Inspirational Quotes to Share with Students
By Guest Blogger on August 17th, 2017
School counselors are in the unique position to support students with issues related to both school and home life. They are trained to provide counseling and guidance to students of all ages.
This guidance may take the form of one-on-one sessions or phone calls with online students, presentations to high school classes about college applications, family support and information nights, or small group peer-relation work. Continue reading
Hello New School Year – Elementary Edition
By Guest Blogger on August 11th, 2017
FLVS Flex Elementary serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Our teachers can’t wait for another amazing year, but we couldn’t do it without the support of our amazing elementary parents!
The beginning of a new school year brings much excitement and questions tend to follow. There are questions from parents, questions from students, and questions from our FLVS Flex Elementary teachers who want to know how to best serve their students. Continue reading
FLVS Flex Elementary Adds Special Area Classes
By Guest Blogger on August 7th, 2017
Butterflies in my belly! I can’t wait for August 14 – the first day of school.
I never sleep the night before the first day of school each year. I’m so excited to meet our new children and families, and even though we’ve done welcome calls and seen students and parents at our Open House, nothing replaces ClassTime with our Kindergarten-5 kids.
As the principal of our unique online elementary program, I get more excited with every passing day. Continue reading
If You Build It, They Will Come
By Guest Blogger on July 31st, 2017
It was late 1997. A group of six teachers and four support personnel had spent five months learning about teaching online from any source we could find.
We were building courses in Lotus Learning Space, and preparing to register kids for this new thing called Florida High School. There had been tears, there had been elation, and there had been a lot of supposition about what teaching online meant.
We nervously sat around a small round conference table waiting for the phone to ring after we opened registration for the first time ever. We kept saying to each other, “If we build it, they will come,” but would students really want to try this? The “Web School” pilot in Orange County in the 1996-97 school year drew some students, so we had hope.
Finally, after an excruciating wait, the phone rang. We had our first student! Continue reading
Rolling out the Red Carpet!
By Guest Blogger on July 27th, 2017
Two weeks ago, I attended the Macy’s Florida Teacher of the Year Roundtable and Gala. I spent the week meeting and collaborating with fellow district teachers of the year past and present.
I also met Florida Commissioner of Education Pamela Stewart and Chancellor Hershel Lyons. Thanks to the amazing sponsors for this event, I felt celebrated and appreciated all week receiving gifts and surprises every day.
The gala was held on Thursday at the Hard Rock Live in Orlando where Governor Rick Scott and First Lady Ann Scott made a special appearance. This event was like being in a Miss America pageant complete with glitz and glam!
I walked the red carpet, had my picture taken, and was hustled backstage. Before I knew it, the spotlights were circling and the curtain rose to reveal 73 district teachers standing on stage.
Through the bright lights, I found my family and FLVS guests. Continue reading
Summer Fun
By Guest Blogger on July 10th, 2017
This is the final post in a series by former FLVS student Makaila, a model, author, and student advocate.
Hey FLVS, it’s Mak – with my very last summer post in what has been a fun year writing for The Virtual Voice.
Summer. Summer. Summer. Those three words used to play on repeat in my head, and where from? High School Musical of course.
Summer is in full swing and you know what that means…vacation! Get excited, and enjoy your time off before a new school year begins. You earned it.
So, to get you amped for the rest of summer, let’s talk summer plans! This month, I plan to go to the beach with all my friends. I can’t wait to soak up the sun, play some volleyball on the sand, and go swimming. I go to the beach all the time, but going in the summer is always my favorite. I don’t have to worry about studying for a test, doing an extra credit assignment, or turning in a new essay.
Of course, at FLVS you may be taking a course over the summer – but that doesn’t mean you can’t relax! Continue reading
Embracing Nostalgia: The Good and The Bad
By Guest Blogger on July 5th, 2017
This post was written by Charissa, a student in the FLVS Creative Writing Club.
Have you ever passed by a place you used to visit when you were young and a nostalgic feeling started to resonate in your chest?
The feeling blew you back in time a bit, and sparked that good memory concealed in your mind to come and revisit. It was probably a joyous occasion, and that feeling of ancient and special happiness surfaces again.
Well, what if something bad happened to you? Would the nostalgic feeling be the same? I highly doubt it would. If I visited a place that held a bad memory, I would feel suffocated by air tainted with unhappiness and regret. I wouldn’t have a happy and elated feeling in my chest. I would feel empty and alone.
Something I have realized in this society is this:
We all have our good places reminding us of the joy and happiness life can bring you, but we also have our bad places that are a reminder of how the world can be messed up sometimes. Some people have one more than the other. Continue reading
5 Tips for a Great Summer
By Guest Blogger on June 29th, 2017
It’s finally here!
Summer is in full swing, and if you’re a student, that most likely means no schoolwork and no intensive schedule to follow.
You’re ready to relax as you’ve worked hard and earned this welcomed break. It may feel like summer will last forever and that you’ll have plenty of time to do all those things you think of doing during the school year.
But while summer is a nice stretch of time, June, July, and August go all too quick…
(Can you believe it’s almost July already?)
So to make the most of the endless sunshine, here are five thoughts on how to make your summer great. Continue reading
AP Classes vs. Dual Enrollment
By Guest Blogger on June 15th, 2017
This article was originally written and published in the FLVS student newspaper, News in a Click.
It’s a common question among high school students and their parents: AP classes or dual enrollment?
While there is no right answer for every student, each individual might find that one or both of these options suits them best. Each choice allows students to be challenged by rigorous classes, obtain college credit, improve their college applications and save money on college tuition costs. However, location, qualification requirements, method of obtaining college credit, class offerings and costs differ.
AP, or Advanced Placement, classes are created by AP development committees for the College Board. Each AP class has its own development committee comprised of six or seven high school and college instructors from around the country. The classes (including online Advanced Placement courses) and their respective exams are meant to reflect the curriculum students would encounter in a college-equivalent of that class’ subject, while in a high school setting. Continue reading
College and Beyond
By Guest Blogger on June 9th, 2017
This is the twelfth post in a series by former FLVS student Makaila, a model, author, and student advocate.
Hey FLVS teens! As you look ahead to your final year(s) of high school, the next couple of years may seem challenging. You may spend most of your time focusing on studying or on making straight As. It can be a challenge, and some days it can seem impossible.
I can assure you – it’s possible and you can do it (and if worse comes to worst, then a few Bs or even Cs may not be the end of the world).
So, what’s the next step? College.
It may seem so far away, and that’s what I thought in high school too. But it’s not. It is way closer than you think.
Before you know it, you’ll be going on college tours (try to schedule a few this summer!) and getting merchandise from schools you may not even attend in the end. I know I did. I only went on one college tour, and that was to Florida State. Turns out I wouldn’t get into Florida State, so here I am to this very day with shirts, hats, and mugs that I refuse to use. Continue reading