In Aurora Public Schools, we believe it is essential that students have the support needed to transition into life after high school. As we celebrate College and Career Success Month, we want to highlight the importance of student plans. One of the goals of the APS strategic plan, APS 2020, is that all students develop plans for their futures. These plans lead many students to attend technical schools or four-year universities. For others, they immediately enter the workforce and start a promising career.

The planning process begins with our preschool students as they start to discover their interests and strengths. Students in grades 1-12 create Individual Career and Academic Plans (known as ICAPs) that help prepare them for success after high school. These plans also help teachers know what their students’ strengths, interests and goals are for the future.

To learn more about APS 2020, visit aps2020.aurorak12.org.

In celebration of Veterans Day, Aurora Public Schools is honored to salute all veterans and active military personnel for their sacrifice, bravery and commitment to serve our country. APS is proud to have many veterans working in our district to help students shape successful futures.

Leona Schmitt
Health Para, Dalton Elementary School

United States Air Force - 25 years

“I joined the Colorado Air National Guard in 1982 and trained as an operating room technician. I’ve lived in Germany, Italy and France working in numerous community hospitals. I was also trained as a field medic, and later cross trained as an EMT. I retired with the rank of a Senior Master Sergeant. I’ve really enjoyed working in APS because of the warm working environment and being valued as a valuable team member.”

Vincent Baum
P.E. Teacher and Coach, Aurora Central High School

United States Marine Corps - Four years

"My time in the military taught me to be thankful for the things you have and the people in your life that support you. Things are never guaranteed so every day is a blessing. My favorite thing about working in APS so far is the community. Everyone I have encountered is kind and willing to help as they can."

Ella Hart
Support Staff, Pickens Technical College

United States Air Force - 20 years

“My time spent in the United States Air Force was undoubtedly the best years of my life. Throughout the 25 years working in APS, I've worked in all school levels; elementary, middle, and high school. Currently, I'm at Pickens Technical College in a supporting role. I provide staff and students the tools needed to be successful in the classroom, whether it's books, electronic devices or even advice from this retired Air Force Master Sergeant.”

Ralph Prieto
Campus Monitor, Hinkley High School

United States Navy - Eight years

“During my time in the service, I was able to visit places such as Scotland, the Aleutians, Germany, Singapore and Hong Kong. I’ve really enjoyed my time in APS. Students look to me for guidance, advice and an occasional laugh. I've been known as Mr. Whiskers since 2014. This name was given to me by students, and it has stuck ever since.”

Steven Janko
Cadet Elective Teacher, North Middle School

United States Army - 21 years

“I joined the US Army to see if there was anything I could do to help out. I served in some pretty interesting jobs in Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and other non-tourist destinations. My favorite mission was performing hurricane relief duty in Florida. I’ve really enjoyed working with a dynamic team at North Middle School as we tackle every mission with enormous focus and energy.”

Mark Mcconnell
Technology Teacher, Wheeling Elementary School

United States Navy - Seven years

“During my time in the service, my work included keeping aircraft radios, computers and navigational systems operational while stationed in Europe. I loved the opportunities the military gave me. My favorite thing about working in APS is the opportunities to share my knowledge, life experiences and work with colleagues that push my knowledge to new levels.”

Mark Schiermeyer
Social Studies Teacher, Vista PEAK Preparatory

United States Army - Three years

“I served 3 years active duty in the U.S. Army from 2010-13, and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. Currently, I serve in the Colorado Army National Guard. My favorite thing about working in APS has to be "my kids". Seeing the students everyday and building lasting relationships is very worthwhile.”

In this unsettling time of a global pandemic and social unrest impacting our communities and reverberating across the world, school psychologists are needed more than ever to support students and families.

In Aurora Public Schools, mental health is a top priority. Thanks to our dedicated school psychologists, students across the district feel good, safe and supported. Our school psychologists are highly-qualified and trained to address social, emotional and behavioral needs. They also collaborate with stakeholders, manage crises, provide psychoeducation and much more to ensure our students and families’ mental and emotional well being.

