Editor's note: we're pleased to welcome our new correspondent, community journalist Devon Pettengill.
by Devon Pettengill
for Altadenablog
Aveson Charter School is comprised of two schools: Aveson School of Leaders (ASL), serving grades K-5 and Aveson Global Leaders Academy (AGLA), serving grades 6-12. Both schools currently occupy the old Noyes school campus on Pinecrest in west Altadena. Aveson has been told it must relocated its older students in response to the concerns of the school’s neighbors, who claim that when Aveson opened three years ago PUSD promised them it would not include a high school.
Aveson co-founder and Executive Director Kate Bean led the discussion with current Aveson students, parents, and staff providing enthusiastic back-up. Neighbors expressed concern about traffic complications regarding pick-up and drop-off of students. Aveson is planning to stagger the beginning of its school day with that of Odyssey Charter School down the street to address such concerns.
Though a commercial building may seem like an odd venue for a middle school and high school, Kate Bean pointed out that it fits well with Aveson’s unique approach. In addition to standard classrooms, Aveson plans to outfit the building with individual workstations for students to work on various projects. Plans also include a storefront café run by students. In addition to coffee and snacks for neighbors, the café would provide students with experience running a business and the opportunity to bring additional money into the school. The school is also talking with Loma Alta Park about shared use of its athletic facilities for physical education.
Aveson’s administration contacted the developers of the partially completed building after months of searching for a suitable facility. The goal is to have the building ready for students by September 1, 2010. Though the building is already zoned to be a school, Aveson will need to apply for a change of use permit from LA County to use the building for educational purposes. The school is soliciting the support of the community and the Town Council to make the change smoothly. If the new building is not completed in time, the Boys and Girls Club facilities on Fair Oaks will be used as a temporary location for AGLA.
Aveson Charter School’s first priority is providing personalized learning guided by a basic set of principles emphasizing leadership, problem solving, and integrity. The charter school’s small size allows it to maintain low student-to-teacher ratios and the opportunity for students to pursue their personal interests. Admission to the school is through a lottery held each March, though some preference is given to students in the northwest Altadena area.
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from Pasadena Star News...
Full Article Text:
By Caroline An, Staff Writer
ALTADENA - Aveson Charter School student Corey Cain was busy mashing up sweet potatoes to pour into golden pie crusts to be baked for 20 minutes. At the other end of the cafeteria, students Alexis Augmon and Carlin Faucett peeled russet potatoes for a potato and leek soup.
Overseeing his 13 culinary arts students at their work stations Thursday, Lowell Bernstein, director of Aveson's culinary arts program, said he was confident the youngsters could whip up six dishes - from a main course to dessert - to feed about 80 people at Union Station Homeless Services on Thursday evening.
"Everything is going pretty well. We have three hours, but I think we can make it," said Bernstein, who launched the Culinary Arts Academy at Aveson in September.
On the menu were oven-baked fried chicken, potato and leek soup, garlic string beans, pasta salad, sweet potato pie and peanut butter blossom cookies.
With Thanksgiving Day a week away, Bernstein's students said they wanted to serve a meal to the homeless people at Union Station and the center's staff that was reminiscent of a traditional Thanksgiving feast - but without the turkey.
"I want them to be involved with their community and have a better understanding of their world," Bernstein said. "After the students serve the meals, they grab a plate and sit down with others at the table and they talk. It breaks down some of the walls and stereotypes the kids might have had."
He said the students have made the meals for Union Station their project for the fourth Thursday of the month. Bernstein wants to expand the meals program to the Pasadena Senior Center and have his students prepare lunches for the center's staff and seniors.
The experience inspired Alexis, a seventh-grader, to volunteer this holiday season, she said.
"I love helping people," she said. By having his students in the kitchen once a week and cooking for large groups, Bernstein said he hopes they'll gain not only compassion but culinary competency.
"I want them to feel confident that in college they can cook a meal for themselves, or help their families out during meals," said Bernstein. "Food appreciation is key."
Photo:
Students from Aveson Charter School's Culinary Arts Academy, prepare vegetables Thursday, November 19, 2009 in their Altadena school's kitchen as they make a dinner for the homeless at Union Station Homeless Shelter in Pasadena. Once a month the academy prepares a dinner and serves it to the homeless at Union Station.
(c) 2009 Pasadena Star-News. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc. by NewsBank, Inc.
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Pasadena Star-News (CA)
July 27, 2009
Section: News
Pasadena's Aveson Charter school to decide whether to move
Caroline An, Staff Writer
PASADENA - Aveson Charter School will decide by late October whether to move one or both of its schools from the Noyes Elementary School site at the end of the coming school year, officials said Monday. That gives officials for the school - it operates two programs at Noyes, an elementary school and a high school - about two months to meet with parents, students and teachers to discuss the school's fate, Aveson Executive Director Kate Bean said.
Aveson, which opened in 2007, must submit a request for campus space with the Pasadena Unified School District a year ahead of time. That means the charter's request for space must be in to the district by Nov. 1.
Bean said the biggest question facing Aveson is whether it should split its two programs and move one to a separate site, or move both programs to a new site. Aveson will have about 440 kindergarten through 11th-grade students for the coming school year.
"The magic number for a charter school to survive financially is about 400 students," Bean said. "We are just comfortably above that."
The issue came up because the PUSD board voted last week to relocate all or part of Aveson from Noyes, a former elementary school no longer used by the district. It's now up to Aveson officials to decide whether to move its elementary school program, or its high school program, or both.
The PUSD board's action was based on long-time complaints from residents about Aveson's high school program. Residents near the school said the charter's high school program increased noise and traffic.
But creating two separate campuses would double expenses and employees, including custodial staff, Bean said.
She said she expects to begin discussing options with PUSD officials once Superintendent Edwin Diaz returns from vacation.
Aveson will send letters to parents in the next week explaining the situation and the steps officials will take, Bean said.
"We are trying to think through what is best for the kids," she added.
PUSD Board President Tom Selinske said he was "optimistic" the two sides can work out an agreement.