Alpine Valley School Podcast
Alpine Valley School is a K-12 school in Wheat Ridge CO founded in 1997. We are a non-profit, independent school that follows the Sudbury Model of education. This podcast features interviews with graduates of our school, plus discussions of our unique philosophy, and ways to get involved.
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From Teacher to Revolutionary - One Journey in Self-Directed Education
10/11/2024
From Teacher to Revolutionary - One Journey in Self-Directed Education
In this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, we continue our Visionaries & Voices series with a powerful speech by Cassi Clausen, founder of The Open School in California. Cassi's journey from a conventional educator to a pioneer in self-directed learning is both inspiring and thought-provoking, offering valuable insights for parents, educators, and anyone interested in reimagining education. This is the second episode in our Visionaries & Voices series, from speeches recorded at the Global Self-Directed Democratic School Conference that happened at Alpine Valley School in July 2024. Cassi shares her personal transformation, sparked by a single philosophy class that led her to question everything she thought she knew about education. Her story is one of courage, vision, and unwavering commitment to creating a learning environment where children truly thrive. You'll hear about the challenges of starting a democratic school, the leap of faith required to innovate during a global pandemic, and the exciting future of accessible, self-directed education. This episode is a must-listen for parents who: Feel frustrated with traditional schooling methods Are curious about alternative education models Want to nurture their child's natural love of learning Are looking for ways to support their child's autonomy and self-direction Are interested in how education can adapt to meet the needs of diverse learners Cassi's passion is contagious, and her insights might just change the way you think about your child's education. Tune in to explore how embracing trust, freedom, and individual growth can revolutionize learning and personal development. Review the show notes for this episode online at:
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How Trust Transforms Learning
09/12/2024
How Trust Transforms Learning
Join us as we dive into the transformative world of self-directed democratic education with Larry Welshon, founder of Alpine Valley School. With 28 years of experience and a background in public education, Larry shares powerful insights on how trust and vulnerability shape a truly nurturing learning environment. In this eye-opening episode, you'll discover: How Alpine Valley School creates a safe space for children to experience and process big emotions The importance of institutional trust and how it empowers students to push their limits safely Real-life examples of students shaping school policies through democratic processes Why allowing vulnerability in education leads to stronger, more confident learners How self-directed learning builds tenacity and problem-solving skills Whether you're curious about alternative education models or seeking ways to foster trust and independence in your own children, this episode offers valuable perspectives for the modern parent. Tune in to explore how embracing trust can revolutionize the way we approach learning and personal growth. Show notes:
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Freedom to Learn Differently
02/28/2024
Freedom to Learn Differently
In episode 59 of the Alpine Valley School podcast, we share an insightful interview with Addison Ault, a former special education teacher who has transitioned to a staff role at Alpine Valley School, a self-directed democratic school located in Denver. Addison shares her profound insights on supporting students with neurodiversity, drawing from her rich background in mainstream education. Through her interview, listeners will explore the importance of empathy, individualized support, and creating inclusive environments that celebrate every student's unique journey. Addison's experiences and perspectives offer valuable lessons on embracing and understanding neurodiversity in alternative educational settings, promising an enlightening listen for educators, parents, and advocates alike. Join us at the Global Self-Directed Democratic School Conference, hosted by Alpine Valley School from July 10th to 14th, 2024, for an inspiring gathering of educators, students, and advocates of self-directed democratic schooling. This unique event offers a platform for networking, participant-driven sessions, and insights into our unique model. For more information and to register, visit our website at . Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative educational movement! Show notes for this episode available at Want More? Episode Addison mentions in the interview: Podcast Episode: featuring Dr. Naomi Fisher Book: - Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education by Dr. Naomi Fisher Article: - Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education
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Parenting Self-Directed Kids
05/11/2022
Parenting Self-Directed Kids
In this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, host Marc Gallivan talks with conscious parenting coach Angela Young about how to set clear boundaries with your children while still supporting their independence. This episode is a great listen if you’re looking for support and advice on how to approach boundary-setting with your self-directed children. You’ll also learn: How to explore your own self-directed path as an adult, the importance of setting clear expectations for your children (hint: you don’t have to be a doormat!), and how to identify your own limiting beliefs that may be getting in the way of your child’s education. Don’t miss this episode! To learn more about Alpine Valley School (and come visit!) check out our . We are hosting an Open House this summer and invite you to join us! Find out more on our webpage: .
