MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPO!
THURS, FEB 23, 6-8pm
ASPEN ACADEMY GYM

STOP BY TO....

Dear Prospective Student,

I wanted to write an open letter from me, the Director, to you, the Prospective Student, about why you should come to Aspen Academy.  Some of you might be looking for a change…you want to start over somewhere new.  Some of you may be questioning why Mom or Dad is suggesting you switch schools and leave your friends…and  you’re wondering why in the world anyone would do that?  Well, I’d like to tell you a bit about Aspen Academy, about the teachers who work here, what you’ll find if you come to school here, and why I think you’ll like it here.  

What does the school look like?

Right now?  Not much.  We’ve outgrown the space we currently rent.  If you came and looked at it, you’d see we’re bursting at the seams and you’d be thinking, “Boy, I don’t know about this….”  There are kids working in the hallways, odd classrooms set up all over the place, people in every nook and cranny.  But you’ll notice everyone’s happy.  They like it here.  And we’re doing what we have to until our new school is built.  The floor plans are awesome!  There will be a large gym, a commons area for lunch, a science classroom, art room, band room, and classrooms for the typical English, Math, Social Studies, and so on.  We’ll be moving into it in the fall.

What are the classes like?

We have class limits of 25 students for middle school.  You might be in a slightly larger class for Band or Latin, but most classes will be 25 or less.  And there will only be three homerooms of each grade.  That means you really get to know the kids in your grade.  You will move from one teacher to the next for each different subject.  Classes are what we call rigorous.  That means you have to study for them, you have to work hard, but everyone pitches in and helps everyone do a good job.  We want you to succeed here and we all try to help you do it.  It’s pretty cool to go to school at a place where everyone helps everyone else be a really good student.  You’ll take the regular classes like Math and Science and English, but you’ll also take Phy Ed, Art, Latin and Spanish.  Everyone takes Music, but then you’ll have a choice between Band (in addition to Music) or Service Learning Projects.

What are the teachers like?

Honestly?  No two teachers are the same and I do that on purpose.  I try to find as many different teachers as I can.  Why?  Because I know different kids will get along with different grown-ups, and the more I can do to find different personalities in the teachers I hire, the more likely you are to find a great teacher you can connect with.  Our teachers have all sorts of different hobbies, different ways of joking around with the students, different ways of running their classrooms, and we make it a point to really get to know the students.  Me?  Students know I have an interest in rock climbing, flying airplanes, kittens (the kindergarteners like that one), practical jokes, and reading historical fiction and mysteries.  These things give me a lot to talk about with students and when I spend time with them, I like to find out about their interests and hobbies too.

What are the kids like?

Most of the time everyone is really nice.  Once in a while kids don’t get along or they have a rough day.  When that happens, we have people in the school to help out.  Ms. Mellgren, our Dean of Students, will meet with students and help them work out whatever went wrong.  So will most of the teachers.  And we do a lot as a school where the older kids partner with younger kids to help out, or maybe they plan stuff for the school.  Students are really good about welcoming new students to the school too.  A lot of kids who go to Aspen started somewhere else, so they know what it’s like to be the new kid and they’re really great about helping other students get started here.

How much homework will I have?

I don’t know, how organized are you?  That’s an adult answer to a serious question.  Aspen has high academic expectations for its students and there will be homework.  Sometimes it will feel like a lot of homework.  But if you pay attention in class, stay organized, use your time wisely, and do all the things that your parents and teachers bug you to do, you won’t spend as much time on homework.  And that means more time for other stuff, right?  Essentially, it’s your choice how quickly you get it done.

Do students at your school really wear uniforms?

Yup!  This way students don’t have to spend a lot of time worrying about what they’re wearing.  Some people like this, some people don’t, but once you get used to it, it’s no big deal.  Our uniforms are mostly khaki pants with green or white shirts.  But middle school students get extra privileges and they can also wear black if they want.  You can find more information on our website.

What kind of stuff will I get to do?

Aspen will offer “Something for Everyone”.  When I hire our new middle school staff, I’ll be looking for teachers who can also supervise extra-curricular activities that speak to a broad range of interests – academic, arts, and athletic.  We will also encourage parents to become involved as parent volunteers.   The more you’re involved in, the better! 

What if I come to Aspen and I don’t like it there?

It’s not easy switching schools.  It takes time to make new friends.  But the teachers help you get to know people.  And as you get to know people you get to add to your circle of friends, not replace them.  Just go easy on yourself and give it time.  There are a lot of things different about our school, but we think once you get to know us, you’ll like it here.

I hope you’ll consider Aspen Academy.  If you have questions about the school,  you can email the Dean of Students at janelle.mellgren@aspenacademymn.org    Hope to see you in the fall when school starts!

Sincerely,
Mrs. Sherar,
Director, Aspen Academy

 

 

Middle School
Prospective Parent Tours

Mon. Feb 6, 2012 - 6pm
Fri. Feb 10, 2012 - 4pm
Wed. Feb 15, 2012 - 5pm
Tue. Mar 13, 2012 - 5pm