Please take a moment to review the following updates:
All-School FINAL EXHIBITION
TEACHER RECIEVES AWARD
Robotics Team to Present at Discovery Museum
Scheduling Change
AHS Family needs help hosting…
All-School FINAL EXHIBITION
AHS will hold our final exhibition of the 10-11 school year next Thursday, May 5 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Anima High School. We look forward to seeing you at this very important event.
TEACHER RECIEVES AWARD
Jared Polis Foundation Recognizes Johnathan Fisher as Outstanding Public School Teacher
Durango, Colorado – April 19th, 2011 – Animas High School, a free, public charter school, is pleased to announce that Humanities teacher Johnathan Fisher has been recognized by the Jared Polis Foundation as an outstanding classroom teacher in Colorado.
The award honors only fifteen K-12 public school teachers statewide. Honorees receive a $1,000 award each as well as a $1,000 teacher-directed grant to implement at their school.
Mr. Fisher was nominated by the parent of a ninth grader at Animas High. The nomination essay discusses Mr. Fisher’s qualities as a teacher who models learning for his students. Below is an excerpt:
To Mr. Fisher, “personalization” is not simply knowing the students well, but allowing them a forum for finding their authentic voices and demonstrating their evidence-based opinions. He encourages students to learn how to advocate for themselves and others, and to appreciate varying perspectives. Often he questions students to look for the underlying assumptions of statements they make.
In congratulating Mr. Fisher on his award, Head of School Michael Ackerman noted John’s commitment to the school’s mission and vision. “John is continuously refining both his teaching and his projects. He consistently expects the most from each student, knowing each of them so well. In terms of Animas’ in-house professional development, his suggestions and resulting discussions also help refine the school’s work with students.”
John and his wife, Lori, came to Durango two years ago, seeking a life in which they could both teach in a mountain town with a project-based, technologically integrated school. Both immediately made an impact on students, families and fellow teachers at Animas High School.
Robotics Team to Present at Discovery Museum
On March 5, the Animas High School Robotics Team traveled to the First Tech Challenge Championships in Denver and was awarded the first-place trophy! Impressed? So is the Durango Discovery Museum. So much so that they've invited the entire team to present and demonstrate their winning robot in their Mensch Spark Shop.
Come meet some of Durango's very talented students and see up close and personal their radical and ambitious robot design. The event is scheduled on Thursday, April 28, from 3:30-4:30pm. All ages are invited, and it's FREE.
Scheduling Change
Due to overwhelming student feedback related to May’s busy schedule, AHS has decided to postpone the Class of 2013’s college road trips. As we ready ourselves for final exhibition and tPOLs, the faculty want to be receptive to the student’s request to postpone their trips. We look forward to traveling with the Juniors next fall. The school will use the time previously scheduled for college trips to facilitate SEX ED with our tenth graders. Questions about the scheduling change should be forwarded to the HOS via email.
AHS Family needs help hosting…
We are looking for a family to host the daughter of a family friend. Julie, a 15 year old student from France, is visiting Durango from July 10th to July 26th. She enjoys the outdoors, and speaks moderate English. If you are interested in sharing your home for 5-7 days of her stay, please contact AHS Parent, Lisa Gutt @ 247-5534.
