this:

Announcements

Summer Office Hours:

May 27th-31st 9am-3pm
Every Wednesday (closed July 3rd & 31st) 9am-noon

Any items left in the Lost and Found as of Wednesday May 29th at noon will be donated. Please stop by to claim your items.

Elementary School

On Monday, August 5th, be on the lookout for an email from your 19/20 teacher.

K-5 Meet and Greets are scheduled for Thursday, August 8th, 11:00-6:00 and Friday, August 9th, 8:30-12:30.

Middle School

Be on the lookout sometime in June for an email with elective choices. This email will go to parents since student emails will be locked over the summer. Your middle school student's schedule will be available through your parent portal sometime before Curriculum Night (Thursday, August 8th). Fall electives and descriptions will be on our website (click the Middle School tab) the first week of June.

Picture Day will take place during Meet and Greets for PreK and Elementary students. Middle school students will be photographed on their first day of school. All students should be wearing their uniform for the photos. Please have your student photographed even if you're not ordering as this picture is for the yearbook. We will have a make up picture day in October. You will be receiving a letter in the mail over the summer from the photographer.

Happy Summer Break AVA Families! The Uniform Policy has been updated. Please be sure and review the new policy for changes to the 2019-2020 school year. The biggest changes are the acknowledgment page that will need to be filled out by your AVA student(s) and a parent (to be returned at the beginning of the school year) and the removal of PE uniforms for middle school students. The changes are highlighted below for a quick reference. Again, please read the policy prior to doing your back to school uniform shopping. Feel free to email the Uniform Committee at [email protected] with any questions. Have a wonderful and safe summer!

If skirts, skorts, jumpers, and dresses are worn and are above the knee in length, it is required to have either opaque tights or leggings (ankle or Capri length) on underneath. Tights and leggings are to be worn within the parameters outlined in the policy.
Hats cannot be worn inside the building on uniform dress days or free dress days
Removed the PE uniform
Added acknowledgment page on the uniform policy

AVA tied with Renaissance for the most students that participated in the annual Town of Castle Rock, Tri-the-Rock on Sunday, May 19, 2019. Way to go AVA!!

Attention New Kinder Families

Are you looking to meet other Kindergarten Families? If so, please email [email protected] to learn more about upcoming playdates for Kindergarten Students starting at AVA for the 2019-2020 school year.

Looking for ways to help your student continue growing academically over the summer months?

We are offering tutoring at AVA over the summer for your student!

How it works:

Parents and teachers schedule tutoring sessions directly with one another by email, and parents pay the teacher directly.

$25 per student for 30 minutes
$50 per student for 60 minutes
$25 per student for 60 minutes for groups of 3 or more

Click here for more detailed information and for a list of teachers tutoring.

AVA BASE (Before and After School Enrichment) for the Fall is now open. Click here to register.

Click here for the Events Calendar

Board Highlights

May Board meeting Highlights:

Principal Barber provided a comprehensive update of security practices and measures in place as well as continuous improvements
After input from parents, administration, staff & the Uniform Committee, the board completed a 2^nd read of the uniform policy and approved an updated policy for the 2019-2020 school year. The updated policy is available on the AVA website
At the recommendation of Principal Barber, the board approved a new handwriting curriculum from Benson Handwriting for the 2019-2020 school year

Upcoming in June:

June brings our annual strategic planning session. On Saturday June 22, we will spend the day setting board committee goals, identifying improvement opportunities, updating the board strategic plan, updating board goals, strategizing and setting board priorities for the 2019-2020 school year.
No board meeting in July!
After June, the next regular board meeting will be in August.