Vassar Elementary School third grade teacher Nancy Taphorn understands the value of a hand-written letter in today’s tech-driven society. Every winter and summer break, she mails her third-grade students personalized thank you cards brimming with words of encouragement and praise. Wonderfully, this small gesture changed the course of one student’s life forever.

When nine-year-old A.J. read Taphorn’s words, “I am proud of you - so proud of you and who you are. The future is bright and I can't wait to see all that you accomplish,” he took it to heart. According to his mother, A.J. now firmly believes that he has a bright future simply because his teacher said so.

In just one year under Taphorn’s wings, A.J. developed a deeper sense of confidence and empowerment that helped him unveil a treasure – his gifted mind. With Taphorn’s encouragement, A.J. passed tests to begin the 2014-15 school year as a gifted and talented student in the APS AGATE program. The program will expose A.J. to an array of opportunities that recognize his individual strengths and interests and challenge him to maximize his potential.

APS thanks Taphorn for accelerating learning in a unique and personable way.

Vassar Elementary School recently hosted a special "Bring Your Parent to School Day!" Parents met with Principal Stacey Stuart and Assistant Principal Sandy Fenley to discuss grade-level reading standards.

School leaders discussed reading expectations and parents visited a classroom to observe a whole group reading lesson. After the lesson, parents had an opportunity to ask teachers questions.

One parent said, "It was a great experience! I learned some new strategies to help my son with reading."

Aurora Public Schools is excited to host the 2015 Festival of the Arts on April 13-26 at the Town Center at Aurora. During mall hours, come enjoy hundreds of artistic masterpieces created by APS students. Every APS school will be represented.

In addition to visual arts, enjoy the performing arts as students showcase their music, dance and theatre talents on April 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the lower level near JCPenney and Dillard’s.

Student artwork will be recognized at an awards ceremony on May 9 at the APS Professional and Learning Conference Center, located at 15771 E. 1st Avenue, Aurora 80011.

At the APS Professional Learning & Conference Center, students from across APS recently showed off their math skills in the annual Game 24 Tournament. Nearly 50 students in grades 6-8 from 12 middle schools and K-8 schools participated in this year's tournament.

Nearly 70 students from 17 elementary schools also participated in a separate tournament.

In groups of four, students examined cards that included four numbers and calculated equations in any combination that equaled 24 using only addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. Whoever points to the card first has to explain their calculations out loud, and if they are correct, adds that card to their total score.

In the middle grades tournament, Aurora Quest's David Berg and Zak Nfaoui, Columbia's Devin Philio and Bettania Delcupp of Murphy Creek took top honors after the challenge round. The four students received certificates and trophies as middle school tournament winners. The overall winner David Berg earned a graphing calculator for his top place finish.

In the elementary grades tournament, Aurora Frontier's Michael Agsam and Yohan Young and Aurora Quest's Peter Alisky and Conrad Casebolt took top honors, earning certificates and trophies. The overall winner Michael Agsam also earned a math/puzzle tabletop game.

All competitors in both tournaments also earned medals and certificates for their excellent performances.

Congratulations to all the students who matched mathematical wits with each other in this year's Game 24 Tournament!

Final Tournament Results - Middle Grades David Berg - Aurora Quest Devin Philio, Columbia Zak Nfaoui - Aurora Quest Bettani Delcupp - Murphy Creek	Game 24 Tournament middle school / K-8 (grades 6-8) winners Bettania Delcupp, Zak Nfaoui, Devin Philio and David Berg
Final Tournament Results - Elementary Grades Michael Agsam - Aurora Frontier Peter Alisky -  Aurora Quest Conrad Casebolt -  Aurora Quest Yohan Young - Aurora Frontier	Game 24 Tournament elementary school winners Michael Agsam, Peter Alisky, Conrad Casebolt and Yohan Young

Schools that participated in this year's Game 24 Tournament:

• Aurora Frontier P-8
• Aurora Hills M.S.
• Aurora Quest K-8
• Aurora West College Preparatory Academy
• Boston K-8
• Columbia M.S.
• East M.S.
• Elkhart Elementary
• Iowa Elementary
• Lansing Elementary Community School
• Laredo Elementary
• Montview Elementary
• Mrachek M.S.
• Murphy Creek P-8
• Paris Elementary
• Park Lane Elementary
• Peoria Elementary
• North M.S.
• Sable Elementary
• Sixth Avenue Elementary
• South M.S.
• Tollgate Elementary School of Expeditionary Learning
• Vassar Elementary
• Vista Peak Exploratory

APS students who strongly contribute to the life and community of their schools were recently honored as Aurora Scholars by the City of Aurora. The program was established in 2009 to bring city officials, district staff and families together to celebrate the achievements of Aurora’s future leaders.

One teacher-nominated student from each grade level (first through 12th) at every school in Aurora is recognized as an Aurora Scholar. The students obtain a certificate and gifts donated by community members.

Bravo to the 2015 APS Aurora Scholars listed below for their hard work and dedication!

Altura Elementary
Giselle Hernandez, 1st grade
Daniel Conde, 2nd grade
Jaxon L. Davis, 3rd grade
Dominick S. Ocampo, 4th grade
Manuel A. Betancourt, 5th grade

Arkansas Elementary
Addison Rarick, 1st grade
Emma Warren, 2nd grade
Jazlynn Rolison, 3rd grade
Kayleigh Leek, 4th grade
Wahida Sehar, 5th grade

Aurora Academy
Joshua Mautz, 1st grade
Zoie Pietriyk, 2nd grade
Sebastian Nguyen-Le, 3rd grade
Dagem Tadesse, 4th grade
Lawrence Gonzales, 5th grade
Natalie Perez, 6th grade
Lydia Willer, 7th grade
Kimball Easton, 8th grade

Aurora Central High School
Aline Thongvanh, 9th grade
Brandie Radilla Galicia, 10th grade
Jesus Montano Gomez, 11th grade
Tonny Sosa Juarez, 12th grade

