Student/Parent Handbook. and. Course Description Booklet

Transcription

1 Where the World is Your Classroom Student/Parent Handbook and Course Description Booklet

2 Table of Contents Welcome Letter... 3 Contact Information... 4 Is Online Learning Right For Me? Vision And Mission Statements... 7 School Overview... 7 Advantages Of Attending St. Vrain Online Global Academy... 7 Enrolling In St. Vrain Online Global Academy... 8 School Calendar Academic Integrity Athletic Participation Attendance Policy Course Withdrawal Policy Counselor/Instructor Support Curriculum/Teachers Extracurricular/Co-curricular Activities Code Of Conduct And Discipline Full-Time Students Cost And Fees High School Diploma/Graduation Orientation/Informational Session Parents/Guardians Orientation/Informational Sessions Students School Calendar And Hours State And District Mandated Assessments Evacuation, Tornado, Lock Down And Fire Drills Computers And Internet Course Pacing Attendance Plan Agreement Course Completion Policy and Agreement Course Description Booklet

3 Where the world is your classroom Dear Parents and Students: Welcome to St. Vrain Online Global Academy. St. Vrain Online Global Academy is a virtual high school providing high-quality, personalized education for students in grades 9-12 outside of the brick and mortar classroom. Students have the opportunity to work in an online environment leading to a St. Vrain Valley high school diploma. The school has been designed as an educational alternative for a diverse population of students who want to earn a high school diploma and need or prefer the flexibility and convenience of online education to complete their course work. Students must feel comfortable in a learning environment that places emphasis on individuals taking responsibility for their own learning. Offering a complete high school curriculum, including Honors and Advanced Placement courses, students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy will be prepared for college and a career. Highly qualified and certificated instructors teach all online courses, and the curriculum meets not only Colorado State Standards but also the inacol (International Association for K-12 Online Learning) National Teaching and Learning Standards for Quality Online Programs. Additionally, the curriculum meets the Advanced Placement College Board and NCAA requirements. St. Vrain Online Global Academy permits students to achieve academic success utilizing high quality instruction and curriculum provided by FLVS Global powered by Florida Virtual School while allowing them to choose when and where to learn. Instruction in courses is delivered from a teacher to a student primarily through the use of technology via the Internet in a virtual or remote setting. Students interact regularly with their instructors via telephone, instant messenger, , blogging, and other online communications tools. Successful students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy are strong independent workers, have good self-discipline, have good basic computer skills, and good time management skills. Our students are self-motivated, have the ability to apply critical thinking and problem solving strategies, and are comfortable expressing themselves both orally and in their writing. Students are expected to check in face-to-face on a weekly basis with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor/administrator at our Longmont location as well as logging in for a minimum number of hours in the online environment per week. Our parents are a key component in a student s success in the online classroom. This handbook provides an overview of the school, its structure, curriculum, support procedures and the policies and procedures that students and parents need to be familiar with for a successful online experience. We are excited to have you become a part of the new generation of learning. At St. Vrain Online Global Academy, the world is your classroom. Sincerely, Joann Dawe, Principal (cell phone) 3

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5 Where the world is your classroom At St. Vrain Online Global Academy, our educational experience offers: G rowth for each student: academically, socially and emotionally through an international virtual learning environment L earning through educational pathways individually tailored for each student O ptions to organize your schedule based on your pace, your learning needs, and your plan for postsecondary success B readth of curriculum providing educational challenges from Honors to Advanced Placement to Gaming Animation courses A ccess to teachers, courses, and curriculum 24/7 L imitless opportunities to prepare for life after high school through college and career exploration and preparation Contact Information Hours: Monday-Thursday (7:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.) and Fridays (7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m.) Address: 1200 South Sunset Street, Longmont, CO Phone: Fax: Web site: Principal: Counselor: Joann Dawe (dawe_joann@svvsd.org) Phone: Scott Bergamo (bergamo_scott@svvsd.org) Phone: Math Instructor: Administrative Assistant: Holly Brainard (brainard_holly@svvsd.org) Curriculum and teachers provided by FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School: 5

