District Mission: Discover, develop, and achieve the potential within all learners

Transcription

1 Houston Public Schools MNVA High School 306 West Elm Street Houston, MN Phone: Fax: website:

2 Contents Vision... 2 District Mission... 2 District Aims: Maximize Student Achievement... 2 MNVA-HS Mission Philosophy... 2 Eligibility... 3 Learning Coach Requirement... 3 Characteristic Requirements for Online Students... 3 Special Needs Students... 4 Registration Procedures... 4 Obtaining a Username and Password... 4 Computer Use and Replacement... 4 Technical Support... 5 Access to Courses... 5 New Student Tutorial... 5 Learning Coach Access to Student Information... 5 Conferences... 5 Scheduling... 6 Schedule Changes... 6 Withdrawal from an Online Course... 6 Graduation Requirements... 6 Mandatory Testing... 7 Grading Procedures... 8 MNVA-HS Grading Scale... 8 Honor Roll Policy... 8 Attendance Policy... 9 Truancy... 9 School Closings School Outings and Events Netiquette Student Discipline Cyberbullying Academic Integrity What Happens if a Student is Caught Plagiarizing? Tips on becoming a Successful MNVA-HS Student Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEO) Why should I complete and submit the FARM application? MNVA School Calendar

3 Vision: Leading in Learning District Mission: Discover, develop, and achieve the potential within all learners District Aims: Maximize Student Achievement Safe, Welcoming, Innovative Learning Environment Efficient and Effective Operations Parent Involvement and Community Partnerships MNVA-HS Mission Philosophy: The mission of MNVA-HS is to provide each student with a unique online education in a safe, supportive environment that promotes self-discipline, motivation, and excellence in learning. The staff at MNVA-HS is committed to creating and maintaining an orderly, trusting, and caring environment where teaching and learning are exciting and students are assisted as they develop their online skills and responsibilities. All aspects of the MNVA-HS online learning experience are child-centered and designed to accommodate individual learning styles so that all may experience success. The MNVA-HS team joins parents in assisting students in developing skills to become independent and self-sufficient adults who will succeed and contribute responsibly in a global community. 306 West Elm Street Houston, MN Phone: (866) (option 3) Fax:

4 Eligibility To be eligible for enrollment in Minnesota Virtual Academy High School (MNVA-HS) courses, students must meet the following requirements: Students and their parent/guardian must be residents of Minnesota. A student age 17 or younger must have the written consent of a parent or guardian to apply. Students wanting to enroll in additional courses beyond full-time status with the online learning provider are permitted under a separate agreement with the nonenrolling school district, including terms for payment of any tuition or course fees. A tuition agreement between school districts must be signed. Students must be under the age of 21. All required enrollment procedures and documents must be completed prior to enrollment. Students must be willing to participate in all required state and district testing. Parents are responsible for providing transportation for students to attend statemandated testing. Some test sites may require extended travel. Learning Coach Requirement Every enrolling student must have a designated learning coach (responsible adult) who will fulfill certain duties in support of the student s learning in the student s home under the direction of MNVA-HS teachers. Generally a student s parent/guardian fulfills this role, but another adult can be designated by a parent/guardian as a student s learning coach. Learning coaches who are not the student s parent/guardian must have written parental permission and may not support more than two students without a waiver from the MNVA administration. An adult student may serve as his/her own learning coach. Learning coaches should be sure to notify the MNVA-HS office of any address, phone or changes or corrections throughout the year. Characteristic Requirements for Online Students Students who have a high probability of success in an online learning environment generally display the following characteristics: Student is self-motivated and exhibits self-discipline. Student possesses reading and writing skills at or above student s current grade level. Student is willing to ask teachers for help when needed. Student exhibits organizational and time management skills. Student is comfortable with the technology required by the program. Student must have daily access to high speed internet. As a student considering whether or not to take an online course, we ask that you consider each of these characteristics. If you do not meet several of the characteristics, you still may be successful at online learning, but you may experience some difficulties. Please consider this carefully so that you will have the best chance for success. In order to help you decide if online learning is right for you, we advise that you visit the MNVA-HS website at Please look over the website to get a better understanding of MNVA-HS and the K12 curriculum. If you would like to visit with our student counselor regarding being an online student, please contact the MNVA-HS office at (507) option 3 or toll-free at (866) option 3. 3