That’s why we are excited to celebrate National School Psychology Awareness Week Nov. 9-13. We ask that you join us in honoring these unsung heroes for working so diligently to remove barriers our students and families may face in reaching their goals.

In 2018, Aurora voters approved a $35 million mill levy, which allowed APS to expand and train high-quality mental health staff. Together, we will continue to support and advocate for mental health professionals in schools. Throughout these challenging times, our Mental Health and Counseling team will continue to provide students and families more meaningful connections with mental health experts. To access APS mental health supports, please visit mentalhealth.aurorak12.org.

In the midst of the global pandemic, it has become increasingly important for families to collaborate with staff and community members to help every student shape a successful future, starting as early as preschool. To encourage more of these conversations, we developed a College and Career Success Backpack Checklist for families.

Students at every grade level can talk with their parents and guardians about what they are learning in school and the short and long-term goals they have set for themselves. Each checklist provides an overview of what students should have completed by the end of each school year depending on their grade level.

We recognize that every student is unique with different learning styles and paces in both the in-person and remote learning environments, so we encourage families to speak with school staff members about their students’ unique interests and strengths. School staff also ensure students who are English language learners, gifted and talented or on individualized educational programs are learning and growing with the appropriate supports in place.

APS parents and guardians, help your students pack their bags for college and career success by downloading an APS Backpack Checklist today at aps2020.aurorak12.org/checklists! The documents are available in ten languages.

Aurora Public Schools is excited to welcome students back for in-person learning through a hybrid model. “A” group and preschool students began in-person learning on Jan. 19. “B” group students will begin on Jan. 25. Please see this calendar that indicates the “A” and “B” weeks.

Here are some of our favorite candid shots of students arriving to school and engaging in learning with their teachers and fellow classmates.

It is time to start thinking about the 2021-22 school year! Below are some important information on how to register new or returning students for the upcoming school year. Please mark your calendars!

During Spring Break, the APS Nutrition Services team will provide grab-and-go meals at 17 drive-thru sites!

As you have likely heard, meteorologists are anticipating that the Denver metro area will be hit by the biggest snow storm of the season on Saturday, March 13 and Sunday, March 14. We recognize that due to the storm, families will likely be unable to pick up meals on Monday, March 15.

In preparation, Nutrition Services will provide extra meals for families to pick up on Friday, March 12. Once again, this means meals will not be provided on Monday and will resume on Tuesday, March 16.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers across Aurora Public Schools have exceeded all expectations to ensure every APS student continues to shape a successful future. Our teachers have gone above and beyond their calls of duty, proving how adaptable, creative and truly reliable they are, even in unprecedented times.

Now is your chance to show your favorite APS teacher some much-needed love! Nominate them for Schomp Automotive's "Teacher of the Year" award at schomp.com/teacher-of-the-year! Eligible candidates can teach preschool through 12th grade at both our public and charter schools.

Nominations are due on Friday, March 26.

One deserving winner will enjoy a three-year lease on a brand new car with a maximum value of $500 per month from Schomp BMW, Schomp Ford, Schomp Honda, Schomp Hyundai, Schomp Mazda, Schomp MINI or Schomp Subaru. The winner will also receive complimentary maintenance for the duration of the lease and Schomp Automotive will donate $5,000 toward a charity or scholastic program of their choice!

The finalist selection and voting period will run from April 12-30, 2021. Please help us spread the word so that an incredible APS teacher has a chance to win this amazing award. You can learn more about the Schomp Automotive’s Teacher of the Year program by visiting schomp.com and youtu.be/TukoWDp7NS4.

Schomp Automotive named Rangeview High School Director of Vocal Music James Laguana their "Teacher of the Year" finalist! The Schomp committee of education leaders reviewed more than a whopping 1,400 nominees and Mr. Laguana made the top six!

