2016-2017 School Calendar Parent Connection: Fill & Download for Free

I can’t comment on Australia as I have never been there or lived there. But I am too a Chinese whose family and old friends are still living in China, while I have lived in Canada since 2008. And “should I go back or not” is also a question I have asked myself many many times till last year I made a conscious decision to stay in Canada.A couple things really helped me to make this decision:I got married. Before marriage, home is where my parents are and when my parents lived in China, no matter how many opportunities there are here in Canada, no matter the clean air, the health care etc, I missed being close to them. There can be a million reasons why I should stay in Canada, but the emotional connection made everything a lot more difficult, and due to this I actually moved back there shortly for 1 year in 2012. After marriage, home is where my husband is. That changed a lot in terms of the emotional attachment I had to my family and friends in China. Now I start to view Canada as home, and that changed everything for me.I found opportunities and niches that will be more difficult to act on in China than in Canada. Being a Chinese, probably like you, I had a lot of expectations on me growing up, and I also longed to be successful in some arena. I wanted to move back more when I was drifting from one field to another and when I just graduated from university and still trying to figure out some sort of path for myself. Since 2016–2017, I have picked a very specific field (SEO, online marketing, lead generation etc) which I’m working very hard in and strive one day to be top of the field. My husband and I started a company, and started with one site Unfamiliar China[1], then acquired another and is currently planning on building yet another lead generation platform. We are truly excited about what we are learning every day and what we are creating day to day. This excitement made me feel truly happy being here in Canada and make our dreams come true. China just can’t do that for us at this point at least.We went back to China late October 2017 to visit my family and friends. This was also the first time my husband has ever been to China. Maybe it’s because this is the first time I’m traveling in China without my parents (I came to Canada at 15, and always traveled with parents before in China), maybe it’s because I’m seeing it from his point of view as we were constantly talking about what we were experiencing when we were there, or maybe it’s just that being away for so long, I got used to things in Canada, I’d say this was the first time I felt not comfortable over so many things that were so normal to me before. The air quality, the traffic, the bathrooms, the population, sound noise pollution. None of these used to bother me, but this time it did. I was a little bit sad at the fact that I wanted to leave early towards the end of the trip, when before I always wanted to stay longer. But feelings don’t lie. Then I realized, it’s time for me to stay in Canada.I hung out with my friends from middle school again. My middle school friends for so many years have been a huge part of my emotional attachment when I think of China. I love them, we talked about everything and anything. We spent 10 hours together every day, 6 days a week for 4 years (Wuhan had a 4 year middle school experiment when I was growing up), and we watched each other go from pre-teen to teenagers. When I went back there in October, we had a small re-union and I was shocked at how different the paths we have chosen. I choose self-development, family and close-friends, fitness, health and my company (which is my passion) to fill my calendar, while they have a very different lifestyle. What they talked about, how they talked about it wasn’t interesting to me anymore, and I knew I can still fit in if I decide to move back and immerse myself in that environment. After all, I spend more than half of my life there still at this point, but it is against the personal values I have formed over the last couple years. In a word, I just don’t fit in anymore. I remember walking away from that restaurant that night thinking, I probably won’t ever live there for long again, if I do, I’ll have to build a new circle with more like-minded people, which made it instantly less appealing an option.So in short, after these 4 factors, I decided to stay in Canada. Hope this helps my friend.Footnotes[1] Unfamiliar China

The emergence of online education is one of the most remarkable developments in this digital world where the internet is playing a pivotal role. When I say a digital world, it means a world where everyone is getting things done at their comfort without any mobility.Digitalization is paving its way in every field and industry. According to two professors of the North Carolina School of Media and Journalism, J. Scott Brennen and Daniel Kreiss, digitalization is referred to as the process in which multiple domains of social life are restructured around digital communication and media infrastructures. Though, there is a difference in the kind of digital tools utilised in various industries and organizations, researches around the globe have concluded that digitalization has led to rise in the quality of tasks that one does.Digitalization has given rise to a virtual space. Why has there been a need for this virtual space? In this fast-paced world where time has become such a scarce and limited resource, nobody wants to indulge in activities and processes which consume time when the same kind of activities can be organised and executed at one’s own convenience and comfort.So, when we say online schools or digital schools, these essentially cater to a learner-centric and self-paced environment. Along with handy resources readily available, people find the virtual space of communication and networking in an online school extremely beneficial and effective since they are able to counter the challenges of space & distance in addition to managing their time judiciously.According to