My name is Dr. Anthony Serianni and if we haven’t had a chance to meet, I am happy to introduce myself as the new principal at Volusia Online Learning. This is my 23rd year as an educator, the last 8 of which have been spent as a principal at various levels of the school system. In addition to dedicating my professional life to the children of others, I have a 14-year old son of my own, and have been married to my wonderful wife for the past 17 years. I spent the last 18 years serving in Orange County and am excited to join the team in Volusia County Schools.

One of my goals as the principal of VOL is to work with our community and our incredibly talented group of teachers to create a school that has the feel of a traditional school with the flexibility of a virtual school. VOL took a massive step in that direction prior to my arrival by deciding to hold its first official graduation ceremony this year. In between now and this spring when we honor and celebrate our very first graduating class, I hope to bridge the gap between the traditional brick and mortar school and the virtual school through community functions, like our upcoming Trunk-or-Treat, the establishment of clubs and other school organizations, and other traditional school activities such as field trips and school yearbooks. 

My other great interest in leading a school is building a strong, close-knit community. This is particularly challenging in the virtual world since the VOL community is spread across the 1500 square miles of Volusia County. However, the shared experience of the recent hurricane is a great opportunity to become closer and develop the proverbial ties that bind. The effects of Hurricane Ian vary from complete devastation to a mere inconvenience, but we all share in the aftermath and I want all our VOL families to know that we are here for you. While we cannot control the school year clock, we can work with you and your students to ensure that everyone has the ability to access their courses and is given the appropriate amount of time to recover before being held accountable for their progress. We are also here for families who are in need of additional support due to the effects of the storm. Our counselors are available to assist as needed and can point families to the various resources available through Volusia County Schools and the State of Florida. Finally, we are also here to serve as a conduit for a network of families with similar experiences who want support or to support others.  

The publication that you are currently reading is our first edition of the Foxhole Flyer. This monthly community brief is designed to keep us connected with worthwhile information delivered through inspirational stories about the amazing people who make up this unique and diverse school. By keeping you informed, my goal is not only to create a network, but also to connect our community by sharing how success is found by individuals and families working together towards common goals. Henry Ford may have said it best, “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success.”

I look forward to working with you this school year to help your students find success. Please take the time to read the content below for critical updates for all grade levels, testing, numerous celebrations and spotlights, as well as shout-outs to the community partners who support your children. As always, I welcome your feedback on how to make VOL and the Foxhole Flyer better and more effective for you and your family; you can reach me via email anytime at aaserian@volusia.k12.fl.us.

Thank you for reading and have a great week!

Dr. Serianni

October 21 5:30PM-7:00PM: Join us for our 2nd Annual VOL Drive Thru Trunk or Treat in the Silver Sands Middle School east parking lot

October 26 4:00PM: SAC Meeting VOL Offices, 1290 Herbert Street Center

November 8: Election Day (Teacher/Student Holiday)

November 11: Veteran’s Day Holiday

November 21-25: Thanksgiving Break *** November 21-22 may be used as makeup days for inclement weather ***

Congratulations to our VOL Foxes of the Month for September! Our staff was asked to nominate one of their amazing students who has had a great start to the school year.

In high school, junior Linda Petersen was nominated by Dr. Thomas for showing great initiative and strong work ethic. Dr. Thomas said she has a, “smooth and precise,” writing style and he wishes he had “88 more students just like her!” Ms. Beasley nominated senior Juliet Bertram for being an excellent writer, a hard worker, and for being proactive in her communication in English class.

In middle school, 7th grader Alexa Pustejovsky was nominated by Ms. Kavanaugh, who said that “Alexa is an exemplary student. She surpasses assignment criteria regularly, and does so with a smile. In addition to being a great student, she's also a great chef! Alexa enjoys cooking and baking for her friends and family. Any teacher is lucky to have her, and I am honored!”

Also in 7th grade, Mrs. Potter nominated Madeline Berube. According to Mrs. Potter, “Madeline is a phenomenal writer. She exceeds expectations in every Creative Writing assignment, as well as attends and actively participates in live lesson discussions. Her recent submission of developing her own character was very creative. Madeline loves writing, playing games, and listening to 80s music in her free time.”