We ask APS students, staff, families and community members to help this deserving teacher win. He would enjoy a three-year lease on a brand new Schomp vehicle, complimentary maintenance for the duration of the lease, and a $5,000 donation (courtesy of Schomp Automotive) toward a charity or scholastic program of his choice. He has chosen the Rangeview Choir Program.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Laguana exceeded all expectations to ensure his students continue to shape successful futures. He has gone above and beyond the calls of duty, proving how adaptable, creative and truly reliable he is, even in the face of adversity. 

Vote in less than one minute! Voting will close on Friday, April 30.

Please help us spread the word to help our incredible teacher win this amazing award. You can learn more about the Schomp Automotive "Teacher of the Year" program at schomp.com.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! We honor and celebrate the rich cultures of the AAPI community. Please join us in paying homage to generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders whose influence and contributions have enriched America and who individually and collectively remain instrumental in its success.

Unfortunately, we are witnessing a horrific and heartbreaking rise in racism and hate crimes against AAPI communities across the nation. In APS, we believe diversity is a strength in our community and stand in solidarity with all who strive to #StopAsianHate. These injustices have created a state of crisis and we must come together to make a difference.

One way to "be the change" is to celebrate our differences. APS is proud to be one of the most diverse school districts in Colorado. Walk into any APS classroom and you will be immersed in a colorful world of learning with students from different backgrounds, races and cultures. Our APS family includes individuals born in the U.S., those who emigrated to the country and others who relocated here as refugees. Through the APS Welcome Center, we support AAPI families and more to ensure they navigate our systems properly.

Our schools celebrate diversity by creating spaces and opportunities for students and families to share their ethnic foods, music, traditional clothing and more. This fosters a sense of school, community and cultural pride. We also empower APS staff with culturally- and linguistically-responsive tools to provide equitable instruction for all students.

How do you plan to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month? Tag us on social media using the hashtag #AAPIMonthInAPS!

During summer break, Aurora Public Schools will be distributing FREE breakfast, lunch and dinner. All three meals, which include vegetarian options, will be available together for pickup through a grab-and-go system beginning June 1 and lasting through August 6.

Details on the summer food program can be found below.

• Learn more here.

East Middle School's New Addition

Aurora Public Schools uses bond dollars to ensure that all students have equitable access to learning opportunities, technology and environments. This year, several large and exciting bond-funded projects are underway in our district with more expected to begin over the summer months.

In Fall 2020, contractors began work on Virginia Court Elementary and East Middle School. Both buildings will be remodeled, receive classroom additions and new front entrances. East’s addition will also be a partial new school building, which will include a cafeteria, library and space for elective programs and administrative offices. These improvements will not only update the flow and functionality throughout both buildings, but will also benefit many of their academic programs.

Construction at these schools will continue throughout the summer months and is expected to be completed later this year.

This summer, more school buildings will also receive bond-funded upgrades. Below are just a few of the exciting improvements that will take place.

• Multiple sites - 
  • New security cameras and PA system updates
  • Classroom and entrance flooring replacements
  • Updated landscaping, picnic tables and other exterior improvements
• Mosley P-8 - Resource room renovation
• Aurora Central High School - Gym bleacher replacement, athletic lobby and locker room renovation

We are grateful to the citizens of Aurora who approved a $300 million bond measure in November 2016, which will make improvements at every school in APS and benefit every student. 

To learn more about bond-funded projects in APS, visit bond.aurorak12.org. 

The Aurora Police Department, in partnership with Food Bank of the Rockies, area school districts, and local nonprofit organizations, will host a Summer Kick-Off event on Saturday, June 5 at Overland High School, 12400 E. Jewell Ave. in Aurora. This free event is open to the public and will provide food and resources to 1,000 Aurora families! The event begins at 10 a.m. and will continue until all food has been distributed.

All Aurora households are eligible regardless of income, size, or status. Food items will include ready-to-eat meals, canned and boxed goods, grains, fresh produce, dairy, and protein. In addition, 30,000 diapers, 5,000 pounds of pet supplies, and 1,000 summer activity packs will be distributed to community members. Summer activity packs include books, at-home activities, water bottles, online resources, and community engagement opportunities for kids and teens.

