Aurora Public Schools is excited to host the 2017 Festival of the Arts at the Town Center at Aurora. This free event, which is open to the public now through April 22, features original works of art created by talented students from every school in the district!

During mall hours, we invite guests to browse the large collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs and more. Be sure to stop by the art gallery on the upper level by JCPenney to see students’ amazing 3D pieces!

In addition to visual arts, guests can also enjoy the performing arts as students host a live performance. The showcase takes place Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the lower-level by Dillard’s.

Thank you for supporting the arts!

Aurora Public Schools recently hosted the seventh annual Girls Technology Camp! This day-long event linked sixth-grade female students from across the district with one another to engage in hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) experiences.

In addition to sessions on coding, 3-D design and snap circuits, the girls enjoyed taking apart and reconstructing Netbooks. As an added treat, they had an opportunity to tinker with robots, a 3D printer and a green screen photo booth. Powerful women in STEM fields led the workshops and reminded students that females can do anything they put their minds to.

We thank the APS Information Technology and Educational Technology departments for organizing such a lively event to empower our girls! Students left energized and motivated to pursue STEM careers. Some students even earned Digital Badges, credentials that will bring them one step closer to their dreams.

The Colorado Rockies and Aurora Public Schools Foundation invite students, families and staff to celebration the annual APS Appreciation Day at Coors Field this Sunday, May 7 at 1:10 p.m.!

Enjoy an exciting game as the Colorado Rockies face off with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Purchase discounted fundraiser tickets at rockies.com/APS.  

Students from Side Creek, Vassar, Montview and Iowa elementary schools are scheduled to sing the National Anthem.

Visit our Facebook event page to let your friends know you are attending!  Check out more Coors Field theme days at rockies.com/themedates.

The City of Aurora recently held a ceremony to recognize hundreds of Aurora Public Schools students as "Aurora Scholars" for the positive contributions they have made in their communities and schools. The annual event, now in its eighth year, was created to bring city officials, school district staff and families together to honor the achievements of Aurora’s future leaders.

One teacher-nominated student from each grade level (first through 12th) at every school in Aurora was recognized. Students received certificates and gifts donated by the community.

In APS, we believe every student has unique abilities that we must recognize and engage. Bravo to the 2017 APS Aurora Scholars listed below for being exemplary students!

Altura Elementary School
Danaye Pierce, 1st grade
Ashlen Salinas, 2nd grade
Samuel Escobar, 3rd grade
Daniel Conde, 4th grade
Leona Ferguson, 5th grade

Arkansas Elementary School
Braydon Little, 1st grade
Nanmuhong (Neil) Ye, 2nd grade
Kniyah Dumas, 3rd grade
Jesus (David) Llamas Trujillo, 4th grade
Ismael Zapien-Moran, 5th grade

Aurora Academy
Raphael Lopez-Fleming, 1st grade
Brook Hailu, 2nd grade
Fatoumata Dioubate, 3rd grade
Termaine Manuel, Jr., 4th grade
Solange Cordova Santamaria, 5th grade
Yohannes Zekarias, 6th grade
Laylah Rodriguez-Johnson, 7th grade
Gia Martell Mendez, 8th grade

Aurora Central High School
Apshara Siwakoti, 9th grade
Thaddeus Veasley, 10th grade
Christian Wells, 11th grade
Olivia Langley, 12th grade

Aurora Frontier P-8
Aiden Mercil, 1st grade
Neah Pagidigan, 2nd grade
Tyler Zook, 3rd grade
Jenny Vu, 4th grade
Julian Carrizales, 5th grade
Leigha Dimock, 6th grade
Jenelle Martin, 7th grade
Jason Ta, 8th grade

Aurora Hills Middle School
Manda Li, 6th grade
Leslie Flores Guerrero, 7th grade
Xotchil Olague, 8th grade

Aurora West college Preparatory Academy
Iesha Hollingsworth-Aguilar, 6th grade
Aung Sang, 7th grade
Andrea Ortiz, 8th grade
Aurora Lopez, 9th grade
Josh Cedillos, 10th grade
Nimo Mahamud, 11th grade
Pedro Bueno, 12th grade

