• **Students find their passions, and fun, in more than 20 clubs **

• Students’ mental health, well-being has improved, survey shows

Aspen Middle School student Charlotte Case smiled and gave her best elevator pitch to perspective Dungeon & Dragons club members.

A combination of her charm and the idea of role playing sounded fun to many students. 

“We got 30 students signed up,” she said. “That is the most we’ve ever had!”

Aspen Middle School’s expanded club program has effectively fostered student friendships and a strong sense of belonging, leading to significant improvements in mental health and overall well-being.

AMS has always had clubs. But last school year, teachers and counselors set out to create more clubs, build some hype and host a Club Fair, where students could get information about each club from club members and sponsors.

“After COVID, we noticed that our students were finding it harder to connect with each other,” said AMS Counselor Andrea Williamson, who advises the 8th grade Leaders Club. “We made an all out effort to create as many clubs as we possibly could.”

AMS teachers and counselors collaborated with Aspen Family Connections (AFC), a family resource center located on ASD’s campus, to reach out to community partners, staff and students.

The clubs were an instant hit. 

Some of the clubs are Rubik’s Club, Chess Club, Climate in Action Club, Hispanic Club, Young Leaders of Aspen Club, Best Buddies, Art Club, Book club, Journalism, Dungeons and Dragons, Fencing and STEAM-EE (STEAM plus economics and entrepreneurship.)

“If 10 students sign up, we run the club,” Williamson said.

AMS Principal Amy Kendziorski said student ideas and student club leadership have been valuable in creating the club rosters and planning club activities. All the clubs help create an inclusive and safe environment at AMS.

“Staff and students alike have shared the positivity that spreads through clubs, and the friendships built are so rewarding for our students,” Kendziorski said. “The students make new friends, and associate school with fun, which is always awesome.”

The payoff has been engaged students feeling connected and empowered and friendships that may not have otherwise happened.

“Our clubs’ program at Aspen Middle School has been an excellent way for some students to foster friendships and feel a sense of belonging,” said AMS Counselor Melanie Thulin, who advises the Best Buddies Club. “Clubs can provide an environment for students to connect based on their interests and commonalities and expand their social world.

"I have seen friendships created through joining a club and how the friendship has extended outside of the school setting,” Thulin said.

Having friends and activities has provided a boost to mental health and well-being, said Katherine Sand, Director of Aspen Family Connections. Clubs are a great place for students to take on leadership roles and make healthy choices.

A recent 2023 Healthy Kids Colorado survey, AMS students’ self-reported mental health and well-being has statistically significantly increased from 2021 to 2023. For example, the percentage of students who reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in the past year decreased significantly.

“We know that one one of the most important protective factors for children and young people is to be engaged, connected and find their purpose and passion,” Sand said. “Joining a club is a great early first step towards that, and that's why building these strengths is an essential goal of our prevention program.”

Before students arrived for the 2024-2025 school year, Aspen School District teachers and paraprofessionals spent a morning with inquiry coach and bestselling author Trevor MacKenzie, who has mentored educators worldwide.

MacKenzie, whose passion is supporting schools in implementing inquiry-based learning practices, kicked off the school year with an informative and deeply inspiring conversation about proven classroom strategies.Throughout this school year, MacKenzie will visit ASD schools to coach and mentor teachers to build capacity on Inquiry and Assessments. Inquiry is at the core of the International Baccalaureate Continuum.

MacKenzie has authored best-selling books on the topic. Prior to his visit this month, every teacher received a copy of his book, Inquiry Mindset, Assessment Edition. See MacKenzie’s presentation here. 

“We, the IB team, felt privileged to invite Trevor to kickstart the school year and we are looking forward to ongoing coaching and mentoring from him,” said Harpreet Mehta, ASD Director of IB and Student Learning.

ASD is working toward creating lifelong learners who are internationally minded and have respect for all, and who understand that everybody with their differences can also be right, Harpreet Mehta said.

“As a PreK to 12 continuum, we have set the wheels in motion to ensure that the Approaches to Learning and the Approaches to Teaching guide each and every classroom in our district from here on,” she said.

ASD teachers and students celebrated their successes with MacKenzie. 

“I invite you to cheer because there is a lot to celebrate,” Sarah After, IB Middle Years Programme Coordinator, told an auditorium of teachers when they arrived back on campus this month.

ASD is beginning its second year as an official MYP district. There are 508 MYP units and 272 MYP classes, After said.

“Last year, we were among the first and few in the U.S. that offered the official MYP Certificate for tenth graders,” After said. “We also implemented the MYP Personal Project and Community Project and assessed them together.”

This school year, there are 710 MYP students and 122 MYP staff members.