5 Special Needs Students By law, any student with an IEP has the right to receive modification and/or adaptations as part of his/her educational plan. The MNVA-HS program will establish an Individual Educational Program (IEP) team to assure the appropriate instructional modifications and adaptations are in place. The MNVA-HS program will inform the student s instructors of any accommodations listed in the IEP. Registration Procedures To begin the enrollment processes please fill out the Online Application Form located on the MNVA-HS website, found at Once the completed paperwork is received, a representative from either K12 or the MNVA-HS office will contact the family to review course placement based on credits earned or classes taken in previous years. Obtaining a Username and Password When registration has been completed, learning coaches will be provided with a username and password. Learning coaches will be able to view their students progress throughout the school year using the learning coach username and password. Learning coaches are responsible for setting up a student account that will allow their students to access the courses. Students should keep their username and password information in a safe place. Use of MNVA-HS course materials, class connects, kmail and the LMS pages by anyone not enrolled in an MNVA-HS course is prohibited. Computer Use and Replacement Full-time MNVA-HS students are, by default, provided with a laptop, printer/scanner, and accessories free of charge. This hardware is the property of K12 (MNVA-HS s curriculum provider), and the student s use of this equipment while enrolled in MNVA-HS is a privilege, not a right. It is the responsibility of the student and his/her learning coach (if applicable) to ensure that the equipment is kept in working condition and unharmed during his/her enrollment at MNVA-HS. Students using school computers have 24/7 access to K12 s technical support team at (866) , and they should call this phone number whenever technical problems arise. Additionally, students may have their school computer privileges revoked at any time if the school administration determines that the equipment is being misused. 4

6 Technical Support If a student is using his/her home computer, the student is responsible for computer hardware and software issues. If a technical need arises in regards to course material or a course CD, the student should contact K12 Technical Support at (866) and the technical support staff will assist him/her with the issue. If an MNVA-HS student is experiencing difficulties with an MNVA-HS-supplied computer, the student should contact K12 Technical Support immediately at (866) so the repair can begin promptly. The student should contact his/her teachers and the MNVA-HS office toll-free at (866) option 3 if he/she is experiencing technical issues. Access to Courses The online courses are available to students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing access to high-speed internet is available. New Student Tutorial All new MNVA-HS students are enrolled in an Online Learning Course prior to the start of school. Students are required to successfully complete the Online Learning Course by a specified date. Learning Coach Access to Student Information Learning coaches may view their student s record at any time. This information includes test scores, grades and due dates for coursework. To view these records, learning coaches must log in to the OLS system using their learning coach username and password, which is given to them when they register their student. Conferences MNVA-HS has an open door policy; we encourage teachers, students, and learning coaches to communicate openly and regularly regarding a student s progress in his/her courses. A teacher may request a conference with a learning coach at any time. Learning coaches may also request a conference with a teacher at any time. The conference may be held as a conference call via phone or internet due to the potential distance between the teacher and learning coach. To schedule a conference, the learning coach should kmail or call the instructor to arrange a meeting time. MNVA-HS hosts virtual learning coach/teacher conferences twice each school year at mid-semester. Student or learning coach complaints or concerns can usually be addressed simply by a phone call or kmail with the teacher. For complaints and concerns that cannot be handled by the teacher, the learning coach or student should contact the Minnesota Virtual Academy High School office at (507) option 3 or toll-free at (866) option 3. 5

