It was the trifecta of assignments.

Eighth -graders were asked to think about a favorite moment from their recent three-day Outdoor Education trips.

Then, they did some research on artists, their styles and their mediums and chose one they would like to emulate.

Then came the tough part, said eighth-grader Jozy Swallows. She wanted to paint the reflection of the mountains in the lake. "But that was kinda hard,”she said.

She did a slight pivot and focused only on the mountains. But instead of choosing one -- she did a mountain mash-up of sorts. She used both pencil and watercolor. 

“It’s a mix of Maroon Bells, Snowmass and Capital,” she said.

The eighth-grade core was a buzz this week with students showing their art and talking about the inspiration behind it with fellow students, parents and teachers.

“This is me coming out of my solo,” eighth-grader Sloane Alexander said about her painting. “It was one of my favorite moments. The sun was shining and it was just so beautiful.”

She chose artist George Seurat to emulate – she had seen his work in the Art Institute of Chicago. She liked how his paintings were a series of dots and were continuous on the canvas. 

“I don’t know if we will be graded," she said. "But for me, it was about remembering our ODE. If we put effort and thought into (the assignment)  it will be rewarding whether it’s graded or just saving a memory.”

Karl Klavins likes artist Megan Coyle, who uses mixed media for her art. He used Aspen leaves to create the illusion of waves in his artwork. 

Silas DelGrasso liked Andy Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans and Emmy Nelson chose artist Roy Lichtenstein and emulated his graphic art. 

Cat Saul’s self portrait received high praise from visitors. She used spray paint and oil pastels to emulate the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

“I like the materials and his style and his use of the materials,” she said.

Her parents are fans of his art and, “they thought this was cool,” she said of her self portrait in the woods. “They said they would put it up.”

If you go: 5:30 p.m. Monday Nov. 4 in the Aspen High School Library. Parents and students welcome!

Aspen School District Aviation & Aeronautics instructor Kate Short wants to inspire future aviators.

She comes back to ASD this school year as the Aviation & Aeronautics teacher. She taught aviation at ASD 2019-2021.

She is excited to partner with Aspen Flight Academy (AFA) – together they are training future pilots and aeronautical engineers, she said.

“It’s really great being back here,” Short said. “I want to have really engaging and informative classes; I want students to leave knowing more about aviation and aeronautics; and I want them to be curious about the possibilities.”

Short and AFA board members and instructors are hosting an information meeting at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 4 in the Aspen High School Library for parents of current aviation students and aspiring aviation students. Both parents and students are welcome to attend.

They will talk about the ASD and AFA programs, what is involved, how students can become pilots by the end of high school, and all of the aviation possibilities.

  Then, Short will show parents and students the classroom and simulators. 

“Once you get in the plane, you are hooked and you are off on a new adventure,” she said about her first time flying with a flight instructor.

ASD has a Diamond DA40 simulator – the same type of plane students would eventually learn to fly in the AFA.

“It’s a beautiful, turbo charged diesel that performs well in this altitude,” Short said.

She knows. She’s flown a variety of planes for corporate and private businesses and has been a flight instructor for students at all levels. Her ASD classes are for students in grades 7-12.

In her classes students get their first “flight experience” on small simulators where they learn the process, learn how to deal with emergencies, and practice stalling the plane and then recovering - something they will have to perform for their pilot license exam.

  Advanced students can further their aviation schooling through AFA. Short gives them the theory where they learn to think like pilots and engineers. AFA gives them hands-on flight instruction. Some students, Short said, are taking her class and flight lessons simultaneously.

  “We are really lucky to partner with the Aspen Flight Academy ,” she said.“This is something special that is not available to many teens, she said.

Completing ASD courses and AFA pilot training sets students up to be private pilots and go on to further their training at university, with the Air Force Academy and beyond.

Short hosts open lunch hours on Wednesdays for students who want information on the program and scholarships available for flight school, which include local, state and federal resources.

Photo: ASD's new Aviation & Aeronautics Teacher Kate Short talks with an Aspen Times reporter about the aviation program.

Take a break. Put on your headphones.

Listen. Enjoy!

(stay to the end for awesome John Denver music)

 ASD Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry is excited to introduce a new ongoing feedback form click here. 

This is a platform for you to share your thoughts, ideas, and concerns. The form is anonymous unless you choose to attach your name, and submissions will be reviewed weekly.