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Challenges and Opportunities
03/11/2022
Challenges and Opportunities
Staff Members at self-directed democratic schools like Alpine Valley School are often asked what sorts of unique challenges students experience at places like this. While our students are free from the tests and grades that are imposed on others in mainstream education, they do encounter a totally different set of struggles. Not only that, but parents often have to deal with their own difficulties as well. In this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast staff members Larry, Katy, and Connie talk about what makes life at our school challenging and how they’ve seen students and parents find strength in their struggles. Visit the show notes page here: To learn more about Alpine Valley School (and come visit!) check out our . We are hosting an Open House this summer and invite you to join us! Find out more on our webpage: . Want more? about finding strength in struggle on the AVS Blog. with one of our graduates talking about how he struggled with boredom. about the invitations that boredom offers us. from Sudbury Valley School about boredom and entertainment. Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at
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The Role of Staff
09/12/2021
The Role of Staff
Most people involved in self-directed education know that staff are the adult members of the school community, but what is the actual role staff members play in the day-to-day running of the school? What sorts of tasks do staff members do? And beyond that, why are staff members important to schools like Alpine Valley in the first place? Hear personal accounts from staff members at self-directed democratic schools all over the world on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast! To learn more about Alpine Valley School (and come visit!) check out our . Want more? from Cara DeBusk at the Houston Sudbury School about her “typical day” compilation of staff members discussing their role in the school of a “typical day” at Alpine Valley School about the process of starting a Sudbury School Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at
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School Wounds
04/09/2021
School Wounds
What are school wounds? How do they develop, and who do they affect? This is a topic we explore on episode 55 of the Alpine Valley School podcast, along with Akilah S. Richards, a podcaster, author, and self-directed parent. Want more? about the Fare of the Free Child podcast (and subscribe!) Akilah S Richard’s TED Talk of our podcast all about competition and school wounding. from parents who share their experiences after leaving the public school system. Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at
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Good Students & Bad Students
02/15/2021
Good Students & Bad Students
In mainstream education, parents and teachers are continually breaking down children into two separate groups: good students and bad students. In this episode, we hear from Tay Arrow and Marc Gallivan, two Sudbury School graduates who self-identified as bad and good students, respectively. Tay and Marc share their own personal journeys through the school system and how they both ultimately arrived at self-directed education, and what they found when they did. View the for more details about this episode. To learn more about Alpine Valley School (and come visit!) check out our . Want more? Listen to a podcast episode all about self-directed education and learning disabilities: Hear from another Alpine Valley School graduate who struggled in mainstream education: Listen to a recording from the original Sudbury Valley School about learning disabilities in schools: You can get in touch with the show at:
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Back to School
08/13/2020
Back to School
It’s been a while, but is still here! In this episode Marc provides an update about what life at our school is going to look like moving forward, as well as the future of this podcast. He’ll also share some of the most popular episodes so you can catch up with all of our previous episodes, and maybe find your new favorite! To learn about Alpine Valley School’s plans for reopening, please check out To listen to favorite episodes, check out the links here: Parent Panels: You can get in touch with the show at:
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Introducing: Lockdown Learning
04/28/2020
Introducing: Lockdown Learning
Introducing a new podcast from Alpine Valley School - Lockdown Learning As COVID-19 swept the globe from east to west this year, so has home education. Millions of children woke up one morning to find their schools closed and their new teachers are their parents. Learning at home can be a wonderfully liberating and connecting experience for families that choose it but it can also be daunting and exhausting even at the best of times. And let’s face it – this is not the best of times. No one planned for this. And whereas Home Education is usually done more out of the home than in it as families meeting up with others to socialize, play and learn together all that’s off the table right now. grew from a group of home educators and as passionate advocates for alternative education we’ve teamed up with our friends at in Denver, Colorado to bring you a special podcast season to help you not just survive learning in lockdown but get the most out of this out of school experience. Listen to the first episode now and, to get future episodes delivered right to you, subscribe now at the or on whatever program you use to listen to podcasts. Contact the show at:
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Staying Home, Together
04/10/2020
Staying Home, Together
Like many schools around the world, Alpine Valley School is currently closed. Without a physical space where we can congregate, our self-directed learning community is figuring out how to come together virtually. In this episode we talk about how our school is handling the current situation and hear advice from AVS graduates on handling boredom - something they practiced with often as students. Visit our website:
