Application - Coventry Public Schools

Coventry High SchoolVirtual Learning AcademyVIRTUAL HIGH SCHOOL STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING- VHS courses are graded, credited courses. Grades and credits will be reflected on the student's transcript, gradepoint average, and rank in class. Each student will receive his or her grade from their VHS teacher. Teachers postgrades bi-weekly. Each teacher also posts a grade for each of the two terms in the semester, as well as a final grade.These grades are reported to the site coordinator who in turn, enters them as part of the official Coventry High Schooltranscript.- Each course will require approximately ninety minutes of class time, although some may require additional time.The additional time needed to complete VHS assignments can be done during academic lab or at home if computeraccess is available.- Student activity is monitored, and VHS teachers may drop students who do not check into class or post regularly,even if that student meets work deadlines. Further, observance of school vacations is at the discretion of the VHSteacher. VHS does not recognize vacations! Students are obligated to participate over school vacations. Each studentis expected to log on daily, and check into his or her class. Students who have finished their work for a given weekmust still continue to log in each day to track class progress. VHS teachers can and do track all student login activity.VHS Rules allow teachers to drop any student at any time(without warning) that has failed to log on aminimum number of days or minimum accumulated time per week. This will be recorded on the studenttranscript.- Students are responsible for all VHS course work and must make arrangements to make up missed work due toabsence or computer problems. VHS policy assumes that problems with technology will happen. VHS teachers are notrequired to make allowances for students who miss deadlines due to technical problems. Students are expected to postmaterial and assignments well before the Tuesday evening deadlines, to avoid any last-minute submission problems.- Students registering for a VHS course must schedule a full block period to complete their work in the assigned VHSlab. These courses are rigorous and it is not recommended that a student take a VHS course as an additional class.- Because of the selective nature of the VHS registration courses cannot be changed or dropped after the beginning ofa semester. AP class changes may be considered per CHS policy.- Students are required and expected to maintain any and all security precautions, particularly keeping power-up,login, and override passwords confidential. Giving out passwords to others is strictly forbidden.- Students are required to maintain a WORD document file for VHS use, and keep it current. All work shouldbe done in WORD, etc. and then copy/pasted into the VHS class site. This maintains a record of allassignments. All work is to be stored on the student’s secure network folder. Students with incompletejournals/files will receive an INCOMPLETE on progress reports/grades until the journal/file is up to date andcomplete.- VHS courses may end before the end of the semester, and at the discretion of the Site Coordinator (SC), students arerequired to take one or more Independent Learning Opportunity (ILO) provided by VHS, unless waived by the SiteCoordinator in favor of other major assignments.- Students are required to complete the VHS orientation (approximately 6 hours) during the first week of the course.- Parents with Internet access can access their child's VHS Progress Reports weekly.Program Information from our VHS Partner

Coventry High SchoolVirtual Learning AcademySite coordinators check current grade averages, and also provide VHS term and final grades to CHS forrecording on official transcript.The method used to calculate student grades is unique to each VHS class and is determined by the VHSteacher. Remember that VHS teachers are "real" teachers located in "real" high schools all over the country(and in some cases internationally). Just as teachers in local schools vary in teaching styles and gradingmethods, so do VHS teachers.The teacher communicates how grades will be calculated at the start of the VHS class.Please note that you can review your student's grade report within their course at anytime - simply askyour student to login to their course, and their grade report will be located in their Portfolio or private thread.The grade report will be updated at least every 14 days by their instructor.Benefits of Taking a VHS NetCourseWe've found that VHS classes offer more time to be reflective about discussions. Students are not bound to just theclass period to discuss a topic -- that's one of the benefits Virtual High School's scheduled asynchronous coursesbring to education. Students have the opportunity to work with other students in a virtual classroom space --students (and teachers) from other states, other countries, other cultures. It's a tremendous enhancement to astudent's educational experience and lots of fun! VHS classes also help students better prepare for college andwork-force learning. VHS students tell us that they feel better prepared for college because in VHS they learned towork independently, and were responsible for managing their time and learning. In fact, many colleges are now usingonline courses to enhance face-to-face college courses, and VHS students have a head start because they arealready accustomed to learning in an online environment! Virtual High School offers a terrific way for students tobroaden their educational horizons and take classes that would otherwise be unavailable to them, in an environmentthat is safe, challenging, and fun.Welcome to Virtual High School!Participating Schools in Rhode IslandBarrington High SchoolBlock Island SchoolBristol Warren Regional School DistrictChariho High SchoolCoventry High School Cumberland Public SchoolsLincoln High SchoolMiddletown High SchoolNarragansett High SchoolNorth Smithfield High SchoolPonaganset High SchoolPortsmouth High SchoolRogers High SchoolSt. George's SchoolSt. Mary Academy Bay ViewWesterly High SchoolWoonsocket High School

Coventry High SchoolVirtual Learning AcademyStudent SurveyStudent _______________________________________________________ Class of __________Please return this completed survey as part of your application packet.1. Who is most responsible for what and how much you learn?a. I am ultimately responsible for my own learning.b. The instructor and I share equal responsibility for what and how much I learn.c. The instructor is most responsible for what and how much I learn.2. Which statement best describes your personal motivation and self-discipline?a. I take pride in my ability to motivate myself.b. I sometimes need others to encourage and motivate me.c. I often need supervision to complete my assigned tasks.3. Which statement best describes your problem solving skills?a. I enjoy solving problems on my own.b. I enjoy solving problems but sometimes need assistance.c. I find problem solving difficult and often need assistance.4. Which statement best describes your interest in taking a Virtual High School Course?a. I'm very interested in taking a Virtual High School course.b. I'm somewhat interested in taking a Virtual High School course.c. I could be satisfied taking a similar course offline.5. Which statement best describes your ability to plan, prioritize tasks and organize assignments?a. I always plan ahead and stay organized.b. I try to plan ahead but have some difficulty staying on task.c. I always seem to be running behind.6. I submit my assignments on time:a. Always. I always complete assignments thoroughly and on time.b. Usually. I usually complete assignments on time.c. Rarely. I have a problem starting tasks and often do not complete them.7. Considering your academic, work, and personal schedule, the amount of time you have to devote toan online class is:a. More than for an offline course.b. The same as for an offline course.c. Less than for an offline course.

Coventry High SchoolVirtual Learning Academy8. Which statement best describes your writing ability?a. I have strong writing skills.b. I am an average writer.c. Writing is not my strong point.9. Which statement best describes your reading ability?a. I typically understand text without assistance.b. I sometimes need assistance to understand the text.c. I usually need assistance to understand the text.10. Which statement best describes your computer skills?a. I am comfortable with electronic mail, web browsing, and word-processing.b. I can get by if there is not too much typing or special software.c. I am either a novice computer user or I really don't like using a computer.11. When an instructor gives an assignment, you prefer:a. Figuring out the instructions yourself.b. Trying to follow the instructions on your own, then asking for help when you need it.c. Having the instructions explained to you.12. Which of the following methods of instructor feedback do you prefer?a. Written explanation.b. Both written and oral explanation.c. Oral explanation.13. Verbal interaction in the classroom is:a. Not important to me.b. Somewhat important to me.c. Very important to me.14. When you have a question, how quickly do you feel you need a response from your instructor:a. Within a few days.b. Within a day.c. Immediately.15. Which of the following statements best describes your preferred learning style?a. I prefer working with and learning from my classmates.b. I prefer working one on one with my teacher.c. I prefer working alone.