Each quarter, we will issue reports that outline how we addressed the suggestions or concerns raised. Your continued participation is invaluable in shaping the future of our district.

A three-pack goes for $15 and a single pair is priced at $5. The club will sell socks Oct. 14-18 at lunchtime in the AMS Cafeteria.

It’s that time of the year to ditch the sandals and flip-flops and jump into a pair of cozy socks.

Aspen Middle School students can help you out. It’s Socktober!

The 8th Grade Leaders Club is hosting its annual “Socktober” – a fundraiser for the Shining Stars Foundation.

“Shining Stars supports kids with cancer,” explained Hayden Bailey, 8th Grade Leaders Club student leader.

The club will be selling, wait for it . . . SOCKS!

They will set up a table at AMS with all colors and styles of socks. This year, they are working on a little more public relations to raise the interest, they said.

“Last year, we just said, Ok – It’s Socktober. This year we were more involved,” said Elijah Knight, 8th Grade Leaders Club student leader. “We had a great presentation (at the AMS school pep rally) and we threw socks out to the kids. It makes getting involved exciting.”

Children diagnosed with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses will participate in a variety of activities, including the Aspen Winter Games Program where they hit the slopes in Aspen and are given everything they need to ski or ride, including lift tickets, gear, lodging, meals, transportation, and one-on-one adaptive lessons. 

More than 200 participants -  including children, their medical team, instructors, and volunteers - participated last year in the adaptive snowboard and ski recreation program hosted by the Shining Stars Foundation.

“It shows them they are not alone with cancer,” Hayden said. So, buy a pair, or three, of socks, Elijah said. “Socktober does not Sock.”

** For more about the Shining Stars Foundation** click here.****

National experts and local therapists will present strategies for discussing substance with children of all ages 

Details: 5:30 - 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10 at Aspen Middle School

ALL are welcome.

Click here for more details.

National substance prevention experts and local therapists will discuss strategies for preventing substance use and misuse for parents and guardians of children of all ages at a workshop hosted by Aspen Family Connections.

The event, titled “Building Family Resilience: Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Strategies for Families with Children of All Ages,” will feature experts from the Soundcheck Prevention Network—an organization inspired by students of all ages who express a genuine desire to be healthy, support their peers and learn unbiased facts about alcohol and other drugs. Local therapist and addiction specialist Coulter Burch will also join the discussion.

“We invite all families in the community to join us for an open and compassionate conversation about substance use, substance misuse, and how we can set our children up for success in a complex and pressured world,” said Katherine Sand, Director of Aspen Family Connections, a family resource center on the Aspen School District campus. 

Issues that will be discussed:

• Parenting strategies for our youngest children to prevent early initiation and later substance use - because it’s never too soon to think about these issues

• Understanding how family history, environment and modeling can impact children’s attitudes to substance use

• How to talk to children about substance in an age-appropriate way

• Setting kids up for connection, engagement, success and healthy choices

• Preparing ourselves with confidence for our children’s futures 

• Understanding the connection between substance use and mental health

• What are our local resources?

School Bus Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

Every fall, you see us back on the roads: big yellow school buses filled with students, a sign that school is in session and that slow-moving student transport is back on the roadways.

After a few months without school bus traffic, it’s easy for motorists to forget bus-related laws, so here’s your annual reminder.In the United States, around half of our children rely on school buses for transportation.

These buses are among the safest vehicles on the road, but there’s a critical time when students are particularly vulnerable—loading and unloading. Strict traffic laws exist around bus stops for precisely this reason. School buses are allowed to control traffic with alternating flashing red lights and a stop arm to protect students during these moments.

Bus drivers aren’t just responsible for transporting children from point A to point B; they also ensure that young students are met by approved guardians, verify pickup lists, manage student behavior, and direct safe crossings. This process takes time, and we understand that waiting can be frustrating. Our routes overlap with peak times for commuting to work and returning home, adding to the pressures of a busy day. But whether these children are yours or your neighbors', they are the future, and ensuring their safety is a collective responsibility.