In elementary school, 2nd grader Evan Hills was nominated by Mrs. Weslar for being a hard worker, taking pride in the work he produces, and always doing his best. Finally, 1st grader Ada Chall was nominated by Ms. Woodward for being, “a fabulous student who does a great job of turning in quality work and is very conscientious of remaining on pace. She has done a beautiful job of being patient and waiting her turn in lessons. She comes with a positive attitude who is always willing to participate. She is so kind to her friends in class and a joy to me, her teacher, and her peers!”

Did you know that students who attend live lessons and small group sessions continue to outperform their peers on their graded assignments, retention of skills, and state assessments? Please make live lessons a priority for your child. If your child is struggling with a concept or lesson, please book a tutoring session with your child’s teacher so that she/he can assist them now before the end of the quarter.

It is hard to believe that we are almost at the end of the first quarter. Please remember that all coursework for the first quarter must be submitted no later than Friday, October 15th at 3:00 PM.

Monday, October 17th is a Teacher Duty Day. Teachers will not be available to students, so they can complete their quarter one grades.

Access to quarter two courses will be available no later than Tuesday, October 18th at 8:00 AM.

We will update you once Quarter 1 report cards are available in Parent Portal for your review.

8th grade full-time students will have the opportunity to visit Washington DC with VOL staff Feb 7-11 Cost is $874, due Dec. 15; pending School Board approval; More information to come from VOL staff.

8th grade full-time students can visit the Museum of Arts and Sciences for a field trip December 5th: Mrs. Bogdanoff will reach out to her 8th grade science students with more information at the end of October.

7th and 8th grade full-time students: High School Showcase will be December 8th at the Volusia County Fairgrounds. Explore educational choices and programs available in our high schools.

Make sure you've completed Welcome Calls with all your teachers. That is one of the requirements of being a VOL student.

Studies show that regular communication with teachers is the key to success in virtual school? Encourage your child to communicate with their teachers regularly and attend Live Lessons.

Parents and students, be sure to participate in Welcome Calls with each of your teachers. This is a requirement of enrollment in our program. Although not required, it is strongly encouraged that students attend live lessons for each subject. Specific information related to your coursework is shared and reinforced through this weekly communication with your teachers. Studies show that attending live lessons are the keys to success in virtual school!

Seniors, make sure you are in contact with your counselor regarding opportunities throughout the year. Stay on top of graduation requirements, including testing. The ACT NCR test is offered to seniors this fall to earn a concordant score to fulfill the math and/or reading graduation requirement. Contact Ida Sierra (ilsierra@volusia.k12.fl.us) to sign up! All testing information can be found on our website: www.volusiaonlinelearning.com under the parents and students tab. Check it out!

Bachelors in English minor Education- UTA

Masters in Education with a specialization in Reading and Literacy- Walden University

2017

19 years

No, I started teaching after college.

2020

I don’t like saying. Lol!

I absolutely love working with parents and their kiddos. Helping families and advocating for our students is super rewarding. Working with such a great faculty that is always supportive makes my job so fantabulous! They are always there to make me smile!

I enjoy going to the beach, working in my yard and anything outside. I enjoy doing renovations and remodeling my home. Spending time with my family brings me great joy!

In my position, I interact mostly with parents but one day one of our families came in to pick up a computer and asked if I was available. I had never met mom in person but had spoken to her many times. When I entered the hall, mom gave me a huge hug and told her daughter who I was. This sweet little girl wrapped her arms around my leg with the sweetest smile looking up at me. I asked mom if I could give her some treats from my office. Mom said sure and yelled down the hall reminding the little girl that she didn’t have her walker with her and to be careful. She yelled back to mom “Don’t worry Mrs. Gippert won’t let me fall.” I looked down at her and said no honey I won’t let you fall. Her smile was so bright and had the biggest twinkle in her eyes. She got her treats and told me she would never eat them but keep them because I gave them to her. Needless to say, I grabbed a handful more and gave them to mom for later. It was such a sweet moment between me and this little girl that was just so precious!

My second-grade teacher had a huge influence on my career. When I was in third grade I had, let’s just say a little too much energy, and struggled staying focused learning to read fluently. I went to her classroom every day to help me with reading and she made things so much easier for me to sit, stay focused and learn. From that moment, I knew I wanted to teach and help other students that may struggle like I did.

Always reach for the moon, but if you miss that’s ok because you will always land among the beautiful stars.

