Avalon School

Avalon School
Avalon School "Passion for Learning"
Location
Saint Paul, Minnesota USA
Information
Type	Charter school
Established	2001
Administrator	Gretchen Sage-Martinson and Carrie Bakken
Grades	6–12
Enrollment	198
Campus	Urban
Color(s)	Blue, Green, and Orange
Mascot	Dragon
Yearbook	Avalon School Yearbook
Website	http://www.avalonschool.org/

Avalon School is a project-based charter middle school and high school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, located at 700 Glendale Street. As a project-based school, students meet their academic graduation requirements through a combination of independent projects, group projects, and seminars. Individual students' schedules vary depending on the seminars they are enrolled in and the activities they are involved with. Students spend a significant part each day working independently on projects. The school has a flat organizational structure with no principal or director in a position of power. The staff members work collaboratively to manage the school. Avalon's mission is as follows: Avalon School prepares students for college and life in a strong, nurturing community that inspires active learning, engaged citizenship, and hope for the future.^[1]

Advisors

In keeping with the non-hierarchical organizational structure, students refer to teachers as 'advisors' and students and staff are all on a first-name basis. Some of the advisors are leaders of a homeroom-like group of students, called advisories. Advisories are housed in classroom-sized areas separated from each other by cubicle walls. Advisories are spaces where students work on independent projects or other assignments for seminars. Each student has their desk space which they can decorate as they please. The advisories create a semi-homey environment ideal for getting work done

Seminars

Seminars are classes specifically tailored to Minnesota graduation standards although they are not usually the traditional "Intro to Literature" style courses. Instead, the advisors get creative making classes such as "Rights of Passage", "World Genocide", or "1950s Literature". There is usually a small class size, although some classes (such as Economics) can become quite large. They are generally discussion based and allow the students to have quite a bit of control. Math seminars are offered for Algebra 1&2, Geometry, and Advanced Topics. Independent math is an option using the accelerated math program, PSEO, or other proposed method.

Projects

Avalon is project-based, meaning the focus of the student's work is independent projects. If a student has an idea for a project, he or she must fill out a proposal form and rubric, get parent approval, and present their idea to their advisor. When the project has been completed, the student must do a reflection—a process of answering questions about the development of a student's project, what he or she learned and how this helps the world/community. It is then taken back to the advisor, who asks the student questions and uses a rubric to assess the grade.

Student organizations and activities

Avalon has a number of organizations and activities, including: the Library, the GSA, AAH (Art After Hours), the Feminist Club, the mentor program (where older students mentor new students), a peer mediator program, and Tech Committee. There are also activities that do not last throughout the school year, like drama and prom committee. Avalon won a national Promising Practices Award from the CEP for its Feminist Club.

Avalon Middle School

Avalon added a middle school, which accepts students in grades 6 through 8. The middle school program prepares students for independent project by introducing guided projects in their core classes, as well as through an independent project class that meets daily. Through these projects, students learn the skills of time management, doing effective research, and deeply connecting knowledge that helps them become independent, lifelong learners (as well as great high school students!)

References

External links

• Avalon School
• "Avalon School 2007" (PDF). Minnesota Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2007-12-12.