Volusia Online Learning Community Brief
Monday, April 24, 2023
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Volusia Online Learning Community Member,
Greetings! I hope you are all doing well as we work to finish this year strong. This last week was a busy one in terms of the VOL-VSC High School connection with a flurry of activity regarding seniors in VOL courses. To recap, any senior who was sitting in a VOL course but less than 20% complete was dropped in favor of a school-based solution for that course. Additionally, all high schools were provided with a summary of the progress of all seniors in VOL courses to determine if the student’s current schedule is adequate to meet the deadline for graduation. This decision, as well as the corresponding administrative action, was made quickly and there was a bit of a communication lag. However, I want to commend each of the schools for their efforts as we all work together in the best interests of our shared students.
I do want to remind all secondary schools that all Data APs and Counselors are sent a weekly update of all students at your school who are taking a course through VOL in FLVS. The email comes from Chanda Larson and contains all the information you need to determine whether or not the student is maintaining their pace and succeeding in their online classes. Of course, we communicate with the student and their parents as is appropriate, but we ask the zoned school to review this report weekly as well. You have much more insight into these students than do we and you are in a much better position to see if your student is in a situation that is best for their individual success. If not, we can work together to find a better solution.
In reflecting on this system, it appears that VOL needs to be more affirmative and more specific in communicating student progress with the school next year, and we will address that going into next year. That said, please be on the lookout for the weekly emails from Chanda for the remainder of the year so we can do what’s best for your non-seniors as we move into the summer.
That’s all I have for this week. Please continue reading to find important information about VOL part-time from Rachael McQueen, Edenuity tips from Mary Temarantz, and spotlights about the amazing students and staff that we share.
Thank you for reading.
Dr. Serianni
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♦ April 24th: 2023 Summer App opens (1 semester course for original credit only)
♦ April 24th: 2023-2024 PT App opens
♦ May 11th: PT Senior grades due by teachers in spreadsheet by 4 pm
♦ May 12th: Senior grades shared with schools
♦ May 16th: All senior grades in Focus by 11 AM
♦ May 26th: Deadline for DSC Fall semester dual enrollment registration
♦ May 29th: Memorial Day
♦ June 1st: 8th Grade Celebration West Side, Deltona High School
♦ June 1st: VOL Graduation, 4-6pm, Ocean Center
♦ June 2nd: 8th Grade Celebration East Side, Herbert Street Center
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Part Time Students of the Month - April 2023 |
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Alivia Bebout is a 7th grader at Deltona Middle School and is VOL’s Part Time Middle School Student of the Month for April. Her nominating teacher, Coach Garner, says “She is in the 7th grade and has almost completed the entire course. She has an A and has been working extremely hard in High School Personal Fitness!”
Congratulations, Alivia!
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Sophia Spallone is a student at Atlantic High School and is VOL’s Part Time High School Student of the Month for April. Her nominating teacher, Mrs. Turturro, says “Sophia has worked diligently in German all year long. Not only has she excelled in her coursework, but she is a responsible academic partner. She promptly schedules her DBAs, but keeps in regular contact with me as well.”
Congratulations, Sophia!
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• The Part-time Application for the 2022-2023 school year will close April 23rd. The 2023 Summer Application and the 2023-2024 Part-time Application will open on April 24th.
• Seniors taking a Part-time course will need to be finished with their course by May 10th so VOL can ensure all grades are entered in Focus by the senior deadline.
• End of year grading guidelines for grades 6-11:
High School & Middle School (% complete refers to the segment)
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• A/B/C/D/F – See above chart. Teachers may use their professional judgement with these guidelines.
• I – Extension – An “I” is issued in Focus until course work is completed. If not completed by June 27th, an F will replace the I.
• NG - No Grade
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This month we are spotlighting Dr. Cheryl Manning from Mainland High School. |
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Dr. Manning has been teaching in education for thirty-two years. Currently she is the credit retrieval lab teacher at Mainland High School. She has been in this position for the last 12 years. She is certified in many areas including Elementary K-6, science 5-9, math 6-12, English 6-12, and social science 6-12. Dr. Manning collaborates with the eLearning lab teacher, Ms. Keshishian, and a number of the EBD teachers at Mainland High School using the Imagine Edgenuity online program. She is always available for her students and will even work with them outside of the school day during weekends and evenings.