Aurora Frontier K-8
Romanat Kahssai, 1st grade
Austin Baca, 2nd grade
Thomas Hutrya, 3rd grade
Hannah Sandoval, 4th grade
Jacob Johnson, 5th grade
Elizabeth "Ellie" Newman, 6th grade
Kimora Jackson, 7th grade
Dillon Hutchison, 8th grade

Aurora Hills Middle School
Rayya Hobbs, 6th grade
Noah Dorsey, 7th grade
Breauna Espinal, 8th grade

Aurora Quest K-8
Carson Crockett, 1st grade
Erin Johnson, 2nd grade
Danica Green, 3td grade
Alejandro Salazar, 4th grade
Ashlynn Stewart, 5th grade
Iyanla Ayite, 6th grade
Kathy Pham, 7th grade
Mia LaMontagne, 8th

Aurora West Preparatory Academy
Thulukshika Suresh, 6th grade
Yasmine Al-Nur, 7th grade
Erick Chaulagain, 8th grade
Alexis Cisneros Flores, 9th grade
Madeline Alainz Sanchez, 10th grade
Aaron Landa, 11th grade
Paola Lopez Tena, 12th grade

AXL Learning Academy
Ella Nichelson, 1st grade
Alex Hernandez Lopez, 2nd grade
Abigail Arthur, 3rd grade
Allyson (Ally) Whelan, 4th grade
Angel Mason-Warren, 5th grade
Angela Rojas Silva, 6th grade
Jairo Barragan, 7th grade
Brian Roberts, 8th grade

Boston K-8
Anie Tamla, 1st grade
Kewin Bonilla Saravia, 2nd grade
Ber Ker, 3rd grade
Alondra Esparza Rodriguez, 4th grade
Erik Salas Aguilar, Jr., 5th grade
Poe Reh, 6th grade
Azucena Hernandez, 7th grade
July Htoo, 8th grade

Century Elementary
Pablo Garcia, 1st grade
Rehani Champion, 2nd grade
Gabriel Flores, 3rd grade
Isaiah Doumbia, 4th grade
Amiah Romero, 5th grade

Clyde Miller P-8
Kingston Switzer, 1st grade
Stephanie Perez, 2nd grade
Itzel Martinez, 3rd grade
Joshua Herrera, 4th grade
Leilah Weathersby, 5th grade
Aaron Zarco, 6th grade
Alyssa Ortiz, 7th grade
Judith Martinez, 8th grade

Columbia Middle School
Devin L. Philio, 6th grade
Aliza C. Davis, 7th grade
China S. Noeun, 8th grade

Crawford Elementary
Steven Diaz Rosales, 1st grade
Gennesis Renteria Giron, 2nd grade
JiLisa Daniels, 3rd grade
Alexander Lopez, 4th grade
Miguel Garcia Hernandez, 5th grade

Dalton Elementary
James Eben Moore, 1st grade
Darian Puentes, 2nd grade
Adrian Pinedo Gutierrez, 3rd grade
Julian Anderson, 4th grade
Anthony Conforti, 5th grade

Dartmouth Elementary
Sapphira Doherty-Cedeno, 1st grade
Leandro Jimenez, 2nd grade
Mario Mendoza, 3rd grade
Kendale Lewis, 4th grade
Tinbit Yoseph, 5th grade

East Middle School
Katie Torres, 6th grade
Gabriel Dominguez, 7th grade
Maria Lopez, 8th grade

Elkhart Elementary
Carmen Davis, 1st grade
Aaron Sarmiento, 2nd grade
Fernanda Hernandez Zubiate, 3rd grade
Luis Reyes-Castellanos, 4th grade
Adama Ndiaye, 5th grade

Fletcher Community School
Georgina Gutierrez-Bautista, 1st grade
Cesar Hernandez-Chuc, 2nd grade
Alexa Ramos-Santos, 3rd grade
Melissa Cabrales-Galindo, 4th grade
Camila Lua, 5th grade

Fulton Academy of Excellence
James Ray, 1st grade
Edith Barrientos, 2nd grade
Daniella Salcedo Pasillas, 3rd grade
Ashley Facio, 4th grade
Elena Cruz, 5th grade

Gateway High School
Khalil Flowers, 9th grade
Bibi Madina Arman, 10th grade
Christina Menchaca, 11th grade
Vanessa Rosas, 12th grade

Global Village Academy
Rylie Sain, 1st grade
Anna Latifa Bane, 2nd grade
Asha Munn, 3rd grade
Madeline Joslin, 4th grade
Paige Black, 5th grade
Mackenzie Kupfer, 6th grade
Ricardo Zapata, 7th grade
Nathan Rabuck, 8th grade

Hinkley High School
Calvin Pope, Jr., 9th grade
Lizabeth Luna Estrada, 10th grade
Esmeralda Cabrera, 11th grade
Usbaldo Vela-Tapia, 12th grade

Iowa Elementary
Hunter Kirby, 1st grade
Fatoumata Daou, 2nd grade
Litzy Gonzalez, 3rd grade
Ryan Reyna, 4th grade
Larina Appleton, 5th grade

Jewell Elementary
Colt Tweedale-Wenzel, 1st grade
Raphael Tambunan, 2nd grade
Lily Wall, 3rd grade
Judith Hernandez Correa, 4th grade
Kristin Grigler, 5th grade

Kenton Elementary
Kimmy Alvarez, 1st grade
Keni McGary, 2nd grade
Eric Marquez, 3rd grade
Yuwainy Selvachandran, 4th grade
Alex Camacho Vicario, 5th grade

Lansing Elementary
Amira Quazrane, 1st grade
Vanessa Morales Velasquez, 2nd grade
Bryan Ramos, 3rd grade
Jonathan Guillen, 4th grade
Sara Kiros, 5th grade

Laredo Elementary
Krystal Hernandez, 1st grade
Wendy-Germaine Fu Tamajong, 2nd grade
Anthony Cordova Sanchez, 3rd grade
Walter Giovanni Escobar Ajin, 4th grade
Thomas Miller, 5th grade