Statista’s data of 2016, the most common digital learning materials used weekly in PreK-12 classrooms in the United States were online educational videos, educational apps or software, as well as research websites. A similar trend has been observed worldwide. As more and more students move towards an online mode of studying, there are great resources which not only facilitate students to have access to a wide range of information but also open doors to higher education by providing them internationally relevant qualifications.Given below is a list of top five online schools which are accredited by renowned education accrediting bodies providing high-quality education and globally recognized high school qualifications to their students:1. Florida Virtual School- (FLVS): Headquartered in Florida, FLVS was founded in 1997 and got established as a public-chartered online school under the Florida legislature. It is a pioneer in online schools/virtual schools. It serves grades K-12 students providing a wide variety of courses and programs to choose from.FLVS is accredited by AdvancED (NCA CASI, SACS CASI & NWAC). It conducts multiple programs according to the requirements of the students such as follows:a) FLVS Full time- This program allows the student to get enrolled in a full-time schooling option comprising of the elementary, middle and high school grades. 180 hours for each course in a school calendar year is required to be completed to earn the respective credit.b) County Virtual Schools- Apart from being an online school enrolling the students directly, FLVS functions in a franchise mode. It authorises schools within the Florida district to provide the FLVS guided programs and courses to its regular students or students who cannot enrol in the regular courses due to their reasons. FLVS also provides practical based courses through these schools.c) FLVS Global School- FLVS provides tutoring services and US high school diploma to middle school and high school students outside Florida.d) FLVS schools and district solution- FLVS also supports educators, schools and institutes around the world by providing professional development and access to their online courses through virtual learning labs or blended learning model.Fees- Since FLVS is a public virtual school under the Florida government, the services are free within the state. However, the fees for accessing the FLVS Global school is roughly $800 for a full credit course at an additional cost of $25 per course for the Advanced Placement program.Website: http://flvs.net2. International Schooling- It was founded in 2017 as the first online school outside the U.S territory to be accredited AdvancED. It has it’s headquarters in Singapore and emerged as a flexible learning and home-schooling option for students across the world. It primarily serves students from grades 6 to 12 (Middle School and High School). The course catalog includes over 70 middle and high school courses including core subjects, world languages, health & physical education and electives. Students can choose from a range of courses and programs and earn credits to qualify for the next grade. Following are the programs that are running currently:a) Middle School Program- Students from grades 6-8 are enrolled in this program. The minimum age required to enrol in this program is 11 years. This program emphasises in learning the basics along with helping in enhancing the study skills. During the course of this program, students realise their interests in a particular field and pursue them accordingly.b) High-School program- Students from grades 9-12 are enrolled in this program. The minimum age requirement for enrolling in this program is 13 years. International Schooling offers a wide variety of college-level preparatory courses (Electives and Advanced Placement courses) helping students to strengthen their foundation for learning to get enrolled in best colleges and universities around the world giving a kickstart to their career.c) Education for slow learners- The digital content is enriched with high-quality audio-visual resources which enhance the quality of learning and hence supports learners who take time to understand and learn the topics.d) Students can get enrolled at International Schooling through its partner k-12 schools/institutions internationally to provide guidance and support in terms of education delivery.Fees- International Schooling facilitates a cost-effective way of completing one’s education. Thus, enrolling at International Schooling and graduating with a US High School Diploma is quite affordable. The approximate fees for enrolling into a middle school program is approximately $250 for a full credit course and the high school program is about $400.Website: https://www.internationalschooling.org3. International Connections Academy(iNaCA)- It was founded in 2001 with its headquarters in Maryland. It is an online private school for grades k-12. Students can get enrolled for full-time schooling or individual courses from anywhere globally. iNaCA provides a learner-centric approach to guiding by involving parents as the learning coaches. iNaCA is accredited by AdvancED.Following are the programs offered by International Connections Academy:a) Lower School- Students in grades K-5 can get enrolled in this program and are introduced to basic skills to study such as reading, writing, science, math, social studies, etc.b) Middle School- Students in the Middle school (grades 6-8) have a wide range of elective courses to choose from. They also have options to get enrolled in virtual clubs and activities.c) Upper School- iNaCA enrols students in grades 9-12 and prepares them for college-level preparation through their robust curriculum.d) College prep- iNaCA supports students in preparing for SAT and ACT examinations essential for applying into universities for higher education.e) Individual Courses- iNaCA also enrols children who are looking for advanced STEM or world language courses which are unavailable in their locality. It additionally caters homeschooling children