In the Press

CHS Joins Online Learning Community

The VHS Collaborative (VHS), the nonprofit pioneer of K-12 online learning, this week announced the addition of 29 new member schools in 12 U.S. states and India. Starting on September 5, 2012, students at the following middle and high schools will be taking a co-synchronous VHS course online at their school with classmates and a teacher located in other parts of the world.

Auburn Middle School Adds Global Online Learning

Students at Auburn Middle School will soon have the opportunity to communicate with students from China, India or Alaska.

Starting Sept. 5, up to five middle school students will be taking online courses with students in other parts of the world. Auburn High School has had this program for five years.

Thanks to a partnership with the VHS Collaborative, also known as the Virtual High School, the middle school will have access to a variety of online courses.

On-line learning brings specialty classes to area Catholic high schools

Students at 19 Catholic high schools in the Boston area began on-line courses offered through the Maynard based Virtual High School Collaborative (VHS) as students returned to school the first week of September.

VHS provides students with the ability to take courses that their local school would not otherwise be able to offer, because of limited interest, budget restrictions, or not having a teacher for a given course.

Among the schools utilizing the program is Cathedral High School in Boston's South End.

Hanover High School teacher will teach a virtual classroom

Ann Coates has taught social studies at Hanover High School for 16 years. However, this year will be completely different for her because, in addition to her other classes, Coates is teaching in a virtual classroom.

“I love taking online courses,” she said. “Teaching offers me a different perspective.”

Coates has been taking online courses for years and still takes them to add something new to her teaching.

“I mostly take education courses,” she said. “I like to learn how to more integrate the web into the classroom.”

Linda Roberts' Promotion

The VHS Collaborative of Maynard has appointed Linda Roberts to its board of directors.

Read the article here

Business People

The VHS Collaborative, a nonprofit provider of online learning opportunities based in Maynard, has announced that Debbie Kenny of Lancaster has been promoted to the newly created position of vice president of sales and marketing. Ms. Kenny joined VHS in February 2011 as the director of sales and marketing and will now take an expanded role in leading VHS's growth initiatives. She has more than 20 years of experience in the corporate training, e-learning and education industries.

Online classes tested at Auburn Middle School

Ten Auburn Middle School eighth-graders will join 50 Auburn High School students participating in international online learning classes this school year.

The high school students' grades will count toward their grade-point average and will be included on their transcripts. The middle school students' grades will not count toward their GPA, but will be posted on their report cards and transcripts.

Massachusetts Schools Adopting Virtual Learning

When 11-year-old Stephanie Kuplast was in first grade, tests showed that she was at a sixth-grade reading level, according to her mother Kimberly. "She was the happiest kid in the world (until) she started school," said Kimberly, of Southampton, who said that a teacher told her Stephanie was so far ahead of the rest of the class that the school could not advance her any more. "They'd give you little paperback books (for homework) and say, Read the first page.' I would read the entire book," said Stephanie.
   

Massachusetts Virtual Academy ready for third year

Pending legislation would change future of state virtual schools

GREENFIELD -- As Greenfield's cyber school, the Massachusetts Virtual Academy, begins its third year of operation, administrators are preparing for another year of growth, all while keeping a wary eye on pending state legislation working its way through Beacon Hill.

College Notes

College graduations
Area students received degrees:

CARROLL: Lisa Finkler, Appleton, received a degree in psychology, and Amanda Tess, Appleton, received a degree in writing (cum laude) from Carroll University, Waukesha.

HOPE: Kate Schrampfer, Appleton, received a degree (magna cum laude) from Hope College, Holland, Mich.

ST. LOUIS: Maggie Born, Appleton, received a master's degree in occupational therapy from St. Louis University.

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