Lotus School for Excellence
Chris Lopez Rodriguez, 1st grade
Carlos Young, 2nd grade
Dominic Gonzalez, 3rd grade
Kimberely Torres Marroquin, 4th grade
Joselyn Arriaga, 5th grade
Saba Gebru, 6th grade
Liya Seleshi, 7th grade
Adam Mohmand, 8th grade
Valeria Lopez-Tiznado, 9th grade
Munira Sultan, 10th grade
Jonte Roberts, 11th grade
David McChesney, 12th grade

Lyn Knoll Elementary
Ayse Kalem, 1st grade
Raul Mejia, 2nd grade
Guadalupe Chavez, 3rd grade
Helen Alday, 4th grade
Kaylin Garcia, 5th grade

Montview Elementary
Eliana Klingensmith, 1st grade
Silver Velasquez-Delao, 2nd grade
Genesis Ramirez, 3rd grade
Gabriel Parra, 4th grade
Elizabeth Chavez, 5th grade

Mrachek Middle School
Steven Linares, 6th grade
Crystal Duran, 7th grade
Eryn Noli, 8th grade

Murphy Creek P-8
Zaya Elliott, 1st grade
Sydney Kueber, 2nd grade
Jackson Mitchell, 3rd grade
Zachary Kueber, 4th grade
Cikeng Lee, 5th grade
Katherine Higgins, 6th grade
Mikayla Lee, 7th grade
Nicole Minikus, 8th grade

North Middle School Health Sciences & Technology Campus
Katy Milla, 6th grade
Thomas Taylor, 7th grade
Jenny Hoang, 8th grade

Paris Elementary
Angie Gomez, 1st grade
Amir Nix, 2nd grade
Dayumi Espinoza, 3rd grade
Jorge Argumedo, 4th grade
Hnin Cherry, 5th grade

Park Lane Elementary
Tatiana Holquin, 1st grade
Zarahi Albarran Sanchez, 2nd grade
Crystal Rodelas Castruita, 3rd grade
German Villalobos, 4th grade
Orlando Montelongo, 5th grade

Peoria Elementary
Melany Araujo, 1st grade
Juliana Marquez, 2nd grade
Laila Rojas, 3rd grade
Melanie Sosa, 4th grade
Maria "Lupita" Davila, 5th grade

Rangeview High School
Langston Kelly, 9th grade
Miriam Escanuela-Mata, 10th grade
Kendra Cameron, 11th grade
Michael Lozoya, 12th grade

Sable Elementary
David Calderon, 1st grade
Daniela Alvarez Diaz, 2nd grade
Carolina Herrera Marquez, 3rd grade
Sunflower Tekle, 4th grade
Karen Valenzuela Viorato, 5th grade

Side Creek Elementary
Kyra Wiles, 1st grade
Amelia Reposa, 2nd grade
Eden Hailu, 3rd grade
Katie Ker, 4th grade
Aliya Jones, 5th grade

Sixth Avenue Elementary
Ashlyn Yamira Sims, 1st grade
Juan Antonio Chavez Cardoza, 2nd grade
Leonard Bradley Scott, 3rd grade
MacKenzie Marie Casbarian, 4th grade
Prince Korang, 5th grade

South Middle School
Kevin Torres Hernandez, 6th grade
Dayanna Massu Sanchez, 7th grade
Luis Torres, 8th grade

Tollgate Elementary
DeQuan Williams, 1st grade
Arse Gamada, 2nd grade
Alicia Aguila, 3rd grade
Laih'La Hatch, 4th grade
Kamora Jonell Morehead, 5th grade

Vassar Elementary
Chase Hammond, 1st grade
Leona Shaw, 2nd grade
James Le, 3rd grade
Samantha Vargas, 4th grade
Svyatoslav (Slav) Voznyak, 5th grade

Vaughn Elementary
Angelin Estrada Lozano, 1st grade
Joselyn Martinez, 2nd grade
Austin Delmonico, 3rd grade
Isaac Osei, 4th grade
Asjourri King, 5th grade

Virginia Court Elementary
Chloe McCrea, 1st grade
Jaira Mayo Guatemala, 2nd grade
Jack Tyron, 3rd grade
Mirella Isabel Franco, 4th grade
Makenna Staack, 5th grade

Vista PEAK Exploratory P-8
Carlee Jackson, 1st grade
Vincent Darling, 2nd grade
Brenna Middleton, 3rd grade
Sofia Ochoa, 4th grade
Kayla Karwacki, 5th grade
Adriana Green, 6th grade
Lainey Morris, 7th grade
Alexis Zarate, 8th grade

Vista PEAK Preparatory 9-12
Nolin Boyd, 9th grade
EryKah Williams, 10th grade
Kevin To, 11th grade
Bruno Tapia, 12th grade

Wheeling Elementary
Apichun (Izac) Panichakul, 1st grade
Aailiyah Lambeth, 2nd grade
Melgen Burciaga Buhaya, 3rd grade
Trinity Schermerhorn, 4th grade
Janaina Barboza, 5th grade

William Smith High School
Laissa Torres, 9th grade
Daegan Macias, 10th grade
Diana Gonzalez, 11th grade
Akosua Antobre, 12th grade

Yale Elementary
Abel Torres Mireles, 1st grade
Christie Espinal, 2nd grade
Haiden Ortega, 3rd grade
Angel Castro Castro, 4th grade
Giovanni Flores, 5th grade

APS 2020: Shaping the Future Strategic Plan- Core Belief:
Every student has unique abilities that we must recognize and engage.

APS SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM

Aurora Public Schools announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for 2015. Breakfast and lunch will be provided without charge to children 18 and under.

All schools will be serving breakfast & lunch from May 26 – June 25, Monday through Friday. Choose a location nearest to you. Serving times vary by site. 

ALL CHILDREN 18 AND UNDER EAT FREE
ADULT BREAKFAST $1.85
ADULT LUNCH $3.70

• Summer Food Service Program Menu (Eng&Span)
• Learn more about the APS Summer Food Service Program.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. 

To file a complaint of discrimination, immediately write or call:

USDA
Office of Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

The Hinkley Green Echoes earned the top award for high schools in the spring 2014 energy challenge.