to supplement their ongoing instructional plan.f) Summer school- To make the best of their summer, students enrol into iNaCA which offers summer school courses for grades k-12.Fees- The iNaCA provides access to all required course materials. The approximate fee for enrolling a student in any of the grades ranges between $4500-$6500 for a full academic year.Website: https://www.internationalconnectionsacademy.com4. North Star Academy- It was founded in 1998 with its headquarters in Mississippi and got its accreditation from AdvancED in 2005. It is a part of the Network of International Christian Schools. It currently caters grades 4-12 students. Its curriculum lays emphasis on spiritual learning. Following are the programs offered by the North Star Academy:a) Elementary school- Students in grades 4 to 6 can enrol in this program and get access to fundamental courses like math, science, language arts, social studies.b) Middle school- This program is for students in grades 7-8. Along with stressing on the fundamentals studied in previous grades, the courses for this program is built to expand their existing knowledge and enhances learning skills.c) High School and Electives- Students in grades 9-12 can get enrolled in this program and boost their career with the rigorous curriculum and electives essential for college preparation.d) Enriched Virtual program- This program is great for students who require an accountable and firm learning environment. The students get a weekly online live session to attend with due dates for weekly assignment submissions.Fees- The cost for enrolment into a full year credit course is around $700.Website: https://northstar-academy.org5. Forest Trail Academy- It is a registered private school under the Florida Department of Education. Forest Trail Academy is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) and provides alternative learning solutions to students resulting in an accredited high school diploma. Programs offered are:a) Elementary School- For students in grades K-5. The courses have been structured to develop social skills and basic fundamentals of primary education.b) Middle School- This program is designed for grades 6-8 and support students to explore the dynamics of higher education.c) High School- Forest Trail Academy enrols students in grades 9-12 in the high school program. The program includes the core curriculum, elective courses and Advanced Placement courses to make students college and career ready.d) Adaptive/Prescriptive program- This program is designed to meet the individual academic needs, learning style and interests of students from grades 1 to 8. This program helps students who require an accelerated course work.Fees- The annual fees for each of the grade ranges from about $2000 -$3000.Website: https://www.foresttrailacademy.comAs we see, due to the rise of online schools, there is a commendable transformation from the traditional classroom setup of a student-teacher interaction surrounded with textbooks, pens, notebooks, etc.., towards a digital toolbox comprising of all the necessary learning resources with a virtual setup enabling the student-teacher interaction.A study conducted by the Babson Survey Research Group, reveals that enrolment of students for online programs increased for the fourteenth straight year in 2016. Also, the most recent study states that over thirty percent of higher education students have opted for at least one online course. This trend is likely to continue as the digital textbooks have come into existence and are accessible to the students globally hence contributing towards the rapid proliferation of online courses.

I have been asked this question many times before. so thank god i will save time in writing this to you…but don’t worry, i will give a well researched and reliable information only.The emergence of online education is among the most remarkable developments of our present digital world where internet plays the most pivotal role. Internet accessibility is at its highest level and is expected to further increase.Online learning is paving its way in every field and industry. According to two professors of the North Carolina School of Media and Journalism, J. Scott Brennen and Daniel Kreiss, digitization is referred to as the process in which multiple domains of social life are restructured around digital communication and media infrastructures. Even though there are differences in digital tools utilized in various industries and organizations, researches around the globe have concluded that digitization has led to rise in the quality of tasks that one does.Why do you think there has been a need for online learning? In today’s fast-paced world where time is scarce, no individual wants to indulge in activities or processes which consume time when the same can be organised and executed at one’s own convenience and comfort. People want to learn more in less time.So, when we talk about online schools or digital schools, they essentially cater to a learner-centric and self-paced environment. Along with handy resources readily available, students find online learning beneficial and effective since they are able to counter the challenges of space & distance while managing their time judiciously.According to Statista’s , 2016, the most common digital learning materials used weekly in PreK-12 classrooms in the United States were online educational videos, educational apps or software, as well as research websites. A similar trend has been observed worldwide. As more and more students are shifting towards online learning, there are wonderful resources which not only facilitate students to have access to a wide range of information but also open doors to higher education by awarding internationally valid certificates or diplomas.Mentioned below are some online schools which are accredited by renowned education accrediting agencies, provide high-quality education and globally recognized high school qualifications to their students:1. Florida Virtual School- (FLVS): Headquartered in Florida, FLVS was founded in 1997 and got established as a public-chartered online school under the Florida legislature. It is a pioneer in online schools/virtual schools. It serves grades K-12 students providing a wide variety of courses and programs to choose from.a) FLVS Full time- This program allows the student to get enrolled in a full-time schooling option comprising of the elementary, middle and high school grades. 