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7 Vision St. Vrain Online Global Academy provides an online and virtual global educational experience offering 24/7 accessibility to courses and teachers, flexibility in course scheduling, and individualized instruction for every student to equip them with the tools, skills and knowledge required for postsecondary educational opportunities and career readiness in the 21st Century. The mission of the St. Vrain Online Global Academy is to provide students with a qualitative, interactive, and individualized education that can be accessed any time, any place and at any pace, while delivering learning experiences that are engaging, relevant and challenging to prepare students to enter a globally competitive workforce and be productive citizens in the 21 st Century. Mission School Overview Approved as a single district program by the Colorado Department of Education, St. Vrain Online Global Academy (SVOGA) is a free public K-12 online school within the St. Vrain Valley School District serving students in grades St. Vrain Online Global Academy permits students to achieve academic success utilizing high-quality instruction and curriculum provided by FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School while allowing them to choose when and where to learn. Highly qualified and certificated teachers teach all online courses, and the curriculum meets not only Colorado State Standards but also the inacol (International Association for K-12 Online Learning) National Teaching and Learning Standards for Quality Online Programs. FLVS teachers communicate regularly with students and parents regarding all phases of instruction, and students are expected to check in, at a minimum, on a weekly basis with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy staff. Advantages of Attending SVOGA In addition to offering a full range of courses from regular through Advanced Placement, students have the opportunity of being able to take classes such as Band, Choir or Orchestra at their high school of residence or attending the school district s Career Development Center. Students may also take advantage of the Concurrent Enrollment opportunities available through Front Range Community College and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Additionally, students may participate in athletics or clubs/organizations at their school of residence provided they meet athletic eligibility requirements. Opportunities to participate in online clubs and organizations are also available through Florida Virtual School, and students may choose to participate in social activities coordinated by the St. Vrain Online Global Academy. The school has an on-site facility with two fully equipped computer desktop labs, along with an additional 30 laptops, that students are welcome to attend throughout the week at any time the school is open. Students meet the same graduation requirements as other students in the St. Vrain Valley and graduate with a St. Vrain Valley School District diploma. 7

8 Enrolling in St. Vrain Online Global Academy Students must choose to enroll in St. Vrain Online Global Academy as a full-time student which requires students to complete a minimum of 6 online classes (3 credits) each semester, taking no more than 3 online classes every 9 weeks and logging a minimum of 22.5 hours per week in the online environment. Students enrolled full-time can be dually enrolled in their high school of residence and/or at the Career Development Center. To apply for admission to St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students must: Be a Colorado resident Be of high school age and not yet 21 years of age Reside in the St. Vrain Valley School District An enrollment application must be received. Visit our website at svoga.svvsd.org to fill out and submit our online application. Once the application received, an interview with the St. Vrain Online Global counselor or administrator will be scheduled. Students will be asked to complete an additional online assessment to be completed and returned by the scheduled interview time. Parents/guardians are REQUIRED to attend the interview with their student. After being officially enrolled in the St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students are required to: 1. Attend daily (5 days per week) for a minimum of 4.5 hours per day until the first course is completed. This includes a 2-week orientation period that is part of the 4.5 hours. 2. Once a student s first class is completed, students must attend for a minimum of 2.5 hours per enrolled class per week, provided they continue to make adequate progress 3. Agree to participate in all Colorado and district assessments as well as complete all activities necessary for Colorado count purposes. 8

9 School Calendar St. Vrain Online Global Academy follows the same academic calendar as all other high schools in the St. Vrain Valley School District. For a detailed printable calendar, go to Onsite facility will not be open on the following dates: Labor Day: September 1, 2014 Thanksgiving Break: November 24-28, 2014 Winter Break: December 22, January 2, 2015 Martin Luther King Day: January 19, 2015 Presidents Day: February 16, 2015 Spring Break: April 6-10, 2015 Semester Schedule First Quarter: August 18 October 16, 2014 Second Quarter: October 20 December 19, 2014 Third Quarter: January 5 March 13, 2015 Fourth Quarter: March 16 May 21, 2015 Important Dates Picture Day: Wednesday, October 1, 2014 Mandatory Attendance Day for October Count: Monday, October 1, 2014 (Onsite facility will be open from (7:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m.) Mandatory LOG-IN Days for October Count): September 29 and 30, 2014 October 2 and 3, 2014 Required Testing for 12th graders: November 3, 4 6, 10, 11, and 12 Open House: November 19, 2014 Required Testing for 9 th and 10 th graders: March 2015 (Exact dates TBD) ACT Testing (required for 11 th graders): April 28, 2015 Advanced Placement Testing: May 4 15, 2015 Graduation: May 22, 2015 Please check local radio and television stations and/or the district website ( for unexpected closings on a regularly scheduled school day. This decision is made at the sole discretion of the Superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley School District. 9

