How do I enroll in the Pinellas Virtual School (PVS) HOPE course?
If you haven't already done so, you can enroll in the course by filling out this HOPE Registration Form.
When does the HOPE course begin?
Courses officially begin at the start of each Pinellas County Schools semester (August, January, May). While it's ideal to join the course as soon as it's launched, PVS does use "rolling enrollment". This means that even if you register in October, you are still welcome to join the semester course that began in August. Your instructor will prompt you to "catch up" and complete the course segment by the final due date listed in the Modules. In some cases, if you are registering very late in the semester, you may simply choose to join the upcoming semester instead. Upcoming semester courses are always ready and open weeks in advance of the actual start date. In this way, students can be accommodated no matter when they register. You'll either jump in and work diligently to finish by the end of the current semester...or you'll be placed in the upcoming semester where you'll be able to begin working and get a head start.
What if I've been given a deadline for HOPE?
Early College Program (ECP) students, Early Admission (EA) students, and seniors, that's you! Due to program or graduation requirements, you may need to push through HOPE at a faster pace. Once you receive the first communication from your HOPE instructor, please reply back immediately saying that you have a HOPE deadline to meet. Your instructor will provide you with a customized, accelerated pacing guide. HOPE is a two-segment course and, per NCAA regulations, you must spend at least 21 days in each segment. That means the soonest you can finish the entire HOPE course is 42 days from your start date. You'll read more about this "21-day-per-segment seat time requirement" in the course, so don't panic. Just know that if you've been given a deadline for HOPE, you need to enroll immediately, tell your instructor about the deadline, and work diligently at the accelerated pace.
How is the Pinellas Virtual School (PVS) HOPE course different from the Florida Virtual School (FLVS) HOPE course?
The PVS HOPE course is housed in the easy-to-use Canvas learning management system which includes a mobile app!
The PVS HOPE course uses Pinellas County Schools' curriculum so you'll be learning the same content taught throughout the district.
The PVS HOPE content is frequently updated to align with district and state standards and to reflect new findings in health science.
The PVS HOPE course provides clear due dates which keep you on track so that you're more likely to successfully earn the credit.
Am I a good candidate for taking HOPE online?
Well, HOPE is a required class. Additionally, all Florida public school students must take at least one online class prior to graduation. So taking HOPE online is a great way to meet both of those requirements at the same time! Although HOPE is fun and covers some pretty interesting topics, it still requires effort. A good candidate for this class has:
Self-motivation (you'll do your lessons consistently without being told)
Time-management skills (you'll look at your schedule and plan time to work on the course; if you have a busy week coming up, you'll work ahead on your lessons so that you don't miss due dates)
Solid reading ability (you'll be reading lessons instead of listening to a teacher lecture in the classroom)
How do I show my physical activity for the "PE" part of HOPE?
This is probably the most common question. After all, everyone is curious as to how you take PE online! Each week you will complete physical activities of your choice, and record them on a workout log. You will then have a parent or guardian sign that log to verify the information is accurate. It's that simple! No dressing out at school. No forced participation in activities you dislike. The goal is to just be active! You're more likely to make a habit of life-long fitness if you learn to be active in ways you enjoy. So...swim, play basketball with your friends, take a dance class. And, if you're involved in team sports, you can log those practices and games too.
Can I work on HOPE at my own pace?
Yes and no. The course is available 24/7, so whether you're an early bird or a night owl, you can always work. However, you will have due dates for each lesson. If you don't submit the lesson by the due date, you're issued a grade of F for that lesson. Dragging out a course hurts you in many ways—it can mess up your schedule, delay graduation, create stress at home, and make it hard to pass the exam when you don't remember what you studied. Due dates prevent all those problems. They keep you moving at a reasonable pace and offer a logical consequence (a poor grade) for lack of progress. But what if you mess up? Quickly complete the overdue lessons, and you'll see your grade bounce back!
Do I have to attend HOPE lessons on certain days/times?
During the school year, you will complete one live lesson per course segment (HOPE is a two-segment course). You can fulfill this through Zoom. All live lesson dates are posted on the course Home page. There are several options each month, so you should be able to find one that fits into your schedule.
During the summer, there are no live lessons so you will fulfill the collaboration requirement in a different way. This eliminates the stress of attending a Zoom session when you are at summer camps or traveling.
Can I work on HOPE from my phone or tablet?
Yes! The Canvas learning management system works amazingly well on mobile devices. For busy students who are on-the-go, the Canvas Student app (a free download from the App Store or Google Play) will help you be more efficient. To log in from the app, press "Find my school". Next, type "Pinellas" as your school district and select "Pinellas County Schools - Students/Staff" from the drop-down menu. Then enter your username (r2.d2) and password.
How will my brick-and-mortar school know I've taken HOPE online?
Once you've completed HOPE, you and your guidance counselor will see your credit posted in Focus.
What are students saying about the Pinellas Virtual School (PVS) HOPE course?
"This whole course was great, it goes off of what you learned in middle school and it just builds even more. It's very helpful, and Ms. Starrett was an amazing teacher. She is always up-to-date with you and will keep pushing you to be successful. Overall, HOPE online is a great course, and I enjoyed taking it." –Bradley A.
"This was my favorite high school class by far. Maybe it's because I like health & wellness in general, but it was all very interesting and helpful to everyday life." –Tatiana B.
"When I had to start this class because of the graduation requirement, I was not excited, but after actually going through it I can honestly say I've learned more helpful and useful information than I have in some of my classes at school. Not just that, but it helps a ton having the amazing teacher I had." –Amie G.
"This course motivated me to do more exercise and helped me become more aware of how my body works and how to keep it healthy." –Matthew S.
"Going into HOPE I thought this might not be something I would enjoy, but I was proven WRONG! I really do enjoy this course, and I think others will too! I really enjoyed all of the topics I was taught, and I especially loved the field trips!" –Mia V.
"I don't like school, but this course was cool because I got to learn about health and the human body. Unlike most classes, some of this information will stick with me and possibly help me in the future to insure my health. Thank you." –Jacob L.
"I really liked the PVS HOPE course. It was easier to navigate than the FLVS course. I liked the content of the class too. This HOPE class was excellent." –Julia M.
"I enjoyed taking this course! I learned a lot of new things that are beneficial in my life. One thing that I think was most helpful was that after going through the lessons, we were immediately tested on the curriculum to see if we learned it or not, and if we didn't, then we could always go back and review the lesson." –Sadie W.