Vail Innovation Center
VIC News, March 23, 2021
Vail Innovation Center
Letter from the Coordinator
March 23, 2021
Hello amazing VIC Families!
It is hard to believe that we are already in the last big push of the year. This is going to be a fun and busy last 10 weeks. Thank you to all of our students and families for all of your hard work so far this year, and a big thank you to those that took some time over the break to get ahead or caught up. This last quarter always flies by. I hope you all were able to find some time to unplug and relax a bit over this spring break. I know my kids and I enjoyed those warm days and getting to be outside.
A few students we would like to recognize for their hard work over Spring break are: Mason West, Sara Hareid, Ryan Blanset, Benjamin Garcia, Kristopher Stevens, Ella Karhoff, Parker Jones, Sydney Menez, Gianna Miller, and Allison Blanset. Be sure to check out the Kudos Corners below for more student recognitions by our amazing teachers.
Coming up in April we will be having our State Testing for grades 3-11. Please see the flyer below. If you have questions, please email them to Mrs. Tankersley along with the best number to contact you at: tankersleyr@vailschooldistrict.org.
Reminders:
- This week is our Panda Express Night Fundraiser for the VIC!! We hope to see you at Panda Express this Friday from 4 pm - 7 pm.
- Tutoring is available for all middle school and high school students. Please see the attached flyers.
- Parents of K-12 students, Please remember that we do have to abide by the 10-day drop policies of the state just like the brick and mortar schools. This means that attendance needs to be logged. If a student does not log work for a 10 day period without talking with the VIC, we could drop them from the program. This also applies if they are ahead of pace according to the laws we have to abide by. Thank you for your understanding.
- VIC students have raised over $3,470 for the American Heart Association. Thank you for all of your support. The Sliming date is set for 3/31/21 at 2:45 and we will be recording it and sending out invites for top earners. Prizes have been organized over the break and ready to be picked up at the VIC starting 3/22/21. Thank you to all of the students and families that were able to participate.
Tax Credit Designation Time is Here
If you have not already made a tax credit designation, please consider making one to VIC through the VBL location. This designation costs you nothing! You merely designate the funds on your state tax return, send them in with the return, and receive them back with your refund. If you owe, the designation is subtracted from your balance. The money that we collect from tax credit designation is used to fund our school events, prizes, and activities. If you are filing jointly, you can designate up to $400 and if you are filing single, you can designate up to $200. Please click on the link to the district website for more information. https://vailtaxcredits.org Thank you in advance for your consideration of this.
Have a great week CyberWolves!
Mrs. Tankersley
Rachel Tankersley
Coordinator of Digital Learning
Vail Innovation Center K-12
520-879-1313
VIC Tutoring Grades 6-12
Arizona State Testing Plans
Fundraiser 3/26/21
VIC/VBL Eats Out at Panda Express: Fundraiser for Friday, March 26 from 4-7pm
In-store:
Show paper or digital version of flyer
Online:
Enter 323143 in the promo code box during online checkout at order.pandaexpress.com.
Orders must be placed on the event day, and please share the flyer with the code with everyone!
Special Edmentum Reminders
Special Reminders
All students need to be working a minimum of 5 days a week to complete their courses on time. There are course maps for you to utilize as a tool for success with completing assignments on time.
6-12 grade students should ONLY use your school email account to communicate with your teachers **Do not use the Edmentum messaging system. Remember your teachers have 24 hours to respond to your school email messages.
You should be working a minimum of 1 hour per class per day to meet the timing requirements.
Tutoring sessions are available if your student is struggling. Please be sure to look at the tutoring schedule and use those links to attend virtually. Our teachers are looking forward to seeing and helping you!
Your course is made up of multiple units. Within each unit, there are subsections and topics which often include a tutorial, activities/practice, and/or a mastery test. Mastery tests can be retaken up to 3 times, but you must redo the tutorial first and then the program will unlock the mastery test again for another attempt. Edmentum will count your highest score.
When you get to the Post Test please reach out to your teacher through email to unlock it for you.
End Dates and Pacing Chart Icons - CyberWolves Working CyberStrong in 2021!
Remember to keep a close eye on your end dates.
Are you on pace to finish by your end dates?
Dark green = ahead of pace (1 or more activities ahead)
Light green = on pace (within 1 activity of the expected pace)
Orange = slightly off pace (1 or 2 activities behind)
Pink = Way off pace (3 or more activities behind)
Remember your online agreement to work approximately one hour a day in each class for five days a week will keep you on pace with light green or dark green pacing icons. Let's work CyberSTRONG in 2021!
Thank you,
The Vail Innovation Center Team
Students in 6-12: Here is a Edmentum Tutorial with tips and tricks. Please watch for a refresher.
Vail Innovation Center Tutoring Opportunities
Please see the picture attachments below with additional information needed for each tutoring opportunity listed below; days/times and instructor information. Thank you.