The law is clear: all motorists—including bicyclists—must stop for a school bus with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm. In Colorado, vehicles are required to stop at least 20 feet away and remain stopped until the lights are turned off. Unfortunately, passing a stopped school bus illegally is not uncommon, either nationally or in our community. Across the U.S., there are around 100,000 illegal school bus passings every day, leading to roughly 2.4 student fatalities annually. In our community alone, we see 5-10 illegal passings each week, with bicyclists increasingly among the most frequent offenders, often passing on the door side while children are disembarking.
We know that waiting for buses can feel like an inconvenience. But no one wants to live with the tragedy of injuring a child because they didn’t take an extra minute to wait. Please help us keep our community's children safe by always stopping for a stopped school bus. Even one incident is too many, and with dual-facing cameras on every bus, violations are actively being reported.
Let’s work together to ensure the safety of all our students—whether we know them personally or not.

Read Porter's NFL Picks, Week 4

It was Jan. 14, 2018, when Porter Hopson fell in love with professional football.

He was 7.

“It was the Minnesota Miracle,” he said when asked what was the moment that made him a huge NFL fan. “I remember watching that game at home.”

It was the play-offs. The Saints were winning by one point. There were 25-seconds left in the game.

“Vikings’ Stefon Diggs scored,” he said.

Porter shakes his head and smiles. That was it. He was hooked.

This week, the Aspen Middle Schooler, who is now 14-years-old, will send his weekly “NFL Picks” report, along with a brief rationale for his picks, to the AMS teaching staff. 

“I look at the strengths of the team to see what the quarterback is doing and see if they are good enough. Quarterback is key,” he said.

He has become the (unofficial) AMS sports analyst and aficionado of sorts. 

There is no betting or no brackets to fill out. It’s just a great conversation starter. And Porter can talk about football with anyone, says AMS Principal Amy Kendziorski.

She recalls one of the first serious conversations she had with Porter was about her beloved Packers. Now, she asks him questions about different teams and quarterbacks and wants to get his opinion.

Porter’s NFL Picks report started last school year with a few teachers on his mailing list, she said. Now, it’s a weekly anticipated must-read among the whole teaching staff.

“Porter is a kiddo who has grown up a ton since coming to Aspen Middle School,” she said. “That is the most fun celebration, is Porter taking on projects like this that are pretty special and schoolwide.”

Porter, who is from St. Louis, is a huge Kansas City Chiefs fan - he even dressed up one year as Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the AMS Halloween Fun Run. And, he’s been to a Chief’s game, where he got to watch from the box suites.

“My dad pulled off some magic,” he said, recalling the famous athletes who were among those in the nearby suites. He even planted a kiss on the cheek of the Mom of the Chief’s Defensive Tackle.

Porter works with Occupational Therapist Walker Mills at school. She is part of the Exceptional Student Services Team of special service providers, including school psychologists, physical therapists, speech therapists, counselors, paraprofessionals and behavior interventionists, who work closely with teachers and district administrators to support students and promote student self-esteem, self-efficacy, and sense of well-being by increasing performance, participation, and independence in meaningful student activities. 

Each week, she looks forward to her meeting with Porter, where no doubt they talk football.

“Porter knows more about football than anyone I have ever met,” Mills said.  “His expertise, passion, and willingness to share his knowledge of the NFL with friends in the Aspen School District make my heart smile. He is a joy to work with, and I am very proud of him.”

He’s not shy. He knows everyone. And he is kind hearted, fun and charismatic. Teachers write back to Porter and tell him what they think about his picks and conversations are born.

“It’s just fantastic,” Mills said. “Porter’s Picks  is a highly motivating and meaningful activity that enables Porter to engage with friends and Aspen School District staff while working on  several academic skills such as typing and editing, composing formal emails, as well as content writing- using persuasive and expressive language.”

And for those keeping score, in Week One of this NFL season, Porter was 12 and 4 in his picks.

Football is his favorite, but he likes other sports too. Last March, he did a podcast with a teacher during March Madness. And at the end of last school year, he did play-by-play announcing at the annual AMS Teachers vs Students Basketball Game. He models his delivery after Joe Buck of ESPN, his favorite sports commentator. And, he plays a game called Madden NFL, a football series sports video game with detailed playbooks and player statistics, that helps him hone his game winning predictions, he said.

Porter has not ruled out being a sports announcer in the future. “Maybe,” he said.

But for now, he leaves us with this for Week Four of the NFL season: “Give me the Lions,” he said, over the Seattle Seahawks. 

His thinking: They are playing at Ford Field. The Lions have not beaten the Seattle Seahawks since 2012. 

“This is the year they will win,” he said.