AHS Weekly Update- Week of Jan. 31st, 2011

Looks like we’ve got a scary week here at Animas High School! Please familiarize yourself with these monstrous updates:

College Night
2011 Snowdown Parade
Got Donuts? Fundraiser
Exhibition events
2011 PAC Surveys
17th Annual Colorado Charter Schools Conference
SACPIE Vacancies
2011 Charter Schools Week


College Night

Thursday evening, February 3rd from 5 to 6:30 PM, Animas High School will be hosting a College Night for parents and families of the Class of 2013. Please join us to hear how Animas High will be supporting and guiding our students through the college admissions process. It’s an exciting time for 10th graders as we prepare our college files, practice application and interview skills and get ready for college tours this May. Come hear how you can support AHS in preparing all our students for post secondary success!

Questions about this event can be forwarded to the College Counseling Dept. via email at college@animashighschool.com


2011 Snowdown Parade

Tuesday, February 1st, any students interested in helping with the float or participating in the Snowdown parade can meet Tamsin in the lodge after school. We will be finalizing the float for the parade on Friday, February 4th. Look for another email blast from PAC regarding the parade on Thurs. of this week.

Also, parents can donate bags of candy to be passed out at the parade.
They can be dropped off with Maureen in the AHS Main Office.

If you have any questions, please call Tamsin Rohrich, AHS Snowdown Parade Coordinator (970)507-0116 or e-mail her at mattam@centurytel.net


Got Donuts? Fundraiser

We are currently sponsoring a mini-fundraiser, selling doughnuts in conjunction with Skills for Living and Learning. Here's how to participate:

1. Buy 1 dozen glazed doughnuts for $11 or 1 dozen chocolate iced
doughnuts for $12. There is an order form at AHS Main Office.
Make checks payable to: SKILLS FOR LIVING AND LEARNING.

2. Pick-up doughnuts on Saturday, February 5 at the Fun Center:
29603 Hwy 160 from 11:00-3:00 or Skills for Living and Learning in Bayfield from 12:00-3:00.

OR.....

Call 387-8250 to place an order, pick up and pay on February 5th.

Deadline for orders is TUESDAY February 1st.


Exhibition events

Thursday, February 24th, 2011, Mr. fisher’s 9th grade students will be participating in a Model UN simulation. This annual project has quickly become a “student favorite” and we look forward to hearing what plans this year’s Security Council has in store for the delegates! Stay tuned for more details in future weekly updates.

Also on the 24th, Mrs. McCallum’s 9th grade students will be holding two live performances here on campus at 4 and 6 PM sharp! Join our students as they recreate, through the art of puppetry, Shakespeare’s A Mid Summer Night’s Dream. We are excited to see our student’s perform their 21st century variation of this classic piece of theater and literature.

2011 PAC Surveys

We count on your feedback to make our school stronger every day! Please Don't complete your parent survey today!

Currently, we have a 55% response rate and we NEED and EXPECT 100% participation. A high response rate demonstrates your parental commitment to AHS, which will in turn help with funding for and evaluation of our school.

Deadline for survey completion is Friday, February 4th.

Complete the survey online at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3WSFFHT

or pick up a written survey at the AHS Main Office.


17th Annual Colorado Charter Schools Conference

Free Half Day for Parents
at the Colorado Charter Schools Conference

The Colorado League of Charter Schools is excited to offer parents a FREE, half-day admission to the 17th Annual Colorado Charter School Conference (a $100 value)! Meals not included.

Friday, February 18, 2011
9:00am-12:15pm
Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield
500 Interlocken Blvd, Broomfield, CO 80021(map)

More Info: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=pb4fy6bab&et=1104359317800&s=6671&e=0015dfyjjLfKGFCPv8nZPDtmyC8mSbPPL97oz_eg4cBHWAZvEcxtTq_vlsAhhZ27jF_np56ZGd8Sna0NzEvoHLUNpt3GEI181nQmkj8v6j3hoqMvXVOsbfx9H9fjhWvJPljabi9UsPXQrkKMPTUHIcukg==

Free Parent Registration is limited to the following break-out sessions.