Link for MS Science
Link for MS Math
Link for MS ELA & SS
Link for HS Science
Use the link below to join the "Chemistry Tutoring" Group in Schoology:
MZDF-M5ZV-6D8M9
Link for HS Math Algebra 1 & Geometry
Link for HS ELA & SS
Free Math Tutoring for K-12 through the University of Arizona
The attached schedule is provided by the University of Arizona Math Department for the Spring Schedule for FREE Math Zoom Tutoring. This is for elementary grades, middle school and high school math.
Through the AmeriCorps STEMM program, skilled tutor mentors provide free online math tutoring and support to K-12 students. Any questions about the program may be directed to mhosten@math.arizona.edu or lmaroney@email.arizona.edu or call 520.621.6866
K-5 Students of the Month for March
Grades K-5 Kudos Corner
Mrs. Allison; would like to recognize the following students for going above and beyond and working hard over Spring Break: Thor, Micah, Keldan, Louis, Elsa J., Benny, and Elsa P.
Mrs. Heidingsfelder; Mason West worked hard over Spring Break in Math. Awesome work Mason!
Mrs. Hunter; would like to recognize ALL of her kinder and first grade students for working together to complete over 2,000 hours in Reading Eggs/Reading Eggspress. That is simply amazing! She is super proud of them all. She would also like to thank the students who were on track in Calvert for the third quarter. The kinder students include: Henry Best, Hazel Cherie, Silas Dodd, Yarel Gallardo, Mike Gibbs, Holden Hittson, Luca Knapp, Thomas Kuang, Ethan Le, Finn Maakestad, Aidyn Morales, Piper Parker, Morgan Pfeifer, Mya Russell, Mackenzie Stevens, Alayna Velasquez, Quinn Vinson, Caelan Ward, and Anthony Wilson. The first grade students include: Nathaniel Adelson, Madilynn Bowe, Madalyn Collins, McKenna Diederich, Anna Foster, Olive Fox, Brianna Hanneman, Arabella Hurtado, Phoenix Martinez, Avalene Nance, and Matthew Teegarden. Keep up the great work! (:)
Mrs. Marko; would like to recognize the following students;
Harper - Always enthusiastic during our Zoom meetings and she works very hard!
Hannah - Working so hard on her writing and she's turning in perfection!
Ryan - Works so hard during our reading group!
Mrs. Schultz; thank you Elizabeth for completing and submitting the review of your practice AZ Merit Math test over Spring Break!
Grades 6-12 Kudos Corner
Keep your eye out for next weeks KUDOS Corner to see who is recognized next week.
Mrs. Elchert; Ben Wilson continues to be ahead of Pace in Social Studies and even chose to do some work over the Spring Break so he could continue to stay ahead. He is focused and well on his way to being successful in finishing this semester.
Mrs. Garcia; Caiden Mott has been working diligently on his research for his multi-media assignment. He is asking solid questions and generating creative ideas. Caiden, Keep it up! Isabella Awbrey has been asking solid questions about poetry and poetic devices. She also demonstrated her analysis skills in her literary analysis essay. Way to go, Bella!
Mrs. Goldwasser; Gabriel Karhoff and Madalyne VanHyning (Science 6B) and Liliana Santa Cruz (8B) are students who always ask for feedback and then take suggestions to heart to correct their misconceptions or improve their work with more detail or more thorough explanations.
Mrs. Goolsby; Welcome back to Marcus Hill. He did an amazing job using his guided notes and working through his Social Studies tutorial. Marcus, we are proud of your hard work.
Mrs. Heidingsfelder; Gianna Miller is above pace in her two remaining classes. She worked hard over Spring Break! Way to go Gigi! Damion Welz-Rabe is above pace in Social Studies! Keep up the excellent work! Grace Hallett is on or above pace in all six classes! Amazing!
Mrs. Logsdon; These students worked hard over spring break and are back on pace in Mrs. Logsdon's 6-8 Language Arts. Great job! 7B: Ella Karhoff, Kristopher Stevens. 8B: Parker Jones, Sydney Menez.
Mrs. Lotti; Congratulations to Ezra Jacobs for successfully completing his course! The following students are all on or ahead of pace. Keep it up!! Katerina Amaral, Nevaeh Bustillos, Zachary Grant, Adrian Macias, Damian Macias, Aiden Karhoff, John Tippins, Hannah Way, Austin Taylor, Devon Holmes, Eric Saffiotti, Nathan Mandel, Collin Maubach, Matthew Allison, Damion Welz-Rabe, Ainslie Lowe, Julian SantaCruz.
Mr. Streeter; recognizes the following students for being on pace; Elena Moreno in US History,
Jacob Mitchell in American Government, Hailee Howell in American Government, Grace Hallett in US History, and Christopher Collins in American Government; and recognizes the following students for being ahead of pace; Hailey Wilson in World History, Kemya Watson in American Government, Alexis Rasch in American Government, and Kayla Perez in World History.
Mrs. Whitt; Nice job to Ryan Blanset, Benjamin Garcia, and Mia Gallegos for getting on pace!
