AFSA K-12 Family Update
October 8, 2021
AFSA K-12 Families,
We are excited to announce that AFSA received the 20 Year Milestone Award from Minnesota Association of Charter Schools (MACS) at this year's MACS banquet. Pictured is Laura Nelson (AFSA Staff since 2002), Becky Meyer (AFSA Director since 2002), Kate Plaisance (Current School Board member), and Ron Olson (First School Board member). AFSA opened it's doors in 2001 with 39 students in 9th and 10th grade and has grown to have over 400 students in grades K-12! Thank you for being a part of the AFSA Family!
Have a great weekend!
A couple of important reminders:
- Please do not drop off students any earlier than 7:30 a.m. The building is not open before that time.
- All students must bring a reuseable water bottle to school
Included in this week's newsletter:
- Potato Hug Thanks!
- Special Education Advisory Council
- AFSA K-12 Conference Sign Up Link is Live
- AFSA K-12 Staff Conference Meal/Food Donation Request
- AFSA K-12 Activity Fee
- Kindness Week at AFSA Elementary
- AFSA K-12 Family Directory 2021-2022
- Eagles Nest Extended Day Program - After School Fun
- COVID-19 Information and Reminders
- AFSA K-12 Free Breakfast and Lunch - October Menu
- Community Events
- Photos of the Week
- Calendar of Events
Potato Hug Thanks!
Thank you to everyone who participated in, volunteered at and attended this year's 8th Annual Potato Hug! It was a great event and many of our student vendors sold out! Thank you for your support! Our Annual Potato Hug Art showcase had over 40 entries! Thank you to everyone who entered their amazing artwork! Our winners are: 1st Place Spoon S. (HS), 2nd Place Riley M. (HS), 3rd Place Joe N. (HS), and 4th Place Bennett D. (Elementary)! Excellent job everyone!
Save the date for AFSA High School's 9th Annual Potato Hug on October 8th, 2022!
Special Education Advisory Council
AFSA K-12 Conference Sign Up Link is Live
Conferences for grades K-12 will be available on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm (no school for students that day). Conferences will be 15 minutes long.
For K-7 students, sign up with your child's homeroom teacher. Students are welcome at conferences and are included in the planning to have items to present to their parents/guardians. Any additional specialists or teachers can also be scheduled, but the homeroom teacher should be the first one you visit with as they will have comprehensive information about your child.
For grades 8-12, select as many classroom teachers as you want to see. Students are welcome to attend with parents.
Appointment times are separated into "Zoom" or "In-person" times. Please select a time based on the method in which you'd like to attend. If you select an in-person time, zoom will not be available (and vice-versa.) If you select a Zoom appointment, the link will be sent to you prior to your appointment time by your selected teacher.
You may check who your child’s teachers are in PowerSchool. For help scheduling grades K-7 call 612-260-2662. For help scheduling grades 8-12 please call 651-259-4988.
AFSA K-12 Staff Conference Meal/Food Donation Request
AFSA's K-12 tri 1 conferences are coming up October 20! We are looking for families who would like to donate gift cards, beverages, snacks, and dessert for the staff on conference day!
Due to COVID restrictions we are only looking for store bought individually wrapped items. Items may be dropped off at the high school or elementary school. Please make sure you indicate that your donation is for conferences.
Donations may be dropped off during school hours. Monday, October 18th end of the school day is the last day to make a donation.
To sign up for a donation please click here!
Thank you for supporting AFSA StAFSA!
If you have any questions please contact Ms. Forliti at stephanieforliti@afsahighschool.com.
Thank you!
AFSA K-12 Activity Fee
The Annual Activity Fee is $25 per student. This covers student email accounts, student ID cards, locker use, PowerSchool access and FFA dues. Students will not receive their school ID unless this fee is paid.
If this fee presents a financial hardship for your family please contact our Executive Director, Becky Meyer, bmeyer@afsahighschool.com.
Kindness Week at AFSA Elementary
AFSA Elementary will be celebrating Kindness week October 11-15! Below is the schedule for the week. Don't miss Friday's dress up day and food donation day!
Monday: School-wide Assemblies
Tuesday: Book Buddies - Older students will be reading with the younger students.
Wednesday: Kindness Books - Each student will be making their own kindness book.
Thursday: AFSA Spirit Day- wear AFSA gear. During morning meeting, come up with one or two things your class loves about AFSA to be shared on a special version of the Friday announcements
Friday: Twins Day! Dress up like a friend or wear your Twins gear. Bring a nonperishable food item (peanut butter, soup, mac’n’cheese, canned tuna or chicken, etc.) to participate! Students can still participate in the event even if they forget a food item. Items will be donated to a local food pantry.
AFSA K-12 Family Directory 2021-2022
The school directory is a great way for families to stay in touch over the summer! If you would like to be added to the school directory please fill out the AFSA Family Directory Opt-In Form. We will email updated directories as we have additional families interested in being added. If you opted in to last year's directory and would like to be in this year's directory you will need to opt in again. The directory will be emailed out on October 15th. Only families who opt-in will receive the directory.
