Tuesday, March 19, 2013

AHS Weekly Update- Week of March 18th, 2013


It’s an incredibly exciting week for AHS! Remember that Animas High School will be closed next week for SPRING BREAK! Campus will re-open at 7am on Monday, April 1st. Please take a moment to review the following updates:

Special Facilities Announcement
9th Grade Model UN Simulation
2013 Graduation Information
Nominate an Outstanding Animas Teacher
Donate Now for AHS Sports Swap
College Counseling Update
Testing & Assessment Update
LINK Update
State Legislative Update
Registration and Re-enrollment for 13-14
Upcoming Events & Exhibitions

Special Facilities Announcement


AHS students and staff, parents and families, our neighbors and community partners are encouraged to join Animas High for a special announcement concerning our school’s facilities. We look forward to seeing you THIS THURSDAY from 5 to 6pm at the Rochester Hotel (back patio) in Downtown Durango.

We look forward to having you join us for the release of some very exciting news regarding Animas High School and our programs of excellence!




9th Grade Model UN Simulation

Sara Price’s 9th Grade Humanities students will be conducting a Model United Nations simulation on Wednesday March 20th from 5:00-7:30 PM at Fort Lewis College, in Noble Hall room 130

In this conference, students are tasked with learning about and representing another country.  They write and try to pass resolutions based on their country’s perspective, but they also try, as much as possible, to achieve consensus within the conference.  In this conference, students will be debating what to do about the Palestinian refugee issue. 
This conference marks the culmination of several weeks of work in which students research the issue and their country perspective, write resolutions, rehearse and refine speeches and practice running the conference.  The simulation event gives them the opportunity to bring all their knowledge and skills together to solve a world problem. We hope to see you there!

2013 Graduation Information

Last Friday, AHS’s Graduation Committee released the following information to the Class of 2013 and their families regarding graduation on May 24th, 2013. We look forward to having you join us for this very special event!

Ceremony Information
Location:  Fort Lewis College Ballroom, 1000 Rim Road, Durango, CO.
Date:  Friday, May 24.
Times:  Doors will open at 3:00 pm, and the ceremony will begin promptly at 3:30 pm.  There will be an informal reception from 5:00-6:30 pm on the terrace outside the ballroom (weather permitting).  If the weather is bad, we will have the reception in the ballroom.
Photographs:  We will have a photographer taking pictures of graduates as they receive their diplomas.  In addition, there will be a space set up right outside the ballroom for families and graduates to take photographs together.

Graduation Tickets and Seating
Assigned Seating:  Each graduating senior will receive 6 tickets to distribute to their family members.  These tickets will guarantee assigned seats in the front section of the ballroom.  We will have ushers on hand to assist family members in locating their seats.
Open Seating:  In addition to the assigned seating, we also have open seating in the back of the ballroom for approximately 60 people on couches and chairs.  Beyond that, there is standing room around the edges of the ballroom and in the back.  If you anticipate needing extra seats and space, please plan on arriving promptly at 3:00!
Tickets Mailed:  The physical tickets to graduation will be mailed home on April 26.  This will give us time to adjust based on ticket exchange participation (see below for details on this).

Ticket Exchange
We will be facilitating a ticket wait list for families who need more than the 6 tickets per graduate.  We will add names on a first come-first served basis.    All requests should go to: ahsticketexchange2013@gmail.com

If you have tickets you won’t be using, please notify us ASAP using the email below so we can pass them on to families who have more than 6 attendees.  In the email, please state the following information:

1.    Your student’s name
2.    Your name
3.    A good email address for you
4.    How many tickets you would like to give to the exchange

If you need extra tickets, please let us know ASAP, and we will add your name to the waiting list in the order that we receive your email.  In the email, please state the following information:

1.    Your student’s name
2.    Your name
3.    A good email address for you, so we can send you confirmation of any extra tickets you receive.
4.    How many tickets you need, with 4 additional tickets being the maximum number allowed.

All ticket quantities and distributions will be finalized by April 15.

Please note that if you receive tickets through the ticket exchange, you may be seated separately from the rest of your family.  We will try to avoid this when possible, but there are no guarantees.  The ONLY way to be added to the ticket exchange is through the email below!

Please email ahsticketexchange2013@gmail.com so that we may fairly assign the extra tickets.

Thanks from Nancy Stilwell and Diane MacGuffie!