Mrs. Wittwer; Congratulations to my seniors who are AHEAD of pace and almost out the door!
Charizma Brown, Paul Cruz, Jaden Fortner, and Jesse Wold. And, a HUGE congratulations to my senior, Kemya Watson, for completing senior English in March! Way to go, Kemya!
Mrs. Nunes; recognizes the following students from 6th through 12th grades who are on pace to finish by their end dates, or ahead of pace in all of their classes:
6th grade; Angel Cruz, Collin Maubach
7th grade; Ella Karhoff, Benjamin Wilson
8th grade; Kelsey Slade, Cristal Sapp-Tinner
9th grade; Isabel Carlyon, Paige Yencer
10th grade; Aleksander Krupa, Victoria Murati
11th grade; Nikolas Montoya, Tyler Sin
12th grade; Sara Hareid, An Ngo, Ryleigh Pawlak
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!
Juniors - ACT Testing Information
Juniors,
You will be taking the ACT Test on Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Location: Vail District Office - 13801 E. Benson Hwy Vail, AZ 85641
The students will be taking the Online version of the ACT test - this is not a pencil and paper test!
Time: Arrive by 8:30a.m. testing will conclude around 12:45p.m.
IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT YOU PRACTICE THE ONLINE ACT TEST PRIOR TO TESTING DATES SO THERE ARE NO SURPRISES. The attached document goes into detail about the practice test options, but here is a summary:
Steps:
Download - http://download.testnav.com. Note: ACT online tests are only supported on Windows, macOS, and Chrome OS operating systems.
Open the TestNav application you downloaded and click on the Practice Tests link.
Read the test overview instructions you see on the screen, enter your name, and select Start.
Highlights of the ACT online test:
TIMER - The timer at the top of the page tells you how much time you have left to complete your test. Note: A timer will not appear if you are taking an untimed practice test.
Pacing yourself for a timed test is something that takes a little practice since most tests you take during school are not timed. I would recommend practicing with the timer. Make sure you answer all the questions. It is better to guess on a question than to leave a question blank.
BOOKMARK - Select Bookmark to mark an item so that you can find it easily and return to it later. When an item is marked, the same button can be used to remove the bookmark.
ANSWER ELIMINATOR - Select Answer Eliminator to eliminate answer choices.
REVIEW - Select Review to see an overview of your current status within the test, including information such as which items you have bookmarked, answered, or not answered.
CALCULATOR - A graphing calculator is available within the testing application (in the mathematics test only). To open the calculator, select the Calculator button. Select and drag the calculator if you want to move it to another area on the screen.
ZOOMING IN OR OUT - Adjust the size of the text on your screen by using CTRL and the + key to zoom in or CTRL and the - key to zoom out. Use CTRL and the 0 (zero) key to quickly return to standard size.
ANSWER MASKING - To cover answer choices until you are ready to read them, select Enable Answer Masking. This will cover the answer choices.
HIGHLIGHTER - Use the Highlighter tool to highlight text.
MAGNIFIER - To magnify a portion of the screen, select Enable Magnifier on the user drop down menu, near the top right of the screen.
LINE READER MASK - To read one line at a time, select Show Line Reader Mask.
**Ms. Wrona recently sent emails to 11th graders and parents with more detailed information about the ACT. Check your emails.**
Senior Corner
Hello Seniors,
Amazing how fast this year has gone and to think the next milestone is graduation!! To reduce any stress please remember to to stay on top of your coursework and as always should you have any questions or issues please contact me or Ms. Wrona. Again, congratulations and can't wait to see you at graduation.
Mr. Ogden, SEP Coordinator
Ms. Wrona, Counselor
Mr. Arlo Ogden
Vail Innovation Center
Senior Exit Project Coordinator
Senior Advisor
520-879-1925
Social and Emotional Learning March Theme: Compassion and Kindness
Important Flyers and Information
The 2020-2021 School Calendar
FASFA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Seniors! It is time to start thinking about paying for college! The FAFSA is the best place to start. Let’s start with a little bit about what the FAFSA actually is. FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid; translation: it determines a student's eligibility for need-based federal financial aid for college, which may include grants, scholarships, work-study and loans. If eligible, it can really help you pay for school!
Use this link to complete the FAFSA Application: https://studentaid.gov/
Carrie Wrona
Counselor
Vail Innovation Center
520-879-1305
K-12 VIC Staff Contacts - Communication is Key
Please be sure you are reaching out to your teacher at any time to get support or ask questions. We are attaching our staff list showing teacher names and email addresses so you can easily contact your teacher. We are all here to help you succeed. Please plan enough time to hear back from your teacher within 24 hours.
Here is the link to our spreadsheet with all of the VIC teachers and their email.
"Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity."
— Nat Turner
Edmentum Tech Support
If you are having any technical troubles with your online class, please contact Edmentum:
Technical Support
1-800-447-5286
Mon- Fri 4:30 am – 6:30 pm
Sat & Sun 6:00 am – 3:30 pm
Email: info@edmentum.com
Online: https://support.edmentum.com/