10 Academic Integrity Students with academic integrity make decisions based on ethics and values that will prepare them to be productive and upstanding citizens. Florida Virtual Schools Academic integrity is a core value and one of the most important areas of focus for both St. Vrain Valley Schools and Florida Virtual Schools. Community members, counselors, parents and students can report any academic integrity issues to the St. Vrain Online Global Academy administrator or counselor or can call Florida Virtual Schools anonymously by calling: or (toll free) or by ing academicintegrity@flvs.net. Athletic Participation Students enrolling in St. Vrain Online Global Academy may participate in athletics at their school of residence provided they have met eligibility requirements. Athletic eligibility requires that students be enrolled in and passing a minimum of 2.5 credits in the current semester and passed a minimum of 2.5 credits in the immediately preceding semester. For further information, contact your school of residence s athletic director or Rob Berry, St. Vrain Valley School District Director of Athletics, Activities and Fine Arts, at Attendance Policy Students enrolled in St. Vrain Valley Schools are required to attend classes in accordance with the Colorado Compulsory Attendance Law and Article IX, Section 2 of the Colorado constitution. Per St. Vrain Valley School Board Policy (File JH: Student Absences and Excuses), children under the age of 17 are required to attend school regularly until graduation from high school or the end of the semester in which a student turns 17 years of age. St. Vrain Online Global Academy provides students with a unique and flexible way to complete course work required for graduation, however students are required to meet expectations of attendance both online and at the St. Vrain Global Academy facilities. Therefore, attendance at St. Vrain Online Global Academy is based upon the following: (1) Students must record a minimum of 22.5 hours/week recorded from Sunday to Saturday in their FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School classes. (2) Students must attend the physical facility for a minimum of four and a half (4.5) hours daily until they have completed and passed their first course. (3) Students must attend the physical facility for a minimum of two and a half (2.5) hours a week for each class in which they are enrolled provided they continue to make adequate progress. (4) Should a student fail to make adequate progress for more than two weeks, the student must, once again, attend the physical facility for a minimum of four and a half (4.5) hours daily until they have completed and passed their course. Students must maintain regular contact via telephone, , instant message system, or face-to-face meetings with their Florida Virtual School instructor(s) and the St. Vrain Online Global Academy staff. A student is considered in violation of the St. Vrain Online Global Academy attendance policy if he/she is (1) not passing an online course, (2) does not attend weekly on-site sessions, and/or (3) logs in less than 22.5 hours per week. Violation of the attendance policy for a period of 2 weeks will result in the student being placed on an attendance contract and attending the onsite facility daily until he/she is passing and making satisfactory progress in his/her online course(s). Violation of the attendance policy for a period of four consecutive weeks is considered Habitual Truancy. If absences continue, students will be referred to the District Truancy Officer and may be withdrawn from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. The Attendance Plan Agreement in its entirety can be found on pages in this handbook or on the school s website. 10

11 Course Withdrawal Policy Students who withdraw from a class within the first 28 calendar days of being activated will incur no penalty. Students who withdraw from a class after the first 28 days of being activated will receive a grade of F on their transcript. Counselor/Instructor Support Academic counseling, including transcript review, course registration advice, ACT prep and college/career planning will be provided by the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. If a parent/guardian or student has a concern about learning accommodations, contact the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. All students have access to Florida Virtual School certified teachers that communicate with students on a regular basis by phone, , and online discussions. Instructors are expected to respond to all communications within 24 hours and to have all assignments graded within 48 hours. Additional support will be provided as needed for students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy s physical site, 1200 Sunset Street, during normally scheduled hours. Curriculum/Teachers Curriculum is provided by FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School. Highly qualified and certificated instructors teach all online courses, and the curriculum meets not only Colorado State Standards but also the inacol (International Association for K-12 Online Learning) National Teaching and Learning Standards for Quality Online Programs. Additionally, the curriculum meets the Advanced Placement College Board and NCAA requirements. The St. Vrain Online Global Academy curriculum is outlined in the Course Offerings Book. Students may also choose to take courses that are not provided by our school on a space available basis at their St. Vrain Valley school of residence. All Career Development Center courses ( and Concurrent Enrollment opportunities are also accessible to students at St. Vrain Online Global Academy. If you are interested in classes at your school of residence, CDC, or through Concurrent Enrollment, please speak with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. Extracurricular Activities Students have the opportunity to participate in the following extra-curricular activities that are sponsored by FLVS Global by Florida Virtual School: v American Sign Language Club v Beta Sigma Delta Math Club v Book Club v Chess Club v Creative Writing Club v Fine Arts Club v FITT Club v Future Business Leaders of America v History Club v International Club v Latin Club v Model UN Club v National English Honor Society v National Honor Society v Newspaper Club v Peer Tutors Club v S.N.A.P. Spanish Nuts at Play v Science Club v Science Honor Society v Speech and Debate Club v Student Ambassadors v Technology Club v Video Productions Club v Yearbook Students also have the opportunity to submit artwork, photographs, fiction, non-fiction or poetry for publication in the FLVS Literary Magazine: Virge: The Virtual Edge. For a description or more information about the extracurricular activities, go to the following link: St. Vrain Online Global Academy students may also choose to participate in extra-curricular activities that are available at their school of residence on a space available basis. Students should check with their school of residence for a list of extracurricular activities. 11

