MLK Art Contest now accepting submissions

                 http://dotcom.dev.scholastic.com/mlkday/pdfs/MLK_Day_2013-Self_mailer.pdf


          "Life's most persistent and urging question is, what are you doing for others?"  MLK

Please click on the link above to learn more about the ART CONTEST.

GIVE to GET

indiegogo: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/send-aveson-students-on-a-mission-to-beijing-empower-us-to-serve-our-community

Aveson students are doing something special.  Click on the link above to learn more.

We are blowing the doors off of fundraising as you know it!

Read on to learn about our campaign to change the world!

We are Juniors and Seniors from Aveson Global Leadership Academy in Altadena, CA that believe in the transformative power of investigating the world and making a difference! We believe every American student should have a chance to travel no matter how wealthy they may or may not be.

BUT, we don't want something for nothing. We want to EARN our way. We want to GIVE as much as we GET!

We are launching this campaign to fund our dreams of cultural exploration and community service inBeijing, China - and to do that, we want to offer you our ENERGY, our ENTHUSIASM and our SERVICE!

$25,000 is only half the cost of the trip—
$50,000 will send every single student to Beijing at no cost to their families! Leftover funds will go towards next year's trip.

If you can find a way to SUPPORT us, we will give back by SERVING you in whatever local or global ACTION you require.

Payments can be made by Credit Card, or by Check made payable to and sent to Aveson Global Leadership Academy at 575 East Altadena Drive, Altadena, CA 91001 (payments can also be arranged by contacting our advisor Tom Hyatt at tomhyatt@aveson.org).

We are a 501c3 not for profit - donations are tax deductible.

INTRODUCTION

Aveson Global Leadership Academy High School students are going to Beijing, China. We will sample the cuisine, explore the city and marvel at its history (the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City) - this is where most student travel experiences stop, with a worthwhile and memorable experience for any teenager. But at Aveson, traveling to China is just the beginning.

We are embarking on a year-long project, challenging ourselves to investigate the world of Chinese culture and history, communicate our ideas and perspectives with a sister school in Beijing, and take action both locally and globally.

TAKING ACTION LOCALLY

In the early Spring, prior to our trip, we will be hosting Chinese youth in our homes and at our school for two weeks. We will facilitate a cultural exchange between the visitors and our K-5 and 6-12 school communities as well as lead the Chinese delegation on sightseeing and educational trips throughout Southern California.

TAKING ACTION GLOBALLY

During our trip, we will stay in the dorms at a bilingual (Chinese/English) boarding high school that prepares students for college abroad and has core values similar to AGLA. We will spend each evening with these students as they facilitate a cultural exchange of their own.

We will spend the majority of our time in Beijing volunteering at a nearby migrant Elementary School teaching English as well as developing and facilitating an American Culture Week, directly impacting over 300 young, ambitious lives.

MEET THE STUDENTS

Purag

I am confident that we can raise all the money we need for this trip because I believe in the power of a few committed people and especially those who support them. While in China, I plan on blogging and updating followers through social media about the course of our projects there, so that the local community can get a glimpse at life in another country. 

Emily

I am so passionate about this trip, and the opportunities it has to offer. I truly feel that being immersed in a different culture will be a life changing experience for me. The humanitarian aspect of this endeavor is so important me, and will give me valuable experience in teaching, which is the career I plan on pursuing when I go to college.

J.D.

This trip to China will be my reward after a long school year. The prospect of new food, places, people and art is exciting, and it has, so far, kept me motivated throughout this last semester. 

Nico

I have twice hosted students from China who have come to the United States to learn more about our schools and culture, and have wanted to go for myself. I believe that going to China not only to learn about the culture and build relationships with students there, but also to teach underprivileged children, is an amazing opportunity to change my and many others' lives.

Matthew

Thanks for considering helping us. 

Soren

I think people think high school students are more about themselves than other people. Like, they are selfish. I hope this type of campaign shows people you can expect more of teenagers, and they will deliver.

Lilia

An opportunity to change lives doesn't come around everyday. 

Remington

China has always been an interest of mine. Through out my life I've always been captivated by the history, the culture, and landscape.

