ASPEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL: A CULTURE SNAPSHOT

ASPEN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL:

ITS NEW LOOK AUGUST 2011

What is an alternative school?

Offers nontraditional education for students whose needs cannot be met in a regular, special education, or vocational school

Distinct from regular, special education, and vocational schools in their teaching approach or classroom environment

Provides similar services and/or curriculum for students Includes schools for potential dropouts, residential

treatment centers for substance abuse, schools for chronic truants, and schools for students with behavioral problems

Services “at risk” students

The Mission of Aspen Valley High School

The mission of Aspen Valley High School, a small, accepting, non-traditional, learning community, is to empower students to become responsible citizens by demonstrating integrity, compassion and respect through guided experiences targeting academic progress, emotional growth and community involvement.

Puma Core Values

RESPECT

• Accept individual differences

• Be fair • Be considerate

RESPONSIBILITY

• Be accountable to self and others

• Be reliable • Follow through

on commitments • Be supportive of

each other

CITIZENSHIP

• Get involved • Serve your

community: family, peers, school and country

• Be a team player

• Be charitable

Learn them…understand them…follow them…and encourage others to do the same

Aspen Valley Core Principles

● All students can learn and experience success. ● All members of the learning community deserve respect. ● We provide a safe physical and emotional learning environment. ● Student learning styles are to be accommodated. ● Students can learn to appreciate rather than tolerate differences. ● Students can achieve personal and academic growth. ● Students benefit from real-life problem solving. ● By understanding the value of personal mentoring, we empower students to accept responsibility for their choices and become contributing members of society.

Symbols at Aspen Valley

Parent Involvement

•Mandatory parent-student-mentor conferences occur twice a year. During these conferences academic progress and progress toward graduation is reviewed as well as evidence of personal growth.

Student/Parent/Teacher

Conferences

•Parent signatures are required each day in the student’s planner. The planner is used as a daily means of communication between the parent and teachers and staff at school.

Planners

•The Aspen Valley Advisory Committee members include the principal and representatives from among parents, staff, the community and student body. The Committee meets monthly for collaborative planning.

AVAC

•Parent Support classes parents are offered every year and have been very successful in helping parents learn how to support their students.

Parent Support Classes

•Parents have been volunteers on various committees at Aspen Valley and regularly help with special events.

Volunteers

•Parents are invited to attend special events such as Field Day, Award Assemblies, Thanksgiving Feast and other celebrations.

Special Events

•Parents are invited to attend field trips (i.e. Denver Aquarium, Denver Museum of Nature and Science) with their students.

Field Trips

•Newsletters, emails, phone contact, electronic messages and meetings are part of the everyday connections between parents and staff .

Communication

Multiple Support Systems

HIGH SCHOOL HEXTER SYSTEM

• The school year at the high school is based on a hexter system with students earning .33 of a credit every six weeks. This allows a student to experience success quickly and often, something that most of them have not encountered.

HIGH SCHOOL GRADE DAYS

• At the end of each six week period at the high school, there are 2 “grade days” during which students who are failing classes are given the opportunity to receive help in order to pass their classes and earn credit. Students who are passing all classes do not attend.

PLANNERS • Students carry a planner with them to every class. Planners allow tracking of grades and homework completion which are directly tied to privileges and rewards.

TUTORING TIME & POWER GROUP

• Both schools offer specific times set built into the school week for students to receive targeted help in specific classes.

PUMA MENTORS & CIRCLE TEACHERS

• All students are assigned to a teacher mentor who supports them throughout their time at Aspen Valley. Mentors meet with their students daily. Research shows that student motivation is impacted greatly by having one caring adult whom they can trust.

SMALL CLASSES • Maximum class size is 15.Some classes are even smaller depending on the type of

class and enrollment needs of students. Small sizes enable teachers to give more individualized attention and to accommodate for different learning needs.

TIER SYSTEM & REWARDS

• Both schools explicitly link rewards and privileges to student engagement, behavior, work completion, and academic success.

Rituals at Aspen Valley

Weekly Assemblies • The high school and middle school each gather weekly for important news, initiatives, discussions and celebrations.

Kid Talk • All staff , the school psychologist, social worker and nurse all

gather to review the needs of specific students, to share insights with each other and to decide on strategies to help those who are struggling.

Morning Announcements

• Announcements and the pledge are done over the speaker system every morning. Student Council members have responsibility for this at the high school.

Planners • Planners are an integral part of monitoring student success and qualifying students for privileges and rewards.

Student Store • Light snacks and other materials can be purchased. Student Council members run the school store at the high school.

Lunch • Students gather for lunch and fellowship, often engaging in gaming, chess, watching a movie or other fun activities.

Grade Days, Big and Small Rewards, and

Elitches

• Students at both schools have regular opportunities to earn fun reward activities in recognition of success at school.

Ceremonies and Traditions

HS First Day BBQ Dunk Tank

MS First Day Fox Run

HS Powder Puff MS Fine Dining Elitches for TCAP/ACT Scores

Award Assemblies Thanksgiving Feast MS Pen Pals HS Ropes Course HS Boat Regatta

MS Sea Perch Care & Share

Other Ceremonies and Traditions