MacKenzie’s graduate research focused on identifying and removing the barriers to implementing inquiry-based learning in the K-12 setting, said Kim Zimmer, Instructional Director of Learning and Innovation. He encourages teachers to go beyond inquiry and consider co-designing learning experiences and assessments alongside their teacher. 

“As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, I urge teachers to take one risk in their classrooms this year, especially within our International Baccalaureate program and ideally within the scope of inquiry,” Zimmer said.

"Innovation and intrinsic motivation is key to preparing our students for a global future, she said. “We have amazing technology tools and peripherals at ASD to help teachers and students along on this journey.”

Aspen Elementary School IB Primary Years Programme Coordinator Dilip Mehta said AES started working on implementing PYP during the pandemic.

“It is no small feat,” he said. “And we authorized with impressive feedback from IB!"

"It took three years, 600 plus students, 80 plus teachers, eight AES Coordinators, and three IB PYP Coordinators with the guidance of our powerhouse principal Ashley Bodkins for the success," he said

ASD launched into its IB journey in 2001 with the Diploma Programme for students in grades 11 and 12.

“We have expanded over the last 23 years so that all of our graduates take at least one DP course, and over 85 percent of our students take three or more IB DP classes,” said Eileen Knapp, DP Coordinator. “In the spring, we earned successful feedback on our DP five-year evaluation.

Knapp went on to say that Aspen students are building resilience and high aspirations throughout their enrollment in the IB

“We believe in IB for All,” she said. “It is so exciting to see all of this work and to graduate students who are ready to make a difference in this world!”

Aspen School District opened the week with new initiatives aimed at elevating academic achievement and building on long-standing traditions.

The 2024-2025 school year opened with a single-start time. All students in all schools begin at 8 a.m. The move back to a single-start time benefits parents of children in multiple grades and allows athletic teams to start and end after-school practices earlier.

Congratulations, Aspen School District!

“As we wrap up the first week of school, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to our incredible staff, students, and parents,” said ASD Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry. “Their dedication and hard work have set a strong foundation for what promises to be an extraordinary year.“And to our parents, their support is invaluable. We couldn’t do this without their partnership, and I’m grateful for the trust they have placed in us.

"Here’s to a year filled with learning, growth, and success for everyone in our school community. Let’s continue to strive for excellence and make this an unforgettable year!” 

**The week’s highlights:**

Building upgrades: Teachers and students walked into school buildings and classrooms with fresh paint and carpet and electrical and plumbing upgrades. Aspen High School students saw their gyms polished and restriped and new floors throughout the school that brighten up the hallways.

“Our rooms are looking great!” said AES fourth-grade teacher Katie Fox. “A fresh coat of paint and the new carpet have made AES look fresh. Joe (Waneka, Facilities Director) and his team really went above and beyond helping with the move and refresh. It has been a fabulous start. Best start in a decade! "

Outdoor Education: Teachers and students are preparing for their Outdoor Education trips that for some grades begin next week. This year, ASD is excited to announce that its Outdoor Education program, under the direction of Katherine Gleason, is the first and only school district to earn accreditation from the Association of Experiential Education (AEE).

To earn AEE accreditation ASD showed how it met more than 150 minimum standards assessed by the organization as being essential to providing quality, well-managed outdoor and experiential education. 

“Our program is unique. Outdoor Ed is for every single student in our district,” said Katherine Gleason, Outdoor Education Coordinator. "We make accommodations as necessary, as we do with all students, so they can have their best opportunity for success. It’s a really special opportunity for teachers to have lasting connections with their students.

PYP: AES teachers and staff hit the ground running with their IB Primary Years Programme, which makes Aspen School District an IB World School - the only one in the state of Colorado - that provides a fully integrated IB curriculum from Pre-K to 12th grade for all students in the district.

Fourth-grade teacher Fox said:

“We cannot wait to inquire with our students. The transdisciplinary approach of PYP  allows us to grow in each unit of inquiry (UOI). Our current UOI will dive into the form and function of the figurative and literal heart and our government! The unit culminates with a fabulous trip to Denver to share inquiry at the Capitol.”

CTE: Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers start the new school year with CTE teacher  Anita Moose spearheading the AHS Information Technology (IT) pathway at Aspen High School. The IT pathway will be our 8th pathway offering for students (others are Aviation, Business, Culinary, Media, Outdoor Leadership, Woodshop and Engineering). CTE is also happy to announce that teacher David Clark has rejoined the CTE team this year and returns as the Hospitality and Culinary Arts teacher.  He will bring ProStart back and prepare Aspen's next generation of professional chefs. (He also will still teach history).

“Great things are happening around CTE are happening at Aspen High School.” said Sheri Smith, CTE Director and Business teacher.

