The Howl
October Newsletter
Newsletter Table of Contents
ALL SCHOOL:
- November Statewide Event Information
- October Statewide Event Slideshow
- Red Ribbon Week
- National Bullying Prevention Month
- KISS - Keep Idaho Students Safe - Message from Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sherri Ybarra
- K12 National Learning Coach Programming
- K12 Survey
- Child Find
- 2018 Holiday Card Contest - Grades K-6
- NCAA and K12
- FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
- K12 Project Elevate
- Technical Tip: Setting Your Time Zone
- Technical Tip: Class Connect
K-5 SCHOOL:
- Identify Learning Styles
- Online School Course Tip
- History and Science Course Progress
- Make Reading a Part of Your Family Time
6-12 SCHOOL:
- 2019 Graduation Information & Survey
- Senior Slideshow
- Yearbook
- College and Career Advising - Career Survey
- College and Career Newsletter Link
- October Anti-Bullying Postcard Campaign
- IDVA Ski and Snowboard Days
- Idaho Aerospace Scholars Program
- U.S. Senate Youth Program
- U.S. Selective Service System
- Counselor Connect
- Dual Credit 101
- Fast Forward Program
ALL SCHOOL
STATEWIDE EVENT DAY
Friday, November 9th, 2018
IMPORTANT EVENT REMINDERS
- Photo Disclaimer: Please understand that photos may be taken and could be used by K12 and/or Idaho Virtual Academy. If you would not like yours or your child’s picture taken, please let an IDVA staff member know at the event.
- All are welcome. Remember, per IDVA policy, all students must have a parent/guardian with them at all times during school events.
- Please bring exact cash for admission.
- There are no classes scheduled on event days.
- All events are optional.
We want all students to have the opportunity to join an event. If cost is keeping you from being able to join, please email Lisa Stein lstein@idahova.org.
Treasure Valley
Where: Warhawk Air Museum
Address: 201 Municipal Drive, Nampa
Cost: $4.00 per child, $6.00 per adult
Check-in: 9:30 am MT
Start Time: 10:00 am MT
Note: Activities include a presentation entitled
"The History of the Pledge of Allegiance and the Flag" and a scavenger hunt.
RSVP: Click here to sign up.
*** New (Optional) Online Payment Available: If you would like to pay by credit card in advance of the event, please go to: https://warhawk-air-museum-admission.cheddarup.com
*****
Magic Valley
Where: Faulkner Planetarium at Herrett Center,
College of Southern Idaho
Address: 315 Falls Avenue, Twin Falls
Cost: $3.00 per person
~Please bring exact change.~
Check-in: 9:30 am MT
Start Time: 10:00 am MT
Note: Planetarium Show is "Titans of the Ice Age"
RSVP: Click here to sign-up.
*****
Northern Idaho
What: Games and Movie Day
Where: Silver Lake Mall
Address: 200 W. Hanley Avenue, Coeur d'Alene
Cost: Free
Check-in: 9:30 am PT
Start Time: 10:00 am PT
Note: Please bring any board or card games that you would like to share.
RSVP: Click here to sign-up.
*****
Moscow/Lewiston
Where: Palouse Discovery Science Center
Address: 950 NE Nelson Court, Pullman, WA
Cost: $5.75 per child, $5.00 per adult
~Please bring exact change.~
Check-in: 9:30 am PT
Start Time: 10:00 am PT
Note: Presentation is "Rockin' Rockets"
RSVP: Click here to sign-up.
*****
Eastern Idaho
Where: East Idaho Aquarium
Address: 570 E. Anderson Street, Idaho Falls
Cost: $5.00 per person
~Please bring exact change.~
Check-in: 9:30 am MT
Start Time: 10:00 am MT
Note: Guided tour with token opportunity for feeding the animals.
RSVP: Click here to sign-up.
*****
Southeast Idaho
What: Shake it Up! Shakes and Games
Where: Arctic Circle
Address: 408 Clay Street, Montpelier
Cost: Free
Check-in: 12:15 pm MT
Start Time: 12:30 pm MT
Note: Please bring any board or card games that you would like to share.
RSVP: Click here to sign-up.
*****
October Statewide Event Slideshow
On Friday, October 12th, IDVA students, families, and guests spent a wonderful day together at events across our state. We visited pumpkin patches, museums, and a university campus. Check out the photo slideshow of the fun that was had!
Statewide Events are planned for the second Friday of every month except January and April.
We hope to see many IDVA students and families at future events!
