Fall 2010

Virtual High School

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Virtual High School Global Consortium is the worldwide leader in collaborative online education and professional development. VHS Student Success Stories by Richard Pickering, CEO

s interest and participation in virtual learning reaches new heights, so does membership in the Virtual High School Global Consortium (VHS). Our main mission—to supplement a school’s traditional curricular offerings with quality virtual courses taught by certified Amember teachers—has proven to be a valuable educational model in high demand. Working together, teachers, site coordinators, administrators, and VHS staff use a 21st century online global environment to foster successful learning. In this issue of the VHS Network Newsletter, we proudly share with you some of the consortium’s successes, with particular focus on individual students thriving within our program. Please read and enjoy the student success stories highlighted throughout. • The article VHS Provides a Jump Start on College and Career recognizes two of the many benefits of virtual classes as offered by VHS. It describes how Lauren Magley, of , selected VHS courses that matched her unique interests, and personalized her course schedule to complete all high school graduation requirements so she could pursue her dreams of becoming a veterinarian. Lauren’s story shows that giving students some choice in what to study can be educationally beneficial and also demonstrates how an asynchronous delivery model can be used to help develop an individualized class schedule. See “VHS Provides a Jump Start on College and Career”, page 2 • The transition between high school and a post secondary institution can be challenging for many students. Students accustomed to the watchful eye of teachers and guidance counselors soon realize that expectations change at the post-secondary level. Participation in online classes (which are common at many universities), an expectation of independent learning viewpoints from a diverse, even global student body, and extensive student collaboration, are all potentially new experiences learners face at post-secondary institutions. VHS online courses introduce students to these experiences and prepare them for success at the next level. In this issue, former VHS student Kendra Mack describes how VHS online classes helped her prepare for the demands of post-secondary education. See “College Student Credits VHS with Higher Education Success”, page 5 • Teaching is a very difficult occupation made even more difficult when the content to be taught is seen by students as not connected to their lives. How many times have teachers heard In this issue students say, “What does this class have to do with real life?” Courses in the VHS catalog overcome this issue in part because students work with school advisors to choose courses 1 From the CEO which peak their interest, and in part because many VHS courses are purposefully designed as specialized, unique courses schools typically cannot offer. Recent VHS student Marlee Roberts 2 VHS Provides Jump Start describes the courses she chose and reflects on how they have helped her move forward with her career. 3 In the News See “VHS student Finds Field of Her Dreams”, pages 6 and 7 5 College Student VHS takes great satisfaction in partnering with schools and students to leverage the best attributes Credits VHS in virtual learning, and as such, we are proud of our role in each and every student success story. If 6 Field of Dreams you have a story you would like to share please contact any member of the VHS staff, as we would love to hear it. 8 Conferences and Events Best wishes for the new school year and please keep offering your students the VHS experience! visit: goVHS.org 2 VHS Network | Fall 2010 VHS Provides a Jump Start on College and Career by Grace Magley, Director of Technology, Millis Public Schools (and Lauren’s Mom)

n the spring of her junior year, Lauren Magley of Millis High I was on the farm in South Carolina I was a full-time working School (MHS) had a dream—and a dilemma. A competitive student. I only had one day a week off from my barn and riding Iequestrian event rider, Lauren wanted to spend the second duties. I liked that I could do my coursework in the evenings and half of her senior year training full-time on a horse farm in Aiken, that things were very clear cut regarding what was expected and South Carolina before heading off to college. When she brought when things were due.” the idea to her guidance coun- Much of Lauren’s VHS course- selor at MHS, Mark Awdycki, work was directly related to Lauren was surprised that the both daily life on the farm and school could accommodate her hands-on training for her fu- so easily. It was the Virtual High ture career as an equine veteri- School membership at MHS that narian. She gained experience allowed her this flexibility thanks in Equine Massage, which was to a full catalog of online courses also the topic for her senior to help her complete her gradua- project. Lauren researched the tion requirements. Bob Mullaney, horse muscle system and the principal of Millis High School, benefits of equine massage for was happy to support Lauren who competition animals—then put has always been an excellent stu- that research into practice every dent, “Lauren is paving the way day on the twelve horses at the for other students who are look- farm. Lauren recalls, “I could ing for alternative ways to finish really tell that my massage made up their high school career while a difference in how the horses being able to get started on the performed in competition. It next phase of their life.” makes me feel good to know Lauren, who graduated at the top Lauren and her horse, Max that I can help a horse to feel of her class this spring, was able calmer and looser through my to take three Virtual High School classes and make online arrange- massage and ultimately compete at a higher level. I also think it ments with the teachers of her three required MHS courses. It was prepared me to become a veterinarian since I had to learn so much a full course load, but Lauren was exited to be able to take Pre-vet- about a horse’s skeletal and muscle system.” erinary Medicine, Animal Behavior and Zoology, and Philosophy I Lauren is attending the University of South Carolina, Honor Col- as electives through VHS. “These courses were not offered in Millis lege at Columbia this fall as a Biology major. In reflecting on her except through VHS and I think they helped to prepare me for the experience she couldn’t say enough about the partnership between college experience. In order to be successful I had to be organized Millis Public Schools and VHS: “It allowed me to customize my se- and disciplined to do my coursework on a regular schedule. While nior year experience and get a jump start on my college career.”