“The past year has stretched budgets and caused hardships across our community,” said Claudine McDonald, Community Relations Section Chief Executive for the Aurora Police Department. “Along with our community partners, the Aurora Police Department wants to make sure families have the resources
they need for a successful start to the summer season.”

This event is possible with the help of community partners. Food Bank of the Rockies, SECORCares, Aurora Public Schools and Cherry Creek School District will provide food and ready-to-eat meals; Aurora Animal Services, Colorado Pet Pantry, and Racing for Paws will offer pet supplies; and WeeCycle will supply baby items. Various community partners have provided the items for summer activity packs for kids and teens.

If you drive to the event, remain in your car and wait your turn in line; do not park and leave your vehicle. If you are walking, please remember to practice social distancing while waiting your turn and wear a face covering. 

See you soon!

Aurora Public Schools is excited to host our 13th annual Back to School Kickoff to celebrate the beginning of the 2021-22 school year! APS students and families will enjoy free goodies, food, entertainment and more. This is an event you won’t want to miss!

Join us Saturday, Aug. 7 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 they last. The event is also a great opportunity to meet school staff and explore the many resources we provide to students and families. If you are new to the district, you can also register your child for school.

Low- or no-cost immunizations and FREE COVID-19 vaccinations will also be available. 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 Mandy Young at aryoung@aurorak12.org or 303-326-2637 ext. 20357.

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

For more information, visit aurorak12.org/kickoff. We hope to see you there!

Akane Valenciano, Yale Elementary School

Many new faces are joining the Aurora Public Schools family for the upcoming 2021-22 school year! APS recently welcomed more than 300 new teachers and mental health professions to the district during New Educator Orientation.

Some are new to the district but have considerable background in education, while others are fresh out of college and excited to begin their first year as aspiring educators.

The new staff members had an opportunity to visit their schools, meet with their school leaders and participate in a pep rally style district-level welcome. As part of the welcome, they enjoyed a bus tour of the district.

“I am excited to welcome you to the APS family because we are exactly that,” said APS Chief Personnel Officer Damon Smith. “We are a family.”

Caleb Robbins, Aurora West College Preparatory Academy

Akane Valenciano, a new art teacher at Yale Elementary School, said, “I’ve been part of the Aurora community for a while now, but this will be my first year as a full-time teacher and I am really excited to give back in this way.”

“I chose APS because of its commitment to support students in their emotional learning,” said Caleb Robbins, a new school counselor eager to open his door to Aurora West College Preparatory Academy students. “I am looking forward to working with like-minded mental health professionals who prioritize students’ needs.”

We look forward to working together to ensure every student shapes a successful future!

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! Summer break is officially over and the first days of the new school year is HERE! We had a blast welcoming students in grades 1-12 back to the classroom and look forward to welcoming Kindergarten and preschool students on Aug. 18. 

To the more than 38,000 students of Aurora Public Schools: We missed you, hope you had a fun-filled summer and we look forward to an incredible year of accelerating learning for every APS student, every day.

Please enjoy a slideshow of our favorite moments from the first day of school!

Dear APS Community,

We are excited to share that planning for the first two Blueprint APS magnet schools is underway! We have hired leaders for both the Region 3 and Region 6 magnet schools. Please learn more about them below. 

As a reminder, the magnet campus located in Region 3 will be focused on Visual and Performing Arts. It will open for the 2022-23 school year and will include Peoria Elementary School, Educational Services Center 4 and Aurora Central High School, ultimately serving students in grades K-12. The campus will focus on arts-related disciplines including dance, music, theater and visual arts. Please note that Aurora Central High School will remain a comprehensive neighborhood boundary school and will strengthen its Visual and Performing Arts Pathway. 

The magnet school located in Region 6 will open at Wheeling Elementary School for the 2022-23 school year and will focus on Entrepreneurship and Invention. The school will ultimately serve students in grades K-8. Students at the school will learn through investigating and responding to authentic, engaging and complex questions or challenges. Students will work on these questions or challenges through project-based learning with support from community partners. Students will also need to collaborate and create solutions in team environments. Many postsecondary institutions are now offering entrepreneurial programs and certificates to prepare students to launch their own businesses and/or new technologies.

