Student Edition

Summer Reading!

By on June 29th, 2016

Sunshine State Readers 2016I don’t know about you, but I look forward to May 1 each and every year!

Why you ask? Picture this: children standing outside the public library automatic sliding doors in the month of May. Sweat beading down their young faces as they grip in their hands the list of all lists – the Sunshine State Young Reader (SSYRA) book list for the year!

Will my book be on the shelf?

The Sunshine State books are coveted and hoarded by children all over the state of Florida each year. These titles literally fly off the shelves of stores and public libraries. Continue reading


FLVS Full Time Class of 2016: Bridget Forster

By on June 28th, 2016

This article was originally written and published in the FLVS student newspaper, News in a Click.

Bridget ForsterFLVS Full Time Senior Class President, Bridget Forster, had a senior year that consisted of international tennis competitions and receiving the prestigious Wendy’s Heisman Scholarship Award, all while maintaining her 4.0 GPA.

Forster, an internationally ranked tennis player, said that she is thankful to FLVS for giving her the opportunity to live her dream of traveling as a competitive tennis player.

Because of the flexibility of FLVS, Bridget was able to follow an extensive training regimen while traveling around the world. “My favorite memory academically is definitely the teachers I got to work with,” said Forster. “I had a hectic schedule as a tennis player and I had the most understanding teachers who were so kind and helpful.” Continue reading


Would you look at that?

By on June 27th, 2016

Appreciate the Little ThingsI’ve recently realized just how addicted I am to my phone.

My 2-year-old daughter is the one who helped me see things a bit clearer. Imagine that? See, my 2 year old pays attention to what’s around her. She sees snails idling by on the ground. Snails! And planes that fly in the sky. She sees happy faces in the clouds and she points each and every detail out to me as we play outside.

All the while I sit scrolling on my phone. Scrolling on my phone is relaxing – I will admit it destresses me and allows me the chance to reset myself if I need a few minutes. So I’m not judging phones. I work in the virtual world – trust me, I’m not judging technology. Continue reading


FLVS Student Succeeds Online and On the Ice

By on June 24th, 2016

This article was originally written and published in the FLVS student newspaper, News in a Click.

Cailey WeaverAt FLVS, teachers and staff often act like proud parents, sharing the stories of exceptional students who take online courses.

Without a doubt, Cailey Weaver is one of those students. She is a talented and dedicated figure skater, who has already won numerous medals and awards in the United States — and she’s only a high school senior.

Weaver began skating at the age of two, when her mother put her into the sport. As the years went on, she enjoyed the creative aspect of figure skating, and with some help from her coach, eventually convinced her mom to let her compete. Continue reading


Celebrating our 2016 Grads

By on June 9th, 2016

FLVS Full Time Class 2016FLVS 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 on June 8th, 2016

Plan and prepare for hurricane season with these tips courtesy the National Weather Service.

Hurricane Prepareness TipsHurricanes 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


Celebrating Summer — And You!

By on June 1st, 2016

Summer FLVS studentThe 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 on May 31st, 2016

Graduation 2016My 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 on May 23rd, 2016

Boating Safety WeekOne 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 on May 17th, 2016

Minions in the ClassroomYoung 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