VHS Network Our Mission Liz Pape, President The mission of Virtual High School is to Richard Pickering, CEO develop and deliver standards-based, student- centered online courses to expand students’ Suzanne Harlow, Editor educational opportunities and 21st century Virtual High School VHS Network is published biannually to share skills and to offer professional development to Global Consortium teachers to expand the scope and depth of www.goVHS.org the successes of the VHS community and to promote collaboration through the addition of their instructional skills. schools and course offering opportunities. VHS Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded Virtual High School Global Consortium VHS Network encourages contributions from by The Concord Consortium and Hudson Public 4 Clock Tower Place, Suite 510 VHS member schools, teachers, site coordina- Schools of . Maynard, MA 01754 tors, and students. Please send your ideas for Copyright©2010 VHS, Inc. All rights reserved. tel 978.897.1900 contributions to: Noncommercial reproduction is encouraged, fax 978.897.9839 provided proper credit is given. Virtual High goVHS.org School, VHS, COVE, SCENe and NetCourse are registered trademarks of VHS, Inc. In the News goVHS.org 978.897.1900 3

Ten Years Congratulations Kathleen Cembura Quaboag Regional High School Warren MA Edward Chomka Sutton Memorial High School Sutton MA to VHS Veteran Karen Culberson Nipmuc Regional Middle/High School Upton MA VHS Teachers and Jane Funderburk Archbishop Williams High School Braintree MA Marcia Morris Central High School Carrollton GA …that student-centered online courses Site Coordinators! Lynne Pelto West Boylston Middle/High School West Boylston MA Joanne Petterson-Bernier Leicester High School Leicester MA can be designed and delivered to students The following Virtual High School Gail Poulter Littleton MA High School Littleton MA to promote a high quality collaborative Global Consortium (VHS) teachers Dianne Pappafotopoulos Fontbonne Academy Milton MA learning environment in which student ex- and site coordinators were recently Donna Simpson Bowdon High School Bowdon GA change and interactionbelieves is a valued compo- recognized for reaching five or ten year Karl Steinkamp Dalat International School Penang Malaysia nent of the instructional process. milestones of participation with VHS. five Years …that educational opportunity need not Kelly Angileri Academy of Information Tech & Eng Stamford CT Carol Bardon Ludlow MA be limited by barriers of time and place Jeff Bugenhagen Upper Merion Area High School King of Prussia PA and lack of qualified faculty. Rather, we Barbara Elder High School Nantucket MA believe that high-quality education is Judith Fairweather Use Home address Pittsfield MA possible — today — for all students in David Jones Southwick-Tolland Regional High School Southwick MA Elaine Lennox Ridley High School Folsom PA all locations. Online education offers any Francis McSweeny Stonington High School Pawcatuck CT school with Internet connectivity a wealth (left to right) April Rist, Agawam High Tammy Noyes Lyme-Old Lyme High School Old Lyme CT of trained, experienced faculty mem- School; Jan Davis, Western Mass VHS Diane Rodriguez Westborough High School Westborough MA bers qualified in numerous disciplines, Consortium; Steve Lemanski, Principal, William Sanford New Britain High School New Britain CT for teaching a wide array of courses de- Michael Stevens Maynard High School Maynard MA Jennifer Townsend Windsor High School Windsor VT signed to meet the needs of all students. Christopher Underwood Grafton High School Grafton MA An innovative, standards-based curriculum Matthew Whitney South Hadley MA delivered online offers diverse, exciting