Questions? Please contact stephanieforliti@afsahighschool.com
Eagles Nest Extended Day Program - After School Fun
Did you know our extended day program provides daily activities? The activities are theme related and the theme changes monthly!
Eagles Nest Extended Day Program provides care before school from 6:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and after school from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
For more information regarding our Eagles Nest Extended Day Care Program and to register please contact Shelbi Pool at spool@afsahighschool.com or 651-209-3924. You can also find more information out on our website - click here!
COVID-19 Information and Reminders
Masks are required to be worn by all staff and students at AFSA K-12 at this time. This includes during school hours and any events held at the building. If you do not have a mask please ask for one from the front desk at both buildings.
Free COVID-19 Tests Available at School: Through Minnesota's statewide education COVID-19 testing program, AFSA is offering Vault tests for the 2021-2022 school year for students and staff at no cost. Students can take these tests home and return them to school to they can be shipped to the lab. We want to keep kids and staff healthy, safe and in their classrooms.
If you would like a Vault test kit sent home with your student, please email our high school Covid Coordinator, Luba Vanyo, lvanyo@afsahighschool.com or our elementary Covid coordinator, Shelbi Pool, at spool@afsahighschool.com.
Other Testing Options:
Governor Tim Walz announced an expansion of testing capacity in the state’s COVID-19 community testing network in order to meet increased demand. Beginning October 15, Friday testing will be offered at the state sites in Mankato and St. Cloud. Beginning October 17, Sunday testing will be offered at the Moorhead and Winona sites.
The sites will be adding an additional testing day to increase their capacity. Each site is increasing its weekly capacity by approximately 500 tests for a max weekly capacity of approximately 2,500 per site:
- Adding Friday Testing Beginning October 15
- Mankato: Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- St. Cloud: Monday–Friday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Sunday Testing Beginning October 17
- Moorhead: Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Winona: Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Monday–Thursday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Read more information about the testing sites.
How Minnesotans can get a COVID-19 test:
- Walk in or schedule an appointment for a free test at one of the state’s 11 community testing sites across Minnesota: COVID-19 Community Testing Sites.
- Order a free test through the state’s at-home testing program: COVID-19 Test at Home.
- Find other testing options near them through the state’s Find Testing Locations map, including through local providers, pharmacies and clinics: Find Testing Locations.
Who Should Get Tested
- Even if you are vaccinated, Minnesotans should get tested:
- if you have symptoms of the virus;
- if you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19;
- if you are returning from international travel;
- or if you have attended a large gathering or event where people are not wearing masks and are not able to stay 6 feet apart.
- People who are unvaccinated should test before travel (domestic or international).
- Unvaccinated teachers, staff and students in K-12 should test weekly at a minimum or more frequently per CDC guidance.
- With the at-home program and community testing sites offering free testing across the state, the state has made it easy for Minnesotans to find a test.
Vaccine Information:
https://mn.gov/covid19/vaccine/find-vaccine/locations/index.jsp
AFSA K-12 Free Breakfast and Lunch - October Menu
Breakfast is available at both the elementary and high school building from 7:30 a.m. -7:55 a.m.
Breakfast and lunch menus can be found on our website - click here!
Community Events
The City of Vadnais Heights is putting on some fun fall events!
Scarecrow Trail: October 25-October 31 @ Community Park. Local businesses, organizations and residents are all invited to build scarecrows! The trail is open October 25-31 during park hours. (Watch the newsletter AFSA may be entering the contest!)
Halloween Party: Friday, October 29, 5:00-7:00 pm @ Community Park (under the lights). The city will have a costume parade through the scarecrow trail and games and activities on the softball field. Stop by the AFSA booth for science fun and games!
For more information please go to: http://www.cityvadnaisheights.com/265/Scarecrow-Trail
Photos of the Week
FFA Meeting at the High School
Ms. Heider's Innovation Studio
Painting with Ms. Vorwald
Calendar of Events
Oct. 20 - NO SCHOOL - Conferences
Oct. 20-22 - NO SCHOOL
Oct. 25-28 - Oterm for 5-12th grade
Oct. 29 - No School for students
Oct. 29 - AFSA at the City of Vadnais Party (see community events above)
Nov. 5 - Numeracy Night - AFSA Elementary
Nov. 11 - AFSA High School Presentation Night and Open House
Nov. 16 - Culver's Fundraising Night
Nov. 24-26 - No School
Contact Information
Elementary Attendance Line: 612-260-2664 or email llane@afsahighschool.com
High School Attendance Line: 651-209-3910 or email hsattendance@afsahighschool.com
Email: stephanieforliti@afsahighschool.com
Website: www.afsahighschool.com
Location: 100 Vadnais Boulevard, Vadnais Heights, MN, USA
Phone: 651-209-3910