Holden

Not only do I have the chance to visit and explore, but also to exchange cultures with Chinese students. In addition, we will be able to teach lessons, debate/discuss subjects such as globalism and leadership, and ultimately be given an experience like no other. 

Guilia

I believe I can and will be part of the solution to the world's problems. I know this project won't solve them all, but it is a good start.

Marc

If I can change one life besides mine and have an impact on a person that could get them to think about things differently, then I will have succeeded. 

Evette

If you believe in us, we can change the world.

Kalle

After hosting a student from China last year and learning much more about their culture, I have been captivated by the idea of going there to see it for myself. I can't wait to see what happens on this trip, hopefully it will broaden my horizons and keep me ambitious enough to never stop traveling the world afterwards. 

Govanni

I know we can change the world.

Justice

I help feed the homeless through my church every Sunday, and that experience has helped me believe anything is possible. 

David

I am willing to do whatever it takes to make my dreams come true. I believe I can do anything I set my mind to.

Stephen

Aveson was founded on four principles called the Global Competencies: Investigating the World, Recognizing Perspectives, Communicating Ideas, and Taking Action. As a school we focus on how we can make others around us successful, targeting domestic and global development. Going to China would give us a chance to demonstrate this. 

Mason

I love travelling, and the fact that we will not only have fun in Beijing, but also make differences, makes it even better.

8th grade Rites of Passage 2013-2014

8th Grade Rites of Passage TRIP 2013-2014

In partnership with Plant Trees 4 Life and the Great Basin Outdoor School 8th grade students will participate in a week long Rite of Passage Trip in May, 2014.

What is a Rite of Passage?

A Rite of Passage is conceptually an experience in ones life which enriches and challenges them as they transition, or “passage” from one phase of their lives to another. As our 8th graders prepare for the very exciting, yet difficult leap from middle school to high school, we have prepared an experience that will enlighten and enrich as well as challenge our students to demonstrate what they learned as global learners.  Their ability to weigh perspectives, communicate ideas and take action will be on display prior to and during this experience.

What is the experience?

Students will spend a week at the Great Basin Outdoor School in Lake Tahoe, NV. They will participate in academic, service, leadership, and team building activities. Students will prepare for the trip with linked curriculum in Projects and Literacy classes.

Projects

Students will be required to participate in a 2nd semester project, which their Project Advisors will directly connect to this experience.  Students will be required to communicate their ideas/actions at Celebration of Learning in June, 2014.

As part of their Project work students will spend a day taking action by planting trees at a nature reserve near the Great Basin Outdoor School in support of Plant Trees for Life.

To help with the cost of this trip students are selling the trees they will then plant at a nature reserve during the trip.

To help us RAISE FUNDS while TAKING ACTION purchase a tree by clicking the link:

https://edu.planttrees4life.com/SO/81

To learn more about Plant Trees 4 Life and the Great Basin Outdoor School click on the links.

Home School gets creative with Technology

On November 20, 2013, the ACIS Home Study classes, K-6^th grade, took a field trip to Chinatown. Their goal was to address the driving question, “How can I be a global learner?” Scholars examined similarities and differences between their own neighborhoods and this other place, not so far away.

To guide their exploration, Mrs. Carraway incorporated a photo scavenger hunt consisting of thirteen photographs of various locations and items of cultural significance around Chinatown. Small teams of scholars were to find the places/things pictured. Initially, she struggled to find a way to address the difficult problem of having to print so many expensive photographs, but then she realized that in fact, this was the perfect opportunity to incorporate technology into our field trip.

Mrs. Carraway uploaded the photos to her classroom Shutterfly site as an album. While exploring the city, parent chaperones helped scholars to access the photos via their smart phones. When a photo location was found, the parent could snap a photo of the team in that spot to prove they had been there. All the resulting team photos could later be uploaded to Shutterfly as well, as a record of the experience.

The field trip was a great success, with 32 students and over a dozen parents taking the Metro into the 'big city' and back. Best of all, a challenge was turned into a learning opportunity, building 21^st century skills in a fun and creative way.