Tina Avery West Boylston Middle/High School West Boylston MA learning choices for students, and the op- Erin Bruhm West Springfield High School West Springfield MA Joyce Burk-Biggs Petersburg High School Petersburg AK portunity and skills to participate in a na- Judith Burr Coventry High School Coventry CT tional and global community. Eva Cetrullo Camden Technical Schools Sicklerville NJ Dean Collins Madison Area Memorial High School Madison ME …that online teaching should augment Neal Sonnenberg, VHS Senior Curriculum Linda Courtney Ludlow High School Ludlow MA and Instruction Coordinator with Carol rather than replace traditional classroom John Driscoll Bandung Alliance International School Bandung Indonesia Duffy, VHS teacher at Marian High School teaching. Virtual High School online Carol Duffy Marian High School Framingham MA Shannon Evensen Mount View High School Thorndike ME courses are a proven, flexible solution for Thomas Forbes Bellingham High School Bellingham MA schools needing an expanded curriculum, Lisa Gastelle Maryland School for the Deaf Frederick MD teachers seeking new horizons, parents Ann Guilmette Pittsburg School Pittsburg NH wanting more involvement with their chil- Kathryn Hanson Newport Middle High School Newport NH dren’s education, and a society grappling Maryann Hatab Pittsfield Middle High School Pittsfield NH Sara Hedges Fairfield County ESC Lancaster OH with ways to offer opportunity to all its Michelle Hoover Nashoba Regional High School Bolton MA citizens. (left to right) Jan Davis, Western Debra Hunter Agawam High School Agawam MA Mass VHS Consortium; Dave Jones, Karen LaClair Simsbury High School Simsbury CT …that the goals of education are ad- Southwick-Tolland Regional High School; Jeanne Lauer Academy of Information Tech and Eng Stamford CT vanced best by putting value and service Pam Hunter, Principal, Southwick-Tolland Kim Lavoie Nute Middle High School Milton NH Regional High School first. When schools work together ina Maureen Macinko Wheeler High School North Stonington CT Jennifer MacKenzie New Fairfield High School New Fairfield CT collaborative network such as VHS, they Jeanne Manfredi Lyme-Old Lyme High School Old Lyme CT become part of an abundant and gener- Mary Marotta Nashoba Regional High School Bolton MA ous educational community that promotes Michael McGowan Terryville High School Terryville CT the affordable sharing of professional Demetria McKaig Farmington High School Farmington NH resources. Natalie Morrison Hamilton Wenham Regional High School South Hamilton MA Colleen Nisbet Granby Memorial High School Granby CT Mike Parent Westford MA (left to right) Diane Rodriguez, Lana Pekoske Wamogo Regional High School Litchfield CT VHS teacher at Westborough High School; Steven Perrin Brattleboro Union High School Brattleboro VT Kim Spangenberg, VHS Science April Rist Agawam High School Agawam MA Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator; Thomas Robb Calais High School Calais ME Paul Vital, Westborough High School Donna Sadlowski North Adams MA VHS site coordinator Pete Sampou Rising Tide Charter School Plymouth MA Neal Sarahan Monarch School Houston TX Nancy Sawyer Tantasqua Regional High School Fiskdale MA Diane Stelacio Cape May County Technical School Cape May NJ Court House Kerri Swinehart Educere Ambler PA Paula Talmadge Minnechaug Regional High School Wilbraham MA Matt Treamer NCES Collaborative Gorham NH Richard Trudeau Terryville High School Terryville CT Pete Sampou, Rising Tide Charter School Vincent Valaitis Upper Merion Area High School King of Prussia PA with Colleen Worrell, VHS Education Michael Webber Buckfield High School Buckfield ME Programs Coordinator continued on page 7 4 VHS Network | Fall 2010