12 If there is an interest in a club/organization that is not available, please contact either the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor or administrator. Students also are eligible to attend their school of residence homecoming and proms provided they fill out, have signed and submit appropriate paperwork to both schools. Code of Conduct and Discipline Students are expected to behave in a reasonable and proper manner whether they are at home working on their online courses or in the onsite facility. The St. Vrain Valley Code of Conduct and Discipline and Board of Education Policies contains the rules and regulations and rights and responsibilities of students and parents. This booklet is discussed with students during registration/orientation and is also available from the administrator/counselor office at St. Vrain Online Global Academy, at the District Educational Services Center, 395 South Pratt Parkway or online at Failure to comply with any school guidelines, state laws, or school board policies may lead to disciplinary measures. Such disciplinary measures may include, but are not limited to administrative conferences, parent conferences, restitution, loss of privileges, suspensions and/or expulsions and criminal charges. Full-Time Students To be considered a full-time student, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 classes per semester (sophomores, juniors and seniors) and 7 classes per semester (freshmen). Students may choose to take a class at CDC and/or at their school of residence on a space available basis (if the course is not offered through St. Vrain Online Global Academy), and these courses will count toward the minimum number of classes required for full-time enrollment. Costs/Fees St. Vrain Online Global Academy is a free public K- 12 online school within the St. Vrain Valley School District currently serving students in grades As a public school, it is free for students. However, there may be some courses that require fees. Courses with fees (File JQ-E: Schedule of Student Fees) will be noted in the Course Description Book. Official transcripts will not be issued until all student fees are paid. Students are required to have a school ID. The cost of an ID is $5.00. High School Diploma/Graduation Students will receive the same St. Vrain Valley School District diploma as any full-time student would who attends one of our brick and mortar comprehensive, traditional high schools. Students must earn a minimum of 24.5 credits to graduate (File IKF: Graduation Requirements). St. Vrain Online Global Academy and the St. Vrain Board of Education recognizes the value of a comprehensive high school program and emphasizes its dedication to the encouragement of academic excellence. Therefore, St. Vrain Online Global Academy shall consider early graduation (File IKFA: Early Graduation), for students at the end of 7 semesters only if they meet the following criteria: (1) Accrual of credits required by the Board of Education; (2) No grades below a C ; and (3) Attainment and/or other personal considerations, which in the judgment of the principal/superintendent or designee are outstanding. Orientation/Informational Session: Parents/Guardians Parents are required to attend a one-on-one orientation/informational session prior to a student s acceptance. The orientation/informational session will cover expectations, requirements, and policies for online students and the role of parents in supervising student s school work. Additionally, all parents will be required to attend an additional session within the first 3-4 weeks of their student s enrollment. Appointments may be scheduled during our regular hours of operation. 12

13 Orientation/Informational Session: Students Once accepted for enrollment in St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students are required to attend daily (4.5 hours/day) until their first course is completed. This time is used as an orientation/informational time to insure student success in our program. Please refer to the signed attendance contract for further attendance requirements. School Calendar and Hours Students may access their courses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days per year from anywhere a computer and Internet access are available. Students are also welcome to be onsite and use the school facilities during posted school hours (Monday- Friday). St. Vrain Online Global Academy s physical site is open daily for students according to the St. Vrain Valley School District calendar. For a detailed printable calendar, go to The school hours are: Monday - Thursday: Friday: 7:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. 7:30 a.m. 2:30 p.m. State and District Mandated Assessments All students enrolled at St. Vrain Online Global Academy are required to take district and state of Colorado mandated tests to continue their enrollment. State required testing is required for all 9 th and 10 th grade students in Reading, Writing, and Mathematics, and for 12 th graders in Science and Social Studies. The testing window is determined each year by the school district assessment office and will be given to students and parents when they become available. At the 11 th grade level, students take the ACT (college entrance exam) free of charge in April. Students will register for this test with the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor during a scheduled junior class meeting prior to the testing date. All juniors are required to take part in our weekly ACT Prep class. Evacuation, Tornado, Lock Down and Fire Drills Evacuation, tornado, lock down and fire drills are scheduled by the Career Development Center. If a student or parent is onsite at the time of a drill, the drill should be taken seriously and directions given by the administrator or counselor should be followed. Computers and Internet Students are responsible for providing their own computer, computer equipment and Internet access. If a student does not have the appropriate hardware, software, or Internet access, a computer lab is available for student use daily during normal operating hours. Students without a computer or Internet access at home are required to attend the onsite facility daily for 5.5 hours/day. Minimum requirements for hardware and software are: r Pentium III or Power Mac G3 r Windows XP, Windows Vista, or OSX r 1024 x 768 screen resolution r 512 MB Ram (PC); 256 Ram (Macintosh) r Minimum of 10 gigabytes free HDD space r 128 Internet connection (broadband connection highly recommended) r Microsoft Office, Open Office or Google Docs r 12x DC-ROM (CD/DVD recommended) r Printer r Portable medium to save work (Floppy, Zip, CD, USB) r Soundcard with speakers, microphone or headset (PC) or Speakers and microphone or headset (Macintosh) r Sun Java or higher (Sun Java 3D 1.3 or higher required in some courses) r Flash Player Version 9.0 or higher r Shockwave (Operating System Dependent) r Acrobat Reader or higher r Firefox (2.0 or higher); Internet Explorer (7.0 or higher); or Safari (3.0 or higher) r Popup Blocking disabled 13

