Welcome to A2 Virtual+ for the 2022-2023 School Year!  

 

The A2 Virtual+ staff is excited to work with you and your students this fall. The A2 Virtual+ Secondary program has students in almost every Ann Arbor Public School building with students in 5th grade through 12th grade taking one online class or all their classes online. Students who have been with us will start noticing some of the changes we have been working on this summer. We have redesigned our Schoology classrooms to be more consistent across content areas; added a new online tool for all students to support their writing; and building liaisons have returned to the middle and high school buildings. Our goals and aspirations continue to support our mission statement: 

 

The mission of A2 Virtual+ Academy is to provide all students with the opportunity to take innovative, flexible, non-traditional classes as part of their individual education plan on the path to graduation.

 

This newsletter will include headers that will hopefully allow you to navigate the information pertaining to you and your child.  There are important deadlines and information for each semester and trimester for students taking specific courses such as AP or Middle School Math Acceleration. Please read each newsletter to have the most current information about the program. 

 

This newsletter will focus on the following topics:

• New A2 Virtual+ Principal  - Anthony Lauer

• Orientation Materials

• Online Count Month and Attendance Explained

 

New A2 Virtual+ Principal  - Anthony Lauer

I am pleased to share with you that I, Anthony Lauer, am the new A2 Virtual+ Secondary Principal. I am excited to continue conversations about online learning with students, parents, and teachers in my expanded role. I have embraced opportunities to teach and administer programs for the last 22 years with Ann Arbor Public Schools. I have been supporting and administering online learning in Ann Arbor Public School for 15 years. I started as an online instructor during the summer of 2007 and have continued to support and grow the program.

I look forward to our conversations about how to best support your student(s) while learning in an online environment.  

 

Here is a link to my complete letter of introduction. 

 

Orientation Materials

 

The orientation slide deck is a great resource to give you a broad overview of the A2 Virtual+ program. I encourage you to review it if you have not already seen it. The orientation information was provided at the start of the course in every Schoology online classroom, and teachers then provided additional resources to explain information specific to their online class. The orientation slide deck has information about counseling help, the calendar, expectations, attendance, proctored testing, policies, resources, and where to find information in Schoology. I will go into more depth about each topic in future Parent Newsletters. 

 

Link to orientation slides

 

 

Online Count Month and Attendance Explained

For online classes, attendance is not recorded the same way as in the traditional building. Attendance in an online class is defined by two-way communication between the student and their teacher. This attendance interaction is only required once weekly and is completed through an assignment in Schoology for each class. The state defines a week for online classes as Wednesday - Tuesday. Since attendance is required only once per week, we decided that the student would complete the activity in Schoology on Wednesday and that teachers would record attendance on Mondays in PowerSchool. If a student does not complete the attendance activity on Wednesday, they will be marked unverified, UNV, in PowerSchool the following Monday. A " CA " attendance code means that the student completed the activity and has positive attendance for that week. Attendance will be recorded for every week of the term. 

 

In addition to attendance being different for online classes, count day is also defined differently. For student count, a student must have positive attendance for four weeks, starting with Count Day, which this year is October 5th, 2022. Positive attendance is defined as completing the attendance activity in Schoology. Thank you in advance for supporting our program and helping your student(s) remember to complete attendance every Wednesday.

  

We are looking forward to a great term, 

 

Anthony Lauer

A2 Virtual+ News for the week of June 7, 2021

Good Evening,

It is hard to believe, but this is the last week of the 2020-2021 school year.     A2Virtual classes end on Thursday, June 10, 2021.  This newsletter will focus on the following topics: 

• NWEA Score Distribution
• Parent Survey
• Textbook Returns
• Options for 2021-2022
• Parent Note for the Week
• Summer Term Registration is open
• Fall Term Registration
• Important Upcoming Dates

Here are the A2 Virtual+ notes for this week:

NWEA Score Distribution-

If your middle school students took the NWEA Math or English test with us, We have found out that the NWEA scores will be distributed by the school building where your child is associated.  The scores will be sent next week.  If you do not receive the scores by June 18, call the middle school building office.

