BLUE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT S VIRTUAL ACADEMY PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR GRADES 6 TO 12

Transcription

1 BLUE MOUNTAIN SCHOOL DISTRICT S VIRTUAL ACADEMY PROGRAM AVAILABLE FOR GRADES 6 TO 12

2 WHAT IS THE VIRTUAL ACADEMY PROGRAM? The Blue Mountain School District s Virtual Academy Program offers a unique opportunity to its students using an Internet-based system delivering quality instruction to students who are not on-site.

3 Rather than participating as traditional middle school and high school students, Virtual Academy student s education is synchronized using technology as the primary mode of communication. Students working in this online learning environment are experiencing the same outstanding curriculum with exceptional teachers known within the community Virtual Academy students have access to all of the same benefits of a Blue Mountain brick and mortar student. Student can use the library, facilities, play a sport, participate in extracurricular activities, and even attend Prom.

4 SUBJECTS OFFERED: Mathematics Language Arts Reading Sciences Social Studies Physical Education Health Business Education

5 ACADEMICS: Courses offered at both the general and college prep rigor. Full year courses condensed into a semester courses are available to Schuylkill Technology Center students. Hybrid options available for Honors and AP courses.

6 HOW DOES IT WORK?

7 The Blue Mountain Virtual Academy uses Internet-based software called Blended Schools. As long as a student has access to the Internet, they have access to their courses 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students are given an individualized username and password Parents / Guardians are also given an individualized username and password to access the software. Parents / Guardians can check grades, monitor their student s progress, and message their teachers.

8 BLENDED SCHOOLS DEMONSTRATION Sample Student: Username: bu14.student Password: eagle14

9 EQUIPMENT: All Virtual Academy students receive: Laptop Printer/Scanner Microphone Headset Textbooks

10 GOOGLE CHROMEBOOK AND PRINTER INCENTIVE PROGRAM: NEW At the end of the school year students can keep the computer and printer if the following conditions are met: 1. Students must commit to the Virtual Academy Program for one full school year. 2. Students must abide by school district policy 815: Acceptable use of computers, network, internet, electronic communications systems and information. 3. Any intentional damage to the computer will result in removal from the incentive program. 4. This program is eligible one time per building. BENEFITS OF THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM: Students can share documents with Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, with teachers and parents. Thousands of Google apps available for education. Free local technical support while in the Virtual Academy Program. An excellent tool for a student to start their college or technical career.

11 COMPARING BLUE MOUNTAIN S VIRTUAL ACADEMY TO OTHER CYBER CHARTER SCHOOLS

12 3 Cyber Charter Schools with the highest enrollment of Blue Mountain School District residents Their locations: 1. Agora: closest office: Wayne, PA 2. Commonwealth Connections Academy: Main office: Baltimore MD, closest office: Harrisburg, PA 3. PA Cyber Charter: Midland, PA (west of Pittsburgh PA) WHY ATTEND A CYBER CHARTER SCHOOL LOCATED IN THE HARRISBURG, PHILADELPHIA, PITTSBURGH, AND BALTIMORE AREA WHEN YOU CAN OBTAIN A QUALITY ONLINE EDUCATION RIGHT IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD?

13 COMPARE OUR NUMBERS! PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL PERFORMANCE PROFILES:

14 Several of the Cyber Charter Schools boast that they are a tuition free option. What they don t tell you It costs the School District you pay taxes to, anywhere from $8, to $16, per year to send one student to a Cyber Charter School. FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE OPTION!

15 Who is eligible for Virtual Academy? Any student in grades 6 12 who resides within the Blue Mountain School District. Will I be charged to enroll my child in Virtual Academy? No Will my child have text books? Yes Will my child graduate from Virtual Academy or Blue Mountain? Students who complete all Blue Mountain graduation requirements will graduate from the Blue Mountain School District. Can my child still participate in extracurricular activities? * Yes, students may participate in all extracurricular activities at Blue Mountain with the same eligibility requirements. VA students can play a PIAA sport and even attend Prom. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

16 Virtual Academy students receive a quality education and superior services. 1. Highly qualified teachers who offer online and face-to-face support to students as needed. 2. Special Education Services available to students who qualify. 3. The same quality curriculum offered within the Blue Mountain School District. 4. On-site assistance option. 5. Local tech support QUALITY SERVICE

17 Upon completion of graduation requirements, students will receive a diploma from the Blue Mountain School District, not from Agora Cyber Charter School. Your student could proudly say, they are a Blue Mountain graduate!!! THANK YOU

18 Samsung Google Chromebook computer HP Envy 4500 Printer Brochures, flyers, business cards Copy of the PowerPoint DISPLAY

19 Mr. John Rohrer Coordinator of Virtual Academy & Student Information Systems Cell: Fax: CONTACT INFORMATION