14 Course Pacing To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can work at their own pace; however, any pace still means that students must make progress in the course every week and meet month/quarter/semester deadline requirements. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. When teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful. Pacing guides are available on the SVOGA website or within each student s FLVS course. Progress, Course Completion and Graduation Course completion has a direct impact on the number of years it takes a student to graduate. A student who puts in the minimum requirement of 22.5 hours should be able to complete a course every 3 weeks or finish 6 classes each semester and graduate in 4 years. Courses Successfully Completed in a Semester Years to Graduate* *Students cannot be serviced in a public high school beyond the semester in which they turn 21. A student s progress is a direct result of quality time that is put in working on a course. SVOGA requires students to work a MINIMUM Of 22.5 hours per week (that does not include any break time that students choose to take) on their courses. Each.5 credit course or 1 segment of a course should take approximately 60 hours (exceptions are AP classes and some advanced math classes) to complete or approximately 3 weeks, allowing students to complete 6 classes in a semester. The more quality time a students puts in on his/her coursework and stays focused, the faster a student is able to complete a course. Hours Worked Progress Needed Weekly Weeks to Complete One Course # of Courses Completed in a Semester 10 17% % % %

15 ST. VRAIN ONLINE GLOBAL ACADEMY ATTENDANCE PLAN AGREEMENT Students enrolled in St. Vrain Valley Schools are required to attend classes in accordance with the Colorado Compulsory Attendance Law and Article IX, Section 2 of the Colorado constitution. Per St. Vrain Valley School Board Policy (File JH: Student Absences and Excuses), children under the age of 17 are required to attend school regularly until graduation from high school or the end of the semester in which a student turns 17 years of age. St. Vrain Online Global Academy provides students with a unique and flexible way to complete course work required for graduation, however students are required to meet expectations of attendance both online and at the St. Vrain Online Global Academy facilities. Therefore, attendance at St. Vrain Online Global Academy is based upon the following criteria. Orientation Period Attendance/Progress After being officially enrolled in the St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students are required to: (1) Determine courses to be completed prior to the end of the semester in which they enrolled (minimum is 1 course every 3-4 weeks). These courses will be agreed upon at the time of enrollment. The student can complete classes simultaneously or one course at a time. The expectation is that courses are to be completed by the end of each semester. (2) Attend daily (5 days per week) for a minimum of 4.5 hours per day until the first course is completed. This meets the 22.5 hours weekly required for compulsory attendance of students attending online school. Weekly Attendance/Progress After successful completion of the orientation period, students are required to attend St. Vrain Online Global Academy for two and one half (2.5) hours per enrolled class per week. A student enrolled in one class would be in attendance 2.5 hours for the week; a student enrolled in two classes would be in attendance for 5 hours for the week, etc. Students must maintain a minimum of 22.5 hours participation each week that can include the required hours weekly at the academy. This will be an opportunity for staff to work with the students in various areas, including but not limited to, college and career planning, student and organizational skills, and test preparation. In addition, time will be spent with each student on an individual basis to check on their previous week progress and to provide any additional resources that he/she may need. Students will also be given time to work on their Florida Virtual courses. Attendance/Progress Plan Violation A student is considered in violation of the St. Vrain Online Global Academy attendance policy is he/she is (1) not passing an online course, (2) does not attend on-site sessions as required and/or (3) does not make adequate progress in their course(s). Violation of the attendance policy for a period of 2 consecutive weeks will result in the student being placed on an attendance contract and attending the onsite facility daily until he/she is passing and making satisfactory progress. Violation of the attendance policy for a period of four weeks will is considered Habitual Truancy. If absences continue, students and parents will receive notification that students are in violation of the attendance contract and that if absences continue, students will be referred to the District Truancy Officer. 15

