New Course and Certification Opportunities

Many don’t like to see stores stocking back-to-school supplies as early as mid-July.

I personally love it! As a parent and educator, I believe it’s a fresh start for students and teachers. Here at Florida Virtual School, we have students who take classes year round in our Flex program, but we also have students who follow a more traditional calendar with our Full Time program. Full Time students will be returning to school this month, and I want to share some of the exciting things happening this school year.

I’m particularly thrilled for FLVS Full Time students to come back this fall. If you’re attending FLVS Full Time this year, find resources to help you start the year off here!

Just a few months ago, we finished the school year with a fun end-of-the year Career and Technical Education (CTE) Awards ceremony. We recognized students for their hard work and dedication in their CTE classes. It was such a success that we plan to hold another one at the end of this school year.

Speaking of CTE classes, this year we are offering a brand-new class for Full Time students: Foundations of Programming (FoP). This class launched last year in the FLVS Flex program and has enormous success. Students who finish FoP learn skills for today’s high-tech workforce. This course covers fundamentals of programming using the computer language Python.

Another program that is dear to my heart is Web Development.

Many parents and students don’t know that Full Time offers industry certifications to students who complete certain CTE courses. These certifications can be a great benefit for learning skills and developing career opportunities. But how do you even get started on these certificates? It’s easy! Take a look:

Certifications

I taught Foundations of Web Design (FoWD) and User Interface Design (UID) here at FLVS for many years. Students who complete the Web Development program can obtain valuable industry certifications.

Both FoP and FoWD require students to take Digital Information Technology (DIT) first, and this is another opportunity for certification. DIT is a great beginning computer skills course, where students learn how a computer works, and they get specific training on MS Office basics. This year, students enrolled in the DIT course can take the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification exam for Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.

Extracurricular Opportunities

Planning for back-to-school doesn’t have to just be about classes, either. We have lots of fun clubs and activities. Many CTE students like to join our Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) club. It’s a great way to get connected with other like-minded students. FBLA members participate in community service projects, fundraising activities, and monthly meetings.

It’s a good idea to review the FLVS Full Time course offerings and look for courses that will have the greatest impact on your child’s future. Having a good plan in place gives students an extra advantage.

We have a lot of exciting things happening here at FLVS! I wish everyone a happy and exciting new school year.