Aurora Quest K-8
Josiah Fuller, 1st grade
Lisa Rai, 2nd grade
Isaac Bailey, 3rd grade
Ayon Hammond, 4th grade
Grant Reed, 5th grade
Ksenia Balabanova, 6th grade
Hannah Bonansinga, 7th grade
Zakary Nfaoui, 8th grade

Aurora Expeditionary Learning Academy
Kade Folds, 1st grade
Colton McDonald, 2nd grade
Meron Adumer, 3rd grade
Isaiah Krueger, 4th grade
Jose Ortega, 5th grade
Murayo Osman, 6th grade
Kanza Fakiri, 7th grade
Danie Mensah, 8th grade

Boston K-8
Jamie Gonzalez Medina, 1st grade
Evelyn Perez Acosta, 2nd grade
Anthony Moran, 3rd grade
Natalia Garcia Zamora, 4th grade
Candice Carillo, 5th grade
Ro Sar, 6th grade
David Meraz, 7th grade
Bishwa Adhikari, 8th grade

Clyde Miller P-8
Mayra Castanon Tellez, 1st grade
Camila Luevanos, 2nd grade
Abel Anteneh, 3rd grade
Mary Catherine (Kate) Gomez, 4th grade
Tihut Anteneh, 5th grade
Chyla Howard, 6th grade
Leilah Weathersby, 7th grade
Coltin Anderson, 8th grade

Century Elementary School
Jake Brock, 1st grade
Analay Oronna, 2nd grade
Yabsira Seyoum, 3rd grade
Allen "AJ" Anthony, 4th grade
Francisco "Frankie" Beltran, 5th grade

Columbia Middle School
Luis Tinajero-Areola, 6th grade
Manuel Lopez Vega, 7th grade
Soloman Jameson, 8th grade

Crawford Elementary School
Alan Bravo Hernandez, 1st grade
Wuilson Cruz Lopez, 2nd grade
Victor Avila, 3rd grade
Gennesis Renteria Giron, 4th grade
Mary Sing, 5th grade

Dalton Elementary School
Briana Zarei, 1st grade
Graci Hyatt, 2nd grade
Elliana Wright, 3rd grade
Paulina Hernandez Gutierrez, 4th grade
Allyson Bohn, 5th grade

Dartmouth Elementary School
Eliana Jones, 1st grade
Faith Cervantes, 2nd grade
Fatimatou Balde, 3rd grade
Zakary Hoenshell, 4th grade
McKenzie Lyninger, 5th grade

East Middle School
Issac Osei, 6th grade
Courtney Wilborn, 7th grade
Arlet Munoz, 8th grade

Edna & John W. Mosley P-8
Adriel Yoshimura, 1st grade
Mikell Givan, 2nd grade
Yahaira Cadena Galaviz, 3rd grade
Alivia Hunley, 4th grad
Dominic Varela, 5th grade
Yoselin De La Torre-Perez, 6th grade
Bre'nae Thomas, 7th grade
Sierra Shake, 8th grade

Elkhart Elementary School
Yasira Hernandez, 1st grade
Joseph Hernandez Chable, 2nd grade
Melany Rios, 3rd grade
Daniela Lupercio, 4th grade
Hai Ling Zhang, 5th grade

Fletcher Commununity School
Josiah Clark, 1st grade
Alexandra Fuentes, 2nd grade
Esmeralda Arteaga Hernandez, 3rd grade
Brian Montiel, 4th grade
Alexa Ramos Santos. 5th grade

Fulton Academy of Excellence
Kohn Sorn, 1st grade
Ashley Vera Garcia, 2nd grade
Emma Warnick, 3rd grade
Kevin Salas, 4th grade
Diego Ruelas, 5th grade

Gateway High School
Estrella Soto Salas, 9th grade
Kameran Howard Parrish, 10th grade
Michkaleke Baker, 11th grade
Maria Aguero Marroquin, 12th grade