My grandparents: They passed away a few years ago and was such a huge support to me. I would love to have just one more dinner with them.

Kenny Chesney: I love a little country twang over dinner and he is adorable!

Judy Blume: Grew up reading her books and passed my books down to my son. We loved reading them together and giggling over the stories.

Well I am not a huge movie watcher but I absolutely LOVE watching the “Golden Girls”. It just makes me crack up laughing no matter how many thousands of times I have watched it.

I would love to go to outer space! I cannot sit still for 5 seconds, my bedroom would become awfully boring. I would love to roam and adventure through space.

Oh my yes I would love to teleport! Going anywhere I wanted in the matter of minutes would be fabulous!

I played the flute and piccolo for 8 years. I haven’t picked one up in years and have no idea if I could still play.

BA Political Science, UF

MA Math Education, UCF

2016

Since 2006

Nope, straight from college to teaching. I went to school to be a lawyer and my senior year I decided I was going to be a teacher. So my first year out of undergrad, I got my masters in math ed at the same time as my first year teaching. I chose math because it always came easy to me, but I knew it wasn't that way for most people and I wanted to help turn something negative (for many) into a positive.

2016

Math Teacher of the Year 2021, Teacher of the Year 2022

I love the people I work with, the 1:1 aspect of working with students, and getting to be apart of a unique solution for many students who struggle with math courses in the traditional setting.

Take care of my kids/pick up their messes, Sushi and karaoke dates with my husband, Remake my TO DO lists, Go to concerts, the beach, read a good book, and travel. I also sell the best wine and makeup on the side. :)

Definitely getting surprised as Teacher of the Year - I was so surprised to see the leadership team at my door!

My former History teacher as a student, and when I became a teacher, my Principal, Mike Kotkin. He has always made time to listen to me, believe in me, and encourage me. His calm and positive demeanor is so welcoming and empowering; he is someone I could go to for anything at any time. "Go forth and conquer" was what he told us every day. As a teacher he connected with his students and instilled a belief and confidence in themselves. As a principal, he was a problem-solver and a true LEADER. He made learning fun, and he made teaching meaningful. He once told me "The cream always rises to the top" and that stuck with me. I appreciate him more than he will ever know!

The only thing permanent in life is change.

My Granny, Papa, and cousin Amber - they all passed away and I would want one more time with them to tell them everything they mean to me.

Dumb and Dumber after all these years. Also a big fan of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Outer Space obviously! The view would be magical!

Teleport for sure! Would be fun and convenient - and I do not want to be bothered by knowing what other people think all the time, hah!

I would love to learn the guitar so I could put music behind songs I've written.

Why is yawning contagious? LOL!

I require my students to turn in handwritten notes before DBAs and tutoring, is that cool?

Welcome to the Counselors’ Corner where you will find important and timely messages from our school counselors!

Whether a student is entering high school this year or preparing to graduate in May 2023, it is never too early to become familiar with the graduation pathways and diploma designations available. For a quick overview, please CLICK HERE to view Florida's High School Graduation Requirements. We encourage parents to remain actively involved during the high school years. Although teens grow to be more independent than ever before—and supports differs from those provided in earlier stages of life—young adulthood is nearing and those who experience the greatest success during this transitional time report having the on-going support of a caring adult.

Senior Conferences and Financial Aid informational sessions are underway…seniors and their parents will receive more detailed information directly from their school counselor. Prior to attending this month’s Financial Aid Presentation (designed to inform families of the various forms of post-secondary financial aid available through the state of Florida and through the federal government of the USA), families are encouraged to visit: www.floridashines.org/go-to-college/pay-for-college and to prepare a list of questions for our presenters. All seniors are highly encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and the Florida Financial Aid Application (FFAA®) now! Applications opened on October 1st and some funding is limited to those who apply early. All seniors should complete both applications—even if they do not yet have certain plans to attend post-secondary schooling.

Source: The Wall Street Journal (Jan. 2021) 

All high school students can expect to participate in high school planning and career exploration activities supported by the Counseling Department. College planning & informational sessions will also be made available to students and parents throughout the school year. Families are encouraged to begin exploring resources at www.floridashines.org now.

6th Graders- Welcome to Middle School! These next 3 years will be an exciting time as your “tween” begins dreaming of and planning for the future! Throughout middle school, students will take stock of personal interests, inventory personal skills and explore careers related to your talents and interests. Parents are encouraged to maintain regular contact with school counselors throughout the journey of middle school.

