Get Started Checklist

Financial
Set up FACTS Family Portal account (right away)
Pay commitment fee (new students: right away; current students: due in the fall for the next school year)
Review payment plan* (early July)
Pay first bill (produced mid-summer, due August 5) [ESTF Info]
Prepay for AVI Fresh hot lunches (by Wednesday 11 a.m. for the following week)

Supplies/Uniforms
Purchase school uniforms (recommendation: by early July)
Purchase school supplies K3–grade 5 suppliesgrades 6–8 supplies (by the first day of school); grades 9–12 receive information in class on the first day of school
Purchase Lion’s Gear, including spirit tee shirts which can be worn instead of a uniform top each Friday (youth sizes at Primary Center and Elementary offices; larger youth and adult sizes at Spirit Store in Academy Gym lobby during ball games)

Forms
Review current year’s parent/student handbook and complete online check-in* (mid/late July)
Medication forms (as needed)
DSS forms (K3–K4 only): K3-K4 Discipline PolicyK3-K4 DSS Statement of Child’s Health
Permission to Walk Home or to Parent’s Office (Grades 1-5Grades 6-8)
Athletic forms
(as needed; before tryouts)

Back-to-School Weeks
Register vehicle/s that your student driver will park on campus (by the first day of school or as needed)
Receive your child’s teacher/class information [via email if online check-in is complete & school bill paid]* (on/after August 7)
Attend Vision Night, New Family, and Back-to-School events* (shortly before/after school begins)
K3–K5: attend classroom meeting* (second week of school)

Getting to School
Review carline map (PDF) (by the first day of school)
Review school day schedule in current handbook

Stay Connected
Watch & read The Lion’s Roar, our e-newsletter, sent weekly from mid-July through graduation  (Lion’s Roar Archives)
Attend Donuts with Dr. A* (through the year: informal opportunity to meet with our Head of School)
Review school calendars: an at-a-glance calendar as well as detailed calendars; consider adding to your own Google calendar (anytime)
Review/update contact information (early August and anytime it changes)
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram (anytime)
Attend parent-teacher conferences* (K3–Grade 5: October conferences expected for all parents; for all grades, at anytime request to meet with your student’s teacher or principal)

*Watch for details in our school e-newsletter, The Lion’s Roar.

Student Experience Opportunities

Trips

K3–K5: One educational trip each year

Grades 1–5: Two educational trips each year (by grade level)

Grades 6–8:

  • Gr 6 & 7: fall educational trip
  • Gr 8: fall trip to The Wilds (3 days)
  • Crew day in the spring (serve and bond with classmates)

Grades 9–12:

  • By class: occasional short education trips
  • Gr 12: required senior trip to The Wilds (fall)
  • Gr 12: required week-long mission trip  (spring) [costs not included in tuition]

Athletics

K3–Grade 3: N/A

Grades 4–5:

  • Sept: Intramural soccer
  • March: Intramural basketball

Grades 6–8:

  • Fall: Girls volleyball, boys & girls cross country, boys soccer (Aug tryouts)
  • Winter: Boys & girls basketball (Nov tryouts), girls cheerleading (Aug tryouts)
  • Spring: Girls soccer, boys baseball (8th grade only) (Feb tryouts)
  • Practice/games: Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and/or Fridays

Grades 9–12:

  • Fall: Boys & girls volleyball, boys & girls cross country, boys soccer (Aug tryouts)
  • Winter: Boys & girls basketball (Nov tryouts), girls cheerleading (Apr tryouts)
  • Spring: Girls soccer, boys & girls golf, boys baseball (Feb tryouts)
  • Practice/games: Mondays, Tuesday, Thursdays, and/or Fridays

[Travel-related costs, e.g., dinner or rare overnight hotel not included in tuition.]

Arts

Grades 1–12: Piano, band/orchestral instrument lessons [cost not included in tuition]

Grades 4 & 5

  • Choir (Sept start): meets after school
  • Band & Orchestra (Sept start): includes group instrumental classes
  • Grade 5 Christmas Play (Aug auditions)

Grades 6–8

  • Drama: spring play (Dec/Jan auditions)

Clubs & Organizations

K3–K5: N/A

Grades 1–5:

  • The Daily Paws (grade 5): by application

Grades 6–8: 

  • Crew officers: selected
  • Mock Trial/Competitive Speech [$]: grades 7 & 8
  • Robotics Team [$]

Grades 9–12:

  • Class officers: April elections
  • Student body Officers: April elections (elective)
  • Growth Group leaders: April selection (by invitation)
  • Service Squad: April selection (by invitation)
  • Mock Trial: Nov tryouts [$]
  • Speech & Debate: Aug tryouts [$]
  • Robotics Team: Aug tryouts [$]
  • The Academian (BJA yearbook): spring application
  • The Triangle (print/digital high school news): spring application

$=costs not included in tuition

Summer Opportunities

Rising K4–Grade 12: Summer Camps

Rising Grades 9–12: Summer School