On Oct. 17, APS released a draft of VISTA 2010, the district's new strategic plan for public review. The plan is based on feedback received during the superintendent's 90-day listening tourduring Superintendent John L. Barry's 90-day listening tour and a staff and community feedback phase that ended Nov. 10. Barry and the APS Board of Education have reached out to the entire APS community to obtain views on the district and learn what APS can do to ensure student success.

During the Nov. 21 Board of Education Meeting, Barry and board members approved the final version of the VISTA 2010 Strategic Plan.

"We are truly excited to roll out this dynamic vision for transforming the future of APS," said Superintendent John L. Barry. "VISTA 2010 provides a new vision, mission and core values that we must promote within the district to ensure higher achievement for every student."

The theme of the plan is "picking up the PACE for continuous improvement." VISTA 2010 focuses on four key areas: People, Achievement, Community and Environment. Goals, objectives and actions are outlined for each area. Every APS division and school will develop an action plan to ensure accountability throughout the district.

“I challenge APS and the Aurora community to be bold, be courageous, and have visions of fire.”
- John L. Barry
Superintendent

Read more about Superintendent Barry.

Pickens Technical College is currently registering students for 2nd semester classes beginning the week of January 16th. Openings are currently available in:

• Landscape Design/Horticulture
• Dental Assisting
• Computer Aided Drafting
• Computer Networking (A+/Net+)
• Electronics
• Pre-Engineering
• Sound & Security Systems
• Machining
• Auto Tech
• Collision Repair
• Nail Tech
• Natural Resources

Call Pickens Tech at 303-344-4910 or visit www.pickenstech.org for more information.

Agencies and vendors that provide support for persons with disabilities will be gathered for one evening to provide students and their families with information as they plan for “What happens after high school?”.  Representatives will provide information on school transition programs, post secondary educational options, adult services providers, transportation, health care, social security, estate planning, etc.
The goal of the Transition Fair is to provide you contact with people to help you make the connections you need to be prepared when you exit high school.  Please join us:

Transition Fair
Jan. 23, 2007
5-7:30 p.m.
Community College of Aurora
Student Center
16000 East CentreTech Parkway

This event is sponsored by the Parent Professional Partnership (APS) and the Arapahoe-Douglas Transition Task Force.

APS staff and community members are invited to an Open House to celebrate West Middle School’s bond-funded building remodel.

Tuesday, Jan. 30
5:30-7 p.m.
West Middle School
10100 E. 13th Ave.

Thanks to Aurora voters who approved bond funds in 2002, West has received improvements that make a great difference for students. The school has a beautiful new addition including classrooms, a large media center, cafeteria/kitchen and administrative offices. The project also included a complete renovation of the existing West Middle School and the front portion of the Historic William Smith Building.

Please join us and see your bond dollars at work!

The Colorado Department of Education recently released the Colorado Student Assessment Program scores for 2005-06. APS posted the largest number of year-to-year gains since the 2002 CSAP.

“We’re excited about this momentum but we know we have a long way to go. We’ll build on this momentum and study our top and bottom scoring schools to learn what we need to do next. I commend the hard work of our students, parents and staff and promise to support them so they make greater gains next year.”
- John L. Barry
APS Superintendent

Read more and view the scores for APS.

The APS Board of Education has resumed holding meetings at the APS Administration Building, 1085 Peoria St. The meetings are generally held the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 6:30 p.m. and are open to the public.

Enrollment changes at Virginia Court, Jewell, Century, Tollgate and Wheeling elementary schools have led to capacity issues. Some of the schools are below enrollment capacity while others are overcrowded.

For more information about the attendance area changes visit www.aps.k12.co.us/boundary.