7th and 8th grade students– Save the Date! The High School Showcase will be held on December 8th, 2022, at the Volusia County Fairgrounds. Mark your calendars now for an evening of fun as you and your student explore the educational choices and programs available in our Volusia County High Schools. Students will have the opportunity to meet the Program Coordinators and to talk with high school students in each of these programs…to ask questions and learn how these programs help students prepare to graduate college-ready and/or and career-ready with the knowledge and skills necessary for future success. Parents are encouraged to explore the offerings available at each high school and become actively involved in selecting the programs that match the interests, needs, and abilities of their students. This event will be here before you know it!

Please mark your calendar for the week of October 24th! We are excited to announce that we will be recognizing Red Ribbon Week again this year. Along with exploring lessons in K-5 substance abuse prevention, students are invited to participate in themed school spirit days! Be sure to have your cameras and videos ready for this fun and engaging week-long event!

Parents/Guardians/School Advocates- We applaud your commitment to being fully engaged in the education of your loved one! Your involvement and support are crucial to their development and growth in these formative years. Should you have concerns about their educational needs or factors impacting their educational progress, please reach out for resources and support.

Our school counselors are here for you! We are committed to helping students discover and explore their interests and abilities, identify and develop personal goals, and navigate the world of virtual learning. We look forward to supporting students, parents/guardians, and school advocates throughout the school year as students engage in meaningful academic pursuits.

~Kara Kauffman, Counseling Director

Thank you for your patience the past few weeks as we worked with the district and state to administer our first Progress Monitoring assessment remotely. This was a new state assessment and we had made any technical issues to overcome. We will continue to debrief behind the scenes to perfect the process prior to Progress Monitoring 2 in January.

During the month of October, second grade students will participate in NNAT3 testing. This assessment is a gifted screener and students report to their zoned school for this in-person assessment. Families have been provided school specific information regarding what day and time to report if they would like their child to participate in this assessment.

At the secondary level, any student that has already taken a course with an End of Course examination and has not passed each part of the EOC, or has never taken the EOC for that course has the opportunity to participate in an EOC retake until October 14th. Please reach out to Mrs. Sierra at (ILSierra@volusia.k12.fl.us) immediately. Secondary students will have opportunities to take the PSAT 8/9, PSAT NMSQT, SAT, ACT NCR, and PERT. Please continue to check your emails and register in advance to participate in these assessments on your zoned school’s campus.

Please check our VOL testing website on a regular basis: https://www.volusiaonlinelearning.com/parents-students/testing-information

We recently sat down with the Pearson family to learn more about them, what they love about VOL, how the family has adapted so well to virtual schooling, and what tips they would share with other families to help make virtual schooling work for them.

A: We lived in Denver, CO before moving to FL three years ago. We liked going to Disney a lot our first couple years in FL. We love being so close to the beach and have gotten good at boogie boarding. Mantanzas is one of our favorite beaches to explore. We miss the snow. We really love holidays and like doing lots of fun activities for each one. We like biking, running, and swimming. We are so excited some of our cousins moved near us this summer.

A: The kids really didn’t want to wear face masks to school. Then we quickly realized it was a great fit for our family.

A: This is our third year with VOL.

A: Mom pretty much full-time, Dad part-time when he can. Our first year Grandma in WA state would help over FaceTime sometimes.

A: Learning Coach - Our kids wake up on their own body rhythm. Once they are all awake, we do a bike ride (or they play in the yard) and breakfast. The older two are pretty independent at this point so I focus on school with Aeva and Teyvin. I stop to help Haddie occasionally. Kael just needs the occasional check-in. Our first year I was right by Haddie’s side for most of her school day — usually at least four to five hours. But as she has gotten to know the system, she’s been proud to do more and more independently. We make sure to get them their own planner at the beginning of the year and have helped them learn how to write down and check off their expected tasks for the day. Even with the kids working so hard to be independent, some days it can definitely feel like I’m being pulled 12 different directions and my anxiety will spike a bit, but then there are the days we get to take off mid-afternoon as a family to go on some adventure and that makes it worth it.

