Early College Academy
October 2025
Highlights From The Principal
Happy October! This month is packed with events. We're launching the month with our first Spirit Week for the year, sponsored by our Student Council. Sophomores will be attending the UNC Climate Summit on October 2nd. Our Fall Dance is coming up on Friday, October 17th at the Aims Welcome Center (6:00-8:00 pm). Free College Application Days will be October 7th, 8th, and 9th. Participants who complete an application will be entered to win a raffle basket each day. We will also have two long weekends (no school for students Friday, October 10th and Monday, October 20th).
You are invited to join us at the School Board Meeting on October 13th (6:00 pm)! Early College Academy will be recognized by our Board of Education to celebrate our SAT/PSAT scores as well as our inclusion on the 2025 U.S. News and World Reports Best High Schools list. We'd love see you there.
Finally, if you did not have a chance to provide feedback with our survey at Parent Teacher Conferences, you can still do so using this link. We'd love to hear from you!
(Survey link URL: https://tinyurl.com/
College Board PSAT/NMSQT Testing
All Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday, October 22nd. This important exam not only serves as the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship Program but also gives students valuable practice before the SAT in April. Juniors should report directly to the Tiger Den at 7:55 AM with their school-issued Chromebook and charger. After lunch, students will resume their regular afternoon classes. All other grade levels will follow their regular class schedules for the day.
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Senior Corner
Senior Class Meeting
Seniors had their first senior class meeting on Friday, September 5, and we covered lots of information to kick off senior year! If you would like to review what information students received, you can view the slides here.
Senior Parent Meeting & Early Graduates Meeting
We will have our Class of 2026 Senior Parent & Early Graduates meeting on Wednesday, October 1. We will discuss information in the Senior Letter, answer questions, and make sure you feel prepared for this important year.
Senior Parent Meeting (For all seniors & families): 6:30-7:30 PM
Senior Parent Letter
Did you get a chance to review the Senior Parent Letter that went out? It includes important details, dates, and expectations for the year ahead.
Colorado Free Application Day$
October 7-9, 2025
Colorado's eighth annual Free Applications Day$ will be held on October 7 - 9, 2025, for Colorado residents! If students submit their application any time those days, they are applying for FREE! Colorado Free Application Day$ was created to encourage Colorado’s best and brightest students to further their education in the state of Colorado. By removing barriers for students to achieve a credential, Colorado can increase the number of students who complete their programs and enter the workforce with a degree or competitive skills.
The Student Support Center at ECA will be open all three days for students to come in and work on their applications! Students should begin the application process before Free Application Day$, so that come October 7-9, students can simply submit their application. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Meza at Armando.Meza@aims.edu or refer to the Colorado Department of Higher Education.
Get Ahead on FAFSA: Create your FSA ID Now
Parents and students, it's never too early to start preparing for financial aid. One of the first steps is creating an FSA ID—a username and password that will allow you to sign your FAFSA electronically. Both the student and the parent will need an FSA ID. Having your FSA IDs ready will save time when the FAFSA opens on October 1. Get ahead of the game by setting yours up today!
Financial Aid
Senior year is an exciting time as you plan your next steps beyond graduation. As you consider college options and costs, it’s critical to plan ahead. The first step is completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA determines your eligibility for various types of aid, including federal, state, and school-based aid, as well as grants and scholarships. All colleges and universities use the FAFSA to create your financial aid package.
The 2026-27 FAFSA application is open!
Visit the FAFSA website for more information.
We will be hosting an FSA ID workshop on Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 4:30-7:30 PM at ECA and another one in February.
Scholarships
College is expensive, but scholarships can help cover costs—and they don’t need to be repaid. Scholarships are awarded by various sources, including schools, businesses, non-profits, religious organizations, and the government. Each scholarship has its own deadline, criteria, and application process. Seniors can stay informed by checking our Senior Scholarship List.
Join us for our career series: Career Cafè
This semester, we’re excited to launch our new Career Café Speaker Series! Throughout the fall, professionals from a variety of industries will visit ECA to share their career journeys, experiences, and advice with students. The goal is to give students a real-world look into different career paths and inspire them to start thinking about their own future opportunities.
The workshops will be held during lunch in the Student Support Center, and all ECA students are invited to attend. Join us to find out more!
Workshop Dates:
- Friday, October 24: Welding
- Friday, October 21: Real Estate
- Friday, December 5: Social Work
Halloween Costumes
As we look forward to celebrating Halloween this year, we welcome students getting into the holiday spirit. Please make sure your students follow these expectations if they choose to bring or wear a costume to school on October 31st:
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Costumes must not violate school dress code;
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no masks or face makeup that obscures a student's identity;
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no inflatable costumes;
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no fake weapons or other items that would not normally be allowed in a school;
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keep it clean/school appropriate (examples: no gore, no adult themed costumes)
We look forward to seeing creative, fun costumes within these guidelines!
Hearing and Vision Screening
Early College Academy will be conducting hearing and vision screenings for students on October 9th, 2025, at Early College Academy during school hours. These screenings are for students in 9th grade enrolled at Early College Academy. These quick screenings help us find out if your child may need more testing. This is not a full exam, but it can help catch problems early. If your child wears prescription glasses or a hearing aid, please make sure they wear them to school each day, including on screening day.
If you do not want your child to participate in a hearing and vision screening this school year, please contact the health office by calling them at 970-348-5826 for a screening opt-out form to be completed and returned to the health office no later than October 1st, 2025.
ECA Fall Dance
The ECA Fall Dance will be held on October 17th from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Aims Welcome Center. This free event is open to all Early College Academy students, and refreshments will be provided throughout the evening. Each student is allowed to bring one high school-aged guest, but please remember that guest paperwork must be completed and turned in before the event. All attendees, including guests, are required to show proof of identification upon entry.
Access to Aims
Early College Academy students are also Aims students, which means they have access to Aims' Physical Education and Recreation Center (PERC). The PERC offers recreation hours, intramural sports, and activity classes.
Students who wish to utilize the PERC during the 2025-2026 academic year must have a completed "Minor Waiver of Liability on File".
Questions? Contact the PERC at 970.339.6295 or physical.education@aims.edu
Upcoming Events
- 10/01/25: Senior Parent Meeting from 6:30 to 7:30 in the Tiger Den
- 10/09/25: Study Abroad Meeting from 6:00 to 7:00 in the Tiger Den
- 10/10/25: No school for students
- 10/14/25: Jostens senior online order due
- 10/17/25: Fall Dance from 6:00 to 8:00 at the Aims Welcome Center
- 10/20/25: No school for students
- 11/03/25: Picture retake date
- 11/06/25: Parent/Teacher Conference and FSA ID and FAFSA Workshop from 4:30 to 7:30 at ECA
- 11/24/25-11/28/25: Fall Break, no school for students