Agenda:
8:30 - 9:00AM Registration

9:00 - 10:30AM - Session I: Unique Charter School Parent Involvement Tools and Resources

Charter schools understand, appreciate, and need parent involvement in their schools. Is parent volunteerism stagnant or challenging in your school? Come and learn about new ways to motivate your fellow parents to be more involved, and discover new and creative ways to serve your school community.

Confirmed Panelists: Lindsay Neil, Stand for Children ColoradoKarin Piper, Charter school mom and author of Charter Schools: The Ultimate Handbook for Parents
Renee Anderson, Charter school mom, SkyView Academy, Highlands Ranch
Sandy Hay, Charter school mom, Peak to Peak Charter School, Lafayette, and Parent Engagement Network organizer

10:45 - 12:15PM- Session II: Parent Grassroots Advocacy at the State and Local Level
Charter schools continually face political and financial challenges at both the state and local level. The degree of parents' grassroots involvement can make a significant impact in the outcome of policy, legislation, and elections. Participants will hear from elected officials about the power of grassroots advocacy in effecting positive results for charter schools and parental choice in education.

Confirmed Speakers: Vincent Badolato, Colorado League of Charter Schools Terrance Carroll, former Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives
Dr. Debora Scheffel, Colorado State Board of EducationMary Seawell, Denver Public Schools Board of Education
Meghann Silverthorn, Douglas County School District Board of Education
Networking Luncheon (cost of lunch $35, please register and pay for lunch when registering for the free parent workshops)
Parents are invited to stay for lunch to hear from keynote speaker, Peter Groff, CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, while networking with hundreds of charter school parents, leaders, and other supporters. Cost for lunch is $35.

Visit http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=pb4fy6bab&et=1104359317800&s=6671&e=0015dfyjjLfKGHdq9jB3ztbjD2_3ShYNrFd3UACi85RjlHwa2RiLiUyCUm-BBBm0Ll7IasCoa3n_TEtN-_tMLj4eMdeB6YwUydUULqjyvLQuRqAK_pfKNGqt5XfUvZyqYZrx1R2bP6Vwt2WTy3CSHsp4UWzTvtwNL1qCOsNkAeH7LvBu51NJbM9Qg== for more information about the Colorado Charter Schools Conference or email mailto:conference@coloradoleague.org.


SACPIE Vacancies

The State Advisory Council for Parent Involvement in Education (SACPIE) invites applications from candidates to fill a 3-year membership term. As required by State law, a representative of an organization that represents parents and students who advocate in the areas of equality and justice in education, racial justice for youth, and immigrant rights must fill this position.
In accordance with SB09-090, 22-7-301 C.R.S., the Council has been charged with the task of informing public education entities concerning best practices and strategies, aligned with national standards for family-school partnerships, for increasing parent involvement in public education and promoting family and school partnerships in order to help improve the quality of public education and raise the level of students’ academic achievement throughout the state.
The membership appointment will be for a 3-year term. Please be aware that there are no funds to reimburse costs of travel to participate on the Council. Furthermore, members are expected to be active participants in the Council and attend at least 75% of monthly meetings in the metro Denver area, or by audio conference call-in. Meetings are currently held on the third Tuesday of the month from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Individuals interested in serving on the SACPIE council are requested to furnish the following required application information: ·Name and contact information, including mailing address and email address·Preferred title (Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., etc.)·Entity you represent, if any·Gender·Ethnicity·Congressional District of residence, if known·Statement of Interest·Information on background (i.e., curriculum vitae and/or resume, that provides enough information for the State Board of Education to make a decision on qualifications).
Please email applications to: Ashante Butcher at ashante.butcher@state.co.us and note in the subject line: “SACPIE Application”.
To apply by U.S. mail, send to: Ashante ButcherColorado Department of Human Services1575 Sherman Street, 1st FloorDenver, Colorado 80203
All applications and supporting material must be received at the email or U.S. mail address above no later than 5:00 p.m. March 4, 2011. Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Ashante Butcher at 303.866.5950 or Sandra Searls at 303.652.2559.
SACPIE will review application materials and recommend candidates for the vacant position to the State Board of Education for approval. This appointee will be joining others from the public school community including: parents, parent information and resource centers, non-profit organizations, statewide parent organizations, school executives, local boards of education, and other designated representatives.

