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Greetings Ospreys,
As a reminder, we have a regular day of classes for all students at Animas High School this coming Monday, rather than a professional development day as originally planned. There will be no Hub Bus on Monday since Durango 9R schools have a professional development day. Osprey Blocks begin on Tuesday.
This week, seniors began to workshop their initial for Senior Project, their capstone project at AHS, which includes development of an original research question. in-depth academic research, a college-level paper, an action project and a TED Talk style presentation. We can't wait to see where the class of 2025 lands as they work this semester to refine their ideas.
Seniors have also been hard at work crafting their college application essays in Humanities classes. Did you know that all Ospreys are required to apply to college? We believe that ensuring access to postsecondary education for all students is our responsibility as a school. Applying to college and completing the FAFSA are AHS graduation requirements and we provide the support needed to navigate this process for students and families.The majority of AHS students attend 4-year colleges after graduation, but students also pursue a variety of other paths, including attending 2-year colleges and trade schools, serving in the military, entering the workforce and exploring gap year experiences. Our mission is to make sure they're prepared!
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Coming Next at the Nest
We are very excited for our second year of Osprey Blocks to begin next Tuesday. For three weeks, our regular schedule will be put on pause, with all students engaged only in their immersive, interdisciplinary and experiential Osprey Block course every day all day, from 8:25 to 3:25, and sometimes beyond school hours if they are traveling. Families, please reach out directly to Osprey Block co-teachers with questions about off-campus and overnight trips.
Our Advancement Committee meets Monday at 9am and the AHS Board of Directors meets Wednesday at 5:30pm.
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The regional rep from University of Colorado Boulder will visit campus next Thursday morning at 10.
Next Saturday, September 21 Erin Cummins-Roper and Elliot Baglini will bring students to the 4 Corners College Fair in Farmington, New Mexico at Navajo Preparatory School. Families can attend on their own, or students can sign up to ride in the AHS van. The Fair runs from 10:30 to noon. Lunch will be provided after the fair and there is no charge to ride in the AHS van. Check out the list of participating colleges and universities to see who will be in attendance--it's a great range of schools from across the country..
Erin and Elliot have now offered the first Postsecondary Nights of the year for junior and senior students and families. These evening presentations are really valuable for Opsreys, and we strongly encourage everyone to attend. Mark your calendar now if you have a 9th or 10th grader: the Sophomore Postsecondary Night is Wednesday October 2 and the 9th Grade Postsecondary Night is Wednesday October 9.
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Digital Photography Students Capture the Starry Night
Charlie Bell '25, photos by Wave Frazer '27, Animas Quill
Last Friday, Drew Semel’s Digital Photography class journeyed to Lake Haviland to learn about astrophotography, the art of capturing images of the night sky.
They were joined by community partner Justin Sutton, who shared his extensive expertise in astrophotography. Justin is a local professional photographer who specializes in astrophotography and leads tours.
Experimenting with their aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings, students learned the ins and outs of taking photographs at night. Drew shared, “My intention for our field trip was to create more connection in our photography class and have an experience of learning about our cameras, rather than talking about our cameras. It seemed that students struggled a little in the beginning with getting good images, but quickly made some necessary adjustments to capture powerful images of the night sky, including the Milky Way! Many of the students captured beautiful photographs.”
Sophomore Wave Frazer shared, “I got to experience taking photos at night using a camera I have never used before. The outcome of getting to have these pictures at the end was a very rewarding feeling. I was really proud of myself because I took these photos!”
The photos will be part of a December 6th photography exhibition at the Smiley Building.
Thanks to the awesome parents who rallied to cook out at Haviland Lake so that students could enjoy the starry Friday night socializing, fishing, and taking amazing photographs of the night sky!
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Featured Student Artist: Senior Cris Sporl
Toby Fecik '25, Animas Quill
Senior Osprey Cris Sporl is excited to enter her charcoal bookmark in the annual Durango Public Library Bookmark Contest!
The contest includes prizes, such as gift cards to Maria’s Bookshop, and the winner's bookmark professionally printed with their name. The deadline for submissions is October 3.
The guidelines for the contest are to create an artistic bookmark with a quote from a book. Cris Sporl chose the childhood story of Alice and Wonderland, quoting, “Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”
Cris’s bookmark is within the guidelines of the competition she’s entering, while also utilizing art teacher Britt Blasdell’s charcoal lessons.
