The vision of Aspen Academy in Greenwood Village is to be a “national leader in innovative and transformative education.” When the COVID-19 crisis hit Colorado, Aspen Academy was called to make its vision a reality with a whole new twist. Within 12 hours of a stay-at-home order, the school was online and ready for virtual learning for all Pre-K through 8th grade students. Virtual learning was no easy task, but worth the effort when 94% of students met or exceeded academic growth for the year in math and reading and continued to maintain some normalcy. This accomplishment would not have been possible without the incredible dedication of teachers and families.
Once summer came, the team at Aspen Academy went to work to transform education again with a goal of providing in-person learning five days a week and enabling families with medical needs the opportunity to learn from home at the same time. Not only did this include layered mitigation strategies (from social distancing to frequent handwashing) and state and local COVID-19 health requirements, but also the consideration of social-emotional health, mental health, and addressing social justice and racism.
Social-emotional health and well-being was a top priority as Aspen Academy began the school year -- and continues to be a point of emphasis. The school invested in clear masks, so students could better see their teachers and have the opportunity to build stronger relationships, especially for the youngest learners. Aspen Academy also increased their counseling team by two positions to better serve students. One of the school's values is to make the world better; with this in mind they launched Future Holders, a one-of-a-kind Pre-K through 12th grade curriculum covering integrated content in social-emotional learning, character and leadership development, cultural competency, financial acumen, and entrepreneurship. Future Holders is taught in Aspen Academy classrooms and is now available anywhere, at any time, for students at schools anywhere.
The physical health and safety of all community members was and continues to be extremely important, spurring the rapid creation of new or improving outdoor spaces, HVAC improvements, and ways to observe social distancing in the classroom. Ten outdoor classrooms were created, making space for each grade level to have daily outdoor lessons despite the weather. The school built an amphitheater and installed outdoor classroom tents where students can meet for lessons and observe social distancing requirements. In addition to completing all CDC requirements, the school completed the install of MERV 13 filters in all HVAC units and the highly advanced GPS detect purification system, purchased Medify medical-grade air purifiers, and completed deep duct cleaning throughout the school. These are all tools to neutralize viruses, including but not limited to COVID-19 throughout the building.
Aspen Academy is resilient and thoughtful in the ways it combats COVID-19. It continues to fulfill its vision of transforming education, despite all the obstacles, to make certain its students and families receive the education they deserve in a safe and healthy way.