Global Village Academy
Anna "Belen" Arana, 1st grade
Max Joslin, 2nd grade
Zane Tindell, 3rd grade
Mauricio Luevano, 4th grade
Sakari Mackey, 5th grade
Andre Osuchukwu, 6th grade
Dayanira Gallegos, 7th grade
Yasab Zurisadai Salvatierra, 8th grade

Hinkley High School
Dorian James Fox, 9th grade
Kasizn Kasheem Smith, 10th grade
Kimberly Noemi Munoz Murillo, 11th grade
Maryan Issack, 12th grade

Iowa Elementary School
Moise Daou, 1st grade
Mi'Kell Smith, 2nd grade
Adam El Oudni, 3rd grade
Andrew Villamil, 4th grade
Haylie Martin, 5th grade

Jewell Elementary School
Andalyn Heller, 1st grade
Maximiliano Hernandez, 2nd grade
Jarvis Murray, 3rd grade
Timothy Austin, 4th grade
Erman Adam, 5th grade

Kenton Elementary School
Benjamin Andrade, 1st grade
Alexa Hernandez Ibarra, 2nd grade
Gabriel Macias Herrera, 3rd grade
Asael Sarinana, 4th grade
Marco Castillo Delgado, 5th grade

Lansing Elementary School
Diego Tenorio Sanchez, 1st grade
Adrienne Ortega, 2nd grade
Amira Ouazrane, 3rd grade
Eva Sanchez, 4th grade
Haiden Ortega, 5th grade

Laredo Elementary School
Brandon Johnson, Jr., 1st grade
Naomi Tamajong, 2nd grade
Luis Banuelos Moreno, 3rd grade
Desire Arreola, 4th grade
Joshua Virvez, 5th grade

Lotus School for Excellence
Laziza Allayorova, 1st grade
Malakhi Freeman, 2nd grade
Ryan Okolie, 3rd grade
Hafeezat Ghaffar, 4th grade
Melgen Burciaga Buhaya, 5th grade
Demir Mikulin, 6th grade
Nour El Houda Goucem, 7th grade
Hermon Beluts, 8th grade
Peniel Ansah, 9th grade
Francisco Pina Pasillas, 10th grade
Naliya Noonnak-Sanitkhum, 11th grade
Huda Hussain, 12th grade

Lyn Knoll Elementary School
Kyven Rodriguez, 1st grade
Adrian Lara, 2nd grade
Cadence Paul, 3rd grad
Jonathan Narvaez, 4th grade
Levi Wilson-Kistner, 5th grade

Mrachek Middle School
Abdul Taj, 6th grade
Bayan Al Shaer, 7th grade
Marial Navarro Corona, 8th grade

Murphy Creek P-8
Kai Tercero, 1st grade
Levi Sargent, 2nd grade
Brooklynn Colbert, 3rd grade
Emery Bender, 4th grade
Tristin Danielson, 5th grade
Brenda Flores-Gonzalez, 6th grade
Ashley Fontes, 7th grade
Marbella Romero-Soto, 8th grade

Montview Math & Health Sciences Elementary School
Gabriel Sebastian Lopez, 1st grade
Patricia Martinez, 2nd grade
Evelyn Castellano, 3rd grade
Jade Wood, 4th grade
Alejandra Quiroz Covarrubias, 5th grade

North Middle School
Christian Carrillo, 6th grade
Jacqueline Chacon, 7th grade
Daisy Chavez, 8th grade

Paris Elementary School
Uriel Ortiz Romero, 1st grade
Diana Urbina Matamoros 2nd grade
Haly Rodarte Vasquez, 3rd grade
Branden Bonilla, 4th grade
Carol Jean Logan, 5th grade

Park Lane Elementary School
Aiden Miranda, 1st grade
Samantha Pacheco, 2nd grade
Savanna Yarbrough, 3rd grade
Yadira De Leon, 4th grade
Yazmin Chavez, 5th grade

Peoria Elementary School
Michael Fierro, Jr., 1st grade
Ellary Larson, 2nd grade
Jesus Garcia, 3rd grade
Hadasa Burgos, 4th grade
Saul Garcia, 5th grade

