Aurora R-8 School District

10/20/2026

🍎 Teacher Proud Tuesday – This Week's Winners! ❤️🖤

Aurora R8 is proud to recognize this week's Teacher Proud Tuesday winners! These dedicated educators make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and staff every day.

Aurora High School – Maggie Reed

Maggie's passion and dedication to her students shine through in everything she does. She holds students to high expectations while providing the individualized resources and support they need to succeed. Her caring, attentive approach to special education, along with her willingness to support her colleagues, makes her a valued member of the Aurora High School team!

Aurora Junior High – Sandy Wilson

Sandy goes above and beyond to support both students and staff at Aurora Junior High. She leads by example, setting high expectations for her students while giving her very best to help them succeed. Her dedication, persistence, and genuine care are evident in every interaction. With her positive attitude, strong leadership, and willingness to go the extra mile, Sandy makes a meaningful difference in the lives of those around her!

🌟Aurora Learning Center – Dr. Amy Garton

Amy has been a wonderful addition to the Aurora Learning Center! Her passion for teaching and genuine care for her students are evident in the engaging, hands-on lessons she creates. From teaching students how to prepare affordable meals in FACS to providing individualized support in math, she goes above and beyond to help students succeed. In a short time, she has built meaningful relationships with her students and become a valued member of the ALC team!

Robinson School – Brandon Rinker

Brandon makes every student feel welcomed and valued by starting each day and class with a positive interaction. His warm greetings and genuine care help create an encouraging environment where students feel noticed and supported. Beyond the classroom, he is a dependable team member who is always willing to step in and lend a hand. His positive attitude, kindness, and commitment to others make a meaningful difference for both students and staff at Robinson School!

Pate Early Childhood Center – Michelle Fischer

Michelle brings a positive attitude and a welcoming smile to Pate each day! She goes out of her way to make students and staff feel valued and encouraged, helping create a warm and supportive environment. Her kindness, enthusiasm, and willingness to lend a helping hand make her a wonderful teammate and a valued member of the Pate family!

❤️🖤 Congratulations to all five of our Teacher Proud Tuesday winners! Thank you for the passion, dedication, and care you bring to Aurora R8. We are proud to have you as part of our Houn Dawg family!


High School Aurora Alternative Learning Center Junior High Robinson School Pate Early Childhood Center

10/19/2026

Red Ribbon Spirit Week | October 26–29

It's time to show our Houn Dawg spirit while promoting healthy choices and a drug-free future!

Students and staff are encouraged to participate in our Red Ribbon Week dress-up days!

Monday, October 26 – Pajama Day: Dream big, stay drug free!

Tuesday, October 27 – Neon Day: Aim for a bright future!

Wednesday, October 28 – Sports Wear: Team up against drugs!

Thursday, October 29 – Orange & Black: Say BOO to drugs!

We look forward to a fun week of school spirit and positive messages as we encourage our Houn Dawgs to make healthy choices!

10/16/2026

Happy Boss’s Day!

Today, Aurora R8 recognizes and celebrates our district leadership team!

Dr. Yocom – Superintendent
Mr. Mais – Assistant Superintendent
Mrs. Jessica Chappell – Director of Special Education

Thank you for your leadership, dedication, and continued commitment to our students, staff, and schools. Your guidance and support help make Aurora R8 a great place to learn and work!

We appreciate all that you do for our Houn Dawg family!

Aurora High School Aurora Junior High Aurora Alternative Learning Center Robinson School Pate Early Childhood Center

10/14/2026

Keeping Our Houn Dawgs Safe! ❤️🖤

The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain a top priority at Aurora R-VIII School District.

For the 2026–2027 school year, the district has adopted updated safety procedures, and our teachers have received training to help ensure a safe, prepared, and supportive learning environment.

We encourage all families to take a few moments to review these procedures and familiarize themselves with the steps we're taking to keep our schools safe.

Thank you for partnering with us to make safety a shared responsibility!
Aurora High School Aurora Junior High Aurora Alternative Learning CenterRobinson School Pate Early Childhood Center

10/13/2026

🍎 Teacher Proud Tuesday – This Week’s Winners!

