|
|
|
| Quick Links |
To read the latest edition of the VCS Voice newsletter for students and families, click here. |
|
Calendar of Events
| |
Veterans Day
November 11
VCS Board Meeting
November 17
Thansgiving Break
No School
November 23-25
|
|
Race to the Top News
| |
The Transformation Team last met on Friday, October 21. Each area subgroup gave updates on their current progress. The Ohio Teacher Evaluation Model was discussed.
A few team members recently visited with the Ohio University Education Department. VCS and Ohio University are working on developing a pre-service training program to train student teachers on how to teach in a virtual environment.
The November VCS Professional Development will cover the Value Added tool and the next Transformation Team meeting will be held Friday, November 18.
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
|
Election days are stressful for school districts with levies on the ballot. Many schools asked taxpayers for more money on Tuesday, but Ohio voters approved only about a quarter of tax issues for new operating funds. Many districts are hurting and have to make tough decisions regarding cuts. This is a great time to reach out to those districts and let them know how they can join the growing list of school districts and ESCs partnering with VCS Ohio. School districts can save money by working with VCS to offer online classes, such as Spanish IIII, African-American History, Web 2.0 and many more. They can also offer online credit recovery and summer school classes! Please spread the word about VCS Ohio and the opportunities available through a potential partnership. It's a winning solution all the way around!
Sincerely,
Mr. Rick Teeters
Director of Special Programs
|
| Toolkit fliers updated |
Last spring, we developed a marketing toolkit--a collection of
fliers designed to promote VCS Ohio's programs to school districts. The contents include information about Branching, credit recovery, summer school and more. We recently made some updates to the fliers. Click here to download the most recent version. If you would like to request printed copies, contact Jill Workman. We will continue to update the toolkit as needed to keep the content current.
Back to the top
|
| VCS bad weather procedures |
With the winter months approaching, it's a good idea to start planning for snow and ice and other potential bad weather. Being an online school, VCS does not have snow days. But in some instances, there may be a few days that the VCS office is closed and certain departments, such as the Help Desk, may not be available. In such cases, full-time students will still be responsible for logging into their classes and logging their hours.
If students experience bad weather in their area that prohibits them from completing their coursework, please have them contact the attendance department at (866)-501-9473 ext. 2163.
Back to the top
|
|
|
|
| Get to know your ESC partners! |
How do you utilize VCS and our services? Many of the districts served by the Knox ESC use VCS courses to provide credit recovery, credit flexibility, and credit enhancement for individual students. The Knox ESC also operates the Knox Learning Center that includes the Knox Virtual Academy. Students who attend the Virtual Academy are referrals from local districts. All their coursework is done online through VCS.
What has been the most popular VCS program or course within your schools? Branching is very popular with Knox area school leaders. School administrators appreciate the versatility that branching offers. Students remain enrolled in their home school but are able to move freely among courses offered by the local district and VCS. Both local and VCS credits help students earn their diplomas from their local high school.
Where do you see the future of our partnership going? The Knox ESC is encouraging school leaders to broaden the use of VCS as an alternative to hiring full-time local teachers. This approach typically is more cost effective for the school district, provides greater scheduling flexibility for school leaders, and allows students to customize their courses to meet their individual learning preferences. Any additional comments? The Knox ESC is pleased to count VCS as a partner in the continuous improvement of teaching and learning in the Knox County area. The Knox County ESC serves Clear Fork Valley, Centerburg, Danville, East Knox, Fredericktown and Mount Vernon schools.
|
|
VCS students can take college classes at no cost! Apply by Dec. 2 for the upcoming semester.
| |
 Did you know full-time VCS Ohio students can earn up to two years of college credit FREE and get high school credit at the same time? It's true! VCS Ohio is the only online school to offer dual credit courses through Kent State University. Students should apply by Dec. 2 to start taking classes in January (KSU's spring semester). Click here for a brochure featuring the latest course offerings. Topics offered this semester include, The Greek Achievement, Psychology of Adjustment, Issues in Law and Society, Science of Human Nutrition, and many more! There are more than 30 classes offered. If students are interested in this program, please contact Jessica Yeager, guidance counselor, for more details. Applicants must have taken the ACT or SAT. Dual credit is also offered through our Branching program at a very reasonable rate of $185 per credit hour.
