Aspen Ridge Newsletter

August 1, 2023

Informed Parents Make Great Partners

Almost Back Together Again!

While we're savoring the sunshine and slower pace of the last few weeks of summer, we're also working hard to prepare for another fantastic year at Aspen Ridge! Our new playgrounds are nearing completion, our window protection has been installed, classrooms are quickly becoming colorful and welcoming spaces, new sports uniforms have just arrived for our intramural teams, and we even have a brand new mascot ready to welcome our Owls to the new school year! (Scroll down to get a first glimpse of Thunder hanging out with Ms. Miller and Ms. Salmeron.) It feels like we blinked and went from end-of-year fun (pictured above) to beginning-of-year prep!

As we count down the days until we're back together again, we'll use our newsletters to share all that you'll need for a successful start to the year. You can expect at least one more parent newsletter before the first day of school with additional beginning-of-year info. If you still have any questions, feel free to reach out to [email protected], or give us a call at 720-242-6225. We're here to help!

See you soon, Owl families! We can't wait to hear all about your summer adventures.

Important Dates: Mark Your Calendars

08/02 | ARPS Monthly Board Meeting, 3:00pm
08/07 | Teacher placement postcards mailed out
08/09 | PTO End of Summer Color Block Party, 5:30pm
08/11 | Middle School schedules available on Infinite Campus
08/14 | Kindergarten Meet the Teacher, 1:00pm - 3:00pm
08/14 | 1st - 8th Grade Meet the Teacher, 4:00pm - 5:30pm
08/14 | Instrument Demo Day, 5th to 8th Graders, 5:00pm - 6:00pm
08/15 | Preschool / PreK Meet the Teacher (Watch for an email from your teacher with details!)
08/16 - 08/17 | Kinder/1st Grade Beginning-of-Year Assessments (Sign ups coming soon!)
08/16 | First Day of School, 2nd - 6th Grade
08/17 | First Day of School, 7th & 8th Grade
08/21 | First Day of School, PreK 4s, Kinder, 1st Grade
08/22 | First Day of School, Preschool 3s
08/23 | ARPS Monthly Board Meeting, 4:30pm
08/24 - 08/25 | 5th Grade Trip to Cal-Wood Education Center
09/01 | Popsicles w/ the Principal (All students who complete Summer Bridge Books by 8/31 can participate in Popsicles with the Principal!)
09/04 | Labor Day, No School
09/06 | Character Awards, 8:45am
09/06 | Early Release, Dismissal at 12:15pm
09/07 | Picture Day (uniforms required)

Class List Announcements Coming Next Week!

Are your Owls excited to find out who their teacher will be for the 2023-24 school year? Students in Kindergarten through 5th grade will receive a postcard in the mail revealing their teacher by Friday, August 11th. Students in 6th through 8th grades can view their teachers and schedules on Infinite Campus beginning on August 11th.

If you do not receive a postcard or if you have any difficulty accessing Infinite Campus, please contact [email protected] after August 11th for your teacher assignment. We're excited for another year of learning and growing with your Owls!

Save the Date to Meet the Teacher!

Our teachers are excited to meet their new class of Owls for the 2023-24 school year! For our Meet the Teacher events on August 14th, please remember to:

Bring school supplies so your child will have less to carry on the 1st day of school.
Pick up your child's green folder with beginning-of-year info from your classroom teacher (homeroom teacher for our Middle Schoolers).
Visit our friendly Front Office staff to receive your Driveline number for the new year.
Stop by the PTO table to find out how to get involved, pick up a new family welcome packet if you're new to ARPS, and visit the Uniform Sale!
Middle Schoolers and 5th graders, stop by the stage to demo an instrument if you're thinking of joining the band!

Want to be a Superhero at Aspen Ridge?

Calling all Aspen Ridge community members! Would you like to:

Make a huge difference at Aspen Ridge?
Build close relationships with our students and teachers?
Have a flexible job that allows you to say "yes" or "no" each day?
Be a superhero to our staff members, who will be so grateful for your support?

