My little school has recently won three awards. One of them, the Bronze Award as a Best US High School from US News & World Report, we're not too sure why we got it. It looks to be based on test scores. And while our students tend to do ok on standardized tests, it is not our focus. Still, we'll take an award if they are handing them out. But the other two- the State and National Promising Practice Awards- those two were made for us. They were given by organizations that are looking to promote character education. The other schools who won the state award did so because of one highlighted 'one and done' character building activity. I nominated our school not for one distinct activity, but for our practice of embedding project based learning into a multi-aged advisory based system. Students at Avalon are placed in an advisory for the entirety of their career in either the high or middle schools. These advisories are led by a licensed teacher (or two in the case of lucky people who get to job share) and consist of students in all grades in that program. My 9-12 grade advisory has 21 kids. If they stay at Avalon their entire HS career, I could be their advisor that whole time.
How does this build character? Well, one could argue that hanging out with me for four years is certainly a test of character. But that's not it. Within these advisories we figure out how to work together, how to support each other, how to mediate differences, and how to plan projects that will benefit the greater community. Every day in these advisories kids interact in real and meaningful ways. They are constantly accountable to others for their actions and their words. And they have the opportunity to keep others accountable as well. The multi-age format allows kids to flow through several different, distinct roles within the small community. The freshman boy who seems to be lighthearted comic relief for everyone can really take a leadership turn as he matures and has earned the respect of others. No one is stuck in the role that their 'class' has given him or her, because the group gently morphs throughout anyone's tenure. Seniors move on out into the world, and new students transfer in. It's wonderful to watch these kids grow and stretch within this safe group.
The real highlight of our system, however, is our five day service week experience each spring. The advisories spend the fall and winter planning a weeks of activities that will benefit some outside group/organization. This year we volunteered our time with the St. Paul Parks, undertaking some serious weeding out in gorgeous parks during a beautiful spring week. Students who have trouble sitting still and focusing in the school environment were given the chance to shine in a new, more active role outside. And students who had shouldered the burden of leadership under 'normal' circumstances were given the opportunity to sit back, relax, and just do as told for a change. And we accomplish impressive work at the same time.
I brought four classy students with me to the state Capitol last week in order to claim our prize. They were glad to be out of the confines of school for an afternoon. But all of them looked at this as more than an opportunity to change it up and get out for a bit- they saw it as a chance for Avalon (and themselves) to be honored for the hard work we do in our attempt to start an education revolution.
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