The Aspen School District is now accepting applications welcoming out-of-district families of students in grades 9 - 12 for the 2025-2026. Due to budget considerations and ASD's changing staffing, ASD may run a second lottery closer to fall for other grade levels.“The number of available spots is dependent upon availability in the grade level requested,” said Tharyn Mulberry, Aspen School District Assistant Superintendent. “In this ‘lottery,’ students are drawn at random. Every student has an equal shot.”Families interested in enrolling their children in the Aspen School District can complete an application form. The applicants will be assigned a random three-digit number. Once the numbers have been assigned, an electronic random number generator will be used to select the winning numbers until all openings are filled. Applications are due by the close of business, on March 28, 2025.
Lottery details:* Any out-of-district student who will be in grade 9 or 12 and is not enrolled in ASD schools can apply.

• Priority is given to applicants if they have a sibling already attending one of the ASD schools.
• Applicants are assigned a number and drawn at random.
• The deadline to apply is March 28, 2025.
• Winners will be notified no later than April 4, 2025.
  Winners will need to decide at the time of notification if they are accepting the invitation to enroll their child/children in the Aspen schools.“ASD teachers and school leaders have worked tirelessly this school year on our completely aligned preK-12 International Baccalaureate curriculum that ensures a continuum of programs, education philosophy, and a consistent approach to learning across the grades,” said Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry. “We are excited to build on that great foundation laid by our entire staff to offer this strong educational program to all of our students – it’s both rigorous and inclusive.”If a lottery winner decides not to accept the invitation to attend the Aspen schools, the district will move to the next randomly selected lottery winner until all designated openings have been filled. A child selected through the lottery process will be allowed to attend Aspen schools through their senior year.Click here for the application.

The Aspen School District is now accepting applications welcoming out-of-district families of students in grades 9 and 12 only for the 2025-2026. Due to budget considerations and ASD's changing staffing, ASD may run a second lottery closer to the fall for other grades levels.“The number of available spots is dependent upon availability in the grade level requested,” said Tharyn Mulberry, Aspen School District Superintendent. “In this ‘lottery,’ students are drawn at random. Every student has an equal shot.”Families interested in enrolling their children in the Aspen School District can complete an application form. The applicants will be assigned a random three-digit number. Once the numbers have been assigned, an electronic random number generator will be used to select the winning numbers until all openings are filled. Applications are due by the close of business, on March 28, 2025.
Lottery details:* Any out-of-district student who will be in grade 9 or grade 12 and is not enrolled in ASD schools can apply.

• Priority is given to applicants if they have a sibling already attending one of the ASD schools.
• Applicants are assigned a number and drawn at random.
• The deadline to apply is March 28, 2025.
• Winners will be notified no later than April 4, 2025.
• Winners will need to decide at the time of notification if they are accepting the invitation to enroll their child/children in the Aspen schools.“ASD teachers and school leaders have worked tirelessly this school year on our completely aligned preK-12 International Baccalaureate curriculum that ensures a continuum of programs, education philosophy, and a consistent approach to learning across the grades,” said Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry. “We are excited to build on that great foundation laid by our entire staff to offer this strong educational program to all of our students – it’s both rigorous and inclusive. ”If a lottery winner decides not to accept the invitation to attend the Aspen schools, the district will move to the next randomly selected lottery winner until all designated openings have been filled. A child selected through the lottery process will be allowed to attend Aspen schools through their senior year.Click here for the application.

Dr. Tom Dodd takes the reins from AMS Principal Amy Kendziorski, who is retiring after 35 years of public education at the end of this school year. Dodd served as Assistant Principal at Aspen High School from 2001-2003.

Dodd comes to ASD with more than 30 years of experience in public education. He currently serves as Assistant Principal of Castle View High School in Castle Rock. He has served as Principal at Windsor High School in Windsor and Lesher Middle School in Fort Collins. He also has worked with Solution Tree Consulting as an educational speaker and leader. He has served as president of the Colorado Association of School Executives and as an International Baccalaureate leader.

ASD hosted a meet and greet with four candidates and received feedback from students, staff and parents. Two AMS students were included on the interview panel that met with all four candidates.

“Dr. Tom Dodd is a proven leader with a deep understanding of what makes middle school students thrive,” said ASD Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry. “His experience with the IB program, his track record of success at the middle school level, and his appreciation for our unique mountain community make him the perfect fit for Aspen Middle School. We are excited to welcome him and look forward to the impact his leadership will have on our students, staff, and families.”

Dodd holds an undergraduate degree from Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania; two Master’s degrees from Adams State University and a Doctorate from Penn State University.