PARENT SURVEY-

The parent survey will be open beginning today and will close on June 10, 2021.  We encourage all parents to complete the survey which should not take more than 10 minutes.  We value your opinion as we strive to continually improve our program.  The link to the survey can be found here.

TEXTBOOK RETURNS:

If your child was assigned a textbook to use with their A2Virtual+ class, they must be returned. Any book not returned will be charged on the student account until received.  Here are the proctors for returning books.  

Students should turn their books into their home buildings during the home building book collection date.  They should look for the box that has the A2Virtual label on it.  I have provided the label to the high schools to put on the box.  Please see below specific instructions from each of the schools to follow while turning in your books:

Community High School:

June 8th 2:00-5:00 PM (Art Room Side of Building)

June 10th 2:00-4:00 PM (Art Room Side of Building)

Skyline High School:

June 9th 4:00-8:00 PM

June 10th 12:00-3:30 PM

June 14th 12:00-3:30 PM

June 15th 12:00-3:30 PM

 

A2Virtual+ will be hosting ONE collection date; June 14th, 2 hour drop off 11:00-1:00 PM at PHS Clock Tower Entrance.  We are offering this to students who need to hold onto their books for exams that may be after the building collection time.

 

OPTIONS FOR 2021-2022:

During the 2021-2022 school year secondary students will have three choices.  

1. Students can choose to be full time in the building.  
2. Students can choose to take most of their classes in building and 1-2 classes with A2Virtual+ in place of a class in building.  All students who take 1-2 classes will have a space to work on their classes within each building during their dedicated online hour(s) or they can request a late start or early dismissal through the building counselor (District transportation is not provided for late start and early dismissal).   If a student is going to request a hybrid schedule of in-building and online classes but wants more than 2 online classes they can do so but must contact one of our counselors to set up a meeting and complete a state required form.  (Mr. Allan Loeb, Middle School or Mrs. Freda Didlake, High School.)
3. Students can take a full schedule of online classes with A2Virtual+.   A2Virtual+ will be the only option if a student will not be returning to learning in the building during the 2021-2022 school year.  There will not be a synchronous option for secondary students (grades 6-12).

There will be a survey coming out later this week from the district. Please be sure to indicate what will work best for your child and your family. 

 

Parent Note for the Week:

Thank you for working with the A2Virtual+ staff this year.  We appreciate you and all the time and effort you put in to partner with us.  We hope your experience was as positive as ours.  Do remember that students can take anywhere between 1 and 6 courses each term.  We hope to welcome you back next school year.  Have a safe and peaceful summer.

 

Summer Term 2021, Registration portal is open 

Summer Term information is now available online.  The A2Virtual summer term runs from June 28 through July 30, 2021.  A2Virtual+ will again be offering two options.  A no-cost option for students who want to repeat a class that they did not receive credit in or who want to repeat a class for a grade to replace a “G” or “S'' grade. To qualify for the no-cost option, the course that the student is requesting to take must appear on the student’s transcript during the 2020-2021 school year or second semester or third trimester of the 2019-2020 school year.  The second option is a reduced cost option for new credit or for retaking a class before the second semester or third trimester of 2019-2020.  These classes are offered at a reduced price of $169 ($100 savings).  

Additionally, we will partner with Michigan Virtual to offer classes with them.  Ann Arbor Public Schools will cover $100 of the cost of these classes which means that the parent cost is $279.  Michigan Virtual has a longer summer term.  It begins May 21 and ends July 30, 2021.  Even though the term has already begun students can still sign up for Michigan Virtual classes through June 14.

July 30, 2021 will be the last day for all Summer Classes.  There will be no extensions granted.  It is important because there will be no extensions given that students are available the entire term to complete their work.  Students with a full-time work schedule or who are attending camps during the summer term may not be able to complete the work.  We estimate that each course will take approximately 100 hours.  That equates to 20 hours per week, per course for the summer term.  