In the News continued from previous page 2010 Scholarship Winners Announced by Dana Koch, Director of Global Services Virtual High School Global Consortium (VHS) is thrilled to announce the 2010 VHS Scholarship Award winners. For 2010, applicants were asked to produce a multimedia presentation with an audio narration that addressed the following question, “In what way has your VHS involvement helped you to gain a global perspective?” We received a number of submissions and the quality of them made the deci- sion process quite difficult. We would like to thank all of the applicants and wish everyone the best in their higher education endeavors. Congratulations to our 2010 scholarship winners! Cody Doucette a global experience by immersing herself in research about Ledyard High School, Ledyard, CT Iceland, a country she had previously known nothing about, for her Cultural Identity Through Literature course. Olivia’s global Course: AP Physics C experience will continue to grow as she “can’t wait to spread The Internet Age and Global Perspective – (her) research to other cultures.” Cody, the 2010 first place scholarship winner, states, “Indeed it is through international groups such as VHS that I think Kaci Brandt the virtues of global perspective really shine through.” In his Simsbury High School, Simsbury, CT presentation, he discusses the universal subject matter of math Course: Introduction to Psychology and science. Through a website created during a course group Global Diversity – project, Cody was able to clearly communicate with students across the globe in an effort to better understand the course Kaci has exemplified the global experience, having lived in content. six different cities throughout North America in her lifetime. VHS has helped Kaci continue on her global path, putting Olivia Prato her in touch with students across the United States and West Boylston High School, West Boylston, MA reaching as far as Tanzania and Peru! She states about her global classmates, “No matter where you are from or what your Course: Cultural Identity Through Literature: Understanding Place background is, you can still be interested in the same things and have similar goals.” A Worldly Mind – Olivia describes the VHS experience as a “mission of self- To view all the award-winning entries, visit us at: betterment, what education is supposed to be.” Olivia gained http://www.govhs.org/vhsweb/gallery.nsf/VHSScholarship

Welcome New VHS Member Schools! Welcome to the following schools that joined the Virtual High School collaborative during the 2009-2010 school year.