Britt has her Drawing students enter the contest every year. Last year, AHS Class of ‘24 alums Haley Hurst and River Horner won 1st and 2nd place.
Cris decided to make her bookmark stylized with her unique artistic quirks, rather than trying to replicate realism. She shared, “I decided to choose a book that I not only love but one that really fueled my creativity. I really love that I got to display my personal art style and technique of graphite shading while not losing the true beauty of the story. This project has been really amazing knowing local students of all ages get a chance to express their artwork and possibly get into the public eye!”
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A Breath of Fresh Air: Outdoor Classroom Unveiled
AJ Bonanno '25, Animas Quill
After much anticipation, students and staff are excited about the grand opening of the second-floor patio.
The space will mostly be used as an outdoor classroom, but will also be available for staff meetings and lunches. However, it will not be available for free, unsupervised student use.
The patio will give students a chance to learn in a new, unique environment, and enjoy the wonderful mountain view. AHS Dean of Students and Culture Dave Farkas shared his excitement about the patio: “The best part of an outdoor classroom is the fresh air, the sounds of nature, and the different vibe that it gives.”
The patio was left unfinished during the construction of the rest of the building. The final touches to prepare it for student use started in early August of this school year, including the installation of the wood panel floor. Farkas and a few students have been putting in finishing touches, like assembling and setting up patio furniture.
Teachers will be able to take their students to the outdoor classroom by using a sign-up sheet and claiming a period when they would like to use the space.
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Ospreys Running to Victory
Ava Twohig '25, Animas Quill
Last Saturday, AHS senior AJ Bonanno and sophomore Lacy Ruggiero participated in the Joe I. Vigil XC cross-country meet in Alamosa, competing as part of the Durango High School Cross Country Team against 30 other Colorado high schools.
AJ took 6th place in the boys' 5K race with a time of 16:15, while Lacy placed 7th in the girls' 5K with a time of 19:28. The Durango XC boys' team placed 3rd overall, while the girls' team placed 4th.
AJ expressed, "It was awesome to see both Animas High School runners doing really well, and this gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season!"
Lacy commented “Running gives me an instant sense of success, and for me, that success achieved through hard work during my workouts and taking care of myself, which leads to a great race is very meaningful.”
Congratulations to these Ospreys on your milestone!
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AHS Sophomore Makes Hay, Winning Gold in MTB Race
Makenna Bard '27, Animas Quill
Animas sophomore Delyla Kroenung won first place--for the second time in a row--in the JV Girls category at the Haymaker Classic, a rigorous mountain bike race in Eagle last weekend.
While competing against twenty talented young women, Delyla biked just over 12 miles in less than an hour, finishing with a final time of just under 58 minutes.
At the finish line, Delyla described feeling an intense sense of “accomplishment, love, and companionship for her fellow competitors,” claiming that she hugged the first ten girls to cross the finish line after her. Delyla claims that the races give her a “good type of pain…When you get in the zone and all of your muscles start working together, everything just clicks.”
Junior Jake Sandau has also been racking up impressive results this season, taking 6th in Varsity Boys in Eagle and 3rd in Leadville at the Cloud City Challenge, the first race of the season. The AHS team took 5th overall out of a field of 14 teams in the Piedra Division in Eagle.
If you see Delyla, Jake or other AHS Mountain Biking Team members Colton LeRoux, Kaden Wood and Joseba Izaguirre, be sure to give them a high five!
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Have a great weekend and thanks for all you do to help the Ospreys soar!
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Upcoming Events
Osprey Blocks: Tues. 9/17 through Thurs. 10/3
Advancement Committee Meeting: Mon. 9/16, 9am
AHS Board of Directors Meeting: Wed. 9/18, 5:30pm
TWIGS Happy Hour: Wed. 9/25, 6pm @11th Street Station
TWIGS Buds Meeting: Mon. 9/30, 5:30pm
Second Semester Enrollment Opens: Wed. 10/2
Sophomore Postsecondary Night: Wed. 10/2, 5:30pm
Fall Break (no classes): Fri. 10/4 through Mon. 10/7
9th Grade Postsecondary Night: Wed. 10/9, 5:30pm
Colorado Free Application Days: 10/15-10/17
PSAT/NMSQT (11th grade): Wed. 10/23: full details about 2024/25 school year assessments
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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.
Educational programs, activities, and employment opportunities at AHS are offered without regard to disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family composition, marital status, national origin, religion, ancestry or need for special education services.
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