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Parent Interview: The Shannon’s
03/09/2020
Parent Interview: The Shannon’s
In this episode, we sit down with the parents of three currently enrolled students. The Shannon family shares what brought them to Alpine Valley School, and what they’ve noticed after being involved for a few years. You might be surprised by what the parents themselves have learned along the way! Want more? Listen to more parent interviews on our panel episodes: & Read a blog post from a current parent: Hear from other current parents at our sister school Read more blog posts by other current parents at with one of our current students. Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on
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Favorite Stories From Around the USA
02/24/2020
Favorite Stories From Around the USA
Episode 50: Favorite Stories From Around the USA To celebrate the milestone of our 50th episode, the Alpine Valley School podcast collected favorite stories from Sudbury Schools all over the USA. These stories - funny, insightful, and thought-provoking - provide an inside look at self-directed learning environments across the country. Want more? Learn more about the schools that shared stories on this episode: - Harrisburg, PA - Salt Lake City, UT - Miami, FL - Pittsburgh, PA Read about with Sudbury schooling Read an excerpt from Sudbury Valley School’s book “”. about a typical day. Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on
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Unschooling
01/27/2020
Unschooling
Episode 49: Unschooling Sudbury schools and have always had quite a bit of overlap in their philosophies, but how do unschooled students manage the transition to a self-directed school environment with a lot more structure, particularly in the ? In this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, we interview Houston Sudbury School founder Cara DeBusk on her journey as an unschooling parent into the founder of a Sudbury school. Want more? Learn more about the Join Alpine Valley School for an upcoming Listen to our episode on . Listen to more about Unschooling and Sudbury from Tallgrass Sudbury School. Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on
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Elections
01/13/2020
Elections
Episode 48: Elections Important decisions at our school are made, not by a central authority figure, but by the democratic process of voting. All students and staff at the school cast their vote on critical issues including the election of key School Meeting officials, and the hiring of the staff members themselves. In this episode we dive deep into the elections process at school - how do elections work, why do we do them, and what do students get out of participating in this process? Find out on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast. Want more? Learn more about the role of on another podcast episode. Hear from staff members at other Sudbury schools on our series. at one of our sister schools, Hudson Valley Sudbury School. Read a blog post from Tallgrass Sudbury School. Hear more about the . Support Alpine Valley School by using ! Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on .
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Chores
12/23/2019
Chores
Episode 47: Chores Everyone at Alpine Valley School (students and staff alike) participate in doing cleaning chores twice a week. On this episode, we follow a Chore-Checker (the student responsible for making sure chores are done, and to the appropriate standard) on their rounds and share our rationale behind why we have chores in the first place. Believe it or not, there are a lot of developmental advantages to doing chores, beyond the obvious benefits of having a clean place to play every day. (including a transcript) Want more? Read more about chore-related successes in a blog post: Read a about the importance of kids tackling chores. Listen to another podcast episode featuring our graduate Kelsey: . Listen to a group of graduates talk about at school. Watch a video featuring graduates of one of our sister schools talking about after graduation. Support Alpine Valley School by using ! Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on .
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Founding Stories: Arts & Ideas
12/09/2019
Founding Stories: Arts & Ideas
Episode 46: Founding Stories - Arts & Ideas Sudbury School This is the third part of our special series called Founding Stories, in which we interview founders of other self-directed democratic schools around the world. On this episode, we are transported to downtown Baltimore, Maryland, to the . Founder Caroline Chavasse takes us through the early days of their school which includes a documentary film, a play group, and even a little sprinkle of divine intervention. Want more? Find out more about Listen to part two of our founding stories series: Hear about how , from Larry Welshon so that you never miss an episode! on Colorado Gives Day! Watch the documentary mentioned in this episode: Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on
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Founding Stories: The Open School
11/25/2019
Founding Stories: The Open School
Episode 45: Founding Stories - The Open School This is the second part of our special series called Founding Stories, in which we interview founders of other self-directed democratic schools around the world. This episode takes us to sunny California to the two (yes, two) campuses of . Hear how founder Cassi Clausen’s Master’s Degree in Education led her to the self-directed democratic schooling model. You’ll also learn about the pioneering days of The Open School OC - bet you can’t guess where they held their first day of school! Want more? Find out more about Listen to part one of our Founding Stories Series: Hear about how , from Larry Welshon so that you never miss an episode! on Colorado Gives Day! from The Open School’s amazing blog. Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on .
