Welcome Back, Olympians!
We're excited to welcome our students and families back for the 2026–2027 school year! Below are a few important reminders and updates as we prepare for an incredible year. Please take a few minutes to review the information below.
We can't wait to see everyone back on campus as we kick off an amazing year. Let's Light the Torch!
Back 2 School Bash & Check-In
Kick off the new school year at our Back to School Bash and Student Check-In on August 4, 2026! We will have everything you need to get prepared, plus food, music, and fun activities to celebrate the new year. Language support will also be available for families.
Arrival Schedule:
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Freshmen & New Students: 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
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Sophomores: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
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Juniors: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
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Seniors: 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
What to do at the Bash:
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Get your school ID and activity card.
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Meet your counselor and the new principal.
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Pick up your parking permit and sign up for clubs.
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Meet with College Track and career staff to help with post-secondary questions.
First Day of School & Morning Arrival
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Freshmen: Thursday, August 6th (8:20 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.)
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10th–12th Grade: Friday, August 7th (Beginning at 8:20 a.m.)
Morning Arrival Details:
Gateway High School Policies & Expectations
As part of Check-In, families will review and sign our updated Gateway High School policies. Thank you for partnering with us and supporting these efforts!
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Dress Code: Students must follow the APS Dress Code Policy. This includes avoiding excessively sheer or tight clothing, gang symbols, or drug/alcohol references.
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Social Media: We strongly advise that students do not have social media accounts (Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, etc.) because they often lead to conflict and cyberbullying. Parents should closely monitor online activity.
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Tardies: School starts at 8:20 a.m., and three tardies are the equivalent of an absence.
Cell Phone Expectations (Aligned with Colorado Law & APS Policy):
Students must place their phones on silent and store them in the classroom locker as they enter. Phones may only be kept by students before school, during passing periods, at lunch, and after school. Parents needing to reach their student during instructional time should call the main office instead of texting.
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1st Offense: Phone is secured in the Dean's Office until the end of the school day.
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2nd Offense: Parent/guardian must pick up the phone.
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3rd Offense: Student checks phone in each morning for five (5) consecutive school days.
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4th Offense: Additional disciplinary consequences in accordance with Aurora Public Schools policies.
Attendance Matters: Light the Torch!
Attendance is one of the greatest factors impacting student growth, and all students are expected to maintain a 95% or higher attendance rate. Missing 10 or more days requires an attendance contract, and missing 15 or more days obligates the student to file for truancy court.
Our Goal for August is 90% Attendance! We have plenty of fun rewards lined up for students who show up:
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Week of August 10th: The first 500 kids on August 10th get sunglasses! Students with 90% attendance will also get a concession ticket for a free snack at lunch.
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Week of August 17th: If you maintain 90% attendance, you get to attend the Color Dance!
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All Month (August): Hitting 90% attendance for the month earns you a spot on the Fan Bus to our first home game against Rangeview on September 3rd! You'll also receive Gateway/Oly tattoos, hair tinsel, and more.
School Supplies
Students should come to school each day with the following items. We encourage students to start the year organized and ready to learn!
Teachers will communicate any additional course-specific supplies during the first week of school.
Schedule Changes
During the first week of school, students will have the opportunity to request a schedule change via a QR code.
Important Scheduling Rules:
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Consecutive Classes: All schedules must be consecutive, meaning students cannot have an open period in the middle of the day.
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Underclassmen: ALL freshmen and sophomores will have an 8-period schedule, no exceptions.
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Deadline: After Friday, August 14th, we will no longer be able to make student-requested schedule changes. If your student is having a hard time in a class after that date, they are welcome to connect with their counselor to talk through strategies for success.
Oly Opportunity Block: What Sophomores Need to Know
Every sophomore will be scheduled for an Oly Opportunity Block during either 1st or 5th block (the first period of either their Orange or Black day schedule). This block is not optional. Absences during this time will affect your student's attendance rate and their eligibility for incentives.
Here is how it works:
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Arrival: Students report to the Commons by 8:20 a.m., and attendance will be taken.
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Breakfast: Served in the Commons until 8:45 a.m.
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Activity: Students can use this time to study, complete homework, play games, or listen to music before their next class begins.
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Incentives: Students who are on track and had 90% or higher attendance the previous week may choose open gym or the media center (for a quieter atmosphere) instead.
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Credit Recovery: Students who are off track with credits for graduation will be assigned to a Credit Recovery Lab during this time. Once a student completes their coursework and is back on track, they may rejoin their peers in the other spaces.
Note for Upperclassmen: Juniors and seniors who are “off” during this time don't need to be on campus, but if they choose to be, they must follow the same location and eligibility rules. Our goal is for all 9th and 10th graders to be at school the full day; being “off” campus is a privilege students work toward as they move through high school.