16 ST. VRAIN ONLINE GLOBAL ACADEMY REQUIRED ATTENDANCE DAYS AGREEMENT Colorado Assessments The Colorado Department of Education and the State Legislature require that all public school students in the 3 rd through 12 th grades participate in Colorado Assessment Testing. Students in 9 th and 10 th grade are tested yearly in Reading, Writing and Mathematics (administered in March). Students in 11 th grade take the ACT test (administered in April). Students in 12 th grade are tested in Science and Social Studies (administered in the fall). Students who do not take the test count as a zero which significantly lowers our school and district scores for accountability purposes. These tests are NOT optional and students who fail to test may be subject to dismissal from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Colorado Count Day The student October reporting systems collects counts of pupils enrolled in public, nonpublic, and home-schooled programs. October 1 each year is the official count day in accordance with the Public School Finance Act. State funding for all educational programs are based on the pupil count as of the official count date. St. Vrain Online Global Academy students are required to be in attendance at the physical site for a minimum of 4.5 hours on the official count day each year, usually on or around October 1. Attendance is NOT optional and any student who fails to attend may be subject to dismissal from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Orientation Period After being officially enrolled in the St. Vrain Online Global Academy, students are required to attend St. Vrain Online Global Academy: (1) Five (5) days per week for four and one-half hours each day until their first course is completed. (2) Three (3) days per week for four and one-half hours each day until their second course is completed. (3) Two (2) days per week for four and one-half hours each day until their third course is completed. The Orientation Period should last no more than 12 weeks. At the end of the Orientation Period, a parent/guardian and student meeting will be held with school staff to determine if online education is successfully meeting the needs of the student. Weekly Attendance After successful completion of the Orientation Period, students are required to attend St. Vrain Online Global Academy onsite for four hours once a week. This will be an opportunity for staff to work with the students in various areas, including but not limited to, college and career planning, study and organizational skills, and test preparation. In addition, time will be spent with each student on an individual basis to check on their previous week progress and to provide any additional resources that he/she may need. Students will also be given time to work on their Florida Virtual School courses. We understand the importance of the Colorado Assessments, the pupil count day, the orientation period and weekly meeting time and understand that non-attendance is subject to a possible referral to the Truancy Officer of the St. Vrain Valley School District and/or dismissal from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date 16

17 ST. VRAIN ONLINE GLOBAL ACADEMY STUDENT/PARENT AGREEMENT SCHOOL YEAR Students: In an online environment, students must take responsibility for their own learning. Students must be able to communicate both orally and in writing, be a self- starter and able to stay on task. Setting goals, following through, and taking the initiative are important attributes. Parents/Guardians: In an online environment, parents play a vital role in assuring their student s success. Parents/guardians must be willing to offer the ongoing encouragement, motivation, and guidance for their student as parents/guardians ultimately become responsible for their student s learning in an online environment.... We (student and parent/guardian) understand and agree to the following: Online courses are rigorous (or as difficult) as courses found in a brick and mortar classroom and are not intended for remediation. Students are REQUIRED to participate in all mandated District and State of Colorado testing. Students are REQUIRED to be in attendance at the physical site on October 1 and that a minimum of one assignment in each class must be successfully completed and submitted on October 1. Through a student s first course, students are REQUIRED to be onsite daily for 4.5 hours OR until all assessments for each day on their pacing guide have been successfully completed. Students are REQUIRED to be onsite weekly for their scheduled subject day(s) for a minimum of 2.5 hours. Students may choose one of the following time periods to attend: 8:00 a.m. 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., or 2:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Social Studies Math* English Science/Health Electives *Algebra 1 and Geometry classes will be scheduled to meet twice weekly. Algebra will meet on Tuesdays from 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. or 11:00 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. and Thursdays from 10:30 a.m. 11:45 a.m. Geometry will meet on Tuesdays from 9:15 a.m. 10:30 p.m. or 12:15 p.m. 1:30 p.m. and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. 11:45 p.m. Students are REQUIRED to make at least 20% total progress in all of their classes combined weekly. Students will NOT be enrolled in any class for more than 18 weeks without penalty. Enrollment beyond 18 weeks will result in a student having an F for the class placed on their transcript as well as having a parent meeting to discuss additional educational opportunities. Students are REQUIRED to complete and pass a minimum of two classes each quarter. Failure to complete two classes in a quarter will result in (a) a parent/student conference; (b) student being placed on a contract requiring full- time hours per day AND/OR until all assessments for the day on the pacing guide have been completed and submitted (c) four classes being completed by 17