Ten APS schools earned more than $29,000 in cash awards for reducing energy use in the district’s spring 2015 Compete to Reduce Energy Challenge.

The top-performing schools and clubs in the high school, middle school and elementary school categories are:

• Hinkley High School Green Echoes - $10,575 (Pictured right)
• Aurora West College Preparatory Academy Choices Club - $8,550
• Fulton Academy of Excellence ELD Green Team - $3,568

The following school participants and environmental clubs also received awards for reducing energy:

• Aurora Quest K-8 Green Team - $465
• Dartmouth Elementary Student Council - $309
• Elkhart Elementary Green Leaf Club - $1,736
• Fletcher Community School Energy & Environment Club - $374
• Vassar Elementary Student Council - $417
• Virginia Court Elementary Student Council - $1,319
• Rangeview High School Awesome Recycling Raiders - $1,730

Congratulations to all of our outstanding students and sponsors for leading energy conservation in APS!

Through the Aurora Public Schools Green Stars Program, students and staff are collaborating to reduce their environmental footprint and their hard work is paying off two fold. In addition to the reward of a thriving planet, schools enjoy monetary awards to foster energy-saving initiatives.

Green Stars engages students and staff in fun, creative and memorable energy conservation efforts. From school environmental clubs to food waste reduction programs and student-rated teacher report cards that reflect the implementation of conservation best practices, the program is a hit.

Congratulations to the following spring 2015 Green Star Energy Challenge winners who collectively earned $29,043 in cash awards presented by the APS Energy Conservation Department:
• Aurora West Preparatory Academy
• Aurora Quest K-8
• Dartmouth Elementary School
• Elkhart Elementary School
• Fletcher Community School
• Fulton Academy of Excellence
• Hinkley High School
• Rangeview High School
• Vassar Elementary School
• Virginia Court Elementary School

The winners exemplify excellence in engaging students, positively impacting the environment and effectively educating others.

APS is thrilled to witness students and staff working together toward a better tomorrow. Their efforts in reducing schools’ natural resource consumption levels are noteworthy.

Vea en español.

In October, APS convened a calendar committee to develop options for the 2016-17 Conventional School Calendar. The committee is recommending a draft calendar that is very similar to the one we are currently using, with the following school start and end dates and breaks:

• July 29 – New teachers report to buildings
• Aug. 3 – All teachers report to buildings
• Aug. 8 – First day of school, Grades 6-12
• Aug. 10 – First day of school, Grades 1-5
• Aug. 15 – First day of school, Preschool and Kindergarten
• Oct. 10-14 – Fall recess
• Dec. 19 – Jan. 2 – Winter recess
• Jan. 3 – No classes for Grades P-5
• March 27 - 31 – Spring recess
• May 25 – Last day of school

The committee is recommending this approach because the calendar worked well for APS staff and families this year and a similar calendar would provide a smooth transition into the next school year. Furthermore, due to enrollment and capacity challenges at several of our schools, the recommendation would allow APS to focus on developing calendar options for 2017-18. This will include a four-track, year-round calendar possibility for overcrowded schools.

The APS Board of Education will consider the calendar recommendations at its Jan. 5 meeting and will likely make a decision on Jan. 19. 

2017-18 Calendar

As a reminder, we will convene a 2017-18 Calendar Committee in January 2016 to develop both conventional and four-track, year-round calendar options and evaluate the logistical aspects of implementing a year-round calendar. The Board has directed staff to develop the year-round calendar option as a possible solution to enrollment and capacity challenges at P-8/K-8 schools east of Buckley Road. The year-round calendar would potentially begin in July 2017 at the following schools: Aurora Frontier P-8, Aurora Quest K-8, Clyde Miller P-8, Mosley P-8, Murphy Creek P-8 and Vista PEAK P-8.

The 2017-18 Calendar Committee will be comprised of staff and parents from schools that have been identified as potential candidates for the year-round calendar (listed above), key department and division staff members, and community members. We will be recruiting committee members in the coming weeks.

Read in English.

En octubre, APS convoco a un comité de calendario para que desarrollaran opciones para el Calendario Escolar Convencional 2016-17.  El comité está recomendando un calendario que es muy similar al que estamos usando actualmente, con las siguientes fechas de inicio y final y recesos:

• 29 de julio – Los maestros nuevos se reportan a las escuelas
• 3 de agosto – Todos los maestros se reportan a las escuelas
• 8 de agosto – Primer día de clases, Grados 6-12
• 10 de agosto – Primer día de clases, Grados 1-5
• 15 de agosto – Primer día de clases, Pre-escolar y Kínder
• 10-14 de octubre – Receso de otoño
• 19 de diciembre al 2 de enero – Receso de invierno
• 3 de enero – No hay clases para los estudiantes en los grados P-5
• 27-31 de marzo – Receso de primavera
• 25 de mayo – Ultimo día de clases

El comité está haciendo estas recomendaciones porque el calendario de este año ha funcionado bien para los miembros del personal de APS y para las familias, y sería una buena transición al siguiente año escolar.  Además, debido a los retos en las inscripciones y de capacidad escolar en varias de nuestras escuelas, estas recomendaciones permitirían que APS se enfoque en desarrollar opciones para el calendario escolar 2017-18.  Esto incluirá la posibilidad de un calendario con cuatro términos y un calendario de 12 meses.

El Consejo Directivo de Educación de APS considerará las recomendaciones durante su reunión el 5 de enero y probablemente tomará una decisión el 19 de enero.  Usted puede mirar un ejemplar del calendario propuesto en el sitio web http://aurorak12.org/calendar-draft.

Calendario 2017-18

Como recordatorio, convocaremos a un Comité de Calendario para el 2017-18 en enero de 2016 para desarrollar ambos, un calendario convencional y un calendario de 12 meses con cuatro términos.  El Consejo Directivo les ha pedido a miembros del personal que desarrollen un calendario de 12 meses como una posible solución a los retos en las inscripciones y de capacidad escolar en las escuelas de P-8/K-8 ubicadas al este de la carretera Buckley Road.  El calendario de 12 meses podría comenzar en julio de 2017 en las siguientes escuelas:  Aurora Frontier P-8, Aurora Quest K-8, Clyde Miller P-8, Mosley P-8, Murphy Creek P-8 y Vista PEAK P-8.

