Bobcat Virtual Learning
Semester 2 - New Student Information
Dear Bobcat Virtual Families,
Welcome to Bobcat Virtual Learning!
Bobcat Virtual Learning was officially created in the Fall of 2020, but we have been offering online courses to Grand Blanc Community Schools students for many years. We are committed to meeting the educational needs of all our students, and we know that some of them perform best in this unique type of environment.
Bobcat Virtual offers students flexibility, while also providing opportunities for direct teacher contact. All of our courses that are taught by Grand Blanc teachers provide face-to-face support in weekly office hours. Our elementary teacher also provide small group and whole group instruction opportunities throughout the week. We expect all students to take advantage of these opportunities.
If you'd like to make sure that BVL is right for your student, please check out these helpful documents:
- BVL Student Handbook
- Prospective Elementary (K-5) Student Survey
- Prospective Secondary (6-12) Student Survey
The Director of Bobcat Virtual Learning is Mrs. Allyson Walroth. In addition, Mrs. Walroth is the district Secondary Curriculum Director and has been involved in the development of Bobcat Virtual Learning since its inception. Mrs. Walroth is joined by Mr. Kevin Keilitz, who is the BVL Coordinator and works directly to support student issues or concerns. We are both excited to move forward with you on this journey!
Please take time to read through this document and familiarize yourself with the variety of resources that are available to help you this year. In addition, you can always find announcements and important links at our Bobcat Virtual Learning website.
Once you have read all of the appropriate documents, please complete this BVL Family Contract for each student participating next semester. This is required prior to starting the new semester, which begins on January 25th.
Our primary form of communication is email, so please make sure that you are regularly checking your email for updates from our school. We hope you have a great year and are here to help. Please don't be afraid to reach out!
Sincerely,
Allyson Walroth
Bobcat Virtual Learning Director
810-591-6649
Things to Know
New Student Orientation
We will be hosting a couple of voluntary New Student Orientations to welcome parents and students to Bobcat Virtual Learning. If you would like to join us, the meeting times are as follows:
- Elementary Students - Wednesday, January 19, 4:30-5:30pm
- Secondary Students - Wednesday, January 19, 5:30-6:30pm
Meetings can be accessed at the following link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8072191939?pwd=M3JGT3JHQzNpNG8waWdvY25ydjN4dz09. If necessary, you can use the Meeting ID: 807 219 1939 and the Passcode 385980.
Canvas - Learning Management System
Here is a brief overview of what you should see when your student logs in to Canvas. As a parent, you can and should pair with your student's account so that you can observe his/her progress in Bobcat Virtual Learning. Here is a video that shows you how to generate a code to pair to your student's account. Here are the instructions to show you how to create a parent account.
Once the semester begins, full-time BVL students should have the following number of tiles:
- Elementary: 6 tiles (homeroom, language arts, math, social studies, science, specials rotation)
- Secondary: 7 tiles (homeroom and six subjects)
If you have fewer or more than the number of tiles listed above after January 25, please contact your teacher, our counselor, or your assigned mentor (listed as the homeroom teacher) to get that fixed.
Please visit our Student Resources page for helpful Canvas navigation videos.
Expectations
Elementary students are required to join one whole class meetings and two small group meetings each week. Teachers may also offer voluntary opportunities for students to meet together for socialization or additional instruction. Each teacher will send out schedules for their students. In grades 6-12, classes generally do not have live instruction, although teachers may offer voluntary opportunities for students to come together.
If your student has an IEP or is identified as needing additional support, they are expected to join intervention/live virtual sessions.
All teachers will provide students with their office hours. Full-time teachers each offer two different times for office hours; part-time teachers offer one office hour each week; and teachers who are doing online instruction outside of their regular school day will be available as needed. All teachers will answer emails regularly and can meet with students outside of their regular office hours if it is necessary.
Two-Way Contacts/Attendance
Each student is counted as present by participating in two-way contacts with their homeroom teacher each week. This can be accomplished by:
Attending a live virtual session
Responding to teacher-initiated emails
A phone conversation
A virtual meeting
An in-person meeting
If a student does not participate in at least one two-way contact each week, that is considered the same as five days of absences. After the first week of no contact, families will receive a warning. Any future absences will require us to file truancy.
