Школы виртуального обучения Западной Вирджинии поощряют студентов к активному участию в жизни штата

FALLING WATERS — The West Virginia Virtual Academy (WVVA) is highlighting Berkeley County students, while promoting outdoor extracurricular activities for students throughout the state. WVVA Executive Director Doug Cipoletti, Communication Engagement Specialist Erin Baldwin, middle school Principal Nicole Drobish and eighth-grade teacher Catherine Dransfield talked about how these activities are helping students connect and learn. With students across all 55 counties and coming from many different areas, WVVA believes it’s important to give students the opportunity to experience their home state in unique ways. Cipoletti explained that throughout the year, WVVA helps organize field trips all over the state, connecting other virtual students while exposing them to history and other unique opportunities. Despite being an online school, WVVA wants to build a community and encourage students to get outside. “With virtual learning, there’s a stigma that students don’t get outside enough,” Drobish said. “However, we want to promote physical education. We’re all about educating students, but that means educating the body, as well.” Most field trips connect with what students are learning in class, whether that means visiting coal mines in Beckley or local museums. Many students also participate in local groups outside of school like 4-H and dance teams. As a virtual teacher, Dransfield said it’s important to have intentional conversations with students to learn more about them, why they chose virtual learning, their interests and find out how she can incorporate that into the student’s education. One of her students, Kianoosh, from Falling Waters, talked about how virtual learning gives him the chance to compete in motocross racing. When Dransfield learned that Kianoosh wanted to attend Johns Hopkins University to become a neurosurgeon, she created an opportunity for him to develop those skills. “I knew there was a regional science fair,” Dransfield said. “I asked him if there was something he wanted to research, and he was working on making a functional prosthetic. Using those ideas, he put together his project.” Eden Faulcon, an 11th-grader from Falling Waters, chose WVVA, because it allowed her to be a competitive figure skater. Eden’s mom, Robyn, explained that when Eden started working with high level coaches in high school, she had to skip classes during the week to attend practice. It soon became clear that public school wasn’t a good option for them. WVVA offered the flexibility they needed while giving Eden an interactive schooling experience. Not only does Eden figure skate, but she also participated in the SpaceTrek STEM program this past summer where she got to learn from other women in STEM alongside 24 other girls. After high school, Eden is interested in pursuing a career as an aerospace engineer or neuroscientist working with astronauts after coming back from space. “I think it’s great that WVVA spotlights various students,” Robyn said. “Students go virtual for many different reasons, and figure skating is not typical for many families. Virtual learning is a great option. It also shows that students can be athletic and still be interested in science and engineering.” Drobish believes that WVVA is unique because it allows students like Kianoosh and Eden to embrace who they are instead of trying to fit the mold. She believes school choice is important to give families the chance to pursue other opportunities as their students learn and achieve their goals. Kianoosh and Eden would later be highlighted by WVVA for their unique passions and love for learning. For more information about WVVA, visit https://wvva.k12.com/.