180 hours for each course in a school calendar year is required to be completed to earn the respective credit.b) County Virtual Schools- Apart from being an online school enrolling the students directly, FLVS functions in a franchise mode. It authorises schools within the Florida district to provide the FLVS guided programs and courses to its regular students or students who cannot enrol in the regular courses due to their reasons. FLVS also provides practical based courses through these schools.c) FLVS Global School- FLVS provides tutoring services and US high school diploma to middle school and high school students outside Florida.d) FLVS schools and district solution- FLVS also supports educators, schools and institutes around the world by providing professional development and access to their online courses through virtual learning labs or blended learning model.Website: http://flvs.net2. International Schooling- It was founded in 2017 as the first online school outside the U.S territory to be accredited by AdvancED. It has it’s headquarters in Singapore and emerged as a flexible learning and home-schooling option for students across the world. It primarily serves students from grades 6 to 12 (Middle School and High School). The course catalog includes over 70 middle and high school courses including core subjects, world languages, health & physical education and electives. Students can choose from a range of courses and programs and earn credits to qualify for the next grade. Following are the programs that are running currently:a) Middle School Program- Students from grades 6-8 are enrolled in this program. The minimum age required to enrol in this program is 11 years. This program emphasises in learning the basics along with helping in enhancing the study skills. During the course of this program, students realise their interests in a particular field and pursue them accordingly.b) High-School program- Students from grades 9-12 are enrolled in this program. The minimum age requirement for enrolling in this program is 13 years. International Schooling offers a wide variety of college-level preparatory courses (Electives and Advanced Placement courses) helping students to strengthen their foundation for learning to get enrolled in best colleges and universities around the world giving a kickstart to their career.c) Education for slow learners- The digital content is enriched with high-quality audio-visual resources which enhance the quality of learning and hence supports learners who take time to understand and learn the topics.Website: https://www.internationalschooling.org3. International Connections Academy(iNaCA)- It was founded in 2001 with its headquarters in Maryland. It is an online private school for grades k-12. Students can get enrolled for full-time schooling or individual courses from anywhere globally. iNaCA provides a learner-centric approach to guiding by involving parents as the learning coaches. iNaCA is accredited by AdvancED.Following are the programs offered by International Connections Academy:a) Lower School- Students in grades K-5 can get enrolled in this program and are introduced to basic skills to study such as reading, writing, science, math, social studies, etc.b) Middle School- Students in the Middle school (grades 6-8) have a wide range of elective courses to choose from. They also have options to get enrolled in virtual clubs and activities.c) Upper School- iNaCA enrols students in grades 9-12 and prepares them for college-level preparation through their robust curriculum.Website: https://www.internationalconnectionsacademy.com4. North Star Academy- It was founded in 1998 with its headquarters in Mississippi and got its accreditation from AdvancED in 2005. It is a part of the Network of International Christian Schools. It currently caters grades 4-12 students. Its curriculum lays emphasis on spiritual learning. Following are the programs offered by the North Star Academy:a) Elementary school- Students in grades 4 to 6 can enrol in this program and get access to fundamental courses like math, science, language arts, social studies.b) Middle school- This program is for students in grades 7-8. Along with stressing on the fundamentals studied in previous grades, the courses for this program is built to expand their existing knowledge and enhances learning skills.c) High School and Electives- Students in grades 9-12 can get enrolled in this program and boost their career with the rigorous curriculum and electives essential for college preparation.Website: https://northstar-academy.org5. Forest Trail Academy- It is a registered private school under the Florida Department of Education. Forest Trail Academy is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI) and provides alternative learning solutions to students resulting in an accredited high school diploma. Programs offered are:a) Elementary School- For students in grades K-5. The courses have been structured to develop social skills and basic fundamentals of primary education.b) Middle School- This program is designed for grades 6-8 and support students to explore the dynamics of higher education.c) High School- Forest Trail Academy enrols students in grades 9-12 in the high school program. The program includes the core curriculum, elective courses and Advanced Placement courses to make students college and career ready.Website: https://www.foresttrailacademy.comA study conducted by Babson Survey Research Group, revealed that enrolments for online learning increased for the 14th straight year in 2016. Also, the most recent study states that over 30% of higher education students have opted for at least one online course.