El Comité de Calendario 2017-18 estará compuesto de miembros del personal y de padres de las escuelas que han sido identificadas como posibles candidatas para el calendario de 12 meses (en la lista de arriba), miembros del personal de departamentos y divisiones claves, y miembros de la comunidad.  Estaremos reclutando miembros para el comité durante las próximas semanas.

Vea en español.

The Board of Education approved the 2016-17 conventional school year calendar at its meeting on Jan. 19 based on recommendations by the Calendar Committee. The committee was comprised of school staff, parents and APS administrative staff. 

Some of the 2016-17 calendar highlights include:

• The school year begins for grades 1 through 12 during the week of Aug. 8. Preschool and kindergarten students begin school on Monday, Aug. 15. Please check with your school for specific dates.
• The school year ends for most students on Thursday, May 25. Please check with your school for specific dates.
• Fall Break occurs at the end of the first quarter from Monday, Oct. 10 through Friday, Oct. 14. This will ensure uninterrupted learning during the first quarter.

The new calendar is similar to the one in place for the current school year. The committee recommended this approach because the calendar has worked well for APS staff and families this year. We are confident that a similar calendar will provide a smooth transition into the 2016-17 school year.

El Consejo Directivo de Educación de APS aprobó el calendario convencional nuevo para el año escolar 2016-17 en su reunión de anoche, basándose en las recomendaciones del Comité del Calendario.  El comité fue compuesto de miembros del personal, padres y miembros de la administración de APS.

Algunos puntos para resaltar del calendario 2016-17 incluyen:

• El año escolar para los grados 1 al 12 comienza durante la semana del 8 de agosto. Los estudiantes de pre-escolar y kínder comienzan clases el lunes, 15 de agosto.  Por favor verifique con su escuela las fechas específicas.
• El año escolar termina el jueves, 25 de mayo, para la mayoría de los estudiantes. Por favor verifique con su escuela las fechas específicas.
• El receso de otoño será al final del 1^er trimestre del lunes, 10 de octubre, al viernes, 14 de octubre. Esto asegurara que no haya interrupciones en la instrucción del primer trimestre.

El calendario nuevo es parecido al que estamos utilizando este año escolar.  El comité lo recomendó porque éste calendario ha funcionado bien para los miembros del personal y las familias de APS.  Estamos confiados de que un calendario similar proporcionara una buena transición al año escolar 2016-17.

Students of all ages across Aurora Public Schools are on a mission to save the world, literally. Our students are embracing eco-friendly practices and taking time out of their busy days to promote energy and resource conservation.

At the Spring Green Star Schools Kick Off, students and staff gathered to connect with industry partners, learn ways to make schools more sustainable and determine how to engage more people in their efforts.

Congratulations to the schools below for collectively earning more than $41,000 from energy savings that resulted from student-led activities. The money will aid each school in continuing to go green.

• Aurora Frontier K-8 - $500
• Aurora Hills Middle School - $650
• Aurora West College Preparatory Academy - $2,900
• Century Elementary School - $650
• Dartmouth Elementary School - $300
• East Middle School - $5,800
• Elkhart Elementary School - $1,400
• Fletcher Community School - $850
• Fulton Academy of Excellence - $3,500
• Hinkley High School - $11,500
• Mrachek Middle School - $650
• Rangeview High School - $5,100
• Vassar Elementary - $1,150
• Virginia Court Elementary School - $400
• Vista Peak Exploratory P-8 - $4,800
• Wheeling IB World School - $1,200

The Green Star Schools program supports APS’ goal to ensure every student has credentials that open doors. Students can earn digital badges for leadership, collaboration, innovation and more for being involved in their school's environmental club.

Bravo to the young conservationists!

Aurora Public Schools announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for 2016. Breakfast and lunch will be provided without charge to children 18 and under.

All schools will be serving breakfast & lunch from May 31 – June 30, Monday through Friday. Breakfast will be served from 8-9 a.m. and lunch will be served from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Choose a location nearest to you. Serving dates may vary by site. 

ALL CHILDREN 18 AND UNDER EAT FREE
ADULT BREAKFAST $1.90
ADULT LUNCH $3.75

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. 

To file a complaint of discrimination, immediately write or call:

USDA
Office of Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410
(800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY)

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

At the APS Professional Learning & Conference Center, students from across APS recently showed off their math skills in the annual Game 24 Tournament. More than 50 students in grades 6-8 from 10 middle schools and P/K-8 schools participated in this year's tournament. Nearly 60 students from 15 elementary and P/K-8 schools also participated in a separate tournament.

In groups of four, students examined cards that included four numbers and calculated equations in any combination that equaled 24 using only addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. Whoever points to the card first has to explain their calculations out loud, and if they are correct, adds that card to their total score.

In the middle grades tournament, Aurora Quest's David Berg and Zak Nfaoui, and Columbia's Devin Philio and Autumn Kelly took top honors after the challenge round. The four students received certificates and trophies as middle school tournament winners. The overall winner David Berg earned a graphing calculator for his top place finish.

In the elementary grades tournament, Sixth Avenue's Jesse Frimpong, Vista PEAK Exploratory's Ashley Blake, and Mimi Rai and Hannah Butterworth of Aurora Quest took top honors, earning certificates and trophies. The overall winner Jesse Frimpong also earned math/puzzle tabletop games.

All competitors in both tournaments also earned medals and certificates for their excellent performances.

Congratulations to all the students who matched mathematical wits with each other in this year's Game 24 Tournament!

