Homeschool Edition
Outdoor Education Video Contest Winners
By Florida Virtual School on March 6th, 2015
Last month, FLVS held a contest asking students to create a video describing the benefits gained by taking Outdoor Education.
We received an overwhelming number of submissions during our final hours and everyone really stepped it up. A big thank you to all of our participants for taking the time to submit an entry! There were so many great submissions that it was hard to choose only three winners. We are very appreciative of our judges who helped us narrow it down!
And now it’s time to unveil the winners… Continue reading
Meet FLVS Student Stars
By Guest Blogger on February 24th, 2015
At Florida Virtual School, each student is recognized as an individual with a unique set of talents and skills.
Many of our students participate in extracurricular activities, some within FLVS and others within their hometown communities.
Every month, our students continue to shine as our highly-certified teachers encourage them to look ahead to what they can achieve in tomorrow’s world.
These are just a few of our students’ recent accomplishments… Continue reading
History Club Celebrates Black History Month
By Guest Blogger on February 20th, 2015
In celebration of Black History Month, the FLVS History Club has compiled a gallery of student work on their website managed by the club president.
The History Club newsletter, “A Blast from the Past,” features student articles, essays, reports, videos, paintings, drawings, and artwork.
Along with monthly updates, the site also includes current news and a page featuring historic events from the current month. Continue reading
Attending the State of NASA
By Guest Blogger on February 13th, 2015
I recently had the privilege of attending the State of the NASA address given by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
The day was full of exciting news and details about NASA’s 2016 budget, captivating science, technology, engineering, and math enthusiasts across the nation.
The SpaceX Dragon, Orion spacecraft, and Boeing CST-100 were on display behind Bolden as he addressed plans for future missions beyond low Earth orbit, with destinations including Mars and Europa. Bolden also described the excitement surrounding student involvement in NASA innovation and STEM research.
Check Out the New Virge: Life in Color
By Guest Blogger on February 11th, 2015
Have you seen the latest edition of Virge?
The Virtual Edge Literary Magazine is a quarterly publication of collected works by FLVS students which includes fiction, non-fiction, art, and photography. Submissions for the next issue to be released in May 2015 are now being accepted through March 1.
All current FLVS students are eligible to submit work to be considered for publication in Virge! Submissions must be original works, be accompanied by a completed Submission Form, and adhere to the following guidelines. The theme for the next edition edition is “Two Cups of Tea.” Submissions should follow this theme as you perceive it.
Happiness Starts with YOU!
By Amy LaGrasta on February 4th, 2015
Attitude is Everything.
Have you ever thought about it? It’s true. In 2014, I read The Happiness Advantage by Shawn Achor. You should read it too! It has really helped to change my mood and shape a new way of positive thinking. In the book, Achor posits that daily affirmation of three happy or good things, no matter how big or small, will help your mind re-focus on the positive.
I have really worked hard to exercise the “three good things daily” practice. My team also shares positive things in their world regularly, creating a positive team and work environment (And if you know anything about counselors, we deal with some pretty tough stuff!) Overall, this daily habit creates a mindset focused on being grateful. It has positively affected my attitude at home with my family and at work with customers and colleagues. Continue reading
Becoming a Student Again with Astronomical Research
By Florida Virtual School on January 30th, 2015
Last year I was honored to be chosen as a NITARP teacher.
NITARP, short for the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program, pairs teachers with astronomers from Caltech and NASA, and allows the teachers to do authentic astronomical research.
I thought this program would be something that was a little out of my comfort zone, as I only had classroom experience (like most science teachers), but I decided to apply anyway as it would be an educational experience. To my surprise, I was one of eight teachers that was accepted out of hundreds of applicants.
The teachers were split up into two teams, each with an astronomer to lead them. My team had educators from Boston, Colorado, and California and my astronomer, Varoujan Gorjian, was from Caltech and NASA. Continue reading
National School Choice Week 2015
By Guest Blogger on January 26th, 2015
“May I have extra vegetables instead of the chicken on my salad?”
It’s a question I often ask while at restaurants because I’m a vegetarian. Many of you probably know my pain of trying to tailor a restaurant meal to specific needs. Maybe you have food allergies, picky children, or just want to change your dinner up, but we’ve all faced it.
Luckily, today, restaurants seem more than willing to offer multiple choices, cooking styles, plate sizes, and substitutions. Almost every time, my meal is perfect for ME. It’s been a while since I’ve run into a situation where I didn’t have a choice when looking through a menu. If I did, you can bet your last penny that I wouldn’t go there! Would you? Continue reading
These are a Few of My Favorite Things!
By Guest Blogger on January 8th, 2015
During a recent vacation, I was committed to experiencing something new every day.
I spent my time in Arizona hiking halfway down the Grand Canyon, stayed in a B&B in Sedona for two nights, hiked the trails around Phoenix, and enjoyed tons of other activities.
I have visited some beautiful places and this vacation inspired me to share a list of some of my favorite places to visit in the United States. It just might spark a few ideas for your own future family trip! Did you travel anywhere special over the holidays?
Holiday Health Tips from FLVS Students
By Guest Blogger on December 19th, 2014
As our students, parents, educators, and staff prepare for Winter Break, we are excited to feature two articles from our student newspaper, News in a Click, about staying healthy over the holidays.
Thank you to student writers Meera Radhakrishnan and Cristi McKee for sharing these exercise tips and winter superfood suggestions! Continue reading