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 Frontier P-8 students paint a "little free library" in front of the school. (Credit: FOX31)

Story excerpt:

"Some of the youngest members of the Aurora community are spreading their love of learning.

Students at Aurora Frontier P-8 are designing some little libraries to bring that excitement to others."

• Watch the FOX 31 story

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 options 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 options.Not able to attend? You may view the options online and take the simple five-question survey at aurorak12.org/calendar-process by Monday, 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.

Credit: CBS

Story excerpt:

"Students with the University of Colorado College of Nursing are taking on a new role in the classroom: teaching. The organization is teaming up with Aurora Public Schools to get health and sex education to middle school students.

Sarah Price is among the students participating. On Tuesday she gave a lesson at Aurora Frontier Middle School.

'Today we are going to talk about dating and relationships,' she told the students.

'We make it clear that we get questions up here every single day at the hospital, so anything they ask we have heard it before,' she said."

• Watch the CBS4 story

Exciting improvements are happening at buildings throughout the district. This spring, Montview Elementary School, Murphy Creek P-8, Aurora Frontier P-8 and Hinkley High School will all receive bond-funded additions and building upgrades.  

Montview’s bond project is underway and will be the largest and most extensive. The school will receive interior remodeling and two additions that will include multiple classrooms.

Both Murphy Creek and Aurora Frontier’s bond improvements include four-classroom additions and interior remodeling to add another classroom.

Construction has also begun on a new eight-classroom addition at Hinkley. This addition will provide an improved space for the school’s health sciences and engineering classes, complete with cutting-edge equipment.

Construction at these four schools is expected to be completed in summer 2019.

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 at APS, visit bond.aurorak12.org.

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.
  
  
  Click to view slideshow.                   

                 

                

             

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.

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 tenth 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.

Congratulations to the 2019 APS Aurora Scholars listed below for being spectacular students!

In Aurora Public Schools, we utilize bond dollars to ensure that all students have equitable access to learning opportunities, technology and environments. Right now, several large and exciting bond-funded construction projects are underway in our district, and dozens more are expected to begin once school is out for the summer.

This spring, Montview Elementary School, Aurora Frontier P-8, Murphy Creek P-8 and Hinkley High School are all receiving building additions and upgrades. These four projects will expand the capacity at each building and allow the schools to continue to make the best use of space. Construction is expected to be completed before the start of the 2019-20 school year.

In summer 2019, more schools will 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 technology updates
  • Security vestibule improvements
  • Window replacements
• Aurora Central High School - New football field turf
• Pickens Technical College - Commons area remodel

Construction will also be complete in summer 2019 on a CSU-Global campus that will support recent APS graduates and staff who choose to pursue postsecondary education programs and certificates. Both students and staff are already taking advantage of huge discounts on tuition and convenient online programs.

In addition to these projects, APS is breaking ground on a new P-8 school that will support the growing needs of families along the E-470 corridor. It is expected to open in fall 2020.

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.

One of the core beliefs of our APS 2020 strategic plan is that all students must have equitable access to learning opportunities, technology and environments that support them in reaching their full potential. One way that we ensure equitable access is with bond-funded improvements and new construction throughout our district.

Through our 2016 bond program, APS broke ground on a new P-8 school located in east Aurora. When complete, the school will serve students in preschool through eighth grade and support the growing needs of families along E-470 corridor.  

Opening in fall 2020, the district’s newest P-8 school will feature a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) focus. All students will experience hands-on learning opportunities, which support them in making personal connections between their school, community, future and our world.

As part of the process for establishing attendance area boundaries for the new school, APS has formed an attendance area committee comprised of parents, staff and community members. The committee will also assess the attendance areas and enrollment capacities and recommend attendance area boundary changes as needed at the following schools:

•    Aurora Frontier P-8
•    Murphy Creek P-8
•    Vista PEAK Exploratory P-8

In the fall, the committee will hold open houses to share boundary scenarios and gather feedback from parents, staff and community members. Based on the data collected and community input, the committee will present recommendations to district leadership and the APS Board of Education in December 2019. If the Board approves the recommendations, new boundaries would go into effect for the 2020-21 school year.

To learn more about bond projects throughout APS, visit bond.aurorak12.org.

Aurora Public Schools bids a heartfelt farewell to the more than 100 employees who retired during the 2018-19 school year. This group collectively served APS for over 2,000 years! We are thankful for their dedication to students, parents, staff and community members. The following are a few retiree highlights:

Susan Franceski, East Middle School Bookkeeper
12 years and 2 months in APS

"One of my most memorable experiences was my trip to Knoxville, TN to the Global Finals of the Destination Imagination tournament with the Rangeview High School team. These students were extraordinary in their imagination, their compassion and their ability to give back to the community. These students helped to run the tournament after they graduated from high school by volunteering to be Challenge Masters. I also was very fortunate to have worked with many amazing people, I am thankful for the many wonderful staff and students I met during my time at APS."

Brian Sherry, Dalton Elementary School Teacher 
26 years in APS

"I have so many memories from teaching at APS over the last 26 years.  Perhaps the best have occurred during the time spent in my classroom with the children. They have made every day exciting and fun. Learning about their families and lives outside of school has made me feel as if I am part of their families, if just for a few months. I've worked at Vassar, Side Creek, and Dalton elementary schools. I have made friends who I consider part of my own family at each one. If there is one thing I've learned over the years, it has to be that teachers are the most dedicated, hardest working, and patient people I know! I would like to thank APS for giving me the opportunity to work with such fantastic people!"

Cari Roberts, Aurora Frontier P-8 Principal 
28 years in APS

"I have worked in APS my entire career, and there are many memorable moments at each of the schools I have worked at. My most memorable would be working at South on the Arctic Wolf community. We were truly a team who worked together and became great friends outside of work. Thanks for all the memories."