Grad Invitations and Announcements
Graduation invitations and announcements are ready to order at Kohlers!  Please use the attached order form to place your orders at Kohlers.  Invitations are sold in packages of 6, and you may order as many announcements as you would like.
Please see the ordering form for pictures of the invitations, and all pricing and ordering information.
Deadline for Ordering:  April 10, 2013

Senior Celebration Supper
Location:  Animas High School
Date:  Thursday, May 23
Times:  6:00-11:00 pm
Details:  This supper is sponsored by the AHS Faculty and 12th Grade Advisors.  It is a celebration of our inaugural class, and our last chance to be together as a group before they graduate and fly the nest.  Please note that at their request, this supper is for seniors and AHS faculty only; the senior class expressed a strong desire to be with their tight-knit school community one last time.  The supper is being coordinated by Claudia Dubit.  Please stay tuned for her call for parent volunteers to assist with food and dĂ©cor!
Caps and Gowns
All caps and gowns for graduating seniors have been ordered and paid for.  Thank you seniors!

Student Speaker Contest for Graduation
For this graduation, we will be holding a contest to select two student speakers who will give speeches at graduation.  Students are encouraged to bring all of their creativity and wisdom to the table for this!  We are looking for speeches that are inspiring, entertaining, and that reflect the class of 2013.
1.    Number of Students:  2 student speakers will be selected.  Joint speakers may be accepted (2 students only) if they stick to the time limit below.

2.    Time Limits:  Speeches should be between 5-7 minutes.

3.    Process:  There will be two rounds of selection.  In the first round, students must submit a written speech to Lori Fisher (lori.fisher@animashighschool.com) by April 15th.  From that first group, the panel will select finalists.  Those finalists will be performing their speeches to a judging panel of teachers, students, and parents during the week of April 22nd, and the final selection of graduation speakers will be announced by the end of that week.

4.    Contact:  Any questions about this process should be directed to Lori Fisher, at lori.fisher@animashighschool.com. 


Nominate an Outstanding Animas Teacher

Animas High School’s teachers are exceptional and the guidance, support and inspiration they provide our students each day directly contributes to our school’s academic and cultural excellence. Often, the Head of School is asked, “what can I do to appreciate my students teachers?” Please consider taking time to nominate one of our all-star faulty members for the 2013 Polis Foundation Teacher Recognition Awards:

Jared Polis Foundation: Teacher Recognition Awards
The Jared Polis Foundation will award 10 Colorado PreK-12 public school teachers with Teacher Recognition Awards, which include a $1,000 discretionary award for the teacher and a $1,500 teacher-directed school grant. Principals, school employees, students, parents and teacher colleagues can nominate a teacher. The nomination deadline is April 5th. Click here to learn more.

Donate Now for AHS Sports Swap
Donations are NOW being accepted for the 3rd Annual AHS Sports Sale that will take place on April 20th from 10:00 a.m.– 3:00 p.m. at the Boys and Girls Club.
Drop off any type of sports equipment at Animas High School 3206 North Main Avenue during Regular School Hours- Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

College Counseling Update

Be sure to check out this valuable resource for SUMMER PROGRAMS that we’ll be updating throughout Semester 2.

Scholarships, Grants and Financial Aid opportunities abound. Stay current and informed on all funding possibilities by checking in frequently with our College Counseling Department’s Scholarship Webpage.

Junior College Night 
Date: Wednesday, April 3rd @ 6pm
Location: AHS Lodge

Join the AHS College Counseling team for an overview of the college admission process and how to prepare for the ACT and SAT.  We will also have a panel of AHS seniors to answer questions about the process as well as share their experiences as they navigated the world of college admissions. Questions? Please contact Rachael Sands at internship@animashighschool.com.

FLC Concurrent Enrollment Application Workshop
Do you have questions about concurrent enrollment at Fort Lewis College? Do you need help with the application? Then join Ian Ringgenberg, Academic Success Advisor at Fort Lewis College, to learn more about concurrent enrollment at FLC for next fall.

Date: Thursday, April 4th
Time: 12:30 pm- 1:10 pm
Location: AHS Lodge
Questions: Contact Rachael Sands 259-3013 or at internship@animashighschool.com


Testing & Assessment Update

An SAT prep course will start on April 1st!  This course will be for juniors only and will be the last prep course for this school year.  Juniors should have had an opportunity to sign up for this SIG in advisory.  Email kristi.good@animashighschool.com for more information.

As an early reminder:  Juniors will be taking the Colorado ACT at AHS on April 23rd.  So, the month of March will be a great time to take a practice test, review math concepts and English grammar, improve speed reading and quick interpretation of charts and graphs!!!!  This week, juniors can talk to Kristi Good about developing an ACT study plan to follow while on their internship and Spring Break.  