Both magnet schools will serve students districtwide and more information on how to enroll students in these schools will be available in Spring 2022. Since Wheeling and Peoria will no longer have students assigned to them based on where they live, we will begin boundary processes for current Wheeling and Peoria elementary school families in the coming months. This will determine which boundary schools will serve those families into the future.

Community Voice has driven the Blueprint APS process. As such, we are asking parents, students and staff members to be part of the school design teams for both magnet schools. School design team members will be required to attend regularly scheduled meetings and stay active throughout the design process. If you are interested in joining the design team for the Visual and Performing Arts K-12 Magnet Campus or for the Entrepreneurship and Invention K-8 Magnet School, please complete this application form by Tuesday, September 7 at noon. Please be assured that both design teams will include voices from throughout the district. Leaders will work to select design team members who are passionate and dedicated community members. 

We are now pleased to announce the leaders of our magnet schools and campus. All of these leaders have unique experiences and skill sets that are well-suited for the curricular and programming needs of magnet schools. We are grateful to have their expertise and leadership in APS.

Principal Laura Burke
Invention & Entrepreneurship Magnet School
Laura Burke is a Denver native and spent 15 years as a special education classroom teacher. After earning a master's degree in education from Regis University, she founded a nonprofit organization to support the success of students with disabilities through advocacy, workshops and trainings for kids, parents and educators. During that time, she also served on several community organizations including being appointed as a City Commissioner for the Denver Commission for People with Disabilities. 

She joined the APS community in 2015 as an Exceptional Student Services (ESS) consultant serving students with special needs. Ms. Burke was then named an assistant principal at North Middle School. Most recently, she served as a principal on special assignment and worked at the district level as part of the Leadership Development team. 

Director Jessica Brown
Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Campus
Jessica Brown will serve as the director, overseeing both the primary and secondary schools of the magnet arts campus. In this role, she will lead the magnet school team to build a robust arts program. Ms. Brown has worked in education for nearly 25 years. She has a strong background in leading arts programs and magnet schools that are nationally recognized.

She comes to us from Philadelphia where she served as the principal of the Julia R. Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School. The Masterman School is consistently ranked one of the top schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. She was also the founding principal of the Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia and an assistant principal at Kensington Creative and Performing Arts High School. Ms. Brown also has many years of experience as an English language learner teacher and coach of English language learner teachers.

During her time at Masterman, Ms. Brown worked to create impactful changes to ensure that all students felt welcome and supported. She listened to student and alumni concerns about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). She worked collaboratively to create a new position, structures and supports to improve the school’s focus on DEI. She is excited to bring that same focus on diversity, equity and inclusion to our community.

Ms. Brown earned her bachelor's degree in history from Kenyon College. She also has a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in administrative leadership from Lehigh University.

Secondary Principal Mehran Ahmed
Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Campus
We are pleased to announce that we have also selected the principal who will lead Aurora Central High School when it becomes a part of the magnet campus starting in the 2022-23 school year. Mehran Ahmed will serve as the leader of the secondary campus at ACHS. He has served as the principal of South Middle School since 2019. Prior to leading South, he was an assistant principal at Gateway High School and also served as the Interim Principal for one year. During his more than 15 years of experience in education, he has also served as a physical education teacher and student advisor.

Mr. Ahmed earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Sam Houston State University, and a master’s degree in educational administration from Tarleton State University. 

Primary Principal Shawn Graziani
Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Campus
Shawn Graziani is looking forward to the amazing opportunity of being the founding principal of the primary school of the magnet arts campus. He has over 15 years of experience in urban education starting from his years of teaching in Baltimore, Maryland. He continued his career as an instructional coach, assistant principal, district director and building principal. He was most recently the principal of Lyn Knoll Elementary in APS.

Originally from Pennsylvania, Shawn earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, a master’s degree in education administration from Johns Hopkins University, and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Denver. 