College Fair Highlights:

• Date & Time: Sunday, October 6, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Workshops start at 10:00 a.m.; college tents open at 11:00 a.m.
• College and Program Representatives: Over 200 college admissions officers and career and technical program reps will be attending to meet and interact with students and their families.
• Workshops: More than 35 workshops will cover important topics such as financial aid, essay writing, trade programs, and more.
• Spanish Support: Spanish interpreters will be available throughout the Fair to assist with communication and ensure that language is not a barrier to accessing valuable information.

Dear Community Members, 

I hope this message finds you well. We are writing to provide an update on the Maroon Creek Trail project and to inform you of some important measures we are implementing to ensure the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists during this work. 

**Traffic Impacts: ** 

Due to the construction, the intermittent single-lane traffic on Maroon Creek Road will continue during all days except for the first day of school, August 21, 2024. We understand this may cause some inconvenience and appreciate your patience and cooperation as we work diligently to complete these necessary improvements. There will be no impacts to the bus stops or bus routes on Maroon Creek Road. 

Maroon Creek Bridge Closure and Pedestrian Detour Information: 

The Maroon Creek bridge is currently not accessible to pedestrians or cyclists as we are facilitating construction work. Please refer to the attached map for detailed directions on alternate pedestrian and bike paths. To ensure safety, a flagger will be stationed at the detour to assist pedestrians crossing Maroon Creek Road. 

Revised Work Hours: 

In an effort to minimize the impact on traffic during school days, we will revise our construction work hours for work impacting Maroon Creek Road. Work impacting Maroon Creek Road will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This adjustment is intended to reduce congestion and ensure smoother traffic flow on Maroon Creek Road during the peak times of school and commuter traffic. 

Ongoing Communication: 

We will continue to monitor the construction schedule and make any necessary adjustments to the detour and work hours as needed. Your safety is our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding as we work to construct the Maroon Creek Trail. 

If you have any questions or require further information, please feel free to reach out to me or visit our project page: https://www.aspen.gov/1406/​Maroon-Creek-Trail-Project   

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

Aspen School District Tharyn Mulberry opens the "New Teacher Orientation" with a little ditty from the archives -- the 1977 performance of Jimmy Buffett, who played for students in the Aspen High School cafeteria.

Aspen School District is the first district in Colorado authorized to offer IB from Pre-K to grade12 IB, in their "IB For ALL" academic program.
Aspen Elementary School has been authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme - an educational framework that aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

The PYP authorization makes Aspen School District an IB School District - the only one in the state of Colorado - that provides a fully integrated IB curriculum from Pre-K to 12th grade for all students in the district.

In the authorization letter from International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Director General Olli-Pekka Heinonen said: “We commend your school’s educators, administrators, students and families for their active roles in choosing to offer the PYP.”

Last summer, Aspen Middle School was authorized as an IB Middle Years Programme. Aspen High School has offered the IB Diploma Programme since 2001.

Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry, who led the IB teams through the curriculum development and implementation process, said a fully aligned Pre-K-12 educational program is transformative.

“We believe that a high-quality curriculum should be given to every student and they should have access to that,” Mulberry said. “We are very excited that we will be one of the first school districts in the country to be a fully integrated and aligned IB school district.”

AES Principal Ashley Bodkins said the journey students, staff and families have taken to become an IB Primary Years Programme has been incredible.

“All participants have put in a great deal of time and effort learning the framework, developing units, writing policies and understanding what it means to be a PYP school,” she said. “The most rewarding part of the process is the outcomes for our students. They have fully embraced the Learner Profile (attributes of a successful learner) in their everyday language in the classroom, on the playground and at home. Students take ownership of their learning through inquiry based units.”

ASD Director of IB Continuum and Student Learning Harpreet Mehta explains that PYP, the last piece of the ASD IB puzzle, offers an inquiry-based, transdisciplinary curriculum framework that builds conceptual understandings and knowledge and develops the skills and values as a connected whole. 

“It is a student-centered approach to education for children,” she said. “Every learner in a PYP school will always have some of the IB Learner Profile traits at one time or another. This makes learners see themselves as successful and adept - therefore having self-efficacy.”

 The IB curriculum provides opportunities to inquire into human commonalities through units of inquiry and daily practice to build international mindedness, Mehta said. The assessment within this framework is rigorous and celebratory; and at the same time it is also taken to inform instruction instead as a measure of teacher and student success.

Mehta said that research has now proven that PYP students have excellent outcomes in national assessments (Key findings from global research on the impact of IB Programmes) because there is increased use of inquiry, student voice, global perspectives, open mindedness, individualization in instruction, celebration of diverse student accomplishments, student engagements-relationships-agency-ownership of learning, teacher and parent engagement and reflections. 

“We have great teachers who are passionate about what they do in the classroom,” she said. “Aspen Elementary School teachers are really caring and really involved and they create and trigger that curiosity of students. Our students have the right conditions to be able to prepare themselves for the new global economy and the evolving canvas.” 

Visit ASD’s IB page for more information.