7 Scheduling All MNVA-HS students and their learning coaches will work with the MNVA-HS placement team to schedule the appropriate classes based on credits earned from previous districts and in accordance with the Houston Public School District graduation requirements. Schedule Changes Enrolled students have ten school days after the term has begun to add classes or switch courses. Please contact the school counselor regarding any schedule changes. Withdrawal from an Online Course A student in grades 9-12 wishing to drop a course should first address this concern with his/her online teacher or the MNVA-HS counselor. It is hoped that the issue will be resolved and course progress can resume. If not, the student should inform his/her advisor or school counselor regarding the decision to drop a course. A withdrawal request must be received by the advisor or counselor within the first two weeks of class. If a student drops a class after the first ten school days, a failing grade will be posted on the transcript. Graduation Requirements It is the student s and learning coach s responsibility to check his/her four-year course planner to see if the student is on track to meet MNVA-HS graduation requirements. If a student or learning coach has a question regarding graduation requirements, he/she needs to contact the school counselor or the student s academic advisor. Subject areas and the number of credits required for each subject in grades 9 through 12: Social Studies 7 credits (3½ years) English 8 credits (4 years) Science 6 credits (3 years) Math 6 credits (3 years) Careers 1 credit Fitness/health 3 credits Fine Arts 2 credits *Electives 15 credits Total 48 credits for graduation *At least two consecutive years of a world language class are highly recommended for college bound students. One credit will be earned for each successful course completion. Six classes per semester, or twelve credits per year, can be earned. In order to earn a Minnesota High School diploma, students must earn credit in the above 48 credit requirements and have passed all required MCA II /Graduation Tests (MCA II/GRAD) in Reading, Writing and Math. 6

8 Mandatory Testing In accordance with the Minnesota Department of Education, testing has been determined to be a vital component in assessing the academic progress of students. Families are required to participate in all testing. Failure to attend the tests will result in a student becoming ineligible to receive a graduation diploma. All MNVA-HS students in grades 9-11 are mandated by the state of Minnesota to participate in the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA II). Students in the MNVA- HS need to take and pass these tests in order to receive a high school diploma in accordance with the Minnesota Department of Education. The data collected from this standardized assessment is used in a number of ways by learning coaches and teachers and in evaluation of the effectiveness of our program. All individual results are provided to the responsible learning coach of each student. The MCA II tests are held during the month of April. It is required that a responsible parent/guardian ensures that his/her student attends the MCA II testing. All MNVA-HS students in grades 9-11 are required to participate in the Scantron Assessment Series test. This is a district-wide assessment that will be given in September and May of each school year. The Scantron testing will help track each individual student s progress by indicating areas that have been mastered and those that have not. All Scantron testing occurs online during a specified length of time. MNVA-HS will provide as much advanced notice of the testing as possible to facilitate scheduling and planning. To support the Scantron Assessment Series, students will participate in the Scantron Achievement Series, which will consist of small quizzes on targeted learning areas throughout the year. All Scantron student data collected remains with MNVA-HS and is shared only with learning coaches. 7

9 Grading Procedures During online courses, students will receive grades for homework assignments, quizzes, tests, projects, participation and other activities. Students will be able to see their grades at any time by going to their grade books. If students have questions about grading procedures, they should contact their instructors. Students are required to save their work throughout the semester. By saving their work, students will be able to retrieve any assignments in question and review them with their teachers in the event of a dispute or question over a grade. MNVA-HS Grading Scale = A = B = C = D = A = B = C = D = B = C = D = F 0 Process for calculating Term and Cumulative GPA at MNVA-HS: Every full credit course contributes to the GPA (grade point average). The term GPA is calculated by adding the grade points earned during a single semester and dividing by the number of classes. For example, if a student is enrolled in 6 classes in a single term and earns three A s and three B s, the student s term GPA would be 3.5 ( = divided by 6 is 3.5). The cumulative GPA is calculated by adding the grade points earned during each semester and dividing by the total number of classes. MNVA High School Honor Roll is determined by term GPA. Class rank for MNVA-HS is determined by Cumulative GPA. Every course taken is used in the computation of the GPA unless the course is taken on a Pass/Fail basis. PSEO and Transfer credits count towards the cumulative GPA and class rank. If a student fails a course required for graduation, the student will need to retake the course; however, the subsequent passing grade does not expunge the original failing grade from the student s transcript or cumulative GPA computation. Honor Roll Policy To be eligible for the Honor Roll, a student must be carrying at least five classes from MNVA s K12 curriculum, an approved college or university curriculum, another school district s curriculum through a tuition waiver agreement, or an approved independent study course. The courses must be approved in advance of enrolling in the class. To qualify for the Principal s Honor Roll, a student must have a term grade point average of 4.0. To qualify for the A Honor Roll, a student must have a term grade point average of at least To qualify for the B Honor Roll, a student must have a term grade point average of at least 3.0. To qualify to graduate With Honors, a student must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or above. In order to be considered for valedictorian or salutatorian honors, students must have been enrolled with MNVA for at least 2 semesters and be currently enrolled in MNVA. 8