Red Ribbon Week
Please watch your Class Connect Schedule for Monday, October 22nd, at 12 noon MT! On that date, we will be having a 6-12 assembly during which we will kick-off Red Ribbon Week with an announcement about a poster contest in which all 6-12 students are invited to participate.
The really cool things about this contest are that you will get to learn about and use a new (and free!) graphic design tool called Adobe Spark, and you will get to share with others at your school your life journey and the amazing things that it includes.
If you are unable to attend the assembly—don’t worry! Information about the contest and getting started with Adobe Spark will be emailed out following the meeting.
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Our goal at Idaho Virtual Academy is to create a safe place for each student, void of any type of bullying. Nevertheless, bullying can happen in places other than school. As such, IDVA wants to share some information from StopBullying.gov on how to prevent bullying:
1. Understand Bullying:
- Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves real or perceived power imbalance, and is repeated or has the potential to be repeated.
2. Have Open Communication:
- Youth must be able to report bullying behavior to a trusted adult. At IDVA, we have a specific policy to address bullying; however, the bottom line is that students need to feel safe to tell a trusted adult.
3. Students Should Engage in Activities They Love:
- Youth should be encouraged to pursue their interests and passions, whether it is a sport, art, or other healthy social activity.
4. Adults Need to Model How to Treat Others:
- Adults are role models, and ought to demonstrate behaviors of kindness, respect, and acceptance.
This October, and every day hereafter, we hope you are bully-free!
This message is brought to you by your IDVA High School Counseling Department
KISS - Keep Idaho Students Safe
Dear Parents,
Schools are a place for Idaho children to thrive, to grow, to learn. They are a place to excel, and to be challenged. But staying safe at school should not be a challenge; it should be a given.
That’s why I am launching a multi-pronged school safety initiative dubbed KISS: Keep Idaho Students Safe. In this time of increased violence and debates about school safety, it’s important to join together with resolve and ideas to help Idaho students, educators and families feel – and be – safe.
No single strategy or program is the answer, so KISS will add a toolbox of new measures to existing approaches that are already having an impact, from a new safety course for teachers to programs for preventing bullying and teen suicide.
The acronym KISS may be light-hearted, but this initiative is very serious to me and my staff. Nothing is more important to us than the safety of Idaho’s children, and my travels around the state– plus a survey that drew more than 1,000 responses – tell me Idahoans of all ages, share that belief.
You’re invited to learn more about KISS by visiting www.sde.idaho.gov/KISS. This website includes information about the key elements of this initiative, opportunities to participate in webinars and provide feedback, and documents that describe KISS in greater detail. I also encourage you to sign up for periodic email updates about KISS. You’re also welcome to share your thoughts and ideas by emailing schoolsafety@sde.idaho.gov.
Input from students, teachers and parents over the past three years shaped this proposed initiative, and we will continue to seek opinions and suggestions moving forward. Thank you for being my partner in education.
Sherri Ybarra, Ed.S.
Superintendent of Public Instruction
K12 Learning Coach University
K12 is passionate about helping Learning Coaches be successful. Learning Coaches of students enrolled in a K12-powered school have access to Learning Coach University, which includes interactive 30-minute sessions that cover relevant topics throughout the school year and provide an opportunity for Learning Coaches from across the nation to connect and learn—together. Register and join these tuition-free sessions hosted on Blackboard Collaborate™ (BbC). We look forward to serving you.
UPCOMING SESSIONS:
October 23:
Spark! Physical Activity and Brain Function with Dr. Amy Boyd, Director of Learning Coach Programming at K12
Dr. Boyd will share recent research from the book, Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, by John Ratey. You'll learn how you can take advantage of these new findings by incorporating physical activity into your child's daily routine to help maximize your student's potential in school.RSVP here.
October 30
Social Media for Parents with Sabrena Klausman, Project Coordinator of National Family Programming at K12
Social media has become an essential part of some student’s lives. Join us to explore strategies for guiding students in setting healthy online boundaries and establishing safety in online communities.
RSVP here.
Special Series: November 6, 13, 20
Stress Reduction Workshop Series with Sara Mrozowsky, High School Counselor at Michigan Great Lakes Virtual Academy
Do you ever find your student stressed out with no idea how to "get over it"? In this three-day workshop, we'll look at: 1) Warning signs and triggers for when your student starts to feel overwhelmed by stress; 2) Different resources/tools that can be created to help with stress; 3) Different techniques that can be used in daily life; and 4) Different techniques to help when your student needs to stay seated (e.g., during a test).