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Founding Stories: EKSS
11/11/2019
Founding Stories: EKSS
Episode 44: Founding Stories - East Kent Sudbury School This is the first in our series of special episodes called Founding Stories, in which we interview founders of other self-directed democratic schools around the world. On this episode, we chat with Kezia Cantwell-Wright from in Kent, England. Kezia shares her own family’s personal journey to alternative education, what it took to get their school off the ground, and her advice for starting an alternative school - which may surprise you! Want more? Find out more about Listen to another interview with Hear about how , from Larry Welshon so that you never miss an episode! about deciding what you want to be when you grow up (or not). Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on .
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Hard Lessons
10/27/2019
Hard Lessons
Episode 43: Hard Lessons The notion that self-directed schools, like Alpine Valley School, involve students only pursuing the subjects they find interesting is partially true, but it’s not the whole story. There are other lessons, too - harder ones. That’s the subject of episode 43 of our show. Former AVS staff member Bruce Smith (currently a staff member at ) guides listeners through the unsought learning that happens at our school, which is in many cases just as valuable (if not more) than the passions that our students pursue. Want more? Read the original blog post that inspired this talk: Help by making a donation! Find out more about Bruce’s current school: . from Bruce Smith. Listen to by the students, for the students. and come see our model first-hand. Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on .
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I Can Do What I Want
10/07/2019
I Can Do What I Want
Episode 42: I Can Do What I Want Students at self-directed democratic schools like Alpine Valley School and others, have significant freedom. In many ways they can “do what they want” all day long. However, that freedom must be balanced with responsibility - a concept that founder and staff member Larry Welshon discusses in this engaging talk. This speech was originally given at a sister school, in Montana, as part of their recent fundraising efforts, and it covers a lot of ground. Find out by what age most kids have dropped out of school, how Larry first discovered the alternative schooling movement, and more on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast. Want more? Support our friends at School in Montana. Watch the Read a related blog post: Watch a video interview with Sudbury Valley School co-founder (who is mentioned in Larry’s talk) talk about how freedom shaped her life as a young person. Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on .
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Starting a School
09/23/2019
Starting a School
Episode 41: Starting a School “How do I start a self-directed democratic school in my area?” On this episode, staff and founder Larry Welshon lends his twenty-plus years of experience to tackling this question and provides concrete guidance for individuals who are looking to begin the founding journey. Want more? and begin your founding journey with our help and support. about the founding of a Self-Directed Democratic School from Sudbury Valley School Look over the (used by many founding groups) Check out this blog post from Alternatives To School: Watch a video from Circle School staff member & founder Help the diverse Alpine Valley School community continue to thrive by ! Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at This episode is also available in video format on . Read a transcript of the episode and find out more on the page.
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Favorite Stories
09/09/2019
Favorite Stories
Episode 40: Favorite Stories Funny, insightful, and unexpected, this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast features our graduate’s favorite stories. Hear about surprising adventures to the mall, the Asteroid Game, becoming , and much more as our alumni take a trip down memory lane. Want more? Watch a video featuring an alumni panel at Alpine Valley School: Check out this documentary all about self-directed education: with alumni from other schools about going to college. Listen to another podcast focused on self-directed education: Read a blog post from Sudbury Valley School about (or, more accurately, its absence) at Sudbury Schools. This episode is also available in video format on Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at Support Alpine Valley School when you shop online by using !