Rangeview High School
Ryan Slocum, 9th grade
Donovan Strouse, 10th grade
Connor Rodenbeck, 11th grade
Milad Husayni, 12th grade

Sable Elementary School
Alex Miranda Sanchez, 1st grade
Josias Biniam Bekele, 2nd grade
Amy Rachelle Orozco, 3rd grade
Psalm Niya Akiang Jackson, 4th grade
Ryan Joseph Bieber, 5th grade

Side Creek Elementary School
Ingrid Garcia-Fonseca, 1st grade
Mia Orozco, 2nd grade
Tatiana Holguin, 3rd grade
Evalise Zuniga, 4th grade
Adelle Hazelhurst, 5th grade

Sixth Avenue Elementary School
Savanna Rogers, 1st grade
Seleah Reeves-Miller, 2nd grade
Zelise Stewart, 3rd grade
Aiden Petty, 4th grade
Mia Segura Ruizesparza, 5th grade

South Middle School
Afsaneh Fagherzadah, 6th grade
Brandon Moreno Serrano, 7th grade
Alejandro Estrada, 8th grade

Tollgate Elementary School
Maya Gray, 1st grade
Alanis Cruz, 2nd grade
Elaf Al-Nuami, 3rd grade
Daniela Flores, 4th grade
Ikram Chichou, 5th grade

Vanguard Classical School - East Campus
Azlaan Ali, 1st grade
Kenley Martinez, 2nd grade
Ellis Cook, 3rd grade
Darcy Allshouse, 4th grade
Daelyn Bingham, 5th grade
Dennis Ancheta, 6th grade
Isabella Walsh, 7th grade
Bonsitu Kebeto, 8th grade
Eneida Solis, 9th grade
Mikias Mengistu, 10th grade
Keith Mlinek, Jr. 11th grade
Nikole Holtz, 12th grade

Vanguard Classical School - West Campus
Melany Gutierrez, 1st grade
Genesis Landa-Posas, 2nd grade
Cristal Parra-Ruiz, 3rd grade
Yaretzi Bustillos Rodriguez, 4th grade
Lorenzo Carpio, 5th grade
Zita Kinney, 6th grade
Asanti Michell, 7th grade
Jessica Hernandez Solis, 8th grade

Vassar Elementary School
Mia Stanton, 1st grade
Ethan Hodges, 2nd grade
Kaeden Labelle, 3rd grade
Matthew Prudek, 4th
Daniela Alvarez, 5th grade

Vaughn Elementary School
Triana Torres-Ramirez, 1st grade
Saung Zin, 2nd grade
Su Myat Khine, 3rd grade
Eunice Briones, 4th grade
Kassandra Herrera, 5th grade

Virginia Court Elementary School
Aubruanna Kuntz, 1st grade
Zamzam Mohamed, 2nd grade
Duong Do, 3rd grade
Anneliese Nevarez, 4th grade
Karamba Diaby, 5th grade

Vista PEAK Exploratory P-8
Makena Hieb, 1st grade
Serena Hakim, 2nd grade
Dimpna Castaneda, 3rd grade
Aniya Turner, 4th grade
Jordan Loria, 5th grade
Nathan Gutierrez, 6th grade
Annabelle Gray, 7th grade
Ben Spengler, 8th grade

Vista PEAK Preparatory 9-12
Keyshawn Grigsby, 9th grade
Tachina Cruz, 10th grade
Patricia Ruiz, 11th grade
Amanda Farrar, 12th grade

Wheeling Elementary School
Soraya Rebeles Martinez, 1st grade
Hunter Martinez, 2nd grade
Aaron Griffin, 3rd grade
Theresa Amouzou, 4th grade
Vincent Lucero, 5th grade

William Smith High School
Azucena Hernandez, 9th grade
Jackeline Montes, 10th grade
Gilbert Maldonado, 11th grade
Maurice Hawes, 12th grade

Yale Elementary School
Kimberly Castro, 1st grade
Ashley Romero Zelaya, 2nd grade
Josiah Seyoum, 3rd grade
Luis Blanco, 4th grade
Layla Goshorn, 5th grade

Aurora Public Schools is excited to start the 2017-18 school year off on a high note with our 10th annual Back to School Kickoff! APS students and families will receive free goodies, food and entertainment. This is an event you won’t want to miss.