Back to the top
|
|
STUDENT ADVISER SPOTLIGHT: RacQuelle Major
|
What is your favorite thing about VCS? Being able to engage with and meet students, although this is an online school. The staff welcomed me with open arms. Everyone here has a desire to make a difference in the lives of students.
What has been your most rewarding experience at VCS? Being able meet with students and tutoring them on an area they may struggle in. When they finally 'get it', that brings me great joy.
Fun Facts
When I am not working... I am COOKING!!! I am an aspiring chef (and school principal). I love to cook southern soul food classics such as smothered chicken, greens, yams, and pound cake.
If I won the lottery I would... Open up my own soup kitchen for the poor. I would serve the BEST Soul food!! :)
The best vacation I ever had was... New York City. Although I am a country girl at heart, I love the sites of the city!
If I could travel anywhere, I would go to... Africa. I would love to go on a safari.
I am most proud of... Graduating college with honors and recently being accepted into OSU to continue my PhD studies.
The person I admire the most is... My late parents. They taught me that persistence pays off.
|
| STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: Tommy Rutkus |
 Name: Tommy Rutkus
From: Leavittsburg
Grade: 5
Tommy is currently ranked No. 1 in Ohio in the United States Tennis Association's 10-and-under rankings. His record is 40-10 in matches played and has won 18 championships.
Tommy was also recently featured in the Tribune Chronicle. Click here to read the article.
What is your favorite thing about VCS? I love everything! All the teachers and all the subjects.
What is your favorite subject? Math and English. I like numbers and I like to read.
What do you like to do in your free time? Play and watch tennis on TV. I also like to play video games.
What do you want to be when you grow up? A professional tennis player! If not, then a chiropractor.
What professional tennis player do you most admire? Rafael Nadal. We both are right-handed but play left-handed.
Do you have any siblings? I have two older brothers and an older sister.
What is your favorite movie? Transformers, Avatar, Sherlock Holmes and Twilight.
What is your favorite book? Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief.
What is your favorite food? Crab legs, steak and pasta.
What made you choose VCS versus a traditional school? I came to VCS in the first grade because I kept getting sick all the time. Now, I plan to stay with VCS until graduation.
Any advice you would like to share with your fellow students? Do all of your school work and finish on time.
What about advice to those kids who want to excel in a sport, like you? Watch the sport you want to play and learn from it.
|
| TEACHER SPOTLIGHT: Mrs. West-Wilson |
 Mrs. West-Wilson teaches 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies
What is your favorite thing about VCS? My favorite thing about VCS is that I have the opportunity to reach students all over the state of Ohio that I never would have met! I also get to work with my dad!
What do you want students to accomplish while they attend VCS? I would like for my students to learn how to be productive citizens.
What advice do you want to pass on to students? Stay with your studies. If you get behind, don't give up. I've taken some online courses and I understand what it's like to get behind. Just don't give up.
Favorites
Food: Pasta or Chicken
Book: The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald
Movie: Breakfast at Tiffany's
TV Show: Hmm, right now it is Modern Family. But I also love reruns of the Golden Girls.
Hobby/Interest: Zumba and photography, those are my two favorite things to do.
Season: Fall, the leaves are so pretty in the Southern Ohio hills.
Vacation Destination: Key West, Florida
Childhood Memory: My first trip to Walt Disney World with my mom and dad. I was so excited to meet Minnie and Pluto!
Quote: "Don't let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." - Babe Ruth
|
|
Watch for the VCS Partner Post to arrive in your e-mail the second Thursday of each month. If you have any content ideas, send them to Lori Berkheimer or Jill Workman.
Go Wolves!
|
|
|
|
|