10 Attendance Policy Daily participation is required in the MNVA-HS program. Learning coaches are responsible for ensuring that their students are actively engaged in all of their courses on a daily basis. Attendance will be taken daily by the administrative assistant and will be monitored by the advisors. Students are required to log in to each of their classes five days per week. Students should spend an average of at least one hour per day per course in their online classes. Failure to log in daily will greatly reduce the student s ability to be successful in his/her classes. Extended absences from coursework may constitute truancy. Families requesting excused absences are responsible for notifying the MNVA-HS office about the length and reason for the absence. Absences of three or more days for medical reasons may require verification by the student s doctor. If extenuating circumstances arise, prohibiting the student from attending school, please contact the MNVA-HS office at (507) option 3 or toll-free at (866) option 3. Truancy Truancy is a violation of Minnesota state law, and an MNVA-HS student will be considered truant if he or she fails to complete schoolwork in one or more classes for three consecutive school days without an excuse. Absences may be excused because of an illness, religious observance, family emergency, or funeral. All other absences are presumed to be unexcused. MNVA-HS has a defined procedure to deal with students who reach a truant level of absenteeism: On the third consecutive day of unexcused absence, the office attempts to contact the student and his/her family by phone to inquire about the absences. If no legitimate reason is given, or if the office is unable to make contact with the family, the office mails the first truancy warning letter to the family (pursuant to 260A.03). This letter explains that the student is currently considered in violation of the school s attendance policy and that he/she should log in and resume schoolwork in all classes immediately to avoid being removed for truancy. On the seventh consecutive OR cumulative day of unexcused absence, the office attempts to contact the student and his/her family by phone again. If no contact is made or no legitimate reason for absence given, the office notifies the truancy contact person in the student s county of residence and follows whatever legal referral processes they deem necessary (pursuant to 260A.06 and only in cases in which the student is younger than 18 years of age). A second truancy warning letter is also sent to the family which states that the student is still in violation of the school s attendance policy and needs to log in and resume work in all classes immediately to avoid being removed for truancy. In addition, the student and, if applicable, his/her legal guardian are told they must call the office and discuss the absences. If the student is under 18, the family is also told that the resident county has been informed of the student s truancy. On the 15 th consecutive day of unexcused absence, the principal attempts to contact the student and, if applicable, his/her legal guardian by phone to inform them that the student is on the verge of being referred back to his/her resident school district due to non-attendance. If contact is made, the student is told that he/she must log into all classes and resume working immediately. If no contact is made, the attempt is documented. The student is removed from MNVA-HS if he/she does not log in by the end of the 15 th day (pursuant to 126C.05 Subd. 8). Notification letters are sent to the student/family and the resident school district. 9