Academy of Notre Dame MA Edison Preparatory School OK Mechanicsburg High School OH Amherst Regional MA Eleanor Roosevelt High School NY Memorial High School OK Apponequet Regional High School MA Fort Smith Northside High School AR Middleton-Cross Plains WI Archbishop Molloy High School NY Four Rivers Charter Public School MA Milford High School MA Ardsley High School NY Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School MA Mount Anthony Union High School VT Berkshire Arts & Technology Gann Academy MA Narragansett High School RI Charter Public School MA Great Path Academy CT Nathan Hale High School OK Blackstone-Millville Regional School District MA Greater Lawrence Technical School MA Nazareth Academy MA Blind Brook High School NY Haldane High School NY MA Boys and Girls High School NY Hammonton High School NJ New Garden Friends School NC Brentwood School GA Hastings High School NY New Milford High School NJ Champlain Valley Union High School VT Holbrook Jr. Sr. High School MA Noble High School ME Charles E. Gorton High School NY Irvington High School NY North Andover High School MA Colchester High School VT Johnson County School District #1 WY North River Collaborative MA Cromwell High School CT Lancaster Digital Academy OH North Smithfield High School RI Croton-Harmon High School NY Lander Valley High School WY North Warren Central School NY MA Lincoln High School NY Oberlin High School OH Dobbs Ferry High School NY MA Orange High School NJ Dupont Manual KY MA Palmyra High School NJ Dutchess County BOCES NY Manville High School NJ Pathfinder High School WY East Central High School OK McLain High School OK Phoenix Country Day School AZ EASTCONN/ACT Regional Magnet High School CT continued on next page goVHS.org 978.897.1900 5 College Student Credits VHS with Higher Education Success Kendra Mack, the first recipient of the Virtual High School Schol- tests and quizzes, and discus- arship Award in 2008, is now a junior at the University of New sions. I skipped that adjustment Hampshire (UNH). She is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in commu- period in college by completing nication with a visual media focus, and a minor in writing. While in these activities in VHS courses. high school, Kendra completed three Virtual High School courses - So- VHS courses also better reflect ciology, Screenwriting Fundamentals, and AP Psychology. She reflects the way coursework is distrib- on her VHS experience and how it helped her gain insight about her uted in college than in high interests, and the skills to transition to college. school. In high school, a lot of Kendra Mack n high school, I knew I wanted to someday pursue a degree time is spent in class, and as- in social science. Wavering between psychology and media/ signments are usually fed to students one-by-one, with frequent re- communication studies, it was difficult to pinpoint exactly minders about what’s coming up and what progress students should I be making. The structure doesn’t provide academic independence, or which route to choose. And though I really enjoyed my VHS Sociology and AP Psychology classes, I was able to conclude that help develop time management skills. In VHS, because the course perhaps psychology wasn’t my calling. VHS provided me the op- is available 24/7, students are responsible for being proactive about portunity to explore different subjects that weren’t offered at my their learning, creating their own schedules weekly to keep on top of high school, allowing me to sort out my interests before going to their work. This is more like college where more time is dedicated to the university. There’s so much to adjust to when transitioning to independent work and applying new knowledge. In most of my uni- college, and knowing what I wanted to pursue made the switch versity courses, all assignments and due dates are given to me on the quite a bit less stressful. I entered UNH with a communication first day, and completing the work is my responsibility. This sudden major and have stuck with it since. lack of academic structure is one of the most difficult adjustments to make from high school to college, and VHS gave me a gateway to I gained a lot more than just this from my VHS courses. Though prepare for this big shift. I’ve seen a lot of students struggle with this I didn’t end up majoring in psychology, the AP Psychology class transition, and I know that if they were allowed the opportunity to be saved me time and money by preparing me for the AP exam, which more academically independent in high school, the transition would covered one of my general education requirements at UNH! I was have been much smoother. unsure how well an online class would prepare me for an AP exam in comparison to a face-to-face class, but I felt very prepared and The typical high school environment is like a bubble that holds stu- confident to sit for the exam. I attribute this confidence to the dents who reflect the general demographic of the nearby cities and exposure of many online learning resources that the VHS course towns. The high school I attended had students from three towns in provided me in the course, beyond just the textbook. New Hampshire. The student body was not an accurate portrayal of the different kinds of social backgrounds and cultures students possess For the past two years at college, I have had several courses that all over the country and internationally. And through VHS and also required a great deal of online work. I have taken quizzes, submit- college, I have discovered that with these different backgrounds come ted big papers, and worked in groups online. For some classes, all different values, ideas, and aspirations. Hearing the thoughts of oth- of the course readings and assignments were accessible exclusively ers who are different from oneself is a part of a healthy well-rounded on UNH’s online course management system. More and more education. In VHS, I participated in discussions with students from colleges and their professors are turning to online course manage- inner cities, rural towns, and international locations such as the Unit- ment. I was immediately comfortable with working online largely ed Arab Emirates. I felt comfortable communicating with my online because I had done it before with VHS. Because the Internet is classmates. Being comfortable with others and their viewpoints is nec- often used for casual conversation and networking, it may be dif- essary in college, where students are coming from all over the world ficult for students to adjust to using it to submit graded papers, with their unique experiences, ideas, and passions.

Welcome New VHS Member Schools! continued from previous page Pioneer Valley Regional School MA Shanghai American School - Traip Academy ME Ponaganset High School RI Puxi Campus China Trinity School NY Port Townsend High School WA Skagway School AK MA Riverside High School NY South Shore Charter Public School MA Wakefield Public Schools MA Rogers High School RI Southern Westchester Board of Cooperative Webster High School OK Roosevelt High School NY Education Services NY Wells High School ME Sacred Heart High School MA Suffield Middle School CT Weston High School CT Saddle Brook Middle/High School NJ Sussex County Technical School NJ Whitefish High School MT Saugus High School MA Tappan Zee High School (SOCSD) NY Will Rogers High School OK Saunders Trades and Technical High School NY The Central High School - Windham High School ME Fine and Performing Arts OK Shanghai American School - Yonkers High School NY Pudong Campus China The Devereux School MA The Study Canada 6 VHS Network | Fall 2010 VHS Student Finds Field of Her Dreams