A list of available courses is on the webpage.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact our middle school counselor, Allan Loeb, or our high school counselor, Freda Didlake.  

 

Fall Term 2021:

Fall term registration is currently closed during the rest of the summer until August 16, 2021, when it will open again for the 2021-2022 school year. If you wish to register for next year you can do so at the link below:

High School Registration link

Middle School Registration link

 

Important Upcoming Dates:

June 10 - last day to complete work for Semester 2 - A2Virtual+ classes 

June 11 - All textbooks are to be returned

June 14 - A2Virtual Last Day Book Drop off at PHS 11:00-1:00 PM Clock Tower Entrance

June 28 - AAPS A2Virtual+ Summer term begins

July 2 - Last day to drop or add for Summer Term

July 30 - Last day of Summer Term

August 16 - Registration reopens for the 201-22 school year

 

We hope your weekend was enjoyable and memorable.

Best regards,

Cindy Leaman

Principal, A2Virtual+ Secondary

Anthony Lauer

Online Learning Coordinator, A2 Virtual+ Secondary

A2 Virtual+ News for the week of May 31, 2021

Good Evening and Happy Memorial Day,

I hope you are enjoying the long weekend.  This week concludes the sixteenth week of the term.  The target for the end of last week was to have completed 89% of the course material by today and 95% by the end of the week. It is hard to believe, but the school year ends next week.    A2Virtual classes end on Thursday, June 10, 2021.   Remember to have your child attend office hours (posted in Schoology) for any questions they may have regarding the content.  

This newsletter will focus on the following topics: 

• NWEA Score Distribution
• Policies/Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
• Parent Survey
• Textbook Returns
• Options for 2021-2022
• Seniors
• Parent Note for the Week
• Summer Term Registration is open
• Fall Term Registration is open
• Important Upcoming Dates

Here are the A2 Virtual+ notes for this week:

 

NWEA Score Distribution-

If your middle school students took the NWEA Math or English test with us, we are hopeful that you will receive your scores next week.  Since we are a program and not a school, I had to put in a help ticket to NWEA to access the reports.  When the issue is resolved we will be sending out the reports.  Thank you in advance for your patience.

 

Policies/Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty-

Please review the policy linked here with your students:  https://www.a2schools.org/Page/11968

 

PARENT SURVEY-

The parent survey will be open beginning today and will close on June 10, 2021.  We encourage all parents to complete the survey which should not take more than 10 minutes.  We value your opinion as we strive to continually improve our program.  The link to the survey can be found here.

TEXTBOOK RETURNS:

If your child was assigned a textbook to use with their A2Virtual+ class, they must be returned. Any book not returned will be charged on the student until received.  Here are the proctors for returning books.  

Students should turn their books into their home buildings during the home building book collection date.  They should look for the box that has the A2Virtual label on it.  I have provided the label to the high schools to put on the box.  Please see below specific instructions from each of the schools to follow while turning in your books:

Pioneer Drop Off Date:

May 28 from 12-3pm. The A2Virtual book box will be at the flagpole entrance. Please park in the Main Lot, and walk your books up to the box.

A2Virtual+ will be hosting ONE collection date; June 14th, 2 hour drop off 11:00-1:00 PM at PHS Clock Tower Entrance.  We are offering this to students who need to hold onto their books for exams that may be after the building collection time.

 

OPTIONS FOR 2021-2022:

During the 2021-2022 school year secondary students will have three choices.  

1. Students can choose to be full time in the building.  
2. Students can choose to take most of their classes in building and 1-2 classes with A2Virtual+ in place of a class in building.  All students who take 1-2 classes will have a space to work on their classes within each building during their dedicated online hour(s) or they can request a late start or early dismissal through the building counselor (District transportation is not provided for late start and early dismissal).   If a student is going to request a hybrid schedule of in-building and online classes but wants more than 2 online classes they can do so but must contact one of our counselors to set up a meeting and complete a state required form.  (Mr. Allan Loeb, Middle School or Mrs. Freda Didlake, High School.)
3. Students can take a full schedule of online classes with A2Virtual+. A2Virtual+ will be the only option if a student will not be returning to learning in the building during the 2021-2022 school year.  There will not be a synchronous option for secondary students (grades 6-12).