11 School Closings Because MNVA-HS is a virtual school, we are not subject to school closings due to inclement weather. Students are expected to log in and participate in their daily classroom schedule, even when Houston Public School s traditional sites are closed. School Outings and Events Throughout the school year, various mandatory outings, such as state testing, will be scheduled. In addition, MNVA-HS provides a range of opportunities for students and families to gather as an important means of building community and exploring educational and social opportunities throughout the state. Face-to-face events with teachers and staff serve to further develop a positive connection to the MNVA-HS community. MNVA-HS sponsored events are to be considered an extension of the classroom and all school policies and procedures will be in effect throughout the duration of all school-sponsored outings or events. Netiquette Etiquette (called netiquette in cyberspace) is just as important as real world manners. Netiquette rules are necessary because readers draw inferences from the way your words are presented, rather than from your nonverbal body language. All communications between MNVA administration, MNVA teachers, the learning coaches, students, K12, and other parties directly related to MNVA must be conducted with appropriate professionalism. Demeaning or foul language, derogatory remarks or innuendos are not acceptable. This includes communication during phone conferences, in , kmail, skype, Elluminate and any communication posted on the MNVA website. You may not use your school kmail account for sending or receiving any personal kmail that is unrelated to your school work. Be aware that teachers and administrators have complete access to your kmail, so nothing you do with your school account is considered private. Any inappropriate communication will result in administrative action. The following is a set of rules students should follow for written communication: and kmail messages should be written in a more formal manner than instant messaging. Grammar and punctuation should be consistent with rules of English when composing or kmail. For example, capitalize the first letter of a sentence, use correct spelling, use punctuation marks, etc. Do not capitalize all letters when writing; this is equivalent to shouting! Refrain from using abbreviations or use them sparingly as your teacher may not be able to decipher what your abbreviation means, e.g., TIA for thanks in advance. You may use emoticons to express feelings, but remember: there is no substitute for a clearly written sentence. Please do not send chain letters or spam material of any nature to your teachers or fellow students. This is most inconsiderate! And last, but not least, think before you send as you cannot un-send. All electronically-delivered text is traceable. 10

12 Student Discipline MNVA-HS expects all students to behave in a manner that is respectful of others and towards school property. When registering for the MNVA-HS program, students should be aware that they are expected to comply with the following standards as well as all policies and procedures in this Student Handbook: The internet will be appropriately used on school computers as outlined in the course materials. Inappropriate use of the internet will not be tolerated and may result in the loss of the right to participate in the MNVA-HS program. Appropriate language and message content is expected at all times. Teachers may retrieve and print student work, comments, and messages at any time. Using, possessing, distributing, or being under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicating or controlled substances is prohibited and subject to disciplinary action. Students are expected to adhere to the following procedures: Students must communicate with their teachers on a weekly basis. Students must log in to all of their online courses on a consistent basis. Students are expected to work in their classes a minimum of five times per week. Students must use course materials in an authorized and appropriate manner. Students will be expected to follow other rules specified by their online teachers. Students who fail to comply with the requirements of online learning are subject to the following disciplinary actions: First offense: A verbal warning will be issued. Second offense: The student will receive an warning from either his/her online teacher or the MNVA-HS administration. A copy of the will be sent to the student s learning coach. Third offense: The student may be removed from the MNVA-HS program. Any student disciplined by program removal will be in compliance with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, Rev In the case of a severe offense and at the discretion of school administration, the verbal and written warnings may be bypassed. In the case of infringement of the discipline policy at a school-sponsored event or outing, use of reasonable force by a teacher, school employee, or other agent of the district may be warranted in compliance with Minnesota Statute SS 121A.582 and other laws. In cases of severe infractions, local legal authorities may be contacted. 11

13 Cyberbullying What is it? "Cyberbullying" occurs when a minor is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed, or otherwise targeted by another minor using the internet, interactive and digital technologies, or mobile phones. In order for this behavior to be considered cyberbullying, the infraction needs to be between two minors. Cyberbullying is not tolerated in any form at MNVA-HS. Cyberbullying includes, but is not limited to, the following: Assuming a false identity online to trick others. Spreading lies and rumors about victims. Tricking people into revealing personal information. Sending or forwarding mean text messages. Posting pictures of victims without their consent. Effects of Cyberbullying include, but are not limited to: Physically, emotionally or mentally harming a student. Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical, emotional or mental harm. Placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property. Creating an intimidating or hostile environment that substantially interferes with a student s educational opportunities. How to Prevent and Stop Cyberbullying Below are some preventative measures students can take to minimize their risk of being cyberbullied, as well as help stop the cyberbullying cycle: Never share personal information with anyone even with your best friend. Remember, anything posted online may potentially be viewed by millions of people. Be careful with whom you interact online; block any messages from people you don t know. Do not pass along cyberbullying messages. Tell friends to stop cyberbullying. What You Should Do if You Are Cyberbullied Anyone can be a victim of cyberbullying, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, or financial status. The most important thing to do if you are being cyberbullied is to tell a trusted adult. An adult, whether it is a parent, teacher or school administrator, needs to get involved. Save and document all occurrences of cyberbullying. Cyberbulling is no longer an anonymous crime; technology allows for easy tracking of the source. Cyberbullying is illegal and violators can be prosecuted. For learning coaches if your student comes to you and reports being bullied, report it immediately to the school office and your local authorities. If the accused is a student of the school, school administration will investigate the accusation. If the accusation is proven true, school discipline policy will apply. If the accused is NOT a student of the school, the school office will help the victim and his/her family contact local authorities and/or the resident school district. 12

