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Aspen Country Day families
January 19, 2015
About: Learning on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
A message from Assistant Head of School Andy Davies
      Today's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is a time to reflect on the power of persistence and belief when faced with adversity. The lessons we learn from the long struggle to gain the dignity of human rights for African Americans are as relevant now as they were at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. While we strive to embed many elements of Dr. King's vision for equity and justice into our curriculum throughout the year, today we took time to focus on specific ideas.  
     The day began with Lower School and Middle School assemblies. Third Graders read their own "I have a dream" speeches. Older children discussed stories of Dr. King's life and watched a video about service
    Teacher Alexandra Hughes led the Second Graders in a poignant project: the children "were segregated based on their eye color and asked to do different activities. Following a group discussion and story about MLK, students wrote in their journals about the experience and whether or not they felt it was fair. This afternoon, we made a timeline with events from history (focusing on the civil rights movement and MLK's life) as well as students' family history, in hopes of connecting the events to their lives." 
     
Later this morning, the Fifth Grade took the MLK National Day of Service challenge toheart and cooked a meal for the local homeless shelter. Then the entire Middle School headed into town for a screening of Selma, the new movie about the 1965 protest march to Montgomery, Alabama. Throughout the day, throughout the school, children and teachers engaged in thoughtful discussions. Everyone, from our youngest students to the oldest, learned something about Dr. King's legacy.
     Today's conversations and activities were designed to spark essential questions and understandings that will be referenced throughout the year.  Please take some time this week to speak with your children about the work of Dr. King and the work that still needs to be done.
Be a true snow angel: donate used snow boots to Shining Stars
Most ACDS children are familiar with the Shining Stars, the children with cancer who come to town every year for a holiday; the program is one of our key community service partners here at school. In fact, the bake sale recently held after our Winter Blue Green Games raised $515.81 for the Shining Stars!
     When the children come to town later this year, they are all set for equipment and ski lessons are all donated by the Aspen Skiing Company and other groups. However, there's one thing missing when the kids go snowmobiling: snow boots. The organization would like to have a collection to keep here for future visits. If you have any gently used Sorels or other snow boots in kids' sizes 7 to 20 (boys' and/or girls' boots), please bring them to the First Grade classroom. You will be helping a great cause.

Next Coffee + Conversation: Town, Carbondale. Friday, January 30 
     The series of casual coffee dates with Head of School Josh Wolman and Board President Scott Russell continues this winter. They'll be at Town restaurant in Carbondale on Friday, January 30, right after the school bus pickup. All residents of the entire valley, but particularly of the Carbondale area, are invited to join in for coffee and a chance to hear about (and ask about) everything happening at ACDS. Town opens at 7 for coffee and bakery items in the entryway, with seating in the restaurant, so we'll see you there after the bus.

future coffee + conversation dates:
  • Friday, January 30, Carbondale (Town)
  • Friday, February 27, on campus at ACDS
  • Friday, April 10, Starbucks at Willits
  • Friday, May 8, on campus at ACDS
Catch an alum: Torin's X Games plan
Stace Yater-Wallace, ACDS kitchen assistant and mom of famed X Games competitor Torin, says many young fans have been asking her about his schedule for the upcoming events at Buttermilk this weekend. Torin is in the qualifiers at 5 pm this coming Friday. The championships are Sunday. Come cheer on a fellow aardvark!


Performance Friday: Third, Fourth, Fifth Graders on the marimbas!
You're invited to a performance of very cool Zimbawean Marima music. 
            • Who's playing: Third, Fourth, and Fifth Graders. 
            • Date: Friday, January 23. 
            • Time: 1:30 pm to about 2 pm. 
            • Location: Edlis Neeson drama room at ACDS. 
Bring any family and friends who might want to hear and see this beautiful music performed right here in the Roaring Fork Valley.


"Something Whispers Snow" 
The after school programs here at school are really taking off this year. Check them all out on this page!
One of the recent highlights was a performance at Harris Hall of the Maroon Bel Canto Children's Chorus. ACDS students performed along with other singers from schools around the valley. They were beautiful! Thanks to Anna Nedlin for this clip.
New video just posted: Our Week in Pictures
Rounding up the Circle of Friends
The Annual Fund at Country Day supports three things. Which is most important to you? Choose one and make the gift to bring us full circle:
  1. teaching excellence
  2. student enrichment & support
  3. financial aid 
As of January 19, overall participation is now up to: 75%
Click here to... 

Aspen Country Day School Communications 

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phone: 970-925-1909

web: http://www.aspencountryday.org