In a matter of days, students, families and staff will begin a new school year in Aurora Public Schools. For most schools, the first day of school is Aug. 6 for grades 1-12. Preschool and kindergarten students start school on Aug. 12.

Please contact your child’s school regarding the exact start dates or view official school calendars here.

Below are a few highlights for the upcoming 2019-20 school year:

• First Days of School: Students in grades 1-12 will have a simultaneous start on Aug. 6. As we have done in the past, preschool and kindergarten students will start school the following week on Aug. 12.
• Full-Day Professional Release: APS eliminated the half-day student early release to ensure uninterrupted learning. There are now five full professional release days held Sept. 27, Oct. 21, Dec. 6, Jan. 6 and Feb. 28, in addition to the district in-service day on Jan. 31.
• Fall Break: APS will continue to have a full-week Fall Break held Oct. 14-18 with Oct. 11 and 21 slated as student non-contact days. It occurs at the end of first quarter to ensure uninterrupted learning.
• Thanksgiving Break: APS will maintain a three-day Thanksgiving Break for students. It will be held Nov. 28-29 with Nov. 27 slated as a student non-contact day.
• Winter Break: APS will continue to hold Winter Break at the end of December and the beginning of January. It will be held Dec. 23 through Jan. 3 with Dec. 20 and Jan. 6 slated as student non-contact days.
• Spring Break: APS moved Spring Break from the last week of March to the third week of March. It will be held March 16-20.

This school year, many APS students and staff members are returning to exciting improvements at their buildings. Thanks to bond-funded construction, schools across the district recently received new learning spaces, updated classroom technology and enhanced safety and security. 

Over the summer, dozens of projects were completed including several larger additions at Montview Elementary School, Aurora Frontier P-8, Murphy Creek P-8 and Hinkley High School. These four projects added classrooms that will support the expansion of academic programs within each building. 

Contractors also completed the final phase of security vestibule installations at 13 elementary schools, which will enhance safety and security protocols at those buildings.  

Below are just a few of the many exciting improvements across the district:

• Multiple sites - 
  • New security cameras and PA system updates
  • Classroom technology updates
  • Security vestibule improvements
  • Window replacements
• Aurora Central High School - New football field turf
• Pickens Technical College - Commons area remodel
• New P-8 School Building - Construction began on a P-8 building in east Aurora
• Aurora Science and Tech Middle School - Construction began a 6-12 building 
• CSU-Global Campus - Construction was completed on a new postsecondary building

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. Take a look below at some of the projects and their progress over the summer.

Another summer vacation has come and gone, and for the students of Aurora Public Schools, the new school year began with smiles all around.

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 schedules to connect with our students.

We would like to welcome more than 40,000 students back to school and look forward to yet another wonderful year of accelerating learning for every APS student, every day.

Story excerpt:

"What's the fun of going back to class if you can't have one more party?

Nearly 20,000 people came out for Aurora Public Schools' 12th annual Back to School Kickoff. Students, families and APS staff hit the Town Center at Aurora for live music, free food and fun.

But here's the best part - 4,500 backpacks and school supplies were given away. This event is designed to be a celebration and get students excited to head back to class. But it's also a great chance for the APS community to come together."

• Watch the AuroraTV story (story starts at 7:14)

We are excited to open our newest, bond-funded P-8 school in fall 2020! This beautiful learning space, located in the Harmony subdivision, will feature a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) focus.

We are grateful to the Aurora citizens for supporting our 2016 bond program, which will make improvements at every school and benefit every student.

Join us to Celebrate!

Date: Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2019

Time: Groundbreaking ceremony begins at 4:30 p.m. with light refreshments to follow

Location: The new school is located in the Harmony subdivision along E. Ellsworth Ave. between Robertsdale St. and Trussville Rd. Please refer to the map below for directions to the site. 

Latest SBHC Newsletter

Flu Season is Here! Learn How to Protect Your Child

Every year thousands of children contract the flu. Illness can last 3-7 days and cause multiple days of being out of school. In more severe cases, hospitalization and even death can occur. Prevention is the best method to avoid the flu. Cleaning surfaces and toys, plus regular hand washing are great methods. However, children are more likely to avoid becoming ill and are able to remain school if they receive a flu shot. The School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) of APS are here to provide access to this preventative care for all students and their siblings. APS has four SBHCs with a variety of days and operating hours available. Please contact any SBHC to schedule an appointment for your flu shot today! 

• Learn more.

Download the Kids Clinic flier in English and Spanish.
Descarga el folleto Clínica Kids en Español y Inglés.

Thanks to Aurora voters who passed the APS 2018 mill levy override, we are expanding our after-school system! We are excited to increase the number of students in grades K-5 who have access to safe spaces after school during the 2019-20 school year and beyond.

To ensure the new system meets the needs of our students, families and schools, we ask that the Aurora community participate in our After-School Program Expansion Survey. The survey will help us understand our community’s vision, goals, needs, and perceptions of after-school programming in APS.

The survey is available to all members of our community, including:

• Parents or family members with APS students in grades K–5
• After-school program directors (the Executive Directors/CEOs/leaders of after-school providers)
• After-school site coordinators (those who manage an after-school program/site)
• School principals
• Community members (anyone who was not identified previously in this list, including parents of non-APS K-5 students, after-school staff, APS central office staff, business leaders and more)

Please share with your networks!
It is essential that we hear from as many of our community members as possible, even if they are not directly involved in the new after-school system. Each response will inform us about how programs are currently operating, how they can improve, and how APS can continue to support after-school programming.

• Take the APS After-School Program Expansion Survey (English)
• To take the survey in languages other than English, please click on your desired language below:

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