Join us Saturday, Aug. 5 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Town Center at Aurora.

Free backpacks and school supplies will be provided to APS students while supplies last. The event is also a great opportunity to meet school staff, explore tons of resources and register your child for school.

Low- or no-cost immunizations will be available for children two months to 18 years old. Please be sure to bring your child’s shot records.

Holding strong to the belief that families are our partners in education, we can’t wait to connect with families from every school across the district.

We hope to see you there!

Please note that the first day of school for most students in grades 6-12 is on Aug. 8. The first day of school for most students in grades 1-5 is Aug. 10. Preschool and kindergarten students start school on Aug. 14. Please contact your child’s school regarding the exact start date.

• View district and school calendars for 2017-18.

It’s almost time for students to return to school for the 2017-18 school year!

The first day of school for most students in grades 6-12 is Aug. 8. The first day of school for most students in grades 1-5 is Aug. 10. Preschool and kindergarten students start school on Aug. 14.

Please contact your child’s school regarding the exact start date.

• View individual school calendars.
• View individual school start and end times.

The 2017-18 school year is off to a great start! We continue to welcome more than 40,000 students back to school and look forward to seeing our preschool and kindergarten students Aug. 14.

Hundreds of community members, representing many businesses and organizations across Aurora, have been helping us greet students and offer them a warm welcome. We thank all of our volunteers for taking time out of their busy days to connect with our students in this way. This is a great example of our APS 2020: Shaping the Future strategic plan belief that our community shares the responsibility for student achievement.

We look forward to a wonderful year of accelerating learning for every APS student, every day!

Click to view slideshow.

Aurora Public Schools offers athletic programs for all middle and high school students. These programs include basketball, track and field, soccer, wrestling and more.

Participation in athletics is designed to promote school spirit, provide a healthy outlet for energy, improve student morale and increase community involvement and support.

If you are a high school student and would like to sign up for a fall sport, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to your high school’s athletics page
2. Click on “Register for Sports”
3. Create a profile
4. Pick your sport and fill in all of your information
5. All documents must be read and agreed to
6. Bring your current medical physical and participation fee to the athletic office
7. That’s it! You are registered for a fall sport!

If you are a middle school student and would like to get involved in a fall sport, please contact your school to fill out any necessary paperwork.

Did You Know?

More than 3,000 APS students participated in high school athletics during the 2016-17 school year. More than 4,000 middle school students participated in an athletic activity. This includes a record number of female athletes at the middle school level.

For information about APS athletics and activities and a complete list of middle and high school programs, visit athletics.aurorak12.org.

Join Aurora Public Schools March 6-10 as we celebrate National School Social Work Week! The annual celebration, sponsored by the School Social Work Association of America, is a time for us to pause and honor school social workers for the vital role they play in creating and maintaining positive, safe and supportive school climates.

School social workers tend to students' social and emotional needs, help parents access resources, help staff understand underlying factors affecting student performance and much more. In addressing barriers to learning, this team of dedicated staff members empower students academically and behaviorally to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances.

The unique knowledge and skills school social workers bring to our district help build a community of trust between students, staff and families. They also exemplify the APS 2020: Shaping the Future strategic plan core belief that student achievement and growth are driven by a highly-effective and respected staff working as a team.

If you see an APS school social worker this week (or at any time in the future), please thank him or her for their commitment to excellence.

Below are a few members of the APS school social workers team who share their passion for the profession.

The City of Aurora recently held a ceremony to recognize hundreds of Aurora Public Schools students as "Aurora Scholars” for the positive contributions they have made in their communities and schools. The annual event, now in its ninth year, was created to bring city officials, school district staff and families together to honor the achievements of Aurora’s future leaders.