LINK Update

Animas High School’s Daily Class Schedule has been modified to allow our student body to attend the 2nd Annual LINK Exhibition this Friday.
Revised AHS Class Schedule March 22, 2013
8:15- 9:05      Period 1
9:10- 10:00     Period 2
10:05- 10:55     Period 3
11:00-11:50     Period 4/5
11:50- 12:20     Lunch
12:25-1:15      Period 6
1:20- 1:30   Gather in Advisory Groups & Walk to Discovery Museum for LINK Exhibition. (Please make sure that students have everything they need as we are dismissing from the museum.)
2:00- 3:00     Enjoy LINK Exhibition
3:00-3:15     Assembly with HOS
3:15 pm        Dismiss from Durango Discovery Museum

Please note that students will be dismissed from the Durango Discovery Museum. Campus will remain open until 3:30pm for any needs or concerns students/families may have. Follow all of AHS’s LINK interns by visiting their LINK PORTFOLIOS HERE!

State Legislative Update

Please take 5 minutes to Support CO. Charter Schools!

On Tuesday, March 19, the Senate Education Committee will discuss a rewrite of the Colorado School Finance Act. This is the first time in a generation that the School Finance Act has been revised. The last time this happened, charter schools were just entering the scene. But now, charter schools are 20 years old and represent nearly 11% of Colorado's total K-12 public school children.

Please click the link below to ask the Senate Education Committee to remember charter schools when considering the School Finance Act. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to ensure that charter school students are treated more equitably when it comes to public school funding.

This is your chance to gently remind legislators that charter school parents, teachers and leaders are taxpayers and voters, and are paying attention to the School Finance Act Rewrite.

Please click the link below to send a pre-drafted message to members of the Senate Education Committee.

We will provide you with updates on developments regarding the new School Finance Act and will likely be asking you to send additional messages to legislators as this moves forward.

Thank you!

Vinny Badolato
Colorado League of Charter Schools
Click the link below to log in and send your message:

Registration and Re-enrollment for 13-14

Registration packets for incoming freshman along with re-enrollment registration forms for current AHS students were sent out Monday, February 25th. All new registration and re-enrollment registration materials are due back to Animas High by Monday, April 1st. Enrollment and registration questions or concerns can be forwarded to the AHS Registrar at enroll@animashighschool.com or contact us via the school’s Main Office at 970-AHS-AHS4

Enrollment for next year’s 9th, 10th and 11th grades continues! Students interested in enrolling at AHS should complete an online intent to enroll form  For additional enrollment information and to view our calendar of upcoming enrollment events, please visit our website

Upcoming Events & Exhibitions
Annual AHS Blood Drive will take place Wednesday, March 20th from 1:30 to 3:30 pm in the Lodge at Animas High School. Please contact Colleen Dunning via the school’s main number, 970-AHS-AHS4 or email colleen.dunning@animashighschool.com with questions or to sign-up! Find the Hero in You!

AHS Student Ambassadors will be participating in a service opportunity on Thursday, March 21st from 10 am to noon. For the 3rd year in a row, our student ambassadors will be assisting with the annual Soup for the Soul event at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.


LINK INTERNSHIP PROJECT EXHIBITION:  Friday, March 22 at the Durango Discovery Museum from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.   The public is encouraged to attend!

2013 Colorado Charter Schools Rally
Thursday, April 11
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Join hundreds of charter school students, parents, teachers, principals and other supporters at the 2013 Colorado Charter Schools Rally on Thursday, April 11 at 11:30 AM. Hear from state legislators who support choice and innovation in education. Also, see your fellow charter schools perform on stage!

2013 marks the 20th anniversary of Colorado charter schools. This year's rally is our chance to show the state's current elected officials the "face" of the 20th wave of Colorado's charter schools students, and thank those responsible for passing the Colorado Charter Schools Act back in 1993. We want to have as many charter school students at the Capitol on April 11 as possible. WE'D LOVE YOUR PARTICIPATION! 

A limited number of travel subsidies are available. Click here to download an application. Additionally, winners of the Colorado Charter School Essay Contest will be honored during the rally. There is still time to submit essays. Click here for more information.


For the 2012-13 AHS School Calendar and additional upcoming events,  CLICK HERE




Animas High School Values:

   Rigorous academics, where all students are prepared for college success

   Culture of excellence, where students are held to high expectations

   Strong faculty-student relationships, where students are well known  

   Engaging learning, where students see the relevance of their education