Please join me in congratulating and welcoming our new magnet school leaders. We are excited for our school design teams to begin their work and we look forward to sharing more information with you throughout the year.

-Superintendent Rico Munn

Attendance Awareness Month is a nationwide campaign and movement to stress that every school day counts. In APS, we know that our families are our partners in education and understand the value of strong attendance.

One of the goals of our strategic plan, APS 2026: Faces of the Future, is that every student has a plan for their future. In order for students to bring their plans to life, it is critically important for students to be at school and engaged in learning daily.  

Across the country, millions of hours of instruction and learning are missed every year due to chronic absences of 15 days or more. Poor attendance can start as early as kindergarten and continue to impact achievement through high school. Research indicates that attendance is a major indicator for students eventually dropping out of school and significantly limiting their options for career choices and employment. In addition, a student who does not attend school regularly often has trouble making close friends.

We recognize that some absences are unavoidable such as when children get sick and need to stay home. However, the key to success is getting children to school when they are healthy and avoiding any unnecessary absences.

Parents and guardians play a critical role in helping students get to school on time every day. Supporting students to build habits of strong attendance, regular bedtimes and other routines can greatly contribute to their overall future success in school, college and when entering the job market.

APS maintains a robust and effective transportation system to transport students to and from school safely. At schools, staff will track your students’ attendance and communicate with you on how absenteeism can affect their learning and academic performance.

Our goal for the month of September is to reach 94% average daily attendance districtwide. Please check out the interactive Attendance Thermometer below and help us to reach our goal by ensuring that students attend school every day. Together, #WeCanDoIt!

We thank our parents for their partnership and we look forward to seeing our students in school.

We are excited to announce that APS is participating in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s COVID-19 weekly surveillance testing program! Within the coming months, our schools will offer free and voluntary tests each week to provide an extra mitigation layer to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Testing and early detection is a critical step in keeping our students and staff healthy and maintaining in-person learning. Please note that Child Development Centers will not be able to participate in this weekly testing program.

The weekly COVID-19 school testing program is available to all APS students and staff, regardless of vaccination status or presence of symptoms. All students under 18 years of age must obtain parental/guardian permission by submitting a consent form to participate in the program. We will share information about the consent form and how to sign up in the coming weeks.

Students will receive $25 for the first COVID-19 test that is administered to them through the program. Students can then receive $10 for every subsequent test (at a maximum of one incentive per week). We thank the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Reopening Schools award funds for this incentive.

To learn more about the program, please review the Frequently Asked Questions. For additional questions or concerns, please contact your school. Thank you for helping us keep students safe.

Reminder about Isolations, Quarantines and the COVID-19 Tracker
Any student or staff member who tests positive for COVID-19 is required to isolate at home for 10 days. In addition, as part of our updated guidance, if a student or staff member has had close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual within 14 days and develops COVID-19 symptoms, that student or staff member will be considered a probable case and required to isolate at home for 10 days. Nurses will share information with families and staff members who have been identified as probable cases. Students or staff who are probable will only be allowed to return to school once they have received a negative PCR test and symptoms have resolved. Otherwise, probable cases will be required to complete a 10-day isolation at home.

As a reminder, in accordance with health guidance, APS is no longer implementing proactive quarantining of those who may have been exposed to a positive and/or symptomatic individual within the school setting. However, quarantines are required for higher-risk exposures including all athletics, field trips and after-school bands, choirs and performing arts groups.

APS nurses will work with families on best practices and will provide guidance if a family member in the home tests positive for COVID-19. APS is following the Tri-County Health Department’s infectious disease guidelines and we will continue to take additional health measures as directed by TCHD. This means that if an outbreak is identified, all those who are unvaccinated and identified as potentially exposed will be required to quarantine.

As we have shared previously, APS is keeping its COVID-19 tracker updated with reported positive cases. The tracker will remain updated on a daily basis (Monday-Friday) with any reports of positive cases and quarantines at schools.

- Superintendent Rico Munn