Avalon’s mission is to be a strong, nurturing community that inspires active learning, local action, and global awareness. The learning program is project-based, which empowers students to develop their own learning plans. Students attend few conventional “classroom classes,” spending most of their time working independently and in collaboration with peers (with guidance from their advisor) on their individualized-learning plans. Advisors (teachers) involve students in most decisions related to the school’s functioning, including decisions about school operational and curricular policies. Two students serve on the school’s governing board. The school provides one computer for every two students and a personal workspace for each student. A teacher cooperative manages all aspects of Avalon, including the learning program.
Visit the school’s website at: http://www.avalonschool.org
 American Revolution #9 is a reference to Sophia’s favorite band, The Beatles. |
Sophia shows off her favorite page.
|
 (click picture for bigger version) A page from the book. |
About the teacher-advisor
Pete began his teaching career in Northern California in a conventional high school teaching biology and physical science. He also experimented with different teaching styles in a project-based service-learning course that he taught for one class period a day. He then worked in a school in Mexico, near Mexico City, again teaching high school biology and physical science, but this time in the context of a bilingual immersion school. This is Pete’s first year at Avalon.