26 May 2022
Coming Up
View the 2021-22 Year-at-a-Glance Calendar here.
View our Parent Google Calendar here.
Family Corner
MOAK Volunteer Celebration
Many thanks to our amazing group of parent and caregiver volunteers who made up our Minds of All Kinds subcommittees and shared their stories at the event this year! You made this year's powerful virtual event possible and did it with such positivity and energy. Thank you for helping us create bright futures and a special thank you to Donna Grubka for hosting our celebration lunch.
(Not all members and speakers are pictured in this photo) 
Natalie Awalt
Erin Barr
Nicole Beauvais
Grace Dunkley
Daphne Edwards
Mike Faeth
Jackie Fallenstein
Sarah Frisk
Donna Grubka
Kathy Hoene
Lea Ichimura
Danyel Johnson
Jen Johnson
Julie Jorgensen
Delphine Kahler
Susan Larson
Jen Michaud
Ben MIlligan
Kevin Milligan
Abdi Mohamed
Dr. Wyayn Rasmussen
Jonah Siegel
Kisa Sims
Melissa Sirek
Sherryln Thompson
Dan Ward
Gray Ward
Emily Ward
Lisa Villalta
Aki Yoshino
Last Day of School Activities
Come meet Ms. Kim Strandemo, our new school principal, as we celebrate the last day of school with our annual All-School Picnic. All families are invited to join us outside, starting at 11:00 am, for the picnic! Please pack a lunch for your student and bring a blanket and/or lawn chairs to sit on.

Students will be dismissed starting at 11:30. If you are attending the picnic, please feel free to stay until noon.

School attendance on Friday, June 3rd is optional for high school students.

Please Note: All students must be picked up by 12pm noon. Owls' Nest will not be provided after school this day.
Class of 2022 Ceremony of Completion
The Ceremony of Completion, our graduation ceremony, will feature the Class of 2022 sharing the highlights of their school experience, what they're most looking forward to, and advice they have for younger students, with the people who have helped them along the way. We will also hear remarks from our Executive Director Dr. Wyayn Rasmussen, Board Chair John Higgins, and Principal Kim Strandemo.

After the ceremony, we will host a reception for our graduates and guests. There will be time to socialize, take pictures, and enjoy live piano music performed by an AOWL alumnus.

There will be two options for ceremony attendance: virtual or in-person. RSVP for the event at: www.aowl.org/cc  both for in person and for virtual attendees or click the button below. All in person attendees are requested to RSVP.

The Ceremony of Completion is on Thursday, June 2nd, 2022. Doors open at 6:00pm and the ceremony starts at 6:30 pm. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the Ceremony of Completion Committee at [email protected].
Annual Parent Survey
The Annual Parent Survey was sent out via SurveyMonkey on Tuesday, May 17. If you did not receive it, please check your Spam folder. We appreciate those who have completed the survey. For those parents who haven't, please do so prior to Monday, May 30. We value your participation and input!
New Building, New Name
Here is a reminder for everyone in our community that we'll be on our new campus next year! Stay tuned to see our new name and brand this June and get ready to be wowed by our new facilities in August.
Lost and Found Items
All items in our lost and found are displayed by the front desk. Please take a look for any missing or forgotten items. After the last day of school, any unclaimed items will be donated.
Update School Hours
For the 2022-2023 school our new school hours are from 8:15 AM till 3:10 PM
2022 - 2023 School Year Calendar at a Glance
The 2022-2023 School Year Calendar at a Glance has been posted to the Parents' Page on our Website.
Beyond the Bell
Summer Camp
  • Registration for Bridge the Gap Summer Camp 2022 Session 3 remains open. Check out these full day camps at aowl.org/summer
  • Registration confirmations, Bridge the Gap Handbook and Start of Summer Forms will be sent out to each registered family no later than Friday, May 27, 2022.
  • If you have any questions, or wish to register after May 20th, please contact Amber Trapp

Owl's Nest Before and After-School Care
  • Owl's Nest will be available both before and after Summer programing.
  • Summer 2022 hours are 8 am- 9 am and 3 pm - 4:30 pm.
  • Please confirm your needs for Owl's Nest by filling out the following Google Form

Activity Days
  • There are no remaining Activity Days this school year.

Enrichment Program Questions
  • All questions about registration for Clubs, Owls' Nest and Summer Camp should be sent to [email protected].

For more Enrichment information, see the Beyond the Bell Page 
COVID-19 Update
Free COVID-19 tests available to order:

  • Every home in Minnesota is eligible to order two rapid at-home COVID-19 test kits (four tests total) for free, while supplies last. To order your test kits, please visit the MN COVID-19 Response website.
  • You can also order two free tests per household from the Federal government at COVID.gov/tests

If you have any questions, please contact Allison Barosko at [email protected]. Thank you!
Wyayn's Words
Every year graduation seems to come so fast! Maybe because that particular milestone is so significant.

The Minnesota Department of Education estimates that students on the spectrum graduate from high school at a rate 20% lower than other students. That’s a huge number. Think of the results of not graduating from high school: your job choices are limited, which means your income is limited, which means your independence is limited. While a high school degree isn’t the ultimate marker of success, it’s an important indicator of future potential. It’s like that first domino —it can set off a whole series of events.

That’s one reason we’re so thrilled each time a student graduates. Many of our students started school in a less-than-ideal situation. The journey was rough, tortuous even. And coming to this school isn’t a magic wand. It takes work, dedication, and perseverance. Our teachers, behavior therapists and all school staff partner with students (and with their families) every step of the way, but make no mistake. The progress is the students’.

Graduation is only one step of a lifelong journey. It is an important one that lays the foundation for later success. That’s why we’re so excited to share that celebration with each of our graduates and their families. It’s the beginning of their brighter futures..
View from the Nest
Track and Field Days
Contacts
PTO Co-chairs

Principal
Executive Director