14 School Discipline Policy for Cyberbullying If a student is found guilty of cyberbullying, the following consequences will apply based on the severity of the infraction: First offense or Minor Infraction: The student will receive a verbal warning and meet with the school counselor to learn about cyberbullying. Second offense or More Severe Infraction: The student, parent or guardian, counselor and administrator will hold a conference. A record of the infraction will be placed in the student s file. Third offense or Severe Infraction: Repeated offenses or severe infractions may result in the student being removed from school in compliance with the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act, rev To learn more about cyberbullying visit the following websites: mesearch=&ddoctitl Search=&fullText=cyberbullying

15 Academic Integrity Academic integrity is a concept used to address the many facets of authenticity within a student s work. A student who upholds a high standard of academic integrity maintains that the work he/she turns in is authentic and true to the knowledge he/she has acquired. As the technology age has helped grant people quick access to any and all information on the web, academic integrity is becoming more of a standard in educational institutions as they begin to hold students to higher accountability measures. It is important that students taking courses online are equipped to appropriately utilize this technology. Academic integrity means: Your work on each assignment will be completely your own. Your collaboration with another classmate on any assignment will be pre-approved by your teacher. You will not practice plagiarism in any form. You will not allow others to copy your work. You will not misuse content from the internet. What is Plagiarism? Plagiarism is defined as copying or using ideas or words from another person, the internet or another published source and presenting it as one s own work. The following are some examples of plagiarism: Turning in another student s work as one s own. Copying a paper from a source text (including the internet) without proper acknowledgement or permission. Copying materials from a source text supplying proper documentation, but leaving out quotation marks. Paraphrasing materials from a source without appropriate documentation. Turning in a paper from a free or fee term paper website. Buying a paper from a research service or term paper mill. Copying text from an online translator to complete written assignments in foreign language courses. How to Avoid Plagiarism When research is involved for class work, most often you will be asked to cite, paraphrase, or summarize your findings. These are appropriate ways to acknowledge other people s findings. cite: to quote as an authority or example. yourdictionary.com quote: to repeat or cite, as for authority or illustration. Merriam-Webster s Collegiate Dictionary. 11 th ed paraphrase: a re-statement of the meaning of a passage of work, etc. Merriam- Webster s Collegiate Dictionary. 11 th ed summarize: a brief account of the substance or essential points of something spoken or written. Merriam-Webster s Collegiate Dictionary. 11 th ed The website listed below will further define plagiarism and will offer tips to students on how to avoid plagiarism: Plagiarism and the Art of Skillful Citation by John Roberts, Ph. D. at Baylor College of Medicine. Read the MLA Guide Documenting Sources from the World Wide Web 14