One teacher-nominated student from each grade level (first through 12th) at every school in Aurora was recognized. Students received certificates and gifts donated by the community.

In APS, we believe every student has unique abilities that we must recognize and engage. Congratulations to the 2018 APS Aurora Scholars listed below for being incredible students!

Aurora Public Schools is excited to host our 11th annual Back to School Kickoff to celebrate the beginning of the 2018-19 school year! APS students and families will receive free goodies, food and entertainment. This is an event you won’t want to miss.

Join us Saturday, Aug. 4 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Town Center at Aurora.

Free backpacks and school supplies will be provided to APS students while supplies last. The event is also a great opportunity to meet school staff, explore tons of resources and register your child for school.

Low- or no-cost immunizations will be available for children two months to 18 years old. Please be sure to bring your child’s shot records.

We are looking for volunteers to help from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.! If you are interested in supporting this important event and sharing in the fun, please contact Barbara Chapman at  bgchapman@aurorak12.org or 303.365.5819 ext. 28948.

Holding strong to the belief that families are our partners in education, we can’t wait to connect with families from every school across the district.

We hope to see you there!

Please note that the first day of school for most students in grades 6-12 is on Aug. 7. The first day of school for most students in grades 1-5 is Aug. 9. Preschool and kindergarten students start school on Aug. 13. Please contact your child’s school regarding the exact start date.

• View district and school calendars for 2018-19.

Aurora Public Schools is excited to see the APS 2020: Shaping the Future strategic plan coming to life across the district. Students, parents, staff and community members are going above and beyond to ensure APS students have the plans, skills and credentials they need to shape successful futures.

Each month, we celebrate great examples of this work in our P-20 Learning Communities. Following are highlights from Community L.

Erin Autobee
Fulton Academy of Excellence technology teacher Erin Autobee (pictured above) has helped students earn more than 600 digital badges in her first year! Thanks to her hard work and dedication, 98 percent of Fulton’s fifth-grade students will earn an Invention Summit Badge. These credentials will help open doors as students execute their plans.

Lilly Klatt
Edna & John W. Mosley P-8’s Parent-Teacher Association was established only two years ago, but the PTA has already made a significant impact on the school. Parents have dedicated their time and talents to organizing countless activities that have brought the school and community together. In addition, the group raised over $40,000 for the school! We commend the group’s president Lilly Klatt for her leadership and dedication.

Becca Peters
Aurora Quest K-8 Parent Becca Peters is an integral part of the school community. She always lends a helping hand to Quest’s clubs, activities and classrooms. For the last two years, Ms. Peters has managed the Box Tops program, which has funded numerous student activities. She has also been a great addition to the school accountability committee and served on various interview committees.

Gael Guzman
Vista PEAK Exploratory eighth-grade student Gael Guzman’s ability to persevere is infectious. Despite the challenges he has faced, he continues to excel. His positive outlook paired with support from the APS Rebound Ombudsman Program has allowed him to experience greater success, both academically and personally. His peers consider him a leader. Principal Yolanda Greer says Mr. Guzman is a bright and hopeful student who makes her entire staff very proud.

Andrea Yahner
When it comes to unwavering compassion and dedication, Vista PEAK Exploratory Primary Counselor Andrea Yahner is the poster child. Ms. Yahner uses various platforms to help students, staff and parents weather any storms they are going through. She has implemented many programs, organized various school activities and provided countless resources that help people cope with their emotions.

Tanya Crawford
Tanya Crawford goes above and beyond her duties as a paraprofessional at Vista PEAK Exploratory every day. She works tirelessly to fundraise for and coach an all-inclusive cheer program, which she has lead through many school competitions. She assists the school’s athletic director and coaches, found and oversees the Vista PEAK Talent Show and consistently implements new procedures and systems for the school.

Mike Fehringer, Danette Mozes and Jen Fryer
During the 2016-17 school year, Vista PEAK Exploratory’s student, staff, parents, community members and local business volunteers have given more than 2,300 hours of their time to the school. Mike Fehringer and Danette Mozes have volunteered over 100 hours each and Jen Fryer has completed over 200 hours!