Aspen High School Athletics is proud to announce the launch of an exciting new initiative: a Digital Wall of Fame. Using state-of-the-art software from Rocket Alumni Solutions, Inc., this platform will celebrate the accomplishments of our past and present athletes. Located in the Aspen High School Gym Lobby, the interactive Wall of Fame will also be accessible online, making our athletic history available to everyone.
Over the years, Aspen High School has unfortunately lost valuable records, photos, and other documentation of our athletic achievements. This project aims to recover and preserve these pieces of history. We are reaching out to alumni, parents, and the Aspen community for help. If you have team photos, broken records that were not documented, or other memorabilia, please share them with us to contribute to this lasting tribute.
This project is about more than preserving history; it’s an opportunity to engage and empower our students. Sarah Ward and her journalism classes are gathering photos, yearbooks, and any related documentation, while Anita Moose and her Skier TV classes are filming, conducting interviews, and designing the visual elements of the Wall of Fame. Together, they are researching archives to uncover forgotten milestones and achievements. Through this collaboration, students are gaining invaluable real-world skills in journalism, digital organization, and historical research while contributing to a meaningful initiative that celebrates Aspen High School’s athletic excellence.
The Digital Wall of Fame will feature a searchable database where users can explore athletic achievements by year, sport, athlete, or team. The platform will include dynamic content such as photos, videos, social media integration, and opportunities for sponsorship. Regular updates by students, faculty, and community members will ensure the Wall of Fame remains a living document of Aspen’s athletic excellence.
The Wall of Fame is not just for Aspen High School; it’s for the entire Aspen community. By sharing stories and achievements, we aim to strengthen the bond between the school and the community. This initiative will inspire current and future athletes while preserving the legacy of those who came before them.
We invite everyone to participate in this exciting project. Whether by contributing memorabilia, sharing stories, or supporting the initiative in other ways, your involvement is vital. Together, we can celebrate the accomplishments of Aspen High School athletes, preserve our athletic history for generations to come, and inspire pride and engagement within the Aspen community.

We want to take this special opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude for the Aspen Booster Club unwavering support in making this incredible project a reality. Their dedication and generosity have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life, and it simply would not have been possible without them.

For those interested in learning more about the Aspen Booster Club or enrolling as a member, we are excited to share that this information is now readily accessible via our new interactive TV as well! Their support continues to make a meaningful impact in our community.

For more information or to contribute, please contact Aspen High School Athletics. Let’s come together to honor our past and build a bright future for Aspen High School Athletics!

CLICK TO SEE AHS WINNING ART

Six Aspen High School Students recently brought home eight awards - including four Gold Key awards - for their artwork presented in the regional contest of the prestigious national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program.

The regional contest, the Colorado Art Region of Scholastic Art and Writing, draws more than 5,000 pieces of artwork into the contest, which is open to students in grades 7-12. It is the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7–12, ages 13+ and has been a program in Colorado since 1947.

“I think it’s incredible to get recognition as an artist within the community, and I am very appreciative of that!” said Evie Dziedzic Szostak, AHS student who won two awards last year and two this year. “I have had amazing experiences working on art at the high school and have been consistently encouraged to try new things, expanding my skill set and enjoyment of creating.”

Judges, who are industry leaders in the visual arts, look for work that exemplifies originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. The awards are: Gold Key, Silver Key, Honorable Mentions, and American Visions & Voices. The Gold Key winners’ work will advance to the national competition. National awards are expected to be announced in March.

“I’m so incredibly proud of all of my students but right now I’m especially proud of the students who entered their work to Scholastics and received recognition,” said AHS Art Teacher Julie Trahon.

Aspen High School Student winners are:

• Elizabeth Foster, junior, won a Gold Key award in the Painting category for work titled “Piscis Forum.”

• Gia Galindo-Bartley, senior, won a Gold Key in the Photography category  for work titled “LOCK IN!” She also won an Honorable Mention in the Mixed Media category titled “The Pool.”
• Aurelia Tunte-Stuck, junior, won a Gold Key award in the Mixed Media category for work titled “Channel:Life.”
• Graceann Viola, senior, won a Gold Key in the Ceramics & Glass category for work titled “Doofus the Clown.”
• Evie Dziedzic-Szostak, senior, won two Honorable Mentions in the Painting category and the Printmaking category for works titled “An Observer's Echo” and “Polarities.”
• Kirilee Eklund, senior, won an Honorable Mention in the Painting category for work titled “Magpies.”

"Don't feed the plants!" Aspen High School and Theatre Aspen present the Spring musical, Little Shop of Horrors.

Don't miss this human-eating plant and all the shenanigans.
Flyer design by AHS student Mateo Tafferelli.