About Florida Virtual School
Florida Virtual School (FLVS) has been leading the way in Kindergarten-12 online education for 25 years. FLVS provides a robust, award-winning curriculum to public, private, charter, and homeschool families and school districts nationwide. Learn more at flvs.net.
FLVS Corkboard: March Highlights
By Florida Virtual School on March 20th, 2017
It’s March, and minus the cold snap madness, spring has sprung—and FLVS continues to sow seeds of learning!
While you may be rooted in the “here and now” of schoolwork and tasks to accomplish this semester, we understand that some of you may already be thinking of life after high school. For many, that may mean college. Or, maybe you think you’d like to go to college but aren’t sure if you “have what it takes” or if you can afford it.
Great news! If you are a student in Florida, you can learn how to prepare for college without leaving your home. (But we do recognize that leaving the home is ultimately the goal of every child—and their parents.)
Virtual College Week
You can explore the notion of college all from your living room if you make plans now to participate in Virtual College Week, April 4-6. Presented by FloridaShines, students and parents can get free expert advice on all things college-related, including the admissions process and financial aid. Gather important information, ask questions, hear from others—demystify college at no cost. Continue reading
FLVS Attending SXSWedu Conference
By Florida Virtual School on February 27th, 2017
On March 6-9, 2017, Dr. Jodi Marshall, the Executive Vice President of Business and School Solutions at Florida Virtual School, and Mawi Asgedom, CEO of Mawi Learning, will be speaking at the 2017 SXSWedu Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas.
Together, the presenters will share how students set themselves up for success with a suite of powerful leadership courses offered by FLVS and Mawi Learning.
Presenting on How to Create Leaders in an Online World, Jodi and Mawi will explain how to virtually prepare students for leadership roles now and in the future. Continue reading
FLVS Corkboard: February Highlights
By Florida Virtual School on February 15th, 2017
It’s February and we think you’re simply going to LOVE all that FLVS has to offer!
First, we want to remind you that Presidents’ Day is just around the corner. Please note that Monday, Feb. 20 and is a designated holiday break for all FLVS instructors and support staff.
After the long weekend, there are all kinds of opportunities that extend beyond the classroom or courses you select. Here are a few that FLVS is proud to sponsor:
Digital Learning Day
Celebrate Digital Learning Day (DLD) with FLVS next Thursday, Feb. 23. Digital learning can involve any instructional practice that uses technology to strengthen a student’s learning experience. With digital advances ranging from educational apps to new online courses and programs, DLD is a day to keep up with the latest in online education. Be sure to check out our social media pages on this special day next week as we feature a DLD Elementary Takeover on the FLVS Instagram page. Viewers will be able to see “a day in the life” of our very own FLVS elementary students. Connect with us @floridavirtualschool to make sure you don’t miss it!
Having the Choice to Travel
By Florida Virtual School on January 26th, 2017
National School Choice Week is all about getting to choose the best educational option for your children.
The Didier family chose virtual education so they could travel the world!
This spring, the family will spend one month each in Rome, Barcelona, and Paris. By attending FLVS, the students are able to stay up-to-date with their classes, as well as experience different cultures around the world!
Meet a few other students who have traveled the world, pursued their dreams, and excelled in their personal and professional lives by reading these student success stories. Continue reading
FLVS Corkboard: January Highlights
By Florida Virtual School on January 20th, 2017
January is certainly jumping with activities and things to do!
We’re diving into spring semester full steam ahead, with exciting student events, celebrations, and course options. As always, we encourage you to stay connected with your teacher(s), visit www.flvs.net, and check out our social media pages for more information.
Spring is an important time for those planning ahead for college. If you or your student need help during this process, sit down with our advisement team for an upcoming webinar:
Financial Aid Overview
Join FLVS on Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. for an informative webinar that will review how to apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The webinar will also review how to complete the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA) and how to find additional resources to assist students in paying for higher education. Click here to join on Thursday evening. Continue reading
FLVS Corkboard: December Edition
By Florida Virtual School on December 14th, 2016
Dashing through December…in an FLVS kind of way…completing all assignments…improving all the way…ho, ho, ho!
Can you feel it? That sudden surge of excitement that loudly exclaims we are at the mid-year mark and ready to scratch off another year under our belts. Students, let me let you in on a secret…you’re not the only one excited about a break…shhh.
Whether you are a student or teacher sitting in a brick-and-mortar classroom or you plug in daily for online education, the rush from Thanksgiving to New Years can make it hard to focus. But buckle up—we are almost there!
December certainly has been bustling with activities and many of our students enjoyed immersing themselves deeper in technology during Computer Science Week with an Hour of Code (FLVS style, of course). Others recently journeyed to faraway lands, all from the comforts of home during the FLVS 2016 World Fest. No passports were needed, just the willingness to tune in and celebrate different cultures and hear travels and tales from some of our amazing teachers. Continue reading
FLVS Attends GOES-R Satellite Launch
By Florida Virtual School on December 7th, 2016
On Saturday, November 19, I had the privilege of watching the GOES-R weather satellite launch from Kennedy Space Center.
Now you may be wondering what GOES-R stands for. It’s the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite, a satellite system that orbits the earth and sends data back to National Weather Service computers. The R indicates what number or version the GOES satellite is on, so there have already been versions A-R. GOES-S is slated to launch next year and is the twin to GOES-R.
Of course, weather satellites get launched all the time, so why would this one be any more special than the others?
Well, right now we receive images of satellite scans every 30 minutes or so. The GOES-R satellite will provide data at least every five minutes, and in some circumstances every 30 seconds! So not only will it be five times faster than current weather satellites, but it will also gather three times more data and it will have four times better resolution. Continue reading
FLVS Corkboard: November Highlights
By Florida Virtual School on November 18th, 2016
November is whirling by as we travel ever-closer to saying farewell to 2016. As we celebrate things we’re thankful for at FLVS, we want to note just how thankful we are for YOU!
With the Thanksgiving holiday break upon us, sounds of “Woot, Woot!” can be heard across the nation. As a reminder, November 23-25, 2016, has been designated as the Thanksgiving holiday break for all Florida Virtual School teachers and staff.
The FLVS Customer Care Center will be closed November 24-27. Although teachers will not be available, you are welcome to continue regular progress in your course.
Whether you are traveling to loved ones or are going to be vacationing at home, we are so thankful for you and wish you a most wonderful and safe holiday!
By this point in the year, students, teachers, and families are well on their educational journey, navigating the school year waters. While some students are treading diligently at their pace, there are others setting their sights on life after high school. Continue reading
Happy National Distance Learning Week!
By Florida Virtual School on November 9th, 2016
In August of 1981, the first personal computer was invented.
Selling for a whopping $1,565 (today’s price would be more than $7,000), it hardly had any of the high tech specifications that basic computers come with today.
It had an 11 ½ inch monitor (definitely not a touch-screen), a floppy disk drive (most people under the age of 25 have no idea what that even is), and offered a black and white screen. Now, imagine your students and children using this PC for homework. The World Wide Web doesn’t even show up until 1991, so they are very limited in what they can use the computer for.
Now, fast forward to November 2016. Continue reading
A Message to FLVS Teachers from Students
By Florida Virtual School on October 31st, 2016
FLVS teachers and staff members recently returned from our annual In-Service Training.
This yearly event is a great time to meet with colleagues face to face, sharpen our skills, and put a few new tricks in our hats.
I was pleasantly surprised to walk into a session in which some of our students were part of a panel telling us what a day in their life is like. They spoke candidly and honestly and some of what they said needs to be in the FLVS Teaching Handbook!
Here are some of those pearls of wisdom, straight from the source. Continue reading