2011 Charter Schools Week

"Charter Schools Rock!"
2011 Charter Schools Week and Rally, April 25-28

Charter Schools Week is a great educational opportunity, not only for students, but for parents, teachers, administrators and Colorado legislators as well. This is also a great chance for the charter school community to come together to voice
support for equitable funding and treatment for Colorado charter school students and to educate elected officials about why "Charter Schools Rock!"

Tour the State Capitol.
Witness proceedings on the House and Senate Floors.
Meet with Elected Officials.
Participate in Forum Discussions about the Legislative Process.
Visit nearby sites such as the Denver Art Museum, Denver Mint, Civic Center Park and more.
Don't Miss the Colorado Charter Schools Rally on April 28 from 11:30am-1:00pm. Featuring guest speakers, musical performances, motivating speeches and more!

Seeking School Performances at the Rally!

The Colorado League of Charter Schools is seeking school performances for this year's Charter Schools Rally, ranging from choirs, bands, dance teams, and more.

If you think your school has what it takes to perform in front of hundreds of charter school supporters, please click here to fill out a short application.
School performances will be selected by March 11. Schools must be willing to transport their student entertainers, as well as any instruments, props, etc. to the State Capitol on Thursday, April 28 and be ready to perform by 11am. Lunch will be provided. Travel subsidies are available.
Questions? Please contact Sarah Pearman at spearman@coloradoleague.org or 303-989-5356, ext. 114.

AHS Weekly Update- Week of Jan. 24th, 2011

It’s another busy week at Animas High. Please take a moment to review the following updates:

NWEA Testing
College Night
2011 Snowdown Parade
Got Donuts? Fundraiser
Exhibition events
AHS Fashion Guide


NWEA Testing

This week marks the end of winter NWEA testing here at campus. This is the final round of NWEA assessments for the Class of 2013. The next round of testing will be CSAPs which begin the week of March 14th, 2011. Questions about testing can be forwarded to the Student Services Dept via email at jeff.digiacomo@animashighschool.com

College Night

Next Thursday evening, February 3rd from 5 to 6:30 PM, Animas High School will be hosting a College Night for parents and families of the Class of 2013. Please join us to hear how Animas High will be supporting and guiding our students through the college admissions process. It’s an exciting time for 10th graders as we prepare our college files, practice application and interview skills and get ready for college tours this May. Come hear how you can support AHS in preparing all our students for post secondary success! Questions about this event can be forwarded to the College Counseling Dept. via email at college@animashighschool.com


2011 Snowdown Parade

On this Thursday, Jan. 27th, any students interested in painting props or passing out candy for this year's Snowdown parade should meet in the Lodge after school. We need at least 6 students to dress up like Zombies and pass out candy alongside the AHS float. These "Candy Zombies" will need to be of the kinder, gentler type...we don't want to scare the small children!

Also, the parade team is looking for the following items:

1. Old cans of paint in white, black and red

2. LED Christmas lights (curtain and string styles) – we’re looking for the LED's in pure white (light blue in appearance). We won't need these until Thurs. Jan. 3rd at the latest.

3. Old black sheets or cloth

4. If you don't have any of the above items and still want to help, we will need several bags of mini candies.

All items can be left in the AHS front office.
**Please put your name on everything you want us to return to you!**

If you have any questions please call Tamsin Rohrich, AHS Snowdown Parade Coordinator (970)507-0116 or e-mail her at mattam@centurytel.net


Got Donuts? Fundraiser

We are currently sponsoring a mini-fundraiser, selling doughnuts in conjunction with Skills for Living and Learning. Here's how to participate:

1. Buy 1 dozen glazed doughnuts for $11 or 1 dozen chocolate iced
doughnuts for $12. There is an order form at AHS Main Office.
Make checks payable to: SKILLS FOR LIVING AND LEARNING.