Final Tournament Results - Middle Grades David Berg - Aurora Quest Devin Philio - Columbia Autmun Kelly - Columbia Zak Nfaoui - Aurora Quest	Game 24 Tournament middle grades winners (left to right) Devin Philio, Autumn Kelly, Zak Nfaoui and David Berg
Final Tournament Results - Elementary Grades Jesse Frimpong - Sixth Avenue Mimi Rai -  Aurora Quest Ashley Blake -  Vista PEAK Exploratory Hannah Butterworth - Aurora Quest	Game 24 Tournament elementary grades winners (left to right) Ashley Blake, Mimi Rai, Hannah Butterworth and Jesse Frimpong

APS 2020: Shaping the Future - Goal 2:
-Every student will have a set of skills to implement his or her plan.

The City of Aurora recently honored numerous Aurora Public Schools students as Aurora Scholars!  These students are recognized as Aurora’s future leaders who have made noteworthy contributions to their schools.

One teacher-nominated student from each grade level (first through 12th) at every school in Aurora is named an Aurora Scholar. The students obtained a certificate and gifts donated by community members.

Congratulations to the 2016 APS Aurora Scholars listed below for their hard work and dedication!

Altura Elementary

Evangeline Ford, 1st grade

Valyn Harwood, 2nd grade

Jazmin Garcia, 3rd grade

Lisbeth Flores, 4th grade

Aileen Mancilla, 5th grade

Arkansas Elementary

Olivia Zulkarnaen, 1st grade

Elisse Drummond, 2nd grade

Bryan Vallejo Villarreal, 3rd grade

Jazlynn Rolison, 4th grade

Sabrina Lahlali, 5th grade

Aurora Academy

Brock Martin, 1st grade

Ebenezer Bisrat, 2nd grade

Margo Owens, 3rd grade

Yebella Melaku, 4th grade

Nini Bruner-Yound, 5th grade

De'Maya High, 6th grade

Caesar Coss, 7th grade

Velveth Backhus, 8th grade

Aurora Central High School

Benjamin Zuniga, 9th grade

Maryam Tawfeq, 10th grade

Brandie Radilla Galicia, 11th grade

Jamal Abdulkadir, 12th grade

Aurora Frontier K-8

Mayte Barnes, 1st grade

Brooklyn Burke, 2nd grade

Nalaa Barnes, 3rd grade

Hannah Young, 4th grade

Rachel Labit, 5th grade

Timi Ola, 6th grade

Vy (Andy) Tran, 7th grade

Jonathan Loya Gonzales, 8th grade

Aurora Hills Middle School

Destiny Kande, 6th grade

Sedrick Dean, 7th grade

Jasmine Jule-Jimenez, 8th grade

Aurora Quest K-8

Olivia Gonzales, 1st grade

William O'Donnell, 2nd grade

Lauren Peavy, 3rd grade

Maya Braunstein, 4th grade

Ishita Agrawal, 5th grade

Breawnna Curry, 6th grade

Rylie Ward, 7th grade

Ariana Cuevas, 8th grade

Aurora West Preparatory Academy

Briana Lopez-Tena, 6th grade

Luis Alvarez-Aguirre, 7th grade

Victoria Castillo, 8th grade

Jose Flores, 9th grade

Hafsa Ali, 10th grade

Jorge Pelayo, 11th grade

Janeth Hernandez, 12th grade

AXL Learning Academy

Lyric Jackson, 1st grade

Mariah Worthy, 2nd grade

Alexander Hernandez-Lopez, 3rd grade

Lillian Hinneh, 4th grade

Andrew Gandara, 5th grade

Amanda Trujillo, 6th grade

Joyce Amy Lopis, 7th grade

Nicholas Rosenker, 8th grade

Boston K-8

Samuel Hernandez Jacobo, 1st grade

Kieara Pickle, 2nd grade

Betwel Eyasu, 3rd grade

Phar Reh, 4th grade

Patience Graves, 5th grade

Namen Hurd, 6th grade

Leslie Rodriguez Flores, 7th grade

Hei Wee Htoo, 8th grade

Century Elementary

Matthew Cuevas, 1st grade

Madison Callaway, 2nd grade

Makailah Williams, 3rd grade

Francisco Beltran, 4th grade

Isaiah Coumbia, 5th grade

Clyde Miller Elementary K-8

Nicholas Switzer, 1st grade

Walfred Santos Contreras, 2nd grade

Kassandra Rodriguez De La-Cruz, 3rd grade

Zephron Tobin, 4th grade

Carmiya Weathersby, 5th grade

Norberto Flores, 6th grade

Julia Mirita, 7th grade

Alexis Soto Vargas, 8th grade

Columbia Middle School

Montserrat Jimenez, 6th grade

Gelnda Chiang, 7th grade

Helen Do, 8th grade

Crawford Elementary

Beatryx Hill, 1st grade

Raul Espinoza Ortega, 2nd grade

Favio DeLaCruz Rivera, 3rd grade

Netayah Chum, 4th grade

Vicent Hakizimana, 5th grade

Dalton Elementary

Gerardo Flores Morales, 1st grade

Kristian Johnson, 2nd grade

Anna Jane Geddes, 3rd grade

Ayden Rosen-Gammel, 4th grade

Princess Pena, 5th grade

Dartmouth Elementary

Analia Mendoza, 1st grade

Shalom Yoseph, 2nd grade

Kyla Cordova, 3rd grade

Lydia Basterra, 4th grade

Ayden Quiroga, 4th grade

Edna & John Mosley P-8

Vinnie Somers, 1st grade

Natalia Serna, 2nd grade

Nathan Coronado, 3rd grade

Mia Lopez, 4th grade

Luisa Quintana, 5th grade

Megan Reno, 6th grade

Erika Villarreal Hernandez, 7th grade

Giovano Luna Guzman, 8th grade

East Middle School

Serena Gouverneur Torres, 6th grade

Ahtumn Rains, 7th grade

Luis Lupercio, 8th grade

Elkhart Elementary

Adrian Stewart, 1st grade

Jared Chavez, 2nd grade

Reagan Clark, 3rd grade

Jorge Pacheco, 4th grade

Issac Osei, 5th grade

Fletcher Community School

Valeria Villagran, 1st grade

Federico Amezquita-Lara, 2nd grade

Angel Jaramillo Ramirez, 3rd grade

Nellie Sherwood, 4th grade

Juan Gonzalez, 5th grade