RSVP here.
November 27
Snapchat for Parents with Sabrena Klausman, Project Coordinator of National Family Programming at K12
Is your student using Snapchat, but you have no idea how it works? This is the session for you. Mrs. Klausman will cover, 1) What is SnapChat? 2) How to Use Snapchat, 3) Creative uses of Snapchat, 4) Challenges of SnapChat, and 5) Keeping your student safe online.
RSVP here.
K12 Survey
We Want Learning Coach feedback!
Most of you received an email from K12 with a link to a very short survey on Monday, October 15. There are 7 surveys over the school year, and this is the third. At IDVA, your feedback is important to us, and completing each survey is vital.
We hope you take a moment this week to answer these few questions in an honest and constructive manner. All IDVA administrators review your comments and reflect on how we can increase the educational experience of your student(s). In the spirit of transparency and growth, we will provide a high level overview of the survey results in next month’s newsletter.
Thank you for all you do!
Child Find
Idaho Virtual Academy, in cooperation with parents and nonpublic school agencies, engages in Child Find services throughout the school year. Child Find activities are conducted (1) to create public awareness of special education programs, (2) to advise the public that students who qualify for services have the right to a free appropriate public education and confidentiality protections, and (3) to alert community residents that a process exists for identifying and serving children with disabilities from the age of 3 through the semester in which they turn 21 if they are eligible for Special Education.
If you know of a child who is 3 through 21 years of age who may have individual needs that result from disabilities or developmental delays, and who is not enrolled in a school program, please contact Amanda Judd, Special Education Administrator, at 208-322-3559, or the school district office at 208-322-3559. These children may have difficulty walking, talking, hearing, or learning, or may display behaviors that appear different from other children their age.
If you are part of a community agency or civic group that would like more information about educating children with disabilities, or would like pamphlets to distribute to members, please call the school office or one of the above phone numbers.
State Department of Education - Holiday Card Contest - Grades K-6
Students in grades K-6 are encouraged to submit a drawing for the 2018 State Department of Education's holiday greeting card. Submissions must be received by Rachelle Armstrong at the Idaho State Department of Education by 5 p.m. Friday, Nov.2. Contest guidelines can be found on our website at www.sde.idaho.gov/events/card-contest/index.html.
NCAA and IDVA
If your student is interested in pursuing college athletics, please, be aware that the NCAA has all K12 schools on “extended review” status. IDVA is a K12 school so is on extended review status with the NCAA. Students graduating from a K12 school applying for NCAA eligibility will be denied currently. After they are denied, they can work with the college Athletic Director to gain a waiver. K12 has helped students through this process and has noted that about 75% of these students do get the waivers.
If you have questions or would like to talk further, please, contact your school counselor.
The Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) has specified that student Educational Records are confidential, with some exceptions. LEA #452 will provide Parents and Eligible Students annual notification of their rights under FERPA. The annual notice will contain information regarding the right to inspect their children’s Educational Records, the right to seek an amendment of an Educational Record, the right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information, with certain exceptions, and the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.
Click here for more Information about FERPA.
If you wish to opt your student out of IDVA’s Directory Information, please, click the following link, review the information, and fill out the survey.
K12 & IDVA Project Elevate
Please share your stories here:
FOR PARENTS: http://www.tinyurl.com/parent-shareastory
FOR TEACHERS: http://www.elevate.press/link
Technical Tip - Setting Your Time Zone
Are your assignments showing up as due at 1:30 am in the morning or at other odd times? Are you arriving at Class Connects at the wrong time? Are you seeing different times shown for the same Class Connect session depending on where you look?
If any of these situations are happening to you, please watch this short video to see how to fix the problem.
Technical Tip - Class Connect
Is it taking a long time for you to log into Class Connect? Do you have lag time while in Class Connect which makes it difficult to engage in class?
Clearing your Blackboard Collaborate cache or cookies could help. For instructions on how to clear your cache or cookies, click here.
You should also review and follow the Technology Best Practices found here.
If you continue to experience issues with your school loaner laptop, please, contact K12 Customer Care at 866.512.2273.
K-5 SCHOOL
Identify Learning Styles
To get the most out of your student’s education at IDVA, it is essential that you think about how to adapt the materials and lessons to your student’s own character, skills, and schedule.