2. Pick-up doughnuts on Saturday, February 5 at the Fun Center:
29603 Hwy 160 from 11:00-3:00 or Skills for Living and Learning in Bayfield from 12:00-3:00.

OR.....

Call 387-8250 to place an order, pick up and pay on February 5th.

Deadline for orders: February 1st.


Exhibition events

I hope everyone was able to see our 10th graders put on a fantastic exhibition event last week. Our students never cease to amaze us with their impactful and inspirational work. The momentum continues with two ninth grade exhibition events coming up soon.

Thursday, February 24th, 2011, Mr. fisher’s 9th grade students will be participating in a Model UN simulation. This annual project has quickly become a “student favorite” and we look forward to hearing what plans this year’s Security Council has in store for the delegates! Stay tuned for more details in future weekly updates.

Also on the 24th, Mrs. McCallum’s 9th grade students will be holding two live performances here on campus at 4 and 6 PM sharp! Join our students as they recreate, through the art of puppetry, Shakespeare’s A Mid Summer Night’s Dream. We are excited to see our student’s perform their 21st century variation of this classic piece of theater and literature.

AHS Fashion Guide

Each day, the faculty and administration at AHS work hard ensuring our students are meeting cultural expectations related to appropriate dress. Beginning with meetings at student orientation and continually reinforced throughout the school year is the school’s expectation for students to adhere to the AHS Fashion Guide (dress code). We are asking parents/families to please make sure students are following the AHS Fashion Guide before heading out the door for school. The support we receive from home allows us to focus on the important work we do with students each day. Parents, if you are confused on what is acceptable dress at AHS or if you do not understand the guidelines, please let us know! Copies of the Fashion Guide (and the entire Student Handbook) are always available here at school or can be sent to you electronically via email from the Assistant Head of
School’s office. Please contact jake.lauer@animashighschool.com with your questions or concerns.

WE ARE CONFIDENT OUR STUDENTS KNOW WHAT’S APPROPRIATE DRESS. HELP US MAKE SURE THEY ARE COMING TO SCHOOL EACH DAY PREPARED AND READY TO LEARN!

Exhibition Event Tonight!

10th Grade Humanities Exhibition Tonight from 5:00-6:30 p.m.

at Animas High School.

In John Fisher's Humanities class, students have been studying colonialism and imperialism on the African Continent. Students have read King Leopold's Ghost, a text that uncovers Belgian imperialism in the Congo, have researched African countries of their choosing, and have interviewed individuals from the countries they are studying.

The goal of this project has been to demystify Africa, and to study the continent from the perspective of people who live there. At exhibition, students will be presenting narrated slideshows that discuss history of imperialism/colonialism in their country, and illustrate the perspective of people living in their country today.

In Lori Fisher's humanities class, students have been grappling with the issue of genocide. After doing a case study of the Rwandan Genocide, students have turned their attention to other genocides of the 20th century, and are delving into many questions and issues surrounding their genocides. Topic covered include the motivations of the killers, the experiences of the victims, the long-term consequences of genocide, the role of international involvement, and the social psychology of genocide. Students are building exhibits for our genocide museum, and hope to educate and inspire viewers.

Please note that due to the graphic nature of genocide, these exhibits may not be appropriate for young children. _________________________________________________________

Reminder for Parents and Students....

EXHIBITION IS TODAY from 5:00-6:30 at AHS

Exhibition is mandatory for all 10th Grade students.

Professional Dress: It's formal for students. Boys should be in slacks, dress shoes, and button up shirts with ties. Girls should be in slacks or appropriate shirts, with a business like top (nice sweater, button up shirt, etc)

Event Parking: Please park on 2nd Avenue and parking areas in the vicinity. We will have many community members at this event and parking is limited.

Because of the graphic nature of this particular exhibition, please do not bring young children.

This is an opportunity for our students to show off their projects and answer questions. We encourage you to see lots of student projects while you are there and interact with many of the students.

Students not learning a lot in college, tracking study finds

DENVER POST
Students not learning a lot in college, tracking study finds
By Eric GorskiThe Associated Press
Posted: 01/19/2011 01:00:00 AM MST

A new study answers questions about how much students actually learn in college — for many, not much — and has inflamed a debate about the value of an American higher education.
The research of more than 2,300 undergraduates found 45 percent of students show no significant improvement in the key measures of critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing by the end of their sophomore years.

