Celebrating our 2016 Grads
By Guest Blogger on June 9th, 2016
FLVS families from across Florida recently gathered to celebrate the Class of 2016.
This year, more than 620 seniors graduated from FLVS Full Time. It was our largest class to date, with more than 330 students in attendance for the traditional ceremonial march.
This year was also the first year that a live broadcast of the ceremony was available, allowing friends and families to tune in on Twitter and Facebook during the event.
If you missed it, find photos and videos from the day on the FLVS Full Time Facebook page or Periscope! Continue reading
Hurricane Season Preparedness
By Guest Blogger on June 8th, 2016
Plan and prepare for hurricane season with these tips courtesy the National Weather Service.
Hurricanes are not just a coastal problem.
Their impacts can be felt hundreds of miles inland, even without it being a major hurricane.
This hurricane season, make sure you have a hurricane evacuation plan. The first thing you need to do is find out if you live in a storm surge hurricane evacuation zone or if you’re in a home that would be unsafe during a hurricane.
If you are, figure out where you’d go and how you’d get there if told to evacuate. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles. Identify someone, perhaps a friend or relative who doesn’t live in an evacuation zone or unsafe home, and coordinate with them to use their home as your evacuation destination. Be sure to account for your pets, as most local shelters do not permit them. Put the plan in writing for you and those you care about. Continue reading
This Year’s Biggest Surprises
By Guest Blogger on June 7th, 2016
The 2015-16 year for FLVS Flex Elementary students is coming to an end…
And what a GREAT year!
Our amazing Kindergarten – 5th grade students experience flexible and fun learning in a way that suits them. As a teacher, being a part of this amazing program has offered all kinds of opportunities to grow and connect.
So what were some of my biggest surprises this year? Continue reading
Celebrating Summer — And You!
By Guest Blogger on June 1st, 2016
The end of the year is such an exciting time for our FLVS students!
Our students may continue to focus on educational goals over the summer or they may focus on other areas of growth within their lives.
Knowing your special gifts can add remarkable meaning and success to your life while helping you to become more willing to appreciate the uniqueness of others.
Many students don’t like the very thing about themselves that makes them one of a kind. Continue reading
Bye-Bye High School, Hello College
By Guest Blogger on May 31st, 2016
My four years of high school was without a doubt the longest four years of my life.
Can I get a “same here” in agreement—or was this just my experience?
While high school wasn’t horrible for me, my time there seemed to drag on like a never-ending prison sentence, with additional time added just for being an awkward teen. We moved five times between 8th and 12th grade; three of those times to different geographical regions in Florida.
It sure would have been wonderful to keep pace and consistency going from one school to the next… Continue reading
Outdoor Education and National Safe Boating Week
By Guest Blogger on May 23rd, 2016
One year old. That’s how old my daughter was the first time we took her to the Florida Keys with us to go lobstering on our 20-foot Proline Center Console. While she was too little to help us catch anything, it was the start of her love for boating. My son’s experience was similar.
It was easy to fall in love with being out on the water. In fact, I think I could say that both of my kids spent half of their time in high school on the water as both were on the crew team. My daughter continued this in college. Today, as an adult, she and her husband just bought their first boat, a 21-foot Dual Console Chaparral! (Looks like boating will be a family tradition for her growing family, too!) Continue reading
The FLVS Minions
By Guest Blogger on May 17th, 2016
Young adolescents require drastically different and unique approaches to education.
Middle school educators have always understood that the biological events of puberty fundamentally disrupt the somewhat smooth development of elementary school years and has a profound impact upon the cognitive, social, and emotional lives of young teens.
In line with this important insight, educators see the need for the delivery of special instructional and administrative changes in the way that education takes place for kids in early adolescence.
Continue reading
Legislation Opens New Opportunities
By Guest Blogger on May 4th, 2016
If you’re like me, you follow education policy closely.
Even if you don’t, it was pretty hard to miss the emphasis put on education this past session here in Florida.
You’ve probably at least heard about “House Bill 7029 – Education” in the news and know that it was pretty big. It addresses areas like athletic eligibility, parent and student rights, the option to attend any public school in the state (given that there is space), and so much more.
That last one, attending any public school, really opens up school choice. Luckily, children all over Florida already have the option to enroll in Florida Virtual School. That’s one of the many perks of being virtual – meeting the student where they are. Continue reading
Exciting Changes at FLVS
By Guest Blogger on April 29th, 2016
FLVS is a Florida public school district of choice.
We are not guaranteed students and our students change from year to year. We are legislatively mandated to help spread the word to students and parents that FLVS is an option available to students in Florida and around the country.
Traditionally, marketing has been primarily known for the creative process, including captivating visuals and clever messaging to communicate to a specific target audience. Today, marketing is much more science-oriented in its approaches. More decisions are made based on customer feedback and trends using real-time analytics and data. With this in mind, earlier this month we shared some exciting new FLVS marketing initiatives based on customer feedback. Continue reading
Child Abuse Prevention: An Educator’s Role
By Guest Blogger on April 27th, 2016
Child abuse can be a tricky topic for teachers.
Not only do we not want to think about something so horrific, but often, educators are not sure what exactly constitutes child abuse, what to look for as indicators, and, perhaps most of all, when to say something (and how to do it!). Teachers, however, play an essential role in the prevention of child abuse and neglect. According to www.childwelfare.gov, educators are invaluable to this cause because of their close and consistent contact with children, their unique opportunity to advocate for children, and their legal obligation to report suspicions of abuse. Furthermore, studies demonstrate that a positive relationship with a supportive adult, like a teacher, can promote resiliency in children who have been victims of abuse. Continue reading