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Give Kids Real Jobs
08/26/2019
Give Kids Real Jobs
Just like the grown ups who love them, children are hungry for meaningful work. They want to take on jobs that have real meaning and make a significant contribution. Learn how self-directed democratic education, like we practice at Alpine Valley School in Colorado, allows all students to try on elected positions with actual responsibility. Hear how one graduate went from banging erasers together to running the most important meeting in the school - and more - on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast. Check out the page for more information. This episode is also available in video format on Want more? Support Alpine Valley School by using when you shop online! Check out our for details on all upcoming events. Read the original blog post from this episode: Send in a question or comment for our upcoming Q&A episode: Listen to another “real life” episode: . Watch a video about at Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts. Get in touch with the show! Send us an email or a voice memo to: We’ll be back again soon with more stories of real learning for real life. Alpine Valley School Wheat Ridge, CO USA
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Learning Math
07/29/2019
Learning Math
Episode 38: Learning Math In this final episode of our podcast series, our guest Bruce Smith talks about how students at self-directed democratic schools learn math. Bruce has decades of experience as a staff member in self-directed education, and has worked at several different schools around the US. While at Alpine Valley School, he was the resident math teacher and he outlines how the language of numbers shows up in student’s daily lives and how classes, when they happen, are structured. You can listen to the rest of the Core Learning series . Full show notes page: Also available on . Want more? for a chance to be featured on the show and to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of “”! with Bruce Smith on our show Listen to the rest of the (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic) with students and staff at another democratic school all about how they learn math from a sister school of ours in upstate New York Get in touch with the show! Send us an email (or a voice memo!) at: Don’t miss a single episode! to make sure you always get the latest and greatest self-directed educational resources delivered right to your inbox!
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Going To Work
07/16/2019
Going To Work
What sorts of careers do the students of self-directed democratic education have? How do they stand out in a competitive job market without grades or transcripts? These are the questions we tackle on episode 37 of the Alpine Valley School podcast. With the help of a panel of Alpine Valley School graduates, host Marc Gallivan explores the career options available to Sudbury school students as well as the outstanding contributions our graduates make once they enter the workforce. Also available on . Want more? Read more about the lives of alumni (the original) with a group of Alpine Valley School graduates and parents Hear more answered by a panel of AVS graduates Read a blog post about how our graduates go out into the workforce: Watch a about how happiness makes everything in our work lives better Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: Don’t miss a single episode! to make sure you always get the latest and greatest self-directed educational resources delivered right to your inbox!
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Learning to Write
06/29/2019
Learning to Write
We’re continuing our “core skills” series (which we started with ) by discussing how students at a self-directed democratic school learn the essential skill of writing. We’re joined on this episode by AVS graduates Jesse and Vanessa who talk about how the extensive communication they engaged in at school translated into their adult lives as interesting communication careers. We all know written communication is foundational, and you can find out how our students engage with, and find their passion for, the written word on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast! Also available on . Want more? Hear and share more of their personal journeys on their individual podcast episodes. about the 3 R’s (reading, writing, arithmetic) in Sudbury Schooling. about how the skills learned at self-directed democratic schools translate into real-world job experience. Hear from another set of Alpine Valley School graduates about at our school. Read an article about how students at Sudbury schools go on to college. Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at:
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Learning to Read
05/02/2019
Learning to Read
Many find it hard to believe, but children at self-directed democratic schools do learn how to read, largely without any adult intervention. On this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast we hear from two graduates who learned this essential skill - from video games. Listen now and hear how these articulate adults address the all-important subject of learning to read!
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If Our Daughter Died Tomorrow, Would We Be Happy With How She Had Lived?
03/11/2019
If Our Daughter Died Tomorrow, Would We Be Happy With How She Had Lived?
At a recent event at our sister school (l in New York), Wendi Piper told her story about how self-directed democratic education has changed her family’s life. She started by asking the bold question, “If our daughter died tomorrow, would we be happy with how she had lived?” We share her answer, along with the full story of her family’s journey, on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast. Also available on . Want more? this talk came from Watch more videos by Read a blog post about featuring a bunch of current Alpine Valley School students about the ways in which we go wrong trying to educate children with special needs Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at:
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Parent Panel - The Dads
03/01/2019
Parent Panel - The Dads
What is it like to parent a child while they are enrolled at an alternative school as free as Alpine Valley School? What struggles do dads experience as their child grows up in this environment, taking responsibility for their own lives? On this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast we find out firsthand from three dads whose children were enrolled at our school. They open up about their journey to Alpine Valley School as well as the struggles and triumphs they have experienced along the way. It’s all about fatherhood on episode 33 of the Alpine Valley School Podcast! Also available on . Want more? by a father whose child is enrolled at one of our sister schools entitled “I’m Not Afraid Anymore” , this time by Moms of Alpine Valley School students! Watch a video by one of our parents entitled “” thanking her children for all the gifts. Listen to a one-on-one interview with . Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at:
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