One problem is that students just aren't asked to do much, according to findings in a new book, "Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses." Half of students did not take a single course requiring 20 pages of writing during their prior semester, and one-third did not take a single course requiring even 40 pages of reading per week.

That kind of light load sounded familiar to University of Missouri freshman Julia Rheinecker, who said her first semester of college largely duplicated the work she completed back home in southern Illinois.

"I'm not going to lie," she said. "Most of what I learned this year I already had in high school. It was almost easier my first semester (in college)."

Three of the five classes she took at Missouri were in massive lecture halls with several hundred students. And Rhein eck er said she was required to complete at least 20 pages of writing in only one of those classes.

"I love the environment, don't get me wrong," she said. "I just haven't found myself pushing as much as I expected."

"Academic rigor"

The study, an unusually large-scale effort to track student learning over time, comes as the federal government, reformers and others argue that the U.S. must produce more college graduates to remain competitive globally. But if students aren't learning much, that calls into question whether boosting graduation rates will provide that edge.

"It's not the case that giving out more credentials is going to make the U.S. more economically competitive," said Richard Arum of New York University, who co-authored the book with Josipa Roksa of the University of Virginia. "It requires academic rigor. . . . You can't just get it through osmosis at these institutions."

The book is based on information from 24 schools, meant to be a representative sample, which provided Collegiate Learning Assessment data on students who took the standardized test in their first semester in fall 2005 and at the end of their sophomore years in spring 2007. The schools took part on the condition that their institutions not be identified.

The Collegiate Learning Assessment has its share of critics who say it doesn't capture learning in specialized majors or isn't a reliable measure of college performance because so many factors are beyond control.

The research found an average-scoring student in fall 2005 scored 7 percentage points higher in the spring of 2007 on the assessment. In other words, those who entered college in the 50th percentile would rise to the equivalent of the 57th after their sophomore years.

Among the findings outlined in the book and report, which tracked students through four years of college:

• Overall, the picture doesn't brighten much over four years. After four years, 36 percent of students did not demonstrate significant improvement, compared with 45 percent after two.

• Students who studied alone, read and wrote more, attended more selective schools and majored in traditional arts and sciences majors posted greater learning gains.

• Social engagement generally does not help student performance. Students who spent more time studying with peers showed diminishing growth, and students who spent more time in the Greek system had decreased rates of learning, while activities such as working off campus, participating in campus clubs and volunteering did not affect learning.

• Students from families with different levels of parental education enter college with different learning levels but learn at about the same rates while attending college. The racial gap between black and white students going in, however, widens: Black students improve their assessment scores at lower levels than whites.

Authors spread blame

Arum and Roksa spread the blame, pointing to students who don't study much and seek easy courses and a culture at colleges and universities that values research over good teaching.
So what to do? The report warns that federally mandated fixes similar to No Child Left Behind in K-12 education would be "counterproductive," in part because researchers are still learning how to measure learning. But it does make clear that accountability should be emphasized more at the institutional level, starting with college presidents.

Some colleges and universities are taking steps, pledging to improve student learning, use evidence to improve instruction and publicize results. Read more: Students not learning a lot in college, tracking study finds - The Denver Post

AHS Weekly Update- Week of January 17th, 2011

I hope this email finds you well and recharged after our first 3 day weekend of 2011. Please take a moment to review the following updates:

DHS Athletes and Thespians
9th Grade NWEA Testing
10th Grade Humanities Exhibition
AHS News and Happenings

DHS Athletes and Thespians

Students participating in athletics and the theatre program at DHS must participate in eligibility checks this week. Student MUST CHECK IN WITH the AHS FRONT OFFICE so that Mrs. Truax can send progress reports to DHS. Please remind your student athlete/thespian to check in with the Main Office by WEDNESDAY!