As you work with your students, think about how they seem to learn best. Do they respond best to things presented visually? Do they need to hear information to retain it? Or do they learn best by manipulating objects? Use what you learn about your child to modify the presentation of lessons. Don’t be afraid to leave certain activities out, or add new activities, if they help your students master the objectives.
Online School Course Tip
Please remember that your online school courses are a mastery-based curriculum. If your student does not receive an 80% or higher on a lesson or unit assessment, it is not mastered and will not be counted in their overall progress.
The unmastered assessment will show as a half circle on your daily/weekly plan. (Please see image below.) If an assessment is unmastered, please review the lesson content and have your student retake the assessment to demonstrate understanding and mastery.
Many of the assessments are set to allow a student one try on the assessment. Your homeroom teacher can give additional attempts as needed. If you find that your student has not mastered an assessment, please reteach the content and then email your teacher to set additional attempts.
History and Science Course Progress
Course progress in history and science is different than what is expected in the math and English/language arts (ELA) courses. This chart shows the expected weekly progress until the end of December. The side in blue is the weekly expectation to reach 70% course completing by the end of school year. The side in yellow are for those students who have a reduced progress expectation due to attending Tier 2 classes each day.
Please note - if you started school on 9/24 your progress will be 6% less than the chart below and if you started with IDVA on 10/8 your progress will be 10% less.
Fun Ideas to Get Reading as a Family!
6-12 SCHOOL
Class of 2019 Graduation Information
IDVA will hold three formal graduation ceremonies across the state at the end of May. You may choose which ceremony you would like to participate in. Many students outside of the Boise area have asked if they can participate in their local ceremony and then travel to the Nampa ceremony. That would be great! The choice is up to you which ceremony (or ceremonies) you participate in, but we do need to know what your plans are so we can confirm the reservation size and order enough food!
Graduation Dates:
Monday, May 20th - Kroc Center, Coeur d’Alene (Northern Idaho)
Wednesday, May 22nd – NNU Brandt Center, NNU Campus, Nampa (Southern Idaho)
Thursday, May 23rd – Blackfoot Performing Arts Center, Blackfoot (Eastern Idaho)
Attention Seniors: To provide us with the information we need, please complete this short online survey:
Senior Graduation Slide Show
Seniors, please submit your senior photo AND a baby/childhood photo of yourself to be included in the senior slideshow at graduation.
Due Date: March 1, 2019
Send photos and questions to:
Photos are a great way to capture memories, so what better way to remember your teen years with a yearbook? The yearbook class is proud to announce that we will be releasing another yearbook this year, for grades 9-12!
Yearbooks start selling online in April 2019, and are shipped directly to you! Yearbooks come in softback and hardback covers, and include 4 pages for each student to add and customize for their own. Exact costs have not yet been decided, but are estimated to be around $20 for a softback and $30 for a hardback, with $8.99 shipping. We promise it’s worth it, as we work all year to make sure that your yearbook will be perfect!
However, we need your help! We need pictures for our yearbook, and would love to have you in it! You can submit photos for the following sections, which are due by the dates they are listed under.
Submit your photos using this link and make sure you select the correct section:
https://uploads.picaboo.com/8156372.
- Pictures Due on Nov 30th
- Music
- Fashion
- Animals (with student included)
- Travels/Trips
- Student Art/Photography
- Fall Sports
- The Great Outdoors
- Fall Projects
- Projects from last spring (2018)
- Pictures Due Jan 27th
- Senior Projects
- Hobbies and Talents
- Winter Sports
- Prom (Pictures from spring 2018)
- Winter School projects
Important: When uploading your photos, please be sure the file name includes your first and last name so we know who is who.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask! Contact our yearbook advisor, Mrs. Dietz, at mdietz@idahova.org.
College and Career Advising - Career Showcase - Input Requested!
IDVA students will have the opportunity to hear from career professionals in the coming months, but we need your help! To begin this feature, we need to know what careers you are interested in exploring. To share your ideas, please complete the survey below. The career with the most requests will be featured first, the one in second place will be the following month, and so on. Unfortunately, we may not be able to get to every career idea suggested.
Additionally, we will be interviewing these careers professionals with questions submitted by students. Each month a new survey will be available for you to submit your questions for the upcoming interview. If your question is used in the interview, you will win an IDVA backpack!
Click on this link to complete the short survey: https://goo.gl/forms/AlE9mxyzfQCuAREQ2
College and Career Newsletter
Check out the College and College and Career Newsletter for more information about:
- Career Survey
- College Fair Information
- Statewide College Events
- New Scholarship Updates
- FAFSA Updates
- Helpful Links
Grades 6-12 October Anti-Bullying Postcard Campaign
- Do you have a message to share about bullying and/or its effects?