Deadlines
Final deadlines for the end of the semester/year are as follows:
Elementary and middle school classes that do not give an exam and are not tied to high school credit:
- Wednesday, June 8
High school classes and middle school classes that have an exam and are tied to high school credit:
- Friday, June 3
- Friday, May 13
Local/State Testing
- This must be conducted in a live virtual session
- It is required for students to participate
- This is an in-person test, which means students must come to the school to participate
- More information will be sent in early spring
Curriculum
Elementary Curriculum - Lincoln Learning
All of our K-5 classes are using Lincoln Learning classes this year. You can access course materials on Lincoln Learning's site or through our Student Resources page. All print materials are available digitally on this site. Teachers will attempt to find virtual versions of materials you may not already have in your home. If you need something that you do not have, feel free to reach out to us.
If you would like us to order print versions of the workbooks, please use our Print Materials Order Form.
Secondary Curriculum - Various Providers
- Apex Learning - grades 6-12 core classes; grades 9-12 electives
- eDynamic Learning - grades 6-8 electives
- GB-created courses that align to in-person courses
These classes are all taught by Grand Blanc teachers and align to GB grading policies and schedules.
Occasionally we cannot offer a class that a student may be interested in/need to take through Bobcat Virtual. When this happens, we purchase courses through an outside vendor through the Genesee ISD GenNet Portal.
Michigan certified teachers not directly employed by GBCS
We do not oversee them
May not follow our grading policies and expectations
May not observe the same breaks - Deadlines are flexible, so this shouldn’t be a problem
These courses are not housed in Canvas, and students should receive an email in their GBCS email from the provider itself shortly after the start of the semester with login information for their particular course.
Students will know if they have an outside vendor course if the teacher name listed on their schedule is Elizabeth Ralbusky (591-6368) or Scott Thurlow (591-6366). Please contact them if you do not receive an email with the login information from your vendor.
Student Support
Contact Information
- Your student's teacher - course/content specific questions. Each teacher should have his/her contact information clearly visible on the main page of their Canvas course or their outside vendor course. Please keep in mind that teachers are working during the normal school hours and may not respond to your communication immediately. If you email them after school hours, they will likely respond the following day. We ask that teachers respond to parent/student communications within a 24-48 hour period during the work week and do not require them to respond over the weekend.
- Canvas/Bobcat Virtual Help Desk - 810-591-1658, Please contact this number if you are having any technology issues specifically related to the Bobcat Virtual courses. There should be someone available to answer between the hours of 8:00-3:00. If no one answers, please leave a message and someone will return your call.
- Mrs. Elaina Martinez - Secretary, 810-591-6391, emartinez@gbcs.org, Mrs. Martinez is the secretary for Bobcat Virtual. She can help with student enrollments, transcript requests, and general questions.
- Mentors - Elizabeth Ralbusky (secondary students last names A-J) - 810-591-6368; Scott Thurlow (secondary students last names K-Z) - 810-591-6366
- Mr. John Hentes - Counselor, 810-591-6354, jhentes@gbcs.org. Mr. Hentes primarily works with our high school students, but he can also help to find the appropriate contacts for elementary and middle school students in need of counseling.
- Mr. Kevin Keilitz - Coordinator, 810-591-6375, kkeilitz@gbcs.org. Mr. Keilitz is available to help with general questions and concerns. Once you have reached out to the teacher, mentor, and/or counselor and are still in need of help, please contact Mr. Keilitz.
- Mrs. Allyson Walroth - Director, 810-591-6649, awalroth@gbcs.org. Mrs. Walroth oversees the entirety of Bobcat Virtual Learning and is available once all other resources have been exhausted.
Allyson Walroth
Grand Blanc Community Schools
HS Assistant Principal & Secondary CurriculumEmail: awalroth@gbcs.org
Website: gbcs.org
Location: 1 Jewett Trail, Grand Blanc, MI, USA
Phone: 810-591-6649
Twitter: @allysonwalroth