Programs and Activities
Learning Coaches seek to provide the best possible education for their student and often enrich the child’s curriculum with extra activities and family trips. These activities may be logged into the student’s daily schedule and counted toward his/her mandatory hours of instruction if the activity directly relates to lesson objectives.
K12 and UTVA teachers facilitate clubs in which students may participate. Many of these are national online clubs. More information can be found HERE at our UTVA website.
UTVA OUTINGS
To assist Learning Coaches in providing social experiences for their students, UTVA hosts regional outings throughout the state. These outings may be attended by any student, regardless of area in which a family resides. It is the UTVA staff and administration’s goal to provide quality and educational outings that also promote a social atmosphere. Outing information can be found on our website.
COST
UTVA makes a strong effort to provide outings free of cost to enrolled UTVA students. If there is a cost for students for an outing UTVA will try to minimize that cost.
UTVA does not cover the cost of learning coaches and non-enrolled students, siblings, friends, or other family members.
COMMUNICATION ABOUT OUTINGS
Homeroom teachers provide information about upcoming outings in Emails to students. The MS website contains information about each monthly outing.
UTVA CLUBS
It is UTVA’s goal to foster a sense of community for our families during the school year. In an effort to help families build more meaningful relationships, UTVA offers in-person and online clubs based on students’ interests. Clubs meet online and/or at specific locations throughout the state. UTVA teachers facilitate clubs in which students may participate.
Further information about clubs can be obtained by contacting the staff sponsor(s) as well as checking the school announcements for updates and activities.
UTVA Clubs are provided and administered by UTVA staff.
K12 CLUBS
K12 Clubs are provided and administered by K12 staff, not UTVA. If you have questions or concerns about the K12 clubs, please contact K12 Customer Service.
K12 clubs are one hour sessions, one to two times a month from September through May. K12 encourages students to select no more than 4 of their most favorite clubs. Once a student is registered for a K12 Club the student will begin receiving Emails from the K12 club teachers and club sessions will appear on the student’s Class Connect schedules.
K12 offers many clubs in the in the following categories:
· World Interests
· Language Arts-History
· Math, Science, and Technology
· Hobbies
· Music, Art and Dance
· Success Builders
· Impact the World
· College and Career
For more information about K12 clubs please visit the K12 Student Clubs website at http://www.k12.com/k12-student-clubs.html
UTVA PARENT FACEBOOK GROUPS
The Community Liaison maintain UTVA parent Facebook regional groups. All members will be verified before membership is granted. Students are not permitted to join UTVA Facebook pages.
UTVA PTO (PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION)
The UTVA Parent Boosters organization is a group of Learning Coaches, parents and guardians who are committed to enhancing the school for the students. Their mission statement reflects that commitment: To empower and encourage UTVA families to make meaningful connections, participate in quality programs, and ensure that UTVA students get all they can out of the virtual school experience. For more information or if you are interested in this group, please visit the UTVA PTO Website http://utvapto.weebly.com/.
HONOR ROLL
Honor Roll recognizes students for their hard work, as well as incentive to continue working diligently. Honor roll status will be determined by teachers at the end of each semester using the Honor Roll and NJHS Eligibility Rubric. Students will receive recognition after honor roll eligibility is determined.
· Cumulative grade average of 85% (GPA 3.4 or higher), with no grade lower than a “B”
· Attendance at or above expected hours
· All work samples submitted on-time and meet the required objectives
· No Academic Probation warnings or plan initiated
· No Student Conduct Notices issued
NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY
Membership in the National Junior Honor Society is one of the highest honors that can be awarded to a middle school student. However, membership is more than an honor.
Membership in the NJHS requires a responsibility and an obligation to demonstrate those outstanding qualities (eligibility requirements) that resulted in selection for membership. Each member is required to complete a minimum of 10 hours of community service per semester, participate in monthly meetings, service projects and outings, and maintain the eligibility requirements. National Junior Honor Society is for students in 7th – 9th grade.
NJHS Eligibility Requirements
- Cumulative grade average of 90% (GPA 3.5 or higher), with no grade lower than a “B”
- Currently in 7th, 8th, or 9th Grade (6th graders maybe be nominated in May in preparation for 7th grade)
- Must be currently enrolled at UTVA for at least one full semester before nomination
- Attendance at or above expected hours
- All work samples submitted on-time and meet the required objectives
- No Academic Probation warnings or plan initiated
- No Student Conduct Notices issued
NJHS Nomination & Selection Process
Students who meet the eligibility requirements above will be evaluated for nomination based on the criteria below. Teachers will nominate students twice per year (January & May).
Students who are nominated for NJHS membership will be notified by email with further information on expectations and commitments.
· Scholarship: a cumulative grade average of 90% (GPA of 3.5) or higher, with no grade lower than a “B”.
· Character: consistently demonstrate such personality traits as cheerfulness, friendliness, kindness, and stability, be honest and reliable, show positive behavior and comply with school regulations, show courtesy, concern, and respect for others.
· Leadership: participate in class and school activities, be responsible, be able to follow as well as lead, inspire positive behavior in others, and demonstrate academic initiative.
· Citizenship: meet his/her responsibilities to teachers and school, show respect and pride for learning and education at UTVA.
· Service: works well with others, make voluntary contributions to the school or
community, done without compensation and with a positive, courteous, and enthusiastic spirit.
ADVANCED LEARNER PROGRAM (ALP)
ALP is the Advanced Learner Program, which serves our gifted and talented students and our academically advanced students. UTVA’s goal is to enrich and inspire these students to reach their full potential. ALP is for student in grades K-8th.
The Advanced Learner Program (ALP) classroom placement is offered for students who want support for their advanced academic needs. Placement in an ALP classroom is open for all advanced students. ALP Teachers assist the Learning Coach in providing a learning environment that allows ALP students to advance through the K12® curriculum while providing resources and enrichment that ALP students need. Learning Coaches that feel the ALP program would benefit their student should contact their homeroom teacher to discuss options.
The Advanced Learner Program offers:
· Weekly 30-minute class connects sessions that are highly engaging and develop critical thinking skills and creativity through a wide variety of instructional strategies and flexible pacing
· Monthly opportunities for ALP Discovery Day outings based on the topic of study in class
· Monthly Online Student Symposium/Talent Showcase
· Independent Study Projects
· K12 National ALP Learning Circles
· Parent training in nurturing your advanced child’s: hypersensitivity, perfectionism, underachievement, gifted gender stereotypes, highly creative abilities, peer interactions, frustration caused when a child has a wonderful idea but cannot execute it to the level of their physical ability
· It is important to note—the K12 curriculum does not change—but we support the ALP families in changing it through acceleration, compacting, and enrichment. Being a part of the ALP program does not mean the student will have more work, but will have different opportunities.
Identification of ALP Students:
To be invited to join ALP, students must be identified by at least two of the following factors. Once a student is identified ALP, an email should be sent to the ALP coordinator so he/she can contact the family for a phone interview.
Identification factors
· PLA Testing: If a student scores advanced on either math or reading on PLA
· Working above grade level: If a student is successfully working above grade level they may be considered for ALP.
· Participation in a Gifted Program at a previous school – if a student can show data from previous gifted testing, or give evidence that they have participated previously in a gifted program, they are admitted into ALP.
· Teacher recommendation: If while working with a student, a classroom or homeroom teacher continually notices the student is able to grasp concepts very quickly and has a very deep understanding of things, they may be considered for ALP.