Fulton Academy of Excellence

Benjamin Stonebraker, 1st grade

Anthony Hernandez, 2nd grade

Alize Ramirez, 3rd grade

Edwin Luna, 4th grade

Sher Ku Moo, 5th grade

Gateway High School

Jonatan Solomon, 9th grade

Irinia Amouzou, 10th grade

Keelan Altman, 11th grade

Brianna Favela, 12th grade

Global Village Academy

Lovely Tilon, 1st grade

Lilia Benavides, 2nd grade

Maggie Shi, 3rd grade

Ian Gair, 4th grade

Emari Terry, 5th grade

Josue Gardie, 6th grade

Justin Altman, 7th grade

Austin Murphy, 8th grade

Hinkley High School

Poleth Valdez, 9th grade

Seiloni Sanft, 10th grade

Teaggan Ilela, 11th grade

Isaiah Jackson, 12th grade

Jewell Elementary

Gavin Friend, 1st grade

Chanel Mayhew, 2nd grade

Aubrianna Carpenter-Torres, 3rd grade

Madyson Newton, 4th grade

Riley Oehring, 5th grade

Kenton Elementary

Jitzel Hernandez, 1st grade

Gabi Lagunes, 2nd grade

Jacquelin Valencia, 3rd grade

Alexis Salas Guerrero, 4th grade

Cesar Pacheco, 5th grade

Lansing Elementary

Cesar Galaviz Ojeda, 1st grade

Ryan Lyle, 2nd grade

Adhieh Redgebol, 3rd grade

Ashley Soriano, 4th grade

Lamarana Balde, 5th grade

Laredo Elementary

Israel Bulto, 1st grade

Mackailyn Hensley, 2nd grade

Ananda Vargas Holguin, 3rd grade

Emily Padilla Martinez, 4th grade

Caroline Flores, 5th grade

Lotus School for Excellence

Ebeneezer Yiman, 1st grade

Nyallay-Christina Ngebkome, 2nd grade

Andrea Caballero, 3rd grade

Neiyat Temelso, 4th grade

Hlina Kahsai, 5th grade

Elijah Rodriguez, 6th grade

Gissele Bueno Casteneda, 7th grade

Ruth Hundie, 8th grade

Daratu Kadir Mohammed, 9th grade

Bra'a Mahur Huer Al Durien, 10th grade

Camilo Vazquez, 11th grade

Leah Noemi Galvez Valencia, 12th grade

Lyn Knoll Elementary

Gustavo Miranda, 1st grade

Ayse Kalem, 2nd grade

Luis Toro, 3rd grade

Mohand Allami, 4th grade

Maella Lemon, 5th grade

Montview Elementary

Yaole Amanuel, 1st grade

Lluvia Martinez, 2nd grade

Andruw Gonzalea, 3rd grade

Cesar Giron, 4th grade

Evelyn Torres Lopez, 5th grade

Mrachek Middle School

Douglas Solano, 6th grade

Rachel Etter, 7th grade

Mataniya Bikis, 8th grade

Murphy Creek K-8

Jeremiah Schmeling, 1st grade

Ian Chavez, 2nd grade

Xavier Allulli, 3rd grade

Jack Higgins, 4th grade

Kristabelle Dutton, 5th grade

Daniel Campbell, 6th grade

Maria Rosales, 7th grade

Issac Gardberg, 8th grade

North Middle School

Jason Hoang, 6th grade

Breanna Remigio, 7th grade

Alexandra Reyes, 8th grade

Paris Elementary

Kelson Merino Orellana, 1st grade

Maurice O'Roy, 2nd grade

Daisy Moran, 3rd grade

Amairani Penaloza Arriaga, 4th grade

Zulue Jimenez, 5th grade

Park Lane Elementary

Tayanna Gomez, 1st grade

Joshua Mavinga, 2nd grade

Michael Ramos, 3rd grade

Bryan Ramos, 4th grade

Brian Gutierrez, 5th grade

Peoria Elementary

Valeria Martin Sainz, 1st grade

Sophia Paola Ochoa, 2nd grade

Selmah O'Bryant, 3rd grade

Lizeth Bustamante, 4th grade

Alondra Patricia Garcia Villpando, 5th grade

Rangeview High School

Maia Sandoval, 9th grade

DeJuan Chapa, 10th grade

Hannah Brown, 11th grade

Eric Roon, 12th grade

Sable Elementary

Markell Cox, 1st grade

Kandes Abreha, 2nd grade

Valencia Hudgins, 3rd grade

Cynthia Barlow, 4th grade

Lily Bade, 5th grade

Side Creek Elementary

Angeliqué Sharpe, 1st grade

Felipe Prieto Suarez, 2nd grade

Leila Tadesse, 3rd grade

Marco (Tony) Rodriguez, 4th grade

Melanie Ternlund, 5th grade

Sixth Avenue Elementary

Aminata (Amy) Thiam, 1st grade

Elise Mitchell, 2nd grade

Edwin Quintero Campa, 3rd grade

Melissa Saenz, 4th grade

Jacob Brennan, 5th grade

South Middle School

Christian Arguetta, 6th grade

Jayden Lavigne, 7th grade

Katiana Williams, 8th grade

Tollgate Elementary

Robert Martinez, 1st grade

Devin Blanton, 2nd grade

Daniel Orozco Sanchez, 2rd grade

Junior Chino Perez, 4th grade

Thyler Endita, 5th grade

Vanguard Classical School - East K-12

Elena Gott, 1st grade

Delilah Rodriguez, 2nd grade

Kiefer Scott, 3rd grade

Aliya Hendricks, 4th grade

Jayden Marquez, 5th grade

Anastasia Chuklanov, 6th grade

Olivia Martinez, 7th grade

Lauren Stuck, 8th grade

Emily Maughan, 9th grade

Jessica Pau, 10th grade

Meghan McFerren, 11th grade

Vanguard Classical School - West K-8

Elizondo Carbajal, 1st grade

Selena Amaro Franci, 2nd grade

Jullian Niceta, 3rd grade

Newal Nasir, 4th grade

Dania Garcia, 5th grade

Sofia Staley, 6th grade

Devion Morey, 7th grade

Eneida Solis, 8th grade

Vassar Elementary

Aleysa Cortez, 1st grade

Jaylene Soto, 2nd grade

Bailey Kaskalavich, 3rd grade

Jayden Aguirre, 4th grade

Adison Johnson, 5th grade

Vaughn Elementary

Kai'ani Garrido, 1st grade

Melany Estevez Vences, 2nd grade

Viviana Metthews, 3rd grade

Tiffany Pham, 4th grade

Andrea Castillo, 5th grade

Virginia Court Elementary

Angel Cruz Frausto, 1st grade

Alexis (Sophie) Curry, 2nd grade

Johan Cruz Frausto, 3rd grade