Become a substitute teacher at Aspen Ridge! We need subs more than ever this year, and the process to obtain your Colorado Substitute Teacher License is simple. This year's pay rate will be $17.50 per hour for regular subs, and $22.50 per hour for long-term subs. Interested in learning more? Please send your resume and questions to Ms. Miller!

Kick Off the Year with a Color Block Party!

The ARPS PTO is hosting a Color Block Party to kick off the new year at Aspen Ridge! This is a great chance for our Owls to re-connect, for new families to meet new friends, and for everyone to get a first look at our brand new playgrounds!

Feel free to bring a picnic dinner for your family to enjoy on the playground. Ice cream sandwiches will be provided for all students. (We will also have ice pops available for students with allergies.)

For the latest PTO event updates, follow the Aspen Ridge PTO on Instagram @ARPSPTO.

Band is Back with a New Music Teacher!

Calling all budding musicians! It's not too late to sign up for Band for the new school year!

No experience is needed, and we have a new music teacher who would love to have you join the ARPS Band this fall!

Please fill out the Band Interest Form if you have a Middle School student who would like to add Band to their elective schedule, or if you have a Fifth Grade student who would like to learn more about Band Club this fall!

Message from the Principal & Head of School

Happy August, Owl Families!

We are thrilled to have you back as we embark on another exciting journey of learning and growing together at Aspen Ridge! Our primary goal is to support each student's success in academics and foster their social-emotional development. We believe that a well-rounded education encompasses not only knowledge but also emotional intelligence and empathy, which are essential skills for life.

A lot has been happening behind the scenes this summer, and our building is ready to welcome our Owls into the new year. We are especially excited to introduce our new playgrounds, which will provide a safe and enjoyable space for students to unwind, play, and build friendships.

As we commence this academic year, we encourage each student to embrace every opportunity to explore their interests, challenge themselves, and discover their unique talents. Our dedicated teachers and staff are here to guide and support you along the way. Let's make this year a memorable one, filled with joy and laughter. Together, we can create an enriching environment that inspires a love for learning and prepares our students to continue traveling on the trailways of success.

In partnership,

Charla Salmeron, Head of School

Rachel Miller, Principal

Important Note for Parents: Infinite Campus

Infinite Campus is the student information system that Aspen Ridge (along with the entire St. Vrain Valley School District) uses to provide students, parents, and guardians real-time access to important student information such as attendance, grades, and schedules. At the beginning of every school year, parents are required to update their contact information, emergency contacts, and District permissions stored in Infinite Campus. In order to do this task, you must have an Infinite Campus Parent Account. The District will be creating Parent Portal accounts for Aspen Ridge on Friday, August 4th, for those parents who do not yet have an account. Please be watching for an email from the District if you do not already have an account set up.

At the start of the school year, you will receive a "Beginning of Year Paperwork” email from Aspen Ridge. This will include an online Google form that you will need to complete for each student. Part of this process is acknowledging that you have completed the annual Infinite Campus Portal Update. The link to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal can be found on our Aspen Ridge website.

If you need assistance with Infinite Campus, please contact Cathy Hellbaum, Administrative Assistant, at [email protected].

What's for Lunch?

The August 2023 menu will be posted in the Parent Portal under "Helpful Parent Links" as soon as it is released from the district. Please note that lunch is free for all students this year. Each morning, students must let their teacher know if they would like to order school lunch for that day. We will then send in our daily lunch order to the district, with no charge to the students.

Uniforms at Aspen Ridge

If you're new to the school or need a refresher, please view the Parent/Student Handbook in the Parent Portal for our uniform guidelines. The 23-24 Parent /Student Handbook will be posted shortly, but the uniform details are mostly unchanged from last year.

One fun addition is that gray and forest green bottoms (skirts, shorts, and pants) will be approved uniform items this year (in addition to navy, black, and khaki colors).

The ARPS PTO will be selling gently used uniforms at Meet the Teacher Night! They'll have a variety of sizes and styles available. Stop by the gym to pick up a few items for your Owl at a great price. Thank you for supporting our PTO!