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Spring Semester Events

Overview and general considerations for Spring 2025 Family Events

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Spring 2025 Event Overview

While remaining flexible to the circumstances of the times, we anticipate offering the following events and times in which families can participate in their student’s semester at Alzar School. Please note that all events are optional and that students will be well entertained and taken care of if you are not able to attend the following events. For many of the events, we will also offer virtual options to tune into the activities. A brief description of the events are:

Opening Day – OPTIONAL

Date: January 25th, 2025
Time: 1, 2-hour Orientation Session between 10am-3pm
Location: Springhill Suites Atlanta Airport

Note: For any families arriving early, we will host a casual gathering at Paper Plane the night before Opening Day (January 24). This event will provide families a chance to meet one another and several school staff in a casual setting. If you wish, come join us anytime from 6:30-8pm. Food and drinks are available to order, but not provided.  Please rsvp for this dinner to [email protected] so we know whether to expect you.   

Virtual Student/Family/Teacher Conferences – RECOMMENDED

Date: March 31, 2025
Time: varies; 3, 15-min conferences w/ student and teacher
Location: Virtual/GoogleMeets

Graduation – RECOMMENDED

Date: May 23rd, 2025
Time: 12pm-8pm
Location: Idaho Campus; Cascade, Idaho

Spring Semester Events FAQ's

Click on the events below for details. Event registration forms will be available shortly.

Topics

Spring 2025 Event Details

ITINERARY FOR SPRING 2025 OPENING DAY

Friday, January 24th – OPTIONAL, Spring 2025 Pre-Opening Day Dinner

  • Join Alzar Staff and other Semester 26 parents for a casual dinner and meet-and-greet. 
  • Location: TBD (close to ATL Airport)
  • Time: Anytime between 6:30-8pm

Saturday, January 25th – OFFICIAL Opening Day, Atlanta, GA

  • 1, 2-hour Orientation time block – 10am-2:30pm
    • We will schedule orientation time blocks according to arrival. Families arriving on the 24th or before are encouraged to select earlier orientation time blocks.
  • Location:
    • SpringHill Suites by Marriott Atlanta Airport Gateway; 2091 Convention Center Concourse, College Park, GA 30337.

Please complete the Spring 2025 Start of Semester Survey.

ITINERARY FOR SPRING 2025 VIRTUAL CONFERENCES

Wednesday, April 2nd – RECOMMENDED, Spring 2025 Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences

  • Student-led conferences with Alzar mentor and two other teachers.
  • Location: Virtual – GoogleMeets or phone
  • Time: Varies; 3, 15-min conferences with student and teacher

Conference schedules are determined by students and mentors and will be sent out in advance of meetings.

ITINERARY FOR SPRING 2025 GRADUATION

Thursday, May 22th – OPTIONAL, Spring 2025 Family Social Hour

  • Social Hour – 4pm-6pm
    • Join the Alzar community and other Semester 26 parents for an on-campus social hour from 4-6pm.

Friday, May 23rd – RECOMMENDED Graduation Day

  • Challenge by Choice Mini- Expedition – 12pm-2:30pm
    • Choose from 3 on-campus adventure options:
      • Southern Reach excursion – a moderate 3.5 mile hike to the newly acquired Southern Reach property.
      • Perimeter Trail loop – an easy 1.5 mile hike around Alzar’s main campus loop.
      • Barn tour – explore Alzar’s expedition course areas from the comfort of the barn with maps and fun activities.
  • Social Hour on the Campus Green – 2:30pm-3:30pm
    • End your walk or meet up on the Campus Green for light refreshments alongside the entire student body and staff community.
  • Graduation Ceremony – 3:30pm
    • Our public graduation ceremony will commence at 3:30pm.
  • Graduation Dinner – 6:00-7:00pm
    • Following our graduation ceremony, we will gather for an outdoor dinner at approximately 6:00pm. All are welcome to join us for this community event.
  • Alumni Family Conversation – 7:30-8:00pm
    • A conversation with school leadership and new alumni families. We will have a short presentation on engagement after your student’s semester at Alzar School and tips and tricks on how to best support them back home.
  • Student Closing Ceremony – 8:00pm-late
    • Following dinner, students will transition to a private ceremony during which they have the opportunity to say goodbyes to the faculty and staff. Students are encouraged, and will then most likely wish, to spend the night on campus.

Saturday, May 24th – OPTIONAL Pick-up Day

  • Parent Pick-Up Window – 8:00-10:00am
    • If you plan on picking up your student at Campus, please do so between 8-10am.

Registration for Graduation coming soon.

While we are so excited to host you on our campus and elsewhere, we are also sensitive to the inherent risk of gathering students and families from across the country.

  • Please do not travel to campus if you are exhibiting symptoms of an illness or have been in close contact with someone who has been ill.
  • During travel, we want to urge all family members to exercise extra caution while passing through public spaces, airports, on planes, etc. Practicing regular, proper personal hygiene is important and helps mitigate the risk of illness in our community.

WHILE ON CAMPUS — 

  • Families may be asked to refrain from entering or be limited to time spent in student housing. This is to respect the privacy of yurt occupants and minimize health risks.

Before and during the semester, you are welcome to purchase anything from the Alzar School store. Simply click here and check out the latest items!

Accommodations & Recreation

Cascade, Idaho

The Alzar School campus is situated alongside the North Fork of the Payette River in Cascade, ID. Cascade is a small town with lots of history.  The town’s largest industry was the Boise Cascade Sawmill which closed in 2001. The community now serves as a popular tourist destination with an influx of river runners throughout the summer and skiers in the winter!  To learn more about the town of Cascade, visit http://www.cascade.id.us/ or http://www.cascadechamber.com/.

If you would like to stay in Cascade and be close to the Alzar School campus (within a 5min drive), here are some local lodging options.

  • The Nob0 Hotel – Very recently remodeled and located in downtown Cascade on Main Street, the hotel offers some of the nicest accommodations in town.
  • Palooza Basecamp – Newly remodeled, the Palooza Basecamp is located in downtown Casdacde above the local eatery.
  • Lake Cascade Inn – Recently remodeled, small boutique hotel toward the north end of town.
  • For more options check out TripAdvisor Cascade

McCall, Idaho

A beautiful 28-mile drive north of Cascade, McCall is one of Idaho’s spectacular alpine lake towns.  Situated on the southern end of Payette Lake, McCall is home to roughly 5,000 people. For more information on the City of McCall, visit www.mccall.id.us/.  If you choose to stay in McCall, here are a few lodging ideas.

  • Shore Lodge – Beautiful lodge located in downtown McCall on Payette Lake. Very nice rooms that open to the beachfront with an easy walk to the center of town. Shore Lodge is home to two of the nicer restaurants in McCall.

AirBnB & VRBO 

Both AirBnB and VRBO offer lots of options for vacation rentals in the McCall and Cascade area.

Have questions? Need recommendations?

Please contact Director of Advancement, Anita Cussler ([email protected])