Gloria Medina, Honorio Mercado, Lori Carlstrom
Tollgate Elementary School Custodians Lori Carlstrom, Gloria Medina and Honorio Mercado are incredible employees who constantly exceed expectations to make Tollgate a special place for children. They take great pride in ensuring the school is clean and comfortable for students and staff every day.

We thank each individual for making a difference in our students’ lives by dedicating their time, talents and resources.

Aurora Public Schools is excited to host the 2017 Festival of the Arts at the Town Center at Aurora. This free event, which is open to the public now through April 22, features original works of art created by talented students from every school in the district!

During mall hours, we invite guests to browse the large collection of paintings, sculptures, photographs and more. Be sure to stop by the art gallery on the upper level by JCPenney to see students’ amazing 3D pieces!

In addition to visual arts, guests can also enjoy the performing arts as students host a live performance. The showcase takes place Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the lower-level by Dillard’s.

Thank you for supporting the arts!

Aurora Public Schools is a district of momentum, opportunity and impact. As we build on our momentum, we have an exciting opportunity to look to the future together. All of us want to ensure that our students have the educational opportunities and school facilities necessary to shape successful futures. We also recognize that Aurora is changing and growing in a way that will impact our schools and community.

It’s going to take all of us putting together great ideas to imagine and design our new comprehensive, long-term educational and facilities plan: Blueprint APS.

As part of the initial development of Blueprint APS, we are excited to hear the voices of our students, families, staff and community members as we think about the opportunities our schools and district should provide. Please join us at one of our Blueprint APS Community Forums listed below:

Wednesday, Sept. 5
4:30 p.m.
Gateway High School
1300 South Sable Blvd.
Aurora 80012

Thursday, Sept. 6
6 p.m.
Vista PEAK Preparatory
24500 E. 6th Ave.
Aurora 80018

Saturday, Sept. 15
10 a.m.
Aurora West College Preparatory Academy
10100 E. 13th Ave.
Aurora 80010

Monday, Sept. 17
6 p.m.
Mrachek Middle School
1955 S. Telluride St.
Aurora 80013

Childcare for children toilet-trained and older will be available. Younger children who are not yet toilet-trained are welcome to attend the forums with their families. Older children are encouraged to participate in the forums. 

Language services will be provided. If you require interpretation in a language other than Spanish, please call 303-365-7805.

To learn more about Blueprint APS, visit aurorak12.org/blueprint. Beginning late next week, you may also provide input via an online survey. If you are unable to attend a community forum, please be sure to complete the survey before Sept. 24.

All registered voters who reside in the APS district will have a chance to vote on ballot measure 5A to fund safety and educational programs in Aurora Public Schools. If approved, ballot measure 5A, a mill levy override, will provide $35 million annually to invest in key areas that support student health, safety and learning. The mill levy would cost APS homeowners about $8 per month for every $100,000 of home value.

Registered voters can send in a mail-in ballot or vote at a polling center on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 6. Voter registration can be completed online at GoVoteColorado.com or at the Adams or Arapahoe county clerk’s office by Oct.  29. After this date, you can still register and vote in person at a voter service and polling center.

To learn more about ballot measure 5A, visit aurorak12.org/mill-levy.

Aurora Public Schools is developing conventional school calendars for the 2019-20 and 2020-21 school years. As part of the APS 2020: Shaping the Future strategic plan, APS is proposing calendars that will help every student shape a successful future.

A committee made up of parents, teachers and other APS staff members has been formed to develop calendar scenarios to present to the public for feedback. Parents, staff and community members are invited to attend either of the open houses listed below to provide input on the calendar scenarios.Not able to attend? You may view the scenarios online and take the online survey by Nov. 19!

The committee will use feedback to develop a draft calendar for the next two school years. The Board will review the 2019-20 and 2020-21 proposed calendars on Jan. 8 and will likely make a final decision on Jan. 22.

Please check with your child’s school as individual school calendars may vary.