16 Use the Slate Citation Machine to easily cite your resources. Simply select the type of resource you used, enter the requested information about that resource, and then copy and paste the MLA citation for the resource from the Citation Machine. Whenever you quote, paraphrase or summarize other people's ideas it is appropriate to acknowledge the source. When quoting someone's ideas, you should place the idea in quotation marks, and then make a note in parentheses next to it citing the author, source and date. Always think... did this idea originally come from me or from someone else? If it originally came from someone else, remember to play it safe and cite the content with the author and source. Please note that MNVA prohibits the use of online language translators in foreign language courses. If discovered, violations of this policy will be subject to the disciplinary actions as outlined below. If you have further questions, please contact your teachers. What Happens if a Student is Caught Plagiarizing? If a student is found plagiarizing or cheating, disciplinary action will be taken. The student will be notified by the teacher regarding the plagiarism. The teacher will also send notification of the plagiarism to the MNVA-HS office to be placed in the student s file. First offense: the student will be required to redo the assignment, but will receive a reduction on the plagiarized assignment s grade. Second offense: the teacher will notify the student and the MNVA-HS office. The MNVA-HS office will make a phone call to the learning coach. The student will receive a zero on the assignment. Repeated offenses may result in the student s removal from the course. 15

17 Tips on becoming a Successful MNVA-HS Student Maximize Your Learning Look at your kmail DAILY. This is your instructor s way of communicating with you. Look at your graded work. Any work with a zero or low grade may have comments on how you may improve. Look at your schedule and decide what lessons you want to complete during your work time. Be sure you have completed the readings before working on the assignment. Check your grade book and teacher s announcements daily. Teachers will post announcements each week which will outline a master schedule of what lessons and assignments should be completed. Checking your grade book will alert you to any missing assignments that need to be completed. If you notice a grade has not been entered for an assignment you have submitted, contact your teacher. Organize Your Time The most common mistake online students make is mismanaging their time. When you are working independently, it becomes your responsibility to manage your learning. This may be a new experience for you. The following are some tips for making the most of your time: Set a schedule. This is particularly important if you are involved in a lot of extracurricular activities or if you have a job. You will need to spend a minimum of one hour per course each day. Become familiar with your teacher s schedule. Although your teachers are available to you many times during the day, evening, and possibly the weekend, there will be office hours that will enable you to get a quicker response. It will not always be possible for you to work during your teacher s hours, but if you can arrange your schedule to do so, you may have better access to help. Stay focused on the task at hand. Do not search the web, play games, chat with your friends, or watch TV while you are working. All these activities may make it seem that you are working on your computer, but in actuality you will not be making progress in your coursework. Organize Your Work Space Keep a notebook for each course in your work area for taking notes. Create a folder on your computer in which to keep your assignments. You will file word documents that are submitted throughout the course. If you do not know how to set up new folders on your hard drive, please ask the tech expert in your household or contact your teacher or the K12 technical support staff. Make sure you have a space to work at home. Be sure to stock your workspace with pencils, pens, paper, calculator, and a printer. There are three items you will want to always have at your fingertips: a copy of your course schedule, copies of the course deadlines, and a contact sheet for your teachers. These items will answer the three most frequently asked questions: What have I done in the course?, Where am I supposed to be in the course?, and How can I reach my teacher? You should get in the habit of saving a copy of your work in a folder on your desktop and on a flash drive to have as a backup in the event that technical issues unexpectedly shut down your computer. 16

18 General Suggestions for being a Successful Virtual School Student Have your learning coach create your own student account username and password. Remember to log in to your classes daily. Full-time students should realistically expect to spend at least six hours per day on schoolwork, if not longer. You have the ability to schedule your days as you like, but you are expected to log in and complete work daily in all of your courses. Make sure you have a quiet work area. Set up a regular schedule with short breaks and lunch time. Be sure to check your kmail and announcements daily. Thoroughly read and follow all instructions. Check your grade book often to see how you are progressing. Set short- and long-term goals and reward yourself for reaching them. Check the calendar for due dates and meet the deadlines set forth by your teacher. If for some reason you are unable to turn in an assignment on the day it is due, contact your teacher. If you have concerns or questions about your classes, contact your teachers. If you are having difficulties connecting to the system, contact our office. If you need to make a general plan for improving your grades in all of your classes or have any other questions, contact your advisor. Learning Coaches here are some general suggestions to help your students be successful online: Check on your student s progress daily; if you are unsure how to navigate or use the system please contact our office. At the end of each day, sit with your student for 10 to 15 minutes and have him/her review what he/she did that day. If you have any questions or concerns about your child s learning, please contact your student s teachers or our office. Please remember our teachers and staff are dedicated to helping MNVA-HS students be successful online. If you follow these tips, as well as keep weekly contact with teachers, you are sure to have a successful semester. Welcome to our program! Work diligently and don t be afraid to ask questions. We are happy to help you! 17