18 the end of the next quarter. If a student does not meet the minimum requirements by the end of the second quarter, a parent/student conference will once again be held to discuss additional educational opportunities. Students may withdraw from any class within the first 28 calendar days after the course has been activated without penalty. If a student withdraws after the first 28 calendar days, the course will be transcripted with an F. Segment (semester) examinations are REQUIRED to be completed onsite unless prior approval has been received from an SVOGA administrator or designee. Absences from our onsite facility on a student s scheduled day(s), should be reported to our office by phone ( ) or text Scott/Joann no later than 10:00 a.m. that same day.... We (both student and parent/guardian) have read and understand that attendance is a required component of St. Vrain Online Global Academy and agree to notify the school if a student will be absent for any reason. We (both student and parent/guardian) have read and understand that weekly progress is a required component of all classes. We (both student and parent/guardian) have read and understand that a minimum of 2 classes must be completed each semester. We (both student and parent/guardian) have read and understand the above and the importance of the Colorado Assessments (PARCC, ACT, and CMAS), District Assessments, the pupil count day, the orientation period, and weekly attendance meeting time and understand that non-attendance and/or lack of progress is subject to a possible referral to the Truancy Officer of the St. Vrain Valley School District and/or dismissal from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Student Signature Parent Signature Date 18

19 ST. VRAIN ONLINE GLOBAL ACADEMY COURSE COMPLETION POLICY AND AGREEMENT Online courses provide the flexibility for students to be able to complete their education outside of the normal school hours. This also provides students who otherwise might not be able to attend a brick and mortar school during the day, the flexibility to complete their course work. However, online schooling still requires students to be completing a minimum of 22.5 hours per week in the learning environment. Students who adhere to the 22.5-hour per week requirement should be able to complete a minimum of 2.5 credits each semester. Students will be REQUIRED to complete and pass a minimum of two classes each quarter. Failure to complete two classes in a quarter will result in (1) a parent/student conference; (2) student being placed on a contract requiring full-time attendance at the onsite facility; (3) four classes being completed by the end of the next quarter. If a student does not meet the requirements by the end of the second quarter, a parent/student conference will once again be held where students and parents will be given additional educational opportunities for their child including the option of returning to the brick and mortar environment. Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date 19

20 St. Vrain Online Global Academy Course Description Book Welcome to St. Vrain Online Global Academy! This Course Description and Course Registration Guide have been developed to assist you in planning a course in study for your high school career. In addition to containing course descriptions, this guide contains requirements that you must meet to graduate from St. Vrain Online Global Academy. Study the graduation requirements, college entrance requirements and Advanced Placement Program information, and the recommended St. Vrain Online Global Academy Four Year Plan ( Then review the course offerings and plan your own course of study with your parents and the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. Your choice of courses should be based on graduation requirements, your interests and abilities, your past achievements, and your post high school plans. College Admissions Students planning to continue their formal education after graduation should consider the following factors used by colleges to make admissions decisions. College information, financial aid, and scholarship information can be found by asking the St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor. 1. Grade Point Average and Grades in College Preparatory Courses. Your high school academic record of achievement still serves as the best predictor of academic success in college. Your grade point average and selection of college preparatory courses are two of the most important factors colleges consider when making admissions decisions. 2. Quality of Course Selection. Colleges closely examine the quality of a student s academic transcript. For most colleges and universities, a minimum preparation should include 4 years of English, 4 years of Mathematics, 3 years of Science (laboratory), 3 years of Social Studies, and 2-3 years of World Languages. However, students should consult the catalog of the college or university that they are interested in attending to determine the exact requirements. 3. College Admission Tests. Colleges normally require college-bound students to take either the American College Test (ACT) or the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) to assist in making admissions decisions. Either test should be taken in the student s junior or senior year. All juniors are required to take the ACT each spring as mandated by state law. 4. College Essay. An increasing number of colleges require a college essay as part of the application process. Most colleges will provide a topic to address in your essay with a limit on the number of words used in the essay. 5. Letters of Recommendation. Some colleges and scholarship donors may request personal letter(s) of recommendation from counselors, teachers, administrators, employers or individuals from the community. Be sure to give the person writing your letter of recommendation some information about yourself and your activities. Allow at least two weeks for the letter to be completed. Be sure to write a thank you note to any recommender(s). 6. Co-curricular Activities. Participation in activities beyond your academic pursuits is important. This could include volunteer work, consistent employment, clubs, athletics, band/orchestra/choir activities, and national organization memberships. The quality of a student s involvement is considered more important than the quantity. 20