There will be a survey coming out later this week from the district. Please be sure to indicate what will work best for your child and your family. 

SENIORS:

Even though Seniors have officially finished school at the end of last week they can still improve their grade or if necessary, pass their class. One of the good things about online classes is that seniors still are not penalized for turning in work through June 10, 2021. 

Parent Note for the Week:

Finishing strong. As we approach the end of the term, it is critical that students don’t get distracted from their work. Sometimes students don’t recognize that they still have work to complete. Please help encourage them to their best and continue putting in the time that is necessary to complete the class(es). Students can stop working (except for the weekly check ins) if they complete all the work in the class. 

The number of assignments that students submit is greater during the last few weeks of the term.  During the last three weeks of the term students should not expect to have past due work returned to them with corrections.  This is a drawback for students who have waited until the end of the term to turn in assignments. While there is no penalty for late work, except in an Advanced Placement class, teacher input on past due assignments will not be given in the same timely fashion as assignments that are submitted by the due date/pacing guide.  To help with the increased workload, this is the last week that instructors will be holding office hours by appointment. Students can still interact with the instructors during the scheduled office hours each week.  

Summer Term 2021, Registration portal is open 

Summer Term information is now available online.  The A2Virtual summer term runs from June 28 through July 30, 2021.  A2Virtual+ will again be offering two options.  A no-cost option for students who want to repeat a class that they did not receive credit in or who want to repeat a class for a grade to replace a “G” or “S'' grade. To qualify for the no-cost option, the course that the student is requesting to take must appear on the student’s transcript during the 2020-2021 school year or second semester or third trimester of the 2019-2020 school year.  The second option is a reduced cost option for new credit or for retaking a class before the second semester or third trimester of 2019-2020.  These classes are offered at a reduced price of $169 ($100 savings).  

Additionally, we will partner with Michigan Virtual to offer classes with them.  Ann Arbor Public Schools will cover $100 of the cost of these classes which means that the parent cost is $279.  Michigan Virtual has a longer summer term.  It begins May 21 and ends July 30, 2021.  Even though the term has already begun students can still sign up for Michigan Virtual classes through June 14.

July 30, 2021 will be the last day for all Summer Classes.  There will be no extensions granted.  It is important because there will be no extensions given that students are available the entire term to complete their work.  Students with a full-time work schedule or who are attending camps during the summer term may not be able to complete the work.  We estimate that each course will take approximately 100 hours.  That equates to 20 hours per week, per course for the summer term.  

A list of available courses is on the webpage.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact our middle school counselor, Allan Loeb, or our high school counselor, Freda Didlake.  

 

Fall Term 2021 Registration is now Open through June 4, 2021:

Fall term registration is now open through June 4, 2021. It is closed during the rest of summer until August 16, 2021, when it will open again for the 2021-2022 school year. If you wish to register for next year you can do so at the link below.

High School Registration link

Middle School Registration link

 

Important Upcoming Dates:

May 21- Michigan Virtual Summer term begins (registration is still open)

June 4- 2021-2022 Registration closes for the summer

June 10 - last day to complete work for Semester 2 - A2Virtual+ classes 

June 11 - All textbooks are to be returned

June 14 - A2Virtual Last Day Book Drop off at PHS 11:00-1:00 PM Clock Tower Entrance

June 28 - AAPS A2Virtual+ Summer term begins

July 2 - Last day to drop or add for Summer Term

July 30 - Last day of Summer Term

August 16 - Registration reopens for the 201-22 school year

 

We hope your weekend was enjoyable and memorable.

Best regards,

Cindy Leaman

Principal, A2Virtual+ Secondary

Anthony Lauer

Online Learning Coordinator, A2 Virtual+ Secondary