Events & Updates

Mark your calendars and join us for a fun evening of projects!  Connect with advisors and case managers, learn more about our project program, grab a walking taco and dessert (donations requested as part of our field trip program), and the best part, listen to Seniors pitch their senior projects!  We hope you can join us for a great Avalon tradition where seniors ask for your expertise as they jump into their 300-hour project. Parents, please use this time to learn about the project process, a central part of our program. Staff cannot do individual conferences with families regarding specific student needs during this event.

Want to help with the event?!  Email Nora at nora@avalonschool.org.  She's looking for dessert makers and community hosts.

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Staff are busy at work, solving strange and overly complicated problems - but doing so as a team! We are excited to see you all later this week.

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Back to School Conference!

-We like to conference with every family before the school year starts. This year, we've reserved time on Wednesday, August 28th and Thursday, August 29th. Look for an email, text, or phone call from your student's advisor the week before to set up a time that works for your family.

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School Supplies

While needs may vary, we find these lists of supplies useful. Please note that Avalon will provide materials for families that are not able - these are only suggestions!

>Middle School Supply list

>High School Supply list

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As you prepare to (eventually!) return to school, we find these are helpful! If you have specific questions, please direct those to your student's advisor. If you don't know who your student's advisor is just yet, please reach out to Gretchen@avalonschool.org or Tim@avalonschool.org.

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Back to School Conference!

-We like to conference with every family before the school year starts. This year, we've reserved time on Wednesday, August 28th and Thursday, August 29th. Look for an email, text, or phone call from your student's advisor the week before to set up a time that works for your family.

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School Supplies

While needs may vary, we find these lists of supplies useful. Please note that Avalon will provide materials for families that are not able - these are only suggestions!

>Middle School Supply list

>High School Supply list

A huge congratulations to our High School Ultimate Frisbee Team for winning Avalon's very first State Championship (in conjunction with our friends from Bloomington Jefferson!). These stellar athletes won the Open Division 4 Sate Championship this spring.  Way to go, Dragons!

Join us to celebrate the class of 2024 at Hamline University's Sundin Music Hall! Ceremony starts at 6! Reserve your tickets by using the link below.

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Questions?  Reach out to Tim (tim@avalonschool.org)

Vote in the upcoming school board election!  See your email and the link for more details.

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Avalon and our students have been featured in the news several times this month.

First several of our artists were featured in TWO different stories:

-MinnPost

-StarTribune

Second, a brief shoutout in this podcast:

-What Schools Could Be

And third, this article in RacketMN:

-It's Life or Death for My Son

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Join us at our Annual Meeting!

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Meet some Avalon staff, enjoy some food, hear about the state of the school and vote in our annual board election!

Avalon's School Board meetings monthly, typically at 5:30 on the second Tuesday of every month.

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For dates, times, and agendas, see our School Board page: Avalon School Board.

Avalon's School Board meetings monthly, typically at 5:30 on the second Tuesday of every month.

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For dates, times, and agendas, see our School Board page: Avalon School Board.

Throughout the course of the 2020-2021 school year, Avalon School hosted a documentary film crew as they followed the journey of an Avalon Senior.  Showcasing three seniors from three schools across the US and Canada, the documentary sought to explore the impacts of schools that center the needs of the student - schools where students have voice, where identity is valued, and where learning is authentically connected to the world outside the physical school building.

The film will be screened at Avalon on Tuesday, March 12th, at 7:30pm.  Learn more about the film here: Cure for the Common Classroom.

Here's a description of the film:

After failing to find their place in the educational status quo, a rogue adventurer, an aspiring artist, and a student struggling for self-acceptance abandon conventional high schools to join unique classrooms and receive an education re-imagined. With insights from experts, A CURE FOR THE COMMON CLASSROOM explores what's possible when schools evolve from antiquated process to modern purpose.

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On Wednesday, February 7th from 6:30-7:30, Avalon is sponsoring an online event.  "Parents are Sexuality Educators" is a meeting for guardians only and will be facilitated by Family Tree Clinic.  All guardians of Avalon students are invited to attend.  Through individual reflection and large group discussion, participants will:

• Identify the values and messages they would like to share with their children
• Learn typical stages of sexual development for children and adolescents
• Discuss effective communication skills to aid them in talking with their children about sexuality topics.  

Guardians of students receiving Special Education Services are invited to remain in the meeting for 30 minutes following the presentation to connect further.

To join, use the following information:

Avalon Parent Meeting: Sexual Health - Google Meet
Wednesday, February 7 · 6:30 – 7:45pm
Time zone: America/Chicago
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/zdi-csfy-vya
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 443-461-5163‬ PIN: ‪819 825 052‬#

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Dear families of Avalon Students-

We invite you to join us on Tuesday, December 5th, at 6:30pm, to talk about screen use at Avalon.  We implemented our new policy yesterday and so far, it seems to be going well. Here’s hoping this is how it continues.  

We’d love your input before the meeting so we know how to best prepare (both popcorn and topics for discussion).  If you intend to come, please fill out this form as soon as possible.  You can, of course, just show up that evening- but the more info we have beforehand, the better we will use your time!  

Sincerely,

Gretchen, Tim, and Sarah (your hosts for the evening)

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Come see (and show!) Avalon finest Art as students, faculty, and staff members host tables to display and sell their creative works.

Contact Mickey with questions or inquiries!

Virtual Open House:  Join us online to learn about our unique, award-winning program, connect with staff, and get your questions answered.

Here is the google meets link: Avalon Virtual Open House

Come tour our building, meet some staff, and learn about our unique, award-winning program.

Come tour our building, meet some staff, and learn about our unique, award-winning program.

Come tour our building, meet some staff, and learn about our unique, award-winning program.

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At 7:30 - stay if you want for a screening of a documentary centered around life at Avalon.

This Virtual Open House is tailored specifically for students currently in our 8th grade program and considering entering our high school program next year.

Come tour our building, meet some staff, and learn about our unique, award-winning program.

Avalon's School Board meetings monthly, typically at 5:30 on the second Tuesday of every month.

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For dates, times, and agendas, see our School Board page: Avalon School Board.

First day of School!

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Welcome back to the 2023-2024 school year!

Back-to-School Conferences

Meet your advisor, schedule seminars, and set some goals for the year.

Conferences typically last 30-45 minutes and should include the student! You will hear from your advisor the week before to schedule conferences - if those dates don't work, we can figure out some that do!

Senior Retreat

The senior class heads to Hudson, WI for the (21st annual?) senior retreat! Seniors will work to support the community farm while developing ideas for their senior project and building some community.

Thursday, October 12th from 4-7:30 PM

Current Families, Alumni, and Community Friends are Welcome!
Food will be available, both free and for purchase.

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From 4:00-6:00 PM, connect with your student's advisor and meet other advisory families.  Get your questions answered about Headrush, Avalon sports and extracurriculars, mental health support, and technology support.  What does your student's day look like or a typical Avalon day?  Come find out!

At 6 PM, we will host our annual Senior Pitch.  Support our senior class as they share their ideas for their senior project and ask for experts in their fields.   You just might be the expert we're looking for!

More details will follow, including ways to support us in donating to our Care Closet.  Connect with nora@avalonschool.org if you have any questions/suggestions

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