Greetings Ospreys,

Since we last met, the days have grown longer and the sun much hotter. I hope you have found a way to unwind and enjoy the beauty. In two and a half weeks, Animas High School will welcome approximately 240 students, including about 90 new Ospreys, to the Nest for the 2024/25 school year.

All new students, including incoming 9th graders and all new 10th, 11th and 12th graders should plan to join us at 8:25am on Monday, August 19 for their first day of school. Transfer students will have a half day in the morning on Monday the 19th. Returning students will start on Tuesday, August 20. We will send more details about student orientation activities next week, along with other start of the school year information.

Staffing Updates

We are excited to introduce several new staff members. Here is a quick overview. You can find more information on our website here.

Austin Boyston will be teaching grade 11 math and computer science. He was born and raised in south-central Oklahoma and has Bachelor’s degrees in both Mathematics and Computer Science. Austin has long wanted to move to the Rocky Mountains.

Alexi Leon Harootunian will be teaching Spanish. She was born in Lima, Peru, and has a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Spanish from Fort Lewis College. She is part of a band and also teaches dance. Alexi loves cooking, culture and travel.

Elizabeth Kuhlman will head up the Inclusion Department. Elizabeth has an M.Ed. in Reading, with an emphasis in Special Education and Library Media. She has extensive experience working in special education and reading remediation. Elizabeth is moving to Durango to be near her daughter, who is starting a job as a physician.

Adam Seery will be joining the Inclusion Department. Adam has an M.A. in Math and has taught math and science for several years in both traditional and non-traditional settings. Adam worked at the Teton Literacy School for some time—a place I have also visited many times. Like most Durangoans, Adam is passionate about biking, climbing, and the outdoors.

Dallas Padoven will be our new super sub. Dallas is coming to us from Farmington High School where he ran the theater program. He has a BFA from the University of Cincinnati in Musical Theatre and a wealth of experience in many walks of life including photography, choreography, medicine and adult education.

Justine Powell is our new nurse, as our families learned in her letter sent in July outlining important health and wellness information. She joins us with a wealth of hospital and private clinic experience and will largely be supporting students, families and staff remotely.

Finally, we are happy to share the good news that Carlin Nielsen, our long time Inclusion Director, will be staying on in a quarter time position focused on students with 504s and ALPs, and Heather Prekup, who worked alongside Carlin in the Inclusion Department for 10 years, has moved into the Registrar position. We're pleased to have them both staying on in new roles.

Between this group and our other fabulous returning staff, your students are in great hands!

One last note on staffing. We are seeking a skilled professional to teach a health care elective four days a week for 50 minutes during the fall semester either 1st period (8:25- 9:17am) or 7th period (2:33-3:25pm) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. The class will provide an understanding of how the health system works in the US and incorporates physician practices, pharmaceuticals, insurance/finance and ethics related to health care. Pay is $75 per class. One of the classes each week may be conducted remotely. Contact me for more information at rebecca.ruland@animashighschool.com.

Osprey Blocks Return

We are pleased to offer another round of Osprey Blocks (OBs) this fall from September 17 through October 3. During this three-week period, students take a deep dive into a new world. All other classes are suspended during that time frame. OBs are credit-bearing and equal to one semester of elective credit. In some classes, OBs may provide credit in a core content area, depending on how the OB is designed. Students should talk to their instructors for more information.

We piloted OBs last year to engage students, build culture, and provide uninterrupted focus on compelling concepts. The feedback from both faculty and students was resoundingly positive. The menu is diverse and exciting. OBs often (but not always) involve one or more overnight trips. More information can be found in our course catalog. As you can imagine, OBs do have costs. We have subsidized the cost of each OB so that families pay little for what they receive. Our Advancement Committee is working to fundraise for this opportunity. More information will be forthcoming as the time gets closer.

Honors and Advanced Classes

Starting this fall, all honors classes will be taught at a collegiate level. Students who successfully pass the class with a C or better will have the class weighted on their GPA. Advanced classes are not college-level classes but prepare students for college-level content. Advanced classes are not weighted. We have several new course offerings this year that should be both challenging and interesting for students.

2023/24 Family Survey: Still Seeking Input

We sent out a family survey a month or so ago. It is intended to collect your thoughts on the 2023/24 school year. We have paired it down quite a bit. Our response rate was only around 25%. If you are a returning parent, we would love for you to take a minute and complete the survey. All responses are read and taken to heart.

Charter schools were started in Colorado primarily to give parents a voice in their child’s education. It takes a community to engage and educate our young people. You are part of that community at AHS. Please join us for monthly coffees and plan to attend student-led conferences, exhibitions and presentations of learning. These are the last years before our young people launch. They may not show it, but they need us more than ever. Join us on this journey. There will always be a place for your contribution at AHS.

See you soon, 

Rebecca

Rebecca Ruland

AHS Head of School

Tel: (970) 247-2474 

rebecca.ruland@animashighschool.com

Upcoming Events

AHS Campus Tour: Mon. 8/5, 5:30pm; RSVP here

Faculty Returns to Campus: Wed. 8/7

AHS Board of Directors Annual Retreat: Sat. 8/17 at Reed Library, Fort Lewis College

First Day of School for 9th Grade and Transfer Students: Mon. 8/19

First Day of School for Returning 10th, 11th and 12th Grade: Tues. 8/20

Back-to-School Open House for Families: Thurs. 8/29, 5pm

Labor Day Holiday (no classes): Mon. 9/2

Professional Development Day (no classes): Mon. 9/16

Osprey Blocks: Tues. 9/17 through Thurs. 10/3

Fall Break (no classes): Fri. 10/4 through Mon. 10/7

Animas High School prepares all students for college and postsecondary success by creating critical thinkers and engaged citizens through an innovative, student-centered, project-based curriculum.