9th Grade NWEA Testing

Ninth grade students are participating in their winter NWEA testing this week. Questions about NWEA testing can forwarded to jeff.digiacomo@animashighschool.com

10th Grade Humanities Exhibition

Humanities Exhibition this Thursday, January 20, 2011 from 5:00-6:30 p.m. at Animas High School.

In John Fisher's Humanities class, students have been studying colonialism and imperialism on the African Continent. Students have read King Leopold's Ghost, a text that uncovers Belgian imperialism in the Congo, have researched African countries of their choosing, and have interviewed individuals from the countries they are studying.

The goal of this project has been to demystify Africa, and to study the continent from the perspective of people who live there. At exhibition, students will be presenting narrated slideshows that discuss history of imperialism/colonialism in their country, and illustrate the perspective of people living in their country today.

In Lori Fisher's humanities class, students have been grappling with the issue of genocide. After doing a case study of the Rwandan Genocide, students have turned their attention to other genocides of the 20th century, and are delving into many questions and issues surrounding their genocides. Topic covered include the motivations of the killers, the experiences of the victims, the long-term consequences of genocide, the role of international involvement, and the social psychology of genocide. Students are building exhibits for our genocide museum, and hope to educate and inspire viewers.

Please note that due to the graphic nature of genocide, these exhibits may not be appropriate for young children.

AHS News and Happenings

It was a busy weekend for AHS students. The Pandemonium Robotics team took Flagstaff and the AZ Robotics Championships by storm! Students in the AHS Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Club braved a different storm as they persevered through blizzard conditions on their second field trip of the year. There’s been a lot of great coverage of AHS in the media lately as well!

With so much going on, we want you to stay connected! Follow us daily at:

http://www.animashighschool.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Animas-High-School/129694133734262

EdNews 2011 legislative preview

<em>EdNews</em> 2011 legislative preview

AHS Robotix in the Durango Herald!

Elijah Gutt, 14, left, Dusty Cocherell, 13, center, and teacher David Heerschap, watch Nanobot maneuver on the floor. JERRY McBRIDE/Herald Photo

Read the Article Here:

http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20110114/NEWS01/701149931/Animas-High-goes-robotic

Droves still flock to rural hospital run by Durangoan’s kin

‘People moved out and stayed’
Droves still flock to rural hospital run by Durangoan’s kinBy Ann Butler Herald Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 11:32pm

When the earthquake struck late afternoon Jan. 12, 2010, Durangoan Dr. Wendy Grant knew immediately how she would help.

In 1956, her grandparents founded Hôpital Albert Schweitzer 90 miles from Port-au-Prince, and Grant’s family spent countless vacations in Haiti.

She knew the hospital would be flooded with cases from the city where several hospitals were destroyed, and money and medical supplies would be sorely needed. She put her energy into raising money and getting the word out about the hospital and its work.

A year later, the hospital continues to serve more people than ever.

“People moved out and stayed there, so we’re serving about one-third more patients on a daily basis,” Grant said.

The cholera outbreak, which began in late October and has killed about 3,400 people, is adding to the hospital’s load.

“We still have quite a few cholera patients,” she said. “We’re getting about 40 new adult cases each day and 10 to 12 children.”

Her uncle and cousin treated a cholera patient in a remote area in the mountains just last week, Grant said.

“Some people came running carrying a guy on a door, which they often use for stretchers,” she said. “They resuscitated him and got him down to the hospital. It’s all about getting fluids in and distance – many patients are like this man and hours away from medical facilities.”

Since the quake, the hospital has become involved in community projects, such as sports programs for youths. Grant’s son, Ian Bowers, will be in Haiti soon to work on one of those programs through “project week” at Animas High School, where he is a sophomore. Grant said other organizations are assisting the hospital with the community initiatives.

“We’re feeling good about the resources now, both financial and human,” she said. “We have new contacts, new friends and new alliances with other organizations in Haiti.”

Those resources and alliances helped the hospital deal with both the cholera epidemic and people injured during flooding in March, September and November.

“Every time we need an extra doctor or two, we have more volunteers than we have room for,” Grant said. “We put a call out for two, whether it’s medical or surgical, and we get 12 volunteers. We have all these doctors willing to come on short notice.”