VHS: Please tell us about yourself. Blessed with the opportunity to make our dreams come true, we gave all of the proceeds to a wonderful philanthropic organization Marlee: My name is Marlee Roberts. I’m a professional actress and called Comfort Zone Camp, a bereavement camp for children. singer and a graduate of the class of 2010 of North Arlington High We chose this organization because our song, “Christmas Shoes”, School in North Arlington, New Jersey. I have much to say about deals with this theme of loss. We can’t wait to do it again next the wonderful opportunities I have been afforded as a result of VHS. Holiday Season! VHS: What VHS courses did you attend while you were VHS: Through your VHS courses you were a student in a a VHS student and can you describe your experience in global classroom. What was it like interacting with the each course? students in your courses and what did you learn from your Marlee: I have taken three semester courses and one full-year VHS online classmates? course. My most recent VHS course was the full-year course, AP Marlee: One of the most incredible things about VHS is that there Spanish. I found the course very challenging. I met all kinds of stu- is full honesty when analyzing, critiquing, and giving advice on dents from all over the world. My teacher resides in Puerto Rico, and each other’s work. Students are thoughtful and respectful, but they through this course I was able to pursue a challenge my school did also give great constructive criticism. My VHS not offer me. peers were exceptionally supportive and encour- My first VHS course was Screen- aging. The greatest thing I learned from them is writing Fundamentals, in which I the importance of honesty when giving someone wrote the beginning of a feature feedback. And to have received this feedback on length screenplay. It was one of a global level, I know I can make good decisions. the best things I’ve ever learned to do! This course helped me decide VHS: Is there anything else you would to continue to write and helped like to share about your experience as a me decide to study directing, pro- VHS student? ducing, and writing for film and Marlee: Virtual High School gave me the knowl- TV in college. edge and extra push I needed to get my dreams off Next, I took the VHS course, the ground and start sailing! History of American Popular VHS: Marlee, what are your Music, which exposed me to our future plans? U.S. History through the eyes of musicians during the decades. Marlee: I was accepted in to the highly selective Tisch School of the This past fall semester I took the Arts, Film and TV Production pro- course, Entrepreneurship, where gram at the dynamic global net- I learned how to start my own work university, New York Univer- business. It was absolutely amaz- sity (NYU). I plan to attend NYU ing because not only did I draw starting in the fall. This summer, up my business plan, I decided to I am producing a documentary implement my business too! about the lack of a standard age VHS: What is the business you created and how did for when a child becomes an adult, you implement it? and what is the determining factor in age restrictions, limits, prices, Marlee: I recorded, mixed, mastered, marketed, and re- and laws. I am also writing another leased my own holiday CD with my little sister. We had feature length film that I want to come up with harmonies for traditional holiday classics produce in college! throughout the year and so, I decided to make a budget and take what I had learned in my VHS Entrepreneurship course to put my plan in motion. For more information about Marlee, visit her web site at: www.mar- leeroberts.com. To learn more about her holiday CD, please click on the “Music” tab. Pictures of Marlee’s events are also available on her Facebook fan page. goVHS.org 978.897.1900 7

Congratulations to VHS Veteran Teachers and Site Coordinators! continued from page 3

(left to right) Patricia DiMaggio, VHS Registrar; Tina Avery (left to right) Gordon Smith, Principal, Ludlow High School; Leicester High School site coordinator, Joan Whitney with and Lynne Pelto, West Boylston High School; Linda Courtney, Ludlow High School; Jan Davis, 10 year VHS teacher, Joanne Petterson-Bernier; Tom Lauder, Suzanne Harlow, VHS Sr. Account Manager Western Mass VHS Consortium Principal and Carol Ribeiro, VHS Chief Operating Officer

(left to right)Paul Daigle, Sutton High School principal; (left to right) Deb Hunter Agawam High School; Jan Davis, (left to right) Mike Brown, VHS Marketing Associate; Ed Chomka, VHS teacher at Sutton High School; Western Mass VHS Consortium; Steve Lemanski, Principal Christopher Underwood, Grafton High School; Kim Spangenberg, VHS Science Curriculum and Instruction James Pignataro, Principal, Grafton High School Coordinator; and Lucille DiLeo, Curriculum Director, Sutton Public Schools

(left to right) Gordon Smith, Principal, Ludlow High School; (left to right) Kevin Cole, VHS Curriculum & Instruction (left to right) Erin Bruhm, West Springfield High School Carol Bardon, Ludlow High School; Jan Davis, Western Mass Assistant; Laura Chesson, Principal, Maynard High School; with son Kenneth James and Jan Davis, Western Mass VHS Consortium Michael Stevens, Maynard High School; Fran Ashe VHS Consortium VHS Curriculum Coordinator

