Avondale Schools_USE THIS

Annual effort serves local community and beyond

Media Contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; 248.651.7536; cell: 586.817.8414; barbara@eafocus.com; Sue Briggs, Avondale Schools; 248.537.6041; susan.briggs@avondale.k12.mi.us

Auburn Hills, MI—Nov. 21, 2013—- Avondale School District, an achievement-oriented learning community focused on student leadership and success in academics, the arts and athletics, is again providing students at Avondale High School the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that teach the importance of giving back to the community and the world.

This annual week-long effort, called Caring and Sharing Week, inspires Avondale High School students to see their full potential in the world and put it into action. This year’s week of caring runs from Dec. 4 – 11 with a full schedule of service projects, fundraisers, assemblies and other activities that demonstrate the students’ range of abilities and the good they can accomplish just by getting involved. Carolyn Benson, a teacher at Avondale High School (AHS) and Student Leadership Advisor, says the students selected ‘community’ as the theme for this year’s Caring and Sharing week based on Kirkland, Wash. teacher Jackie Mutcheson’s motto “It takes each of us to make a difference for all of us.”

“Caring and Sharing week allows the students to step away from their normal routines to develop empathy, appreciate what they have and be inspired to engage in community service throughout their lives,” said Benson. “With this year’s theme of ‘community’, it is really keeping the message of Caring and Sharing Week at the forefront for the students.”

Specific activities during Caring and Sharing Week include:
•An adopt-a-family program organized by Avondale High School teacher Kip Pichel
• The Avondale Gleaners Food Drive contest, including participation from neighboring districts
• A penny war competition during third hour classes to see which classroom can collect the most pennies. All donations received in the penny war will go to Blessings in a Backpack.
• Caring and Sharing Week wraps up with an assembly on Dec. 11 complete with students helping to pack the backpacks for Blessings in a Backpack.

“Caring and Sharing Week is one of my favorite school activities,” said Dr. George Heitsch, Avondale Superintendent. “The Avondale School District has a culture that embraces ‘community’ and to have a week dedicated to demonstrating the impact of individual and team efforts to make a difference is powerful, especially to teens.”

About Avondale School District
Avondale School District is a collaborative community of teachers, staff and families working together to assure student success. The district, encompassing portions of Auburn Hills, Bloomfield Township, Troy and Rochester Hills, celebrates the richness of a diverse student population and strives to be a model school community that prepares students to be lifelong learners and contributing citizens to the world that awaits them upon graduation. Learn more about Avondale Schools, an AdvancED certified district, at www.avondale.k12.mi.us.

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