Grant expects donations to go down this year.

“Contributions will be way down in 2011,” she said, “but the need goes on.”

abutler@durango herald.com

See the Article here:http://durangoherald.com/article/20110112/NEWS01/701129907&source=RSS

I want to thank everyone who turned out for yesterday’s PAC meeting. Having two bald eagles soar above our heads as we met was an inspirational omen don’t you think?

Please take a moment to review the following updates:

2011 Enrollment Opens
Humanities Exhibition
AHS Info Nights and Prospective Student Shadow Days
Powerschool Updates
MLK DAY- No School

2011 Enrollment Opens

Enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year opened Monday, January 3rd at 12:00 AM and our rosters are filling up fast! If AHS receives more enrollment forms than student capacity, then AHS will conduct an admissions lottery on March 1st. If the classes of 2014 and 2015 are not over enrolled on 3/1, then the school will accept enrollments until capacity is reached.

Humanities Exhibition

Save the Date- 10th grade Humanities students will be putting on their first exhibition of semester two entitled: Genocide and Imperialism. The exhibition will take place on Thursday, January 20th, from 5 to 6:30 PM. at Animas High School.

AHS Info Nights and Prospective Student Shadow Days

Animas High School will host info nights on Tuesday evenings from 5 to 6:30 PM. A short presentation about AHS’s program is followed by a Q & A session involving staff, current students, parents and board members. Info nights are a fantastic opportunity for our community to learn more about all the great things happening at Animas!

Reservations for student shadow experiences are now being taken by the AHS Main Office. Shadow experiences run from 8 AM to 12:30 PM every Friday and space is limited to six student shadows a week. There are opportunities for both incoming 9th and 10th grade students to shadow current AHS students. Thank you for sharing these opportunities with you family, friends and neighbors!

Powerschool Updates

Every family should be receiving automatic weekly updates from Powerschool regarding your student’s performance/grades. Please let the Main Office know if you’ve changed your email address or if you are not receiving these weekly check-ins.

MLK DAY- No School

A reminder that there’s no school on Monday, January 17th as campus is closed in observation of the Martin Luther King Day holiday.

AHS Weekly Update- Week of January 3rd, 2011

Happy New Year!

I hope this email finds you well, recharged and refreshed for 2011. It’s been an incredibly busy vacation for the staff and we are excited for the months ahead! The administration had the opportunity to meet with every 9th and 10th grader yesterday and I know I speak for all the staff when I say “our students rock!” It was so inspiring to hear about the students plans for semester two, listen to them advocate for themselves and each other and witness how motivated they are to get back into their studies! It’s fantastic to be surrounded every day by students who enjoy the challenges in front of them and have such a positive commitment to their school. Thank you all for the honor and privilege of working with your student!

Please take a moment to review the following updates:

Report Cards
Spanish Program Change
New Math/Science Instructor
New Spanish Instructor
10th Graders
2011 Enrollment Opens
Humanities Exhibition


Report Cards

Student report cards were mailed home over the holiday recess. If your student did not receive their report card or there are questions about their report card, please contact our Assistant Head of School via email at: jake.lauer@animashighschool.com

As a reminder to those who may not have had as strong of a first semester as they would have liked. From Animas High School’s Colorado State Charter:

AHS will require each student to earn a grade of C or higher in all academic courses. Students who do not achieve this minimum grade requirement in two or fewer courses will be given options of attending summer school or repeating the grade to achieve these minimum grade requirements. Students who do not achieve the minimum grade requirement in greater than two classes must repeat the grade.

Spanish Program Change

In order to best serve our students, the AHS Board of Directors has adopted a new four-year Spanish program format. Based on overwhelming student and parent feedback and educational best practices, AHS has decided to offer Spanish as a full-year class, rather than a one semester class. AHS students are required to complete two years of Spanish study. The school has determined it fits our model and our students’ interests best to follow this format:

Beginning next year, students at AHS will complete their two-year Spanish requirement during their sophomore and junior years. Students are also encouraged to participate in one or more summer Spanish Jam opportunities/summer Immersion trips that will begin this summer! If an AHS student was to pursue all of the foreign language opportunities offered by the school, that student has the opportunity to earn 6 years of Spanish credit. By starting our foreign language journey in the sophomore year, it allows our ninth graders to earn a full year of Digital Arts credit as freshman. Additionally, with the importance our school places on digital portfolios and the employment of technology for research, production and presentation, our 9th graders will now have a full year to gain, practice and refine digital skills that are essential for success in all classes here at AHS.