Aurora R8 is proud to recognize this week’s Teacher Proud Tuesday winners! These dedicated educators make a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and staff every day.

🍎 Aurora High School – John Day

John embodies what it means to be an Aurora Houn Dawg! His school spirit is contagious, and he goes out of his way to make new staff members feel welcomed and supported. His enthusiasm, kindness, and dedication help make Aurora High School a place where everyone feels like part of the Houn Dawg family.

🍎 Aurora Junior High – Romny Arnold

Romny has been a wonderful addition to Aurora Junior High! She is an exceptional co-teacher who helps create a positive, supportive learning environment where students can thrive. Her ability to balance kindness with high expectations has helped her build meaningful relationships rooted in care and respect. Her teamwork, dedication, and genuine commitment to students make her a valued member of the Junior High team!

🍎 Aurora Learning Center – Matt Houck

Matt goes above and beyond to support his students, both in the classroom and on the football field. He consistently engages students in their learning and takes extra time to provide tutoring and individualized support to help them succeed. His dedication, encouragement, and willingness to do whatever it takes to help students make a meaningful difference every day.

🍎 Robinson School – Shawn Pennell

Shawn has worked tirelessly from the start of the school year to provide the best possible support for Robinson's teachers. He approaches a challenging role with selflessness, dedication, and a genuine willingness to help wherever needed. His hard work and commitment to supporting others make Robinson a better place every day!

🍎 Pate Early Childhood Center – Lacey Medlin

Lacey goes above and beyond to create a loving, supportive, and engaging environment where every student feels valued. Her patience, compassion, and creativity help students learn, grow, and become more independent. She is also a dedicated mentor who encourages and empowers her colleagues to develop their skills and confidence. Her knowledge, determination, and unwavering commitment to both students and staff make her an inspiring educator and a valued member of the Pate team!

Congratulations to all five of our Teacher Proud Tuesday winners! Thank you for the passion, dedication, and care you bring to Aurora R8. We are proud to have you as part of our Houn Dawg family!


Aurora High School Aurora Alternative Learning Center Aurora Junior High Robinson School Pate Early Childhood Center

10/12/2026

Celebrating National School Lunch Week!

This week, we're recognizing the amazing food service teams across Aurora R8 who work hard every day to make sure our students are fed and ready to learn!

From preparing meals to serving students with a smile, these dedicated staff members put care and love into everything they do. Their work goes far beyond the lunch line, and the difference they make in our students' days does not go unnoticed.

Thank you to our wonderful food service teams for the meals you prepare, the kindness you share, and the love you put into serving our students each day. We appreciate you!

10/11/2026

Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up October 19–22!

Conferences are a great opportunity for families and teachers to connect, celebrate student progress, discuss goals, and work together to support student success.

Watch for additional conference details and scheduling information from your child's school.

We look forward to connecting with you during Conference Week!

10/10/2026

It's time to get our students excited about the 2026–2027 Yearbook Cover Contest!

We are inviting all students in Pre-K through 8th grade to show off their creativity and design a cover for this year's yearbook! We would love to see students put their own creative spin on what makes our school special!

One of the most exciting parts of this contest is that our students will get to choose the winning design! All Pre-K through 8th grade students will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite cover. After the first round of voting, the designs will be narrowed down to the top five finalists. Students will then vote a second time to select the winning design!

The winning design will be the cover of our 2026–2027 yearbook!

Deadline: November 24, 2026

Please help spread the word by encouraging our students to participate! We have so many talented and creative kids in our district, and this is a fun opportunity for them to shine.

Thank you for helping make this year's yearbook something special!

10/07/2026

Houn Dawg fans, tomorrow night is Black Out night!

Wear. Black. 🐾 🏈

10/06/2026

Congratulations to our September Teachers and Staff of the Month!

We’re proud to recognize the outstanding Aurora R8 team members selected as September Teachers and Staff of the Month! Their dedication, hard work, and commitment to our students and schools make a difference every day.

Congratulations to all of our September honorees, and thank you for everything you do for Aurora R8!

Aurora High School Aurora Alternative Learning Center Aurora Junior High Robinson School Pate Early Childhood Center