AFSA PreK-12 Family Update
6/27/2025
Nurturing some poinsettias in week 31 of Words With Wakefield. It is the final week of Why AFSA! We are looking at the last question, “Why do we make the lives better for AFSA students and families?” As you can see in the picture all the poinsettias are green, when they are supposed to be a bright and beautiful red. That is because they are going through the process of photoperiodism. Where they need a change in their environment to turn color.
AFSA, just like the poinsettias, starts with a student. During the student's educational journey, our environment helps support, lead, encourage, teach, listen, and inspire them into a bright and prosperous future. We as a community encourage and work with students' individual strengths and provide spaces for them to achieve success. There are not a lot of schools where in the same day you can work in the greenhouse, walk down to the lake with the science class to test some water, have horses come to your school for large animal science, play football with your director(aka Wakefield), and all while still taking the required classes in order to graduate. AFSA is a school where you receive all the same education and opportunities as the other schools. We just take it a step further.
We would not be able to achieve success with just teachers and students. It takes a community. Here we believe in a partnership with our families and community members. AFSA opens its doors throughout the year to bring our community together. We even have community ed classes to help offer an additional opportunity to learn and grow!
I believe in our school system and I believe there is no other school like AFSA. So Why AFSA? I guess you will just have to come see for yourself.
Elementary 1st Place: Josiah L.
Elementary 2nd Place: Josephine B.
Elementary 3rd Place Tie: Harrison M.
Elementary 3rd Place Tie: Lilith M.
Elementary 3rd Place Tie: Lila S.
High School 1st Place: Nora P.
High School 2nd Place: Dakota B.
High School 3rd Place: Livy C.
AFSA's tri 1 conferences and staff work day are coming up October 16 and 17! We are looking for families who would like to donate beverages, snacks, and dessert for the staff on conference day and for the staff work day!
We are looking for store bought individually wrapped items. If you are able to donate please check out the items below. Items may be dropped off at the High School or Elementary building during school hours. Please make sure you indicate that your donation is for conferences.
Please drop off your donations by Wednesday, October 15. Thank you for supporting AFSA StAFSA!
If you have any questions please contact Stephanie Forliti at stephanieforliti@afsak12.com.
Thank you!
We are very excited to get started on a new adventure in the greenhouse! AFSA FFA is selling Porch Pots and Poinsettias for our fall fundraiser and we need your help! For the porch pots we are looking for donations of winter ribbon, and tree ornaments preferable in the ball shape in a variety of colors and shapes. FFA members will be making the porch pots at our November meeting. Watch for more information on the Fall sale!
Retake day is coming up November 6th, 2025.
All ages welcome! Zero Gravity Spirit Night (fundraiser) Friday, October 24th from 5-8 p.m. (2296 Woodale Dr, St Paul, MN 55112-4900). All proceeds goes to AFSA!
See attached flyer or Click here for direct link to ticket sales.
IMPORTANT HIGH SCHOOL NOTICE: We have a high number of high school students that do not have their emergency contact form turned in. Failure to turn in completed forms may affect your students ability to participate in field trips including those during o-term. Emergency contact form is attached to this newsletter. Completed high school forms can be turned in to the front office or emailed to: kbarbour@afsahighschool.com.
AFSA Pre-K-12th grade families need to fill out the following paperwork each school year.
- Emergency Contact and Permissions form - This form gives us emergency contact information and permission for all field trips, media use and technology use needed during the year. THIS MUST BE SIGNED FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN ANY FIELD TRIPS!
- Application for Educational Benefits - Provides families additional benefits and helps AFSA qualify for grants and funds from the department of education.
Additional forms that may be needed:
- Medication Authorization form - This form is needed for all medications your student will need during the school day. Doctors signature may be required please see form for details. Medication and form can be dropped off at the Back to School Picnic.
- Parking Permit - For student drivers who will have a car at school.
All forms listed above are attached to this newsletter, can be found on the website and paper copies are available at both the high school and elementary school front offices.