- The IDVA Safety Committee would love to have you share your thoughts, ideas, artwork, or poetry, etc on this topic!
- Receive a blank postcard from us and write down or draw whatever you feel you’d like to share and send it back (postage paid) ANONYMOUSLY.
- We will ‘POST” all the cards we receive in a school assembly toward the end of the semester.
- Here is the link to sign up and find out more: https://tinyurl.com/IDVAAntiBullyingCampaign
- We will run this for the next week or so until 75 postcards are sent out. The deadline to sign up is November 9th.
Join IDVA Ski and Snowboard Days!
Treasure Valley IDVA students in grades 7-12 are invited to participate in the Junior High and Senior High School Race Program at Bogus Basin. The race program offers students:
- Discounted lift prices
- Friendly competition with other students in the Treasure Valley
- Community of athletes who enjoy winter sports
Details:
- Racers can compete in Nordic, Freestyle, or Slalom events.
- Races are scheduled from January 12th until February 16th, 2019.
- Participants must participate in at least three of the Saturday races to qualify for the Dotty Clark Competition.
- Dotty Clark race qualifiers will compete against other racers in the Treasure Valley. Ribbons and trophies will be awarded!
Click here for more information or email Mrs. Moran at mmoran@idahova.org
Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars Program - Open Slots Available!
Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars (ISAS) program needs Idaho high school juniors. Application will close November 13, 2018. ISAS is an interactive, online experience highlighted by a seven-day residential summer academy at Boise State University and NASA Ames Research Center. Students will explore science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts, with an emphasis on space exploration, during their online experience with Idaho Digital Learning. Students who are selected to come to Boise State University and NASA Ames Research Center will continue their STEM studies with hands-on team activities while mentored by STEM professionals and Master Teachers. ISAS is a great opportunity for Idaho high school juniors. It’s out of this world!
High school juniors can apply now. The application deadline is November 13th. Learn more here.
For more information watch:
U.S. Senate Youth Program - Application Deadline October 19th
There is still time! High school juniors and seniors can still apply for the United States Senate Youth Program, sponsored by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation. The program brings students from across the United States together with officials from each branch of government for a week long educational program in Washington, D.C. Students also receives a one-time $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship.
The application deadline is October 19, 2018. The program guidelines are available at https://ussenateyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/2019-Official-USSYP-Brochure.pdf.
Contact Peter Kavouras at pgkavouras@sde.idaho.gov or call (208) 332-6975.
U.S. Selective Service
Attention all 17 and 18 year old young men:
Remember that when you turn 18, the law says you must register for the Selective Service.
Those who fail to register may be denied student loans, government jobs, and a driver's license in most states. In addition, if you are a male immigrant seeking to become a citizen, you must also be registered, regardless of your immigration status.
You are Invited to the Counselor Connect!
Dual Credit 101:
Advanced Opportunities in High School
Friday, October 19th @ 12:00 pm MST
This session will appear in your daily Class Connect/Live Class schedule. For your convenience, here is the guest link:
Fast Forward Program
Dear Families of Students in Grades 7-12,
Are you looking for a challenge and advanced opportunities? Do you want your student to earn college credits in high school? If you answered yes, we would like to introduce you to the Fast Forward Program.
The Fast Forward program provides every student attending an Idaho public school an allocation of $4,125.00 to use towards Advanced Opportunities in grades 7-12. The program was expanded by the Legislature in 2016 through the passing of House Bill 458. At the middle school level, the funds can be used for overload courses at the middle school level to allow students to begin taking high school credits while in middle school. For more information, please check out this website:
http://www.sde.idaho.gov/student-engagement/advanced-ops/
Please contact your student support advisor or high school counselor for more information.
7th & 8th Grade: Jessica Lecertua,
9th & 10th Grade A-K: Debbie Thomas, dthomas@idahova.org
9th & 10th Grade L-Z: Teresea Bannister, tbannister@idahova.org
11th & 12th Grade A-K: Mark Rodel,
11th & 12th Grade L-Z: Jessica Lecertua, jlecertua@idahova.org
We look forward to visiting with you about this exciting opportunity and answering any questions you may have about the Fast Forward Program!
Have a Question?
Have questions about your classes or our Idaho Virtual Academy school? Ask your IDVA teacher or staff.
Have technology questions? Ask K12 Customer Support.