Students - Around noon each day we take a lunch break. Sometimes we do a “learning lunch” where one of the kids shares a topic they are excited about in school or we look up something we are curious about. After lunch we do 10-30min of “resetting” the house (tidying toys, laundry, dishes, etc.). Then each kid gets to pick a book that I read aloud to them. After that the older kids go back to school while the younger one’s rest. In the late afternoon everyone does “jobs” — chores I pay them to do and piano. If they’ve done all their responsibilities well, they get an hour of electronics. Then we send them outside to play or they run around the house crazy till dinner, baths, and bed.

A: I think the flexibility helps make it a successful program. I was lucky from the beginning as a learning coach that Kael wanted to be completely independent and is pretty technologically savvy. He learned how to scan his assignments in on the printer because I always took too long to do it and would get him “behind pace”. I would check in with him and he’d say, “I was confused about this, so I emailed my teacher, and they should get back to me soon.” That meant basically my full attention could be on Haddie. I think this is a good format for kids who are self-starters like that. But it’s also been great for Haddie even though she started a lot younger. At first, she would want a lot of breaks and we’d be “still” working on school clear till bedtime or over weekends, but it was because she had the luxury to step away often and get outside or play a bit then come back and re-focus. As she’s gotten older, she’s worked hard to develop the skill of focusing for longer periods and now her school days are shorter. But she got to grow into it slowly. It wasn’t all easy along the way, but Kael’s first teacher emphasized giving ourselves patience and grace as we jumped into something new — that idea has helped a lot. It’s ok to try different strategies. It’s ok to ask for help.

I spend a lot of my time as a learning coach learning about “growth mindset” and reminding them of those strategies. It’s not just about a low grade on an assignment — it’s about learning to not be too hard on yourself when those frustrations come. Learning that we learn best from mistakes, and we can always try again. Giving them the confidence and resiliency strategies, I hope helps them be more successful.

A: We just ask them each year what they want for the next year. We tried a lot of different schooling options before VOL, and this is what they’ve wanted to stick with the longest. I think it will continue to be hard to beat. They don’t have to wake up to alarms, we all get to share in each other’s learning journeys. We “sneak” (push to work ahead) in extra breaks and family time — it’s not all easy, but it’s a good deal.

A: One thing I love is being involved in my kids learning. When the kiddos were in brick and mortar, I’d ask what they did that day and they’d say, “nothing much”. Now I’m there with them as they learn, or they find me to tell me something their excited they just learned. I love that a lot.

A: Each kid is so different I don’t feel like I could necessarily give tips. But I echo what I said about all of us giving ourselves patience and grace. It did feel hard for a while till we found our groove. It’s ok if you’re still finding yours.

Politis & Matovina, P.A. is a local Daytona Beach personal injury law firm. All the attorneys at the firm grew up in Florida and are natives to the area, living and raising their families here. The firm is very active in the local community, and they regularly partner with various organizations and events to help better our community and our State. Politis & Matovina, P.A., believe in the importance of educating our future generations, and are committed to giving back to our community.

As a VOL business partner. They have donated funds to help VOL provide food, drinks, and student prizes for our VOL Family Fun Runs. Recently, Politis & Matovina, P.A., sponsored our VOL “B” School Grade Celebration at Giuseppe’s Pizza for all VOL faculty and staff, by providing funds for the food and drinks for all VOL employees. VOL truly values all that Politis & Matovina, P.A. has done for our school, and we look forward to our continued relationship with them.

Don Shula, former coach of the Miami Dolphins, is the only coach to have led his NFL team to a perfect season and a Super Bowl victory. His secret? When he coached, he held to a twenty-four hour rule. After a football game, he allowed himself, his coaches, and his players only twenty-four hours to celebrate a victory or sulk over a defeat. During that time, they were encouraged to make the most of the experience. But once the twenty-four hours were over, they had to put it behind them.

You don't have to be a football player to benefit from that advice.

Copyright Notice

Reproduction of this material, either written or electronically, including the general layout, graphics, analyses, and content topics without the express approval of Target Performance Systems, Inc., a Florida corporation, and Volusia Online Learning is forbidden without written consent. Thank you for your support of the Volusia County Public Schools and especially Volusia Online Learning. Please contact Dr. Serianni at aaserian@volusia.k12.fl.us with any questions related to the program.

Volusia Online Learning | Dr. Serianni, Principal | 386.506.0014 | VOL Website