AHS administrators have met with the student body to discuss these changes. Since the students have advocated for more focused instructional time in all their classes, this change has been very well received! Our current tenth graders are excited to have their basic Spanish requirements completed by the end of this semester. Our ninth graders are enthusiastic that they will be able to achieve mastery of the complete CS4 Adobe Suite. (They’ve got flash animation up next!) We appreciate all the great conversations, related to this change, that have taken place at PAC meetings, board meetings, curriculum subcommittee meetings and through personal dialogue with the school’s staff over the past two months. We look forward to our first, on-campus Spanish Jam this summer and our first foreign language trips abroad next year.

New Math/Science Instructor

It is with great excitement that AHS announces the hiring of Erin Zarko as a Math/Science Instructor at AHS. Equally at home in a Physics or Algebra classes, Erin recently completed her student teaching here at Animas High first semester. (Erin co-taught 9th grade Physics with Dave Heershcap and taught Algebra1 and 2 at school semester one) Her strong performance semester one, both as an instructor and as an advisor has impressed us all. Likewise, Will Camp from Fort Lewis College’s Dept of Education and teacher training program has said, “Erin is the one of best students to come out of our program in many years!”

Erin will be taking on the lead instructor role in our Algebra classes. Cathy Eagan continues to instruct our advanced math classes and serve as the Math Dept. chair. Josh Dalley, continues in his role as math specialist and student advisor. Adding Erin to the mix now gives our students more contact time with instructors, allows us to maintain small numbers in our math classes and results in AHS having more time for math and science extra help periods, math/science SIGs and more faculty office hours. Welcome aboard Erin, we are excited to have you as part of the AHS team!

New Spanish Instructor

It is with great disappointment that AHS announces the resignation of AHS Spanish teacher Maria Goodin. Since this past summer, Maria had been instrumental in developing our foreign language program and instructing our Spanish classes. Unfortunately, Maria will be unable to continue her strong work here at AHS and we are truly going to miss her talents and positive energy.

Although a change like this is never a good thing, AHS is fully prepared to continue our foreign language instruction this year. We will introduce our new Spanish instructor in the next weekly update. Stay tuned!

10th Graders

Winter NWEA testing, CSAPs, SATs/ACTs, college counseling appointments, internship assignments, not to mention a full line up of classes, project week, extracurricular activities, SLCs, exhibitions, tPOLs, summer jobs; I’m tired just listing all these demands!

This is a friendly reminder to all our 10th grade families concerning the robust and challenging agenda for sophomores in semester two. There is a tremendous amount of work the class of 2013 needs to accomplish and it’s going to take every minute available this semester to complete it all. Teachers and staff have been reviewing these objectives with students and we hope you can too! Now is the time to be checking in with your student about their scholastic plans and asking them how you can best support them this spring! Please know that our faculty advisors are on stand-by, ready to speak with you and your student about their progress and plans for AHS and beyond!

Yes, we understand we are asking a tremendous amount of all of our students but with your support and encouragement, we are confident that they will achieve tremendous success. Thank you for helping us keep the bar high!

2011 Enrollment Opens

Enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year opened Monday, January 3rd at 12:00 AM and the action has been steady! If AHS receives more enrollment forms than student capacity, then AHS will conduct an admissions lottery on March 1st. If the classes of 2014 and 2015 are not over enrolled on 3/1, then the school will accept enrollments until capacity is reached.

Humanities Exhibition

Save the Date- 10th grade Humanities students will be putting on their first exhibition of semester two entitled: Genocide and Imperialism. The exhibition will take place on Thursday, January 20th, from 5 to 6:30 PM. Location TBD. Look for more on this event in next week’s update.