In Dr. Manning’s words:
“Thank you for this opportunity to share my love of teaching. My grandmother always told me I would make a great teacher. In high school, I thought, “No way!” Originally attending college to be a psychologist, I found teaching was indeed a better fit. After starting my teaching career in 1989 as a kindergarten teacher and twenty plus years in middle school, I finally ended up in high school and I love it. It is so rewarding to see the “Ah hah” moments in high school students when they understand the material or when they complete a course they previously weren’t successful in. Often, students surprise me with how much they can learn when motivated. It is very rewarding to help my seniors experience the success of their hard work and watch them cross the stage during graduation.
When I’m not at school, I enjoy my grandchildren, extended family, and traveling. I often share my adventures with my students and encourage them to share something about their lives with me. By finding common interests, I hope to create a boundless learning environment. Intentionally designing an atmosphere of belonging and motivation inevitably leads to more success. For some children, this feeling of success has escaped much of their high school experience. Once they see what they can do, there is no stopping them. That is why I love teaching. My grandmother was right again!”
~ Dr. Cheryl Manning
“Dr. Manning is absolutely the best!!! She truly cares about the students, holds them accountable, and goes above and beyond to monitor their progress and push them to success! She is a huge blessing to Mainland High School and our students!”
~ Assistant Principal Melissa Fraine
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Giving your school an “Edge” with Mary Temarantz
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This month’s topic: Communication
Did you know that Edgenuity has its own email system?
The email feature allows educators and students to communicate with each other. Emails are kept within the program and are not sent outside of the platform. An educator or student can access their received and sent emails at any time.
• Can students email any teacher within Edgenuity?
Students can only email an educator who is listed under their Edgenuity school they are attached to. They cannot access a teacher’s email outside of their school unless the student is attached to a secondary school (example VOL). Then they would have access to their primary and secondary school educators. Note: Students cannot send attachments in their emails.
• Who can an educator email?
An educator can email students and other educators at their listed school.
• Where does an educator access the email feature in the program?
Educators will find the feature under the Communication tab at the top of the screen.
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• How is an educator notified that they have received a new email?
If an email was sent to a teacher and it has not been read, there will be a yellow dot on the communication tab. Also the Inbox will indicate a new email has been received.
• Can educators email a group of students to save time instead of just individuals?
Yes. Teachers can key in a Group name in the search box, and it should display in a drop-down list to choose. By clicking on a group title, the program will email all students listed in that group. There is a limit of 200 students per email.
• Can students see the other students listed in the Group email?
Yes, but they cannot email the other students.
• Can emails be deleted in Edgenuity?
No. All communications in the email feature are archived. They are NEVER deleted. This is for both the educator and student platform. Emails can be archived to clean up the inbox.
For more information on the email feature in Edgenuity log in to your account and go to the Support tab at the top of the page and choose the Help Center. Once in the Help Center enter “email”. All options about Edgenuity emails will display.
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Education Pays: A final reminder for the Class of 2023!
Four times per year, the U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics, publishes their quarterly report on median weekly earning by educational attainment. Their report for the first quarter of 2023 came out this past Tuesday, April 18. What they found is not surprising as the pattern has not changed since they began their reporting decades ago. Overall, and right through U.S. economic recessions, those with higher levels of education took home the larger paychecks.
Weekly earnings for the 2023 first quarter: Less than a high school diploma = $682; High school graduates, no college = $884; Some college or associate degree = $995; and Bachelor's degree and higher = $1,621 (Bachelor's degree only = $1,488).
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Footnote for our Seniors: The chart shows quarterly results since the start of the 21st century. Other factors will naturally come into play such as the type of industry you work in, your geographic location, experience on the job, your employer's performance/profitability, etc. but overall, the pattern has always held up in the USA. Education and income levels are closely related.
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Have a wonderful week!
Dr. Serianni, Principal
Volusia Online Learning
Sunday, April 23, 2023
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Volusia Online Learning 2022-2023 Leadership Team
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This communication may contain information that is legally privileged, confidential or exempt from disclosure, and intended only for the use of the addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. Anyone who receives this message in error should notify the sender immediately by telephone or by return e-mail, and delete the message from their computer and any printout thereof. Please note that Volusia County Public Schools utilizes spam and junk e-mail filtration applications in its e-mail systems. That filtering process may prevent or delay delivery of certain e-mail communications. If you do not receive a timely response to an e-mail communication, please contact the intended recipient by phone. |
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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.
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Volusia Online Learning | Dr. Serianni, Principal | 386.506.0014 | VOL Website
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