AFSA PreK-12 Family Update
6/27/2025
We are coming out of our shells in week 27 Words With Wakefield. This week I am introducing a new series of messages that I will be speaking on for the next four weeks. I will be talking about the topic of “Why AFSA?” We have incredible things happening in our school that many of you may not know about.
I understand why our school is so great but I was curious as to what our staff thought. So, during a staff training this past year, we pondered the following questions.
How are we meaningful to our students and families?
Why does our school exist?
How are we different from other schools?
How do we make lives better for students and families?
When you drive by our buildings it may just look like typical schools, but behind those walls AFSA has much more to offer! I want to take time to show you all the things that make AFSA great, unique, challenging, and why our staff choose to work here. This is my third year, and each year I am impressed with all the opportunities we give our students/families. Heck, even Fluffy the Turtle has been enrolled here for over 20 years. I hope all of you have a great weekend and look forward to sharing the next four weeks. Why AFSA!
Picture Day is Wednesday, September 17th at both the elementary and high school! Photo ordering envelopes have been sent home with all students. You can send in your order and payment ON PHOTO DAY ONLY (NOT BEFORE). Checks should be made out to Strawbridge Studios. If sending cash, you must send the exact amount. Photographers do not have change.
There is also an online ordering option. For this option you sign up to order online and they will contact you when online photo ordering is open.
To use the online service click on the following link:
CODE FM475116
To use the online service click on the following link:
High School PhotosCODE FM475114
Last chance to order an AFSA Flannel Shirt! Shirts are $42! Ordering is open now through September 12th! To place an order please fill out the attached order form and return the form along with payment to the front office at either the elementary or high school building. Payment can be cash, check or you can pay online here. Shirts should be delivered to the school by mid-October. Any questions please contact Stephanie Forliti. Thank you!
Join us at AFSA Elementary on Thursday, October 2nd from 4:00-7:00 p.m. for a night full of safety fun! The Little Canada Fire Department and Ramsey County Sheriff's Department will be joining us along with the White Bear CERT, Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts, Martial Arts Club and more! There will also be free treats!
We invite you to join us for our Annual AFSA Potato Hug on Saturday, October 4th 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at AFSA High School! The event is open to the public so invite friends and family!
The Hug is a showcase of student projects, school offerings, and community involvement. This event provides students the opportunity to be vendors and sell their products created for their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Each project is an opportunity for students to demonstrate professionalism, develop entrepreneurial skills, and showcase their hard work.
Not only do we have students selling their creations but we also have a baked potato bar, a student art show and more!
Students in grades 7-12 interested in participating in this year's Potato Hug as a vendor need to fill out a registration form and pay the $5 student vendor fee. Sign up form is attached or click here to access the forms online and get more information. Forms (with all signatures) and fee are due no later than September, 26th.
Calling all artists! Students in grades PreK-12 are invited to submit their artwork for the Annual Potato Hug Art Showcase! Artwork can be drawings, paintings, sculptures or whatever students have created! The top 3 art pieces will receive a special prize! Artwork should be submitted to the front desk at either the elementary school or high school by September 26th. Students may submit up to two pieces of artwork. Please make sure artwork has student's name on it.
Please contact Ms. Forliti stephanieforliti@afsak12.com with any questions.
See you at the Hug!
The Potato Hug would not happen without all of our amazing volunteers! We are looking for volunteers to help with the welcome desk, kitchen servers, cashiers, and hall/room monitors for the 2025 Potato Hug on October 4, 2025.
Please - Click here to sign up.
Questions? Please contact Stephanie Forliti.
Save the date! All ages welcome!
Zero Gravity Spirit Night (fundraiser) Friday, October 24th
More information coming soon!
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.
The next meeting for this year's YIG program is coming up September 16th. To learn more about YIG contact Ms. Nelson!
Minnesota Department of Education has a new resource to help kids learn to read. The READ Toolkit gives families ideas and tools to help their kids learn to read. For more information click here.
For more information about the Sun Bucks program click here.
AFSA Eaglets Update: Unfortunately there were not enough students signed up to hold AFSA Eaglets. We will have to cancel this Fall's Eaglets baseball event.
Boys Volleyball Club: The Boys Volleyball Club for students in 7th-12th grade starts September 22 after school from 3-5 p.m. This Club meets on Mondays September 22 - October 13th. Contact Ms. Vorwald if interested in joining!
Boys Baseball Club: The Boys Baseball Club for students in 7th-12th grade starts September 16 after school from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. This Club meets on Tuesdays September 16 - October 7th. Contact Ms. Vorwald if interested in joining!
- 9/17 AFSA VS. Cristo Rey Jesuit at home. Game times 5:45 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
- 9/18 AFSA VS. Prairie Seeds Academy at home. Game times 5:00 and 6:30 p.m.
- 9/22 AFSA VS. Twin Cities Academy at TCA (690 Birmingham St. St. Paul)
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.
The fundraiser is now closed. Students who participated will be contacted with more information about pizza pick up time. Contact our Activities Director, Ms. Vorwald, avorwadl@afsak12.com with any questions. Thank you for supporting AFSA!
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 receives 10% of all food purchases from 5-7 p.m.
- September 16, 2025
- October 21, 2025
- November 18, 2025
- December 16, 2025
- January 20, 2026
- February 17, 2026
- March 17, 2026
- April 21, 2026
- May 19, 2026
Special thank you to the Little Canada Culver's for their continued support of AFSA!
Did you know AFSA participates in Box Tops for Education? Join other families in supporting AFSA through Box Tops for Education! You can find Box Tops on hundreds of products throughout the store. Download and use the app to snap a photo of your receipt within 14 days of purchase. Make sure to choose AFSA High School when scanning in your Boxtops. Your Box Tops earnings are identified and automatically updated online. To check out all of the products and learn more about the Box Tops for Education app please go to BTFE.com. Attached is the September bonus offers.
You can also find this information on our website just click here.
Girl Scouts:
Watch confidence bloom with every new experience and challenge! Girl Scouts nurtures kindness, courage, and leadership. Grades K-12 are invited to join now for $45! See attached flyer for more information.
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 directory will be emailed out to all participating families. If you have been in past directories you will still need to sign up this year to be included. Questions? Please contact Ms. Forliti