Completed forms may be dropped off at the buildings during school hours or Elementary (PreK-6) forms can be emailed to jhamilton@afsak12.com and high school (grades 7-12) forms can be emailed to kbarbour@afsak12.com
Calling all 8th-12th graders! Join more than 1300 young leaders from around the state this January to debate the issues that are important to you. Youth in Government (YIG) is a hands-on civic learning program where students in grades 8-12 become legislators, lawyers, judges, lobbyists, journalists, or cabinet members and spend four days running a state model government. Young people in YIG aren’t spectators; they elect their own leaders, debate their own ideas, and support policies and laws that highlight their values.
Boys Volleyball Club: The Boys Volleyball Club for students in 7th-12th grade has begun and is held after school from 3-5 p.m. This Club meets on Mondays through October 13th. Contact Ms. Vorwald if interested in joining!
- 10/13 - AFSA VS. Twin Cities Academy AWAY GAME: 690 Birmingham St. St. Paul, MN 55106 Game times 5:00 (JV) and 6:30 p.m. (V)
For all AFSA sports teams each student athlete must fill out the following Google form. Included in the Google form are links to all required sports forms. These forms can also be found on our website. Contact AFSA's Activities Director, Amanda Vorwald with any questions.
Dear AFSA Class of 2026 Seniors and Families,
We hope you are all off to a great start in your senior year! The graduation committee is excited to watch the senior class continue to grow and learn throughout the year. We are also excited to be a part of planning this memorable event for AFSA’s Class of 2026. Please read this letter carefully and make note of times, dates and requests.
Graduation will be held the evening of Friday, June 5, 2026 at Bethel University in Arden Hills. Directions and details, including ticket information, will be sent home later in the school year.
Keepsake Gown/Cap/Tassel:
The cost for the keepsake gown/cap/tassel is $25.00 per student. Families can purchase the keepsake gown/cap/tassel online here or pay with cash/check in the front office. Last day to purchase is December 19, 2025.
Graduation Details and Submissions:
Seniors need to submit their Diploma Name, sizes for shirt and gown. We also need the following from each senior by December 19th, 2025:
Baby Picture
Senior Picture
Family message of congratulations or encouragement
To submit your senior's information, please click here. If you have any problems uploading the items you can email them to afsamedia@afsahighschool.com
Please feel free to contact us with any questions. Thank you!
Join us at Culver's in Little Canada (2880 Rice Street Little Canada)for our 2025-2026 Culver's fundraising Nights! Take your family out to dinner and support AFSA at the same time! AFSA FFA Alumni receives 10% of all food purchases from 5-7 p.m.
- October 21, 2025
- November 18, 2025
- December 16, 2025
- January 20, 2026
- February 17, 2026
- March 17, 2026
- April 21, 2026
- May 19, 2026
Thank you for supporting AFSA FFA! Special thank you to the Little Canada Culver's for their continued support of AFSA! Money raised goes towards FFA activities for all students.
Brain Day:
Brain Day is an interactive, engaging, and free event celebrating brain-related research at the University of Minnesota. This will be a family-friendly event packed with live demonstrations, exciting experiments, and hands-on activities for all ages!
The Great Hall of Coffman Memorial Union
on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities East Bank campus
Address: 300 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455
Date & Time: Saturday November 1, 2025 from 11 AM to 3 PM
If you have any additional questions, please email neurobrainday@umn.edu.
Girl Scouts:
her voice and help her build a future full of confidence and courage! In honor of the 13th year of International Day of the Girl, Girl Scout memberships are $13 off Oct 5–11 when you use the code
GSRVCELEBRATE.
The school directory is a great way for AFSA PreK-12 families to stay in touch! Click here if you are a current AFSA PreK-12 family and would like to be added to the 2025-2026 school directory. The first 2025-2026 directory was emailed out yesterday to all participating families. Updates will be emailed out throughout the year as we have additional families participate. If you have been in past directories you will still need to sign up this year to be included. Questions? Please contact Ms. Forliti