(left to right) Mike Garofano, Director of Technology, (left to right) Dan Smith, Principal, South Hadley High (left to right) Archbishop Williams High School President, Bellingham High School; Susan Leavey, VHS Manager of School; Matt Whitney, South Hadley High School; Jan Davis, Dr. Carmen Mariano; Mary Louise Sadowski, Principal; Curriculum and Instruction; Tom Forbes, Assistant Principal; Western Mass VHS Consortium Meryl Baxter, site coordinator; Jane Funderburk, teacher; and Ed Fleury, Principal Bellingham High School Craig Perrier, VHS Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Maynard, MA Virtual ViHighrtua Schooll High Global Scho Consortiumol Permit #17 4 ClockGlo balTower Con Place,so rtSuiteium 510 Maynard,www.goVH MA S.or01754g goVHS.org

VHS member services available for credit include: • enrollment in online summer school • enrollment in Best Practices professional development Save $1000 • Teacher Training (NIM) on your VHS membership! • Yearly membership • Mix and match any of the above. As a VHS member school, you can save up to $1000 on your membership services! Simply refer a school to VHS and, if they join, your school Terms and Conditions apply. For more information, please visit our referral receives (1) $1000 credit to be applied to any VHS member services OR webpage at: http://www.govhs.org/Content/ReferralProgram-AdminOverview or, (1) $500 credit and (1) Apple iPad® for your classroom! contact Michael Brown at 978-450-0419 or [email protected] VHS Conferences and Events VHS will be attending and hosting the following national conferences this year. For the most up-to-date events listing, including local conferences, please visit our website at: http://www.govhs.org/Pages/AboutUs-Conf

NREA National Rural Education Association AESA Association of Educational October 15-17, 2010 Service Agencies Annual Convention December 1-4, 2010 Chateau on the Lake Savannah International Trade and Branson, MO 65616 Convention Center Presentation - Online Teaching and Learning: Savannah, GA 31421 VHS is a non-profit collaborative of part- Policy, Quality and Cost Considerations Presentation - Successful Online Course Programs: http://www.nrea.net/ Planning, Policy and Promotion nerat schools a throughout glance the U.S. and http://www.aesa.us/Conference/AnnConf2010/ around the world that expands learning NSBA T+L National School Boards AnnConf2010.html Association, Technology and Learning opportunities for teachers and students October 19-21, 2010 AASA American Association of School through online education. Our award- T+L Conference Administrators winning collaborative model is unique Phoenix Convention Center February 17-19, 2011 Phoenix, AZ 85004 National Conference on Education among online providers and features in- Presentation - Going Global with 21st Century Colorado Convention Center novative, student-centered courses that Teaching and Learning http://s36.a2zinc.net/clients/ Denver, CO 80202 nsba/t+l2010/public/enter.aspx Presentation - Online Teaching and Learning: enhance curricula and meet nationally Policy, Cost and Quality Considerations accepted standards. By partnering with NMSA National Middle School Association http://www.aasa.org/NCE/default.aspx November 4-6, 2010 VHS, educators have the proven tools Baltimore Convention Center ASCD Association for Supervision and they need to offer more learning and Baltimore, MD 21201 Curriculum Development growth opportunities to their students Presentation - Engaging Online Experiences March 26-28, 2011 for Gifted & Talented Students Moscone Center and staff, in a cost-attractive manner. http://www.nmsa.org/annual/ San Francisco, CA 94103 Presentation - Successful Online Course Programs: iNacol International Association for Planning, Policy and Promotion Total Student Enrollment 12,893 K-12 Online Learning http://www.ascd.org/conferences/annual-confer- Students by Gender F 58% / M 42% November 14-16, 2010 ence/2011.aspx 336 VSS - Virtual School Symposium Number oF Course sections Renaissance Glendale Hotel & Spa number of Member Schools over 662 Glendale, AZ 85305 Size of Member Schools 6 - 4,286 Presentations - A Practical Approach to Training and students Evaluating Online Instructors, Engaging Online Experi- ences for Gifted & Talented Students, and Blended Learning: Strategies for Success 978.897.1900 goVHS.org http://www.virtualschoolsymposium.org/index.php