19 Post-Secondary Enrollment Options Program (PSEO) (For students in grades 11 and 12 only) Minnesota Virtual Academy High School Name: Grade: Post-Secondary Institution: 1) PSEO courses must be pre-approved by the school counselor and principal in order for the student to receive credit. Students are required to sign up for the PSEO courses numbered 100 and above. PSEO registration must be discussed to ensure students are meeting MNVA-HS graduation requirements. 2) Per the Minnesota Statute 124D.09 for Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) Act, one half of the college credits earned will also apply toward the student s high school graduation requirements. For example, if a PSEO student earns 4 college credits for Biology, then they would also earn 2 credits toward their MNVA-HS graduation requirements. 3) All PSEO students are required to maintain full-time credit status. These credits may be taken entirely at the college or a combination of college and high school credits. 4) If a PSEO student has more than the minimum number of credits in any given semester and he/she drops a college class before the tenth day of the college semester, the withdrawn class will not appear on the student s high school transcript, nor will it affect the student s GPA. 5) If a student drops a college class after the first ten days of the semester, a grade of F will be assigned for the withdrawn class. The grade will affect the student s GPA. Students who are considering dropping a college course are strongly advised to contact their MNVA-HS counselor first! 6) Students who drop the PSEO option and choose to re-enroll at MNVA-HS must start attending classes before the tenth day of the semester in which they intend to earn credit. Students are required to make up all work. 7) Part I of the Minnesota State Department of Education PSEO form must be completed by the student/parent and returned to the MNVA-HS counselor before registration for each college term. 8) It is the student s responsibility to contact the designated college regarding registration, orientation, assessments, credit transfer information, and the appropriateness of course selections. 9) Students should contact the MNVA-HS Dean of Students as soon as their college registration is complete so that their MNVA-HS schedule can be adjusted. No MNVA- HS class schedule will be changed until the student presents the college registration form. 10) All grades earned in PSEO will be averaged into the student s high school GPA. 11) Transportation, class attendance, and meeting all PSEO requirements are the responsibilities of the participating student. Parents accept the responsibility of students who drive to a college. 12) Students enrolled in PSEO are responsible for maintaining contact with MNVA-HS regarding senior and graduation related events. Juniors are required to take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. 18

20 Why should I complete and submit the FARM application? There are many benefits to filling out this form, even for families enrolled in virtual schools. Each qualifying family receives 50% discounts on outing fees. Qualifying families also receive $0.15/mile mileage reimbursement for school-related travel (outings, face-to-face attendance, and required testing). For each student qualifying for free and reduced meals status, the school receives up to an extra $2000 in state and federal funding for general purposes. In addition, each qualifying student also brings in greater state and federal funding for technology resources. Information regarding family income is kept strictly confidential and is only used for the purposes of state reporting. The application is included in this packet. In addition, it is also available from the school s website at or any of the school s offices. 19

21 MNVA School Calendar August 25...New Teacher In-Service August Teacher In-Service September 1...Teacher In-Service September 6...First Day of School October 5...Early Out/curriculum assessment October EM Conference NO SCHOOL November 10...Mid 1 st Semester November 11...Teacher In-Service NO SCHOOL November Thanksgiving Break NO SCHOOL December 14...Early out/curriculum assessment December Winter Break NO SCHOOL January 2...Winter Break NO SCHOOL January 3...School Resumes January 16...Martin Luther King Day NO SCHOOL January 20...End of 1 st Semester January 23...Teacher In-Service NO SCHOOL January nd Semester Begins February 20...President s Day NO SCHOOL March 23...Mid 2 nd Semester March 26...Teacher In-Service Break NO SCHOOL April Spring Break NO SCHOOL May 28...Memorial Day NO SCHOOL June 5...Last Day of School/2 nd semester ends June 6...Teacher In-Service June 9...Graduation 20