21 Colorado Commission on Higher Education Standards for College Entrance Meeting the Higher Education Admissions Requirements does not guarantee admission to a four-year public institution. Colleges and universities may have additional requirements. Please refer to the Colorado Commission on Higher Education website for the most recent information. Students planning to attend a four-year college or university in Colorado will need to complete the following classes in order to fulfill the Higher Education Admission Requirements. In addition to the Higher Education Admission Requirements, students admissions may also be based on your Admission Eligibility Index Score. ( St. Vrain Valley School District Graduation Requirements Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) Admission Requirements TOTAL CREDITS 24.5 CREDITS Credits Language Arts 4.0 credits 4 English Math 3.0 credits 4 Math (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, or equivalents) Science 3.0 credits 3 Natural/Physical Science (2.0 credits must be lab based) Social Studies 3.0 credits 3 Social Studies (at least 1.0 credit either US or World History) 2 World language course--must be in the same language Electives 9.0 credits 2 Academic Electives: Computer Science, art music, journalism or drama. Also acceptable are honors, advanced placement and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Physical Education Health 2.0 credits 0.5 credits 21

22 Sample College Admission Criteria Admission criteria to colleges and universities vary. On a continuum of expectations and requirements, the following examples provide general indicators. Most Selective Colleges/Universities Examples: U. S. Air Force Academy, Stanford University, Ivy League universities, Northwestern University, Duke University Minimum of 18 core units: English 4, Math 4, Social Studies 3-4, Science 3-4, Foreign Language 3-4 Advanced Placement Courses Required G.P.A (academic courses only) SAT ACT 28+ Very Selective Colleges/Universities Examples: Colorado College, Colorado School of Mines, University of Puget Sound, Middlebury College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Tulane University Minimum of 18 core units: English 4, Math 4, Social Studies 3-4, Science 3-4, Foreign Language 3-4 Advanced Placement Courses Required G.P. A (academic courses only) SAT ACT 27+ Selective Colleges/Universities Examples: University of Colorado-Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Regis University, Arizona State University, Cornell College, American University, Vanderbilt University Minimum of 16 core units: English 4, Math 3-4, Social Studies 3-4, Science 3-4, Foreign Language 2-3 Advanced Placement Courses Highly Recommended G.P. A SAT ACT 26+ Competitive I College Examples: University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Christian University, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, University of Colorado at Denver, Texas Christian University, Kent State University, Lesley University, Virginia Commonwealth University Minimum of 15+ core units: English 4, Math 3-4, Social Studies 3, Science 3, Foreign Language 1-3 Advanced Placement Courses Recommended G.P.A SAT 950+ ACT 20+ Competitive II College Example: Fort Lewis College, Adams State College, Mesa State College, Metro State College of Denver, Western State College, Montana State University, Baker University, Plymouth State College, Grambling State University Minimum of 14 core units: English 4, Math 3-4, Social Studies 3, Science 3, Foreign Language 1-2 G.P.A SAT 850+ ACT

23 Information For Prospective College Athletes To Meet NCAA Clearinghouse Requirements Students who wish to participate in collegiate athletics at the Division I or II level must apply for certification with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Clearinghouse during the fall of the senior year of high school. The St. Vrain Online Global Academy counselor can assist students with applying to the NCAA Clearinghouse. ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY* Be sure to look at your high school s list of NCAA-approved core courses on the Eligibility Center's Web site to make certain that courses being taken have been approved as core courses. The web site is DIVISION I NCAA Division I requires 16 core courses. Division I has a sliding scale for test score and grade-point average. The sliding scale for those requirements is shown in the columns to the right. Only core courses are used in the calculation of the grade-point average. 16 Core-Course Rule 4 years of English 3 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher) 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school) 1 year of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science 2 years of social science 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or non doctrinal religion/philosophy). DIVISION II NCAA Division II requires 16 core courses. See the breakdown of core-course requirements below. The Division II grade-point-average requirement is a minimum of Only core courses are used in the calculation of the grade-point average. Division II has a minimum SAT score requirement of 820 or an ACT sum score of Core-Course Rule 3 years of English 2 years of mathematics (Algebra I or higher). 2 years of natural/physical science (1 year of lab if offered by high school) 3 years of additional English, mathematics or natural/physical science 2 years of social science. 4 years of additional courses (from any area above, foreign language or comparative religion/philosophy) The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used. The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the four sections on the ACT: English, mathematics, reading and science. All SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center by the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the Eligibility Center code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported to the Eligibility Center. **NCAA Requirements are subject to change. Consult the NCAA website at for the most current requirements. If you have questions, call the NCAA Eligibility Center at NEW CORE GPA/TEST SCORE INDEX Core GPA SAT ACT & Above