Nakeya Poole-Abrams, 4th grade

Ariana Sanchez, 5th grade

Vista PEAK Exploratory P-8

Michaela Miller, 1st grade

Gabriella Warren, 2nd grade

Zachary Woodbury, 3rd grad

Irvin M. Gutierrez, 4th grade

Leah Hall. 5th grade

Kameron Elliott, 6th grade

Sarayeah Baez Little, 7th grade

Ethan Buckner, 8th grade

Vista PEAK Preparatory 9-12

Nicole Minikus, 9th grade

DaXiana Windom, 10th grade

Niles Gilmore, 11th grade

Carla Rey Diaz, 12th grade

Wheeling Elementary

Dresden White, 1st grade

Maria Cayabyeb, 2nd grade

Arielle Freeman, 3rd grade

Carla Vasquez Avana, 4th grade

Angel Montoya, 5th grade

William Smith HighSchool

Greg Rodriguez, 9th grade

Cecia Reyes, 10th grade

Evelyn Vickers, 11th grade

Christopher Godoy, 12th grade

Yale Elementary

Ashkey Romero Zelaya, 1st grade

Berenice Roman Ramirez, 2nd grade

Yahir Moreno Sanchez, 3rd grade

Duc-Tri Do, 4th grade

Darline Washington, 5th grade

Courtesy American Heart Association

Kudos to the Aurora Public Schools students and staff who participated in the American Heart Association's Jump Rope/Hoops For Heart & Donate To Play Tournaments. By taking part in the heart healthy school program, APS helped spread the important heart healthy message all year long.

In addition, students and staff raised more than $23,000 to support the American Heart Association.  APS also earned $1,000 in US Games certificates to buy new physical education equipment for schools!  And starting in the 2016-17 school year, school event coordinators will earn eight professional development hours for completing an AHA event. 

Congratulations to students and staff at the following schools:

Arkansas Elementary School
Aurora Quest K-8
Boston K-8
Century Elementary School
Clyde Miller K-8
Crawford Elementary School
Kenton Elementary School
Lansing CommunitySchool
Laredo Elementary School
Lotus School for Excellence
Lyn Knoll Elementary School
Montview Math and Health Sciences Elementary
Mrachek Middle School
Sixth Avenue Elementary School
Vassar Elementary School
Yale Elementary School

All children ages 3 or 4 on or before October 1 are age-eligible for the Aurora Public Schools Preschool Program. In order for your child to be considered, a parent or legal guardian must attend the preschool screening process. Your child must be present for the screening and you must bring the required registration documents. Visit http://admissions.aurorak12.org for a list of required documents. If your name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate, you must bring legal documentation of guardianship.

Appointments are not necessary. Due to a limited number of preschool slots, attendance at a screening doesn’t guarantee placement. For more information, visit http://ece.aurorak12.org or call 303-364-9371 or view the flier.

Preschool Screening Dates / Locations:

Laredo Child Development Center - 1420 Laredo St.
- Feb. 1, 8 am-6 pm
- Feb. 8, 8 am-4 pm
- March 1, 8 am-2 pm
- March 22, 8 am-2 pm
- April 5, 1-4 pm

Jamaica Child Development Center - 800 Jamaica St.
- Feb. 2, 8 am- 6pm
- Feb. 15, 8 am-4 pm
- March 8, 8 am-2 pm

Meadowood Child Development Center - 3333 S. Norfolk Way
- Feb. 3, 8 am-6 pm
- Feb. 22, 8 am-4 pm
- March 15, 8 am-4 pm
- April 19, 8 am-2 pm

Clyde Miller P-8 - 1701 España St.
- March 22, 4-6 pm

Peoria Elementary - 875 Peoria St.
- March 1, 4-6 pm

Wheeling Elementary - 472 S. Wheeling St.
- March 8, 4-6 pm

APS Early Beginnings - 812 N. Jamaica St.
- April 12, 8 am-2 pm

Boston P-8 - 1365 Boston St.
- April 12, 4-6 pm

Edna & John W. Mosley P-8 - 55 N. Salida Way
- April 19, 4-6 pm

The Children's Academy - 14551 E. Tennessee Dr.
- April 7, 1-4 pm

Little Angels Day Care - 13963 E. Exposition Ave.
- April 10, 9-11 am

Beck Recreation Center - 800 Telluride St.
- May 3, 1-4 pm

Submitted by Amanda Gould
Aurora Public Schools

Students at various elementary and K-8 schools in the Aurora Public Schools are getting the chance to learn with the Giant Map of Colorado. The map is on loan to APS free of charge courtesy of the Colorado Geographic Alliance (COGA). 

The map measures 14 feet by 21 feet and was created by National Geographic. It is designed to encourage geographic and spatial learning through physical movement.  Students learn about the history, geography and environment of Colorado through lesson plans, games and other hands-on activities. 

While the map is in APS, it will visit Arkansas Elementary, Sable Elementary, Wheeling Elementary, Boston P-8, Paris Elementary, Vaughn Elementary, Murphy Creek K-8, Vassar Elementary and Dalton Elementary. 

For more information, visit COGA's website: http://www.uccs.edu/coga/colorado_giant_map.html. APS would like to thank COGA for providing students with this unique opportunity!

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!

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.