Donate to Keep Aveson School's Traditions Alive

In the early morning hours of January 8th, 2025, the Eaton Fire in Altadena consumed Aveson School of Leaders along with thousands of other homes and structures. Our school community is devastated by the loss of our campus that was easy to refer to as magical. We are wholeheartedly devoted to carrying on and ensuring that our students receive just as enriching of an experience as students have in the past.

"Go With All Your Heart" is the message the 5th grade class of 2021 chose to leave behind as part of their legacy at Aveson. Each morning, students arrived at the carline to this motto. Walking to class and around campus, students were encouraged by the colorful murals bestowing the wisdom passed down by decades of 5th grade classes. This is one of many traditions that make our school a warm place of belonging and community care.

Now the carline mural is one of the last remnants of our beloved campus. But our school community is committed to keeping our traditions alive, even as we are strained by the urgency to find a new site and struggle to help meet the basic needs of over 100 families who lost homes or cannot return home for the foreseeable future.

Our current class of 5th grade students have faced a difficult road in their early school years. They were in kindergarten when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, resulting in nearly a year and a half of distance learning, followed by another year of segregated learning due to social distancing. These years were formative and challenging for children their age, and the school has worked hard to rebuild a sense of normalcy and connection.

For years, our 5th graders have been looking forward to their rite-of-passage trip to Catalina Island, a tradition that has been a cornerstone of the school since its inception. This trip is not just a celebration—it’s a shared experience that fosters teamwork, builds lasting memories, and gives students a sense of accomplishment as they prepare to graduate.

Historically, the school has followed a “no child left behind” policy, subsidizing or covering the cost of the trip for families facing economic hardship. This year, however, the fire and its aftermath have placed the school in such a precarious position that the tradition is at risk of exclusion for the first time. Without additional support, students may not be able to attend this important milestone.

Our school is doing all it can to raise funds, but our resources are stretched thin as we fight to find a new home for the school community.

The 5th grade murals of years gone by will be greatly missed. But we will soon find new walls to continue the tradition. With your generous support, our 5th graders' rite-of-passage trip will ensure they have plenty of wisdom to pass down through the generations, by mural and beyond.

*Funds raised will be utilized to send our 5th grade class on their rite-of-passage trip to Catalina Island, CA. This fundraiser is being facilitated by parents of 5th grade students at Aveson School of Leaders in Altadena, CA. Funds will go directly to our school bank account.

Photo credit: Amanda Anatole