We are pleased that Aurora voters overwhelmingly approved Ballot Measure 5A, a $35 million mill levy that will support student health, safety and learning.

The mill levy will ensure student success by investing in the following key areas:

• Expanding staff and training dedicated to student mental health
• Increasing pay to recruit and retain high quality teachers
• Expanding after-school learning programs for K-5 elementary students
• Adding seat belts on school buses

We are grateful to our community for their continued support to ensure that every student shapes a successful future. 

Please visit our mill levy page to learn more about the 2018 mill levy. 

Read the full message about passage of the Mill Levy Override from Superintendent Rico Munn.

Lights! Camera! Action!

A day-long theatre festival recently highlighted the incredible talents of our gifted students. The event – which celebrates the performing arts – brought their dramatic talents center stage.

The APS Theater Festival brought together more than 60 students from across the district. Students prepared solo-pieces, participated in interviews about themselves and their characters, and performed together in an improvisational game.

“It was a lot of fun and it was a great way to meet other kids who have similar interests,” said Vista PEAK Preparatory Sophomore Kennedy Isaac. “Performing allows you to express yourself and escape from whatever is going on in your life.”

While some students plan to pursue careers in the performing arts, others simply embrace the stage as a creative outlet. In both cases, students gain important skills that help them implement their plans for the future.

"All of our students sounded amazing and looked fantastic in every step and every number they performed,” said APS Gifted and Talented teacher Whitney Allen. “Our group performers worked together seamlessly, complementing each other and bringing out the best in everyone. They were fantastic from start to finish."

“We are seeing students really resonate in their talent areas because it’s all rooted in their passions,” said APS Gifted and Talented Coordinator Carol Dallas. “Their passions will drive them to shape successful futures.”

APS identifies gifted and high potential students not only in traditional academic areas, but also in visual arts, performing arts, music and dance as well as creative thinking and leadership. Our gifted and talented programming has been recognized as one of the nation’s most innovative and inclusive programs in the country. To learn more, visit aurorak12.org/gifted.


Spotlight on Gifted and Talented: Did you know?

• Every APS school offers gifted and talented educational opportunities.
• Aurora Quest K-8 is APS’ gifted and talented magnet school. It consistently ranks as one of the top-performing schools in Colorado.
• APS serves over 1,700 gifted and talented students.
  
  
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By Yucheng Zhang, APS Communication Department Intern

CareerTrek was back again this year, offering over 50 professionals from various industries to 2,800 Aurora Public Schools students from around the district. This annual fair was hosted by the APS College and Career Success Department, offering eighth graders from every APS middle school the opportunity to dive into and explore a variety of careers.

Whether it be engineering, veterinary care, water sanitation or more, there was no shortage of expertise in a diverse range of career fields open for students to explore. Students were given hands-on experiences, such as a virtual reality simulation with NASA or the integration of Fortnite in an engineering presentation to explore possible career options.

The future is bright for our students and we are thankful for every exhibitor in helping students open the door into their vast expanse of opportunities.

By Yucheng Zhang, APS Communication Intern

For the ninth executive year, Aurora Public Schools has hosted the annual Girls Technology Camp. The day was filled with hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for sixth-grade female students around the district. 

While there, the girls were immersed in a world of coding, 3-D design, snap circuits and more! They had interactive opportunities such as playing virtual reality games, taking pictures with a green screen, and even creating their own mini-projectors.

Each workshop was led by female technology leaders and the entire event was run entirely by the incredible women and volunteers that inspired these girls to believe that they can pursue anything their hearts desire. Students left that day not only feeling a fueled passion for the STEM field but also with a number of caring supports that strive to see their success as they shape their futures as hopeful pioneers in this expansive field of exploration and innovation.

At the end of the event, the sixth graders were given the opportunity to talk to girls who had partaken in the program years prior to see how the event shaped their own college and career paths.  

We are thankful for the APS Information Technology and Educational Technology departments for organizing this inspiring event to empower our girls. We hope that they find college and career success in the male-dominated STEM industries.